Telltale Games has released a new trailer for the very soon to be released The Walking Dead: Season Two – Episode Two, titled “A House Divided”.
Author - Jerry Paxton
Kirkland, WA (February 27, 2014) Harebrained Schemes’ Shadowrun: Dragonfall, a major expansion for the magic-meets-cyberpunk tactical RPG mashup Shadowrun Returns, has launched today. Featuring a 12+ hour campaign set in the city of Berlin, Shadowrun: Dragonfall also contains a multitude of new features and enhancements for the core Shadowrun Returns game. The title is available for $14.99 (requires the original game to play) for Windows, OSX and Linux at the Steam store http://store.steampowered.com/app/272030, and a DRM-free version is offered at GOG.com. The original Shadowrun Returns game is also on sale for $14.99 for a limited time.
“The response to Shadowrun Returns was so overwhelming that it inspired us to pull out all the stops in creating Shadowrun: Dragonfall. We really did our best to listen to fans and act on their feedback,” said Jordan Weisman, founder of Harebrained Schemes and creator of the Shadowrun game universe. “We are thrilled to unveil our next story and can’t wait to see all the awesome new Shadowrun stories that the community will create with the Dragonfall expansion and the Shadowrun Editor.”
In addition to the incredible support they gave the project, from its announcement through its historic milestone as the first $1m+ Kickstarted videogame to ship, fans have shared hundreds of free Shadowrun adventures and content with the Steam Workshop community (http://steamcommunity.com/workshop/browse?appid=234650), greatly expanding the game world developed by Harebrained Schemes.
Shadowrun Returns debuted in 2013 to much acclaim. The game won numerous “Best of 2013” awards including four from Diehard GameFAN (2013 Game of the Year, Best PC Exclusive Game, Best Digital/Downloadable Game and Best Strategy Role Playing Game) as well as a Top Game of the Year Award from Gamasutra, and it appeared as a recommended game in Holiday Gift Guides from IGN and Board Game Geek.
SHADOWRUN: DRAGONFALL STORY
In 2012, magic returned to our world, awakening powerful creatures of myth and legend. Among these was the great dragon Feuerschwinge, who emerged without warning from the mountains of Germany – unleashing fire, death, and untold destruction across the countryside. It took German forces nearly four months to finally shoot her down. This event became known as the Dragonfall.
Now, 42 years later, the world has changed. Unchecked advances in technology have blurred the line between man and machine. Elves and trolls walk among us, ruthless corporations bleed the world dry, and Feuerschwinge’s reign of terror is a distant memory. Germany is splintered – in Berlin, a stable anarchy rules the city. Known as the Flux State, it’s a place where almost anything goes, power is ephemeral, and the right connections can be the difference between success and starvation. For you and your team of battle-scarred shadowrunners, there’s no better place to earn a quick payday.
But a new threat is rising, one that could mean untold chaos and devastation. One that soon has you and your team caught on the wrong side of a deadly conspiracy. The only clue: whispers of the Dragonfall. Rumors that the Great Dragon Feuerschwinge may still be alive, waiting for the right moment to return…
SHADOWRUN: DRAGONFALL FEATURES
- Experience a New Full-Length Campaign: Return to the “Tech meets Magic” future of Shadowrun in an all-new 12+ hour campaign. Operating out of an offbeat hub neighborhood, you’ll choose which missions to accept and how you’ll approach them while navigating the dark underbelly of “the Flux”.
- An Exciting New Locale: Shadowrun: Dragonfall transports runners to the Free City of Berlin, a thrilling Shadowrun setting full of gorgeous new hi-res environments, a diverse new cast of characters, and a new soundtrack by Sam Powell, the composer of the original Sega Genesis Shadowrun game.
- Command Your Team: Lead a small team of shadowrunners, each with their own outlook and backstory. The members of your team are designed to play unique roles during missions, and each has a distinct set of skills, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
- New Weapons, Portraits, Enemies & More: Try your hand at the long-range sniper rifle, explosive grenade launcher, or stun-inducing taser. Chrome yourself out in the latest cyberware, and take on deadly new enemies – including new magical creatures like gargoyles and fire drakes. Dragonfall brings a host of new items, characters, over 60 new portraits to choose from, and many other improvements to the Shadowrun Returns experience.
- Save Anywhere: You can save your progress at any time during the game. The new save-game functionality is available in new downloads of Shadowrun Returns and through a patch for all existing copies.
- New Game Editor Features: Dragonfall brings a wide range of enhancements to the Shadowrun Returns game editor for community content creators – including a scripting system to better control lighting, tracking mission objectives in the main game UI, placing exploding barrels, and allowing players to input keypad passwords and custom text strings in conversations. In addition, content creators will be able to use all of the new Berlin environment art, items and characters in their own stories along with assets from the original Shadowrun Returns campaign.
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Razer™, the world leader in entertainment devices and software, today announced a new feature for Razer Game Booster that automatically saves game data and settings to the cloud for thousands of titles.
In its beta version, Razer Game Booster’s Save Game Manager will back up a user’s game progress to Dropbox. Other cloud storage services will be enabled in the program’s full release. Save Game Manager is compatible for games with local save files and it supports fully automated backup services for more than 2,000 titles. The list of supported games can be continuously updated by Razer’s software engineering team as new titles are released and users may manually add games, ensuring that every supported game works with the Save Game Manager.
“We continually work to enhance the gaming experience for our Community,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. “There are few things that take the fun out of gaming more than lost game progress or disappearing settings. It is our hope to rid the world of such frustrations and help make sure that losing game info never happens again.”
About Razer Game Booster: Razer’s free Game Booster software is a simple to use game launcher with performance enhancing utilities, saved game backup and screen capture tools.
Game Booster: Boost your game and PC lifespan while keeping it in top shape.
• Maximizes your system performance to give you higher frames per second, by automatically shutting off unnecessary processes and applications when you’re gaming, and resuming them when you’re done
• Configures and optimizes your PC’s settings for peak gaming performance
• Keeps your components up-to-date with the latest drivers, so you always get the best out of your system
• Defrags your disks, prioritizing your game folders for faster loading and enhanced system efficiency for even smoother gameplay
Save Game Manager: Never worry about losing a save game again.
• Automatically backs up save game files onto your favorite cloud storage services whenever your progress is saved. After all, lost save games don’t respawn!
• Keeps your game settings in the cloud, so you won’t have to memorize resolutions, anti-aliasing multipliers or anisotropic filtering definitions anymore
• Syncs as many save game files as you want for safekeeping, free of charge
Game Launcher: Experience enhanced PC gaming.
• Catalogs and presents your entire library of games in a robust command center for easy access
• Scans your PC to find your existing games, keeping your collection up-to-date without you lifting a finger
Screen Capture Gallery: Immortalize your best gaming moments.
• Captures your epic moments in HD with a customizable hot key
• Records videos of any length without unwanted watermarks
• Shares your game walkthroughs and winning streaks in just a few clicks, so you can show off to everyone on Facebook and YouTube
For more information on Razer Game Booster and its many included features, please visit www.razerzone.com/gamebooster/.
Game Booster Video
The folks at Variety have reported that, according to their sources, “Girls” star Adam Driver is closing a deal to star as a villain in the highly-anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII. According to their sources, the villain will be similar to Darth Vader in that, it is probably another dark lord of the Sith. Variety also reports that, previous, Disney was rumored to be looking at Michael Fassbender and Hugo Weaving for the villain role. Personally, I just hope that the rumors that Benedict Cumberbatch is going to be playing Thrawn turn out to be true – that guys is, physically, perfect for that role.
Also, I should note that we titled this with a “…May Play…” as, until official announcements are made, this is all technically unconfirmed.
February 26, 2014 — Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today unveiled the first details for Cold, Cold Heart; the action-packed story add-on for Batman: Arkham Origins. In this extensive story add-on, players will unearth the tragic origin story of Mr.Freeze and learn how he earned his role as one of Batman’s arch nemeses. Cold, Cold Heart will be available for purchase on the PlayStation®Network, Xbox LIVE online entertainment network from Microsoft and Steam beginning April 22. This add-on pack will be available to players who have purchased the Batman: Arkham Origins Season Pass and are connected to the Internet, or it can be purchased separately for $9.99.
Unfolding across iconic Gotham City locations, including Wayne Manor, Cold, Cold Heart equips players with the powerful Batman Extreme Environment (XE) suit and new gadgets including the Thermal Gloves and Thermocharged Batarangs. The game introduces several hours of all-new content in which players will battle through punishing, icy landscapes to witness Mr. Freeze’s heart-pumping first encounter with the Dark Knight.
Developed by WB Games Montréal, Batman: Arkham Origins is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum andBatman: Arkham City. Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, the game features an expanded Gotham City and showcases a young and unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight. As the story unfolds, players will meet many important characters for the first time and forge key relationships. The online multiplayer mode is developed by Splash Damage.
Batman: Arkham Origins is the next installment in the blockbuster Batman: Arkham videogame franchise and is available now for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Wii U system and Windows PC. The game is now available worldwide along with Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate for the PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system and Nintendo 3DS handheld system.
Trailer
February 26th, 2014, Ridgewood, NJ – Do you want the chance to play the upcoming and highly anticipated fifth installment of the Tropico series? Under the wise and benevolent guidance of El Presidente, players can help make Tropico 5 the best game possible by taking part in a Beta test this March. Registration begins today – so potential applicants should apply right now. We’re looking for gamers who have a huge enthusiasm for city-building titles and with a wide experience playing within the genre. Please note that all communication within the beta will be in English language only.
Register for the Tropico 5 Beta test here: http://betatest.
Packed with a whole host of new gameplay features and all new artwork designed from scratch, Tropico 5 takes the series into a new and exciting direction – dynasties!
You, as El Presidente, will first take control of the infamous island of Tropico during early colonial times and then guide it through the centuries as the world changes and moves ever forward. You must tackle the changing needs of your people, as well as opposing governments and factions, and thus lay the foundations for your own dynasty. As you move through your years in office you can promote members of your extended family on the island to positions of power: such as ambassador, commanding general or even Supreme Ruler, to ensure your legacy thrives through the eras.
As well as a wealth of other new features, including advanced trading mechanics, technology, scientific research trees and island exploration, Tropico 5 will add cooperative and competitive multiplayer for up to four players for the first time in the series’ history! Viva El Presidente!
For more information on Tropico 5 please visit the Kalypso Media website atwww.kalypsomedia.com or the official Tropico 5 website at www.tropico5.com.
February 26, 2014 — Egosoft is pleased to announce the availability of patch 1.25 for X Rebirth, along with a preview of several projects to be released in the near term. This update is comprised of two sections. Section one is a quick overview of the progress of the last couple of patches, and an explanation of their main features. Section two gives a quick outlook on what is currently being worked on, and what can be expected over the next few months.
1. Patch 1.24 and 1.25
As always you can find the detailed changelog here. I have also prepared a short video explaining some of the changes to gamplay. Namely the new target locking and the trade agent, including the change to how smalltalk achievements work.
– Smalltalk used to unlock a random reward if you managed to convince an NPC on a platform that you had something interesting to say about a topic. With 1.25, the smalltalk mini-game still works the same way, but rather than getting a random reward, the NPC will now offer the player a choice. For example, if the NPC is a dealer of some kind, you can ask him to give you a discount, or you can ask him if he knows a qualified NPC for a certain job, and he will tell you where to find the best one in your vicinity. For example, the next time the player needs a good pilot, locating the best pilot on a station will be much easier.
– Another new feature is the ability to hire agents on stations which will make sure that you are always kept up to date on all trade offers from that station. This feature can be combined with the trade computer extension to minimize the need to collect trade offers on stations manually. There is also a new feature that allows the player to see all trade offers per station from the station’s info menu.
– The target locking update introduces a secondary method of setting a target object which is very similar to the targeting functionality seen in the X3 games. You can now press Shift F to get a lock on the object closest to your crosshair, or Shift E to get a lock on the nearest enemy by distance. Once this targeting mode is activated, the player can press page up and page down to cycle through more objects of the same category in clockwise/counter-clockwise order (or in the case of enemies: closer/farther-away targets). The other methods of dealing with target locks still work in parallel, but before the event monitor can show environment objects again, the player must first release the last explicit target object – by clicking in empty space, for example.
2. The Near Future
Now let me list a few projects we are currently working on, and which will be released in some form over the coming months. Note that this is FAR from a complete list. The following are a few examples of the different areas being worked on, and they are vaguely sorted in the order they may be released:
– Support for Steam Workshop integration: We will soon start releasing a number of tools on Steam to help modders work on X Rebirth. We are also working on full support for the Steam Workshop in order to make it possible for everybody to easily install mods by merely subscribing to them, and by making it easy for mod developers to distribute their work through Steam.
– Map on event monitor: This was already mentioned before. The first step will be to enable the map rendering on the event monitor whenever it currently shows no signal. We will then introduce some configuration options so the player can decide whether to view the map zone map on the monitor or the current text information.
– Improved support for joysticks and other input devices: We are working on improving the input mapping menu and the general support for input devices. There have been numerous individual requests in this area, and we are trying to keep this as flexible as possible so X Rebirth can be configured to make best use of all kinds of input devices.
– Improvements to menus: Improving our menu system is a big task, but some features that we’ve heard requested often could materialize within the next one or two months. A good example of this is a more powerful text based filtering system for menus akin to the trade menu. After we have added text input menus for renaming your ship, the next step will be to enable this functionality in live menus allowing the player to filter quickly with their keyboard.
– 64bit EXE: Right now X Rebirth only runs on 64bit Windows because of the amount of memory required, but it is still a 32bit executable. We are experimenting with a new 64bit executable that could potentially improve several issues. Rolling out the 64bit EXE will probably happen as a beta in parallel to the 32bit EXE. Depending on the feedback, we will then gradually move away from a 32bit EXE.
– Providing interaction functionality with NPCs from space to minimize forced landing: I know many people do not like being forced to land on stations for frequently repeated tasks. The first step to address this will be to have a list of all NPCs on a station available from the station info menu, and to then make some activities possible remotely. You will still probably need to be in the vicinity of the station – so that drones can take over the transport of acquired goods for example – but you only have to land to play missions and to pick up or deliver people.
– Highway redesign: We’ve heard a lot of criticism on the way the highways behaves, so we are experimenting with radically different gameplay inside the highways. It’s still too early to provide details, but as soon as we have a prototype, we will probably make this available as a beta. How soon this will then be rolled out for public release will then depend on feedback we receive.
Again: There are many other things we are working on. We will continue to add features and of course fix bugs. Please stay tuned!
– Bernd Lehahn, Managing Director, Egosoft
26 February 2014, Keelung, Taiwan – Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd, is pleased to announce that the DK01 desk chassis, along with community collaborated chassis and two unreleased models, will be on display at CeBIT 2014 in Hannover, Germany from March 10 to 14, 2014. Lian Li invites all interested parties to visit them at Hall 17, Booth F24.
DK01 – A Desk and PC Fusion
Combining the symbiotic relationship of desks and computer cases, the DK01 is a chassis like no other. Constructed of aluminum, this hybrid chassis allows DIY builders to build a full computer inside the desk and show off their hardware creations through the tempered glass desktop. The DK01 eliminates the need for PC towers.
Community Collaborated Chassis – PC-A51, PC-B16 and PC-A61
Modified according to feedback across the social media and tech media sphere, the newly released, community collaborated PC-A51 mid-tower chassis as well as the updated versions of the previewed PC-B16 and PC-A61 will also be on display at Lian Li’s booth.
These three fully aluminum chassis are a conglomeration of user feedback on prototype models and Lian Li’s time-honed expertise and engineering capabilities. Visitors to the booth will be able to provide their feedback for the PC-B16 and PC-A61 as well as the DK01, which will be updated additionally after the show.
Two Unreleased Models
In addition to the community collaborated aluminum chassis, Lian Li will be unveiling two unreleased models that attendees will not want to miss.
With a history of eye-catching unveilings at CeBIT, Lian Li will once again prove itself an industry leader and innovator without sacrificing product quality. Attendees will be able to see the engineering expertise of Lian Li in meeting the latest trends and market demands.
When: March 10 -14, 2014
Where: Hall 17, Booth F24
Newport Beach, CA – After two months of Early Access inXile Entertainment has released the first major update for Wasteland 2. The update delivers over 2000 bug fixes, gameplay features, performance optimizations and balance improvements along with hours of new content.
The Prison level is a major location added to the beta. This new map features more well-armed, well-prepared and dangerous foes than the Rangers have faced so far, and it will take superior decision-making and tactical prowess to get out alive with the information they’re looking for. Additional smaller maps have been added along with the major location, significantly expanding the game.
The game’s new icon-based, grid inventory harkens back to classic cRPG titles. The flexible inventory and character screen mesh well together to manage multiple nackpacks and easily move around items and equip your rangers, while the hand-crafted icons give each item that much more personality.
Many new features have been added to combat, including shotgun and SMG spreads, the use of skills in combat, destructible cover, stances, death animations, improved visual effects and AI and flexible use of height and ladders. Random encounters have been expanded and improved making world travel all the more dangerous. Bug-fixes and optimization passes ensure a significantly smoother experience. Finally there have been significant improvements to the way skills such as Surgeon and Field Medic work.
With the new “Prison” map the early beta now offers five major location and an estimated 30+ hours of gameplay.
Wasteland 2 is available for purchase on Steam http://store.steampowered.com/
As well as from inXile’s late backer store http://wasteland.inxile-
Getting to visit the DTS booth at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas, I was impressed by the demonstration they had set up to show off their DTS Headphone:X sound processing technology. Basically, this technology emulates a surround sound system out of any pair of headphones. When I inquired about where we could get a retail headset with the technology, they pointed me to one of my favorite headset makers: Turtle Beach. Turtle Beach has been making gaming headphones for quite some time, with a huge number of models in their stable – even some with licensed artwork from video games and movies. Their Ear Force i60 Wireless Media Headset is the first audio product to embed the DTS: Headphone:X technology inside it.
The Ear Force i60 Wireless Media Headset was built from the ground up for those of us in the cult of Apple. It features Apple inspired, white and silver accents as well as a desktop control module/wireless base station that looks like Apple themselves designed it. Along each of the ear cups is a large array of buttons which control features like Bluetooth connectivity, volume, voice effects (more on that later), and EQ settings to name just a few. Unfortunately, all of these buttons to deal with make it easy to remember which one does which – especially when reaching for them while wearing the headphones.
When I underwent the DTS Headphone:X demo at CES, I was very impressed – and I couldn’t wait to try the technology out. The biggest hurdle in doing so at the moment is that, in order to listen to audio in DTS Headphone:X, the audio needs to be mastered at the source using a special DTS algorithm. Otherwise, it doesn’t get utilized. So, I began the hunt for DTS Headphone:X mastered audio and my attention was brought to the Man of Steel Deluxe Edition soundtrack. When purchased, the disc comes with a code to download the full soundtrack in DTS Headphone:X via the Z+ sound app on the Apple app store. So, I bought a CD… I haven’t done that in a long time. I downloaded Z+, redeemed my download code, and began my Man of Steel listening experience. It was very, very impressive. The effect is eerily realistic and, if you close your eyes, it is easy to imagine yourself sitting in the middle of Hans Zimmer’s orchestra. My hope is that DTS can team up with more companies and studios to produce films and albums using the technology.
That isn’t to say that the Ear Force i60 headphones do not sound good without DTS Headphone:X. In fact, quite the opposite! The Ear Force i60 headphones feature 50mm drivers that emit some very clear sound through each of the low, medium, and high ranges. The headphones can be accessed and controlled wirelessly via the Turtle Beach app on the iOS platform. The wireless base/control station features touch-sensitive controls and feels exceptionally well-made. I always dislike it when when headphone control units feel cheap or too lightweight.
I should note that while the ear cup material is comfortable, it doesn’t breathe very well, which caused my ears to sweat after long periods of intense gaming usage. Currently, I am playing a lot of New World Interactive’s multiplayer shooter, Insurgency, and all the explosions, gunfire, and even enemy footsteps come in loud and clear. Despite the fact that these were intended originally for the turtleneck-wearing Apple crowd, they work very well for PC gaming, so don’t be fooled by their Apple-y exterior. In addition to the shooting of Insurgency, I used these while playing the very realistic DCS: A-10C Warthog from Eagle Dynamics. Aside from the ear sweating issue after several hours, I was very pleased by how the headset handled all of the ambient noises of the aircraft. Also worth mentioning is that the Ear Force i60 headphones are capable of both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless communication. This makes the very versatile in that they can be taken with you for travel, so you can use your iPhone or iPod Touch for playing music, etc.
One of the biggest hurdles for the Ear Force i60 is definitely its price point. At $399.95, they fit into the luxury headphone category, and that might be too expensive for some gamer’s pocketbooks – especially when Turtle Beach makes luxury, more gamer-centric headphones. However, if you want something that is a bit more versatile, the Ear Force i60 is a good choice.
Overall, the Turtle Beach Ear Force i60 Wireless Media Headset is a very high quality pair of headphones that feature great sound quality, wireless capability, and support for DTS Headphone: X. It is a bit pricey at an MSRP of $399.95, but the quality behind the headphones is very apparent and, if they are in your budget, you won’t be disappointed. The Ear Force i60’s are available at various retailers – including at Apple stores!
[ezcol_1half]Pros
- Apple inspired design
- Great sound quality
- Long battery life
- Hidden microphone
[/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end]Cons
- Lack of DTS Headphone:X content available
- Ear cups don’t breathe very well
- Pricey
[/ezcol_1half_end]
[easyreview title=”Turtle Beach Ear Force i60 Wireless Headset Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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