Author - Jerry Paxton

Elite Screens Announces Kestrel Projector Screen

2013/04/16
Jerry Paxton
News, Tech News

SONY DSC

CERRITOS, Calif., April 1, 2013 — Elite Screens, Inc. an innovative US leader in projection screens, today announced the Kestrel Stage free-standing portable electric projection screen. “We have many portable free standing projection screen designs but our rental and staging customers wanted an even more refined solution.” said David Rodgers, Marketing Manager for Elite Screens Inc. “It is an elegant, beautiful design that brings the extra wow-factor to a mobile projector display in addition to it being ideal for formal occasions”. The Kestrel Stage Series is a portable, free standing floor rising motorized front projection screen. The screen material is GREENGUARD certified for indoor air-quality emissions as well as for children and schools (GREENGUARD #90390).

The initial screen sizes are 100 or 120 diagonal inches in a 16:9 (HDTV) aspect ratio. The material is Elite’s GREENGUARD certified MaxWhite FG 1.1 gain material that has wide diffusion uniformity for added performance versatility. The screen’s mechanized cross-rising apparatus is driven by a 17rpm, 130w tubular motor. Its 10nm torque provides superior weight tolerance in addition to a longer operational lifespan. Elite’s Kestrel Stage provides a simple in-line 3-way switch.

The Kestrel Stage is ideal for Rental & Staging or other commercial (Pro AV) applications. The motorized screen is integrated into a sturdy wheeled stage case that has handles for easy transport and set-up. As an added value, a matching roadie flight-case with detachable velvet skirt is included to complete the arrangement. The flight-case combines with the cased-screen and skirt to create a professional-grade mobile projection display.

Setup is a quick, easy process. The flight case performs the dual role of mobile storage and as a base for the portable electric screen unit. After separation into 2-equal units, the flight case ends attach to the bottom of the screen module creating an elevated base. Once the removable drape is added, the screen is raised and lowered by use of its in-line 3-way control switch.

Pricing, Availability, Warranty

Elite Screens’ Kestrel Stage is priced at $2500 MSRP for the 100” units and $3600 for the 120” models. The 100” models are currently available through Elite’s retail, and professional AV sales channel. The 120” models will be available in June. Kestrel Stage series projection screens come with Elite’s two-year manufacturer’s limited warranty, which is twice the industry standard. As an added value, a three-year warranty is provided to Government, Educational, Military and Religious organizations at no additional charge.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising Launch Screenshots

2013/04/16
Jerry Paxton
News, PlayStation 3 News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News

MotD - Chazz Palminteri as Sal Deluca

Santa Monica, CA – April 16, 2013 – Coming out right on the heels of the inaugural Call of Duty® Championship, presented by Xbox, which set records as the biggest live event ever streamed on Xbox LIVE®, and the largest concurrent viewership for a live streamed console game tournament on Twitch, Call of Duty®: Black Ops II Uprising, is available today, exclusively on Xbox LIVE for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, with other platforms to follow. The second Downloadable Content (DLC) Map Pack from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), and its award-winning studio Treyarch, Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising includes four new, diverse multiplayer maps and the groundbreaking “Mob of the Dead” Zombies experience, featuring legendary Hollywood actors Ray Liotta, Chazz Palminteri, Joe Pantoliano, and Michael Madsen as four mobster inmates trying to escape a zombie infested Alcatraz.

“Uprising is equal parts creativity and passion, all rolled into four amazing multiplayer maps, and entirely new and ambitious ‘Mob of the Dead’ Zombies experience,” said Mark Lamia, Treyarch’s Studio Head. “We’ve packed a ton of gameplay into the multiplayer maps, including game-changing environmental challenges and opportunities. And with ‘Mob of the Dead,’ the team has pushed the boundaries of the Zombies fiction into new territory, anchored by top Hollywood talent.”

Following tradition of the original Call of Duty: Black Ops fan-favorite Zombies mode “Call of the Dead,” Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising’s chilling new “Mob of the Dead” Zombies experience puts players in the shoes of four prohibition-era mobsters, Billy Handsome (Liotta), Al “The Weasel” Arlington (Pantoliano), Salvatore “Sal” DeLuca (Palminteri), and Michael “Finn” O’Leary (Madsen), serving time in Alcatraz Prison only to discover that being behind bars is the least of their problems. In order to survive, players must work their way through the steel cells and aging concrete buildings while fighting off a multitude of zombified prisoners and guards trapped on the island with them.

Uprising also debuts four new, exotic and unique multiplayer maps set around the globe: “Magma” is a modern Japanese village with volcanic eruptions carving multiple paths throughout the town; “Encore” takes place in the aftermath of a deserted London music festival and leaves numerous opportunities for plenty of run-and-gun, close quarters combat; “Vertigo” is a futuristic high-rise mega-structure located in India and features dizzying vistas and multi-tiered pathways; finally, “Studio” is a contemporary re-imagining of “Firing Range,” the fan-favorite multiplayer map from the original Call of Duty: Black Ops. “Studio” is a Hollywood movie back lot with a variety of cinematic themes that range from Sci-Fi to the Old West.

Celebrating today’s launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising, Treyarch is hosting a Grudge Match between two professional football players from this year’s Super Bowl Champions, the Baltimore Ravens. Running Back Ray Rice & Wide Receiver Torrey Smith will go head-to-head, each captaining a team of development team members, as they go head-to-head in an intense battle for bragging rights playing on the new maps included in Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising. Gamers can review highlights on theCall of Duty: Black Ops II Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/codblackops.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising is out now first, exclusively on Xbox LIVE for a suggested retail price of $14.99 or 1200 Microsoft Points. The Uprising DLC Map Pack is also included in the Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC Season Pass*, where fans can purchase all four epic DLC Map Packs planned for the year, and also receive the Nuketown Zombies bonus map, and an exclusive in-game calling card as part of the discounted bundle offered at a suggested retail price of $49.99 or 4000 Microsoft Points – a discount of 800 Microsoft Points off the individual purchase of all four DLC Map Packs**.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II is rated “M” (Mature – Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs – content suitable for persons ages 17 and older) by the ESRB. More information on Call of Duty: Black Ops II can be found at http://www.callofduty.com/blackops2 or on www.facebook.com/codblackops. Fans can also follow @Treyarch on Twitter.

Screenshots

MWO Gets Team System and Highlander Champion Mechs

2013/04/16
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

Mechwarrior_online

THE INNER SPHERE – April 16, 2013 – MechWarrior Online takes its first step toward launch later this summer as it unveils in-game team structure as part of April’s big content update which sees the implementation of in-game Commanders, Lance Leaders and overall Lance structure – this update is considered the key pre-cursor to 12 v 12 matches which will go live later this spring.

Also new in today’s patch and available now in the Mech Lab are all variants of last week’s Hero Mech, the Highlander Mech, which smashed all previous Mech sales records in Piranha Games’ MechWarrior Online. Owing to the great success of the Highlander’s popularity is one defining feature: it taunts players on the battlefield when it plays a victory song from outward-facing speakers. Though the non-Hero Mech variants do not boast this victory music feature, they are deadly nevertheless and should be taken extremely seriously on the battlefield. The load-outs of these variants can be found here: http://mwomercs.com/game/patch-notes.

And for fans wishing for high-end preset Mechs to purchase, limited edition “Champion” Mechs are now available for purchase in the Mech Lab. Inspired by fan requests, the first Champion Mech, “Dragon”, comes equipped with ahigh end fan-assigned load-out fully equipped and optimized for long range dps/heat efficiency. The Dragon Champion Mech is purchased with MC only and its load out can be viewed here: http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/108341-build-a-trial-mech-heavy-edition-winner/.

Other new features include new user-friendly UI tips, loading tips, and host state rewind for ballistic weapons all wrapped in a new pattern fans can grab now from the Mech Bay, the Fractal pattern.

Additionally, MechWarrior Online will see a leaderboard challenge event hitting on April 19 – 23 of this month, with MechWarrior credit prizes.  Full details will be posted for fans on www.mwomercs.com in coming days, so stay tuned!

For complete information on MechWarrior Online or to sign up for the free game, please visit www.mwomercs.com.

Neverwinter – Rothe Valley Lore Trailer

2013/04/16
Jerry Paxton
News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

neverwinter

April 16, 2013 – Last weekend was another exciting moment for the Neverwinter team as we dove into Beta Weekend 4 to explore a close to final version of the game with our Founders and press before Open Beta! Thanks for your continuous support.

Today, we bring you a brand new trailer that will take Neverwinter’s heroes on a journey to Rothé Valley , where the drow of House Xorlarrin are enslaving and killing anyone they can find. This high-level adventure zone will pit heroes against the magical mastery and arachnid minions of the iconic dark elves corrupted by their Spider Queen.

Trailer

Weekend Box Office for April 12-14, 2013

2013/04/15
Jerry Paxton
Movie News, News

scary_movie_5_2013-wide

This weekend saw the release of two anticipated films: The 42, the story of Jackie Robinson, and Scary Movie V. Each did well, with 42 bringing in $27M and Scary Movie V scaring up $15M. Evil Dead dropped to 5th place at $10M, behind G.I. Joe Retaliation, which is holding strong with an $11M take.

The Top Ten

  1. 42 – $27M / $27M
  2. Scary Movie 5 – $15M / $15M
  3. The Croods – $13M / $143M
  4. G.I. Joe Retaliation – $11M / $102M
  5. Evil Dead – $10M / $42M
  6. Jurassic Park 3D – $10M / $38M
  7. Olympus Has Fallen – $7M / $82M
  8. Oz The Great and Powerful – $7M / $219M
  9. Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor – $5M / $45M
  10. The Place Beyond the Pines – $4M / $5M

The Hutt Cartel Now Live

2013/04/15
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

swtor_hutt

AUSTIN, Texas – Apr. 14, 2013 – The Hutt Cartel is making a huge play to become the next galactic superpower and only the Republic or the Empire can stop their rise! BioWare™, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), and LucasArts announced today that the first digital expansion for Star Wars: The Old Republic, Rise of the Hutt Cartel, is now available for players worldwide. Available for $19.99 (USD), or at half price for current Subscribers ($9.99 USD), players can extend their personal Star Wars™ saga, with exciting new playable missions, new features and a striking new planet, Makeb. Playing through Rise of the Hutt Cartel will raise the game’s level cap to 55 and allow players to access a host of new, higher-level group content in the recently released Game Update 2.0:Scum and Villainy.

“We’ve worked hard over the last year to ensure we were listening to player feedback and acting on it. This month, we’re not only adding hours of new story-driven content and features with Rise of the Hutt Cartel, but we are also adding depth and content to the end game with our latest Game Update 2.0: Scum and Villainy,” said Jeff Hickman, Executive Producer of Star Wars: The Old Republic. “All of this new content, combined with a much larger, more active and engaged community since the addition of the Free-to-Play option last year, makes this the best time to join or return to The Old Republic!”

In Rise of the Hutt Cartel, players will explore a new storyline on the beautiful and exciting new planet of Makeb. Here players will continue their faction storylines as they fight against a nefarious new threat, the Hutt Cartel, attempting a take-over of the planet and all its resources. As players progress through the new levels they will earn new gear and abilities, along with access to new Elder Game content. As part of the experience, players will also be able to acquire new technological gear including Macrobinoculars and Seeker Droids, which take players on galaxy-spanning new missions to unlock valuable rewards.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is set thousands of years before the classic Star Wars movies. Players are immersed as they team up with friends online to fight in heroic battles reminiscent of the films, exploring a galaxy of vibrant planets, experiencing visceral Star Wars combat, all set to a sweeping musical score. Now, players can experience the complete storylines of the eight iconic Star Warsclasses, all the way to Level 50 without having to pay a monthly fee. experience Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Visit www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com/RiseoftheHuttCartel to learn more or purchase the Digital Expansion for $19.99. Be sure to checkwww.StarWarsTheTheOldRepublic.com for the latest updates and follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

EA Sports NHL 14 Details Released

2013/04/15
Jerry Paxton
News, PlayStation 3 News, Xbox 360 News

NHL-14

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – April 15, 2013 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced today the breakthrough features forEA SPORTSTM NHL®14 that are set to unleash the aggression, speed and skill of NHL hockey through the best technology of this console generation that EA SPORTS has to offer. Deliver game-changing hits with cutting-edge NHL® Collision Physics, built from EA SPORTS FIFA’s revolutionary Player Impact Engine. Drop the gloves with the all-new Enforcer Engine, powered by the same technology used in the critically acclaimed Fight Night franchise. Experience a new level of speed and control with the second season of the critically-acclaimed True Performance Skating engine, and dangle defenders with all-new One-Touch Dekes. In addition, fans can Live the Life of an NHL player in an all-new incarnation of the Be a Pro Career Mode, now featuring on and off-ice elements. NHL 14 will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. NHL 14 releases on September 10, 2013 in North America and September 13, 2013 in Europe.

“We’re very proud of the history of innovation that the EA SPORTS NHL franchise has produced on this console generation, and this year we’re amplifying that innovation by leveraging technology from teams like FIFA and Fight Night,” says Dean Richards, General Manager, NHL, EA SPORTS. “This year fans will feel the speed, skill and aggression of NHL hockey like never before, powered by some of the best EA SPORTS technology to create the best game we could ever imagine.”

The NHL 14 official trailer can be found here:

NHL 14 Features

·         NHL® Collision Physics – Developed from the same core technology that powers EA SPORTS FIFA’s critically-acclaimed Player Impact Engine, NHL® Collision Physics introduces bigger, more thrilling hits, and truer-to-life collisions. A new left-stick control scheme makes delivering a game-changing hit simpler and more rewarding than ever.

·         Enforcer Engine – Powered by the same technology used in the critically acclaimed Fight Night franchise, NHL 14 will bring a brand new third-person presentation to showcase the anatomy of a fight. All players on the ice (human or CPU) remain live from the drop of the gloves to the trip to the penalty box, with no break in the action. This new technology delivers, for the first time in the EA SPORTS NHL franchise, true size and strength differentiation between players, new jostling mechanics and much more to create the most authentic and electrifying experience yet.

·         True Performance Skating – Built on the breakthrough innovation that introduced physics-based skating and over 1,000 new skating animations to the EA SPORTS NHL franchise. The second year of the True Performance Skating features improved acceleration, explosive first-strides, quicker pivots and enhanced lateral skating, resulting in greater player responsiveness and unprecedented control.

·         One-Touch Dekes – Experience what it feels like to be a superstar through a new, more responsive deking system controlled only with the left stick and one-button. From beginner to advanced gamers, the system allows for quicker reactive dekes and intuitive combination dekes, creating more moves than ever before.

·         Live the Life – The new incarnation of the Be a Pro Career Mode, now you can truly Live the Life of an NHL player. On or off the ice, every decision you make shapes your legacy as an athlete. Interact with teammates outside of the rink. Take part in media interviews. Each choice you make will affect your relationship with fans, teammates and management, influencing your skills and progression.

·         HUT & EASHL Online Seasons – NHL 14 adds the best-in-class promotion and relegation system in the sports category to the Hockey Ultimate Team & EA SPORTS Hockey League modes. Win games and advance to the next division to face tougher competition, fall short and see your team bumped down. Teams will be able to track their progress across multiple seasons.

Create the greatest fantasy team in sports with NHL® 13 Hockey Ultimate Team. In a hockey world without career lengths or a salary cap, acquire and assemble top players from around the world, then take on friends or skilled opponents from a massive online community.

NHL 14 Cover Vote to Launch on April 22, 2013

Beginning April 22, 2013, fans around the world can once again shape the face of the world’s #1 hockey video game franchise when the second annual EA SPORTS NHL® Cover Vote Campaign launches on NHL.com/covervote.

In its inaugural year, the EA SPORTS NHL 13 Cover Vote Campaign generated more than 25 million fan votes, culminating with Philadelphia Flyers Captain Claude Giroux landing on the NHL 13 cover.

Marvel Super Hero Squad Online Turns 2

2013/04/15
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

67669_orig

SAN MATEO, Calif. – April 15, 2013 – Gazillion Entertainment, a leading developer and publisher of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, is celebrating the two-year anniversary of Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, the family friendly free-to-play online game featuring Super Heroes from the Marvel Universe.

With more than 5 million registrations since launch, Marvel Super Hero Squad Online is kicking off the two-year anniversary celebration with a series of in-game events, new feature releases, challenges, and heroes including:

  • New Playable Heroes – Bombastic Bagman, Venom, Spider-Man: Ends of the Earth, Spider-Man Noir and many others make their debut as playable characters.
  • Expanded Challenges – 20 new challenges highlighting Mayhem Mode bosses including Loki, Green Goblin, and Doctor Doom.  By completing all of the challenges, players will unlock a powerful new playable villain – M.O.D.O.K.
  • Enhanced Abilities – Players can unlock five new levels for each character and power up their special abilities by purchasing Medallions.
  • New World Events – Compete daily for a chance to win Spider-Man Noir by collecting Infinity Fractals from the game world or from the store.

Since the game launched in April 2011, Marvel Super Hero Squad Online has added countless hours of exciting new game content including new game modes, fan-favorite playable Marvel Super Heroes, and unique achievements and collectibles.  The past twelve months saw the arrival of over 30 new characters – including 2 new playable villains! Dozens of new missions, challenges and special events offer thrilling new gaming experiences drawn directly from the Marvel Universe.  With the recent launch of Mayhem Mode, players are challenged to explore Super Hero City for dangerous villains to battle.

Marvel Super Hero Squad Online is a free-to-play, family-friendly game where players can team up with friends and adventure as legendary Super Heroes from the expansive Marvel Universe. Players can engage in exhilarating combat, explore interactive environments, and collect thousands of items. Marvel Super Hero Squad Online has over 100 playable heroes to choose from, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye and more. Marvel Super Hero Squad Online offers more than 30 exciting missions across four zones, arcade games, and a head-to-head collectible card game starring Super Heroes from the game!

For more information on Marvel Super Hero Squad Online visit: www.heroup.com.