Author - Jerry Paxton

Star Trek: Infinite Out Now

2023/10/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Mac PC News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Paradox Interactive and Nimble Giant Entertainment today launched the sci-fi grand strategy game Star Trek: Infinite, under license from Paramount Consumer Products, on PC and Mac. In this Star Trek grand strategy game, players are empowered to lead one of four major factions in the galaxy, navigating complex choices through emergent gameplay. Fans can purchase the interstellar adventure for $29.99/£29.99/€29.99 or the Deluxe Edition—featuring a digital artbook, the game soundtrack, and an in-game music pack featuring fresh compositions from Star Trek’s original soundtrack composers—for $39.99/£39.99/€39.99 on Steam.

Star Trek: Infinite delivers dynamic gameplay and opportunities for intricate decision-making, plunging players into the heart of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. Set about two decades prior to the era of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Infinite lets players shape the fate of the galaxy by leading one of four formidable Quadrant Powers: the United Federation of Planets, Romulan Star Empire, Cardassian Union, or Klingon Empire. With utmost fidelity to Star Trek lore, the game introduces fresh avenues for exploration as players navigate the complexities of empire management, handle intricate economic systems, and interact with enigmatic civilizations.

“Star Trek: Infinite represents a monumental achievement for our team at Nimble Giant Entertainment. We’ve poured our passion for the Star Trek universe into every aspect of the game, striving to create an experience that captivates both long-time fans and newcomers alike,” said Martin Cao, CEO of Nimble Giant Entertainment. “With its rich storytelling and deep strategic gameplay, we hope that Star Trek: Infinite will become a beloved addition to the Star Trek gaming legacy.”

“We’ve been working closely with Paramount Consumer Products to ensure that this game faithfully captures the intricate lore of Star Trek,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive. “It’s a true voyage into the heart of the Star Trek universe, allowing players to shape the galaxy’s destiny through grand strategy.”

Star Trek: Infinite Key Features:

  • Your Star Trek Story: With Star Trek: Infinite there is no singular way to play. Whether you wish to take the route of diplomacy, espionage, warfare, or a mix of all of these, there are multiple paths to victory. You are in command, and the fate of the galaxy is in your hands! *** Choose Your Faction: Choose between the United Federation of Planets, Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, or Cardassian Union. You will take on the role of the leader in charge of all the major decisions of your faction as the game unfolds. With each faction having their own unique styles of play, your decisions determine how successful you are in reaching your goals.

  • Iconic Characters: Star Trek: Infinite has been meticulously created to provide an immersive Star Trek experience while allowing you to shape the story of your playthrough according to the choices you make as the leader of your chosen faction. As you take on the role of the Federation, you’ll have the opportunity to recruit iconic captains and officers, including Picard, Janeway, Sisko, and Data to name a few. Meanwhile, other factions offer their own set of iconic characters to enlist, such as Gowron, Makbar, Garak, and many more.

  • Diverse Starships: Beyond the potential cast of characters you recruit to your faction, the game grants you access to a range of starships from the Star Trek universe, tailored to each faction’s arsenal. From the Federation’s reliable Intrepid– and Defiant-_class ships, the menacing Cardassian _Galor-class vessels, the sleek Romulan D’deridex, or even the formidable Klingon Negh’Var battleships.

    • Of course, the U.S.S. Enterprise-D can be developed and added to the Federation fleet through the bespoke storytelling system developed for Star Trek: Infinite.

  • Deep & Complex Strategy: Star Trek: Infinite is built upon the core systems of Stellaris, leveraging the deep and complex system and making them its own. Aspects of these systems have been streamlined and simplified to better resonate with the Star Trek franchise.**

Conan the Barbarian Free Text Adventure Out Now

2023/10/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Heroic Signatures, a Funcom IP subsidiary, is pleased to give Conan the Barbarian fans a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the Hyborian Age. In a free new text adventure available directly on the Heroic Signatures website, players can test their wit and courage in an encounter with Conan the Barbarian. Players who succeed in gaining Conan’s favor will be awarded with a link where they can sign up for a chance to win a magnificent new full-size poster of the Hyborian Age map, created by talented artist Francesca Baerald.

Funcom also recently released Age of War – Chapter 2 for their open world survival game Conan Exiles, a free major update with significant improvements and reworks to game systems like loot and purges. As with each Chapter, it comes with a new Battle Pass brimming with cosmetic armors, weapons, building pieces, and more.

Today’s new text adventure is closely tied to Conan Exiles. Inspired by classic Choose Your Own Adventures, it takes place within the confines of the Dusky Coil Inn, a location in Conan Exiles, but lets players type in any action they wish to perform.

Working with developer and writer Lo Terry, Heroic Signatures wish to balance some of the freedoms of AI with the tailored scenarios and characters of Conan’s world. While the player can attempt to do whatever they want, odd and frivolous behavior will invite the contempt of Conan himself, and reduce the chances of winning the contest. The game is infused with all of Robert E. Howard’s stories, as well as additional lore within the Conan universe, creating a fun experience for anyone seeking to be immersed in the Hyborian Age.

As the official Conan website receives a fresh coat of warpaint, new Conan adventures await everywhere. Play the text adventure and join the competition before issue 3 of the Conan comic book arrives on October 27, as well as the launch of a new monthly series of digital Conan short stories on October 26.

The Conan text adventure is available to play right now on the Heroic Signatures website.

Company of Heroes Collection Out Now on Nintendo Switch

2023/10/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, Trailers / Videos

Feral Interactive are pleased to announce that Company of Heroes™ Collection is now available on Nintendo Switch.

Company of Heroes Collection comprises the celebrated WW2 real-time strategy classic and both its expansions, Opposing Fronts and Tales of Valor, in one battle-hardened bundle. Using a bespoke control scheme designed for Nintendo Switch, tactics and orders are easily conveyed, and facilitate the fast-paced squad-based combat in fierce battles from the D-Day landings through to the liberation of Normandy.

Company of Heroes Collection is available now on the Nintendo eShop for $29.99 / €24,99 / £19.99.

Note: Company of Heroes Collection is single-player only at launch, with multiplayer planned for a post-release update.

Universal Studios Hollywood Unveils Return of Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas

2023/10/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates the festive holidays with eagerly awaited seasonal favorites, “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” and “Grinchmas,™” beginning Friday, November 24, 2023, and running daily through Monday, January 1, 2024. All holiday activities are included in the price of theme park admission.

“Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” brings the spirit of the holiday season to the village of Hogsmeade™ as the land is transformed with merry décor of shimmering lights, decorative garlands and festive wreaths. Guests can take delight in special holiday a cappella performances from the Frog Choir, stroll through the village shops while sipping delicious hot Butterbeer™ or savor festive fare at Three Broomsticks™.

Beginning at dusk each night, “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts™ Castle” will dazzle with stunning imagery as the impressive light projection show illuminates Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, bringing the iconic Hogwarts™ castle to life and infusing the land with the sounds of an arrangement of music from the Harry Potter film series.

Guests can commemorate their Christmas visit to Hogsmeade Village with a variety of exclusive keepsake items available for purchase, including personalized ornaments, sweaters, scarves and stockings.

The spirited “Grinchmas” Who-bilation also returns with an all-new daytime performance featuring the Who-Bee Doo-Wops group, Who-ville’s latest musical sensation rocking out to hip-swinging, bell-ringing holiday classics for the Whos and guests to enjoy.

The familiar and festive topsy-turvy 65 foot-tall “Grinchmas” tree, adorned with hundreds of ornaments and thousands of LED lights will stand tall within Universal Plaza, entertaining guests with a nightly tree lighting ceremony and snowfall flurry, bringing good tidings and season’s greetings to all.

“Grinchmas” activities will include photo opportunities with the GrinchTM and his faithful dog Max, a chance to spend time with Cindy-Lou Who as she leads daily story time for young guests looking to learn “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and visit to the Who-ville post office to mail a merry postcard sharing three good deeds.

A themed craft area will provide guests the opportunity for jolly holiday decorating by creating paper ornaments to adorn the Grinchmas tree or to take home as a holiday souvenir. Plus, a selection of themed Who-tacular sweet treats, including the Grinch Donut and hot cocoa, will be available for purchase.

Adding to the theme park activities, Universal CityWalk Hollywood will be dressed for the holiday season with spirited décor and a 40-foot-tall Christmas tree featuring more than 200,000 LED lights. The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen presents a new seasonal milkshake, available both at the Foundry milkshake bar and in the dining room. The ever-popular Voodoo Doughnut will entice guests with delicious seasonal flavors to celebrate the holiday spirit. Antojitos Cocina Mexicana serves up a variety of festive-themed drinks, including Mistletoe Mule, Chestnut Horchata and Apple Cider Margarita. NBC Sports Grill & Brew spreads holiday cheer with a tasty Peppermint Martini, and Jimmy Buffett’s® Margaritaville® whips up a deliciously creamy and joyful drink with its Co-co-Colada. VIVO Italian Kitchen offers an assortment of flavorful drinks with the Winter Martini, Apple Cheer Martini and Hot Apple Cider, which is available as a non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverage. Guests must be 21 years or older+ and have a valid photo ID to purchase or drink alcoholic beverages.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Admission to Universal CityWalk is free. More information is available at www.CityWalkHollywood.com.

House Flipper 2: the Sandbox Mode Announced

2023/10/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Frozen District, creators of the critically acclaimed House Flipper series, are ecstatic to shed light on the highly anticipated feature set to debut in House Flipper 2: the Sandbox Mode. This all-new sandbox experience elevates the home renovation gaming experience to new heights. Players are no longer limited to merely flipping existing homes; the Sandbox Mode empowers them to craft houses from the ground up, answering years of dedicated fan feedback from forums and beyond. Prepare to swap your mop for a brick hammer as House Flipper 2 releases on December 14 on Steam.

While Story Mode remains a beloved feature from House Flipper 1, now Sandbox mode promises to give fans what they were missing – and more. Such is the vastness of this sandbox — or perhaps “arena box” would be more apt — that Frozen District’s level designers constructed every house in House Flipper 2’s Story Mode using the Sandbox Mode. This grants players access to the same sophisticated tools wielded by the game developers, essentially transforming this mode into an advanced level editor.

Key Highlights of the Sandbox mode:

  • New Sandbox Mode: Build from scratch with unparalleled creative freedom.
  • Advanced Building Tools: Use grid snapping or free placement for meticulous design.
  • Customization & Flexibility: Clone styles, alter wall heights, or relocate entire houses.
  • Landscaping: Shape and mold the environment, from rolling hills or deep basements.
  • Material Customization: Dynamic options to change wall patterns, colors, and more.
  • Floor Plan View: Top-down planning mode for detailed design and layout.
  • Expanding Furniture Library: Over 1,500 items, and growing, for detailed interior designs.
  • Undo & Redo at Will: Simply undo or redo steps, offering players unmatched flexibility.
  • Endless Design Customization: From adjustable walls to a vast color spectrum for painting.
  • Creations & Community Sharing: share your house creations with the broader community.
  • Seamless & Dynamic: Insert windows without prior cut-outs, construct basements, and alter landscapes in real time.

XGIMI 4K Horizon Ultra Projector Review

2023/10/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

The XGIMI Horizon Ultra is a new 4K projector with Dolby Vision support that has quickly become one of the most popular choices for gamers. It offers many features that make it ideal for gaming, including a low input lag, a high refresh rate, and support for HDR and, as mentioned, Dolby Vision. Unboxing the projector, I was met by a large white/beige box that had no discernible lens or projection mechanism. Sure, it has a host of input options on the back, but nothing of note on the front! I plugged the projector into an available power outlet and hit the power button. Amazingly, like those cool sports car headlights from the 80’s, the front bezel retracted to reveal a large, clear projector lens! It is such a cool geek moment when you turn the projector on and it prepares itself for the entertainment to come.

Here is the official product video for the projector:

The Horizon Ultra produces stunning image quality, with sharp details, vivid colors, and deep blacks. This is thanks to its 4K resolution, Dolby Vision support, and high contrast ratio. The projector also performs well in bright ambient light, making it suitable for use in living rooms and other well-lit spaces.

The Horizon Ultra is a great projector for gaming, thanks to its low input lag and high refresh rate. The input lag is just 8.3ms, which is lower than most TVs and monitors. This means that there is very little delay between your inputs and the action on the screen, giving you a competitive edge in games. The Horizon Ultra also supports a high refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This means that you can enjoy smooth and fluid gameplay, even in fast-paced games like shooters and racing games. With support for both HDR and Dolby Vision, you can enjoy games with enhanced brightness, contrast, and color. Both technologies make games look incredibly realistic and immersive on the Horizon Ultra, with stunning visuals that will blow you away.

All the inputs!

In addition to its excellent gaming performance, the Horizon Ultra is a great choice for all-around use. It has a built-in Android TV operating system, which gives you access to a wide range of streaming apps, games, and other content. The projector also has several smart features, such as automatic keystone correction and autofocus. The smart projector trend which we are enjoying now is an absolute blessing. It wasn’t so long ago that projectors required an external source for their input signals. I remember having to creatively-wrap HDMI cable around my couch so that the Blu-ray player would be able to connect. You can still do that if you wish, but there is plenty of excellent 4K content available by way of the built-in apps. It features both Wi-Fi and a LAN port to allow you the most options for your network setup.

A true projector beauty!

One area that projectors often fail at is their built-in speaker tech. Thankfully, XGIMI is not dropping the ball here either. The projector is equipped with two 12W Harman Kardon speakers that are more than up to the task of movie or game audio. Not missing a beat, there is still an optical output on the back of the project or if you would rather use an external speaker setup.

The one thing that might not work with a gamer’s setup is that the projector features a rather long throw ratio with a max projection size of 200 inches! This beast was made for the home theater environment. It also features a ton of automatic, internal intelligent features like eye protection, obstacle avoidance, and more.

The XGIMI Horizon Ultra is an excellent projector for gamers, offering a combination of low input lag, high refresh rate, and HDR/Dolby Vision support that is unmatched by any other projector in its price range. It is also a great all-around projector, with a built-in Android TV operating system, smart features, and good image quality in bright ambient light. It retails for $1699, so it isn’t cheap, but it is a lot more feature-packed and capable than more expensive projectors on the market. If you’ve got the means and the living room space, you will not be disappointed.

If you are looking for a projector that will give you the best possible gaming experience, the Horizon Ultra is a great option to consider.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Official School Bus Extension Review

2023/10/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Reviews, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Official School Bus Extension is a DLC for the popular bus simulation game Bus Simulator 21. This new extension was released on September 7, 2022, and adds three new school buses, new missions, and new plenty of new features to the game. The new school buses are all officially licensed from the American manufacturer Blue Bird. They include the All American FE, the All American RE, and the Vision. These buses are all well-designed and accurately modeled, and they provide a realistic driving experience. Each of the buses handles how they seem to in real life. They are realistically sluggish and have a feeling of weight and mass to them.

The new missions are all centered around school trips. Players must pick up children at various stops around the city, transport them safely and punctually to their schools, and then pick them up again at the end of the day. These missions can be challenging, but they are also a lot of fun. They are short enough to keep things moving but long enough to be worth the money of the extension. While the overall experience is a lot of fun, it is not without bugs. The most frustrating thing I encountered was that the awarding of points for use of the stop arm and lights is very buggy and I’ve only got them to trigger properly once. In addition to the new missions, the DLC also adds a number of new features to the game. These include new bus stops, new school buildings, and new NPCs. The new bus stops are located near schools and other important landmarks, and they make it easier for players to pick up and drop off passengers. The new school buildings are also well-designed and accurately modeled. The new NPCs are children, and they add a new level of realism to the game.

The Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Official School Bus Extension is one of those gaming experiences that allows you to pass the time with a zen-like driving experience. The game is compatible with most of the big driving peripherals and I loved using my Logitech wheel and pedals while driving my routes. The only thing that would make the game better would be for it to have full VR support.

Overall, Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Official School Bus Extension is a great DLC that adds a lot of new content to the game. The new school buses are well-designed and accurately modeled, the new missions are challenging and fun, and the new features make the game more realistic and immersive.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Hearts of Iron IV Arms Against Tyranny Launch Trailer

2023/10/11
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Hearts of Iron IV expands the range of new histories you can write in Arms Against Tyranny, a new addition to the best-selling grand strategy wargame from Paradox Interactive. The northernmost countries of Europe take center stage as they resist, unite against or collaborate with more powerful and aggressive neighbors. Sometimes, winter is your only ally.

Relive the dramatic Finnish struggle against Soviet invasion, plot a neutral course powered by arms trading or explore alternate histories for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Arms Against Tyranny also adds more decisions about the production of weapons, giving players newer tools to test their mastery of modern warfare.

Features of Hearts of Iron IV: Arms Against Tyranny include:

  • New Finnish National Focus Tree: Walk the diplomatic tightrope of a democratic nation trapped between threats, develop a capable defensive army, or pursue alternate historical paths of collaboration with the neighboring tyrants.
  • New Swedish National Focus Tree: Resource rich and fiercely independent, Sweden can be the center of a unified Scandinavian resistance, or a game-changing ally in the ongoing battle of ideologies.
  • New Danish and Norwegian Focus Trees: With the benefit of hindsight, can you prepare these small nations for the storm of war that is about to wash upon their shores?
  • Military Industrial Organizations: Customize your armaments industry by encouraging national corporations to specialize in the types of weapons and technology you desire for your armed forces.
  • International Arms Market: Become the quartermaster of the world by selling arms and equipment to the warring nations, receiving civilian factory capacity in return.
  • And more: New unit art, 10 new songs, customization of Special Forces units and greater divisional specialization.

Hearts of Iron VI: Arms Against Tyranny will be accompanied by a major free update available to all Hearts of Iron IV players. Arms Against Tyranny is available now for the suggested retail price of $19.99/£16.75/€19.99.

Snail Games and Angela Game Reach Settlement

2023/10/11
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Industry News, News

Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) (“Snail”), a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment and video game software, along with its subsidiary Studio Wildcard, has officially disclosed a settlement agreement with Suzhou Angela Online Game Technology Co., Ltd (“Angela”) and Imperium Interactive Entertainment Limited (“Imperium”). The settlement marks the resolution of copyright and trade secret litigation concerning Myth of Empires (MoE) and includes ongoing royalty payments of Myth of Empire from Angela to Snail, while Snail assists the distribution of Myth of Empires. While details of the Settlement and Release Agreement remain confidential, the parties jointly announced the resolution of their disputes and Snail Games’s cooperation with Angela in the distribution of Myth of Empires going forward.

The original legal complaint can be found HERE:
https://casetext.com/case/suzhou-angela-online-game-tech-co-v-snail-games-us-inc-3/

Full title: Suzhou Angela Online Game Technology Co., Ltd. et al. v. Snail Games USA…
Court: United States District Court, Central District of California

“Following nearly two years of litigation, we are pleased to announce this settlement agreement for Snail, Angela, and Studio Wildcard. Angela acknowledges that it caused difficulties for Snail’s business. By working together, Angela and Snail will put those difficulties behind them. Angela regrets any difficulties it caused Snail and look forward to moving into this business partnership. At the same time we hope that, with Snail’s extensive user resources and excellent platform relationships built on ARK, they can assist us in our future publishing efforts, injecting greater market vitality into Myth of Empires,” said Yi Ling Zheng, President, Angela Game.

“We are pleased to announce this settlement agreement and facilitate the re-release of Myth of Empires which benefits both parties and opens up additional revenue streams for us through the partnership with Angela,” said Doug Kennedy, Co-founder of Studio Wildcard.

As part of the settlement, Snail Games will withdraw its DMCA Notice against Myth of Empires and work collaboratively with PC distribution platforms for a re-release of the game in early 2024. Additionally, Snail Games will partner on the global launch of MoE on both PlayStation and Microsoft platforms in early 2024 and will assist in public relations, marketing, and first party support for the game. Myth of Empires will be released by Angela and Snail Games both physically and digitally on console and PC. Angela Games will also develop a steady cadence of DLC and expansion packs for Myth of Empires, in partnership with Snail Games USA.

Corsair Unveils K70 CORE Keyboard with CORSAIR MLX Red Linear Mechanical Switches

2023/10/10
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Peripherals News

CORSAIR® (NASDAQ: CRSR), a world leader in high-performance gear for gamers and content creators, today announced the launch of a new keyboard that delivers premium play for every gamer: the K70 CORE. Debuting with CORSAIR MLX Red linear mechanical switches, the K70 CORE offers a refined playing and typing experience in a full-size profile. Whether you’re a casual player or an aspiring esports pro, your ambition starts with K70 CORE.

K70 CORE introduces CORSAIR MLX Red linear switches, an ultra-responsive mechanical switch that offers smooth, satisfying keypresses ideally suited for keyboard enthusiasts and gamers. Factory pre-lubrication ensures that each keystroke exhibits silky-smooth travel, and switches are tightly constructed to reduce stem wobble. Along with CORSAIR OPX optical and MGX magnetic switches, CORSAIR Reds round out the lineup of original CORSAIR mechanical switches that give discerning players a trio of fantastic options.

Surrounding the switches are two layers of premium sound dampening foam, eliminating annoying pings and clacks that take you out of the game. Instead, you’ll enjoy softened acoustics that make gaming sound as good as it feels.

The K70 CORE makes it easy to personalize your play. More than just a volume knob, the keyboard’s multi-function rotary dial can adjust RGB brightness, scroll through webpages, and zoom. Next to the dial is a programmable button for controlling media with ease. CORSAIR iCUE software unlocks the keyboard’s full power, granting you the ability to customize per-key RGB backlighting, program macros, remap keys, and more.

Beyond superior sound and feel, the K70 CORE delivers on high-caliber durability and design. CORSAIR Red switches reside in a robust aluminum top plate and topped by resilient double-shot keycaps. This bolstered construction provides you peace of mind to play freely, knowing your keyboard won’t quit.

With such tremendous performance at a tidy price, the K70 CORE line empowers gamers to ambitiously play, win, and have fun.

Availability, Warranty, and Pricing

The CORSAIR K70 CORE gaming keyboard is available immediately from the CORSAIR webstore and the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized online retailers and distributors.

The CORSAIR K70 CORE gaming keyboard is backed by a two-year warranty, alongside the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.

Web Pages

To learn more about the CORSAIR K70 CORE gaming keyboard, please visit:
https://www.corsair.com/k70-core

For a complete list of all CORSAIR keyboards, please visit:

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/c/keyboards