Author - Jerry Paxton

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights Reveals Full Line-Up for 2023

2023/08/09

This year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood completes its 2023 line-up with the demonic “Evil Dead Rise” and frightening original houses, “Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America” and “Holidayz in Hell.” The notorious “Terror Tram” returns with “Terror Tram…The Exterminatorz” to petrify guests starting Thursday, September 7 and running select nights through October 31.

The full line-up of the fear that awaits follows in eight haunted houses and Universal Studios Hollywood’s exclusive Terror Tram:

“The Last of Us” engrosses guests in a struggle to survive against fearsome Clickers, Bloaters, and more from Naughty Dog and PlayStation’s award-winning video game.
“Stranger Things 4” transports guests to Hawkins, Indiana where they will face off against the evil Vecna in the fourth season of Netflix’s original series.
“The Exorcist: Believer” invites visitors into a terrifying new beginning in horror, as two families battle a sinister demonic force that has possessed their young daughters.
“Universal Monsters: Unmasked” expands on the Universal Monsters legacy with horror icons The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Phantom of the Opera and The Hunchback of Notre Dame coming together for the first time ever in a chilling new story.
“Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count” features the infamous slasher doll and his best kills throughout the hit USA & SYFY series and cult classic films.
“Evil Dead Rise” brings guests to a new twisted tale, based on New Line Cinema’s return to the iconic horror franchise and 2023 box office hit.
“Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America” includes the most terrifying ghosts and creatures from Latin American folklore.
“Holidayz in Hell” takes visitors on a petrifying trip through a series of psychotic seasonal celebrations.
“Terror Tram…The Exterminatorz” puts guests on the world-famous Universal backlot and in the middle of an insect uprising led by the devious Larry Larva whose goal is to exterminate humans from the Earth. Horror fans will also walk along the Jupiter’s Claim set from Nope where they will encounter The Tethered from Us in an epic crossover from two of director Jordan Peele’s blockbusters.

A plethora of horror-themed food and drink items will be available to whet the scariest of appetites. Must be 21 years or older with valid photo identification to purchase or drink alcoholic beverages.

“Stranger Things” fans can visit Surfer Boy Pizza for a variety of pizza flavors, Scoops Ahoy for tasty ice cream creations and a new 80’s themed Stellar Bar with mixed cocktails.
Quick service restaurant Hollywood & Dine will transform into a “Chucky”-themed BBQ featuring brisket and Nashville popcorn chicken sandwiches, pulled pork macaroni and cheese, funnel cakes and themed drinks.
The Carl Laemmle Patio will feature Peacock’s Halloween Horror Bar with themed cocktails from The Purge and “Chucky” and photo opportunities with scareactors.
Universal Plaza will serve up a celebration in honor of Dia de Los Muertos featuring an array of Latin Folklore-themed cocktails, Lil Cocina Taco Stand and a margarita bar.

Horror fans looking to commemorate their Halloween Horror Nights experience can find a selection of merchandised themed to this year’s houses, including t-shirts, hoodies, mugs and more.

Guests also can experience select theme park attractions open during the run of event, including “Jurassic World—The Ride,” “Transformers™: The Ride-3D,” “Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride” and “The Simpsons Ride™.”

Additionally, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” will be open during Halloween Horror Nights, inviting guests to experience some of their favorite attractions, including “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™.” Returning for another year, Death Eaters™, a group of Voldemort’s most devoted followers, will roam Hogsmeade™ village looking to find others willing to show loyalty to the Dark Lord’s cause.

Universal Studios Hollywood offers a variety of Halloween Horror Night ticket options, including General Admission, Universal Express, After 2 P.M. Day/Night, the premium R.I.P. Tour, the new Early Access Ticket, which provides access to select haunted houses prior to the scheduled event opening (starting at 5:30 p.m., subject to change), and the popular Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass. For more information about each ticket type and Terms and Conditions, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights from Thursday, September 7 through Tuesday, October 31 at Universal Studios Hollywood and Friday, September 1 through Saturday, November 4 at Universal Orlando Resort.

Nights Of The Jack Returns for 2023

2023/08/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News

LA’s leading immersive event, Nights Of The Jack, the ultimate Halloween experience for the whole family, is back this year for the 6^th year and again promises to be bigger and brighter than ever. Welcoming over 100,000 people every year, greater LA area residents and celebrity fans alike are expected to return to King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas for the annual event, that includes thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, immersive scenes and walking trail, premium food, beverages and cocktails and much more. Tickets go on sale on August 14, 2023 at 6:00am PT at NightsOfTheJack.com, with a 20% off discount until September 1, 2023. Nights Of The Jack officially kicks off on Opening Night on Friday, September 29, 2023.

Thirty miles northwest of Hollywood, tucked in the Santa Monica Mountains, there’s a strange and shadowy wonderland that everyone’s been whispering about. Guests are encouraged to follow the mile-long, immersive walking trail, glimmering at every turn with blazing gourds around every corner. This season, Nights of the Jack has created a lot of new attractions, including adding advanced technology throughout the experience with a first-time AR scavenger hunt to earn prizes, AR selfie moments and digital carnival games for prizes. They have also added entirely new scenes, like Día De Los Muertos and The Enchanted Forest, unparalleled lantern art activations and tons of new photo moments.

Nights Of The Jack is Halloween fun for everyone. Adults, families and children alike are welcome and won’t want to miss this hair-raising feast for the senses. Spooky but never scary, kids will love the enchanted renditions of their favorite characters in pumpkin-form and have fun amongst the big multi-sensory scenes. Adults will appreciate the artistry and craftmanship of the elaborate sets and be able to enjoy alcohol from two full bars. Everyone can enjoy picking out Halloween gifts and light-up items from the souvenir shop.

Nights Of The Jack offers a premium food and beverage experience, including some of LA’s best food trucks. The Spookeasy is a high-end full bar and will have ample Halloween treats for adults, including top shelf spirits, cocktails, craft beer and wine. There will also be sweet treats, coffee, hot cider and cocoa nightly, with special additional dessert trucks on Wednesdays.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating another Nights Of The Jack this year in Calabasas,” in a joint statement said by Nights of the Jack co-founders, Ben Biscotti and Tony Schubert. “We can’t wait to see what everyone thinks of the exciting new features this year, including interactive technology elements like digital carnival games, AR scavenger hunt and AR backgrounds to take your selfies to the next level. We look forward to entertaining everyone again for a bigger and brighter season!”

Main Attractions:

Immersive Walking Trail – nearly 1 mile of bright Halloween lights, themed scenes and hand-carved festival jack-o’-lanterns
AR Scavenger Hunt – brand new interactive challenge to “find Jack” and earn digital points and prizes
Digital Carnival Games – brand new interactive games such as axe throw and jack-o’-lanterns toss for prizes
AR Selfies – brand new immersive backgrounds with ghosts and ghouls throughout the trail so everyone comes home with amazing photos
Art Installations – unparalleled lantern art activations and more
Pumpkin Carver – watch live pumpkin carvings from experts and see real pumpkins get turned into Halloween masterpieces
Face Painting – themed and festival face painting options for all ages
Psychic – stop by our resident psychic and have your palm read, tarot card reading, energy reading or love and compatibility reading
Souvenir Shop – purchase fun light-up items and Halloween gifts
The Spookeasy – where adults can enjoy craft beer, wine and Halloween themed cocktails
Food Trucks – LA’s best food trucks on rotation to fuel all of the Halloween fun

Details:

Dates: Nights of the Jack will be open to the public for 30 dates beginning September 29 through October 31
- September 29 (Opening Night and Friends & Family Night)
- September 29 – October 1 (Opening Weekend)
- October 4–16
- October 18–31
Times: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: King Gillette Ranch: 26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302
Tickets: www.nightsofthejack.com
Price:
- Weekdays: $29.99-34.99
- Fridays: $39.99-44.99
- Saturdays: $44.99
- Sundays: $39.99
- 2 years and under are free admission.
- Each ticket will grant you access to the event at the day and time of selected slot.

Nights Of The Jack is also available for private events and corporate sponsorships and features a private 100-person VIP bar that can be closed off for private parties.

Guests can also celebrate a little bit of Calabasas’ history from this very location that inspired the event. According to legend dating back to 1824, a rancher from Oxnard spilled a wagonload of pumpkins in Calabasas while on the way to Los Angeles and later, hundreds of pumpkins sprouted alongside the road.

Dead by Daylight Alien Official Trailer and Details

2023/08/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

It’s the collaboration that has been requested for years. Starting today, players can download the Public Test Build and experience two iconic franchises coming together for one unmissable gaming experience. The story unfolds as the Xenomorph becomes the latest Killer to join the Fog alongside Ellen Ripley, its newest Survivor. Set against the eerie backdrop of the Nostromo Wreckage, fans will be able to go to the depths of space and try their best to dominate their prey or make it out alive. Dead by Daylight: Alien will be available on all platforms on August 29, 2023.

“Alien has been and continues to be one of the best sci-fi stories ever told – and to be able to collaborate with 20th Century Games on bringing this story into Dead by Daylight is a privilege for all of us at Behaviour Interactive,” says Mathieu Côté, Head of Partnerships for Behaviour Interactive.

A relentless specimen from a distant planet

The Xenomorph is the embodiment of the stealth Killer – quick and powerful, it can strike Survivors with its razor-sharp tail. The Xenomorph’s Power, called Runner Mode, allows the Killer to walk on four legs and become stealthier, reducing its Terror Radius considerably. An icon of the horror and science fiction realm, it is the perfect deadly killer: surprising even the most resourceful Survivors and forcing them to “sign off”…

“What a gift to bring such an icon of horror into Dead by Daylight”, says Dave Richard, Creative Director for Dead by Daylight. “Its appearance is so striking, so fear-inducing in itself…but to have it in our game also delivering on horrifying surprise moments really opens the door for fun strategic gameplay. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished with this Chapter.”

The Xenomorph’s arrival also introduces a new interactive Map function: Control Stations. Seven Control Stations are scattered across the Map. Survivors can interact with these stations to get a new Tool, the Remote Flame Turret, while the Xenomorph can enter and exit the tunnels underneath the Control Station.

“Creating the Xenomorph’s Tunnel system was very challenging as we had never created a sub-level that could only be accessible to the Killer”, explains Janick Neveu, Game Designer on Dead by Daylight. “This new mechanic grants it Map-wide mobility and definitely amps up the scare factor – which feels very connected to the original character.”

The Ultimate Survivor

As the sole survivor of the Nostromo, Ellen Ripley is strong-willed, level-headed, and determined. Having overcome relentless threats, she is the embodiment of resilience, making her an invaluable ally to any Survivor groups. She has faced the Xenomorph before and is now in the Entity’s hands. Her fate in this hostile place is still undecided – but there is hope.

“Get out of there!”

Surrounded by vast, overwhelming shadows, an omnipresent feeling of dread is imbued with the new Map, Nostromo Wreckage. The Entity has reconstructed the Nostromo spaceship from Ripley’s memories, so that players can stalk – or be stalked – around the derelict and nightmarish craft. Players will rediscover the iconic ship as it incorporates memorable elements from the first Alien film with some unique Dead by Daylight twists.

New Survivor Tool: The Remote Flame Turret

Dead by Daylight: Alien introduces a new Survivor tool that can be used exclusively when facing the Xenomorph. The Remote Flame Turret’s defensive attack staggers the Xenomorph and can cause its unique Power to end. This tool complexifies gameplay as it requires Survivors to strategically place the Turret and activate it at the opportune time. Players will be kept on their toes as they will need to repair the tool if it overheats, and will be forced to protect it (and themselves) from the powerful Xenomorph, which can destroy the Turret. Who will make it out alive?

ABRISS Gameplay Trailer

2023/08/09

Jerry Paxton

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

Düsseldorf-based video game developer and publisher astragon Entertainment and Berlin-based developer studio Randwerk Games today announced that the physics destruction puzzle game ABRISS – build to destroy will be released for PC on Steam on September 5, 2023. ABRISS won in the category “Best Graphic Design” at the German Computer Game Award 2023. ABRISS is currently available for PC on Steam in an Early Access version for 14.99€/$16.99/£13.99. Players who own the Early Access version will automatically receive the full PC version via an update when the game is released on September 5. The reduced price will continue for a limited time after the release. Starting September 21, 2023, ABRISS – build to destroy will be offered at the full price of 19.99€/$19.99/£16.99.

Razer Unveils New Line of Kitty Ears

2023/08/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today unveils the latest litter of its Kraken Kitty line so gamers, streamers, and cosplayers alike can celebrate International Cat Day in style. Become a fur-midable opponent with the latest release of the iconic, original Kraken Kitty headset, one of Razer’s most popular models.

The three new Kitty-additions follow the Kraken Kitty V2 Pro announced last year, and include the USB-wired Kraken Kitty V2, the wireless Kraken Kitty V2 BT, and cute clip-on Kitty Ears V2 that are purrfect for everybody – and every budget. The unmistakable Kraken Kitty ears have taken a stretch, now 50% bigger and bolder across all new styles.

“When we first released the Kraken Kitty, it really scratched an itch in the market, as there was nothing like it before.” said Alvin Cheung, Senior Vice President of Razer’s Hardware Business Unit. “At Razer, we’re always on the prowl for ways to bring bolder and better products to gamers. The latest line of Kraken Kitty headsets continues to drive this design philosophy in an iconic form factor.”

Pawsitively Striking: The Kraken Kitty V2

The new Kraken Kitty V2 is lighter, slimmer, and cuter than ever. Stand out and turn heads with bigger and bolder kitty ears powered by the world’s largest gaming RGB ecosystem, Razer Chroma™ RGB.

Create a killer kitty online purr-sona with the Kraken Kitty V2’s crystal-clear mic and stream-reactive lighting to level up audience engagement with Chroma that responds to emotes, alerts, and more. Streamers can enjoy customizable profiles with over 16.8 million colors and countless effects.

The Kraken Kitty V2 is available in both classic Razer Black and Quartz, with a lightweight design complete with plush, breathable ear cushions for all-day comfort and play.

Wirelessly Furr-ocious: The Kraken Kitty V2 BT

Take cat-titude anywhere with the new Kraken Kitty V2 BT, a wireless Bluetooth headset for gaming, music, or IRL streaming.

No wires to chew on here – enjoy up to 60-hour battery life, Chroma RGB on-the-go, and seamless Bluetooth 5.2 with a gaming mode for low-latency gaming performance. Available in a Quartz colorway, it’s a purr-fect companion for any gamer looking to make a statement on-the-go.

Add some Paw-some Accents: Razer Kitty Ears V2

Unleash the ultimate meow factor with the Razer Kitty Ears V2. These clip-on Kitty ears, now 50% larger, make any audio setup instantly more endearing.

The adjustable silicone straps ensure a universal fit and comfortable wear, perfect for a variety of headsets. Available in Quartz or Black, they add a touch of feline finesse to any gaming look.

Unleash an ultra-cute persona with Razer’s new litter of Kraken Kitty V2 products and celebrate International Cat Day in style. These are purrfect for gamers everywhere, no kitten around!

For more in-fur-mation on the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 line, please visit Razer.com.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

Razer Kraken Kitty V2

$99.99 USD / 119.99€ MSRP
Razer.com – August 8, 2023
For more information, please visit Razer.com.

Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT

$99.99 USD / 119.99€ MSRP
Razer.com – August 8, 2023
For more information, please visit Razer.com.

Razer Kitty Ears V2

$19.99 USD / 29.99€ MSRP
Razer.com – August 8, 2023
For more information, please visit Razer.com.

Midsummer Scream 2023 – Frightening Fun at the Long Beach Convention Center

2023/08/08

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Haunted Attraction Review, News, Reviews, Screenshots / Photos

The folks at Midsummer Scream are back with their flagship event: Midsummer Scream! On our first night at the event, we attended an amazing, albeit unofficial “preview night” like you’d find at the San Diego Comic-Con. The crowds were low, the weather was nice and cool, and you could roam the aisles with ease to purchase wares and visit with friends. It was such an outstanding time and we bought way too much stuff!

The next day, the convention proper began and the turnout was incredible! The general admission line went across the pedestrian bridge in front of the hotel and, had it not been wrapped back around against itself, would have ended up in the Pacific. The VIP line was also full but that line moved much more quickly. I highly recommend their VIP tickets if you plan to attend more than one day. The perks of earlier entry into panels as well as the event itself (you get in an hour ahead) is well worth the extra ticket price.

The Hall of Shadows made is triumphant return as well, featuring a number of local haunts presenting mini-haunt versions of themselves for attendees to experience. The Decayed Brigade slider crew was back as well with an impressive showing of their sliding skill. The amount of bodies an experienced haunt slider can jump over always impresses me. The one thing that is a bummer is that, during the Decayed Brigade shows, a lot of the mini-haunts in the Hall of Shadows go dark as the music and noise from the show is overpowering. Part of me would like to see the Decayed Brigade moved out of that room somewhere else just for their show so the Hall of Shadows can keep cycling attendees through the attractions. But, I digress…

The Long Beach Convention Center has a huge convention floor and Midsummer Scream seemed to make use of every square foot. So many vendors featured effects, props, artwork, sculptures, and other macabre wares that my wallet was substantially lighter when I left than when I entered the floor. We even got to put our cell phone on the worlds smallest horror rollercoaster.

Outside the convention center, there were several food trucks lined up, each with a culinary flare all their own. Also, if you stayed at the Hyatt Regency next door, you could eat at their fantastic eatery in the lobby. Also, staying at the hotel is super convenient as it is basically attached to the convention center, making your parking experience way easier.

Overall, it was an amazing return for Midsummer Scream and I look forward to next year’s! So – stay tuned for more!

Wargaming Celebrates 25 Year Anniversary

2023/08/08

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Industry News, News

Wargaming has turned 25 today! Since its formation in 1998, the company has released over 20 titles across all major gaming platforms bringing immersive online hobbies to millions of players worldwide. To support this significant milestone, Wargaming is planning an exciting series of in-game activities, events, and exclusive offers on Steam.

From August 2 to August 8, Steam players can enjoy limited-time promotions: free anniversary DLCs from the flagship Wargaming titles; a special anniversary multiproduct bundle “WG25: 4-in-1” consisting of powerful vehicles, days of Premium Account, customization elements that is available at a huge 90% discount. A special 70% reduction will be offered to World of Tanks/World of Warships anniversary cross-product bundle. More details here: https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/wargaming/sale/wargaming25thanniversary

In addition to the Steam offerings, Wargaming has prepared a variety of extra in-game activities. World of Tanks PC players can partake in a 25th anniversary themed event to earn credits, different types of combat ratio, decals, emblems, day of Premium Account and more. World of Warships captains will be able to get extra economic bonuses, signal flags and other gifts by completing a series of special missions. World of Tanks Blitz offers a dedicated “Wargaming Turns 25!” quest with a legendary anniversary avatar as one of the rewards. World of Warplanes presents a chain of battle missions that will bring great prizes and a unique emblem.

“Back in 1998, I could hardly imagine that we would grow from a small group of friends united by our love for creating videogames into a truly successful global company,” said Victor Kislyi, CEO of Wargaming. “Today we celebrate not only our achievements but also the shared journey with the gaming industry, our talented employees, and our passionate players. Here’s to the next chapter, as we will continue to create unforgettable experiences to gamers across the globe. Happy Birthday, Wargaming!”

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary, Wargaming continues its ongoing support of the people of Ukraine by donating $250,000 through the United24, the official fundraising platform of Ukraine. The money will be applied to purchase medical equipment, to assist people affected by the war in Ukraine.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series Let’s Play with Cara Gee

2023/08/08

Jerry Paxton

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

Telltale, the leading narrative game development studio and publisher, has released an exclusive playthrough of the first 30 minutes of Episode 1 of The Expanse: A Telltale Series with fan favorite Camina Drummer (played by Cara Gee) along with Game Director Stephan Frost of Deck Nine Games.

Episode 1 – Archer’s Paradox of The Expanse: A Telltale Series is available now with Episode 2 – Hunting Grounds launching on August 10.

Telltale has also recently released a Redband Trailer for The Expanse: A Telltale Series and hosted an exclusive panel at San Diego Comic Con.

Saints Row – A Song of Ice and Dust DLC Out Now

2023/08/08

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

Publisher Deep Silver and developer Volition today are excited to announce that the third DLC expansion for Saints Row is out now. Today’s DLC, A Song of Ice and Dust, brings players to the recently-added district of Vallejo for a truly strange showdown. Soon, more players than ever will be able to experience Saints Row’s own unique brand of weird, with the title making its way to Steam on Aug. 24.

A Song of Ice and Dust is a LARP-themed tale set in the crumbling district of Vallejo. Players will experience the epic climax to Saints Row’s popular Dustmoot story, a tale of two “frenemies” (the Boss and Gwen) who, despite their experiences together, still really hate each other.

After a brutal bloody wedding betrayal of the Dustlanders, it´s time to join forces and defend The Dustfaire from the clutches of the Chill Queen and the Frostlanders, paintball by paintball.

This DLC package comes within five new campaign missions, a new enemy faction (The Frostlanders), four new vehicles, new weapons, and more than 20 additional outfits and cosmetics. It follows the game’s third major free update and includes an entirely new district for all players, as well as more fixes and quality of life improvements. A Song of Ice and Dust is available can be purchased starting today and is also included in the Saints Row Expansion Pass.

Saints Row Update Overview:

A Song Of Ice and Dust DLC for Expansion Pass holders is out now and also available to buy separately
The free Dustfire Update Patch launched in August is available for all players and includes:
New Vallejo District added to the map
New @atcha and wingsuit saboteur activities
Improvements to customization including improved layering on clothing
New pop up shop, discoveries, and threats
Challenge tracking and achievement/trophy fixes for completionists
More main game improvements and bug fixing in multiple areas
Saints Row launches on Steam Aug. 24

Broforce Forever Launch Trailer

2023/08/08

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

Broforce. That name should have new meaning for all of us today. We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests.

Perhaps it’s fate that today is the launch of Broforce Forever and you will once again be fighting for freedom not from tyranny, oppression or persecution but from annihilation.

Broforce Forever, the long-awaited update to 2015’s most patriotic video game, held back from freedom-loving gamers for a crime it didn’t commit, has promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch (as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S via backward compatibility).

Today, still wanted by the government, it survives as the ultimate version of Broforce. If you have a problem, if no one else can help and if you can afford it, maybe you can buy… Broforce Forever.

broforcegame.com