Author - boothby

Grounded Announced at X019

2019/11/14
boothby
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox One News

Irvine, CA – November 14, 2019 – During X019 in London, the annual global celebration of all things Xbox, Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios today announced Grounded, a new first-person, co-op survival game from the renowned studio that created Fallout: New Vegas, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, the Pillars of Eternity franchise and the recently released sci-fi epic, The Outer Worlds. Grounded will be available Spring 2020 for Xbox One digitally through Xbox Game Preview and with Xbox Game Pass, the Microsoft Store, and on Steam. Grounded will be the first Xbox Game Preview title available with Xbox Game Pass.

In Grounded, you are shrunk to the size of an ant and must survive in the beautiful yet perilous micro-world of a suburban backyard. This harsh and dangerous landscape can be navigated solo or with up to three additional players in co-operative multiplayer, as you work together to progress through thrilling story-based missions or explore the farthest reaches of the intricately detailed game world.

You must gather, craft and build bases with everyday objects, searching for life-saving resources such as the dew off grass to quench your thirst or transforming an acorn shell into body armor to defend against a host of unpredictable creatures. Can you thrive against the hordes of giant insects, fighting to survive the perils of the backyard?

“Grounded is a true passion project for the team,” said Feargus Urquhart, CEO at Obsidian Entertainment. “We pride ourselves as being a creative studio and can’t wait to bring our expertise to the survival genre.”

“Grounded offers our unique take on survival games, creating an unforgettable experience,” said Adam Brennecke, Game Director at Obsidian Entertainment. “It’s a perfect setting to flex our creative muscles. We want to create a versatile sandbox where players can create their own memorable experiences.”

“We first saw Grounded in development last year when Obsidian Entertainment joined our team. The game exemplifies the innovation we’re excited to see from them in the years ahead,” said Matt Booty, CVP of Xbox Game Studios.

Grounded will be available in Spring 2020 on Xbox One digitally through Xbox Game Preview and with Xbox Game Pass, and for PC through Xbox Game Pass for PC, the Microsoft Store, and on Steam. Grounded has not yet been rated by the ESRB. For more information, subscribe on YouTube, follow on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, or visit Obsidian.net and www.xbox.com/games/grounded.

Bee Simulator Launch Trailer

2019/11/14
boothby
Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

Lesquin, France, November 14, 2019 – Bigben and Varsav Studio are delighted to announce the release of Bee Simulator, now available on PC, Xbox One, PS4™ and Nintendo Switch™.

Explore the world through the eyes of a bee with Bee Simulator! In this educational family game, you play as a pollinator bee in an urban park inspired by famous Central Park. Collect pollen, fight off wasps, interact with your fellow bees and confront multiple threats. Your entire hive is threatened the day when humans decide to chop down the tree you call home. The fate of the whole swarm is in your tiny hands!

Developed in close collaboration with beekeepers, Bee Simulator is a fun and educational experience that conveys an environmental message suitable for all ages. Freely explore and evolve in a vast realistic environment. Tips and information are shared throughout your adventures explaining the secret life of bees. With cooperative and competitive multiplayer game modes for up to four players, Bee

Simulator brings the whole family together!

  • Learn while having fun – communication methods, hive and community life, protection techniques and threats that bees face
  • A realistic open world
  • Co-op and PvP multiplayer modes for up to four players
  • Partnership with Yann Arthus Bertrand’s GoodPlanet Foundation to raise awareness of protecting bees and the environment among players. As part of this collaboration, €1 out of every game sold will be donated to the foundation

Change your perspective and discover the world through the eyes of a bee!

Bee Simulator is now available on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation®4 and Nintendo Switch™

Razer Unveils Kraken Ultimate Headset with THX Spatial Audio

2019/11/14
boothby
Geek News, News, Tech News

SAN FRANCISCO, USA – Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, introduced today the Razer Kraken Ultimate, a competitive gaming headset featuring THX® Spatial Audio technology that delivers pinpoint positional accuracy greater than 7.1 surround sound.

Powered by custom-tuned 50mm drivers that produce a more natural sound curve, the realistic and immersive soundscape captures every auditory detail, allowing users to pick up even the slightest nuance in sound and use it to their advantage. The Kraken Ultimate’s active noise canceling microphone allows for crystal-clear team communication completing a winning combination that gives gamers a competitive edge and the definitive gaming audio experience.

Greater Than 7.1 Surround Sound with THX® Spatial Audio

The Razer Kraken Ultimate comes equipped with THX® Spatial Audio technology – an advanced positional audio solution that delivers pinpoint accuracy and greater than 7.1 surround sound. Producing sound in a 360-degree sphere allows for better awareness and heightened immersion during competitive gameplay, allowing you to locate sneaking enemies, avoid whizzing bullets, and detect nearby threats before anyone else.

THX Spatial Audio optimizes the unique sound design and engineering of every game and delivers a natural listening experience by adjusting its virtual speakers to match the audio source’s actual distance and location in-game. This can help to reduce brain and ear fatigue, as users are able to decipher where every sound is coming from instinctively, letting them stay focused longer – giving them the upper hand.

Expertly Tuned Drivers for an Immersive Soundscape

Featuring custom-tuned 50mm drivers, the Razer Kraken Ultimate produces powerful, detailed, super-clear sound and punchy base. Tuned to deliver a more natural sound curve, the resulting audio is the richest, most immersive, and lifelike within the Kraken line – perfectly capturing every auditory detail, such as footsteps and gunshots, for a competitive advantage.

Pro-Grade Active Noise Canceling Microphone for Absolute Clarity

Team chat is essential to any multi-player game, and with the new Discord-certified, active noise canceling microphone on the Kraken Ultimate, gamers can be assured of flawless team communication, even at crowded tournaments. Competitive gaming headsets rely on the ability to chat clearly and discern even the subtlest sounds moment-to-moment. By adding active noise canceling technology, the Razer Kraken Ultimate’s highly-tuned mic detects and nullifies background noise as you speak, making your voice even clearer, and ensuring crystal-clear communication between teammates.

Lightweight and Durable, Yet Keeping Ears Cool

The Kraken Ultimate features aluminum and steel construction with cooling gel-infused ear cushions for lightweight durability and long-lasting comfort. Being both flexible and tough, its ultra-soft padded headband with bauxite aluminum frame is well-equipped to handle the rigors of transport and extensive gaming sessions. Cooling-gel cushions help reduce heat build-up and also contain hidden eyewear channels for gamers sporting corrective or blue-light glasses.

“We have built the Kraken Ultimate to address the needs of gaming audio at its roots,” said Alvin Cheung, Senior Vice President of Razer’s Peripherals business unit. “Powered by THX Spatial Audio, its custom-tuned drivers deliver superior sound, housed in signature Kraken comfort. Combined with an active noise canceling microphone for crystal-clear team comms, this headset has the winning edge that gamers are looking for.”

Razer Chroma™ RGB Underglow Lighting

The Kraken Ultimate also features highly visible backlit earcups powered by Razer Chroma, supporting 16.8 million colors and a suite of lighting effects controlled from within Razer Synapse 3, for endless customization possibilities.

Razer Kraken X USB

Razer also introduces today the Kraken X USB. The newest addition to the Kraken X family offers green earcup lighting and 7.1 virtual surround sound via its USB connection – all in a 275g lightweight design, for all-day gaming comfort and immersion.

ABOUT THE RAZER KRAKEN ULTIMATE

Headphones

  • Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
  • Impedance: 32 Ω @ 1 kHz
  • Sensitivity (@1 kHz): 109 dB
  • Input power: 30 mW (Max)
  • Drivers: 50 mm, with Neodymium magnets
  • Inner ear cup diameter: 64 mm / 2.5 in.
  • Connection type: USB Digital;
  • Cable length: 1.3 m / 4.27 ft.
  • Approx. weight: 275 g / 0.60 lbs.
  • Oval ear cushions: Designed for full-ear coverage with cooling gel, for sound isolation and comfort, now with Razer Chroma RGB underglow

Microphone

  • Frequency response: 100 Hz – 10 kHz
  • Impedance: 32 Ω @ 1 kHz
  • Signal-to-noise ratio: > 60 dB
  • Sensitivity (@1 kHz): -45 ± 3 dB
  • Pick-up pattern: Unidirectional ECM boom
  • Click-to-Mute Function

On-earcup control

  • Analog volume control wheel
  • THX Spatial on/off toggle

Audio Usage

  • Devices with USB Connector
  • Audio + microphone usage: Devices with USB Connector

ABOUT THE RAZER KRAKEN X USB

  • Green earcup lighting for a stylish look
  • 7.1 surround sound on PC for accurate positional audio
  • Ultra lightweight at 275g so you never feel weighed down
  • Bendable cardioid microphone for crystal-clear team communication
  • Oval leatherette cushions for sound isolation and a comfortable fit
  • Custom-tuned 40 mm drivers for balanced, clear sound

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

Razer Kraken Ultimate: $129.99 USD / €149.99 MSRP
Razer Kraken X USB:      $59.99 USD / €69.99 MSRP
Razer.com and authorized resellers – November 14, 2019

Tamarin Announcement Trailer

2019/11/14
boothby
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox One News

London, United Kingdom – November 14th, 2019 – Chameleon Games is proud to announce that its third-person action-adventure Tamarin™ is now in development for Xbox One, with a 2020 release planned. Set in beautiful Nordic scenery, Tamarin stars the world’s cutest monkey on a quest to save his family from ever-expanding insects intent on industrializing the forest that the tamarin call home.

Tamarin channels the energy of 3D platformer classics and explorative Metroidvania shooters. Explore an incredible interconnected 3D world, brimming with primate platforming and bug-splattering shooter action. Leap with the agility of a tamarin as you journey into the Northern wilderness on scenic routes through forests, fjords and mountains. Along the way you will chase mysterious electrical fireflies, discover a secret underground world of dancing ants, rescue innocent birds, and restore the tamarins’ once idyllic natural habitat.

Director Omar Sawi has brought on an all-star cast of game developers, from studios such as Rare, to help execute his creative vision for Tamarin. To mention a few, Banjo-Kazooie character designer Steve Mayles helped craft the iconic new tamarins. Diddy Kong and Battletoads designer Kev Bayliss provided character concept art. Donkey Kong 64 artist Richard Vaucher leads the art production. Donkey Kong Country and Starfox Adventures composer David Wise tunes in with a beautiful and atmospheric soundtrack – complemented by the impactful sound effects of action-game veteran Graeme Norgate (GoldenEye 007, Jet Force Gemini, Killer Instinct).

“With Tamarin I wanted to make a game that’s both fun to play and says something important,” said Omar Sawi, Founder of Chameleon Games. “Our planet’s ecosystem is facing the most serious challenges it ever has, and I wanted to make an exciting and inviting game that gets to the heart of this issue. By releasing on Xbox One, we’ll be able to bring Tamarin to a whole new audience, which is good not just for us at Chameleon Games, but to anyone who cares about this beautiful planet.”

Chameleon Games website: https://chameleongames.com/
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chameleongames.ltd
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/chameleon_games

Six Flags Great Adventure Celebrates a Season of Giving

2019/11/14
boothby
Geek News, News

JACKSON, NJ – November 14, 2019 – Throughout the year, Six Flags Great Adventure implements programs to help give back to the community. In addition to donating thousands of tickets and sponsorship dollars to charities throughout the tri-state area, four of its programs are making a significant impact in local communities and around the globe.

New ‘Save an Icon’ Program Benefits Animals in Crisis

As conservationists for 45 years, Six Flags Great Adventure is passionate about its animals and the plight of animals around the world. This season, Six Flags Great Adventure launched a charitable program called “Save an Icon.” Funds raised for “Save an Icon” benefit the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), specifically the Elephant Crisis Fund and Lion Recovery Fund. Through the purchase of a pin sold in gift stores for $5.00, 100% of the proceeds were donated to WCN’s efforts to protect elephants and lions across Africa. In addition, $1.00 from every giraffe feeding in the Safari and five percent of each Safari VIP Tour sale also supported WCN. In 2019, the park generated $46,000. More information about the Safari’s programs and its conservation efforts, visit www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/attractions/safari#animalprogram

Retail Programs that Give Back

Two of the park’s retail programs provide funds and toys for those in need. The park’s mirror maze allocates $1.00 of each sale to charity. This year, nearly $15,000 was raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and more than $7,000 was raised for the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities. During Holiday in the Park, which runs weekends and select days through January 1, 2020, proceeds from the Holiday Craze Mirror Maze will benefit the Jersey Shore Animal Center.

The theme park’s “Holiday Friends” plush offers guests the opportunity to buy a plush toy which triggers the donation of a second plush toy to charity. Recently, 40 cases of toys were presented to Holiday Express, which delivers music, food, gifts, financial support and friendship to those in need.

Project Six

For the past nine years, Six Flags Great Adventure has celebrated Project Six, the company’s community service and volunteerism program. For the 10th year of service, theme park team members fanned out across the state this week to lend a hand to a variety of worthy causes including farming assistance at America’s Grow-A-Row; adult crafts and activities for the disabled in partnership with the United Way and New Jersey Institute for Disabilities; and donation deliveries, warehouse maintenance and gift bag stuffing at Holiday Express. The team will also be cleaning and renovating group homes with the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.

Throughout the fall months, team members from all of 26 parks and the corporate office at Six Flags Entertainment Corporation office offer their time and energy to spread the joy of Six Flags and make a difference in the lives of others. To date, the company has committed more than 60,000 person-hours, working with 100-plus organizations to address the needs of children and families, public welfare or environmental issues.

Corsair Unveils iCUE QL RGB PWM Fans

2019/11/14
boothby
Geek News, Hardware News, News

FREMONT, CA, November 14th, 2019 – CORSAIR®, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced a new line of PC cooling fans to elevate the aesthetics of any build: CORSAIR iCUE QL RGB PWM fans. Available in 120mm and 140mm sizes, every QL RGB fan features quad light loops lit by a total of 34 individually addressable RGB LEDs, creating incredible visuals from either side. Multi-fan kits of QL RGB fans are bundled with a CORSAIR iCUE Lighting Node CORE RGB Lighting Controller, capable of controlling the lighting for up to six CORSAIR RGB fans at once through CORSAIR iCUE software.

No other RGB fan comes close to the brightness and vibrancy of QL RGB. With inner and outer light loops on both the front and back of the fan, it is uniquely capable of intricate, bright, and detailed lighting effects that impress from any angle, regardless of whether it’s used for intake or exhaust. A semi-transparent fan blade allows the RGB lighting to shine through, while a durable machined aluminum hub cover on either side completes the QL RGB’s stunning look.

The iCUE Lighting Node CORE, a compact controller included with all kits of multiple QL RGB fans, connects to your PC with simple USB and SATA connections to enable lighting control over up to six of the same CORSAIR RGB fans – up to a staggering 204 LEDs with six QL RGB fans connected. Take advantage of CORSAIR iCUE software to customize your own multi-layer dynamic lighting effects, synchronized with all iCUE-compatible components and peripherals in your setup, or unleash the brilliance of your QL RGB fans to enhance the immersion when playing iCUE-integrated games.

QL RGB fans are available in both 120mm and 140mm sizes, spinning up to 1,500 RPM and 1,250 RPM respectively, with precise PWM control via a CORSAIR iCUE Commander PRO (sold separately) or 4-pin motherboard fan headers. Even at maximum RPM, QL RGB fans keep the noise low thanks to their built-in anti-vibration rubber dampers.

To give your latest build head-turning appeal, CORSAIR iCUE QL RGB fans offer spectacular lighting from any angle.

Availability, Warranty and Pricing

CORSAIR iCUE QL RGB fans are available immediately from the CORSAIR webstore and the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors.

QL RGB fans are available in kits of 3x 120mm and 2x 140mm, as well as single packs of each. Triple and Dual kits both include an iCUE Lighting Node CORE RGB Lighting Controller.

QL RGB fans are backed by a two-year warranty and the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.

For up-to-date pricing of QL RGB fans, please refer to the CORSAIR website or contact your local CORSAIR sales or PR representative.

Web Page

To learn more about QL RGB fans, please visit:

https://www.corsair.com/ql-rgb-fans

LS50X Snoop Dogg Limited Edition Headset Announced

2019/11/13
boothby
Geek News, News, Tech News

11/13/2019 – LucidSound announced today that its upcoming LS50X Snoop Dogg Limited-Edition headset will be available for pre-order on November 19 at www.lucidsound.com and www.gamestop.com.

LucidSound partnered with the legendary rapper and gamer earlier this year and have created a stunning chrome and white headset complete with Snoop’s distinct branding and voice over prompts from the hip hop legend himself.

This one of a kind headset features LucidSound’s signature on-ear controls, up to 20 hour battery life, 50mm speakers, Snoop Dogg recorded voice prompts, Seamless Device Switching and EQ settings designed with Snoop Dogg.

Crusader Kings III Trailer Explains Game Vision

2019/11/13
boothby
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

STOCKHOLM – 11/13/2019 – Paradox Development Studio has released an introduction to an upcoming series of videos about the development of Crusader Kings III. In this opening video, Game Director Henrik Fåhraeus lays out his vision for the game, speaking about his history with the franchise and his aspirations for the upcoming grand strategy game.

Future installments of this video series will include summaries of information revealed in the previous month’s Developer Diaries so people can follow along with the game’s development.

Crusader Kings III is the sequel to Paradox’s beloved medieval strategy role-playing game. It was announced last month at the annual Paradox Convention and is scheduled for release in 2020.

Paradox Interactive is a leading global publisher of strategy games for PC and console. The company has developed and published a world-renowned catalog stretching back to 1999, with players hailing from all around the world.

The publisher’s steadily-growing portfolio includes firmly established franchises such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis, Crusader Kings, Hearts of Iron, and Stellaris series created by Paradox Development Studio, the Age of Wonders series created by Triumph Studios, as well as award-winning titles such as Cities: Skylines, Pillars of Eternity, and more from a network of partner studios. Paradox is the owner of the World of Darkness IPs and is publishing Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2.

Paradox’s head offices are located in Stockholm, Sweden. Our development studios are located in Stockholm, Malmö and Umeå, Sweden, in Delft, The Netherlands, in Seattle, Washington, and in Berkeley, California. We share a passion for gaming and gamers, and our goal is to provide deep and challenging games with hours of gameplay and endless variety to our ever-growing community.

For more information, please visit our forums and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Monster Jam Steel Titans for Nintendo Switch Announced

2019/11/13
boothby
Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, Trailers / Videos

Vienna/Austria, Palmetto/Florida, November 13th, 2019 – THQ Nordic and Feld Entertainment® today announced Monster Jam Steel Titans for Nintendo Switch (SRP: $29.99 | €29.99 | £26.99). Release date of the digital version is November 26th 2019, and the physical version of the game will release on February 4th 2020. Switch players can look forward to all the trucks, athletes, stadiums, stunts and massive air that make Monster Jam® the BIGGEST name in off-road racing!

Monster Jam Steel Titans takes fans beyond the stadium, allowing fans to experience what it takes to train and eventually compete like their favorite, real-life, professional Monster Jam athletes. All the trucks, athletes, stunts, stadiums and massive air are in one game! Developed by THQ Nordic’s Rainbow Studios, Monster Jam Steel Titans competitions include Stadium Racing, 2 Wheel Skill ChallengesTM, Freestyle, Waypoint Racing, Circuit Racing and Timed Destruction. For more information, visit www.monsterjamgame.com.

New Streets of Rage 4 Behind-the-Scenes Video

2019/11/13
boothby
Geek News, News

PARIS – Nov. 13, 2019 – Brawlers keen to crack ruffian skulls should study up on today’s new behind-the-scenes look at Streets of Rage 4, as the iconic series’ striking revival from publisher and co-developer Dotemu (publisher of Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, Windjammers 1, developer of Windjammers 2) as well as co-developers Guard Crush Games (developer of Streets of Fury) and Lizardcube (developer of Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap) will debut some killer moves when it reaches PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC.

In the video, developers from Dotemu and Guard Crush Games discuss how their shared passion for beat-em-ups led to Streets of Rage 4’s creation. Reflecting on inspirations (Street Fighter III: Third Strike, Virtua Fighter, Guardian Heroes, Sengoku 3) key learnings, and how Streets of Rage 2 is the benchmark they’re holding the revival’s exhilarating brawls to, the team is more candid about the game’s development than ever before. The clip can be viewed in full here:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF-rMNY0fBk[/embedyt]

Streets of Rage 4 will stand as the classic beat-em-up franchise’s first core entry in more than 25 years, introducing new playable fighters, devastating combat options, and a gorgeous hand-drawn art style encapsulating the gritty atmosphere and soul of the original trilogy. Seasoned brawlers will enjoy a homecoming of sorts sparring beside original stars Axel and Blaze among other nods to the legacy of the genre-defining series.

Streets of Rage 4’s all-star roster of contributing composers will bring the thumping beats and infectious melodies the games are known for, with original music provided by series composers Yūzō Koshiro (Streets of Rage 1, 2, & 3, Sonic the Hedgehog) and Motohiro Kawashima (Streets of Rage 2 & 3, Shinobi II). Their effort will be joined by tracks from Yoko Shimomura (Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, Kingdom Hearts I, II & III), Hideki Naganuma (Jet Set Radio & Future, Super Monkey Ball), and Keiji Yamagishi (Ninja Gaiden, Tecmo Bowl).

To get the latest on Streets of Rage 4, head over to www.streets4rage.com, visit www.facebook.com/StreetsofRage4, and unleash your special move on Twitter’s follow button @Dotemu, @Lizardcube and @Guard_Crush.