Author - boothby

Gary Busey is Santa in New Killing Floor 2 Winter Update

ROSWELL, Ga. — Tuesday, December 4 — Tripwire Interactive and legendary actor Gary Busey join forces to deck the halls with blood and corpses with today’s launch of the Killing Floor 2 – Twisted Christmas: Season’s Beatings update. Out now PlayStation®4, PlayStation®4 Pro, Xbox One, Xbox One X, and PC via Steam, today’s Killing Floor 2 update promises to the end the year with a bang, featuring new maps, weapons, festive redesigns of Killing Floor 2’s horrific cast of zeds, and the new playable Badass Santa purchasable character voiced by Gary Busey himself!

Busey also lends his voice to the Trader in the Santa’s Workshop Map – and this “gift of Gary” will be free for all players throughout this Christmas themed event. Starting today, Killing Floor 2 players can expect helpful and ominous tips from Gary Busey as he offers advice on weapon and gear purchases between rounds during Trader Time.

Killing Floor 2 players can also look forward to joining forces with Santa to reclaim his workshop from the evil clutches of Krampus in the new map Santa’s Workshop. As a special holiday treat, Tripwire Interactive is also introducing the fan favorite community map Shopping Spree for the duration of the Twisted Christmas: Season’s Beatings update. Experience the true horrors of consumerism as players slay zeds throughout a nightmarish and mangled shopping mall.

Killing Floor 2 – Twisted Christmas: Season’s Beatings update key features include:
  • New Badass Santa Playable Character and Trader voiced by Gary Busey
  • Wish your fellow players blood tidings and season’s beatings with the new purchasable playable Badass Santa character and complimentary Trader voice
  • New Map: Santa’s Workshop
  • Beat back waves of zeds in this brand-new objective survival map. Compatible with Weekly, Survival, and Endless modes.
  • New Map: Shopping Spree
  • Take a ride through this fan favorite community map. Compatible with Weekly, Survival, and Endless modes.
  • Four New Weapons
  • Thompson – SWAT / Commando
  • Krampus Battle Axe – Berserker
  • M32 Grenade Launcher – Demolitionist
  • Fire Axe – Berserker
  • The Return of Christmas Seasonal Zeds
  • Deck the halls with blood and monsters! This year’s winter update marks the return of zesty Christmas-themed zeds
  • New “No Duplicates” System
  • The system now records items granted from a crate, USB, or ticket. While the same rarity drop percentages apply, it will be guaranteed to grant one of each cosmetic (ware-variants included) until you have the full item set. Once you have obtained all the items from a crate, USB, or ticket, it will clear the records of that item set and begin recording anew.
  • Coming Soon: Killing Floor 2/Road Redemption Crossover!
  • Road Redemption Exclusive Weapon: The Road Redeemer
  • This chained bat for the Berserker class will be available for players who own both Killing Floor 2 and Road Redemption on Steam or PlayStation 4. Xbox One players can look forward to this crossover once Road Redemption launches for Xbox One
  • Killing Floor 2 Characters in Road Redemption
  • Hans Volter and DJ Scully are playable characters for players who own both Killing Floor 2 and Road Redemption on Steam or PlayStation 4. Xbox One players can look forward to this crossover once Road Redemption launches for Xbox One.

As part of its continued commitment to support the modding community, Tripwire Interactive is also proud to partner with Mod DB to host the NEW GROUNDS Mapping Contest for Killing Floor 2 with $50,000 (USD) in cash prizes currently up for grabs in this live contest. There’s still time to enter and submit your best Survival and Non-Survival user-made maps for consideration and a chance to win. For full details, please head to the official NEW GROUNDS Mapping Contest website at Mod DB.

In Killing Floor 2, players descend into continental Europe where the outbreak caused by Horzine Biotech’s failed experiment has quickly spread and gained unstoppable momentum, essentially paralyzing the European Union— Just one month after the events in the original KILLING FLOOR, the specimen clones are everywhere and civilization is in disarray; communications have failed, governments have collapsed, and military forces have been systematically eradicated. The people of Europe know survival and self-preservation too well and lucky survivors have gone into hiding.

Not all have given up hope though… A group of civilians and mercenaries have banded together to combat the outbreak and established privately funded operation bases across Europe. Upon tracking specimen clone outbreaks, players will descend into zed-laden hot zones and exterminate them.

Killing Floor 2 is developed and published by Tripwire Interactive and is published at retail by Deep Silver and Iceberg Interactive for the Xbox One, Xbox One X, PlayStation®4 Pro, PlayStation®4, and PC. This title has been rated M by the ESRB, PEGI 18, USK 18.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Killing Floor 2 news and information on the official website: www.killingfloor2.com. You can also keep track of Tripwire Interactive at any of these online channels: www.tripwireinteractive.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tripwireinteractive, Twitter at https://twitter.com/TripwireInt, Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tripwireinteractive/ and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/tripwireinteractive.

Jam City Announces Season of Cookies Event

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4, 2018 — Celebrating this year’s National Cookie Day, Jam City, a Los Angeles-based mobile entertainment company, announced its first annual “Season of Cookies” event, celebrating the community of its marquee global franchise game, Cookie Jam Blast. During this event, players’ cookie recipes will be featured in the game, alongside game pieces based on these treasured family goodies, for a mobile recipe exchange among the millions of players that share a love of baking and the ultimate treat: cookies.

“National Cookie Day is an annual celebration of the joy that cookies bring to people all over the world and it’s a treat to be able to share the magic of this event in our game,” said Shane Nakamura, Vice President of Creative Development at Jam City.  “For this year’s National Cookie Day, we are thrilled to announce our first annual “Season of Cookies” event — for the entire month of December — featuring the favorite cookie recipes of five of our Cookie Jam Blast players as game pieces in the game.  Showcasing player recipes during the holiday season is a heartfelt reminder of the family traditions, comfort and love that comes from cookies and sharing cookie recipes.  Happy Holidays from the Cookie Jam Blast team!”

Each Thursday in December, an in-game recreation of a Cookie Jam Blast player’s favorite cookie will be reimagined as a game piece and incorporated into the gameplay. Players will be invited to access the cookie’s recipe, as well as learn about it’s baker and backstory, by visiting the Cookie Jam Blast Facebook page. Starting with a delectable Peanut Butter cookie from the home of Cindy Dutton in upstate New York, each of these cookies has a special significance as a holiday go-to or treasured family recipe.

I have a go-to recipe for every bake sale, cookie swap and holiday event, that’s been in family for generations,” said Cindy Dutton, Cookie Jam Blast player. “I’m so excited to share my family’s favorite cookie featured in my go-to game, for all my fellow players to enjoy!”

BACKGROUND ON NATIONAL COOKIE DAY:

The History of Cookie Day (December 4th)

In 1987, Matt Nader of the San Francisco-based Blue Chip Cookie Company created Cookie Day. This fun and sweet holiday was also championed by Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. Since then, word traveled around the globe that there was much tasty fun to be had on December 4th, and people from many countries now celebrate Cookie Day by getting together and baking (and eating) cookies. In fact, a number of Cookie Day variations such as Oatmeal Cookie Day and Bake Cookie Day are also celebrated around the world.

COOKIE FACTS AND FIGURES:

  • 7 billion chocolate chip cookies are eaten in the US each year; half of those are homemade.
  • The average American will eat 35,000 cookies in their lifetime.
  • Chocolate chips were invented for use in the chocolate chip cookie.
  • Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the creation of the first gingerbread man.
  • The world’s largest chocolate chip cookie weighed about as much as eight elephants.
  • The U.S. leads the world as the biggest cookie bakers and eaters, spending more than $550 million annually on Oreos alone.
  • The chocolate chip cookie was created by accident by Ruth Wakefield. Ruth thought the chopped bits of chocolate would spread throughout the cookie when baked, but they held their form.
  • Introduced in 1902, the animal cracker was the first commercial cookie in the U.S.

About Cookie Jam Blast

In Jam City’s franchise game Cookie Jam Blast, fans will follow Chef Panda’s quest to become the best pâtissier in the world.  Aboard the Bakery Airship, players will visit new worlds like Sherbert Forest and Berry Fundae Island and encounter new charming characters like the Gingy, Scoops, and the Yummy worms. They will crunch their way through classic modes like Waffles and experience tasty, new game modes like revealing Yumsicles or collecting Topplers.  All the while as they play through the game, players earn ingredients to craft scrumptious treats for their customers and level up their Chef Rank. For the first time, friends can also send each other Bee-a-Buddy booster charges to help blast through levels in the game.

Cookie Jam Blast is a free-to-play, match-3 puzzle mobile game available now for iOS and Android devices via the App Store and Google Play. For more details on Cookie Jam Blast or to connect with your Cookie Jam friends, follow us @CookieJamBlast(#CookieJamBlast):

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cookiejamblast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cookiejamblast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookiejamblast/

Ubisoft Unveils Assassin’s Creed Symphony

SAN FRANCISCO — December 3, 2018 – Ubisoft announced the first worldwide tour dates for the Assassin’s Creed® Symphony, opening at Hollywood’s acclaimed Dolby Theater on June 11, 2019. The world premiere coincides with one of the biggest video game industry events, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles.

Assassin’s Creed Symphony is the ultimate fan experience, fusing the powerful sounds of a full symphony orchestra and choir with a groundbreaking, immersive 3D concert. This two-hour show will present the music, characters and stories at the core of Assassin’s Creed®, allowing fans to relive the most memorable moments from the series with music from talented composers including Jesper Kyd, Lorne Balfe, Brian Tyler, Austin Wintory, Sarah Schachner, Winifred Phillips, Elitsa Alexandrova, Chris Tilton, Ryan Amon and The Flight.

“We’re excited to partner with MGP Live to offer Assassin’s Creed fans a brand new experience to celebrate the series they have enjoyed playing over the last decade,” said Hinde Daoui, Live Entertainment producer, Ubisoft. “It’s always a pleasure to work with other entertainment industry leaders such as MGP Live who have a successful track record in introducing symphonic music to new audiences while bringing the sights and sounds of internationally renowned entertainment brands to life.”

“We are honored to partner with Ubisoft on this innovative multimedia project. We are approaching this production with passion and a sense of mission,” said Massimo Gallotta, CEO of MGP Live. “Our aim is to create concerts for all generations and let the power of music, which speaks every language, talk to the heart of gamers. We immediately felt Assassin’s Creed had the potential for a unique symphonic experience because of the diverse cultural influences in its iconic soundtrack. We love that this concert is opening up symphonic music to a new generation of fans.”

Following the world premiere in Los Angeles, the tour will visit the Palais des Congrès in Paris (June 29), Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco (August 3), Place des Arts in Montréal (September 27), Eventim Apollo in London (October 5) and Teatro Arcimboldi in Milan (October 6).

Pre-sale tickets are available starting December 7 for Ubisoft Club Members and will go on sale to the public December 10 at 10am (local time).

For more information on the Assassin’s Creed Symphony, visit ACSymphony.com.

Mountain High Opening Day Tomorrow

December 3, 2018 – Mountain High’s opening Day is tomorrow, December 4 starting at 9:00 a.m. – Skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes at the West Resort from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the first 100 guests with a paid $59 lift ticket earn FREE skiing and snowboarding through December 21.

WHERE: Mountain High – West Resort
24510 State Highway 2, Wrightwood, CA 92397

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries Release Date Trailer

VANCOUVER – Dec. 3, 2018 – MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, the series’ first dedicated single-player entry in the classic PC gaming series in more than 15 years, has locked onto a Sept. 10, 2019 launch on PC, developer Piranha Games announced tonight at Mech_Con 2018.

Revealed live on stage in front of some of the world’s most dedicated MechWarrior fans at the fourth annual Mech_Con, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries’ release date was announced with a new gameplay trailer showing off the explosive high-stakes battles and decisions pilots will face when they take control of their own mercenary unit on launch day: https://youtu.be/vCXcFJBb6BM

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries will allow pilots to build, manage and guide their own mercenary unit through a multi-year campaign during the sprawling Third and Fourth Succession Wars. Whether braving missions alone, alongside AI-controlled pilots, or with the help of up to three friends via co-op play, players will face complicated situations with no perfect solution as they choose which contracts to accept, where in the galaxy to direct their attention, and how to balance repairs or upgrades with maintaining their unit’s precious resources.

Mech_Con is an annual celebration of the MechWarrior universe, as well as the world of BattleTech, which gathers the MechWarrior community’s most dedicated pilots in Vancouver. Now a two-day event as of Mech_Con 2018, attendees are treated to a full schedule of live presentations, developer Q&As, and hands-on demo opportunities for the latest MechWarrior titles, as well as front-row seats for the final matches of the 2018 MechWarrior Online World Championships.

“Getting to meet with MechWarrior’s most diehard fans and see them react to the team’s hard work at Mech_Con has become an incredible tradition for us,” said Russ Bullock, president of Piranha Games. “The team has put so much work and passion into our mission to bring MechWarrior back into the spotlight, and seeing our excitement for what’s still to come for this classic series reverberate with the community in the room tonight was incredible.”

To keep all systems nominal, stay current on MechWarrior by visiting the MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries (https://mw5mercs.com/) and MechWarrior Online (https://mwomercs.com/) websites, or follow Piranha Games on Twitter through @PiranhaGames (https://twitter.com/piranhagames) and @MechWarriorF2P (https://twitter.com/Mechwarriorf2p).

Turtle Beach Unveils Battle Buds Ear Buds

San Diego, CA – December 3, 2018 – Leading gaming headset and audio accessory brand Turtle Beach (Nasdaq: HEAR) today announced the all-new Turtle Beach Battle Buds™ – a high-performance in-ear headset designed for gamers on the go. The Battle Buds’ standout feature is the removable high-sensitivity boom microphone which delivers crystal-clear in-game chat with other players. When not gaming, the boom mic can be easily detached, and the inline mic can be used for taking calls and chatting on the go. Additionally, Battle Buds have 10mm speakers that deliver full-range sound, as well as a standard 3.5mm connection to ensure compatibility with nearly all mobile devices, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, PS4™, and PC. Battle Buds arrive with two color combinations – bright white with teal accents, or sleek black with silver accents, and are available today exclusively at Target in the United States and at www.turtlebeach.com for a MSRP of just $29.95, making them a perfect stocking stuffer gift for the holidays.

“The Battle Buds use our renowned mic technology to deliver a great multiplayer chat experience, just in a smaller, more portable package created for gamers playing on Nintendo Switch™ and mobile devices,” said Juergen Stark, CEO, Turtle Beach. “Battle Buds sound great whether gaming or listening to music, and both mics pick up your voice loud and clear, whether you’re coordinating with your squad to ensure you get the next win, or on a call with a friend talking about your next match.”

Full details for the Turtle Beach Battle Buds in-ear gaming headset include:

CRYSTAL-CLEAR CHAT – A removable high-sensitivity, unidirectional boom mic picks up your voice loud and clear when your squad needs you most. Additionally, the built-in inline mic is great for taking calls on the go.

LIGHTWEIGHT COMFORT – Three sizes of interchangeable ear-tips with stabilizers ensure a great fit so you can use for hours in complete comfort.

MULTIFUNCTION INLINE CONTROLLER – The inline controller puts Master Volume, Mic Mute, and a Multifunction Button (for supported devices) at your fingertips.

HIGH-QUALITY 10MM SPEAKERS – 10mm speakers produce crisp highs and thundering lows.

MULTIPLATFORM COMPATIBILITY – Designed for Nintendo Switch™ and mobile gaming, and also works great with Xbox One, PS4™, and PCs with a 3.5mm jack.

For more information on the latest Turtle Beach products and accessories, visit www.turtlebeach.com and be sure to follow Turtle Beach on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Elite Dangerous: Beyond – Chapter Four Release Date

Cambridge, UK. 3 December 2018. Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV) today announced Elite Dangerous: Beyond – Chapter Four, will launch on 11 December. The biggest Elite Dangerous update of the year, and the final chapter in the Beyond season of updates, Chapter Four is packed with content and is available for free to all Elite Dangerous Commanders on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Beyond – Chapter Four is headlined by two new ships, a new discovery system for exploration, advanced mining techniques, additional multiplayer options, plus more. All of these features can be found in the Beyond – Chapter Four launch date trailer premiering today.

A breakdown of the key additions is below:

Exploration
A new Analysis Mode, with the improved Exploration Discovery Scanner and Detailed Discovery Scanner, is a game-changing new way for all Commanders to explore the galaxy. After an initial scan of the system, players will then be able to tune their scanners to find stellar bodies and other phenomena. Not only is this new system a more realistic, satisfying and engaging exploration experience, but also provides players with the freedom to make more informed decisions on where to look next, and be ultimately better rewarded for time spent exploring. Additionally, Commanders will have probes that can be arced onto planetary surfaces, and planetary rings, to map them in detail, locate points of interest and leave their mark on the galaxy in a new way.

Mining
New mining tools and mechanics provide a fresh, potentially lucrative mining experience for all Elite Dangerous Commanders. Miners can investigate rings to locate the best spots to start their mining sessions and identify mineral deposits within individual asteroids. Then, with the right amount of skill, can coordinate a detonation.

Squadrons
Squadrons is a new in-game way of uniting like-minded Commanders to support factions of their choice, take part in Community Goals together and compete for top spots in weekly leaderboards. Squadrons also feature new communication tools, including in-game chat channels, to coordinate activities across the galaxy.

More
Additionally, Beyond – Chapter Four also features a new lighting engine, numerous visual improvements, background simulation updates, and a number of cockpit interface changes to improve the flying experience of players.

Keep up to date with all things Elite Dangerous on Facebook and Twitter.

PDXCON 2019 Announced for Berlin

STOCKHOLM – Nov. 30, 2018 – Paradox Interactive, a publisher and developer of games that take place all over the world, today announced the date and location for PDXCON 2019, the annual celebration of Paradox’s global community of fans and players. PDXCON 2019 will occur in Berlin, Germany, taking place on October 19-20, 2019, with debut announcements, appearances, and presentations featured for all attendees. Tickets for PDXCON 2019 will be available for sale early next year, with multiple admission tiers offering a variety of exclusive perks to attendees.

See the Paradox Team coming to grips with this process in a new trailer here:

Sign up for PDXCON updates and be first in line for Early Bird Tickets here: https://pdxcon.paradoxplaza.com/

PDXCON 2019 will be the third annual public convention for all things Paradox, where fans will have the chance to meet the creators of their favorite games, connect with fellow players and top creators within the Paradox community, and find out what’s in store for future titles. 2019 will mark the first year that the fan convention is held outside of Paradox’s hometown of Stockholm, offering greater opportunity for fans to attend from a wider variety of locations. Details on event hotels and accommodation will be shared early next year.

“PDXCON has come to mean a lot to our fans, and to all of us inside Paradox as well,” said Ebba Ljungerud, CEO of Paradox Interactive. “It’s not just a milestone for us as a company, it’s a personal highlight. As our first public PDXCON to take place outside of the comfort of our ‘home field,’ we intend to make this year’s show worthy of the global stage — bigger and bolder than ever before. I’ll see you all there!”

For more details on PDXCON 2019, visit: https://pdxcon.paradoxplaza.com/

Hell Fest Digital and Blu-Ray Release Dates Change

SANTA MONICA, CA (November 13, 2018) – Experience a terrifying celebration of the horror genre when Hell Fest arrives on Digital December 21 and on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand January 8 from Lionsgate. From Gale Anne Hurd, an executive producer of TV’s “The Walking Dead,” executive producer Tucker Tooley (LimitlessDen of Thieves), and directed by Gregory Plotkin (editor of Get OutHappy Death Day, and director of  Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension), Hell Fest is one truly terrifying ride. The scary slasher film stars Amy Forsyth (TV’s “The Path,” “Rise,” “Defiance”), Reign Edwards (TV’s “Snowfall,” “MacGyver,” “The Bold and the Beautiful”), Bex Taylor-Klaus (TV’s “Scream: The TV Series,” “Arrow,” The Last Witch Hunter), and the legendary Tony Todd (CandymanNight of the Living DeadThe Crow). Story by William Penick & Christopher Sey and Stephen Susco, Screenplay by Seth M. Sherwood and Blair Butler and Akela Cooper.

A group of friends are bound for a horror-themed Halloween event at a local amusement park — a sprawling labyrinth of rides, games, and mazes that travels the country and happens to be in town. But for one visitor, the ghoulish carnival of nightmares is not the attraction — it is a hunting ground. On the night the friends attend, a masked serial killer turns the amusement park into his own playground, terrorizing attendees while the rest of the patrons believe that it is all part of the show. As the body count and frenzied excitement of the crowd continues to rise, who will fight to survive the night?

Take home Hell Fest and go behind the scenes with an exclusive, never-before-seen featurette, “Thrills and Kills: Making Hell Fest.” Experience four times the resolution of Full HD with the 4K Ultra HD combo pack, which includes Dolby Vision™ HDR, bringing entertainment to life through ultravivid picture quality. When compared to a standard picture, Dolby Vision can deliver spectacular colors never before seen on a screen, highlights that are up to 40 times brighter, and blacks that are 10 times darker.The Hell Fest 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $42.99, $39.99, and $29.95, respectively.

 

4K UHD / BLU-RAY / DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • “Thrills and Kills: Making Hell Fest” Featurette
  • Theatrical Trailer

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Tabletop Game Announced

SAN DIEGO, CA (November 29, 2018) – IDW Games are excited to announce the next tabletop adventure for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures. Expanding on the system of TMNT: Shadows of the Past, this tabletop miniatures game will be coming to Kickstarter in January and will be action-packed with new miniatures, tiles, and Adventure Comics for both TMNT fans and miniature game players.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures will be both a co-operative and 4v1 adventure set in IDW’s TMNT universe. Kevin Wilson, the designer of TMNT: Shadows of the Past, will be returning to oversee development of the game, while Pete Walsh and Dan Lansdown, founders and admins of the Shadows of the Past online community, will join the team to take the lead on design, including the oft-asked-for A.I. rules to allow for fully cooperative game play.

Jerry Bennington, IDW Publishing’s VP of New Product Development, says, “We are looking forward to continuing with more Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stories on the tabletop! The fans are excited for more, and Pete and Dan have expanded on the amazing game system built by Kevin Wilson to create a foundation for great gameplay and storytelling. With new art and miniatures, TMNT fans are going to have a lot of fun with these new games.”

The Kickstarter campaign for the first two volumes of the game, Change is Constant and City Fall, will launch in January and feature new miniatures, characters, tiles, and fan favorites for all new adventures. With 30 new unique miniature sculpts and iconic art, this game will launch the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into their next incarnation on the tabletop.

“We want to use Kickstarter as a way to bring the fun of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures to more fans and gamers, while allowing us to create even more components and elements for the game that would not be possible through regular retail release,” says Jerry Bennington. “This will be the first in a series of Adventures-branded miniatures games that will bring some of the industry’s most iconic properties to the tabletop, so fans will have a lot to look forward to through 2019.”

Prior to the Kickstarter campaign, fans attending PAX Unplugged (Nov. 30 – Dec. 2) will have the opportunity to demo the game at IDW Games booth #3148. For more information on the Kickstarter and game previews join the TMNT Adventures Facebook Group to be a part of the community.