Author - boothby

Turtle Beach Becomes Official Audio Partner of Gfinity Elite Series Season 3 and 4

2018/03/13

San Diego, CA – March 13, 2018 – In its ongoing commitment to esports, leading gaming headset and audio accessory brand Turtle Beach today announced a new partnership with Gfinity plc (AIM: GFIN) – a leading international esports entertainment group. The partnership sees Turtle Beach become the official audio partner of the Gfinity Elite Series for Season Three and Season Four.

Starting with the open-to-all Challenger Series, the Gfinity Elite Series provides opportunities for gamers to be drafted to the ranks of top pro teams, who then compete weekly over the season to become Elite Series Champions. The competition will take place live in the Gfinity Esports Arena in London.

At the arena, the 10 pro teams will be using Turtle Beach’s unparalleled Elite Pro Tournament Gaming Headset and Tactical Audio Controller, which are tailor-made for esports athletes. The Elite Pro delivers best-in-class audio performance for game sound and team chat, plus innovative comfort-driven technologies to ensure players stay comfortable and cool under pressure.

The Gfinity Elite Series Season Three started on Friday, March 9, 2018 with EA SPORTS’ FIFA 18 joining existing favourites Street Fighter V and Rocket League. The regular season is played over five weeks, culminating in a three-week final as teams compete for their share of a £250,000 prize pool.

“We aim to support esports at every level, from grass roots to pro players, and this is a core value shared by Gfinity and the Elite Series – making this partnership a perfect match,” said Julian Woods, Managing Director Turtle Beach EU. “Using the best equipment is crucial to finding success in esports, and we’re extremely happy Gfinity sees our Elite Pro as the path to delivering the best possible audio experience for the Elite Series competitors.”

“We are delighted to announce Turtle Beach as a commercial partner for Gfinity Elite Series in 2018,” said Neville Upton, Chief Executive of Gfinity. “The Elite Pro is the preferred choice for pro gamers, offering exceptional comfort and crisper sound that will take this year’s series to another level in performance.”

For more information about the Gfinity Challenger season, which is free and open to everyone, please visit https://challenger.gfinityesports.com/. For additional details on the entire EA SPORTS FIFA 18 Global Series, please visit www.FUTChampions.com.

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

SteelSeries Launches Arctis Pro Headset Line

2018/03/13

boothby

Geek News, News, Tech News

CHICAGO – March 13, 2018 – While the gaming graphics card and displays market continues to grow and push consumer expectations forward with beautifully immersive visuals, audio reproduction in speaker and headset solutions have fallen behind the curve. Today, SteelSeries introduces a breakthrough in gaming audio and an industry first with the introduction of the Arctis Pro Line.

The flagship model, the Arctis Pro + GameDAC is gaming’s first certified Hi-Res Audio System, ensuring gamers hear high-fidelity, full-resolution audio in its purest form. The GameDAC’s ESS Sabre chip delivers sound quality beyond anything gamers on console or PC have ever experienced. The Arctis Pro Wireless is a high-fidelity, lossless dual-wireless system delivering the versatility of a wireless headset and audio quality that earns its Pro name. The complete line consists of three headsets: the Arctis Pro + GameDAC, Arctis Pro Wireless and Arctis Pro.

“Until now, innovation in gaming graphics and displays have outpaced progress in gaming audio solutions,” said SteelSeries CEO, Ehtisham Rabbani. “The Arctis Pro is designed for gamers who seek high fidelity audio and who want to hear everything the sound engineers created, the same way they seek high-res, immersive visuals.”

Arctis Pro + GameDAC

The Arctis Pro + GameDAC is gaming’s first certified Hi-Res Audio System that ensures high-fidelity 96kHz/24-bit with no need for down-sampling. Featuring the legendary ESS Sabre DAC and amp, the Arctis Pro + GameDAC allows gamers to experience the pure joy of high fidelity audio.

The Arctis Pro headsets feature premium speaker drivers with high-density neodymium magnets that reproduce Hi-Res audio out to 40,000 Hz, nearly double the capability of most standard headsets (22,000 Hz). With 121 decibels (dB) of dynamic range and -95dB Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise, the Arctis Pro + GameDAC performs as well as high-end audiophile equipment. For gamers, this means they hear the cleanest and purest audio possible.

The SteelSeries GameDAC is a dedicated high-fidelity USB DAC and amplifier specifically made for gaming. The GameDAC transforms any PS4 or PC into a high-performance audio source by bypassing the low fidelity, poor quality DACs found in typical console controllers, USB headsets and PC sound cards. Its dedicated headphone amplifier circuit delivers abundant power to the Arctis Pro headset for strong output levels with extremely low distortion. The power of the ESS Sabre chip inside makes bass sound tighter, individual sound effects more distinct. Additionally, new DTS Headphone:X 2.0 technology delivers 3D virtualization over headphones and includes proximity cues and support for channel-based, scene-based and object-based audio, specifically to enhance the gaming experience.

The GameDAC also features an OLED screen for easy access to settings and controls without the use of additional software. This means PlayStation 4 gamers can fully customize their EQ, toggle surround sound, configure their headset illumination as well as see their volume and ChatMix levels, without using a PC. PC gamers looking for an even deeper level of customization can use SteelSeries Engine software for total personalization.

The Arctis Pro line shares the aesthetics of the Red Dot Award-winning Arctis line, but with the addition of premium materials throughout. The Arctis Pro lineup has a refined gunmetal finish on the lightweight steel headband, aluminum alloy hangers and a soft-touch coating on the removeable speaker plates for a sophisticated tactile experience.

The Arctis Pro line delivers next-level comfort with a self-adjusting ski goggle headband, which perfectly contours to gamers’ heads, while the athletics-inspired Airweave ear cushions wrap their ears in cool, soft fabric for long-lasting comfort.

The retractable ClearCast microphone delivers studio-quality voice clarity and background noise cancellation. Competitive gamers rely on clear, noise-free communication and the bidirectional ClearCast mic delivers.

“Every choice in components and features was made to achieve the best sound in gaming, and with high fidelity audio, gamers will be able to experience every sound created by game publishers in its purest form,” said Brian Fallon, Product Category Manager for Headsets at SteelSeries. “The Arctis Pro + GameDAC is more than a few new features, it is the only complete audio system for gamers that can deliver true, high-resolution audio in a beautiful package with comfort, durability and customization.”

Arctis Pro Wireless

The Arctis Pro Wireless is a dual-wireless gaming audio system that uses a USB transmitter for wireless 2.4G lossless audio and Bluetooth for mobile audio. All headsets in the line use the same industry-leading 40,000 Hz capable high-fidelity speaker drivers and feature the same comfortable, award-winning design. However, unlike the Arctis Pro + GameDAC, the Arctis Pro Wireless features the swappable dual-battery system first introduced by SteelSeries with the Siberia 800 and Siberia 840. Each battery has at least 10 hours of power for a combined 20 hours of gaming.

Gamers can use both the 2.4G and Bluetooth connections simultaneously for maximum flexibility, including gaming while using Discord chat or listening to music. The Arctis Pro Wireless headset connects to the wireless transmitter base station via SteelSeries’ 2.4G connection. This provides lossless and ultra-low latency wireless audio with up to 40 feet of range. Auto-channel hopping technology ensures the headset will always find clean RF space for interference-free performance.

Like the GameDAC, the Arctis Pro Wireless’ wireless transmitter features an OLED screen for quick settings adjustments without the need for additional software. However, for those who want even more options, SteelSeries Engine software on PC delivers deeper customization.

The Arctis Pro line is available now globally at SteelSeries.com.

The Arctis Pro + GameDAC is available for $249.99 / €279.99 and the Arctis Pro Wireless is available for $329.99 / €349.99. For more information about the complete line of SteelSeries’ Arctis Pro headsets and the Arctis Pro accessory packs, visit http://steelseries.com/arctispro.

Star Trek: Discovery Announces WonderCon Panel

2018/03/13

boothby

Geek News, Movie News, News, WonderCon

LOS ANGELES – March 13, 2018 – CBS Television Studios and CBS All Access invite Star Trek fans from around the world to join the team of “STAR TREK: DISCOVERY” at Wonder-Con on Saturday, March 24th from 3:00-4:00 PM in Room North 200A.

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY PANEL DESCRIPTION, MARCH 24, 2018

Over 50 years ago, the world was first introduced to what would quickly become a cultural phenomenon. It was a television series that inspired developments in science and technology, broke social barriers and transported viewers around the globe to new adventures and uncharted frontiers. Now, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY follows in the footsteps of those that came before as it seeks to tackle social issues, inspire the next generation of dreamers and doers and reflect on Roddenberry’s vision of a hope for tomorrow.

Join us in a conversation with those who boldly helped recreate the world of Trek in the modern day: Scheduled panelists include: Gretchen J. Berg & Aaron Harberts (Executive Producers & Showrunners); Tamara Deverell (Production Designer); Gersha Phillips (Costume Designer); Mario Moreira (Props Master); Glenn Hetrick & James MacKinnon (Prosthetics & Special FX Makeup); Jeff Russo (Composer); and Jason Zimmerman (VFX Supervisor).

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Pushed Back

2018/03/13

boothby

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

March 13, 2018 – We know you’re as excited as we are about the upcoming launch of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. As you have probably guessed, Deadfire is a huge game — significantly larger than the original Pillars of Eternity. Obsidian has been working harder than Abydon himself to make every inch of it awesome, as well as incorporating all the great feedback we have been getting from everyone playing the Backer Beta.

With this in mind, we are taking just a few extra weeks to polish and put those finishing touches on the game.

Our new launch date will be Tuesday, May 8th, 2018. To tide you over until then, you can look forward to plenty of Deadfire-related news and content coming in the weeks and months ahead.

See you all soon in the Deadfire!

Vermintide 2 Sells Over 500K in Less Than A Week

2018/03/12

boothby

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – 12 March, 2018. Independent developer Fatshark today announced that Warhammer: Vermintide 2 has surpassed 500,000 units sold just days after being released on PC.

“We are proud and happy that gamers worldwide have taken Warhammer: Vermintide 2 to their hearts.” says Martin Wahlund, CEO Fatshark. “500,000 games sold was a milestone that we had, but not less than a week after release.”

In numbers: 500,000+ units sold, 204 million minutes watched on Twitch, 50 billion enemies less, and 100% proud developers.

More heroes welcome! If you haven’t gotten your co-op on yet, pick up your copy now.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/552500/Warhammer_Vermintide_2/

Vermintide 2 is a visually stunning and ground breaking melee action game pushing the boundaries of the first person co-op genre. Set during the apocalyptic End Times of the Warhammer world – the game introduces the dark, bloody and twisted Chaos as an enemy faction. Other new features include 15 hero careers, new environments, talent trees and the proprietary Heroic Deeds System.

RIVAL: Crimson x Chaos Canadian Early Access

2018/03/12

boothby

Geek News, Mobile News, News

LOS ANGELES – March 12, 2018 – RIVAL: Crimson x Chaos, the anticipated debut strategy game from Section Studios, is set to expand its early access to Canada.

Prior to its worldwide release on April 5^th, 2018, Android users from Canada, Australia, Philippines, and Singapore will be able to get an early look at Section’s vision for CCG and MOBA gameplay.

During early access, players can expect to see live content updates and in-game events. Updates will include new Champions and Spells along with arenas and tournament events. Along with the current match-making and rank system, players will be able experience the RIVAL guild and challenge systems.

RIVAL is the first original project from Los Angeles based development team, Section Studios. The team has worked on a wide breadth of games from AAA titles God of War, Call of Duty, and League of Legends to indie favorites such as Tinertia and Awake.

Frostpunk Release Date Trailer

2018/03/09

boothby

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

March 9th, 2018 – Frostpunk announces its release date of April 24, 2018 with a brand new trailer, defiantly named “Serenity” in stark contrast to the game’s harsh, frigid reality. Coming to Steam, GOG.com, and Humble Store at launch, the spiritual successor to This War of Mine will land on PCs in a digital version for the price of $29.99 USD and retail version for the suggested price of $34.99 USD in the form of a special “Victorian Edition”. This special edition includes the “New London – The Art of Frostpunk” hardcover book which shows off the beautifully crafted artwork and concept images from Frostpunk’s icy interior.

Grzegorz Miechowski, managing director at 11 bit studios says: “We wanted to make it before end of Q1, but we ended up slightly moving the release further. The reason is simple – we needed this time for the final polishing required to deliver a game that, we believe, is the best 11 bit title so far. For us, production value is always the most important thing and a bug-free, carefully-balanced game is crucial to offer gamers the experience we want them to have. This War of Mine was a unique game about moral choices, and with Frostpunk, we are bringing this to a whole new level. It’s true that it took us some time to get here, but I’m happy to say that it was worth it!”

Thrustmaster and Ubisoft Team Up for Far Cry 5 Gaming Headsets

2018/03/08

boothby

Geek News, News, Tech News

Rennes, France, March 8, 2018 — Thrustmaster is thrilled to bring its expertise in gaming headsets to the world of Ubisoft®’s Far Cry® for the upcoming launch of Far Cry® 5. The leading hardware gaming brand is releasing two universal headsets, the Y-350CPX and Y-300CPX, allowing co-op teams to immerse themselves Far Cry 5’s fictional Hope County, Montana.

Limited Edition Far Cry 5 Headphones From Two Bestselling Product Lines

To meet the needs of gamers everywhere and particularly those fans of the Far Cry franchise, Thrustmaster is launching two limited-edition Far Cry 5 headsets to mark its arrival on PS4™, Xbox One® and PC. Thanks to an exclusive worldwide partnership with the Far Cry 5 on the latest generation of platforms, players can use these headsets to experience the intensity and action taking place in Hope County, Montana.

Set in America, a first for the franchise, Far Cry 5 offers players total freedom to navigate a serene-looking, yet deeply twisted world as the new junior deputy of fictional Hope County, Montana. Players will find that their arrival accelerates a years-long silent coup by a fanatical doomsday cult, the Project at Eden’s Gate, igniting a violent takeover of the county. Under siege and cut off from the rest of the world, players will join forces with residents of Hope County and form the Resistance.

‘Y-350CPX 7.1 Powered Far Cry 5 Edition’: The Ultimate Weapon

With the Y-350CPX 7.1 Powered Far Cry 5 Edition, Thrustmaster offers a high-end headset with unmatched performance sporting the distinctive colours and look of Far Cry 5. The Y-350CPX provides high-resolution audio with perfect reproduction of bass frequencies for optimal rendering of in-game explosions, balanced mids for stable transmission of other players’ voices, and unsaturated treble for crystal-clear sounds of incoming fire.

The Y-350CPX Far Cry 5 Edition will be players’ must-have hardware when used in co-op, a mode that Far Cry 5 is all about: your teammates will be able to count on you with an efficient mic and the fine-tuned 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound.

The Y-350CPX 7.1 Powered Far Cry 5 Edition headset boasts an impressive range of features to help players team up to confront the game’s formidable, emblematic characters:

High-performance microphone: unidirectional, detachable and adjustable. Designed to target the player’s voice only, for the most effective communication with teammates, and the least amount of interference.
Y Sound Commander unit for customizable control of the integrated 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound technology, an on/off mic switch, and the ability to toggle hearing your own voice through the headset on or off.
60 mm/2.36” drivers for the most powerful bass available in the console gaming market.
Memory foam cushions for effective passive isolation, combined with electronic bass boost built into the controller, provides double electro-acoustic bass amplification.
Professional-grade fit and finish with memory foam cushions, noise-reducing foam microphone cover and a red, white and blue braided cable.

Y-300CPX Far Cry 5 Edition: A Must Have Headset

The Y-300CPX Far Cry 5 Edition is the high-fidelity stereo version of the Y-350CPX model. The Y-300CPX ensures a perfect balance between bass, mids and treble thanks to very high-performance audio rendering, with an ideal frequency response curve for the soundscape in Far Cry 5. Using this headset, co-op teams will have all of their senses on high alert in the game’s particularly demanding environments:

Unidirectional, detachable and adjustable microphone, for perfect customization.
50 mm/1.97” drivers.
Exclusive double electro-acoustic bass amplification technology.
Multifunctional controller to adjust the game’s audio levels, as well as the bass level.
The Y-350CPX 7.1 Powered Far Cry 5 Edition and Y-300CPX Far Cry 5 Edition headsets will be available for the launch of the game Far Cry 5 at suggested retail prices of £89.99 and £49.99 (taxes included), respectively.

Arma 3 Tanks DLC Gets Release Date and Trailer

2018/03/08

boothby

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

March 8, 2018 – Bohemia Interactive today announced the release date for the upcoming Arma 3 Tanks DLC and revealed the DLC’s content and features. Available on April 11, Tanks DLC will conclude Arma 3’s current development roadmap by introducing a brand new Main Battle Tank, Armored Weapons Carrier, Tank Destroyer, a short singleplayer mini-campaign, and a singleplayer Showcase scenario.

Tanks DLC will be accompanied by a major platform update. This update will be free for everyone who owns Arma 3, and implements a range of new gameplay features and bonus content related to armored vehicles, such as fully-modeled 3D interiors, more targeting options, new launchers and additional vehicle variants, decorative objects for scenario creators, a competitive multiplayer mode, and more. The complete package is explored in-depth in a new developer diary video.

Arma 3 Tanks DLC Key Features

T-140 Angara – The T-140 Angara is a Main Battle Tank (MBT) of Russian design and is used by the CSAT faction. This vehicle is built to deliver maximum destruction, while providing the best kind of protection to its crew. The Angara’s primary weapon is a new 125 mm cannon, which can fire three different kinds of ammunition, and has a longer effective range than the cannons on most Western tanks. Its secondary weapons are a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Aside from the regular T-140, the Angara also comes in the T-140K ‘Commander’ variant, which replaces the heavy machine gun for a 30 mm autocannon, and is equipped with sensors to share target data via the Data Link with other units.
AWC Nyx – The Nyx Armored Weapons Carrier (AWC) is of German engineering descent, but was licensed and modified by the AAF faction. Its smaller size makes it relatively fast and mobile, and even allows for it to be slingloaded by the CH-49 Mohawk helicopter. The Nyx comes in four variants: Anti-Tank, Anti-Air, Recon, and the Autocannon variant. All of these variants wear an armor jacket that is able to withstand 7.62 ammunition, but each vehicle variant carries different types of weapons or equipment to serve specific needs on the battlefield. Just like the other new vehicles in this DLC, the Nyx is available in multiple liveries.
Rhino MGS – The Rhino is a wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) that is purpose-built to fight against tanks. For this reason, it’s also referred to as a ‘Tank Destroyer’. The Rhino MGS has a 120 mm cannon, which can fire all kinds of standard rounds, but also the new MARUK ATGM. It has a secondary weapon in the form of a coaxial .338 magnum machine gun. The Rhino also comes in the UP variant. This variant features an additional remote 12.7 mm heavy machine gun turret, and improved protection in the form of cage and ERA armor. It makes the UP more suitable for Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT), but does add weight and limits options for transport. Both variants of the Rhino are connected to the Data Link, which enables them to lock onto targets picked up or painted by friendly armed forces.
“Altis Requiem” Mini-Campaign – Over the course of three singleplayer scenarios, you assume the role of an AAF tank commander, and you get to experience the opposite perspective of the NATO offensive featured in Arma 3’s vanilla “The East Wind” campaign. Here, you’re placed in command of the new AWC Nyx in the fight against the FIA. Later you’re also presented with the opportunity to operate the new T-140 Angara Main Battle Tank. This short mini-campaign leads to different possible endings based on your playstyle and performance.
Showcase Tank Destroyers – In this singleplayer Showcase scenario, you play as a NATO crewman on board the new Rhino MGS UP. This Tank Destroyer has similar firepower to a Main Battle Tank, but is much more vulnerable in terms of armor protection. As such, you will need to make good use of the Rhino’s speed and maneuverability to complete your objectives.

Arma 3 Platform Update

Tanks DLC will be complemented by a major free platform update (version 1.82). This update introduces free new features and bonus content for all owners of Arma 3:

One of the highlight of this update is the addition of fully-modeled 3D interiors for all armored vehicles in Arma 3. On top of that, the overall experience of operating armored vehicles will be enhanced in the form of improved handling, an extended damage model, vehicle customization options, and upgraded audio.
Moreover, players will be able to make use of various new targeting options while fighting with or against armored vehicles; the Fire-Control System (FCS) automatically measures the range and speed of a target, adjusts a weapon’s zeroing, and calculates the lead to increase the chances of a first-round hit, whereas new missile flight profiles and capabilities enable players to fire missiles in either a direct or top-down attack mode. The update will also add support for terrain-following munitions, plus a few weapons will now also have the ability to lock-on after launch.
Aside from new features, the free platform update will also introduce a new team-vs-team multiplayer mode called “Vanguard”, 3 new Time Trial Challenges for the new DLC vehicles, as well as free bonus content such as 2 new anti-tank launchers, and new vehicle variants of the Offroad pickup and Light Strike Vehicles that carry a mounted launcher.
Lastly, Arma 3 content creators will be able to make use of a variety of free new decorative objects via the in-game Scenario Editor.

Arma 3 Tanks DLC is now available for pre-order with a 10% pre-order discount on the Bohemia Store and Steam (original price: € 9.99 / $ 11.99 / £ 8.99). People can also pick up the Arma 3 DLC Bundle 2 (includes Jets, Laws of War, Tac-Ops Mission Pack, and Tanks DLC) at € 22.99 / $ 24.99 / £ 19.99, which saves them more than 25% over purchasing each DLC separately.

A complete overview of the content and features in Arma 3 Tanks DLC (and its associated free 1.82 platform update) is available at www.arma3.com/dlc/tanks. Also be sure to follow Arma 3 on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Steam to keep track of all the latest news.

Cities: Skylines Celebrates Three Year Anniversary

2018/03/08

boothby

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

STOCKHOLM – Mar. 8, 2018 – Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order are inviting fans to join the party this weekend, as Cities: Skylines PC turns three years old on Saturday, March 10! How better to cap off three years than a shiny new milestone? The celebrated city-builder has sold over five million copies for Windows, MacOS and Linux since launch.

In that time, Paradox and Colossal Order have released over 1,000 new features, such as leisure and tourism, landscaping, football, radio stations, concerts, helicopters, ferries, monorails, cable cars, blimps and so much more. And yet, players in the Cities community are the TRUE big content producers, supplying more than 144,000 mods to-date. All sorts of user-generated maps, scenarios and assets are available in the Steam Workshop, for free!

Over the past three years, Cities: Skylines fans have definitively proven they can survive Natural Disasters, heavy Snowfall and self-inflicted anarchy of all sorts, but the question looms… can they survive Mars?

To celebrate its third birthday and five million milestone, Cities: Skylines players are getting a new unique Rocket City building called Xchirp Launcher, an astronaut Chirper, and a new free radio station – Official Mars Radio! Tune into Mars beginning this Friday, March 9 and jam out to space musical electro songs like Perfect Wave, Mission Stardust, The Return of Sputnik, Moon Zero Two and Aiming for Jupiter. As Paradox gears up for the release of Surviving Mars (next week!) on March 15th, all Cities owners will also get 10 percent off pre-orders on Steam.

For more information on Cities: Skylines, please visit https://www.paradoxplaza.com/cities-skylines.