Author - boothby

Bigben Interactive Acquires Test Drive Brand

2016/12/14

Lesquin (France), December 14th, 2016 – Bigben Interactive has announced the acquisition of the rights to use and develop the TEST DRIVE brand from the Atari group and announces its project to develop new titles from the franchise Test Drive Unlimited. Atari retains all rights to sell all previously-released Test Drive games.

“We are more than confident with respect to the quality of this franchise, which is loved by so many players,” stated Alain Falc, CEO of Bigben Interactive. “Our teams are very enthusiastic at the idea of being able to work on this license, which has already proven its worth – the game Test Drive Unlimited 2 sold 1.8 million units,” he concluded.

The acquisition broadens Bigben’s catalogue, taking its place alongside such titles as WRC, TT Isle of Man, Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter, Outcast and 2Dark. It is a clear demonstration of Bigben’s desire to offer quality video games on all current platforms.

Drifter Entertainment Raises $2.25 Million for VR Game Development

2016/12/13

boothby

Geek News, Industry News, News

Seattle, WA (December 13, 2016) – Seattle-based Drifter Entertainment has announced that is has raised $2.25 million in seed funding to continue and bolster development of its virtual reality e-sports games. Drifter founders Ray Davis, Kenneth Scott, and Brian Murphy have spent their careers building platforms including HoloLens, Oculus Rift, Xbox One, and Unreal Engine 4, as well as games such as Gears of War, Doom 3, Halo 4, and Bullet Train.

The investment has been led by the highly regarded VC firm, Signia Venture Partners. Signia has previously invested in Alibaba, Boxed, Playdom, Adify, and Flycast Communications. The firm’s other gaming investments include Super Evil Mega Corp and Phoenix Labs. Signia partner, Sunny Dhillon, will be joining Drifter’s board as a result of the investment. “You rarely come across a founder like Ray with the technical and creative chops found in very few gaming company founders. We’re excited to build market defining virtual reality games with Team Drifter,” says Sunny Dhillon.

Another major investment comes from Initialized Capital, which has been among the first checks invested in billion dollar companies like Instacart, Cruise, and Zenefits. “We’re looking for foundational companies and this is our first VR bet, because this is the first time we saw something in the space that really felt like it could be a major level up in gaming,” said General Partner and cofounder, Alexis Ohanian (also: cofounder, Reddit).

Additional investors in Drifter to date include Presence Capital, The VR Fund, Pathbreaker Ventures, and Anorak Ventures.

“We’re thrilled and humbled by the support we’ve received from our investors, both financial and otherwise,” says Drifter’s Ray Davis, who most recently served as general manager for Unreal Engine 4, following his time at Microsoft on the HoloLens project. “We feel incredibly lucky to have found the right partners that not only want us to succeed, but clearly understand our vision for the future of VR gaming.”

“The titles we’re working on are ambitious experiences designed for a new medium, and knowing that we’ll have the capital to see them through is certainly empowering,” says Murphy, who helped launch the Xbox One, Kinect, and HoloLens while working for Microsoft over the course of the last decade. His most recent project was helping to create the virtual travel experience Holo Tour for HoloLens. The studio’s third cofounder, Kenneth Scott, has worked as an art director for some 20 years in AAA game development, including id Software and Microsoft Game Studios on the Halo franchise. He’s spent the last two years building conversion on contact content at Oculus.

For more information on Drifter, please visit: http://driftervr.com

Corsair Unveils Force MP500 SSDs

2016/12/13

boothby

Geek News, Hardware News, News

FREMONT, CA – December 13^th 2016 – CORSAIR^®, a world leader in enthusiast memory, high-performance gaming hardware and PC components today announced the immediate availability of the CORSAIR Force MP500 range of M.2 solid state drives, the fastest SSDs yet produced by CORSAIR. Available in 120GB, 240GB and 480GB capacities, the MP500 range delivers blistering performance up to five times faster than traditional SATA 6Gbps SSDs, offering users the next step in high-performance storage in an ultra-compact form factor.

Equipped with a Phison PS5007-E7 NVMe controller and high-bandwidth PCIe Gen. 3 x4 M.2 2280 interface, the MP500 range of drives put your data in the fast lane. Delivering phenomenal data performance including read speeds of up to 3,000 MB/s and write speeds of up 2,400 MB/s, the MP500 range of SSD accelerate system boots, game load times and file transfers beyond anything possible over a single SATA 6Gbps connection.

The ultra-compact M.2 2280 form factor allows the MP500 range to deliver its phenomenal performance in smaller form factors than any previous CORSAIR SSD. With no data or power cables required, an MP500 SSD can be fitted right onto the motherboard or installed into compact laptops and small form factor systems where space is key.

The Force Series MP500 range isn’t just small and fast – it’s committed to data integrity and reliability. Proprietary SmartECC™, SmartRefresh™ and SmartFlush™ technologies safeguard data against corruption in case of unexpected power loss or unsafe shutdown, while static and dynamic wear-leveling enhance drive reliability. The entire MP500 range is also fully compatible with CORSAIR SSD Tool box, allowing users to monitor many aspects of their drives health or to securely wipe and clear the drive with ease.

Backed by a comprehensive three-year warranty, the CORSAIR Force Series MP500 range delivers all the simplicity and reliability enthusiasts demand, in an ultra-compact, high-performance package.

Specifications:

• NVMe PCI Express Gen. 3 x4 interface provides up to a 5x performance improvement over SATA SSDs, allowing you to access all your data with blazing speed.

• M.2 2280 industry standard compact form factor.

• Available in various storage capacities including 120GB, 240GB and 480GB.

• Compatible with Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, with no special driver or administrative rights required.

• Enhanced error correction improves data retention.

• Toughened contact surface material gives better contact to the motherboard and provides vibration resistance.

• Static and dynamic wear-leveling extends the life of the disk SSD.

• Advanced garbage collection support provides extended drive management tasks.

• Compatible with CORSAIR SSD Toolbox for advanced functionality.

• Extensive 3-year warranty.

Availability, Warranty and Pricing:

The CORSAIR Force Series MP500 range of SSDs are available immediately from the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors, as well as direct from the CORSAIR webstore.

All Force Series MP500 SSDs are backed by a three-year warranty and the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.

For up-to-date pricing of all three Force Series MP500 SSDs, please refer to the CORSAIR website or contact your local CORSAIR sales or PR representative.

Product SKUs

CSSD-F120GBMP500

CSSD-F240GBMP500

CSSD-F480GBMP500

Web Pages:

For more information on the CORSAIR Force Series MP500, please visit

http://www.corsair.com/mp500

For more information on the CORSAIR Solid State Drives, please visit

http://www.corsair.com/ssd

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series – A New Frontier Launch Trailer

2016/12/12

boothby

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

December 12, 2016 – Today we can share the full launch trailer for The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series – A New Frontier, the all-new season in the critically-acclaimed series. The season debuts on December 20th taking form of a special two-part premiere with two episodes debuting on the same day: Episode One: ‘Ties That Bind’ Part I & Episode Two: ‘Ties That Bind’ Part II.

In the full launch trailer for the two-part premiere, we further explore the dire situation that brings newcomer Javier and his family together with the young survivor Clementine. We also catch a glimpse of familiar faces from The Walking Dead universe such as Jesus, while also getting some clues on exactly what this ‘New Frontier’ represents…

The first TWO of five episodes in The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series – A New Frontier will premiere digitally worldwide starting Tuesday December 20th on PC from the Telltale Online Store, Steam, and other digital distribution services, on the Xbox Games Store for Xbox One®, and on the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation 4. The episode will be available the same day for compatible iOS devices via the App Store, and for compatible Android-based devices via Google Play. Release dates for additional platforms will be announced in the near future.

Beginning in February, the series will also be available for purchase on a special ‘Season Pass Disc’ for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, which will include the premiere episodes for the third season, as well as access to all subsequent episodes in the five episode season for download as they become available.

Users can pre-order the season for their favorite platform now by visiting https://telltale.com/series/the-walking-dead-a-new-frontier/#buy. As a special bonus, PlayStation 4 digital preorders also receive a complimentary copy of The Walking Dead: Season Two and The Walking Dead: Michonne; while Steam users receive a discount of 10% for preordering.

When family is all you have left… how far will you go to protect it? Years after society was ripped apart by undead hands, pockets of civilization emerge from the chaos. But at what cost? Can the living be trusted on this new frontier? As Javier, a young man determined to protect his family, you meet a young girl who has experienced her own unimaginable loss. Her name is Clementine, and your fates are bound together in a story where every choice you make could be your last.

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier will act as both a new beginning for players fresh to the series and unfamiliar with Clementine, as well as a continuation for players who have experienced Seasons One and Two. Players new to the series will be able to start a story that is tailored to this new beginning. Players continuing onward from prior seasons will have multiple options for quickly configuring their tailored backstory, or importing past save files from various platforms. Additional information on this feature will be detailed in the coming week.

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series – A New Frontier is expected to receive a rating of ‘M’ (Mature) from the ESRB.

For more news and information on the season, stay tuned to telltale.com, follow @telltalegames on Twitter, and on follow our page on
Facebook.com/TheWalkingDeadGame.

Space Hulk: Deathwing – Launch Trailer

2016/12/12

boothby

News

December 12, 2016 – Space Hulk: Deathwing, the FPS from Streum On Studio set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, releases December 14th on PC! The time has come: Under the command of their Librarian, the 1st Company of the Dark Angels prepares to board the gigantic, Genestealer-infested Space deposited in Imperial space by the uncaring tides of the Warp. In today’s Launch Trailer, get a glimpse of the Genestealer swarms you will have to face when you start exploring the Space Hulk on December 14th!

Space Hulk: Deathwing is a first-person shooter based on Games Workshop’s classic Space Hulk boardgame, set in the universe of Warhammer 40,000. Developed in Unreal Engine 4, the game tasks you―in an extensive solo campaign co-written by Black Library author and Dark Angels specialist Gav Thorpe, or a challenging co-op mode up to 4 players―with facing the Genestealer swarms in the depths of a gigantic amalgamation of interstellar debris and wrecked spacecraft know as a Space Hulk. Unlock and equip yourself with the most powerful weaponry available to the Imperium, master destructive Psyker powers, and command your squad mates in battle to defeat the Xenos threat.

Space Hulk: Deathwing releases on PC on December 14th.

Until that date, players can still pre-order the game on Steam to obtain a 15% discount as well as an exclusive in-game weapon, the Lost Mace of Corswain. The game will release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2017.

Gunjack 2: End of Shift – Launch Trailer

2016/12/09

boothby

Geek News, Mobile News, News, Trailers / Videos

8 December 2016 – London, UK – CCP Games is thrilled to announce that Gunjack 2: End of Shift, the sequel to one of the best-selling VR games of all time, Gunjack, is out now and available exclusively on Daydream, priced at $12.99.

Gunjack 2 is developed by CCP Shanghai, which has quickly become world renowned as a leader in the creation of high quality mobile VR experiences. Their previous release, Gunjack , has sold through more than 500,000 units across the four platforms on which it was released – Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. Gunjack was praised for its breakthrough graphics when it launched on Gear VR in November 2015 and with Gunjack 2, the development team have again raised the bar for mobile VR games.

Gunjack 2: End of Shift is a fast-paced, space shooter set in EVE Online®’s science fiction universe, built from the ground up for mobile VR using Unreal Engine 4. Everyone fights in New Eden. Some fight for power. Others for money. But out on the fringes of known space, most fight simply to see another day. Far from the comforts of civilization, the vast mining rig, Kubera, is home. As a turret operator charged with defense of the rig and a formidable arsenal at their disposal, players must protect the Kubera and its precious cargo from bandits trying to blow the rig apart.

Gunjack 2: End of Shift seamlessly integrates intuitive motion controls with intense, full-immersion action to become the ultimate mobile virtual reality experience. Players use the Daydream controller to aim and shoot down swarms of enemies, strategically deploy special weapons, and activate an energy shield to survive the most dangerous situations. The game will also feature procedural daily missions, ensuring endless replayability. Cinematic storytelling is also central to Gunjack 2, cut-scenes featuring the mining rig’s crew immerse the player in the life of danger for those in the Outer Ring of New Eden.

“The impact of VR as an entertainment medium can really only be grasped when experienced first-hand and with Daydream, the goal of being able to deliver high quality mobile VR to the broadest possible audience feels within reach,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games. “We’ve designed Gunjack 2 to be a showcase for Daydream and we’re excited to demonstrate the impressive capabilities of Google’s new VR platform.”

“Pushing beyond what we achieved with the original Gunjack has been at the forefront of our minds for Gunjack 2 on Daydream,” said Jean-Charles Gaudechon, executive producer of Gunjack 2: End of Shift. “Collaborating with Google has been an incredibly rewarding experience and with Gunjack 2, we’re able to deliver a true leap forward in mobile VR gaming.”

For more details about the game, please visit www.gunjack2.com.

Shadow Warrior 2: The Way of the Wang Free DLC Released

2016/12/09

boothby

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

Austin, TX – Independent developer Flying Wild Hog and free DLC connoisseurs Devolver Digital have released Shadow Warrior 2: The Way of the Wang, a free DLC pack for the hit first-person slasher on Steam and GOG. Shadow Warrior 2 will be 25 percent off through the weekend to celebrate the launch of the new free DLC.

Shadow Warrior 2’s The Way of the Wang DLC opens up a new area within the game’s hub town, presenting seven special trials for Lo Wang to unlock and overcome. Players will be able to earn new crafting abilities, weapon gem slots, and base weapon upgrade perks upon completing each new trial with the prized Fist of Gozu weapon waiting for those that complete the final Trial of the Ancient God mission. Shadow Warrior 2 fans will also find three new ‘Insane’ difficulty levels for the game and five new achievements waiting for them in the DLC pack.

“The fact is Shadow Warrior 2 was a hit for Flying Wild Hog and Devolver Digital and frankly we have more money than we can handle at the moment,” said Fork Parker, CFO at Devolver Digital. “Our team of lethal but fiscally responsible ninja accountants advised me to go ahead and giveaway The Way of the Wang DLC for free and write it off on our taxes. So there you go, you cheap bastards.”

Launched in October, Shadow Warrior 2 has been a critical and commercial success for the independent Polish developer Flying Wild Hog. In its first week alone, the sequel enjoyed a fourfold increase in sales over the 2013 Shadow Warrior reboot.

The sequel follows the further misadventures of former corporate shogun and anti-hero, Lo Wang, who after the events of the first game is surviving as a reclusive mercenary on the edge of a corrupted world. The formidable warrior must again wield a devastating combination of guns, blades, magic and wit to strike down the demonic legions overwhelming the world he inadvertently corrupted.
Shadow Warrior 2 is available on Steam [shadowwarrior.com] and is set for release on consoles in early 2017. For more information please hit up whowantssome.wang or follow @shadowwarrior on Twitter.

Fantastic Beasts Comes to WB Studio Tour Hollywood

2016/12/08

boothby

Geek News, News

(Burbank, Calif. – December 7, 2016) Today, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood revealed its latest tour addition, From J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World: The Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts Exhibit, with special guests Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) and Bonnie Wright (Harry Potterfilm series). Opening to the public on December 9, 2016, the reimagined exhibit offers an up-close look at authentic props and costumes from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and the beloved Harry Potter films. Tour guests will now be able to explore how J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World has been brought to life on the silver screen over the past 15 years.

Fogler, who played the lovable No-Maj and aspiring baker, Jacob Kowalski, in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, when asked about seeing the exhibit for the first time said, “it’s an absolute honor to be a part of this all.”

When asked about what fans can look forward to in the new exhibit, Bonnie Wright, who portrayed Ginny Weasley in all eight Harry Potter films, said, “For fans these costumes and props were such a big part of the experience when watching Harry Potter. I think that’s what is exciting, to see those details.”

The expansion will take guests on a journey from concept art to final designs used on set. Tour guests will be able to see the detailed costumes of Lord Voldemort, from a young Tom Riddle to his rise as the Dark Lord. Guests will also have the opportunity to be sorted by the magical Sorting Hat into one of the four Hogwarts houses. This interactive experience will take place in front of a life like image of the Great Hall which will include costumes of iconic Hogwarts professors. As a finale to the exhibit, guests will be able to explore the newest film from the Wizarding World, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Highlights of the Fantastic Beasts experience include costumes worn by Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander), Katherine Waterston (Tina Goldstein), Alison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein), Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski) and Colin Farrell (Percival Graves), as well as Newt’s case of creatures.

“We are excited to let the world peer behind the lens to see how filmmakers develop the entertainment we love,” said Danny Kahn, Executive Director, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. “This experience will transport guests from Harry Potter’s Hogwarts adventures back to 1926 New York, where Newt Scamander’s misplaced magical case has found its home.”

Prey – 8 Minutes of Gameplay

2016/12/07

boothby

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

December 7, 2016 – Take a tour of Talos I and discover more secrets in the newest gameplay video and when Prey releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2017. Learn more at https://goo.gl/7QrG8M

Powers. Tools. Weapons. Aliens. And a massive space station. In signature style, Arkane Studios’ sci-fi thriller blends simulation and narration, dropping you into a carefully crafted world, then setting you free to play as you want. Watch almost nine minutes of pure Prey gameplay, with some light narration from Creative Director Raphael Colantonio and Lead Designer Ricardo Bare.

Prey will launch in 2017 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

For more on Prey, follow the game on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/preygame
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preygame/
Tumblr: https://prey.tumblr.com

Civilization VI Behind the Scenes with Sean Bean

2016/12/07

boothby

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

December 7, 2016 – Fresh from winning Best Strategy Game at The Game Awards 2016 last week in Los Angeles, 2K and Firaxis Games have released a new video giving a look at the creation of Sid Meier’s Civilization VI.

In this new video we go behind-the-scenes in the recording booth with the game’s narrator, Sean Bean, as he discusses working on and starring in the trailer for Sid Meier’s Civilization VI.

For the latest news on Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, visit the official site, follow @CivGame on Twitter, and become a fan of Civilization on Facebook.