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Bruce Campbell’s Horror Film Festival 2016 Film Line-Up

2016/07/20
boothby
Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News

ROSEMONT, IL., July 20, 2016— Bruce Campbell’s Horror Film Festival today announced the full lineup for its third annual festivities on August 18-21, in conjunction with Wizard World Chicago. Sponsored by Shudder and Bloody-Disgusting.com, the festival will open with the critically acclaimed nail-biter Don’t Breathe and close with the chilling Siren. Among many other events and screenings, the festival will feature Bruce Campbell’s Last Fan Standing game show, and actress Barbara Crampton as the “Guest of Honor,” who will host a 30th anniversary screening of From Beyond along with her new film, Beyond the Gates.

“You can have your rom-coms, your indie darlings and your blockbusters,” said Bruce Campbell. “I’ll take a good old-fashioned horror movie any day or night of the week!”

Opening night will kick off with the highly anticipated shocker, Don’t Breathe, from director-producer-writer Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead) and produced by Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert. Alvarez and star Stephen Lang(Avatar) will be in attendance. Sony Pictures is set to release Don’t Breathe on August 26, 2016. Closing night will feature the Chicago Premiere of Siren, a feature adaptation of the segment “Amateur Night” from the 2012 critically acclaimed horror anthology “V/H/S”, with director Gregg Bishop and star Chase Williamson in attendance.

The festival will offer Bruce Campbell’s all-new game show, Last Fan Standing—a quiz show based on sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and superheroes. Last Fan Standing is the ultimate test of pop-culture knowledge. Four fans are put through their paces by host and Con-favorite Bruce Campbell, battling through devilish speed rounds and a nerve-wracking Final Confrontation until only one remains, and a Last Fan Standing is crowned. The game show will take place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturdayat 11 a.m.

Writer/director Fred Dekker is slated to receive the inaugural “Groovy as Hell” award, and the festival will host a 30th anniversary screening of the cult classic Night of The Creeps and a very special screening of The Monster Squad with actors Andre Gower (Sean) & Ryan Lambert (Rudy) also in attendance.

Popular stand-up comic and host of the Doug Loves Movies podcast, Doug Benson, will host a very special ‘Doug Benson Movie Interruption’ of Army of Darkness, with guest interrupter Bruce Campbell!

Benson and Campbell, along with mystery comedians, will riff on the film live from the front row, and say whatever hilarious thoughts that pops into their heads. Single tickets for this show are SOLD OUT, but you can still guarantee a seat with the purchase of a festival badge.

BCHFF is also thrilled to present a 25th anniversary celebration of everyone’s favorite time-traveling metalhead slackers, a screening of Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey with director Peter Hewitt in attendance, along with Death himself, William Sadler!

The festival will also mark the World Premieres of Found Footage 3D, the long-awaited satirical horror film produced by Kim Henkel (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and directed by Steven DeGennaro, and Show Yourself, a haunting & remarkable genre-bending feature debut from Billy Ray Brewton (subject of the wonderful award-winning 2014 documentary Skanks, and programmer for Slamdance Film Festival).

Fans in the region will also experience the Chicago premieres of:

  • The Greasy Strangler– The most hilariously disturbing film of the year. From Elijah Wood’s Spectrevision, Drafthouse Films, & Ant Timpson.
  • Here Alone– Winner of the 2016 Tribeca Audience Award.
  • Abattoir– From Darren Bousman, the director of Saw 2, 3, 4, Repo: The Genetic Opera, Mother’s Day, and The Devil’s Carnival. Darren will be in attendance to present the film.
  • Pet– The SXSW hit starring Dominic Monaghan (Lord of The Rings Trilogy).
  • I am Not a Serial Killer– Starring Christopher Lloyd in yet another career defining performance.
  • Beyond The Gates– Winner of the midnight audience award at Los Angeles Film Festival.
  • Antibirth– Premiered at the Sundance Film & starring Natasha Lyonne & Chloe Sevigny.
  • Short Trip To Hell (Shorts Block)– A stunning collection of premiere shorts that will scare you senseless!

The Bruce Campbell Horror Film Festival jury this year includes a few dignitaries well-known to horror fans:Tom Holland (writer/director, Fright Night, Child’s Play); Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show);Cerina Vincent (Cabin Fever); and Zach Hagen (producer, He Never Died).

“I could not be any more thrilled with this year’s lineup,” said festival director Josh Goldbloom. “There’s something here for every bloodthirsty horror fanatic: Haunted houses, serial killers, satanic board games, home invasions, monsters with demon wings, possessed guitars, portals to hell, killer clown cookie jars, and last but not least, greasy stranglers. Buy a ticket and I promise you’ll see something you won’t forget.”

Festival badges are $100, and are on sale now at www.bchff.com!

The festival and all screenings will be held at the Carmike Muvico Rosemont 18.

Fans can visit www.BCHFF.com for full details and additions to the slate as they happen and dates and times for each screening. Follow the festival on Twitter: @groovyfest

LINEUP:

INAUGURAL GROOVY AS HELL PRESENTATION:

THE MONSTER SQUAD – Fred Dekker, Andre Gower, & Ryan Lambert in attendance!

A quintet of classic movie monsters invades a small town looking for a lost amulet that will help them rule the world. A bunch of kids decide to fight back by forming the “Monster Squad.” Written by Shane Black (THE NICE GUYS, KISS KISS BANG BANG).

Prior to the screening the festival will present director Fred Dekker with the inaugural “Groovy as Hell” award. Following the screening their will be a Q&A with Fred Dekker, Andre Gower, & Ryan Lambert.

Anniversary Screenings!

NIGHT OF THE CREEPS Fred Dekker in attendance!

The night of the prom becomes the “Night of the Creeps” for a small-town college with a big-time problem! No one ever said college would be easy…Johnny (Ken Heron) and his girlfriend Pam (Alice Cadogan), the perfect co-ed couple, are enjoying Lover’s Lane one evening in 1959 when suddenly Johnny’s attention is diverted to an evil light. He leaves to explore it, never to return again. Twenty-seven years later, when two college boys, Chris (Jason Lively) and J.C. (Steve Marshall), pledge a tempestuous fraternity, they encounter Johnny’s frozen body. When life returns to Johnny’s corpse, a reign of terror begins as the mysterious” creeps” leave his brain, permeating the bodies of other frat boys and sorority girls, making zombies of their prey!

FROM BEYOND Barbara Crampton in attendance!

Obsessive scientist Dr. Pretorius (Ted Sorel) successfully discovers a way to access a parallel universe of pleasure by tapping into the brain’s pineal gland. When he is seemingly killed by forces from this other dimension, his assistant, Dr. Crawford Tillinghast (Jeffrey Combs), is accused of the murder. After psychiatrist Katherine McMichaels (Barbara Crampton) and detective Bubba Brownlee (Ken Foree) take the case, the trio risks a return to the other world in order to solve the mystery. From Master of Horror, Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator)!

BILL & TED’S BOGUS JOURNEY Peter Hewitt & William Sadler in attendance!

Amiable slackers Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are once again roped into a fantastical adventure when De Nomolos (Joss Ackland), a villain from the future, sends evil robot duplicates of the two lads to terminate and replace them. The robot doubles actually succeed in killing Bill and Ted, but the two are determined to escape the afterlife, challenging the Grim Reaper (William Sadler) to a series of games in order to return to the land of the living.

Opening Night:

DON’T BREATHE (Chicago Premiere) Fede Alvarez & Stephen Lang in attendance

A trio of friends break into the house of a wealthy blind man, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect heist. They’re wrong

Cast: Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovato, Stephen Lang

Dir: Fede Alvarez

Distributor: Sony Pictures

U.S. Release Date: August 26

Closing Night:

SIREN (Chicago Premiere) Gregg Bishop and Chase Williamson in attendance!

A bachelor party becomes a savage fight for survival when the groomsmen unwittingly unleash a fabled predator upon the festivities. A feature adaptation of the segment “Amateur Night” from the 2012 horror anthology “V/H/S.”

Cast: Hannah Fierman, Chase Williamson, Justin Welbourn, Michael Aaron Milligan, Hayes Mercure, Randy McDowell.

Dir: Gregg Bishop

ABATTOIR (Chicago Premiere) Darren Lynn Bousman in attendance

How do you build a haunted house? Ask the enigmatic Jebediah Crone, the main suspect in a case of stolen rooms where horrific tragedies have occurred.

Cast: Jessica Lowndes, Joe Anderson, Lin Shaye, Dayton Callie, Bryan Batt,, J. Larose

Dir: Darren Lynn Bousman

ANTIBIRTH (Chicago Premiere) Guests to be announced.

Hard-drinking, pill-popping, bong-ripping Lou (Natasha Lyonne) and her best friend Sadie (Chloë Sevigny) spend their days adrift in a druggy haze. But one wild night out becomes a bad trip that never ends when Lou wakes up with symptoms of an unexplained, highly abnormal pregnancy. Spiked with blasts of hallucinatory color, surreal shocks, and subversive comedy, the audacious feature debut is a no-holds-barred descent into delirium.

Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Chloë Sevigny, Meg Tilly, Mark Webber

Dir: Danny Perez

BEYOND THE GATES (Chicago Premiere) Jackson Stewart, Barbara Crampton, Chase Williamson & Brea Grant in attendance

Seven months after their father’s disappearance, two brothers reunite to liquidate the family video store. Unfortunately, things go from bad to worse when they find an old VHS boardgame with evil powers, and all hell breaks loose.

Cast: Chase Williamson, Graham Skipper, Brea Grant, Barbara Crampton, Matt Mercer, Jesse Merlin

Dir: Jackson Stewart

FOUND FOOTAGE 3D (World Premiere) Cast & Crew in attendance!

A group of low-budget filmmakers sets out to make “the first 3D found footage horror film,” but find themselves *in* the first 3D found footage horror film when the evil entity from their movie escapes into their behind-the-scenes footage.

Cast: Carter Roy, Alena von Stroheim, Chris O’Brien, Tom Saporito, Scott Allen Perry, Jessica Perrin, Scott Weinberg

Dir: Steven DeGennaro

THE GREASY STRANGLER (Chicago Premiere)

The Los Angeles-set tale follows Ronnie, a man who runs a Disco Walking tour along with his browbeaten son, Brayden. When a sexy, alluring woman comes to take the tour, it begins a competition between father and son for her attentions. It also signals the appearance of an oily, slimy inhuman maniac who stalks the streets at night and strangles the innocent, soon dubbed ‘The Greasy Strangler.’

Cast: Michael St. Michaels, Sky Elobar, Elizabeth De Razzo

Dir: Jim Hosking

HERE ALONE (Chicago Premiere)

A young woman struggles to survive on her own in the wake of a mysterious epidemic that has decimated society and forced her deep into the unforgiving wilderness.

Cast: Lucy Walters, Adam David Thompson, Gina Piersanti, Shane West

Dir: Rod Blackhurst

I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER (Chicago Premiere) Guests to be announced!

In a small Midwestern town, a troubled teen with homicidal tendencies must hunt down and destroy a supernatural killer whilst keeping his own inner demons at bay.

Cast: Christopher Lloyd, Laura Fraser, Max Records

Dir: Billy O’Brien

PET (Chicago Premiere)

Seth works at an animal shelter, and for years has been secretly in love with a waitress named Holly . When he repeatedly fails in his attempts to woo her, he naturally decides to lock her in a cage at the shelter where he works. And that’s just the beginning…

Cast: Dominic Monaghan, Ksenia Solo, Jenette McCurdy, Nathan Parsons

Dir: Carles Torrens

SHOW YOURSELF (World Premiere) Cast & crew in attendance!

When his friend dies unexpectedly, Travis heads into the woods with his ashes to say goodbye. But as he deals with his grief, and the way it has affected the relationships in his life, he starts to realize that he actually might not be alone.

Cast: Ben Hethcoat, Corsica Wilson, Barak Hardley, Stephen Cone, David McElwee, Robert Longsteet.

Dir: Billy Ray Brewton

SHORT TRIP TO HELL – Short Film Block

DEATH METAL

A metalhead gets passed down a satanic guitar that riffs to shreds.

Dir: Chris McInroy

GWILLIAM

A recently released criminal is looking for a good time. He can forget his sins but he can never forget…Gwilliam.

Dir: Brian Lonano

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT’S KILLING THEM

A pitch-black comedy about Vivian, a lonely serial killer whose three loves in life are math, accounting, and killing random people. This all changes when she meets Alex, the man of her dreams.

Dir: Joel Ashton McCarthy

KOOKIE

Bree, a dishonest 9-year-old receives a terrifying visitor after a parenting lesson goes horribly wrong.

Dir: Justin Harding

MADRE DE DIOS

A woman wakes up bound to an altar, helpless as she is transformed into a flesh and blood statue of Santa Muerte by two elderly Brujos whose sole purpose is to conjure the anti-Christ into our plane of existence.

Dir: Gigi Saul Guerrero

NIGHT OF THE SLASHER

A teenage girl must commit horror movie sins such as drink alcohol, do drugs, and have sex to lure a killer and finish him off.

Dir: Shant Hamassian

PORTAL TO HELL

A crusty and recluse superintendent is thrown into the ultimate fight against evil when a couple of cultists open a portal to the ancient and mysical city of R’lyeh, awakening slumbering god. Starring the late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

Dir: Vivieno Caldinelli

SCHEDULE

8/18

7:30 PM: Don’t Breathe

10:15 PM: Night of The Creeps (30th Anniversary Screening)

8/19

6:00 PM: Pet

8:00 PM: Doug Benson Movie Interruption

10:00 PM: Show Yourself

Midnight: From Beyond (30th Anniversary Screening)

8/20

1:00 PM: Abattoir

3:30 PM: Beyond The Gates

5:45 PM: I am Not a Serial Killer

8:00 PM: The Monster Squad

10:00 PM: Found Footage 3D

Midnight: The Greasy Strangler

8/21

12:00 PM: Short Trip To Hell (Shorts Block)

2:00 PM: Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (30th anniversary screening)

4:00 PM: Here Alone

6:00 PM: Antibirth

8:00 PM: Siren

For more info on the 2016 Wizard World Comic Con Chicago (August 18-21 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont), visit http://wizd.me/ChicagoPR.

About Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD)

Wizard World, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com) produces comic cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A’s, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World has also launched Wizard World Store (www.shopwizardworld.com), CONtv, a digital media channel in partnership with leading independent content distributor Cinedigm™ (NASDAQ: CIDM), and ComicConBox™ (www.comicconbox.com), a premium subscription-based monthly box service. Fans can interact with Wizard World on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.

The Wizard World 2016 schedule is available at: http://wizardworld.com/searchby/city/.

 

Comic-Con HQ Goes Live at Comic-Con

2016/07/19
boothby
Geek News, News, SDCC

Los Angeles/San Diego, July 19 – Celebrating its official debut, Comic-Con HQ, the premium digital network from Lionsgate and Comic-Con International (Comic-Con), will broadcast live from a public stage outdoors on the Hilton Bayfront Promenade from 12p – 5p PT, each day of the convention, beginning July 21, available on the web, iOS, Android, Amazon and now Roku. Select segments will also be available via Facebook Live and Twitch.

Offering 20 hours of the most comprehensive coverage ever from the biggest comics and pop culture event in the world, Comic-Con HQ Live will feature Comic-Con HQ personalities and a who’s who of Comic-Con celebrities, industry insiders and fan favorites on stage as well as live reporting from the convention floor and sanctioned events throughout the city.

Hosted by Alison Haislip (Attack of the Show, Con Man) and Steve Zaragoza (Sourcefed, Mostly Harmless), Comic-Con HQ LIVE will deliver highlights such as:

  • Celebrity appearances from Nathan Fillion & Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Con Man), Rob Benedict & Richard Speight Jr. (Supernatural, Kings of Con), John Barrowman (Arrow, Doctor Who), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Clark Gregg (Agents of SHIELD), Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Outcast), Dave Franco (Nerve), John Bradley (Game of Thrones), Jim Lee & Dan Didio (DC Comics), Joe Casey (Man of Action), and the new Power Rangers;
  • Cast interviews from Orphan Black, Archer, Rick & Morty, The Expanse, Teen Wolf, Ash vs The Evil Dead, American Gods, The 100, Power Rangers, Wynona Earp, Timeless, Prison Break, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Frequency, People of Earth, The Good Place, and more;
  • Field reports from Artists’ Alley as well as booths and spectacles of all sizes on the convention floor including Marvel, DC, Warner Bros, Image, Sideshow, Hasbro, Weta, Xbox, Nintendo, and more;
  • Must-see events and outdoor experiences such as Entertainment Weekly’s Con-X, the IMDb Yacht Party, Adult Swim on the Green, the FXhibition, Star Trek: 50 Artists. 50 Years, Neil deGrasse Tyson presents Space Odyssey, and The South Park Experience, and more;
  • Panel coverage from all spaces including Hall H, the Indigo Ballroom, the San Diego Central Library, and the Horton Grand Theatre;
  • Breaking news delivered by Comic-Con HQ’s Anthony Carboni, Trisha Hershberger, and Adam Sessler, as well as industry insiders and pop culture pundits such as Carrie Keagan, Malik Forte, Jason Inman (DC All Access), Bobak Ferdowsi (NASA), Jeff Berkwits (Sci Fi Magazine), Jenna Busch (Legion of Leia), Joshua Yehl (IGN), and more.

While watching the live broadcast at the Hilton Bayfront, attendees can also enjoy a variety of other fan experiences available for free throughout the four-day outdoor event:

  • Interactive reddit exhibition with on-site AMAs and fan challenges;
  • Razer gaming stations featuring popular PC titles;
  • Brick & mortar showcase of Comic-Con HQ’s annual pass stash, featuring free stuff and exclusive savings from DC, Dark Horse Deluxe, ThinkGeek, Kotobukiya, Hallmark PopMinded, Gentle Giant, Sideshow Collectibles, Loot Crate, TriForce, Valve, HerUniverse, Razer, Weta Workshop Collectibles, and more;
  • Four free Comic-Con HQ exclusive posters from top artists Hydro74, Tracie Ching, Dave Perillo, and Coby Gewertz, each honoring film classics now on the network: Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Labyrinth, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off;
  • Free wi-fi, charging stations, photo booths, and refreshments for all attendees;
  • And tons of free giveaways from featured partners throughout the week!

Whether in Hall H or hundreds of miles away, fans everywhere can also access Comic-Con HQ from their internet-connected devices and access exclusive on-demand SDCC content including:

  • Select SDCC presentations from panel rooms big and small, featuring top franchises from partners such as HBO (Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley), Cinemax (Outcast), SyFy (The Expanse, Wynonna Earp), USA (Mr. Robot, The Colony), Nickelodeon (TMNT, Legends of the Hidden Temple), Starz (American Gods, Ash vs Evil Dead), FX (Archer, The Strain), Amazon Studios (Man in the High Castle), Hasbro (My Little Pony), and  BBC (Orphan Black, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency) ; along with spotlights on luminaries like Mike Mignola and Jim Lee, presentations from print publishers such as Skybound, Dark Horse, Valiant, Archie, Prism, Abrams, and Penguin Random House, tons of educational panels and how-to workshops, and so much more;
  • The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, considered the “Oscars” of the comics world. More than two dozen awards will be handed out on Friday, July 22, 8p PT in the Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront. This year’s show is hosted by John Barrowman and include a variety of celebrity presenters from comics and pop culture.
  • The world-famous Masquerade, capturing the event for the first-time in SDCC history;
  • The Her Universe Fashion Show;
  • Select entries from the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival

“Comic-Con HQ is making the Comic-Con experience more accessible for fans across the country in ways never before possible,” said Seth Laderman, EVP and GM of Comic-Con HQ. “It is a tremendous undertaking, but it’s our mission to enhance the on-site experience for the many fans attending the event, while welcoming countless more to participate in this incredible experience and stay connected to this amazing community all year long.”

SyFy Announces Talent for Live From Comic-Con Event

2016/07/19
boothby
Geek News, News, SDCC

NEW YORK – July 18, 2016 – Syfy today announced an impressive talent line-up today for the three-night event SYFY PRESENTS LIVE FROM COMIC-CON, hosted by film and television star Will Arnett. Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead”), Elijah Wood (“Dirk Gently”), the Emmy-nominated cast of MR. ROBOT, Jamie Alexander (“Blindspot”), Emmy-nominated Tony Hale (“Veep”), Will Forte (“Last Man On Earth”) and Zachary Levi (“Heroes Reborn”) will appear in Syfy’s first-ever live broadcast of the biggest party of the summer, broadcasting nightly from Thursday, July 21 through Saturday, July 23 at 8/7c.

It was also announced that digital star Hailey Bright (“Coin-Op TV Line”) and actor and comedian William Haynes (“People Be Like”) are show correspondents, hosting news segments, conducting on-the-street interviews and interacting with the live audience at SYFY PRESENTS LIVE FROM COMIC-CON’s outdoor stage.

Each night, Arnett and team will discuss the Con’s breaking news, provide insider party coverage, and unveil exclusive content and sneak peeks of the most anticipated films and TV series.

Among the stars of film and television who are currently scheduled to conduct interviews as part of the live three-night event:

Thursday, July 21

  • Alan Tudyk (“Robot Chicken”)
  • Eric Christian Olsen (“NCIS: Los Angeles”)
  • Rose McIver (“iZombie”)
  • The cast of ‘Mr. Robot” (Rami Malek, Christian Slater, Carly Chaikin, Portia Doubleday, Grace Gummer)
  • The cast of “Star Trek Beyond” (Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, John Cho, Sofia Boutella and Director Justin Lin)
  • Tony Hale (“Veep”)
  • Zachary Levi (“Heroes Reborn”)

Friday, July 22

  • Derek Waters (“Drunk History”)
  • Jaimie Alexander (“Blindspot”)
  • Norman Reedus & Steven Yeun (“The Walking Dead”)
  • Will Forte (“Last Man on Earth”)
  • Yvette Nicole Brown (“The Odd Couple”)

Saturday, July 23

  • Andre Meadows (“Black Nerd Comedy”)
  • David Giuntoli (“Grimm”)
  • Mercedes Mason (“Fear the Walking Dead”)
  • Tara Reid (“Sharknado 4”)
  • The cast of “Dirk Gently” (Elijah Wood, Samuel Barnett and creator Max Landis)
  • “The Magicians” party recap with the cast of the hit Syfy series
  • The cast of “Timeless” (Matt Lanter, Abigail Spencer, Goran Visnjic and Malcom Barrett)

Corin Nelson serves as executive producer/showrunner for SYFY PRESENTS LIVE FROM COMIC-CON. It is produced by Wilshire Studios — the team behind E!’s “Live from The Red Carpet” — which takes viewers onto the most famous red carpets from the Oscars to the Grammys.

Additionally, from Sunday, July 17 through Sunday, July 23, Syfy will kick-off SYFY’S 7 DAYS OF COMIC-CON — a celebration of all things Comic-Con on-air, online and across its social media platforms, by offering fans exclusive content, “digital shorts” and exclusive trailer premieres to fuel their excitement throughout the entire week.

Follow us on social media for updates:

@Syfy

@arnettwill

#LiveAtSDCC

Star Wars Thrawn Book Announced with Zahn at the Pen

2016/07/18
boothby
Book News, Geek News, News

At the Star Wars Celebration Europe, Del Rey Books announced that one of the most well-known Star Wars Expanded Universe writers of all time, Timothy Zahn, would be brought into the fold to write Star Wars Thrawn, which will bring Grand Admiral Thrawn in from out of the Expanded Universe cold as well!

Farming Simulator 17 to Feature Female Farmers

2016/07/15
boothby
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

July 15, 2016 – Farming Simulator 17, the latest game from GIANTS SOFTWARE, will be available on October 25, 2016 on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC. This new entry in the series brings even more content than before, with new vehicles and branded machinery, new animals to care for, new crop types and for the first time, as announced at E3 2016, the availability of Mods on consoles. Finally, the long-awaited option to play as a female farmer will be made possible in the new addition to the popular franchise.

As requested by the passionate Farming Simulator community, the ability to play a female farmer reflects the diverse and ever-expanding industry of agriculture, making Farming Simulator 17 more realistic and rewarding than ever before. As illustrated in the images released today, players will now be able to select their avatar’s gender at the beginning of the game, along with customizing their clothes. This exciting new option will also appear among the workers you can hire: both men and women will give you a hand with the many tasks that a farmer sees throughout the day!

More new features will be unveiled the coming weeks and Farming Simulator 17 will be present at Gamescom 2016 in Köln on August 17-19th.

Screenshots

The Square Enix Experience Returns to San Diego Comic-Con

2016/07/14
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Geek News, News, SDCC

LOS ANGELES – July 14, 2016 – SQUARE ENIX® is once again giving fans the opportunity to participate in the Square Enix Experience, a themed outdoor area at San Diego Comic-Con 2016 celebrating some of the company’s leading franchises. The Square Enix Experience returns for 2016 with Deus Ex: Mankind Divided® – The Icarus Dash, FINAL FANTASY® XV – The Royal Race and aRise of the Tomb Raider® Glacier Climb.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will host the Icarus Dash; FINAL FANTASY XV will allow fans to speed around a go-kart track; and Rise of the Tomb Raider will challenge participants to conquer Lara Croft’s snow-covered wall climb. The Square Enix Arcade presented by Turtle Beach, featuring numerous Square Enix games and a beer garden await those who make it out from these challenges.

  • Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – The Icarus Dash
Enter the dark world of Deus Ex Mankind Divided and become covert agent Adam Jensen without the trench coat and fashionable shades. Showing off the Icarus Dash move, participants will have to run as fast as they can with a bungee cord on their back while shooting a laser gun at targets.
  • FINAL FANTASY XV – The Royal Race
Fans can race each other in this themed, go-kart race that takes them through the various landscapes of FINAL FANTASY XV. Visitors can also have a photo taken to commemorate their race.
  • Rise of the Tomb Raider Glacier Climb
The Rise of the Tomb Raider Glacier Climb, inspired by the opening sequence of the game, will allow fans to test their skill and will against the hostile environments Lara faces. The 30-foot glacier wall covered in snow, offers an incredible opportunity for fans to experience Lara’s world. Climbers can have their photo taken while on the wall to capture their adventure. This obstacle challenge is the latest event in the Tomb Raider 20 Year Celebration (#TombRaider20), a year-long salute to the iconic heroine.

Participants can share all of the action on Twitter at https://twitter.com/squareenix, Facebook athttps://facebook.com/squareenix and Instagram at https://instagram.com/squareenix.

The Square Enix Arcade hosts numerous kiosks featuring Square Enix’s premier games and Turtle Beach’s EAR FORCE® PX24 gaming headsets, which offer players game changing features like Superhuman Hearing™, Virtual Surround Sound, Bass Boost and much more. Visitors can enter and experience some of the most highly anticipated and recently released games for the first time. Also on display will be an exciting new product line from Razer.

After an exhausting sprint with a bungee, a go-kart race and a treacherous wall climb, visitors can relax in the beer garden and enjoy music with an ice-cold beer. The beer will be offered after a donation to charity for those 21 years and older.

The Square Enix Experience will be located at 7th Avenue and Market Street in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp District, June 22-23 from noon until 10pm.

In addition to the Square Enix Experience, the company will host the following panels:

20 Years of Tomb Raider: Lara Croft’s Multimedia Empire 
Room 24ABC – Saturday , July 23, 3:30-4:30 p.m.In 1996, Core Design unleashed Lara Croft on the world when they released the first Tomb Raider video game. Over the past two decades, Tomb Raider expanded to all facets of pop culture and entertainment – from critically acclaimed video games to record-breaking Hollywood movies; from best-selling comic series and chart-topping singles. Join major Franchise contributors on Saturday, July 23, for a conversation about Lara Croft’s multimedia empire, presented by the top-tier talent who brought her to life across different mediums.Panelists: Greg Miller (Moderator), Camilla Luddington (Voice and Performance Artist for Lara Croft), Noah Hughes (Franchise Creative Director) Andy Park (Comic and Concept Artist) and Debbie Lash (Eidos’ Lara Croft model manager and marketing executive).

Deus Ex and Open Bionics: Bridging the Gap between Fiction and Reality
Room 8 – Saturday, July 23, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Greg Miller hosts as Eidos-Montréal and Open Bionics discuss their collaboration to create affordable, functional and fashionable 3D-printed prosthetic arms, inspired by the Deus Ex Universe.

Panelists: Greg Miller (Moderator), Jonathan Jacques-Belletête (Executive Art Director, Deus Ex Universe), Samantha Payne (Co-Founder and COO, Open Bionics) and Joel Gibbard (CEO, Open Bionics)

KINGSGLAIVE: FINAL FANTASY XV
Room 7AB – Saturday, July 23, 7:30-8:30pm

The FINAL FANTASY franchise returns with KINGSGLAIVE: FINAL FANTASY XV, the fully CG animated movie and FINAL FANTASY XV, the highly-anticipated video game. The talented cast and team behind the movie will share exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, debut the brand new, full-length movie trailer and provide fans with a rare opportunity to hear about the franchise from their perspective.

Panelists: Takeshi Nozue (KINGSGLAIVE director), Liam Mulvey (KINGSGLAIVE Voice, Motion Capture Actor and 3D Base Model), Andrea Tivadar (KINGSGLAIVE Motion Capture Actor and 3D Base Model), Dan Inoue (Lead Writer) and Mat Kishimoto (Square Enix US Senior Marketing Manager).

KINGSGLAIVE: FINAL FANTASY XV will be in select theaters nationwide August 19th and is currently available for Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital pre-order.

Participants can share all of the action on Twitter at Twitter.com/kingsglaiveffxv, Facebook atFacebook.com/FinalFantasyMovies and using #Kingsglaive

At Booth #3829 in the San Diego Convention Center, attendees will also have the opportunity play several Square Enix titles including DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED, DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS,FINAL FANTASY XV, I AM SETSUNA, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER and WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY.

WWE 2K17 NXT Edition Revealed

2016/07/14
boothby
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

July 14 – 2016, 2K today announced plans for the Collector’s Edition of WWE 2K17, the forthcoming release in the flagship WWE video game franchise. Limited to 50,000 copies worldwide, the offering will celebrate the explosive growth and popularity of NXT, WWE’s energetic brand best known for developing and promoting the company’s newest emerging Superstars. The WWE 2K17 NXT Edition will be available exclusively for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, as well as Xbox One, at participating retailers for a suggested retail price of $99.99.

The WWE 2K17 NXT Edition will include the following items:

  • Copy of WWE 2K17 video game;
  • Exclusive premium packaging;
  • NXT Enhancement Pack:
    • Playable NXT Superstars: Shinsuke Nakamura, Nia Jax and Apollo Crews;
    • 50 percent boost in points earned for a player’s MyCareer Superstar while in NXT;
  • Exclusive Canvas 2 Canvas lithograph designed by WWE artist Rob Schamberger and autographed by NXT Superstar Shinsuke Nakamura;
  • Exclusive eight-inch “Demon” Finn Bálor collectible figurine;
  • Exclusive Topps NXT TakeOver: London Mat Relics Card:
    • All cards will include a piece of authentic ring canvas from the event;
    • All cards will feature one of 14 featured Superstars from event;
    • Each Superstar’s card will have one of 10 different rarity levels;
  • Goldberg Pack: access to two playable versions of legendary WCW® and WWE star Bill Goldberg, as well as playable WCW Monday Nitro and Halloween Havoc arenas.

Developed collaboratively by Yuke’s and Visual Concepts, a 2K studio, WWE 2K17 is not yet rated by the ESRB. WWE 2K17 is currently scheduled for worldwide release on October 11, 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems, as well as Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Consumers who pre-order WWE 2K17 at any participating retailer will receive two playable characters of legendary WCW and WWE star Bill Goldberg, well as playable WCW Monday Nitro and Halloween Havoc arenas, at no extra cost on launch day. For more information on WWE 2K17 and 2K, visit wwe.2k.com, become a fan on Facebook, follow the game on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #WWE2K17 or subscribe on YouTube.

Game of Thrones Scavenger Hunt Announced for Comic Con 2016

2016/07/13
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Geek News, Movie News, News, SDCC
Game of Thrones Jon Snow vs White Walker Swordfight

*Update – Due to the overwhelming interest in the Game of Thrones Comic Con Scavenger Hunt announced earlier today, the process of selecting winners is being modified. Fans will now have until 5pm on Saturday, July 23, to complete all of the Twitter photo challenges. Once completed, they can go to USAopoly’s CLUE: Game of Thrones Experience Booth #1017 between 9:30am-5pm PT on Saturdayto enter their name, contact info and Twitter handle into a raffle for a chance to win one of 15 prize packs valued at approximately $200.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 — HBO Global Licensing is excited to debut a wide array of new Game of Thrones products and convention exclusives at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, and to highlight some of its bestselling products released throughout the series’ run. To help celebrate, HBO is inviting fans to participate in a Comic Con Scavenger Hunt, sending them on a quest to find some of the coolest Game of Thrones products available on the Comic Con floor.

Starting Wednesday, July 20, at 6pm PT when the convention floor opens for Preview Night, until Saturday, July 23, at 11am PT, participating fans must complete all of the following challenges by posting photos of themselves with the specified products to their public Twitter profiles using the hashtag #GoTScavengerHunt.

Challenges:

  • Post a photo of yourself in front of the MEY for Game of Thrones jewelry display case inside the Hall of Faces Experience, located across from the Omni Hotel on L Street in the Gaslamp District. (Please note that the entry line forms early each morning.) The MEY for Game of Thrones collection features jewelry seen on and inspired by the hit series, created in a partnership between Emmy®-winning Game of Thrones costume designer Michele Clapton and the London-based jewelry brand Yunus & Eliza.
  • Post a photo of yourself wearing (or with someone wearing) The Night King mask($669.95) at CFX Booth #2944. Their silicone White Walker masks have been a hit at Comic Cons past, and now CFX is back with a new mask modeled after the king of the White Walkers. Pale blue striated flesh stretches upwards into a regal and organic ice crown to capture the look of this malevolent and powerful being.
  • Post a photo of yourself with The Night King Bust (Metallic Silver) at Dark Horse Booth #2615. The bust measures 8-3/4 inches tall. His 12-inch arms are raised as if he is a conductor orchestrating a crescendo, while challenging Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch army as they retreat. This silver plated bust is available in a limited edition of 200 for $150.
  • Post a photo of yourself wearing The Royal Crown of King Robert Baratheon at Factory Entertainment Booth #2647.Copied directly from the original screen-used prop, this 1:1 scale replica is finely crafted in solid metal to give it a heavy and suitably regal feel. Each limited edition replica (price TBA) is then hand-finished in a lustrous gold effect metal and has inset reproduction gemstones.  The replica includes a specially designed iron sword motif display stand that allows the replica to rest on the hilts of four swords.
  • Post a photo of yourself with a Game of Thrones Sigil Stationery Set at Insight Editions Booth #1703. These deluxe stationery sets ($34.95 each), themed to House Stark, House Lannister and House Targaryen, provide all the items fans will need to communicate with friends, bannermen, and faraway Maesters.

Final Challenge:

  • Once all photos have been posted to Twitter using #GoTScavengerHunt, line up at USAopoly’s CLUE®:  Game of Thrones™ Booth #1017 at 11am Saturday morning. The first 15 fans in line who have completed all previous challenges and who post a final photo of themselves with the CLUE®:  Game of Thrones™ Convention Exclusive: Expansion Pack will win a SDCC Game of Thrones Prize Pack valued at approximately $200. The CLUE®:  Game of Thrones™ Convention Exclusive: Expansion Pack($19.95; $60 when purchased with CLUE®:  Game of Thrones™), includes two new character cards: Oberyn Martell and Barristan Selmy with power cards; six gold weapons:  Poison Vial, Battle Axe, Arakh, Faceless Man Coin, Crossbow, Catspaw Assassin Dagger; and a custom scoring pad. Fans are welcome to stop by USAopoly’s booth anytime during regular Comic-Con hours to take their photo with CLUE®:  Game of Thrones™ Convention Exclusive: Expansion Pack and to play Solve the Mystery to win prizes.

Prize Pack Includes:

  • CLUE®:  Game of Thrones™ + CLUE®:  Game of Thrones™ Convention Exclusive: Expansion Pack
  • McFarlane Iron Throne Room Construction Set
  • Factory Entertainment Game of Thrones plush figures
  • Dark Horse Varys Figure
  • Insight Editions Sigil Stationery Set
  • Game of Thrones SDCC Exclusive The Night King T-shirt

got-scavenger-list

Fans can also check out other Game of Thrones products like the SDCC exclusive Mag the Mighty Funko Pop! figure (Funko – Booth #5341), the official companion book series (Chronicle Books – Booth #1506), and the Living Language Dothraki language course (Random House – Booth #1034), as well as a variety of other new and exclusive products available from the licensees above. A full list of Game of Thrones products that will be featured at Comic Conis available below.

Composite Effects – Booth #2944

  • The Night King Mask and Gloves

Dark Horse – Booth #2615

  • The Night King Bust (Silver)*
  • The Night King Pin
  • Son of the Harpy Figure
  • The Night King Figure
  • Stannis Baratheon Figure

Factory Entertainment – Booth #2647

  • Direwolf Cub Plush Box Set II (features Shaggydog, Lady and Summer)*
  • The Red Keep Relief Sculpture
  • The Royal Crown of King Robert Baratheon
  • The Wall and Castle Black Limited Edition Desktop Sculpture

Funko – Booth #5341

  • Dorbz Three-Pack – White Walker, The Hound, Joffrey*
  • Mag the Mighty 6″ Funko Pop!*

USAopoly – Booth #1017

  • CLUE®:  Game of Thrones™ Convention Exclusive: Expansion Pack*
  • CLUE®:  Game of Thrones™
  • MONOPOLY®: Game of Thrones™ Collector’s Edition
  • Risk®: Game of Thrones™

Insight Editions – Booth # 1703

  • Pop-Up Guide to Westeros Book
  • Astrolabe Collectible
  • Sigil Stationery Sets
  • Journals
  • Poster Book Collections

Living Language – Booth #1034

  • Living Language Dothraki

Chronicle Books – Booth #1506

  • Inside Game of Thrones: Seasons 1 & 2
  • Inside Game of Thrones: Season 3 & 4

Think Geek – Booth #3351

  • Game of Thrones Dragonclaw Goblet Replica
  • Game of Thrones House Sigil Journals
  • Game of Thrones House Sigil Wine Charms

*Denotes Convention Exclusive. Only available on the Comic Con floor, with a limited allotment available at Store.HBO.com starting Wednesday, July 20.

 

AOC Launches its First Curved Gaming Display in the U.S.

2016/07/13
boothby
Geek News, News, Tech News

Fremont, Calif. – July 13, 2016 – AOC, a worldwide leader in monitor display technology, today announces the U.S. availability of the C3583FQ, a huge, curved and affordable monitor that makes for a perfect addition to high-end gaming rigs. The display’s features, including a 4ms response time, 144Hz refresh rate, a 2000R curvature and AdaptiveSync technology make this monitor one of the most affordable ways to game on a curved monitor with a 144Hz gaming panel. The AOC C3583FQ is available today at Amazon for $599.99.

The C3583FQ’s 2560 x 1080 HD resolution is everything than you need for fast paced action games. Operating in HD resolution instead of 4K resolution also means gamers won’t need to use an ultra HD capable graphics card. Most importantly, the display’s 35-inch VA curved panel provides the best viewing angles for an immersive viewing experience that lets you see even more than most of your competitors’ screens. You can also watch 21:9 widescreen films and get a full 32” wide image with no black bars on the top or bottom. The screen has a 4ms response time, 50M:1 contrast ratio (VA panel), 300 cd/m2 brightness and 178/178 viewing angles.

To envision the C3583FQ’s 2000R curvature, imagine making a circle of just C3583FQ monitors. The screens would be 6.5 feet away from a seat placed at the circle and the circle of monitors would have a diameter of 13 feet. Displays with 2000R when compared to displays with 4000R offer much more “curve”.

The AOC C3583FQ features two 5-watt speakers that surround you in all of your gaming adventures built into the back of the glossy display. The monitor also has a connectivity hub with two HDMI ports and two DisplayPorts, as well as DVI and VGA integrated into the base. As a result, there are no dangling cables to mess up the clean lines of the rear of the display for an overall look that’s clean and simple.

Cabinet Color Black/Silver
Panel TFT Active Matrix LCD, LED Backlight VA panel, 2000R
35″ Class, 21:9 Aspect Ratio
35″ Diagonal Viewable Area
Brightness 300 cd/m² (typical)
Contrast Ratio 50M:1
Response Time 4 MS
Viewing Angle Horizontal: 178 Degrees (CR>10)
Vertical: 178 Degrees (CR>10)
Scanning Frequency Horizontal: 30KHz~99KHz
Vertical: 50Hz~76Hz
Optimal Resolution 2560x1080x60Hz
Recommended Resolution 1920×1080@60Hz
Supported Resolutions 640×480@60/67/72/75Hz

800×600@56/60/72/75Hz
832×642@75Hz

1024×768@60/70/75Hz

1280×720@60Hz

1280×960@60Hz
1280×1024@75Hz

1440×900@60Hz

1680×1050@60Hz

1920×1080@60hz
Color Depth 16.7M
Input Signal 1 x VGA, 1x DVI, 2xHDMI (2xMHL), 2xDP
Adjustability Tilt: -3.5°+1.5° to +21.5°+1.5°
Power Source Universal 110V~240V AC, 50/60Hz
Power Consumption Power On:  60W (typical), Standby: < 0.5W
Regulations CE ,FCC, cTUVus, RoHS, EPA Energy Star®, EPEAT, Windows 8/Windows 10
Special Features Kensington Security Lock, Includes AOC’s e-Saver, Screen+ and iMenu software