Author - Jerry Paxton

MOGA Ace Power Launched

2013/11/20
Jerry Paxton
Mobile News, News, Peripherals News

ACE POWER 4

Woodinville, WA. – November 20, 2013 – MOGA™, the industry leader in mobile game controllers, ushers in a new era for mobile gaming with the MOGA ACE™ POWER game controller for iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, and iPod touch (5th generation) running iOS 7. The MOGA ACE POWER delivers precision control, giving gamers an unparalleled console-style experience.

The MOGA ACE POWER features a unique portable design that expands to play and collapses to easily fit in pockets and bags. The ACE POWER transforms the mobile gaming experience with console-style controls. It allows gamers to secure their iPhone or iPod touch in the MOGA Arm™ with S.M.R.T. Lock™ technology, gaining peace of mind for their gaming sessions. The ACE POWER connects via the Lightning connector, and features dual analog sticks, both L1/R1 and L2/R2 buttons, a D-pad, and four action buttons-all the controls needed for precision gaming.

Not only is the ACE POWER a world-class controller, it includes a built-in 1800 mAh battery along with MOGA BOOST™ technology charging iPhone or iPod touch during gameplay allowing for longer sessions.

With the new Made for iPhone controller framework built into iOS 7, MOGA anticipates a flood of game developers to take advantage of controller support. Mobile versions of traditional game genres such as first-person shooters, action, arcade, family, and sports/racing games will now be played with console-style controls.

“MOGA controllers were built for real gaming by real gamers,” said Eric Bensussen, President and Co-Founder of PowerA. “We’re excited to deliver MOGA ACE POWER to iPhone and iPod touch users in time for the holidays and have them experience the precision, console-style controls that promise to revolutionize the gaming experience on these devices.”

The MOGA ACE POWER is available for $99.99 at Apple Retail Stores, from the Apple Online Store, or at MOGAanywhere.com.

For more information please visit MOGAanywhere.com.

VGX 2013 Nominees Announced – Vote Now

2013/11/19
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

VGX

New York, NY, November 18, 2013 –  The slate of nominees for VGX, the new live digital multi-platform gaming event, was announced today.  Close to 50 video game franchises from more than 20 publishers were nominated.  At the head of the franchise pack is “Grand Theft Auto V” (Rockstar Games), which nabbed nine nominations including Game of the Year, Best Action Adventure Game and Best Soundtrack.  “BioShock Infinite” (2K Games) scored eight nominations, while “The Last of Us” (Sony Computer Entertainment) pulled in seven nods.  All titles join “Tomb Raider” (Square Enix) and “Super Mario 3D World” (Nintendo) to round out the nominee list for Game of the Year.

With a total of 11 nominations for four different games, Sony Computer Entertainment is up for more awards than any publisher with the “The Last of Us” bringing in seven nominations of its own including Game of the Year, Best Action Adventure Game, Best PlayStation Game and four other categories.  Next up are Nintendo and 2K Games, tied for a total of 10 nominations each.  Nintendo’s “Super Mario 3D World” (Game of the Year; Best Nintendo Game) and “Animal Crossing: New Leaf” (Best Handheld Game; Best Casual Game) titles both scored multiple nominations.  2K Games nominated titles include “BioShock Infinite” (Game of the Year; Best Shooter; and six other nominations) and NBA 2K14 (Best Sports Game.)  Studio of the Year nominees include Rockstar North (“Grand Theft Auto V”), The Fullbright Company (“Gone Home”), Irrational Games (“BioShock Infinite”), and Naughty Dog (“The Last of Us.”)

While its roots lie in the Video Game Awards, VGX will abandon the traditional Hollywood style award show to feature more world premiere game trailers than ever before, plus extended deep dives into the next generation of games, new looks at gaming culture, one-on-one interviews with the industry’s most visionary creatives and expert panels digging into what’s coming to consoles in 2014 and beyond.  The new format features more games, less fame, in an intimate studio setting.

VGX Nominees are determined by the VGX Advisory Council, which is made up of a group of some of the most well-respected video game journalists from media outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, Game Informer, Joystiq, Kotaku, Polygon, IGN, GameTrailers, Gamespot, Wired.com, USA Today and Associated Press.

Below are several of the nominees and categories for VGX. For a full list, please go to VGXLIVE.COM.

Game of the Year

“BioShock Infinite”

“Grand Theft Auto V”

“Super Mario 3D World”

“The Last of Us”

“Tomb Raider”

 

Studio of the Year

Irrational Games

Naughty Dog

Rockstar North

The Fullbright Company

 

Most Anticipated Game

“Destiny”

“Titanfall”

“South Park: The Stick of Truth”

“The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt”

“Watch Dogs”

 

Best Shooter

“Battlefield 4”

“BioShock Infinite”

“Call of Duty: Ghosts”

“Metro: Last Light”

 

Best Independent Game

“Gone Home”

“Kentucky Route Zero”

“Papers, Please”

“The Stanley Parable”

VGX is an all-day gaming experience and the next generation of Spike TV’s “Video Game Awards” franchise.  With the potential to reach over 100 million households across all screens and gaming devices worldwide—including Xbox One, Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 (PS3™), Twitch, iOS and Android devices, and available globally on VGXLIVE.com, Hulu,  Yahoo Screen, the Yahoo Screen app and Viacom Media Networks properties Spike.com, ComedyCentral.com, MTV.com,MTV2.com, BET.com and GameTrailers.com—it will be the most widely distributed live gaming event of all time.  VGX will continue the Video Game Awards’ legacy of showcasing world-premiere game trailers, but will now offer extended demos of next-gen games, 1-on-1 interviews, and an unrivaled interactive experience through exclusive social-media partner Twitter.  The VGX-Twitter partnership will give viewers a direct impact on the stream by allowing them to vote on show order, unlock additional content, and participate in live Twitter-powered Q&A interviews with talent and developers.

VGX streaming begins Saturday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m.  PT.

For the Full List of VGX Nominees, Go To VGXLive.com

Fallout 4 Tumblr Blog A Hoax But Main Teaser Site Most Likely Real

2013/11/19
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

fallout3vaultboy copy

So, last week we reported on a Tumblr blog which seemed to go along with TheSurvivor2299 website which popped up some days earlier. This website is most likely a teaser counting down to a Fallout 4 reveal on December 11, 2013. However, today it looks as though the separate Tumblr blog has been revealed to be a hoax. So, while the Tumblr blog has been debunked, the original teaser website is still looking good. Here’s to crossing our fingers for a Fallout 4 reveal!

Tumblr Blog Hoax Reveal:

http://12072299.tumblr.com/post/67489032615/so-all-of-this-was-fake-ella-all-of-it-dude-you-took

Tech-Enhanced update for Take On Mars

2013/11/19
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

mars3

Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday 19th November 2013 — Bohemia Interactive’s exploration game Take On Mars today received its third major update. The ‘Tech-Enhanced’ update implements a technology tree, global objectives, improved vehicle landing, two new crater locations, a ‘Probe’ vehicle, and the Soviet-era ‘Mars 3’ lander holding Mars’ first rover, the ‘Prop-M’.

Building further upon the early access release of Take On Mars, the new ‘Technology Tree’ system lets players research various technologies, which eventually gives them access to new instruments and vehicles. The implementation of ‘Global Objectives’ means that accomplishments at various locations in the game now contribute to the same objectives, combining the locations into one whole.

The added ‘Probe’ vehicle is a simple, single camera, single instrument slot chassis, and is the most basic technology available from the beginning of the Space Program. Last but not least, the two extra crater locations, Lyot and Ptolemaeus, provide the perfect opportunity to explore new terrain with the Soviet-era ‘Mars 3’ lander (also equipped with Mars’ first rover, Prop-M), which is the first vehicle to achieve a soft landing in Mars’ Ptolemaeus Crater in 1971.

Rover operators who already signed up for the Take On Mars’ Early Access program have access to the new content right after downloading the automatic update via Steam. Those who would like to do some further analysis can examine the complete changelog onhttp://mars.takeonthegame.com/.

Take On Mars is now available for purchase on Steam (Early Access) and Store.bistudio.comfor 13.99 EUR/ 17.99 USD/ 11.99 GBP.

Knott’s Announces Big Plans for 2014

2013/11/19
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

knotts-logo

Buena Park, Calif. (November 2013) – Knott’s Berry Farm is proud to announce two major projects for 2014 that continue reinvestment in the park’s rich history and heritage. Camp Snoopy celebrates its 30th Anniversary with the revitalization of the entire land of High Sierra fun. The classic Calico Mine Ride, Knott’s first major attraction and theme park industry icon, will undergo an all-encompassing refurbishment complete with new state-of-the-art animatronic figures and enhanced scenery. Camp Snoopy’s area beautification and the revitalized Calico Mine Ride are slated to open early summer of 2014.

“Camp Snoopy and Calico Mine Ride have delighted guests for decades and are classics that families come back time and again to experience together” said Raffi Kaprelyan, Knott’s Berry Farm’s vice president and general manager. “The revitalization of these areas will once again demonstrate our commitment to Knott’s heritage and will preserve these experiences for a new generation of guests to enjoy.”

Camp Snoopy, home of the beloved PEANUTS Gang, has welcomed the young and the young at heart since its grand opening on July 1, 1983. In honor of the land’s 30th anniversary, the High Sierra mountains camp theming will be enhanced throughout. Thirty years ago the five-acre nature wonderland was created by the Knott family to be a carefree place where nature, adventure and imagination come to life, and in 2014 it will undergo a number of exciting updates including new rides and restoration of the entire area with the original inspiration in mind.

Additionally in 2014, Knott’s beloved Calico Mine Ride will undergo complete refurbishment.

Calico Mine Ride Animatronic Art Rendering

The Calico Mine Ride, Knott’s first major ride, opened in Ghost Town in November 1960 and was quickly recognized as one of the world’s most immersive “dark rides.” The beloved attraction designed by industry pioneer- Bud Hurlbut, carries riders aboard ore cars, on a realistic adventure through dimly lit tunnels of a working gold mine. The winding journey takes passengers to underground lakes, waterfalls, caverns filled with thousands of mysterious formations, chambers filled with steaming, bubbling pots and geysers. At several points in the trip, riders find themselves along the rim of a sixty five foot deep and ninety foot wide scene filled with dozens of animated miners trying to strike it rich.

The Calico Mine Train attraction stands 7 stories tall. Every year over 1 million guests take part in the eight minute journey. The mountain required over 275 tons of steel to complete and was the first attraction with a “hidden” themed queue that snakes upward to the loading station, out of sight of onlookers. The design preserves the impressive forced perspective of the mountain range, based on the sites in the authentic ghost town at Calico in California’s Mojave Desert.

In January 2014 the attraction will close for a comprehensive restoration by Knott’s Berry Farm’s design and production team. The project will be another partnership with Garner Holt Productions, Inc., (GHP) the team that brought award winning new enhancements to the Timber Mountain Log Ride in 2013 with lifelike animatronics and stunning show scenes.

“It is our company’s top priority to preserve and enhance the original story of a working gold mine deep in the heart of the Old West” said Garner Holt, GHP’s founder and president. “The Calico Mine Ride will be filled with lifelike sounds and motion, while maintaining the uniquely authentic feel of the attraction as designed by Knott’s and industry legend Bud Hurlbut.” The renovation of the iconic attraction includes the addition of over 50 new state-of-the-art animatronic figures, all new audio and theme lighting system, and special effects that will capture the imagination of would-be miners as they journey deep into the winding caverns of the attraction.

In 1954, Knott’s Berry Farm founder, Walter Knott, delivered an open letter to his employees in which he wrote “You know, we never fully enjoy the things we have until we share them with those we love.” Next summer, Knott’s invites the world to come back to Camp Snoopy and Ghost Town to enjoy these new adventures together.

For more information on Knott’s Berry Farm including admission, park hours and events visit www.knotts.com or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for your smart phone.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall Announced

2013/11/19
Jerry Paxton
Mobile News, News, Windows PC News

dragonfallLogo

Kirkland, WA (November 19, 2013) Harebrained Schemes’ magic-and-cyberpunk mashup Shadowrun Returns was the first $1m+ Kickstarter-funded videogame to be released, premiering as a #1 seller on Steam earlier this year. The game, which appeared on 5 “Most Anticipated Games of 2013” lists, was also a featured Game of the Week on the Apple and Google Play App Stores.
This January, Harebrained Schemes will follow-up their success with the release of Shadowrun: Dragonfall, a major expansion for Shadowrun Returns on Windows, OSX, and Linux that features a robust full-length campaign set in the city of Berlin. The title will be available for purchase on Steam and a DRM-free version will be available on GOG.com. iPad and Android tablet versions will follow.
Along with the new campaign, Shadowrun: Dragonfall contains a multitude of new features and enhancements and will sell for $14.99. A copy of Shadowrun Returns is required to play. At the same time, Harebrained Schemes will also release the Shadowrun Campaign Pack – the original game and the Dragonfall expansion in one package for only $24.99, providing new players a great way to enter the world of Shadowrun.
“I’m delighted that our Kickstarter Backers chose Berlin as the location for our next big expansion.” said Jordan Weisman, founder of Harebrained Schemes. “It’s the perfect setting to show off all the new gameplay and features we’ve added in this expansion. Our design team has done a fantastic job of building on the work we started withShadowrun Returns. I couldn’t be happier.”
MAN MEETS MAGIC & MACHINE. The year is 2054. Magic has returned to the world, awakening powerful creatures of myth and legend. Unchecked advances in technology have blurred the line between man and machine. Great dragons play humanity for pawns, while ruthless corporations bleed the world dry. In this new reality of elves and trolls, corporate arcologies and terrifying new magics, anything is possible… for a price. And when the powerful and the desperate need a job done, they turn to shadowrunners: mercenaries, living on the fringes of society, surviving day-by-day on skill and instinct alone.
BERLIN. The Flux-State: a stable anarchy enforced by an ever-shifting coalition of megacorps, political factions, and savvy power players. A place where almost anything goes, and the right connections can be the difference between success and starvation. Dangerous jobs abound and there’s no better place to earn a quick payday – provided you live long enough to spend it. For you and your team of battle-scarred runners, it’s just another day in the Free City of Berlin.
But a new threat is rising, one that could mean untold chaos and devastation. The only clue: whispers of the DRAGONFALL, a long-forgotten event from the earliest days of the Awakened world. As you find yourself drawn into a maze of veiled dangers and strange machinations, you will come face-to-face with a grim spectre of the past… and alter the course of Berlin’s future.

SHADOWRUN: DRAGONFALL FEATURES

  • Experience a New Full-Length Campaign: Return to the “Tech meets Magic” future of Shadowrun as you and your team of runners get drawn into a treacherous conspiracy. Operating out of an offbeat central hub neighborhood, you’ll choose which missions to accept and how you’ll approach them while navigating the dark underbelly of “the Flux”.
  • An Exciting New Locale: Shadowrun: Dragonfall transports runners to the Free City of Berlin, a thrilling Shadowrun setting full of gorgeous new hi-res environments, a diverse new cast of characters, and a new soundtrack by the composer of the original Sega Genesis Shadowrun game, Sam Powell.
  • Command Your Team: Lead a small team of shadowrunners, each with their own outlook and backstory. Each member of your team is designed to play an interesting role during missions and has a unique set of skills, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • New Weapons, Cyberware, Enemies & More: Try your hand at the long-range sniper rifle, devastating grenade launcher, or stun-inducing taser. Chrome yourself out in the latest cyberware, and take on deadly new enemies – including new magical creatures like gargoyles and fire drakes. Dragonfall brings a host of new items, characters, portraits, and improvements to the Shadowrun Returns experience.
  • Save Anywhere: You can save your progress at any time during the game. This functionality is also being added to the original Shadowrun Returns “Dead Man’s Switch” campaign.
  • New Game Editor Features: A wide range of enhancements to the game editor for community content creators – including a scripting system to better control lighting, tracking mission objectives in the main game UI, placing exploding barrels, and allowing players to input keypad passwords and custom text strings in conversations. In addition, content creators will be able to use all of the new Berlin environment art, items and characters in their own stories along with assets from the original Shadowrun Returnscampaign.

Oculus Rift Horror Game Alone Kickstarter Fails

2013/11/19
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

Alone_Logo

Camas, WA, USA – November 19, 2013 – With the psychological horror game Alone, Greenwood Games hoped to develop the first title exclusively for the Oculus Rift through crowd-funding. Unfortunately, the financing goal of US-$ 25.000 was not reached. The group of supporters for the horror game project was too small.

Whether or not Greenwood Games will still be able to complete Alone is not clear at this time – what is certain is that the team in its current form will be dissolved. Dan Wallace and Bryan Cohen are currently weighing several options as to how Alone can nevertheless still be completed. Among possibilities under discussion are continuing to develop Alone in their free time and a second Kickstarter campaign as soon as the Oculus Rift VR goggles are available for purchase in order to benefit from the larger group of potential players once the 3D goggles are more widespread. However, another option is not to develop Alone further in its current form. Instead, they could focus on the game within the game, the co-op title The Witching Hour, and develop that into a platform-independent standalone title.

“This Kickstarter campaign created a fantastic community for us, which helped us a lot with their feedback and ideas. Even though we did not ultimately reach our financing goal, we would still like to thank every one of them individually for their support. It really means a lot to us, and we would never have gotten this far without their help,” says Dan Wallace, co-founder of Greenwood Games. “Since we still haven’t made a final decision on the future of Alone, we will keep everyone who is interested up-to-date via Facebook, Twitter, and our newsletter at greenwoodgames.com.”