Author - Jerry Paxton

Disney XD, NFL, and ESPN to Air EA SPORTS Madden NFL 18 Championship Series

2018/01/26

REDWOOD CITY, CA and NEW YORK, NY – January 26th, 2018 – Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and the National Football League (NFL) announced they are teaming up with ESPN and Disney XD for exclusive broadcasts of the upcoming EA SPORTS Madden NFL 18 Championship Series. This starts with the final rounds of the EA SPORTS Madden NFL 18 Club Championship and the brand-new EA SPORTS Madden NFL Ultimate League, marking ESPN’s first-ever long-term, multi-event competitive gaming agreement.

The Madden NFL Ultimate League is the first ever competitive gaming sports league of its kind featuring one-on-one competition between 16 of the best Madden NFL 18 players and will run from Friday, February 2nd for two and a half months of thrilling esports entertainment, culminating at the NFL Draft on April 28th. Six players qualified by finishing in the top two at one of the three EA Majors: the Madden NFL 18 Classic, Madden NFL 18 Challenge and Madden NFL 18 Club Championship, with the remaining 10 selected as top series points earners.

“The Madden NFL Ultimate League is purposely designed to make superstars of our best players, allowing viewers to develop player loyalties and follow competitor rivalries,” said Todd Sitrin, SVP and GM of the Competitive Gaming Division at EA. “Through this collaboration with ESPN and Disney XD, we’ll provide ongoing coverage for fans worldwide across a variety of ESPN and Disney platforms, but also digitally through our own Madden streaming and social channels.”

“We’re thrilled to continue and expand our relationship with EA and the NFL in not only showcasing to our audiences these world-class esports competitions for multiple years, but also using the myriad ESPN and Disney global platforms to tell the incredible stories of these competitors,” said John Lasker, VP of ESPN Digital Media Programming.

The Madden NFL 18 Club Championship tournament kicks off at Pro Bowl on Friday, January 26^th. Fans can tune-in to ESPNEWS starting on Saturday, January 27^th to catch the quarterfinal action. The next broadcast will allow fans to follow the Club Championship Final on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes live from the Super Bowl Experience in Minneapolis, MN, on Thursday, February 1^st.

The 32 NFL franchises will each be represented by one Madden competitor. Throughout the NFL season, each player advanced through a grueling online elimination process to reach the semifinal round, which culminated in champions being crowned in local NFL team events across the country and at EA’s studio in Orlando, Florida.

“We are excited to partner with EA SPORTS and ESPN to bring the Madden Club Championship and Madden Ultimate League to the millions of Madden NFL fans globally and to broadcast these competitions from our key fan events, like the Super Bowl and the Draft,” said Chris Halpin, Chief Strategy Officer of the NFL. “We are also thrilled to be the first major professional sports league to have every team represented in a premier esports event. We are confident our fans will love the competition and action.”

Between Super Bowl LII and the 2018 NFL Draft, Disney XD and the ESPN App will become the weekly home to Madden NFL 18 competitive gaming content, showcasing the latest action from the Madden NFL Ultimate League each week. The Madden NFL Ultimate League champion will be crowned at the Madden Bowl, live from the 2018 NFL Draft on ESPN2.

Beginning in April, ESPN2 will also broadcast an Ultimate League Episodic Series. The content will focus on character and storylines through an exclusive entertainment style, following the best players in the Ultimate League on Tuesdays at 9pm ET until May 1st. Episodes will also be available on demand on the ESPN App.

For those players that own Madden NFL 18, they can also follow the action in-game with an upcoming add-on experience soon to be released within the game. EA SPORTS will also be releasing a limited-edition paid bundle of exclusive Madden Ultimate Team content and packs tailored specifically to Madden Competitive Gaming fans during Madden NFL Ultimate League play. The bundle will be available for a limited time in the Ultimate Team Store on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

The full TV programming details for both Madden NFL 18 Club Championship and the Madden NFL Ultimate League are as follows:

Madden NFL 18 Club Championship Divisional Finals, Live from the Pro Bowl

- January 27: 10pm ET ESPNEWS
- Orlando, FL (Pro Bowl)
Madden NFL 18 Club Championship Final, Live from Super Bowl LII
- February 1: 9pm ET ESPN2/Deportes
- Minneapolis, MN (Super Bowl LII)

12 one-hour episodes of the EA SPORTS Madden NFL 18 Ultimate League Regular Season
- Thursdays
- Feb – April
- Exclusive to Disney XD
- Available on ESPN VOD
Half-hour episodes of an Ultimate League Series
- Tuesdays at 9pm ET
- Weekly from April 3 – May 1
- Exclusive to ESPN2/ESPN VOD, Disney XD and Deportes
Madden NFL 18 Ultimate League Championship Final, Live from the NFL Draft
- April 28: 7pm ET ESPN2
- Arlington, TX (NFL Draft)

Broadcasts will also be available in the UK and Ireland via BT Sport, Canada via TSN and Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean and Latin America, including Brazil via ESPN International networks.

For more details on the entire Madden NFL Championship Series, as well as details on the new Madden NFLUltimate League experience, and how to watch, please visit www.maddenchampionship.com.

Thrustmaster Unveils TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod

2018/01/26

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News

London, January 26, 2018 — After more than two years of questions and requests from our community, Thrustmaster® is proud to finally be able to make the announcement that people have been waiting for: all the thrills of drifting and rally racing are now right at your fingertips, with the TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod. This product is the latest innovative component in Thrustmaster’s ever-growing racing ecosystem, and offers a choice of two different modes: progressive handbrake, and sequential gearbox. The icing on the cake? It’s officially licensed by Sparco®!

A major, groundbreaking development

Painstakingly developed in close collaboration with Sparco®, the brand that defines standards for racing gear, Thrustmaster’s TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod is the third product to hit the market as a result of this unique partnership. Its goal is the same as that of its two predecessors: to transport gamers right to the heart of an ultra-realistic racing experience. Hot on the heels of the previously released full racing wheel and an add-on rally wheel, the TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod is a versatile new element in Thrustmaster’s racing ecosystem, opening up the following exciting possibilities:

Progressive handbrake mode, for perfectly-proportioned action; or
Sequential gearbox mode, for incredibly efficient gear shifting.
Drifting in GT or rally racing: gamers will love being able to fully explore and master both styles!
Totally realistic immersion in games and simulations: at 3.3 inches/8.5 cm tall, the handle is a 1:1 scale replica of those in Sparco®’s rally and drifting range.

The TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod’s powerful design is based on cutting-edge engineering:

The unit is rock-solid mechanically, thanks to the use of extremely high-quality materials – 90% of which are crafted of metal, including industrial flat coil springs with 8.8 pounds/4 kg of resistance.
It allows for both smooth and abrupt braking actions.
It incorporates Thrustmaster’s award-winning H.E.A.R.T HallEffect AccuRate Technology™ for ultimate precision that won’t decrease over time, thanks to a contactless magnetic sensor.

Infinite possibilities for all driving styles

The handle’s height is fully adjustable.
The TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod’s handle can also easily be turned 90° for horizontal handbraking in GT mode, in addition to the normal vertical position for rally mode.
The unit features a handy attachment system for cockpits, thanks to its built-in M6 screw threads.
Gamers wishing to use the unit in a more common way – such as on a table or desk – will be able to opt for Thrustmaster’s related clamp (sold separately), which can also accommodate a TH8A for a complete setup including a progressive handbrake and a shifter.

Full PC compatibility

The TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod has been specially designed for PC gamers, and is compatible with Windows® 10, 8 and 7. What’s more, although it’s been created with owners of Thrustmaster racing wheels in mind (in particular the T150, TMX, T300 series, TX series, T500 RS, TS-PC RACER, TS-XW RACER and T-GT, all of which are sold separately), it’s perfect for owners of any racing wheel from all other brands as well!

The TSS Handbrake Sparco Mod is now available, at a suggested retail price of £239.99

Dungeons 3 Once Upon a Time DLC Announced

2018/01/25

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

Ridgewood, NJ, January 25, 2018 – Just when you thought it was safe to return to the daily grind of slapping snots and destroying unicorns, the Absolute Evil decides to go one step further (well three actually) and announce three, yes three, new DLC packs for highly-acclaimed dungeon sim Dungeons 3. Once Upon a Time (the first of the DLC packs to launch) is planned for release on February 2nd and will further expand the Evil One’s fiendish grip on PC, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.

After the devastating battle royale at the end of Dungeons 3, the Absolute Evil decides that its time to take a vacation, and travels to Fairyland. This despicable land is home to the Good Fairy, a disgustingly respectable and virtuous creature who has been arming heroes with invigorating potions and is generally the detestable source of all good deeds. With the help of some bewitched heroes (and more than a few exploding sheep) the Absolute Evil sets off to put an end to this story once and for all. The Once Upon a Time DLC packs in three new campaigns, three new Evil hubs, new wall tile set for the dungeon and an all new boss – the Good Fairy (and exploding sheep, don’t forget the exploding sheep).

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Release Date and Pre-Order Details

2018/01/25

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Irvine, California – January 25th, 2018 – Independent developer Obsidian Entertainment, in partnership with indie powerhouse publisher Versus Evil announced the launch of pre-orders today for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. Consumers can now digitally pre-order the Standard, Deluxe, and Obsidian Editions through Steam, GOG.com, and Obsidian.net, as well as other digital retailers. The physical Obsidian Edition of the game, which includes additional in-game content and physical items for gamers to enjoy, is available for pre-order at all major gaming retail stores.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire will launch this April 3, 2018 on Windows PC, Mac, and Linux platforms.

By pre-ordering the Standard, Deluxe, or Obsidian Edition, fans will receive three unique in-game digital items:

St. Drogga’s Skull – Crafted from a sabre and the skull of a martyr it will slash and burn enemies in combat, while also guiding players through the darkest reaches of the Deadfire.
Beakhead, the Hawk (In-Game Pet): Beakhead, the white hawk, took a liking to your ship soon after you arrived in the Deadfire. Captains in the Deadfire are only as effective as their crew, and with this jaunty first-mate by your side you’re bound to find success at sea.
The Black Flag: This flag is said to have been flown by a mysterious and rowdy band of seadogs from a far-off land, who dyed their sails black with a stain made from ground-up dragon glass. Dark and intimidating, but somehow attractive, nonetheless.

The standard edition of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire will cost $49.99, digital and physical retail, while the Deluxe Edition will be priced at $59.99. The Deluxe Edition will include the game’s official soundtrack composed by Justin Bell, composer of the soundtrack to the firstPillars of Eternity. Additionally, the Deluxe Edition includes: an in-game pet, a Deadfire themed special in-game item, a digital pen and paper RPG starter guide, a high-resolution game map, and Volume II of the digital guide book, published by Dark Horse.

The Obsidian Edition is priced at $74.99 for the digital version, and includes everything that comes in the Deluxe Edition as well as the first three DLC expansions for Pillars of Eternity II, which each cost $9.99 to purchase separately, although these will not be available for separate purchase until the game’s official launch.

The physical version of the Obsidian Edition will cost $79.99, and will include the same content as its digital cousin, but also additional, physical rewards: a cloth map of the Deadfire region, an Explorer’s notepad and a set of postcards that render the Deadfire Archipelago in beautiful detail.

“Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is our first sequel here at Obsidian and we’ve created something incredible. At Obsidian, we are all about stories, worlds, and characters, and in Deadfire we’ve done it again with a vast open world explorable by the player’s own customizable ship, character customization with enough options to make any RPG player want to make a hundred characters, and an exciting narrative that truly delivers on the reactivity that makes our games special. We’re confident that new and returning players will find Deadfire to be the RPG experience of the year,” said Obsidian Entertainment CEO Feargus Urquhart.

DONTNOD Presents Vampyr Episode 2 – Architects of the Obscure

2018/01/25

Jerry Paxton

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

January 25, 2018 – DONTNOD Entertainment invites fans to their studio for a second time, further revealing the creative process behind their upcoming action-RPG, Vampyr. Dontnod Presents Vampyr – Episode 2: Architects of the Obscure unveils more exclusive gameplay footage, while the creative team delves into the visuals and music that bring 1918 London to life. Two more episodes of this four-part webseries, produced and realized by the video department of Focus Home Interactive, will release weekly each Thursday.

In Episode 2: Architects of the Obscure, DONTNOD reveals the areas of London that you will explore and impact during your time in Vampyr. Each of the four districts have their own distinct style and groups of citizens, which can flourish or perish depending on your actions. Whitechapel and the Docks are ravaged by poverty and crime, while the West End benefits from a wealthier population – and is the district of choice for Ekons plotting in the shadows. Pembroke Hospital gives Dr. Reid the opportunity to put his medicinal skills to great effect, while tempting the doctor-turned-vampire with helpless citizens that hold him in a position of trust.

This latest episode also introduces the music of Vampyr, including insight from composer Olivier Deriviere. He discusses how he developed the game’s original score with consideration for its unique setting and atmosphere, as well as how the inner dilemma Jonathan faces translates into the music. Eric-Maria Couturier, of the Paris Ensemble InterContemporain, drives Vampyr’s soundtrack as solo celloist, and here offers an exclusive performance that showcases his unique style.

DONTNOD Presents Vampyr – Episode 2 is available to watch today, with two more 5-minute episodes released weekly every Thursday. For more information, visit the recently-relaunched Vampyr website.

Vampyr releases Spring 2018 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

Pacific Rim Uprising – Official Trailer 2

2018/01/24

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

Pacific Rim Uprising – In Theaters, RealD 3D and IMAX March 23 – The globe-spanning conflict between otherworldly monsters of mass destruction and the human-piloted super-machines built to vanquish them was only a prelude to the all-out assault on humanity in Pacific Rim Uprising.

John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) stars as the rebellious Jake Pentecost, a once-promising Jaeger pilot whose legendary father gave his life to secure humanity’s victory against the monstrous “Kaiju.” Jake has since abandoned his training only to become caught up in a criminal underworld. But when an even more unstoppable threat is unleashed to tear through our cities and bring the world to its knees, he is given one last chance to live up to his father’s legacy by his estranged sister, Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi)—who is leading a brave new generation of pilots that have grown up in the shadow of war. As they seek justice for the fallen, their only hope is to unite together in a global uprising against the forces of extinction.

Jake is joined by gifted rival pilot Lambert (The Fate of the Furious’ Scott Eastwood) and 15-year-old Jaeger hacker Amara (newcomer Cailee Spaeny), as the heroes of the PPDC become the only family he has left. Rising up to become the most powerful defense force to ever walk the earth, they will set course for a spectacular all-new adventure on a towering scale.

Pacific Rim Uprising is directed by Steven S. DeKnight (Netflix’s Daredevil, STARZ’s Spartacus) and also stars Jing Tian, Burn Gorman, Adria Arjona and Charlie Day.

Two Point Hospital – Developer Vision Trailer

2018/01/24

Jerry Paxton

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

January 24, 2018 – Delve behind the scenes and into the creative vision of Two Point Studios in this brand-new trailer: https://youtu.be/vFfpyyi0qEQ. Find out what makes this new studio (with a heap of pedigree) tick, and what amazing inspirations are pouring from their brains and into Two Point Hospital. Find out more about the game itself, with never-before-seen gameplay to stir the soul.

Learn, too, how the studio come up with hilarious ideas for visual illnesses, and how they are realised and brought to life in the game.

To get closer to the team, sign up to Hospital Pass at www.twopointhospital.com for your all-access badge behind the curtain at the studio. Get access to regular mini updates, and get trailers like this before anyone else! But that’s not all… an exclusive in-game item awaits you for signing up too when the game is released. You can also follow the team on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

For more information about SEGA Europe, log on to www.sega.co.uk. You can also follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Total War: WARHAMMER 2 – Rise of the Tomb Kings Released

2018/01/24

Jerry Paxton

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

January 23, 2018 – Nehekhara stirs today as legions of skeletal warriors and their vast constructs rise from the sands to reclaim their former glory. The Rise of the Tomb Kings is here.

The Rise of the Tomb Kings Campaign Pack introduces an entirely fresh campaign experience with a raft of rac-specific gameplay mechanics, victory objectives, and lashings of authentic lore. In battle, the Tomb Kings field countless skeletal units, supported by towering stone constructs such as the Tomb Scorpion, Necrosphinx and the colossal Hierotitan.

Playable in both the Eye of the Vortex and Mortal Empires campaigns, the Tomb Kings have their own specific victory conditions that focus on collecting the Nine Books of Nagash. With their own skills, traits, quest-chains, legendary wargear and situational challenges, players may embark on Tomb Kings campaigns as Settra the Imperishable, Khalida, Khatep and Nagash’s former lieutenant, the malignant Arkhan the Black.

Also released today as a free addition is Skaven Legendary Lord Tretch Craventail, who is playable in both the Eye of the Vortex campaign as well as the Mortal Empires campaign. Few Skaven possess the cunning and guile of Tretch, and he empowers his underlings to fight harder as they return from every rout. Tretch begins play in Naggaroth, and is available as a free download via his own Steam page under the WARHAMMER II free content listings.

A closer look at the spectacular constructs found in the Rise of the Tomb Kings can be found in the Tomb Kings trailer here: https://youtu.be/IpWqKme-g_4 and in the FAQ, located here: https://www.totalwar.com/blog/tomb-kings-announcement

Deadly Premonition: The Board Game Announced

2018/01/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

LOS ANGELES, CA – January 23, 2018 – Rising Star Games announced today that Deadly Premonition: The Board Game will launch a limited run via Amazon.com on January 31. Currently available for pre-order, the board game will be made as a new “Deluxe Edition,” featuring premium game-enhancing items such as the custom die, original soundtrack, and themed gaming cloth. Also included is a download key for the original cult hit PC videogame, upon which the board game is based.

Pre-order Deadly Premonition: The Board Game HERE: www.amazon.com/Deadly-Premonition-Deluxe-not-machine-specific/dp/B078WBVY32/

“This new Deluxe edition of the board game is in honor of the campaign that made this project possible,” said Samuel Elphick, co-creator of Deadly Premonition: The Board Game. “It features some of our favorite items which make the board game special and capture that Deadly Premonition spirit. Whack on the soundtrack, lay the cloth upon the table and hold your breath when the Raincoat Killer claims suspects with the bespoke murder die. This is how we want the game to be played!”

About Deadly Premonition: The Board Game Deluxe Edition
Welcome to Greenvale. In this small mysterious town a young woman has been murdered. Anna Graham’s death marks a tragic loss for the community.

The town is home to many strange characters. With no significant leads on the killer, each must be considered a suspect. It’s time to kick-start the investigation and get to work, isn’t that right Zach?

Each agent has been assigned six suspects to investigate. You must protect the innocent, uncover incriminating evidence, apprehend an accomplice and identify the hidden killer among you before it is too late.

Game Length: 30-45 minutes
Recommended age: 18+
Players: 2-4
Contents:

Cloth Gaming Mat
1 Custom Die
Original Soundtrack
60 Profiling Cards
24 Suspect Cards
Token Sheet
4 Line-Up Boards
4 Alignment Cards
5 Agent Bio Cards
4 Guide Cards
10 Weather Cards
Rulebook
Steam key for Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut

Deadly Premonition: The Board Game Deluxe Edition will be available on January 31 on Amazon.com with a suggested retail price of $59.95. For more information please visit www.deadlyprem.com.

SAW’s Jigsaw Announced for Dead by Daylight

2018/01/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

January 23, 2018 – Starbreeze Publishing, together with Behaviour Digital and global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), today released the “SAW®” chapter for Dead by Daylight. SAW is one of the most successful horror franchises ever, grossing nearly $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

The “SAW” chapter lets players take on the infamous character of Amanda Young, one of Jigsaw’s most well-known protégés, with a brand-new power and feature: the reverse bear trap. In an innovative twist of a classic Dead by Daylight mechanic, Amanda disguised as The Pig can place reverse bear traps on survivors, spicing up the game of cat-and-mouse as every second counts for the survivors to escape. The new survivor introduced in the chapter is David Tapp, a relentless cop set on bringing down The Pig. The two will fight it out inside iconic locations from the films.

The new chapter is available today for $6.99 on Windows PC through Steam and other digital distribution channels as well as on Xbox One and the PlayStation 4® computer entertainment system.

The “SAW” chapter includes:

New Killer + Perks and Power – The Pig
New Survivor + Perks – David Tapp
New Map – Gideon Meat Plant

Visit the website for more information and videos: www.deadbydaylight.com/saw.

Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game in which one crazed killer hunts four friends through a terrifying nightmare. Players take on the roles of both killer and survivors in a deadly game of cat and mouse. It’s a mature gamer take on the thrills of hide-and-seek. Dead by Daylight is out now and available on Steam and consoles.