Author - Jerry Paxton

Xbox One Release Date Announced

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Microsoft has announced that its next generation gaming console, the Xbox One, will be released on November 22nd, 2013 in 13 different markets. The Xbox One will cost $499.99 and is available for pre-order at the Microsoft store and other retailers. The Xbox One’s competitor, the PlayStation 4, is set to release on November 15th, 2013.

Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare Interview

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We recently got the chance to interview the producer of Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare haunted attraction, Steve Kopelman. The event takes place on various days from October 10 through November 2 and features not only an assortment of haunted houses but, also, a variety of musical acts.

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Q) What were the inspirations and goals in creating the Great American Nightmare?

A) The goals were to give the patrons the most “bang for the buck” while producing an event that is quintessential Rob Zombie.

Q) How long was the design process for your three haunted houses at the event?

A) We started this past February and are still coming up with new ideas.

Q) Who designed each of the mazes and what are their respective backgrounds in the field?

A) Steve Kopelman, a 32 year haunted house veteran, designed the actual mazes but the works of Rob Zombie inspired all the themes. Essentially, Rob’s movies dictated just about every scene.

Q) Is the Great American Nightmare using its own makeup artists or did you guys contract the work out to an effects house?

A) Christopher Mills of Silver Shamrock Lab is heading up our make up department. He will be overseeing all the test make-ups along with designing numerous special character masks.

Q) With the increasing popularity of haunted attractions, what does the Great American Nightmare give guests that they can’t find anywhere else?

A) Never has a haunted attraction event been so integrated with music. In addition to 3 different haunted attractions, we will feature some type of national musical act each and every night. Our price point is more than fair and we have designed something that is just bursting with activities the patrons can experience. Additionally, people ultimately go to haunted attractions to get scared and the masses haven’t had the opportunity to experience extreme haunted houses. We truly believe we are different.

Q) Is the Great American Nightmare something that you hope to become an annual event or is this a special, 1-time attraction?

A) We not only hope and expect it to become an annual event, we hope to expand the brand globally.

Q) Are there any props from the films that the event’s mazes are based on in the mazes themselves?

A) We won’t be using actual movie props but we will be recreating many scenes from Rob’s movies.

Q) Is there anything that was deemed “too extreme” for the haunt-going public that didn’t make the cut into this year’s event?

A) When it comes to this event I don’t think we could be any more extreme.

Q) How many scare actors are you guys utilizing at the event this year?

A) There will be 140 scare actors throughout the mazes.

Q) We have to ask, will the “Murder Ride” feature a “push-car” like in the film House of 1000 Corpses or is it all walk-through?

A) No, it is a walk through, but the murder rider has been expanded immensely and will cover more than 14 different serial killers.

Q) Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about the Great American Nightmare?

A) The attractions themselves are a form of immersive theatre. It will be the patrons first chance to actual live the movie rather than watch the movie. The haunted houses are not designed for those who are easily scared or offended. They would be better off attending an amusement park.

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We would like to thank Steve Kopelman as well as Kristine Ashton-Magnuson at AM-Media for making this interview possible!

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Space Hulk: Deathwing Teaser Trailer

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September 3, 2013 — Space Hulk®: Deathwing™ is a First-Person Shooter experience of Games Workshop’s classic Space Hulk boardgame set in the universe of Warhammer 40,000, developed on Unreal Engine 4 by Streum On Studio, the team behind E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy. Published by Focus Home Interactive and co-produced by Cyanide Studio, Space Hulk: Deathwing offers players the chance to experience a desperate battle against Genestealers in the claustrophobic tunnels of a Space Hulk, as they will gain skills, new abilities and new equipment thanks to experience earned during perilous missions.

Today, Space Hulk: Deathwing is being unveiled for the first time through a first teaser of the game: discover this video where a Deathwing Terminator, stranded in a Space Hulk, is being chased by a horde of Genestealers…

Space Hulks drift along the currents of the Warp, the immaterial dimension of Chaos. Made up of gigantic mangled asteroids, derelict ship wrecks and other spatial debris, they sometimes grow to the size of a moon and often contain treasured and ancient lost technologies. However, they are ripe with danger including infestations of the lethal Genestealers.

Players take on the role of a Space Marine from one of the most secret and most feared Space Marine Companies: the Deathwing from the Dark Angels. Strap on your Terminator armour and equip the emblematic weaponry of the Space Marines to overcome the threats awaiting you in the Space Hulk. As a Librarian, you will also master the destructive powers of the Psykers. Your skills and performance in battle grant you Fervor Points, to spend on 4 skill trees allowing you to improve your abilities, unlock new powers, access powerful relics and devastating new weapons.

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ROCCAT Kave 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset Review (Peripherals)

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The Kave 5.1 surround sound gaming headset is the flagship of ROCCAT’s headset line-up. It features solid construction, dual sound profiles, futuristic remote control, and a lot of other cool features. Overall, the design is mainly black accented with TRON-style blue lighting. It has a decent weight and feels fairly comfortable when sitting on one’s head for a long time. Setting the ROCCAT Kave up for use is very simply – one simply plugs the USB cable into an available port for power and the four 3.5mm plugs into your sound card’s surround sound jacks. In my testing, we were using a Sound Blaster ZXr sound card. Of course, the big draw of this headset is its 5.1 surround sound for playing your favorite games with – so, let’s take a look at that!

Technical Specifications

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CENTER/FRONT/REAR DRIVER UNITS

Frequency response: 20~20,000Hz
Max. SPL at 1KHz: 114±3dB
Max. input power: 100mW (30mW)
Drive diameter front: 40mm
Drive diameter rear: 40mm

VIBRATION DRIVER UNITS

Frequency response: 20~100Hz ()
Max. input power: 1000mW
Drive diameter: 30mm

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MICROPHONE

Frequency response: 20~18,000Hz
Sensitivity at 1KHz: -36dB
Directivity: omni-directional
Diameter: 4×1.5mm

SYSTEM

Connection: 4 X 3.5mm jack plug
Impedance: 32 Ohm
Cable length: 3,4m total (2,0m Remote > PC)
Between ear cups and remote: 140cm
Between remote and splitter: 180cm
Between splitter and PC: 20cm

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While gaming, its multi-channel separation was exceptional, allowing me to very easily acquire targets based on sound alone. The Kave pumps out quite a bit of bass and volume, thoroughly taking your ears along for the ride. Playing several sessions of Battlefield 3, there were several moments where I experienced a “jump scare” and turned my head to see who was behind me while, in reality, it was all generated by the Kave. Additionally, the Kave features a vibration system which provides some really neat feedback allowing you to feel the bass.

Unfortunately, for music and movie viewing, I found that the sound equalizer needed some tweaking for the audio to be acceptable. Thankfully, to make movie watching more palatable, ROCCAT has included a slider switch on the remote control that adjusts the sound curvature between gaming and movie modes. It is not perfect, but should help get you in the right direction to enjoy the surround sound while watching whatever flick you like. In both gaming and movies, we noticed that the midrange sounds coming from the speaker drivers sounded slightly “muted’.

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Speaking of the remote control, its design looks like something that would be used in the CiC of the Battlestar Galactica. It features a cool blue light, sliding sound adjusters, mode slider, and a lot of other useful functions. Everything worked great with the remote and I have no complaints about it. The rotary volume dial is surprisingly pleasant to use with a great tactile “feel”.

The stylish boom microphone works very well, and those individuals I used Skype with had no issues hearing my voice or making out what I was saying to them. Additionally I had good response from teammates while we were all using Ventrillo during multiplayer sessions. When muted, there is a cool blue ring of light on the end of the microphone – a nice visual cue when you are or are not audible to others.

Overall, the ROCCAT Kave 5.1 is a very good set of 5.1 surround sound gaming headphones that can also put out decent audio for movies and music – although, that is not the focus of this headset. The ROCCAT Kave 5.1 surround sound gaming headset retails for about $120 dollars and is available now.

[easyreview title=”ROCCAT Kave 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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Guarder GX-1000 Airsoft Goggles Review

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Sometimes, less is more – a lot more. While I have had the pleasure of reviewing some really excellent, expensive goggle systems, the GX-1000 from Guarder ranks among the most functional and comfortable I have ever worn. Better yet, this pair of goggles is only about $25 dollars.

Outwardly, the Guarder GX-1000 goggles appear somewhat skeletal, like the BOLLE T-800 goggles they are designed after. The black, thin rigid frames are shielded behind a large, poly-carbonate lens, give the whole thing a spartan appearance. The goggles feature an elastic, adjustable strap which easily fits around most helmet types – although, I did not have a PASGT helmet to try it with.

As for added accessories, the Guarder GX-1000 will not disappoint you. In the box comes a cleaning cloth/soft pouch for storage as well as two extra lenses – one yellow and the other smokey. Again – this is all for $25 dollars. In terms of construction, the goggles feel very solid and the wrap around shape makes it easy to fit them over prescription lenses. The poly-carbonate lenses are all 100% UV-A/B filtering as well as meet MIL-SPEC, OSHA, and ANSI standards for safety.

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The poly-carbonate lens sits slightly away from the frame, which could be an issue for some fields as there is a small gap in between where, technically, a BB could fit. However, the lens is taller than the frame – so, in order for that to happen, the shooter would have to be firing from directly above or below you. Personally, I never had an issue with it while I was using it. One HUGE benefit to this gap between the lens and the frame is that the goggles simply do not fog up – air and moisture do not get trapped inside them like full-seal goggles.

In terms of protection, the lenses are very rigid and easily take BB strikes. I had the unfortunate luck of getting sprayed across the face by an opposing player with a PolarStar and the goggles didn’t even show a scratch. I have the utmost confidence in this set of goggles.

Overall, Guarder’s GX-1000 airsoft goggles are an excellent purchase and, without a doubt, feature the best “bang for your buck” in any airsoft goggles I have yet to try. The Guarder GX-1000 is $25 dollars over at EVIKE.com.

[easyreview title=”Magpul PTS RM4 Scout ERG by KWA Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]
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DCS Announces WWII Flight Simulator Kickstarter Campaign

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Image from DCS: P-51D Mustang

MOSCOW, Russia – September 1, 2013 – Legendary flight simulation designers Ilya Shevchenko, Igor Tishin, and Matt Wagner are excited to announce an upcoming Kickstarter campaign for a new WWII flight simulation being developed for the PC. DCS WWII: Europe 1944 is the start of an exciting new flight simulation series. Built by industry veterans at RRG Studios with the same approach that made famous flight sims of the past great, and in partnership with the experts at the Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics, the simulation aims to satisfy seasoned aces as well as attract new pilots to the genre.

DCS WWII: Europe 1944 will take the player to the skies over Western Europe at the height of WWII in 1944. Players will attack enemy ground vehicles in the famous P-47 Thunderbolt in the Battle of Falaise, or intercept waves of B-17 Flying Fortresses in their Messerschmitt Bf.109; or attempt to fend off incredible new Me.262 jet fighters in their suddenly slow and obsolete propeller-driven Spitfires.

With successful Kickstarter funding of stretch goals, the project will include more famous historical aircraft, such as the Lockheed P-38, de Havilland Mosquito, Messerschmitt Me.262, and even a flyable version of the Boeing B-17.

The simulation is based on the award-winning DCS engine used in such stellar products as DCS: P-51D Mustang and DCS: A-10C Warthog. DCS WWII: Europe 1944 will boast an all-new EDGE landscape engine, as well as many new and updated features.

As all simulations in the DCS line, DCS WWII titles will boast detailed recreations of famous WWII aircraft and meticulous modeling of individual aircraft systems. Combat missions over a huge game world painstakingly recreated from period maps will offer rich single-player experience recreating famous battles from both sides.

DCS WWII will also ship with advanced AI that recreates historical tactics and models pilots of varying skill levels, from bumbling rookies to merciless aces. Other features such as the dynamic weather and seasons, comprehensive training, robust multiplayer , a powerful mission and campaign editor, as well as a mission replay system, pilot log book, and other features will all add up to incredible player experience.

“With unparalleled attention to detail, our developers have decades of experience with aerial combat simulations,” said Ilya Shevchenko of RRG Studios. “We are famous for our ability to make our games fun while maintaining unwavering dedication to historical realism. We can do it because the relatively simple aircraft of the WWII era do not require extensive training, and nimble controls and simple weapons naturally lead to fast-paced close-quarters battles.“

“We want to open a new page in WWII combat simulations,” said Matt Wagner of Eagle Dynamics. “At the same time we strive to recapture everything that made the flight simulations of the past great, starting with a thick spiral-bound manual and comprehensive training, and ending with great free-for-all multiplayer. We want to keep creating the content that we enjoy creating and that our fans enjoy playing for years to come.”
The team intends for DCS WWII: Europe 1944 to act as the forerunner of a long-running DCS WWII simulation series covering all theaters of WWII, and expanding into other nearby conflicts, such as the Korean War.

In addition to industry-leading attention to detail, incredible graphics, unparalleled flight dynamics, and award-winning multiplayer, DCS WWII: Europe 1944 will also shop with an innovative distribution model. As the last major release in the DCS line, DCS World, DCS WWII will also be distributed via a free-to-play model. The full-featured core game will be available as a free download, allowing anyone to check out the game and its features. Additional modules containing new aircraft or new gameplay areas will be available as a separate purchase.

The free-to-play model allows a wider audience access the core game by, in essence, offering a free demo that allows anyone to try the game before they buy it. At the same time, the model accurately reflects immense development costs attached to historically accurate study sims.

The Kickstarter campaign for the title will launch on September 5th.

First Star Citizen Module Launched

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AUSTIN, Texas, August 30, 2013 — Chris Roberts and the development team at Cloud Imperium™ Games are rolling out the first playable area in their highly anticipated space sim, Star Citizen. The Hangar Module is an area of the game where current backers of the project can walk around and admire all the ships they’ve purchased for the game in a 3-D hangar created completely in-engine. The Hangar Module officially launched overnight for all backers of the crowd funded project. It’s all part of the modular development process Cloud Imperium is utilizing to provide backers of the crowd funded game a chance to experience the gaming world earlier than normal.

“In creating a project of this size and scope in a traditional sense, you wouldn’t get a chance to play the game until it reaches late alpha or beta stage,” said Cloud Imperium CEO Roberts. “By creating modules in this fashion, our backers get a chance to jump in and enjoy the world much earlier. Soon we’ll be adding a Dogfighting module, a Planetside module and more. Eventually we’ll weave them together to make the world that will be Star Citizen.”

The Hangar Module was previewed to members of the media last week at the Gamescom Trade Fair and Exhibit in Cologne, Germany. A special preview unveiling on Saturday night was wildly received by more than 1,200 Star Citizen fans.

“Our backers have invested a lot of their time and resources to Star Citizen,” said Roberts. “This will be their first chance to experience a portion of the game that ultimately will find its way into the final game. Some of the fans have purchased multiple ships and now they’ll be able to see most of them in their own hangars. The next step will be launching those ships and dogfighting. But for now they can customize their ships, walk around them, jump into the cockpit and even purchase a few surprise items to outfit their hangars. And all of it will take place in the game engine.”

Fans must back the project in order to experience the new Hangar Module. Information on becoming a Star Citizen backer can be found at http://www.RobertsSpaceIndustries.com.

Star Citizen is a crowd funded game that officially launched on October 10 of 2012. Since that time Roberts’ company has raised more than $16.7 million from backers all over the world making Star Citizen the top ranking crowd funded project ever.

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Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate “New Management” Trailer

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August 30, 2013 — Today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment unveiled a new gameplay trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate entitled “New Management.” In addition to showing off the art style and gameplay of the first Batman: Arkham handheld game, several of the villains Batman will tangle with in Blackgate Prison are shown.  One of the Dark Knight’s most famous enemies, Solomon Grundy, is also revealed to be part of the game for the first time.

Trailer