Author - Jerry Paxton

The Grand Canyon VR Experience Launches

2017/01/30

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 24, 2017 — Immersive Entertainment, Inc. today announced the launch of The Grand Canyon VR Experience, a virtual reality (VR) theme-park kayak experience aimed at creating a sense of presence and relaxation for all ages.

The experience is available to consumers with the HTC Vive or Oculus VR headsets as a download from STEAM, the Oculus Store, or VivePort. Licensing options are available for VR arcades and theme parks.

“The Grand Canyon VR Experience places you in one of the most realistic, organic nature experiences available today in VR. It provides an ideal jumping off point to high quality VR, allowing basic interactions that provide a sense of presence in a beautiful serene environment,” said Ciaran Foley, CEO of Immersive Entertainment, Inc. “This title is only the first step in a natural evolution of VR tools and core technologies Immersive is developing that will become the cornerstone of a new type of engagement in Virtual Reality and Augmented/Mixed Reality.”

“A recent report on VR Industry Trends, published by Sketchfab, cited the number one favorite use for VR is ‘exploring environments’, ahead of gaming, content creation, 360 videos and social experiences,” said Jeroen Van den Bosch, Chief VR Designer at Immersive. “The Grand Canyon VR Experience is the perfect embodiment of this type of experience.”

The Grand Canyon VR Experience is available for download now. Learn more at http://www.immersiveentertainment.com/

About Immersive Entertainment, Inc.

Irvine-based Immersive Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent VR software company developing the world’s leading Virtual Engagement Platform for computer-generated Virtual and Augmented Reality, driven by Artificial Intelligence. For more information, visit http://www.immersiveentertainment.com.

John Wick VR Release Date Announced

2017/01/30

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

January 30, 2017 – Starbreeze and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) announced that the highly anticipated VR first-person shooter John Wick Chronicles for the HTC Vive virtual reality headset will be released on the digital distribution platform Steam on February 9.

Available to pre-order now at $19.99, John Wick Chronicles gives players the opportunity to explore the iconic Continental Hotel and tasks them with assassinating seemingly unbeatable targets that only John Wick himself could handle. The game was created by Lionsgate and Starbreeze in collaboration with Grab Games, Big Red Button and GameCo. It is inspired by Lionsgate’s hit movie John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves, and its sequel, John Wick: Chapter 2, which hits theatres February 10, 2017.

Customers are welcome to pre-order here: store.steampowered.com/app/382360
Further information about John Wick Chronicles can be found at: www.johnwickvr.com

Rainbow Six Siege Operation Velvet Shell DLC Release Date

2017/01/30

Jerry Paxton

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

January 30, 2017 – Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege announced Operation Velvet Shell, the first major content update for Year 2 will be available on February 7 for Xbox One, Sony PlayStation and Windows PC. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Year 2 content seeks to enrich the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege community experience with two new operators and “Coastline,” a vivid new multiplayer map available in both PVP and PVE.

In Operation Velvet Shell, the Coastline map is set on the rocky shores of Ibiza in Spain, where two Operators of the Spanish Grupo Especial de Operaciones (G.E.O.) have to safeguard the perimeter of a famous nightclub.

Additional details on the content of Operation Velvet Shell will be unveiled during the Six Invitational, which will include the first live demo of the new Spanish CTU. To get a first look at Operation Velvet Shell, tune in to the livestream at 1:15pm EST on Sunday, February 5 here: https://www.twitch.tv/rainbow6

To learn more about Velvet Shell please visit www.rainbow6.com/velvetshell

Free Weekend

For the first time on all consoles Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege will be available for free from February 2-5. Players can join the strong Rainbow Six Siege community on PlayStation^®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC via Uplay and Steam.

The full details and timing of the free weekend are available via the following link: www.rainbow6.com/freeweekend

XX Film Review (Horror)

2017/01/30

Jerry Paxton

Film Review, Geek News, Movie News, News, Reviews

I recently got the chance to take a look at Magnolia Pictures new horror anthology, XX. XX is made up of four short horror films, each directed by a different female filmmaker. The four short films are separated by some really creepy segments of stop-motion animation which were very impressive, and the film’s overall runtime is 1 hour and 20 minutes. I sat down to watch XX on one of Southern California’s more recent cold evenings with a trusty mug of hot cocoa next to my chair and my fireplace roaring – a great night for a spooky horror film.

Interestingly enough, XX was not a horror anthology of the kind that I was used to. Modern horror anthology films like V/H/S and ABC’s of Death all have a a certain frenetic (maybe sometimes amateurish) pacing to their horror segments – even those segments meant to be more cerebral seem to move along curtly. The four short films of XX have a more professional pacing, which is terrific for the body of each short, but not for their endings. I was consistently left wanting or needing to know more about the story that wasn’t provided. While this can work to a short film’s benefit, in these cases what with their professional pacing, you simply don’t expect for the endings to come on as abruptly as they do. When the endings do arrive, it is somewhat jarring. Also, while I appreciated the amazing stop-motion animation, I was hoping to find the interludes and bumper sections to be more of a frame story.

It may sound like I am picking on XX, but I am only mentioning these things because I enjoyed the film quite a bit. Each of the short stories had me wanting more and I applaud each director for their mastery of film craft. Jovanka Vuckovic’s “The Box” had me on the edge of my seat the entire time as did Roxanne Benjamin’s “Don’t Fall”, while Annie Clark’s “The Birthday Party” had a wicked sense of dark comedy that I desperately wanted expanded upon. I would love to see The Birthday Party made into a 90 minute feature. Melanie Lynskey is a great actor with terrific comic timing and she could carry the story to dark, dark places in a believable and humorous way. Karyn Kusama’s “Her Only Living Son” was tense and also a bit heartstring-tugging. I am intentionally avoiding talking about the plot points of the film just because XX should be viewed with as little foreknowledge as possible. If you do a spoiler search on the Internet prior to viewing, you will probably not enjoy the film nearly as much.

Ultimately, XX is an intense horror anthology that leaves audiences wanting more. It is also a testament to women in film-making and the four directors should be very proud of their work. XX is due out in theaters and VoD come February 17, 2017.

XX Review Score

[mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#ff3a3a” type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#ff3a3a” type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#ff3a3a” type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#ff3a3a” type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star-o” color=”#ff3a3a” type=”fa”] (4 out of 5 Stars)

Matrix Elite Detonics 1911 Combat Master Airsoft Pistol Review

2017/01/29

Jerry Paxton

Action Sports, Airsoft News, Airsoft Reviews, Articles, Geek News, News, Reviews

Many airsofters prefer to use compact or sub-compact size gas blowback pistols as their secondary airsoft weapons. These small pistols often have very similar performance profiles to their larger brethren but are a lot easier to carry. Space is at a premium on a plate carrier or battle belt, and a smaller holster/pistol setup can leave more room for ammunition pouches, utility implements, etc. The .45 1911 Combat Master Pistol is obviously a 1911 style pistol – albeit with a much shorter grip and barrel. Where does this fit in with actual firearms? Well, this is actually a replica of a real firearm – the combat master pistol manufactured by Detonics. It offers .45 ACP power in a carry-size handgun. But, how does this help your airsoft game?

For starters, the Matrix Elite .45 1911 Combat Master Pistol is extremely affordable. While the base pistol and magazine combination retails for $99 dollars (although it can be found on sale for cheaper from time to time), its magazines are only $18 dollars each! Each of these magazines carry 18 BBs and best accept green gas for optimal performance and reliability. There are no CO2 magazines for this pistol at the time of this publishing. This small form factor means that it won’t hog your belt real estate, which is always nice. Also, those players with smaller hands would probably prefer an airsoft pistol they can more comfortably grip. Something to note about the magazines is that they don’t hold a lot of gas due to their small size. I averaged 1 1/2 magazines out of a full charge.

Shooting Tests Using 12×18″ Target

: .25g BBs at 50 feet

: .25g BBs at 75 feet

In terms of performance, we chronographed this pistol at 310 feet per second while shooting .20 g BBs. Also, for those of you who like your pistols to have some felt recoil – thanks to this model’s metal slide and short grip, the felt recoil gives some decent feedback while shooting. Unfortunately, that’s where our praise stops as we shot six magazine’s worth of BBs through the pistol. On the seventh run-through, the magazine lost all its green gas after one shot, consistently. It looks like a seal has busted somewhere in the output system. Prior to this, the magazine seemed to operate without any noticeable issues.

The Matrix Detonics 1911 Combat Master Pistol is a fine choice for a secondary airsoft weapon. Its small form factor, full-size performance, and affordability are a great combination to have in an airsoft pistol. Just be warned that its out-of-the box magazine may have some trouble after sustained usage – thankfully, additional magazines are only $18 dollars a piece. Hopefully, this magazine that we have here can be fixed, we shall update this review if we can figure out where exactly it failed.

Product Link

Matrix Detonics 1911 Combat Master Pistol Score:

[mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#eeee22″ type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#eeee22″ type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#eeee22″ type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star-o” color=”#eeee22″ type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star-o” color=”#eeee22″ type=”fa”] (3 out of 5 Stars)

Product Photos

QuakeCon 2017 Announced

2017/01/27

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, QuakeCon

January 27, 2017 – Taking place at the prestigious Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, QuakeCon 2017 welcomes thousands of gamers from around the globe to participate in the annual four-day video game festival featuring North America’s largest BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Computer) LAN Party. Founded in 1996, QuakeCon has grown to be one of the most distinguished festivals in gaming, with an attendance of over 10,000 in 2016. QuakeCon 2017 is open to the public and attendance is FREE thanks to the support of id® Software, Bethesda Softworks®, the QuakeCon volunteer staff, and the 2017 event sponsors and exhibitors.

QuakeCon will take place Thursday, August 24 – Sunday, August 27, 2017.

Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center
1501 Gaylord Trail
Grapevine, TX 76051

Guests can make room reservations at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center by calling 1.877.491.5138 or going online to: https://aws.passkey.com/go/QuakeCon. A special room rate of $185 per night is available when you reference QuakeCon 2017!

Entering its 22nd year, QuakeCon 2017 will continue to celebrate games and the people who play them by hosting North America’s largest BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Computer) LAN party. With over two thousand BYOC seats available, participants can showcase their custom computers and join the QuakeCon gamer community to play their favorite games either solo or against one another on the same local area network.

QuakeCon is free for general attendees and open to the public. This year’s event will offer diverse activities for all, including those who choose not to bring their own computer. Attendees are first to see sneak peeks of Bethesda’s upcoming titles and announcements while also attending a wide array of presentations, tournaments, workshops and exhibits from leading tech companies showcasing the newest gaming accessories and hardware.

For more information on QuakeCon 2017 visit www.quakecon.org.

Lionsgate and Starbreeze Announce ‘Humble Starbreeze Bundle Presents: John Wick’

2017/01/26

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

SANTA MONICA, Calif. and STOCKHOLM – Jan. 26, 2017 – Lionsgate and video game publisher Starbreeze are expanding their relationship around the John Wick franchise with the release of the Humble Starbreeze Bundle Presents: John Wick in partnership with Humble Bundle. Running from now until Jan. 29, 2PM EST, this new promotion^* offers an assortment of exclusive deals in connection with the upcoming VR action game John Wick Chronicles, the new film John Wick: Chapter 2, the multiplayer survival horror game Dead by Daylight, and the online cooperative heist game PAYDAY 2.

Starting at $1 or more^**, players can purchase bundled packages which include the original PAYDAY 2, developed by OVERKILL – a Starbreeze Studio, as well as the “John Wick Weapon Pack” DLC, “The Bomb Heists” DLC, and Lycanwulf and The One Below masks. PAYDAY 2: Game of the Year Edition, which contains the base title, a dozen assorted heists, weapon and character packs, and two of the games’ soundtracks, can be unlocked at $6 or more. This tier also features the E3 2016 Mask Pack and the Electarodent, Orc, Crossbreed and Titan Masks.

For $14 or more, customers can grab one of 2016’s most thrilling multiplayer action experiences, Dead by Daylight. Developed by Behaviour Digital and published by Starbreeze, the game challenges groups of players to outwit and outlast one player empowered as the menacing Killer.

At $25 or more, players will receive a digital pre-order for John Wick Chronicles, coming to Steam this February from Lionsgate and Starbreeze for the HTC Vive virtual reality headset. One of the first AAA VR experiences based on a film property, this unique action shooter game lets players truly immerse themselves in the mantle of the legendary assassin for the first time.

Finally, at the highest tier of $45 or more (offer available in the U.S. only), fans will receive a digital copy of the original John Wick film via Steam, as well as a pair of tickets to see its much-anticipated sequel, John Wick: Chapter 2, in theaters when it opens in the U.S. on Feb. 10. This offer is limited to the first 5,000 orders purchased through the Atom Tickets app or website at: atm.tk/jwick. John Wick: Chapter 2 is distributed by Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment label.

Befitting John Wick’s affection for animal companions, certain proceeds from purchases of the Humble Starbreeze Bundle Presents: John Wick will support Sweet Farm, a nonprofit sanctuary dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and sheltering of mistreated animals. Located on twelve acres of land in California’s Half Moon Bay, the organization also educates the public on humane animal treatment, issues concerning farmed animals, and the impact of factory farming on agricultural biodiversity. For more information on Sweet Farm’s mission, visit www.sweetfarm.org.

^*Each new tier unlocks its associated content, as well as all rewards from the lower-priced categories below it.

^** Bundles are available while supplies last and are void where prohibited. Additional charges may apply. Atom Tickets App or browser required for fulfillment of John Wick: Chapter 2movie ticket. Functionality varies by compatible device and location. Internet connection required.

Square Enix and Marvel Unveil Secret The Avengers Game

2017/01/26

Jerry Paxton

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

GLENDALE, Calif. & TOKYO, JAPAN (January 26, 2017) – Marvel Entertainment and SQUARE ENIX® today announced a new multi-year, multi-game licensing agreement to develop and publish original games based on beloved Marvel Super Heroes, beginning with The Avengers. This newly established partnership pairs the creative minds at Marvel and Square Enix for one of the most powerful alliances in interactive entertainment. The first blockbuster game is being crafted by Crystal Dynamics®, developers of the award winning TOMB RAIDER® series, in collaboration with Eidos-Montréal, the home of the critically acclaimed and award-winning DEUS EX game series.

The Avengers project is being designed for gamers worldwide and will be packed with all the characters, environments, and iconic moments that have thrilled longtime fans of the franchise. Featuring a completely original story, it will introduce a universe gamers can play in for years to come. More details on The Avengers project and other games will be announced in 2018.

“By partnering with Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal, we are now working with two of the industry’s most talented and respected game development studios to bring Marvel stories to life in ways our fans have never experienced,“ said Jay Ong, Senior Vice President, Games & Innovation, Marvel Entertainment. “The Avengers project is a perfect example of how Marvel is making games a key part of the landscape for Marvel storytelling, alongside comics, television and film. We can only do this by matching our greatest Super Heroes with the world’s top developers, such as the creative minds at Square Enix.”

“Marvel’s diverse, innovative universe has created millions of longtime fans, including all of us,” said Phil Rogers, CEO, Square Enix Americas and Europe. “It’s exciting to bring together Square Enix’s award-winning development studios with Marvel’s extraordinary storytellers to establish a new entertainment powerhouse. This collaboration of passion and talent will craft epic, imaginative experiences allowing gamers to live out their Super Hero dreams like never before.”

Crystal Dynamics is the studio behind the critically acclaimed and world-famous TOMB RAIDER franchise, which has sold over 48 million copies worldwide. With over 30 video game titles released and hundreds of awards, the heroine Lara Croft has been a cultural icon for 20 years and has made an indelible mark on virtually every facet of entertainment. The most recent release, Rise of the Tomb Raider®, has received over 100 awards and nominations and is one of the highest rated games on next generation systems.

Eidos-Montréal is the award-winning studio behind the relaunch of the DEUS EX series. In 2011, the studio made its mark with the critically acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution®. Its sequel, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided™, was released in 2016 and received more than 100 awards and nominations.

Star Trek Online: Season 12 – Reckoning Launch Trailer

2017/01/26

Jerry Paxton

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

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – January 26, 2017 – Today, Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a leading publisher of free-to-play MMORPGs, and Cryptic Studios announced Star Trek Online: Season 12 – Reckoning is now available on PC. The update celebrates a very special milestone for the 100% free-to-play MMORPG based on the iconic Star Trek franchise, as the game celebrates its incredible 7^th Anniversary. To commemorate this achievement, captains can experience a brand-new episode, featuring the debut of General Rodek, voiced by actor Tony Todd. Players will also complete daily missions to earn special rewards, including the new Lukari ship, which the community helped design last fall. Season 12 – Reckoning will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 at a later date.

Season 12 puts out a desperate call to captains across the galaxy to battle the powerful Tzenkethi, a highly-intelligent, militant warp-capable species. The mission begins when the Lukari set out on a journey to investigate some unusual activity in an unexplored region of the Alpha Quadrant. Upon further inspection, they discover data that suggests weaponized use of protomatter and request immediate assistance from the Alliance. Captains must work together with the Lukari to prevent a looming cataclysmic attack from the Tzenkethi.

These events all transpire in Season 12’s newest featured episode, “Of Signs and Portents.” The update also brings back Star Trek Online’s popular anniversary events and offers players new content to explore, including a challenging new reputation, two new space queues and new Research and Development school. A full list of features for Season 12 – Reckoning includes:

New Lukari Science Vessel – Captains can finally earn the community-designed T6 Lukari Ho’kuun Science Vessel by participating in daily anniversary missions and completing the new featured episode.
Two Daily Anniversary Missions –Completing “Omega Molecule Stabilization Daily” and “Party Patrol” each day will earn dilithium, reputation marks and pictures of Q, which must be collected to earn the new Lukari ship.
Omega Molecule Stabilization Mini-Game – Players can track down omega particles that Q has scattered across the galaxy and use them to craft upgrade kits.
New Featured Episode – In the brand new episode, “Of Signs and Portents,” captains team up with the Lukari to battle the Tzenkethi and earn rewards toward the new Lukari Science Vessel.
New Reputation – “The Lukari Restoration Initiative” allows players to earn marks toward weapons and gear infused with protomatter technology to defend themselves from the Tzenkethi.
New Crafting School – Season 12 introduces a new Research School to the R&D System, allowing captains to create new kits and modules.
Two New Space Queues
- “Gravity Kills” – Captains will lead an attack on a Tzenkethi protomatter facility and collect Hawking particles to drop their special defenses.
- “The Tzenkethi Front” – Players will defend the Eta Serpentis system from a Tzenkethi attack by turning their protomatter weapons against them.
Full Space Battlezone – Captains will head out to the final frontier to lead an all-out war against the Tzenkethi, in an effort to stop the production and deployment of protomatter weapons.

Star Trek Online is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online game where players can pioneer their own destiny as Captain of a Federation starship, become a Klingon Warrior and champion the Empire through the far reaches of the galaxy, or rebuild the Romulan legacy as the commander of a Romulan Republic Warbird. In Star Trek Online, players have the opportunity to visit iconic locations from the popular Star Trek universe, reach out to unexplored star systems and make contact with new alien species. Star Trek Online is currently available on PC, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.

To download and play Star Trek Online today for free, visit www.playstartrekonline.com.

Star Trek Online is licensed by CBS Consumer Products.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Announced with Fig Campaign

2017/01/26

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

IRVINE, CA — January 26, 2017 — Today, Obsidian Entertainment announces its isometric, party-based role-playing game (RPG) Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, a sequel to the critically-acclaimed Pillars of Eternity. Currently in development for Windows PC, Mac, and Linux, the fan-funding campaign in support of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire kicks off today on Fig (www.fig.co) offering both equity and rewards opportunities, with an overall goal of $1.1M USD, $2.25M being open for equity.

“We are so thankful to our fans, who believed in us and made the original Pillars a huge crowdfunding success. For the sequel, we have turned to Fig for our fan-funding needs because we not only wanted our fans to help shape Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, but to financially share in its potential as well,” said Feargus Urquhart, CEO of Obsidian Entertainment. “Pillars of Eternity set the standard for quality among fan-funded games by not only delivering an amazing game, but also making good on everything we promised to our backers. Our goal for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is to improve on what fans loved about the original while adding features our fans want to see, truly living cities, more freedom to explore the open world, and pushing what we do best at Obsidian – letting players define and play the role they want to play.”

Inspired by classic titles such as Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire improves upon the rich narrative, beautiful environments, and intricate, tactical combat that made the original a fan and critical sensation. With Deadfire, Obsidian will take players on a second fantastic journey to the world of Eora, this time to the vast, uncharted, Deadfire Archipelago where they will fight for their souls as they hunt down a god.

For more information on Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, visit https://www.fig.co/campaigns/deadfire

For those wanting to play the original Pillars of Eternity, please visit http://buy.pillarsofeternity.com.