Author - Jerry Paxton

Sound Blaster Tactic3D Fury Gaming Headset Revealed

2013/08/22

SINGAPORE – August 21, 2013 – Creative Technology Ltd today announced the Sound Blaster® Tactic3D® Fury gaming headset for PC and Mac, featuring SBX Pro Studio™ audio technologies. Priced at only US$59.99, the Sound Blaster Tactic3D Fury will be demonstrated for the first time at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from August 21 to 25 at the Creative exhibit at Hall 9.1, B-042.

The Sound Blaster Tactic3D Fury gaming headset introduces a sleek new design to the Tactic3D headset family. The headset connects to a Mac or PC via USB with the Dual Mode USB adapter, and features a 3.5mm jack to enable connection to a mobile phone for calls and music playback. The included Sound Blaster Tactic3D Control Panel software suite enables gamers to customize settings to provide the most immersive and accurate 3D acoustic environment. It also enables saving of specific audio profiles which gamers can export and share with others. Proprietary Scout Mode technology empowers gamers to hear enemies from further away for a distinct tactical advantage. Powerful 40mm Full Spectrum drivers with frequency response of 20Hz ~ 20kHz deliver best-in-class audio quality.

“Riding on the positive momentum of our Sound Blaster Tactic3D range of gaming headsets, we designed the Sound Blaster Tactic3D Fury with a sleeker, even more comfortable ear cup design than the headsets that inspired it. With this great-looking, comfortable design and our completely customizable suite of sound and voice technologies, we’re unleashing the Fury as the best combination of gaming performance and value for the mass market,” said Long Chye Low, general manager of audio at Creative.

The Sound Blaster Tactic3D Fury gaming headset features breathable foam ear cups for extreme comfort and elimination of fatigue for long gaming sessions. With its detachable noise-cancelling microphone, the Sound Blaster Tactic3D Fury headset is also great for listening to music and movies from a Mac, PC, or smart devices.

SBX Pro Studio™ Sound and Voice Technologies
• SBX Surround – Creates unprecedented levels of audio realism by producing virtual speakers around, above and below the listener
• SBX Crystalizer™ – Ensures that every audio detail is heard by restoring the “highs” and “lows” that are compromised with audio compression
• SBX Bass – Dramatically improves the sound experience by expanding the low frequency tones
• SBX Dialog Plus – Intelligently enhances voices in games and moves for dramatically clearer dialog
• SBX Smart Volume – Address the problem of abrupt volume level changes in games by intelligently applying gain and attenuation to deliver consistent volume levels
• Scout Mode – Hear your enemies from further away and gain a distinct tactical advantage in combat
• VoiceFX – Enables alteration of voice with a variety of effects, which can enhance the tone of a voice, create interesting accents, or enable someone to sound like a different person
• Sound Blaster Tactic3D Control Panel – Save and share multiple TacticProfile audio preferences with your friends and teammates

Pricing and Availability
The Sound Blaster Tactic3D Fury gaming headset, priced at US$59.99, is slated for availability in October 2013.

For more information, visit soundblaster.com.

Iceberg Interactive and Amplitude Studios Announce Endless Legend

2013/08/22

Jerry Paxton

News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

Haarlem, The Netherlands – August 21, 2013 – Iceberg Interactive and indie developer Amplitude Studios have teamed up to bring gamers Amplitude’s largest scale project to date, the new 4X space-strategy game, Endless Legend. Players will explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate using a hero from one of eight civilizations as they uncover mysterious artifacts, assimilate factions, research magic and tech, and engage in full combat in their quest to dominate the universe.

Developer Amplitude Studios created an exclusive screenshot batch, giving fans of the genre and its community some first glances into the world of Endless Legend. Download the full screenshot batch HERE, www.iceberg-games.com/games/EndlessLegend/Endless_Legend_Town_View_Screens.zip

“Creating a fantasy 4X game was a dream for all of us at Amplitude. The success of Endless Space and the support of our community have allowed to make this dream come true,” said Mathieu Girard, CEO of Amplitude Studios. “With respect toward great games released before us, we intend to set a new benchmark in creating a rich, immersive, thrilling, and accessible 4X strategy game in a new fantasy setting.”

“4X strategy remains a key genre for us, whether set in a sci-fi or fantasy setting,” said Erik Schreuder, CEO at Iceberg Interactive. “We’re very excited to continue our co-operation with Amplitude Studios and are certain that Endless Legend will be another flagship title, when it releases in 2014.”

Key Features:

Explore legendary lands with one of the eight civilizations available both in single and multiplayer, as you adventure through seasons, striving to discover the secrets of Auriga.
Expand beyond the unknown and send your heroes in every corner of the world to find mysterious artifacts to equip your troops, and assimilate powerful minor factions which will help you overwhelm your opponents.
Exploit every opportunity by researching new technologies and magical powers while collecting Dust, luxuries and strategic resources tradable on the marketplace.
Exterminate fools who defy you with a genuine combat system where terrain and your unit abilities are key to take the advantage over the enemy armies.

Story of Endless Legend:

Another sunrise, another day of toil. Food must be grown, industries built, science and magic advanced, and wealth collected. Urgency drives these simple efforts, however, for your planet holds a history of unexplained apocalypse, and the winter you just survived was the worst on record. A fact that has also been true for the previous five.

As you discover the lost secrets of your world and the mysteries of the legends and ruins that exist as much in reality as in rumor, you will come to see that you are not alone. Other peoples also struggle to survive, to grow, and perhaps even to conquer.

You have a city, a loyal populace, and a few troops; your power and magic should be sufficient to keep them alive. But beyond that, nothing is certain… Where will you go, what will you find, and how will you react? Will your trail be one of roses, or of blood?

Endless Legend follows Endless Space, Amplitude’s first big splash as a studio and in the 4X genre. Endless Space launched on Steam for PC and Mac in July 2012 and sold around half a million units in its first year, while garnering critical acclaim, marking an excellent debut for the Paris outfit. Since the 2012 release, the studio has not only worked on expanding Endless Space with 4 free add-ons and an official expansion, but has also worked behind closed doors on new games set within the ‘Endless’ universe – the recently announced Dungeon of the Endless and in particular, their largest scale project to date: the 4x fantasy strategy game Endless Legend.

As was the case with Endless Space, Iceberg Interactive will fulfill the publisher role for the game, taking care of all sales channels (both retail and digital) except Steam (which Amplitude handles) and assisting with PR & Marketing. Endless Legend is currently in development and is slotted for a Spring 2014 release.Follow Endless Legend’s development via its official website and blog on amplitude-studios.com/.

Screenshots

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn to Get PAX Prime Launch Party

2013/08/22

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News

LOS ANGELES (AUGUST 22, 2013) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in the Americas, today announced it will host a launch event open to all PAX Prime 2013 attendees in celebration of the release of FINAL FANTASY® XIV: A Realm Reborn™.

Scheduled from August 30 – September 1, the event will feature opening remarks from the game’s development team, including Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida, Sound Director Masayoshi Soken and Localization Lead Michael-Christopher Koji Fox. Following the presentation, members of the development team will host a special autograph session for fans. Attendees are also invited to hands-on gameplay sessions where they can experience the game’s battle components and compete for prizes. Upon entrance to the event, attendees will be entered into a swag raffle drawing; winners will be announced via Twitter (@FF_XIV_EN).

WHEN
Friday August 30
3:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
(Developer remarks begin at 4 p.m.*)

Saturday August 31 and
Sunday September 1
11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
(Developer remarks begin at noon*)

*Schedule subject to change

WHERE
Red Lion Hotel, Seattle Ballroom
1415 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

At the main convention hall, the SQUARE ENIXwill also host a booth (#3625) that features playable kiosks for LIGHTNING RETURNS ™ : FINAL FANTASY XIII, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX , FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster , Deus Ex: Human Revolution® – Director’s Cut and BLOODMASQUE™, as well as theater presentations and photo booths for Thief ™ and Murdered: Soul Suspect™.

2K Drive Dev Diary #1

2013/08/22

Jerry Paxton

Mobile News, News, Trailers / Videos

2K Games and Lucid have released the first video dev diary for their upcoming racing game, 2K Drive – enjoy!

Video

War of the Vikings Alpha Testing and Screenshots

2013/08/22

Jerry Paxton

News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

NEW YORK — August 22, 2013 — Paradox Interactive, a publisher of games and a grinder of axes, today invited select players to try their upcoming title, War of the Vikings, in Closed Alpha Testing. Developed by Fatshark, War of the Vikings is built upon the same skill-driven close combat gameplay that powers War of the Roses, and extends Paradox’s War series into the brutal and bloody Viking Age. Players will be signing in to game servers today and putting the game’s features to the test, ensuring the axes fly true and the beards flow freely when the game launches.

The game’s first Closed Alpha will drop players into the Pitched Arena game mode, a harsh, fast-paced battle with no respawns with victory going to the last Viking or Saxon standing. Two maps will be on display, with three character classes available to choose from, giving testers the chance to experience a wide range of available weapons, perks, and play styles. The test will last until September 1, 2013, at 2:00 CEST.

Players can apply to join the Alpha for War of the Vikings by heading to: http://signup.warofthevikings.com/

The intensity is greater and the beards are longer in War of the Vikings, where players must band together on the battlefields of 9th and 10th Century England and fight to conquer or defend Britannia. Environments, weapons, and visuals drawn from Viking Age history will immerse players in a bloody new conflict between the Vikings and the Saxons, with each warrior hand-designed by its player from a wide variety of customization options. Built on skill-driven gameplay and a deep combat system, War of the Vikings will bring close combat closer than ever.

Alpha players will have access to three classes for a broad sample of War of the Vikings’ play styles:

Warrior (Medium Class): An all-around warrior with medium armor, rampaging through the battlefield with a sword and shield, and throwing axes.
Huscarl (Heavy Class): A heavily armored juggernaut with charged up attacks whose two-handed axe will cut a path through his foes.
Scout (Light Class): A ranged fighter who picks off enemies with a longbow, but carries a light axe if things get a little too personal.

War of the Vikings is scheduled to release in Q1 2014.

For more information about War of the Vikings, visit http://www.warofthevikings.com

Screenshots

Star Wars Pet Friendly Party Announced at West Hollywood Petco

2013/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Petco has announced a launch party on August 31, 2013 for their Star Wars Pet Fans Collection – a line of dog wear that we were able to check out at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con and fell in love with. If you live near the West Hollywood area, you should stop by!

WHAT:
To celebrate the upcoming launch of the Star Wars Pet Fans Collection, available only at Petco, the West Hollywood Petco is hosting a local, pet-friendly party on August 31, 2013. At this exciting launch event pet parents and their animals can participate in the Star Wars Photo Experience, enjoy complimentary treats and meet some of their favorite Star Wars characters like Darth Vader and Chewbacca.

WHEN:
Saturday, August 31, 2013
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

WHERE:
West Hollywood
508 North Doheny Dr.
West Hollywood, CA 90048

VISUALS:
Dogs and their parents dressed as Star Wars characters
Star Wars themed photo experience with costumes and props for pets and pet parents
Photos with Star Wars characters
Interviews with pets and pet parents enjoying the event
Interviews with Petco representatives

Images

Razer Announces Kraken 7.1 Surround Sound USB Gaming Headset

2013/08/21

Jerry Paxton

News, Peripherals News

Koelnmesse, Cologne (GamesCom) – August 21, 2013 – Razer™, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, software and systems, today announced at GamesCom its latest audio product, the Razer Kraken 7.1 Surround Sound USB gaming headset.

Built off the same platform as the analog Razer Kraken Pro headset, dubbed the most comfortable headset in the world, the Razer Kraken 7.1 USB gaming headset builds on the success of the familiar platform with immersive, customizable 7.1 virtual surround sound and an enhanced digital microphone.

The Razer Kraken 7.1 comes equipped with an advanced virtual surround sound engine capable of ultra-low latency audio processing that simulates a 360-degree surround sound experience that is usually achievable only by incorporating more than one positional speaker driver in each ear cup. Driven through Razer’s powerful Synapse 2.0 unified configuration software, the engine is capable of a high degree of customization, allowing gamers to tweak and specifically position each surround sound channel, boost bass levels and even balance incoming voice audio for astounding aural precision.

The omnidirectional digital microphone on the Razer Kraken 7.1 comes equipped with an optimized algorithm, promising crystal-clear voice chat that offers better frequency response, sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio than a standard analog microphone. It also has a mic mute button and an LED indicator on the tip to clearly indicate when the mic is active.

“As we continue to develop and build on our software front, we’re able to add more and more capabilities to our products. What we put into the Razer Kraken 7.1 is a great example of just that, from the customizable, personalized surround sound engine, to the optimized digital microphone algorithms that gives this headset its incredible performance,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. “With its superior software capabilities, unrivaled sound quality and comfort, the Razer Kraken 7.1 is the definitive USB surround sound headset for PC gaming.”

For more information about the Razer Kraken 7.1 Surround Sound USB Gaming Headset, and to hear samples of the 7.1 surround sound engine and digital microphone please visitwww.razerzone.com/kraken71.

About the Razer Kraken 7.1 Surround Sound USB Gaming Headset

Get the complete 7.1 surround sound gaming experience with the Razer Kraken 7.1 USB gaming headset. This headset adopts the comfortable form factor of the Razer Kraken Pro, tested by numerous professional gamers to determine the optimal ergonomics for extended gaming sessions.

The full potential of the Razer Kraken 7.1 is unleashed by its advanced 7.1 virtual surround sound engine. Driven by Razer’s powerful Synapse 2.0 unified configuration software, this highly customizable engine modulates sound to simulate a 360-degree surround sound experience, allowing you to precisely pinpoint directional audio to know exactly where your enemies are. The headset’s 40mm neodymium magnet drivers power a sound signature that features deep bass, warm mids and crystal-clear highs, for total gaming immersion.

Featuring a retractable microphone hidden in the left ear cup when not in use, the Razer Kraken 7.1 maintains a sleek form factor, all while protecting the microphone during transportation and storage. This flexible, omnidirectional digital microphone comes equipped with an optimized algorithm, promising a pristine voice quality unachievable through traditional analog microphones. Boasting an impressive signal-to-noise ratio and an extended wideband frequency response, the digital microphone ensures a clear, natural sounding voice reproduction with minimal noise.

Price:

U.S. $99.99 / EU €99.99

Availability:

Razerzone.com – Order Now

Worldwide – Available Now

Product features:

Headphones

Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20,000Hz
Impedance: 32 Ω at 1 kHz
Sensitivity (@1 kHz, 1 V/Pa): 112dB
Output Power: 30 mW
Drivers: 40 mm, with Neodymium Magnets
Inner Ear Cup Diameter: 50 mm / 1.97”
Cable Length: 2m / 6.56 ft braided USB cable
Approximate Weight: 340 g / 0.75 lbs.
Connector: Gold plated USB

Microphone

Frequency Response: 100Hz – 12,000Hz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 63 dB
Sensitivity (@1 kHz, 1 V/Pa): -40 ± 4dB
Pick-up Pattern: Omnidirectional

For more information about the Razer Kraken 7.1 Surround Sound USB Gaming Headset, please visit www.razerzone.com/kraken71.

ROCCAT Unveils Kave XTD 5.1 Digital Gaming Headset

2013/08/21

Jerry Paxton

News, Peripherals News

Hamburg – August, 21 2013 – ROCCAT Studios, German manufacturer of high-quality gaming peripherals, today reveals the ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Digital at gamescom in Cologne (hall 8.1, booth A010). The new device is the successor to the best selling true 5.1 gaming headset in the world: the original ROCCAT Kave 5.1. Based on community and customer feedback, the Kave XTD 5.1 Digital builds on the foundations laid by the original headset by improving existing features and introducing completely new and innovative ones of its own.

The Kave XTD 5.1 Digital includes a fully-equipped desktop remote with a built-in premium 5.1 sound card. Also included in the feature-packed remote is ROCCAT Smart Link, a patented technology which lets users pair their smartphone to the remote via Bluetooth, allowing them to make and receive calls through the headset while gaming. The rear side of the remote boasts 5.1 speaker ports, letting users hook-up their existing speaker system to remote and easily toggle between headset and speaker output. The remote is completed by comprehensive headset and system audio controls.

Like the original Kave, the Kave XTD 5.1 Digital provides true, rich 5.1 surround sound, but with enhanced componentry. With three driver units per earcup aligned at a 12° angle, the headset delivers an immersive and crisp sound. The headset comes with a completely reworked head band and, compared to the original Kave 5.1, weighs 25% less. At the same time new materials and engineering solutions make the headset very robust and comfortable to wear – suitable for hours of gaming. The detachable microphone has been redesigned, keeping smart details like the mute LED while improving on reliability as well as sound quality.

The new ROCCAT headset has already convinced this year’s gamescom award jury, and has been nominated for the “Best Hardware” award.

The ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Digital gaming headset will be available in November 2013 for $169.99.

New Mad Max Screenshots from Gamescom

2013/08/21

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today released new screenshots in correlation with this week’s demo being shown at GamesCom in Cologne, Germany. Mad Max is scheduled for a 2014 release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC

Screenshots

XCOM: Enemy Within Gets Release Date

2013/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Mac PC News, News, Windows PC News

New York, NY – August 21, 2013 – 2K and Firaxis Games announced today that XCOM®: Enemy Within, the expanded experience of the Game of the Year* award-winning strategy title XCOM: Enemy Unknown, will be available in North America on November 12, 2013 and internationally on November 15, 2013 for Windows PC, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Mac® (distributed by Feral Interactive).

XCOM: Enemy Within takes the incredible experience from XCOM: Enemy Unknown and adds an array of new abilities, upgrades, and weapons to combat new enemy threats. The expansion also provides players with all-new maps, tactical and strategic gameplay, and multiplayer content. There is no better way to experience XCOM than with the massive amount of new content added in XCOM: Enemy Within. Fans will experience an additional three to four playthroughs on average before encountering all of the new material included in XCOM: Enemy Within, providing nearly limitless replayability.

“The incredible critical and consumer response to XCOM: Enemy Unknown inspired us to offer new content that would deepen the strong bond that has been created for our XCOM brand,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Firaxis Games is renowned for delivering massive, highly immersive PC expansions in the Civilization series, and XCOM: Enemy Within builds on that lineage and expands the experience for console gamers as well.”

“We promised gamers that we would deliver the same Enemy Unknown experience on both PC and console last fall, and we’re doing it again with Enemy Within,” said Ananda Gupta, lead designer at Firaxis Games. “The Commander Edition of XCOM: Enemy Within expands the already amazing XCOM experience for our console fans who are looking forward to even more of the game they love. It’s also a great point of entry for new fans just joining the XCOM fight.”

XCOM: Enemy Within vastly improves upon the experience of XCOM: Enemy Unknown with an incredible amount of new content. On PC** and Mac**, XCOM: Enemy Within features additional content that can be enjoyed with previously purchased copies of XCOM: Enemy Unknown. XCOM: Enemy Within will also be available on Xbox 360 and PS3™ system as the XCOM: Enemy Within – Commander Edition** – a standalone pack that expands the XCOM: Enemy Unknown experience featuring the new XCOM: Enemy Within content and the add-on content that was previously released for XCOM: Enemy Unknown, including the Elite Soldier Pack and Slingshot Content Pack.

Key features for XCOM: Enemy Within will include:

New Soldier Abilities: Research a new alien technology to advance the capabilities of operatives:
Gene Mods: Construct the Genetics Lab to physically enhance operatives’ abilities, including augmentations to the chest, brain, eyes, skin and legs.
MECs: Build the Cybernetics Lab to enable the construction of the new Mechanized Exoskeletal Cybersuit, or MEC. The new MEC Trooper class has specialized abilities and each suit can be upgraded with new weapons including the flamethrower, grenade launcher and more.
New Weapons and Equipment: Give operatives an extra tactical edge with new projects from the engineering team in the Foundry;
New Enemy Threats: Adopt new tactics to counter the threats from a host of new enemies, including the Mechtoid;
New Strategic Resource: A valuable new alien resource, known as Meld, has been discovered. Secure it on the battlefield and use it carefully back at base to unlock new research and upgrades;
New Tactical Challenges and Maps: Face new tactical challenges, on nearly 50% more maps;
New Multiplayer Maps, Units and Abilities: Create custom squad from a wider array of options and dominate opponents in intense, one-on-one, turn-based matches.

XCOM: Enemy Within is rated M for Mature by the ESRB and will be available in North America on November 12, 2013 and internationally on November 15, 2013. XCOM: Enemy Within will be available for Windows PC and Mac for $29.99, and will be available for Xbox 360 and PS3™ system for $39.99 as the XCOM: Enemy Within – Commander Edition. For more information on XCOM: Enemy Within, become a fan on Facebook, follow 2K on Twitter and visit the official web site at http://www.xcom.com.

*XCOM: Enemy Unknown was named Game of the Year 2012 by the following outlets: GameTrailers, GiantBomb, Kotaku, and MTV Multiplayer.

**XCOM: Enemy Within for PC and Mac requires XCOM: Enemy Unknown to play. XCOM: Enemy Within – Commander Edition is a standalone expanded experience that includes all XCOM: Enemy Unknown content and two add-on content packs: the Elite Soldier Pack the Slingshot Content Pack. XCOM: Enemy Within – Commander Edition does not require XCOM: Enemy Unknown to play.

Firaxis Games is a 2K studio. 2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).