You move into a new suburb, and realize your neighbor is hiding something in his basement. The only way to find out what it is, is to sneak into his house.
The problem is that the Neighbor has an advanced AI that learns from your every move. He will place traps, anticipate your movement, and scare the crap out of you. I guarantee it.
This is Hello Neighbor, a game by tinyBuild and Dynamic Pixels.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Sept. 29, 2016) – Hands-on demos, previews and events are just a few of the exciting activities offered from SQUARE ENIX® (Booth #1805) during this year’s New York Comic-con, taking place from October 6-9. The hands on experiences featured at the booth will include: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided™, DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS™, FINAL FANTASY® XV, FINAL FANTASY® XII: THE ZODIAC AGE, HITMAN®, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, RIDE 2, Rise of the Tomb Raider®: 20 Year Celebration, and WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY™.
FINAL FANTASY XV will have a dedicated booth at #1ECC14 where fans can get their hands on with the game and get FINAL FANTASY XV-themed T-shirts. Fans will also have a chance to play A KING’S TALE™: FINAL FANTASY® XV, an exclusive downloadable title that will be available for those who pre-order through GameStop®. This title will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system on November 29.
Square Enix is announcing the #PrizeOfTheTombRaider Contest will begin on October 4 and run through October 31. Fans can enter to win a Tomb Raider Jeep Wrangler which will be suspended from a skyscraper at 52nd and Broadway in Times Square. Entries can be made by posting on social via the web form at http://www.
Crystal Dynamics will be live on the NYCC Twitch stage from 4:30 – 5:00 PM on Thursday, October 6. With Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration on the horizon, Franchise Creative Director, Noah Hughes, and Senior Community Manager, Meagan Marie examine Lara’s impact on pop culture and how the latest release wove elements of her rich history into the adventure. Stay tuned until the end of the stream to catch the world premiere of an all-new Tomb Raider inspired music video by musical duo, Player Piano.
The Square Enix Members team will also be on the show floor running sweepstakes throughout the entire show for exclusive Square Enix Members Rewards.
The full lineup of titles from Square Enix include:
DEUS EX GO®
Platform: iOS and Android
Developer: Square Enix Montréal (a Square Enix studio)
Age Rating: T on GooglePlay and 12+ on AppStore
Available: Now
Deus Ex GO is a turn-based infiltration puzzle game set in a stylized interpretation of the Deus Ex Universe®. As double agent Adam Jensen, you’ll use hacking, combat, and augmentations to solve the most challenging puzzles of the entire GO series. Work alongside your allies in TF29 and the Juggernaut Collective as you infiltrate locations to unravel the conspiracy behind a terrorist plot.
DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED™
Platform: PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC
Developer: Eidos-Montréal (a Square Enix studio)
ESRB: M
Available: Now
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the sequel to the critically acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution®, builds on the franchise’s trademark choice and consequence, action RPG based gameplay, to create both a memorable and highly immersive experience. Players will once again take on the role of Adam Jensen, now an experienced covert agent, and will gain access to his new arsenal of customizable state-of-the-art weapons and augmentations. With time working against him, Adam must choose the right approach, along with whom to trust, in order to unravel a vast worldwide conspiracy.
DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS™
Platform: PlayStation®4 system (physical and digital), PlayStation® Vita handheld entertainment system (digital only)
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
Available: October 11
DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS is an adventure-filled, block-building RPG set in a vast open-world filled with memorable inhabitants and fearsome monsters. Players are tasked with rebuilding a ruined realm and defeating the evil Dragonlord by using the power of creation in a world made entirely of blocks. With a unique blend of RPG elements, building mechanics and sandbox gameplay, DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS gives fans a whole new way to interact with the world of DRAGON QUEST while offering a perfect opportunity for newcomers to fall in love with the long-running franchise. Fans who visit the booth will receive a double-sided poster while supplies last.
FINAL FANTASY® BRAVE EXVIUS™
Platform: iOS, Android
Developer: Square Enix / gumi Inc.
Age Rating: T on GooglePlay and 12+ on AppStore
Available: Now
FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS is a brand new turn-based FINAL FANTASY adventure made for mobile devices and aimed at a worldwide audience. The game uses classic battle systems with a simplified mobile interface and a throwback pixel art style fused with rich 3D graphics. Adventures will begin their quest for a highly-coveted crystal, shortly meeting two knights from Grandshelt, and a young girl. Well-known FINAL FANTASY characters also appear in this game. The free-to-play mobile title has been downloaded over six million times worldwide (outside of Japan’s 7.5 million players) in the first month following its launch.
FINAL FANTASY® XII: THE ZODIAC AGE™
Platform PlayStation®4 system
Developer Square Enix
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available 2017
FINAL FANTASY XII: THE ZODIAC AGE improves upon the 2006 classic FINAL FANTASY XII, now more beautiful and easier to play than ever. The HD remaster introduces a reconstructed battle design and a revamped job system. With updated trophies and share functionalities, as well as stark visual and sound improvements, players both returning and new to the game will experience a grand adventure through the world of Ivalice in an entirely new and improved way.
FINAL FANTASY® XV
Platform: Xbox One, PlayStation®4 system
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: T (Teen)
Available: November 29, 2016
FINAL FANTASY XV is the highly anticipated action RPG serving as the 15th installment in the landmark series. The game tells the engaging tale of Crown Prince Noctis and his comrades, out on the road and fending for their lives after the armed forces of Niflheim launch a surprise assault upon the Kingdom of Lucis. Featuring an open-world environment, a captivating cast of characters, breathtaking visuals and real-time combat, FINAL FANTASY XV is the ultimate experience for series veterans and newcomers alike. The game’s universe is expanded with KINGSGLAIVE: FINAL FANTASY XV, the fully CG animated movie from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) featuring the voices of Aaron Paul, Lena Headey and Sean Bean, along with an anime series titled BROTHERHOOD FINAL FANTASY XV. Fans who complete the demo will receive an exclusive t-shirt while supplies last.
HITMAN®
Platform: PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC
Developer: Io Interactive (a Square Enix studio)
ESRB: M
Available: Now, New episodes throughout 2016
HITMAN will see players perform contract hits on powerful, high-profile targets in exotic locations around the world, from the highly fashionable Paris and sunny coast of Italy to the dust and hustle of the markets in Marrakesh in this creative stealth action game. Gameplay focuses on taking out targets in huge and intricate sandbox levels with complete freedom of approach. Where to go, when to strike and who to kill – it is all up to you. And for the first time HITMAN will lead with a digital release inviting players into a world of assassination.
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
Platform: PlayStation®4 system
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: Rating Pending
Available: January 24, 2016
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is a compilation that brings the popular KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance to the PlayStation®4 system platform remastered in high definition. The newly improved title features brand new content with KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage –, a playable episode that is played from the perspective of Aqua taking place after the storyline of KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep and links to the upcoming KINGDOM HEARTS III. The title also includes KINGDOM HEARTS χ [chi] Back Cover, a new HD movie that tells the mysterious story of the Foretellers and connects to the earliest parts of the series’ history. Fans who visit the booth will receive a button while supplies last.
MOBIUS FINAL FANTASY®
Platform: iOS, Android
Developer: Square Enix
Available: Now Available
MOBIUS FINAL FANTASY features in-depth character customization, ongoing live events, and HD graphics that push the boundaries of the mobile platform. The all-star development team includes producer Yoshinori Kitase and writer Kazushige Nojima – known for their work on the acclaimed FINAL FANTASY VII and upcoming FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE. The free-to-play award-winning mobile FINAL FANTASY® role-playing adventure game has surpassed more than 3.5 million worldwide downloads outside of Japan.
RIDE 2
Platform: PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC
Developer: Milestone
ESRB: E
Available: 2017
The second edition of Milestone’s innovative racing game is focused on the relationship between the rider and motorcycle, bringing the connection between man and machine even closer with career mode and other new features. Players can race the motorcycle of their dreams, thanks to unprecedented customization options for both rider and bike – and create the ultimate ride down to the finest detail. RIDE 2 offers more than 220 motorcycles from the most respected manufacturers, and new bike categories with the introduction of the Two Strokes, Supermotards and Café Racers added on top of the current list of bike types available, including the Nakeds, Supersports and many more.
RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER®: 20 Year Celebration
Platform: PlayStation® 4, Xbox One, Windows PC
Developer: Crystal Dynamics (a Square Enix Studio)
Available: October 11, 2016
Crystal Dynamics® and Square Enix continue to celebrate 20 years of Lara Croft, the gaming world’s iconic heroine, with Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration. This new version will include the award-winning Rise of the Tomb Raider game; a completely new story chapter entitled “Blood Ties”, new co-op Endurance gameplay, PlayStation VR support for “Blood Ties”, all of the previously released DLC, more outfits, weapons, and Expedition Cards. With the exception of VR support, all of the new content in Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration will also be available for Xbox One and PC players. Current Season Pass owners on Xbox One and PC will automatically receive the content for free, and moving forward the existing Season Pass will be updated to include the new content. There is no Season Pass on PlayStation 4, as all of the content is included in the initial release.
WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY™
Platform: PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®Vita system
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: E10+
Available: October 25, 2016
WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY combines classic RPG gameplay mechanics with fresh and imaginative visuals in an adorable adventure. As a brand-new addition to the FINAL FANTASY franchise, this game can be enjoyed by both fans and newcomers to the series as it expands FINAL FANTASY lore to a new generation of gamers. Players will lead a pair of twins through varied FINAL FANTASY worlds to collect, raise and take into battle the adorably familiar monsters including the Cactuar, Tonberry, and Behemoth. Fans who visit the booth will receive a double-sided poster while supplies last.
About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix, Inc. is affiliated with a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics®, and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 115 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 68 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 46 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
September 29, 2016 – Battlefleet Gothic: Armada today unleashes its Tau Empire DLC with an explosive trailer!
Battlefleet Gothic: Armada, the RTS videogame adaptation of Games Workshop’s classic tabletop game by Tindalos Interactive today releases a new faction – the Tau Empire – along with an explosive trailer. The Tau are playable in the multiplayer modes of Battlefleet Gothic: Armada, as well as in Skirmish mode against the AI.
The alien Tau Empire has rapidly expanded across the galaxy, aided by highly advanced technology and a total dedication to the Greater Good philosophy. Their fleets excel at long range, with powerful weapons dealing massive amounts of damage from afar. Skilled Tau admirals can eliminate the bulk of an enemy fleet before they can even get within boarding distance. The Tau have access to a wide array of upgrades and traits to improve their fleet even more.
As announced several months ago, the Tau Empire faction will be free to all Early Adopters of the game on Steam. The Early Adopter offer applies to all Steam pre-purchase owners, as well as those who bought the game on Steam during the first two months following the game’s release (before June 21, 2016). Players who purchased Battlefleet Gothic: Armada after June 21 will be able to purchase the Tau Empire as DLC today.
The Tau Empire DLC releases today on Steam and is free for all Early Adopters.
September 28, 2016 – If you missed EGX this year, then you probably also missed Frontier’s Planet Coaster reveals — more specifically the release of their Coaster Crashes Trailer!
Needless to say, Coaster Crashes are now in the Planet Coaster Alpha and ready to delight you with their “off-the-rails” mayhem. Check it out!
LONDON — September 28, 2016 — Interactive music collaboration We Sing Productions, a joint enterprise between THQ Nordic, Wired Productions and Le Cortex, today revealed the full list of all-star tracks alongside fresh screenshots and a euphonious new trailer to usher in the revival of the top-selling, award-winning music game series, We Sing. The ultimate singing game experience is headed to the PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft later this year.
Offering original artist recordings for 30 of the hottest and most iconic hits accompanied by their official music videos, We Sing aims to be the defining music singing game experience this holiday season. Including 26 international number one hits spanning five decades, each track was hand-picked by the We Sing Productions team with the goal of appealing to players around the world, including exclusives only available in We Sing.
Players can sing along, belt one out, or serenade with the following tracks:
Fifth Harmony ft. Kid Ink – Worth It
Pharrell Williams – Happy
Demi Lovato – Let It Go
Bruno Mars – Locked Out of Heaven
Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MØ – Lean On
Avicii – Wake Me Up
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz – Thrift Shop
OneRepublic – Counting Stars
Shawn Mendes – Stitches
Sia – Chandelier
Queen – Another One Bites the Dust
a-ha – Take On Me
Rita Ora – Poison
Charlie Puth ft. Megan Trainor – Marvin Gaye
John Newman – Love Me Again
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
DNCE – Cake by the Ocean
Maroon 5 – She Will Be Loved
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – See You Again
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
Lukas Graham – 7 Years
The Bangles – Eternal Flame
Fall Out Boy – This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
ABBA – Dancing Queen
Avril Lavigne – Complicated
Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time
Elton John & Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
Usher ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris – Yeah!
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
In addition to using up to four of the game’s official We Sing microphones – which provide a truly authentic studio experience – players can turn their iOS or Android smartphones into fully-fledged microphones using the free We Sing Mic companion app, which allows for an unprecedented 10 simultaneous players to #OwnTheStage on one console! Simply install the app and connect to an internet-enabled PS4™ system or Xbox One within the same network to get the party started. A fresh batch of new screenshots of We Sing Mic were released today amid today’s harmonious collection of new assets.
In We Sing, players can sing together or go solo, climbing to the top of the online leaderboards to become the star they were born to be. Players can rock out to the game’s tracks in 12 game modes, create playlists for nonstop play, sing along with the original artists or to each song’s instrumental tracks for an authentic karaoke experience, turn their console into a music channel in Jukebox mode, and much more.
We Sing builds on the success of the original series for Nintendo Wii, which set the bar for being the only music game to support group singing with up to four microphones. This next generation version of We Sing will offer a host of cutting edge technology and gameplay experiences for the music singing category, including unique support for up to 10 players on one system. All three companies comprising We Sing Productions collaborated on the original series, bringing together over 150 combined years of experience and expertise in creating titles featuring high-profile intellectual properties from the music industry.
We Sing Productions will reveal more in the coming weeks on We Sing.
September 27, 2016 – The first stand-alone expansion for the Epic Roll series comes to Kickstarter on September 27th. Epic Roll: Eclipse invites players to don their black hats (helmets and cowls are also acceptable) as they quest to dethrone the Paladin King and plunge his realm into darkness.
Epic Roll: Eclipse is a portable, quick-playing board game combining an RPG dungeon crawl with press-your-luck mechanics. Eclipse can be played on its own as a 2-3 player game, or along with the original Epic Roll, allowing up to 6 players to compete individually or in teams.
Eclipse’s three new (and rather sinister) playable characters, expanded treasure card deck, and support for both Quick-Play and Veteran rules make Epic Roll: Eclipse a great addition to any game collection, and a must for fans of the series.
About Summon Entertainment, Inc
Based in Orange County, California, Summon Entertainment was founded in 2015 as a developer and publisher of fantasy and sci-fi themed games. Focused on delivering high-quality original titles, Summon is dedicated to providing fun and value for gamers, and supporting the retailers serving them. To contact Summon or locate authorized distributors, visit the Summon Entertainment company website . For more information, news, and event photos, visit the official Facebook page.
Fremont, Calif. – September 27, 2016 – AOC, a worldwide leader in monitor display technology, today announces the U.S. availability of their new premium line of AOC gaming monitors, the AGON series. The first one from the series that will be available in the U.S. is the AG271QX, a high-end QHD gaming monitor with 144 Hz refresh rate and 1 ms response time, addressing the needs of demanding, competitive gamers. With the AOC AGON AG271QX, you can enjoy clear and detailed graphics thanks to its high-speed TN panel at a native Quad HD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels plus sharper action sequences. The AG271QX also supports Adaptive-Sync technology to eliminate graphics tearing and stuttering, while also minimizing input lag. The AOC AG271QX is available in the U.S. today at Amazon, Best Buy, and NewEgg for $599 MSRP.
AOC will also be launching the AGON AG271QG, a 27-inch IPS display with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, lightning-fast 165Hz refresh rates that eliminate tearing and stuttering for super-smooth action. The 27-inch AGON AG271QG features the latest advances in display technology to keep you at the top of your game. The IPS display with QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution delivers superior clarity and extra-wide viewing angles to keep everything in focus. It will be available in the U.S. this October for $799.
Gamers that play competitively not only rely on fast and smooth images, but also on instantaneously-executed commands and perfect visuals in every situation. The AOC Low Input Lag mode disables picture post-processing on the monitor’s electronics and, therefore, accelerates the command pass-through from mouse, keyboard and gamepad to result in immediate actions, while the AOC Shadow Control enables gamers to quickly adjust contrast in overly dark or bright areas without sacrificing the quality of well-balanced areas across the rest of the screen.
The VideoGameBootCamp team agrees. “The quality is overall amazing. My favorite feature is the low input lag mode though,” says Calvin “GimR” Lofton of VGBC, AOC’s sponsored Super Smash Bros. live-streaming team. “Sometimes you just want to get serious and play at your best.”
The display is designed specifically for the competitive gamer with eye-protecting AOC Flicker-Free Technology and the AOC Low Blue Light mode, both reducing eye strain, discomfort, and fatigue during long gaming sessions. Monitor settings are key features when it comes to individuality, and they need to be easily accessible. Adjustable gaming presets will grant gamers exactly that. AOC implemented changeable Game Mode Presets as well as added the AOC QuickSwitch Controller, enabling the user to switch effortlessly between modes and adjust brightness, contrast and other gaming features.
The AOC AGON series’ ergonomic base provides plenty of comfort so gamers can adjust height, tilt and swivel, and is accurately marked by a scale, so gamers can always jump back to their preferred settings. The stand is also equipped with a carry-handle for easy transportation of the monitor to and from eSports events. There is even a headphone holder at the side of the display to support the headset when it’s not in use.
September 27, 2016 – DJI, the world leader in unmanned aerial technology, Tuesday revolutionized personal flight by introducing Mavic Pro – a portable, powerful and easy-to-use drone featuring DJI’s most innovative flight technology in a sleek, foldable package that enables creative fun wherever you go.
Mavic Pro is DJI’s first personal drone designed to be taken just about anywhere. Small enough to toss in a bag and easy enough to launch quickly whenever the time and place are right, its unique folding design compresses the entire drone to practically the size of a water bottle.
The compact body of Mavic Pro holds a drone built for uncompromising performance. Equipped with a stabilized 4K camera and a visual navigation system, with a 4.3 mile (7 km) range and 27 minute flight time, Mavic Pro sets the new standard for compact drones.
“DJI has spent a decade making it easier for anyone to fly, and by rethinking everything about how a drone looks, we have created an entirely new type of aerial platform for anyone to explore their creativity,” said Frank Wang, DJI’s CEO and founder.
“Mavic Pro is a technological triumph filled with features that once again show how DJI leads the industry. Most importantly, Mavic Pro allows you to reach the skies easily, see the world with new eyes and tell your stories like never before.”
Mavic Pro is designed to be ultra portable and quick to launch so it can take to the skies as soon as you need it. With four folding arms and propellers that tuck neatly away against its streamlined body, it can be easily carried in a purse or backpack, saving you the trouble of mounting propellers before a flight. It can be operated by the powerful long range remote controller, or simply by your smartphone at shorter range. When controlled by a smartphone, the whole system can be set up and airborne in less than a minute to capture every key moment.
Unparalleled Flight Experience
DJI’s commitment to unparalleled stability, maneuverability and safety is clear in Mavic Pro’s new FlightAutonomy system. FlightAutonomy is Mavic Pro’s brain and nervous system, a complex network of hardware and software consisting of five cameras, GPS and GLONASS navigation systems, a pair of ultrasonic range finders, redundant sensors and 24 powerful computing cores.
FlightAutonomy can position, navigate and plan routes for Mavic Pro, enabling it to avoid obstacles in various environments, with or without the help of satellite signals. FlightAutonomy provides a significant boost in working range and can cope with complex 3D environments. For navigation and obstacle avoidance, FlightAutonomy provides a superb speed-range envelope to make Mavic Pro self-navigational in various intelligent flight modes, and will avoid most obstacles at speeds up to 22 mph (36 kph).
An ultra light and aerodynamic airframe, together with DJI’s state-of-the-art propulsion and battery system, enables Mavic Pro to fly for up to 27 minutes. To experience the pure joy of flying, Mavic Pro can be switched to Sport Mode, which allows speeds of up to 40 mph (64.8 kph), increasing the drone’s agility and responsiveness. Mavic Pro flies smoothly and will remain stable in winds of up to 24 mph (38.5 kph), and uses DJI’s GEO geofencing system to help identify restricted areas, preventing flight in locations that might raise safety or security concerns automatically, and helping pilots make smarter decisions about when and where to fly.
As with all DJI drones, Mavic Pro is set to automatically return to its launch location if it ever loses contact with the controller or reaches critically low battery levels. The new Precision Landing feature records a burst of video with two stereo cameras every time Mavic Pro launches, then uses both video and satellite information when it returns to land within an inch of where it took off. If a pilot lets go of the controls, the drone will simply hover in place.
Advanced Stabilized Camera System
Mavic Pro’s small size is packed with powerful features. DJI’s advanced technology now includes our smallest-ever three-axis gimbal for shake-free photos and video. The autofocus camera features a minimum focusing distance of just 19 in (0.5 m) and can be flipped 90 degrees to portrait mode for vertical selfies and video. Mavic Pro records 4K video at 30fps and full 1080p HD at 96fps. Its 12-megapixel camera with Adobe DNG RAW support has been expertly tuned for aerial images. With the help of the high-precision gimbal, you can confidently shoot 2-second-long exposures in the air to get the most jaw-dropping aerial images.
New Remote and Live View Performance
A revolutionary new compact remote controller has been designed to provide a fully ergonomic experience with optimum comfort, and can accommodate a smartphone or control Mavic Pro on its own. Its built-in LCD screen displays essential telemetry data, while dedicated buttons for functions such as Return-to-Home and pausing during Intelligent Flight modes ensure a confident flight every single time. The video link system, OcuSync, represents new heights in DJI’s communication technology. It supports a range up to 4.3 miles (7 km) and live view resolutions up to 1080p.
The new band management algorithm makes OcuSync more robust in environments with many frequencies in operation. Mavic Pro is equipped with dual-band WiFi as a secondary link, allowing easy control via your smartphone for close range operation or for quick downloading of content from Mavic Pro straight to your device.
Most Intelligent Drone Ever
The powerful systems inside Mavic Pro are easy to use, even for beginners. Using just your phone’s touchscreen, you can use TapFly to direct Mavic Pro to go wherever you want, avoiding obstacles along the way. When you want to take a hands-free selfie, FlightAutonomy makes it possible to control the drone completely with just your gestures.
In Gesture mode, you can use gestures to have Mavic Pro locate you, center you in the frame and take the perfect shot as Mavic Pro’s flashing lights count down to the photo. Sharing your best aerial moments has never been easier with live streaming to Facebook Live, Periscope and YouTube through the DJI GO app.
An updated version of DJI’s ActiveTrack recognizes common subjects such as people, bicyclists, cars, boats and animals, which then sends Mavic Pro to follow behind, lead in front, circle above or track alongside the subject, keeping the camera focused on the subject while you concentrate on flight maneuvers. The new Terrain Follow mode means that you can race up a slope behind a subject while remaining at a constant height between 1 ft (0.3 m) and 33 ft (10 m).
At the other extreme, the new Tripod Mode is designed for indoor use, slowing and fine-tuning Mavic Pro’s position and angle based on controller movement inputs to allowing for precision framing and safe indoor flight.
Immerse Yourself
Mavic Pro also pairs with DJI’s new immersive DJI Goggles, displaying an 85-degree view from the drone in full 1080p for a true bird’s-eye view of the world below. With built-in OcuSync, the goggles receive video directly from Mavic Pro in the air and not through the controller, reducing lag to a minimum – and allowing you to share the in-flight view with a friend.
Specially designed for aerial first-person view (FPV) applications, DJI Goggles allow you to flick between third person view and FPV in under a second. You can comfortably wear your glasses while wearing the goggles and quit FPV mode instantly by flipping the mask up.
Price and Availability
Mavic Pro’s U.S. retail price will be $999 with the remote controller included, and $749 without the remote controller. Additional Mavic Pro Intelligent Flight Batteries will cost $89. A Mavic Pro Fly More Combo, which includes a Mavic Pro, two extra Intelligent Flight Batteries, extra propellers, a charging hub, an adapter, a car charger and a shoulder bag, will be available for $1,299.
Mavic Pro is immediately available for pre-order at dji.com/mavic and will begin shipping October 15. It will also be available in mid-October at DJI’s three flagship stores in Shenzhen, Seoul and Hong Kong. Mavic Pro can also be ordered on Apple.com and will be available in Apple Stores in early November.
DJI Care Refresh
A new optional protection plan, DJI Care Refresh, is available in select countries and provides peace of mind for Mavic Pro owners. DJI Care Refresh covers accidental damage to the Mavic Pro aircraft, gimbal or camera during normal use for up to 12 months, and for an additional charge will offer up to two full replacements that are new or equivalent to new. DJI Care Refresh is available for $99 before a new Mavic Pro is activated, or within the first 48 hours after activation.
Last week, we got the opportunity to attend the opening night of the 2016 Knott’s Scary Farm event in Buena Park, CA. For those of you who don’t know, Knott’s Scary Farm is the annual Halloween time event that takes place at Knott’s Berry Farm. The park is transformed into a haunted attraction with several haunted houses, shows, and a lot more. Here is a rundown of our thoughts on this year’s event:
“Ghost Town Streets”, the original of the park’s “scare zones” was great and, despite the park being under capacity, a fun place to sit and watch monsters get their scares over on wandering guests. One thing I should note is that a lot of the two-dimensional (non-prosthetic) makeup on the street zone talent was not up to par with what the park as put out in past years. Opening night or not, it looked like many makeups were just rushed and left un-powdered (which allows the makeup to smear as actors sweat). As someone who used to do makeup at the event a long time ago, I can say that Knott’s Scary Farm has a lot of talented makeup artists working for them – they should have the time needed to make their magic happen. But I digress… Back on topic: Ghost Town Streets characters know their zone and how to exploit it for maximum effect.
“The Hollow” is a “new” scare zone in that, for the last two years the Camp Snoopy area of the haunt has been relegated to an outdoor laser tag attraction, Special Ops: Infected. However, prior to that attraction, the area was home to an amazing scare zone that even had a couple of haunted houses to keep guests moving through it regularly. Various sources have told us that since the park changed management several years ago, one of the key things they stressed was that day operations should not be affected by the Scary Farm. Hence, several mazes were moved backstage into warehouses and any signage or facades needed to be removable. This meant that guests didn’t have as much of a reason to visit the area. That’s kind of where we are at with The Hollow right now. The talent is very eager and have some great costumes and characters, but they don’t have enough going on back there to bring the guests to them. There is one Skeleton Key room (more on those later) deep in the scare zone but not a lot of themed decorations or even fog! They should have at least had a show of some kind present on the Camp Snoopy stage. Having a scare zone back there again is great, but the talent has to have the environment to enhance the experience for guests – and give them a reason to come and visit it in the first place.
“Carnevil” is the demented circus clown scare zone located in the Boardwalk area of the park. Unfortunately, while the monsters are all great at their shticks at this point, event creators still have yet to properly decorate this area for them. I would LOVE to see a train of circus wagons and big top tents setup for people to meander around – maybe even some mutant animal cages or something. Heck – even a demented clown college where a couple of the monsters can teach guests the art of the scare. The Boardwalk is a big area of the park and it needs some attention!
“Fiesta de los Muertos” is back near the Fiesta Plaza area of Knott’s Berry Farm and features a DJ/dance/drinking area for guests to enjoy. Monsters roam in Dia de los Muertos inspired garb and masks to scare guests and the stilt walkers are great at upping the tension.
Of course, guests don’t just come to Knott’s Scary Farm for the scare zones – they are also looking for good haunted houses (the park calls them “mazes”). This year, the overall number is down a couple at nine mazes. How do the mazes stack up with fewer than in previous years? I started off with “Shadow Lands”, a new maze for 2016 and the brainchild of maze designer (and Winds of Plague front-man) Jon Cooke. Shadow Lands leads guests through a monster-transformed vision of feudal Japan with all kinds of creatures lying in wait. The maze has some of the best set design and construction that Knott’s Scary Farm has ever seen (along with their “Voodoo” maze) and it is a terrific time. The talent was eager (although those monsters using strictly yelling for their scares are going to have some rough voices in the morning) and costumes wonderful. You can tell there was a lot of attention to detail put into this maze.
The Dead of Winter maze caught a lot of flack last year and, thankfully, has been heavily-redesigned for 2016. “The Dead of Winter: Wendigo’s Revenge” features some great props, sets, and monsters. The set design, props, gore-factor – basically, everything has been improved from last year and it ended up being one of my favorite walk-through mazes of the evening. Way to make a comeback, gang!
“Special Ops: Infected” has returned as well but, this time, it is an incredibly fun and amazing experience. The last couple of years saw Special Ops: Infected as a sort of grand experiment to put a laser tag zombie shooting experience into the haunted theme park. Unfortunately, it was plagued with both technical as well as logistical and line control issues. Instead of running through Camp Snoopy again, Special Ops: Infected is now a MOUT (Military Operation in Urban Terrain) experience where you get up close and personal with laser tag sensor-wearing zombies. This new Special Ops incarnation features amazing set design and construction as well as some fun Easter Eggs tossed in to boot. Your laser carbine has a health indicator on it as well as giving guests unlimited ammo so you can basically go on in and start “paintball triggering” it. The one thing I would have liked to see return from previous years is the scoreboard to display how well each player did in dispatching zombies. Also, I have to give a huge bit of kudos to the zombies in this maze. Unlike straight monster characters that have to plot only their scares, these monsters have to also “act dead” when shot – they did a great job.
“Red Barn” is another new maze for 2016, and has guests enter the barn of a crazed farming family. This was a mixed bag for me as the maze had some really cool set decoration and gory props but it felt almost devoid of talent. I am looking forward to going back on a different night to see if the monster count has increased.
“Voodoo – Order of the Serpent” , “Tooth Fairy”, “Trick Or Treat”, and “Paranormal Inc” have all returned for 2016. Each are great and have some seriously good things going for them. Voodoo, as I mentioned, has some stunning set design and construction as well as water gimmicks. Tooth Fairy is just gross… Gross gross gross. If you like the “music” that is the sound of dental drills, that maze is for you! Trick Or Treat is back and the witch’s house is just as awesome as ever. There are a couple new surprises in there for guests and plenty of the old gags in there too. Paranormal Inc, my favorite maze from last year, has returned and is just as good as I remember. Check out our YouTube page for night vision walk-through videos of some of these mazes.
The Skeleton Key rooms of past years are now separate, stand-alone attractions. There are four of them: “Visions”, “ZoZo”, “Prey”, and “Slasher”. Each of these experiences takes anywhere from five and ten minutes to get through and each have their own themes and scares. For example, ZoZo will see your group attempting to contact spirits beyond while Prey will have your group attempt to escape from a small corn maze inspired walk-through. The Skeleton Key room experiences are only available to those guests who pay for the upgraded ticket. When the park opens, go to the guest relations building off to the left side – near the Ghost Town entrance, to upgrade your ticket. This upgrade is also available online! I enjoyed the Skeleton Key rooms and refuse to spoil any of the plotpoints in this review. Despite this, guests should know that the lines can be kind of long depending on the time of night and room in question.
Earlier this week, I got the chance to experience the park’s new FearVR virtual reality horror experience. Using Samsung’s Gear VR, the Fear VR “ride” begins with guests being admitted to a research institute. After a quick video introduction, guests are escorted to their chairs and strapped into the VR visor. FearVR is something that another amusement park in Southern California would call a “4D” attraction because stuff happens to guests in real life as well as on the VR video screen. There is a slight up charge for FearVR and it also requires an appointment. In my run-through of it, FearVR had a couple technical glitches native to VR (aligning head direction, etc) but was a fun time. Hopefully Knott’s will continue refining this technology for the next Scary Farm season as there is a lot of potential with it – especially given that the Gear VR headsets are cable-free….
The park’s venerable “The Hanging” show is back with “Finding Gory”. Unfortunately, The Hanging: Finding Gory doesn’t have the same laugh factor as past years and its story gets fairly muddled. Coupled with a lackluster ending and The Hanging is something that I wouldn’t have minded skipping this year.
Elvira is back with “Elvira’s Danse Macabre” in the Charles M. Schulz theater and is a rousing show worthy of checking out. Elvira has been performing for a while now and it is awesome to see that she can still “bring it” and entertain the crowds. Part comedy show, part dance show, part insult comic act – ALL fun! Be sure to line up early as the line gets pretty long to get into the theater.
Overall, Knott’s Scary Farm 2016 is a fun and scary Halloween time experience that features plenty of jumps and startles to go around. While some areas of the event are still needing attention, others are extremely well-done and awesome to experience first-hand.
The official Knott’s Scary Farm website.
Paris, France – September 27, 2016 – Award-winning developer Amplitude Studios announced today that Endless Space 2 will enter Steam Early Access on Thursday, October 6. Endless Space 2 is a turn-based, 4X space-strategy game that launches players into the role of the leader of one of the many intelligent beings of the Endless universe at the beginning of the space colonization age. Amplitude’s Endless Space 2will elevate the genre with a finely balanced mix of character-deep factions with their own stories, a senate for political intrigue, a new battle plan system for strategic confrontations, new streamlined interfaces with Amplified Reality, and much more in its richly evolved Early Access build.
The Early Access version of Endless Space 2 will feature four of the eight factions planned for the full release. Discover each faction’s story, from the AI gone berserk to the origins of the lethal Endless creation called the Cravers. Feel like an emperor and see your population react to all your decisions, as they will be the source but also the key to all your conflicts. Explore the Endless universe, discover its secrets, its new life forms and find your own path to galactic dominion.
Known for its deep, engaging, and gorgeous 4X strategy games including 2014’s celebrated Endless Legend and Dungeon of the Endless, Amplitude Studios won the venerable 2013 Golden Cube and Community Choice Unity Awards for Endless Spaceand the 2015 Best 3D Visual Experience for Endless Legend. For more information onEndless Space 2, visit Amplitude Studios on its Website (www.amplitude-studios.com), like it on Facebook, and follow it on Twitter.
