Author - Jerry Paxton

Square Enix Unveils 2017 San Diego Comic-Con Lineup

2017/07/19
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, SDCC

LOS ANGELES (July 18, 2017) – SQUARE ENIX® will host a wide variety of gaming experiences for San Diego Comic-Con attendees this year from July 19-23. Fans who visit the SQUARE ENIX booth will be able to get the first-ever hands-on with Tokyo RPG Factory™’s sophomore title LOST SPHEAR™ and preview FINAL FANTASY® XII THE ZODIAC AGE™ and DISSIDIA® FINAL FANTASY NT. Winners of each free play round of DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT will also receive an exclusive Warrior of Light Gil Coin while supplies last.

The SQUARE ENIX team will also be hosting two DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT tournaments at the booth throughout the weekend, where attendees can win exclusive prizes. Find out more details at the SQUARE ENIX booth.

The Square Enix Members team will be on site to host our text message sweepstakes for exclusive Members Reward items. Sweepstakes are held every day, so be sure to stop by daily for your chance to win. Attendees signing up will also walk away with free giveaways throughout the entire show.

Square Enix will also present a LIFE IS STRANGE™: BEFORE THE STORM panel on Friday, 7/21/17 at 6:30pm in Room 24ABC. Host Andrea Rene of What’s Good Games will be joined by the key creative minds behind the latest addition to the award-winning and critically-acclaimed LIFE IS STRANGE series who will reveal brand new information and insights about their game for the first time. The audience will enjoy an interactive experience, as the developers will be playing the game live for the very first time – you will get a chance to help steer the action and make key choices – and ask the Deck Nine developers questions in an open Q&A.

Fans will be able to get hands-on demos of the following titles at booth #3829:

DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT
Platform: PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system
Developer: Square Enix/Team Ninja (Koei Tecmo)
ESRB: Not yet rated
Release: Early 2018
Developed in partnership with Team NINJA from KOEI TECMO, DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT is the newly announced team-based brawler. The game pits legendary heroes and villains from FINAL FANTASY’s 30-year history against each other in epic and strategic 3 vs. 3 battles. Players will choose a team from a roster of more than 20 beloved FINAL FANTASY characters across ten iconic battle arenas and call forth fan-favorite summons. With a deep customization and progression system, players will gain experience points and unlock EX skills, weapons, skins, and more as they develop their favorite FINAL FANTASY characters, their way.

FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE
Platform: PlayStation®4 system
Developer: Square Enix
ESRB: T for Teen
Release: Now Available
FINAL FANTASY XII 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 the new Zodiac Job System, a 12-job character progression system first introduced in the 2007 title, FINAL FANTASY XII INTERNATIONAL ZODIAC JOB SYSTEM. With updated trophies and share functionalities, as well as stark visual and sound improvements, players both new and returning will experience the ultimate grand adventure through the world of Ivalice in an entirely new and improved way.

LOST SPHEAR
Platform: Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4 system and Windows PC (STEAM®)
Developer: Tokyo RPG Factory
ESRB: Not yet rated
Available: 2018
Expanding on the beloved I AM SETSUNA™ , the LOST SPHEAR adventure begins in a remote town where a young man, Kanata, awakens from a devastating dream to find his hometown disappearing. To stop the world from being Lost forever, Kanata and his comrades set out to rebuild the world around them with the power of Memory by manifesting thoughts into matter.

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 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 130 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 71 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 58 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.

More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/

First Ataribox Pictures Released

2017/07/17
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Tech News

July 17th, 2017 – Our objective is to create a new product that stays true to our heritage while appealing to both old and new fans of Atari.

Inspired by classic Atari design elements (such as the iconic use of wood, ribbed lines, and raised back); we are creating a smooth design, with ribs that flow seamlessly all around the body of the product, a front panel that can be either wood or glass, a front facing logo, indicator lights that glow through the material, and an array of new ports (HDMI, 4xUSB, SD). We intend to release two editions: a wood edition, and a black/red edition.

As you can guess, those ports suggest modern internal specs. It also means that while we will be delivering classic gaming content, we will also be delivering current gaming content.

We know you are hungry for more details; on specs, games, features, pricing, timing etc. We’re not teasing you intentionally; we want to get this right, so we’ve opted to share things step by step as we bring Ataribox to life, and to listen closely to Atari community feedback as we do so. There are a lot of milestones, challenges and decision points in front of us in the months ahead. We’ll be giving you lots more information and status updates as we progress, and we are thrilled to have you along for the ride!

Hope you like where we are taking this, we’ll be in touch soon.

The Ataribox Project team.

PS: Please let us know what you think via our social channels; and also please like, follow, subscribe, and share as much as possible!

Nerdist Presents It’s My Throne

2017/07/14
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos

July 13, 2017 – With Game of Thrones Season 7 launching this Sunday, it is time to focus on the bloody battle to win the Iron Throne in a way that only the people at Nerdist can – thru a one-of-a-kind GOT mashup entitled “It’s my Throne.” The creators of Belle & Boujee and That Spidey Life have outdone themselves this time as they utilize the smash song of summer, DJ Khaled’s “I’m the One,” along with lots of cameos to get fans psyched for this epic confrontation they will witness in the upcoming season.

“It’s My Throne” recreates the lavish music video with characters from the show. While “I’m The One” uses it’s large number of verses to feature Khaled’s all-star lineup, “It’s My Throne” features its own all-stars including Riff Raff as Jon Snow, Andy Milonakis as Varys and Simon Rex as Littlefinger.

Total War: WARHAMMER 2 – Dark Elves Trailer

2017/07/13
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

July 13, 2017 – Even the noblest warrior casts a dark shadow, and so it is with the race of Elves. The High Elves may be paragons of virtue, but their closest kin represent all that is foul and depraved in the Elven soul.

Led from the obsidian wastes of Naggaroth by the Witch King Malekith and his sadistic mother Morathi, the Dark Elves are hell-bent on the humiliation and destruction of their orderly brothers, and ultimate control of the Great Vortex in Ulthuan.

The third of Total War: WARHAMMER II’s four playable races to be revealed so far, the Dark Elves offer a ferocious new gameplay style. Swift to strike – and brutal to a fault – they’re capable of tearing down an enemy’s defences in a trice, provided they sustain their Murderous Prowess. However, a Dark Elf leader must preserve his alpha status in the eyes of his lesser generals and keep an iron grip on their loyalty, lest their self-serving, glory-seeking nature leads to treachery!

Total War: WARHAMMER II launches on September 28th 2017 and is available for preorder now.

For gameplay videos, trailers, lore talks and more, bookmark our YouTube channel right here.

Impractical Jokers Back at San Diego Comic-Con

2017/07/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, SDCC

Look out San Diego, truTV’s Impractical Jokers are coming back to the Gaslamp District – and this time they are going to leave it all out on the field. truTV, along with Sal, Joe, Murr and Q – together known as The Tenderloins – will treat fans of the long-running series to a massive block party steps from the San Diego Convention Center on the Field at Petco Park on Saturday, July 22. Building off last year’s mammoth block party which drew over 12,000 Jokers fanatics for a day of fun in the sun, truTV promises an even bigger, better Jokers experience this year.

Saturday, July 22 on the Field at Petco Park (7th Ave and L street)

The Official Schedule of Disorganized Hijinks and General Mayhem

(Downloadable version available at https://app.frame.io/d/OidHsFfo)

11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. PT: Join truTV and thousands of fans at the one-of-a-kind Block Party extravaganza celebrating all things Impractical Jokers. On top of exclusive merchandise from Spencer’s – including a new line of 3¾-inch Impractical Jokers action figures – a White Castle food truck, Wheel of Doom tattoos and a set from DJ G Money, this massive block party will give fans a chance to get up close and personal with some of the show’s most exciting and iconic dares and punishments. Things like:

  • Virtual Reality High Wire Experience: Sponsored by Mountain Dew, fans can get a first-hand VR-experience walking the same tightrope the Jokers crossed during their 100th Episode Live Spectacular (Season 4; Episode 26);
  • Pseudo Sumo: Fans can step into the ring for some sumo wrestling action, but don’t worry – they won’t have to don a diaper like Joe (Season 4; Episode 11);
  • Rodeo Clown: Fans can try their hand at riding a mechanical bull – and see if they can outlast Murr in this season three episode. (Season 3; Episode 9).

5:00-6:00 p.m. PT: An autograph signing with the Jokers

7:00-7:45 p.m. PT: A live presentation of Impractically Speaking: the Impractical Jokers Live Web Show, hosted by Casey Jost and brought to fans in the stadium and at home by Mountain Dew.

8:00-8:30 p.m. PT: An exclusive viewing of a never-before-seen episode of Impractical Jokers.

All activities are free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis.

New episodes from Impractical Jokers’ sixth season return on Thursday, July 13 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT with a special hour-long episode that drops the four long-time friends in Hawaii.

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen – Lost and Abandoned Gameplay

2017/07/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

2K and Firaxis Games today released the “Lost and Abandoned Gameplay Walkthrough” for XCOM 2: War of the Chosen.

In this gameplay video players will get a closer look at two of the new factions in XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, the Reapers and the Skirmishers, as XCOM get them to put aside their differences and join forces while facing hordes of the Lost and one of the titular Chosen.

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is the expansion pack to the 2016 strategy game of the year award-winning XCOM 2, and will be available for Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on August 29, 2017.

For more information on XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, please see 2K’s official XCOM blog: https://xcom.com/news.

Be sure to follow XCOM on Twitter and Like XCOM on Facebook to keep up to date with the latest information on XCOM 2.

NASCAR Heat 2 Gameplay Trailer

2017/07/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – July 11, 2017 – 704Games, NASCAR Team Properties’ exclusive console simulation-style video game licensee, has released the first official gameplay trailer for NASCAR Heat 2. From an expanded career mode featuring all three national racing series to 40-car online multiplayer and the return of two-player local multiplayer, there are many ways to compete, but only one driver can win.

In addition, preorders are now available for NASCAR Heat 2 on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. A full list of retailers the game can be preordered from can be found at NASCARHeat.com. Players who preorder NASCAR Heat 2 will receive Kurt Busch’s winning Daytona 500 paint scheme. 704Games recently announced that retail editions* of NASCAR Heat 2 will include $50 off the purchase** of a ticket for any remaining 2017 and all 2018 NASCAR-sanctioned events at one of eight tracks owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. across the U.S.

Developed by Monster Games, NASCAR Heat 2 expands on the core experience of last year’s NASCAR Heat Evolution with new drivers, tracks and vehicles, more robust gameplay and multiplayer features, and upgraded visuals, physics and damage models.

NASCAR Heat 2 will be available in the U.S. on Sept. 12, 2017 on the PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One and Windows PC on Steam for $49.99. The game is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB.

*Offer available while supplies last.
**See voucher for complete details.

The Houses October Built 2 Gets a Release Date

2017/07/11
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News

LOS ANGELES — June 11, 2017 – RLJE Films, a brand of RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE), has acquired all North American rights to the horror movie THE HOUSES OCTOBER BULT 2.   A sequel to the 2014 hit film with the same name, THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT 2 was written by Zack Andrews & Bobby Roe and was directed by Bobby Roe (The Houses October Built).  The ensemble cast from the first film: Brandy Schaefer, Zack Andrews, Mikey Roe, Bobby Roe, and Jeff Larson all return.

RLJE plans to release THE HOUSES OCTOBER BULT 2 in theaters and On Demand in September 2017.  Mark Ward, RLJE’s chief acquisitions officer, made the announcement today.

“We’re excited to once again work with these familiar and committed filmmakers to make THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT 2 a success,” said Ward.  “The first film built a strong following and we’re confident this second installation of the series will not only be seen by fans, but it will also attract new legions of horror enthusiasts.”

In THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT 2, five friends try to recover from the trauma of being kidnapped last Halloween by the Blue Skeleton – a group who takes “extreme haunt” to another level – by facing their fears in order to move on.  As they go back out on the road to experience more haunted house attractions, signs of the Blue Skeleton start appearing and a new terror begins… 

THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT 2 was produced by Zack Andrews and Steven Schneider (Insidious, Split).

RLJ Entertainment’s Ward and Jess De Leo negotiated the deal with Zack Andrews on behalf of the filmmakers.  Andrews and Roe are repped by Mike Esola at UTA and Stephen Crawford at Industry.

Logitech Acquires Astro Gaming

2017/07/11
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Industry News, News

NEWARK, Calif. and LAUSANNE, Switzerland , July 11, 2017 —Logitech International (SIX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI) today announced that it has agreed to acquire ASTRO Gaming , a leading console gaming brand with a history of producing award-winning headsets for professional gamers and enthusiasts. Logitech and ASTRO, together, is the number one maker of headsets, mice, keyboards and streaming webcams for PC and console gamers.

“ASTRO is the leading player for premium console headsets and is the preferred headset for console esports athletes,” said Ujesh Desai, vice president and general manager of Logitech G . “It’s a perfect complement to Logitech G’s focus on PC gaming and we couldn’t be more excited; we love the team, the brand and the products. Together, we want to make game play even more fun for gamers everywhere.”

Jordan Reiss, co-founder and president of ASTRO, added, “The whole team at ASTRO has always held Logitech and Logitech G products in the highest regard, so I’m ecstatic we are joining forces. ASTRO’s brand strength combined with Logitech G’s unrivaled technology and global distribution network is going to bring our products to even more gamers around the world.”

ASTRO, is a pioneer in gaming audio and lifestyle products and has a strong leadership position in the premium end of the global console gaming headset market. ASTRO is best known for its iconic A40 and A50 headsets designed for pro gamers and core enthusiasts. ASTRO’s recently introduced A10 expands the company’s reach in the console headset market, offering the essence of what makes their headsets premium, but at a more broadly accessible price point.