Author - Jerry Paxton

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 7th 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.

® & © 2016 CBS Studios Inc. STAR TREK and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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.

Screenshots/Art

The Surge – Bad Day At the Office Trailer

2017/01/26
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

January 26, 2017 – Deck 13’s new hardcore action-RPG The Surge today unveils a CGI trailer exploring Warren’s first day on the job at CREO, the megacorporation on a mission to save a dystopian world from itself.

Freshly recruited as an augmented worker at CREO, Warren’s first day coincides with a catastrophic event during the routine surgical operation meant to graft―through flesh and bone―employee exo-suits. This marks the first in a series of brutal events, turning this first day at CREO into a hellish nightmare of robots gone haywire, crazed employees with fried cranial implants, and artificial intelligence who all want Warren dead.

Now equipped with a state-of-the-art exoskeleton, you’ll have to improvise in order to survive―tools manipulated by CREO workers, while not originally meant for combat, make for effective lethal weapons. The equipment pieces compatible with your exo-suit will make you faster, stronger, and sturdier. During battle, target your enemies’ limbs, slice them, and retrieve the attached equipment to improve and power-up your own suit―allowing you to delve deeper in the CREO complex and attempt to put an end to the madness initiated by the Surge.

Make the most of your exo-suit, armors, and almost limitless armament combinations to survive CREO when The Surge slices its way onto PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in May 2017. 

The Surge will be showcased to international press during the What’s Next de Focus taking place in Paris on February 1st and 2nd.

Conan Exiles Cinematic Launch Trailer

2017/01/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Oslo, Norway – January 25th, 2017 – Less than one week to go! Funcom’s epic open-world survival sandbox launches into Early Access on PC next week on January 31st. The company revealed today that the game is launching at 6am in the morning European time, which means US West Coast players will get to jump into the Exiled Lands at 9pm onJanuary 30th. To kick off the countdown for the final week, Funcom is today premiering the Official Cinematic Trailer for the game produced by the talented artists at Bläck Studios. The trailer sets the tone for the savage and barbaric open world that players have to survive, build, and dominate in.

For more detailed information on the Barbarian Edition, please visit theSteam store page. Funcom also announced the pricing for Conan Exiles PC Early Access today. The standard edition is priced at 29.99$ while the Barbarian Edition is priced at 59.99$.

Funcom is also excited to announce Conan Exiles – Barbarian Edition! This special edition is the ultimate introduction to the world of Conan the Barbarian and include items such as:
  • Custom Conan Exiles digital comic book
  • Exclusive Conan Exiles t-shirt
  • Six digital Conan the Avenger comic books from Dark Horse Comics
    368 page, full-color, digital Conan Pen & Paper RPG Core Book from the hugely successful Kickstarter by Modiphius
  • “The Coming of Conan” eBook, 496 pages with illustrations and original Conan stories
  • The award-winning soundtracks from Age of Conan and Rise of the Godslayer, plus the brand new Conan Exiles soundtracks
  • In-game items for the Age of Conan MMO including a Savage Rhino mount
  • “The Art of Conan Exiles” digital artbook
  • And more

“One of the really great things about working with Conan the Barbarian is that there is this huge pop cultural universe surrounding him,” says Funcom CEO Rui Casais. “Being able to team up with Dark Horse Comics, Modiphius, and other Conan creators has allowed us to build a special edition that speaks to both fans and those discovering Conan for the first time.”

Conan Exiles is an open-world survival game set in the brutal lands of Conan the Barbarian, the world’s greatest fantasy hero. The game can be played on private and public servers, either in multiplayer or local single-player. In the world of Conan Exiles, survival is more than tracking down food and water. Journey through a vast, seamless world filled with the ruins of ancient civilizations, uncovering its dark history and buried secrets as you seek to conquer and dominate the exiled lands. Conan Exiles will be released into Early Access on the PC on 31 January 2017and will hit the Xbox One Game Preview Program in Spring 2017. The game will also make its way to PlayStation 4 at a later date.

You can learn more about Conan Exiles on www.conanexiles.com. You can also visit blog.conanexiles.com for the latest news and developer updates. For more information about Funcom, please visitwww.funcom.com.

Blizzard and Facebook Announce Heroes of the Dorm 2017

2017/01/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

IRVINE, Calif.—January 25, 2017—College esports reaches a new level of engagement with Heroes of the Dorm™ 2017 as Blizzard Entertainment and Facebook team up to stream the action exclusively via Facebook Live. Blizzard and Tespa’s preeminent collegiate esports tournament once again offers Heroes of the Storm® teams from colleges across the United States and Canada a chance to earn free tuition for the remainder of their college careers—more than $500,000 in scholarships and prizes will be handed out this spring. For the first time ever, Heroes of the Dorm will be broadcast via Facebook Live on the Heroes of the Storm Esports Facebook page, beginning with the regular season and continuing all the way through the Heroic Four and National Championship.

With Facebook friends and Heroes of the Storm personalities just a click away, Heroes of the Dorm 2017 will be a new kind of connected esports event, offering a global real-time connected experience for viewers that supports live interaction (or smack-talking) during the heat of competition. From the nervous anticipation of the first regular season matches to the bright lights and excitement of the championship, Facebook’s global network will enhance every shareable, likable, and otherwise epic moment in Heroes of the Dorm. To further amplify this year’s Heroes of the Dorm viewing experience, Blizzard will serve up-to-date statistics, team and player profiles, updates for the Bracket Challenge and a new Pick ‘em Challenge, and more will all be available on www.heroesofthedorm.com.

“Heroes of the Dorm has featured some of the most dramatic college esports action of the past two years, and with more prizes for more teams up for grabs this year, we’re looking forward to a whole new level of competition,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re also excited to be working with Facebook this year to bring more live Heroes of the Dorm play to more viewers around the world than ever before.”

Starting today, eligible college gamers in the United States and Canada can sign up to compete in Heroes of the Dorm at www.heroesofthedorm.com. The group stages of the regular season kick off February 15, with the full schedule proceeding as follows:

Tournament Stage         Date
Group Stages February 15–16, 22–23, March 1–2
Regional Playoffs March 4­–5
Regional Finals March 8­­–9
Round of 64 March 18–21
Round of 32 March 22–23
Round of 16 March 25
Round of 8 March 26
Heroic Four April 8
National Championship April 8


Everyone Can Play, Anyone Can Win

While Heroes of the Dorm competition is reserved for some of the most elite Heroes of the Storm college teams in North America, savvy fans around the world will be able to flex their expertise in the Heroes of the Dorm Bracket Challenge and the Heroes of the Dorm Pick ‘em Challenge. Accurately picking the winners of each matchup, beginning with the Round of 64, will win prizes for the top 500 entries in the Bracket Challenge, while the grand prize winner will receive USD $10,000. Midway through the tournament, fans get a second chance in the Pick ‘em Challenge, where they’ll pick just one team to hopefully carry them all the way to the National Championship—earning a Heroes of the Storm Stimpack just for participating, with a chance for more Stimpacks the better their team does.

In 2015, UC Berkeley dominated, becoming the first-ever Heroes of the Dorm. In 2016, Arizona State University avenged their championship loss from the previous year to claim the title. This year, a new story will be written and new heroes will be celebrated in the ultimate college esports event!

Fans can relive the gripping journey of last year’s Heroes of the Dorm Championship team in A New Hero: The Rise of College Esports, a documentary on Arizona State’s climb to the top of college esports.

Learn more about Heroes of the Dorm and the viewer-participation challenges, and stay tuned for further details, at www.heroesofthedorm.com.

About Heroes of the Storm

Heroes of the Storm brings together a diverse cast of iconic characters from Blizzard’s far-flung realms of science fiction and fantasy, including the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® universes, and challenges them to compete in epic, adrenaline-charged battles. To learn more about Heroes of the Storm, head over to the official website at www.heroesofthestorm.com.

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft®, Hearthstone®, Overwatch®, the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, and the multi-franchise Heroes of the Storm®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes twenty-one #1 games* and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company’s online-gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.

HTC Opens Vive Tracker Applications

2017/01/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Tech News, Windows PC News

HTC has launched its Vive Tracker application process, which will send off 1,000 trackers to accepted developers and creative individuals who apply.

From the official post: It’s time to get creative. Two weeks ago we debuted the Vive Tracker, which allows developers and accessory manufacturers to bring new form factors to VR with full motion tracking. As part of the news, we announced that we’d kick-start development of the Vive ecosystem by seeding 1,000 Vive Trackers to the developer and creative community.

Starting today, we’re accepting applications for the initial batch of Trackers. Applications will be open through February 7.  That’s two weeks to tell us why your project is going to help the world rethink VR…

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach Review

2017/01/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Slitherine Ltd and Straylight Entertainment have released their new turn-based strategy wargame based on the Warhammer 40,000 universe from Games Workshop. Warhammer 40,0000: Sanctus Reach puts players in command of the Space Wolves, who are tasked with defending the last remaining Imperium of Man planet from the Orkish onslaught. The game features two lengthy campaigns as well as a tutorial mission to get beginners up to speed on the game’s mechanics.

Visually, Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is not a strategy game with next-level graphics. But, it really doesn’t need to have this. Most people playing this game are wargamers, a sect of PC gamers that do not play for pure visual eye candy, but instead the thrill of using the best tactics to defeat their opponents. That being the case, it should be noted that Sanctus Reach is not an ugly game by any stretch of the imagination. Visuals are pretty by wargame standards, but should not tax your machine very much. The unit animations are decent. The in-game audio is decent, but units end up saying the same things over and over again which can be a bit repetitive.

Thankfully, the actual gameplay is a ton of fun. Units have separate movement and action points, so units can shoot and then move – or, move, shoot, and move again. Also, you can always come back to a unit if they still have action points left. This means you can go back and forth between your units, moving and shooting. This makes for some very dynamic gameplay and allows players to pull off pretty much whatever tactic they like. The battlemap is made up of a movement grid which units can traverse, and terrain and cover is very important to exploit during your fighting.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach has both campaign and multiplayer gameplay options. In multiplayer, or single player skirmish missions, players can play as either the Orks or the Space Wolves. If it wasn’t clear before, the campaign is focused on the Space Wolves side of the conflict.

Overall, Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is terrific turn-based strategy game that can provide a ton of entertainment veteran and novice strategy gamers alike. The visuals are good, animations decent, and strategic options just right. Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is available now on Steam.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach Review Score

[mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#dd1818″ type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#dd1818″ type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#dd1818″ type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star” color=”#dd1818″ type=”fa”][mks_icon icon=”fa-star-o” color=”#dd1818″ type=”fa”] (4 out of 5 Stars)

Screenshots

PREY Official Launch Date Revealed

2017/01/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

January 25, 2017 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced Prey®  will release worldwide on Friday, May 5, 2017 for the Xbox One, PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and PC. Prey is the highly-anticipated first-person sci-fi action game from Arkane® Studios – creators of the award-winning Dishonored® series which includes the 2012 ‘Game of the Year’ and the critically-acclaimed follow-up, Dishonored® 2.

When you awaken aboard Talos I, an immense space station orbiting the moon in the year 2032, you find yourself as the key subject of an experiment meant to alter humanity forever – but things have gone terribly wrong. The space station has been overrun by hostile aliens and you are now being hunted. As you dig into the dark secrets of Talos I and your own past, you must survive using the tools found on the station, your wits, weapons, and mind-bending abilities to defeat the Typhon alien threat.

Fans who pre-order Prey will receive the exclusive Cosmonaut Shotgun Pack. The pre-order bonus consists of Morgan Yu’s family heirloom Margrave shotgun and tools to fight threats aboard Talos I including: three Neuromods players can spend to acquire new abilities, two Medkits, a Fabrication plan to create the Shotgun and Ammo, a starter kit for building tools and weapons, and a unique upgrade to help players preserve their limited resources.

Prey has not yet been rated by the ESRB. For more information about the game please visit www.prey.com.

Square Enix Announces Deus Ex VR Experience and More

2017/01/24
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

MONTRÉAL, CANADA – January 24, 2017 – Today, Square Enix® and Eidos®-Montréal announced that Deus Ex: Breach™ and the Deus Ex: Mankind Divided® – VR Experience are now available on Steam for free. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – A Criminal Past, the next DLC story mission, will be available on February 23, 2017.

Deus Ex: Breach allows new players to experience Deus Ex’s gameplay style, providing them with a glimpse of the vast realm of choices and possibilities that the Deus Ex Universe® has to offer. Originally released as a Deus Ex: Mankind Divided game mode, Deus Ex: Breach is an innovative game that offers an arcade approach on the gameplay of the Deus Ex series, providing players with a unique connected puzzle shooter experience. As a Ripper in the year 2029, your objective is to obtain and sell classified corporate data by hacking into some of the world’s most secure servers, using the funds you acquire to upgrade both your skills and arsenal. By obtaining this data, you will be able to unveil and expose the deepest, darkest secrets of the corporations in the Deus Ex Universe, with your efforts potentially unmasking some of the most dangerous individuals in the world. Extract the data. Expose the truth.

In addition, the Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – VR Experience for PC is now available for free on Steam for all HTC Vive® and Oculus® owners. Players will discover four iconic environments from Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, for the first time in virtual reality. Powered by the Dawn Engine®, take in the stunning level of detail and renowned art direction of locations such as Dubai and Golem City, while also taking a stroll in Adam Jensen’s apartment and Talos Rucker’s office. The Deus Ex VR Experience also provides you with an up-close and personal look at some of the 3D models for the main characters and NPCs from the game.

On February 23rd, Adam Jensen, along with both old acquaintances and new characters, will be back in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – A Criminal Past. The second Story DLC will provide players with more insights into the lore of the Deus Ex Universe. They will get to Experience Adam Jensen’s first mission for TF29, set before the events of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, where he poses as a convicted criminal. In Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – A Criminal Past, Jensen is transferred deep into a hostile, high-security prison for augmented felons. His mission: track down and retrieve sensitive information from a fellow undercover agent who has gone dark. Success will help the fight against terror around the world, but Jensen will need to confront a darker side to his role before the day is done.

Deus Ex: Breach and the Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – VR Experience are now available for free on Steam. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – A Criminal Past will be available on the 23rd of February on Xbox Live, the PlayStation®Network, Steam, and online stores. It will also be made available in the Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Season Pass, which is composed of Narrative DLCs and in-game items. More details on the contents of the Season Pass can be found here.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is available for PlayStation®4, PlayStation®4 Pro, the Xbox One all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC, Linux.

Related Links
Official Portal: deusex.com
Official Facebook Page: facebook.com/DeusEx
Follow @DeusEx on Twitter: twitter.com/DeusEx
Twitter Support: #CantKillProgress
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/DeusEx
Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/deusex
Tumblr: http://deusex.tumblr.com

Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment and Avalanche Announce Cars 3 Video Game

2017/01/24
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

BURBANK, Calif., January 24, 2017 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that it will develop and publish the Cars 3 videogame, scheduled for 2017, based on the upcoming Disney•Pixar film. The game will be developed by Avalanche Software, which has re-opened under Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and will be led by John Blackburn. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has also obtained rights to the Octane engine technology, previously developed by Avalanche Software, which will be used to develop the Cars 3 title.

“It is a tremendous pleasure to welcome Avalanche Software into our development stable, and we look forward to working with our new team, Pixar Animation Studios, and DCPI to create Cars 3 based on the upcoming film and hugely popular franchise,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The Avalanche talent and technology are a great addition to our group of outstanding developers, and we are excited for this Cars 3 game as well as all of the future games the team will create under John’s leadership.”

“Disney•Pixar’s Cars is one of the world’s most beloved and recognized franchises, and we’re thrilled to be taking the story further and faster than ever before through a new console experience based on the upcoming, action-packed Cars 3,” said Kyle Laughlin, Senior Vice President, Games, Apps & Labs, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “We are excited to once again be working with the Avalanche team, who have a deep understanding of the Disney•Pixar DNA, and a history of translating our stories into great gaming experiences.”

The Disney•Pixar Cars franchise has generated more than $1 billion at the global box office, and has a strong track record with family gamers, selling millions of units across multiple Cars titles. This includes Cars 2: The Video Game, which was also developed by Avalanche Software and sold several million copies in 2011. Cars 3 is the latest kids and family gaming collaboration between the companies, which have previously produced Lego titles for many of the top franchises from The Walt Disney Company.