Author - Jerry Paxton

Watch_Dogs Gameplay Trailer

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Ubisoft has released a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming Watch_Dogs, which will be available in North America on November 19 for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Wii U system from Nintendo and Windows PC, as well as at the launch of the PlayStation 4 from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE). The game is also planned for other next generation consoles.

Trailer

ezCinema Plus Projection Screen Review

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Elite Screens ezCinema Plus series represents a new paradigm in how people setup their projection screens. While the idea of a pull-up screen has been around for awhile, Elite has done it like no one else by way of a “scissor” style skeletal system along with pneumatic pistons to hold the armature in place. The result is an extremely easy to use projector screen that also has great portability. The model we received to review, model F100XWH1, features a 16:9 screen ratio of 100-inches diagonally and has a 49×87-inch viewable area.

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Skeletal Frame

The screen itself is made from Elite’s “MaxWhite” screen material. “MaxWhite” features a 1.1 gain and black backing in order to avoid light penetration. The movies we projected onto the screen all looked great and I found no drawbacks to the MaxWhite material in the least. One final, awesome point about the MaxWhite screen material is that it is very easy to clean with some mild soap and water. An aspect of projector screens that I never had given any real thought to was scent. When deployed for any length of time, the ezCinema Plus screen did not make the room smell of vinyl and plastic like a lot of screens out there. Elite Screens has gone to great lengths make sure that this screen series has a GreenGuard certification for an insanely-low amount of air pollutants. You see, much like that “new car smell”, manufactured vinyl and plastics often give off scents which are not all that great for you to breathe in. This product is nearly free of those pollutants and, let’s face it, it is nice not to have your house stink of vinyl when trying to watch a movie and eat some popcorn.

We wanted to take the ezCinema Plus screen through some various, possible uses. So, the first test we put it through was watching movies on our back patio. Our patio is basically a rectangle in shape, which makes it easy to place the projector on one end and the audience chairs on the other.  Additionally, the “rectangle” is enclosed by very high walls (but no ceiling). Unfortunately, this is where we encountered the most problematic issue with the unit: windy conditions. I had the screen fall backwards twice because the wind “wooshed” through just right and pushed it down.

Now, it is safe to say that this screen is definitely more at home in, well, a home or dorm environment where wind should not be a problem. However, for those of you wanting to entertain outside, take note, as you need to anchor the two ezCinema Plus feet a bit more if it’s windy. Once I anchored down the screen’s feet with a couple sandbags, it withstood the light breezes like a champ. Once done, I calibrated the projector and started up a Halloween-time favorite of mine: Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat. Seeing the film on the large screen with the moon and stars overhead, it reminded me a lot of going to drive-in movies with my family as a kid – only with a much better sound system. 🙂

We also hosted a GamingShogun.com movie night where some folks were able to come on by and watch Sean S. Cunningham’s original Friday the 13th, such a classic! Again, the screen proved the talk of the event, people marveling at how large and bright the image appeared. At one point in the film, we noted a strange light artifact but that was coming from the projector itself and did not have anything to do with the ezCinema Plus projector screen.

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The next hurdle for the ezCinema Plus screen to jump in our review process was playing video games. Unfortunately, our projector doesn’t have a short throw range. Being that this test had to be done inside my living room, I had to place the projector screen on the far end, blocking our front door. My wife loved this ever so much… But, I digress. After setting up the projector and hooking our Xbox 360 game console to its HDMI port, we began… I was simply slack-jawed at how incredible playing Gears of War: Judgment was on such a large screen. Going back to my 42-inch LED TV, I was just sad. It reminded me of using an LCD screen for a while then looking at an old CRT display.

Overall, the Elite Screens ezCinema Plus line of portable projector screens is a fantastic addition to your home or dorm theater setup. You can find the entire line of ezCinema Plus projector screens at the Elite Screens official website. We were so impressed by the great movie-watching experience this screen provided that I am awarding it a 5 out of 5 stars. Additionally, it garners our official “Seal of Excellence” for being such an outstanding product. If you have any inkling to create a home theater – look into this one!

[wpcol_1half id=”” class=”” style=””]Pros

  • Durable and rugged skeletal system
  • Easy to deploy
  • Comes with its own carrying case built-in

[/wpcol_1half] [wpcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]Cons

  • Feet are a bit short for windy conditions

[/wpcol_1half_end]

[easyreview title=”ezCinema Plus Projection Screen Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″] Our Rating Scores Explained

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2K Games Will Not Have E3 2013 Booth

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On its forums today, 2K Games Ronnie Singh announced that the company would not have a booth at this year’s E3 expo.

Forum Post:

At 2K, we’re excited for the new opportunities coming with the next generation of hardware, and are hard at work preparing our announced titles for release. While 2K will not have a booth on the show floor at this year’s E3 conference, we will have a lot of great news coming your way this spring. Our slate of titles coming this year include highly anticipated games like Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Brave New WorldXCOM: Enemy Unknown for iOS,  more content for Borderlands 2, as well as WWE 2K14 and NBA 2K14. Stay tuned for our live gameplay and event broadcasts to see the latest gameplay from our upcoming titles. Subscribe to our Twitch channel at twitch.tv/2K and on YouTube at youtube.com/2Kgames.

Airsoft for Gamers #5: Southern California Fields

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In this edition of Airsoft for Gamers, we are going to take a look at some of the various Airsoft fields in the Southern California area. Southern California Airsoft fields vary in terrain, conditions, gun & equipment rules, and more. Hopefully, this overview will help you figure out the best place to spend your game time at.

Outdoor Fields

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HSP Combat Center Afghan Town

HSP Combat Center

http://www.hspcombatcenter.com

Located on the Hollywood Sports Park complex, the HSP Combat Center is one of the most well-known Airsoft fields in the area. Open Monday, Thursday, and Friday for night games and weekends for all-day play, the park features multiple fields of various sizes, including a very cool Afghan town environment. Other fields at this site also share games with the paintball crowd, so keep an eye out for what’s going on around you. HSP has some pretty standard rules for playing Airsoft, but remember to bring something to protect your ears. This park sees a good amount of foot traffic but sometimes ends up with a very high percentage of younger kids playing – and they don’t always stay honorable in calling themselves out. Entry fees are a bit higher than the others on weekends at $28 dollars a person, but the park does offer some really interesting membership packages that include equipment discounts and other extras. For spectators, the park offers some great elevated areas to grandstand and talk about the in-progress matches.

Also of note is that on the first Wednesday of every month, HSP puts on “Wednesday Wars”, an all evening long Airsoft war with hundreds of players. Checkout their site for more information.

 

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MilSim Game at Jericho Airsoft

Jericho Airsoft

http://www.jerichoairsoft.com

Jericho Airsoft is all about MilSim play and takes their Airsoft very seriously. There are no willy-nilly loadouts here as you must wear at the very least a military jacket/top (they would like to see full uniforms) to better differentiate between teams. The field also has strict rules about the usage of hi-cap magazines. The beginner rules state you can only carry 2 hi-cap magazines and ammo to refill them – that’s it. However, you can instead use as many low and mid-cap magazines as you like. This is all meant to enhance realism and avoid players who blow through hundreds of BBs at a time because there is no danger 0f running out. The field also has advanced player group rules where a person may only carry 1 hi-cap if they choose to do so. Personally, I would stick to mid-caps here unless you are a support gunner.

Jericho Airsoft is a great place to play with serious Airsoft players who like a challenge, as much of the terrain gets rearranged weekly and is a lot more rugged than most locations. Be sure to have appropriate safety gear and footwear here.

This facility allows public games only on the weekends and costs $25 dollars for entry. You can play during weekdays but need to book a private party of 15 or more.

Continue Reading about SoCal Airsoft fields on the Next Page:

HARDWARE: Shipbreakers Pre-Order Package Revealed

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VANCOUVER, CANADA – April 26, 2013 – Blackbird Interactive, a videogame developer specializing in sci-fi real-time strategy games, today announced the pre-sale of a “VIP PACKAGE” for their upcoming title,HARDWARE: Shipbreakers. This VIP PACKAGE features guaranteed access to the upcoming HARDWARE: Shipbreakers Closed Beta, along with an in-fiction Prospector’s Guide and gameplay guide.

The HARDWARE: Shipbreakers FIRST WAVE VIP PACKAGE also includes:

  • Unreleased high-res game concept art from Aaron Kambeitz, Rob Cunningham and Cody Kenworthy!
  • The HARDWARE: Shipbreakers Official Soundtrack by Paul Ruskay (when available).
  • FIRST WAVE VIP chat: Moderated web-chat with an “ask me anything” perspective with core team members where non-public information will be discussed.
  • Special Feedback Forum: Your ideas count!
  • Stake Your Claim: Land naming rights to the first 2,000 FIRST WAVE VIP PACKAGES purchased.

Prospector’s Guide Highlights:

  • Getting Acquainted: The History of Long March Industries, LMI and You, What It Takes To Succeed, Your First 72 Hours, Known Shipwreck Manifests and Coordinates.
  • Equipment Catalog: Military Ground Support, Aerial Support and Attack Strategies.
  • Operator’s Manual: Baserunner Model, Packages, Options & Accessories, Capabilities and Best Uses

The in-fiction manual for HARDWARE: Shipbreakers will provide an exclusive introduction to the game’s planet, LM-27. It will familiarize players with back story on the characters, map interest points, unit specifications, and secret contract locations hidden amongst the dunes. Fans who purchase the companion, will also be granted access to non-fiction elements, such as the Gameplay Guide and HARDWARE concept art from Art Director Aaron Kambeitz and CEO Rob Cunningham.

“The team at BBI are a team of true entertainment craftsmen who have inspired our entire industry with their works” added Brian Martel, Executive Vice President of Gearbox Software. “With the PreSale campaign now public, gamers and developers alike should jump at the chance to support the creators at BBI. HARDWARE looks amazing.”

For more information:

– Visit the website: www.longmarchindustries.com

– Like on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HARDWAREtheGame

– Follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HARDWAREtheGame

– Subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/InsideBBI

Deadpool Game will Feature Mister Sinister and Psylocke

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Activision released a note from Deadpool today, who is upset that both Mister Sinister & Psylocke have been announced as featured in the upcoming game.

 Note from our friend Deadpool:

Sooo, uhhhh, APPARENTLY there are characters in my new upcoming Activision game, DEADPOOL, who are not Deadpool! Right??

I thought it was pretty clear when I said I wanted a true Deadpool game that it would star Deadpool…in every role! My star power shouldn’t be limited to the central protagonist. I should be playing the hero, the anti-hero, the villain who eventually changes sides to join forces against the TRUE villain (me), the romantic interest, the quirky best friend, the comic relief, and at least 8 other characters in fat suits! Is that too much to ask?!

But…I’ve been talking to my therapist…and she says it’s important that I not allow the existence of other people who are not me to determine my own self-worth. I just have to be the best unhinged mutant mercenary I can be. So, here’s a look at some of the…other…characters you can meet in DEADPOOL

DEADPOOL is available for Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3, and PC on June 25, 2013 and is rated M (Mature) by the ESRB. For more information, please go to my website, like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Katarina Trailer

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NeocoreGames has released a new trailer for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, featuring the character of Lady Katarina. Katarina is a “ghost with snappy wit that comes to the support of Van Helsing on his supernatural hunt to uncover the mystery of a new scientific scourge in the land of Borgovia. Katarina is of great aid to Van Helsing as she comes with her own abilities and behaviors to boost the hunter’s hit points, mana, damage, and much more. Having her own skill tree, three different forms, magical tricks, and the capability to travel to the nearest town to buy and sell items, Katarina is essential for Van Helsing’s adventure. Whether it is freezing enemies in place or summoning a brutal bolt of energy, her assistance is highly valued when it comes to ferocious battles in the wilderness.”

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing will be released in May for the Windows PC platform.

Trailer

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Release Date

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New York, NY – April 26, 2013 – 2K and 2K Marin, makers of BioShock® 2announced today that The Bureau: XCOM Declassified will be released on August 20, 2013 in North America and August 23, 2013 internationally for $59.99 SRP on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. XCOM: Enemy Unknown, developed by Firaxis Games, dazzled turn-based strategy fans and rebooted the classic franchise. Now The Bureau will deliver a new experience within the XCOM universe.

Set in 1962 at the height of the Cold War, The Bureau tells the origin story of the clandestine XCOM organization’s first encounter with a mysterious and devastating enemy. Originally established as America’s covert defense against the Soviet Union, The Bureau must adapt and overcome a threat unlike anything the world has faced before. As special agent William Carter, players will call the shots and pull the trigger, leading their squad of agents in the high-stakes secret war for humanity’s survival. Paramount to repelling the outside threat is The Bureau’s ability to cover-up the enemy’s existence in order to prevent worldwide panic.

“We’re thrilled about 2K Marin’s refined vision for The Bureau: XCOM Declassified,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “The game has evolved through a creative and iterative development process, and the result is a narrative-driven experience that is smart, engaging, and challenges players to think tactically.”
 
The Bureau tells the story of XCOM’s mysterious beginnings,” said Morgan Gray, creative director at 2K Marin. “We’re expanding the universe with a declassified tale of government conspiracy and heroic cover-ups told through third-person tactical gameplay.”

In the spirit of the XCOM franchise, The Bureau’s calculated combat design requires players to think and act tactically. The game’s third-person perspective gives the player a sense of spatial awareness and grants them the freedom to transition in and out Carter’s unique Battle Focus ability seamlessly – heightening the tactical shooter action. The Bureau also fully embraces the concept of permanent consequence. As our last line of defense, every command can mean the difference between life and death for Carter, his squad and mankind.

“The team has been working hard to leverage core XCOM elements like tactical decision-making and permanent death of squad mates in a purposeful way that makes this a unique tactical shooter,” added Gray. “To that end, The Bureau will challenge players unlike any other third-person tactical shooter.”

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified can be pre-ordered today at all participating retailers. Those who pre-order will receive the Codebreakers side-mission as a bonus. In this special campaign side-mission, a communications facility responsible for intercepting and interpreting the enemy’s transmissions has gone dark. Special Agent Carter and his squad must make contact with any remaining personnel and investigate the incident.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information, please visit Facebook, or the official web site: http://erasethetruth.com.

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