Author - Jerry Paxton

Elite Dangerous: Arena Xbox One Launch Trailer

2016/04/26
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox One News

Cambridge, UK. 26 April 2016. Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV) today launched Elite Dangerous: Arena for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Elite Dangerous: Arena thrusts Xbox One players into first-person space dogfights against the galaxy’s greatest pilots in the ultimate 34th century gladiatorial contest, featuring:

  • Four agile, combat-honed space ships. Choose from the fast and aggressive Federal and Imperial Fighters, the damage-dealing Eagle or the heavyweight Sidewinder.
  • Multiple tactical options with custom loadouts unlocked by ranking up.
  • Four Arenas: Elevate’s towering view, Cluster Compound’s mining facility,Asteria Point’s cavernous space station and Ice Field’s frozen asteroid belt.
  • Eight-player Free for All, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag game modes.
  • Realistic, agile starship handling powered by Elite Dangerous’ advanced simulation technology.

All existing Elite Dangerous players on Xbox One own Arena now as part of the core game, and can look forward to further competition as new pilots enter the fray via Elite Dangerous: Arena.

Elite Dangerous: Arena for Xbox One launches today for £4.79 ($7.49, €6.49, 379 RUB).

Elite Dangerous for Xbox One, featuring combat, trade, and exploration across the full massively multiplayer Milky Way galaxy is available now for £29.99 ($37.49, €37.49, 1,549 RUB).

And starting today: choose from hundreds of paint jobs for your ship and decorate your ship’s dashboard with Bobblehead companions, available now in Elite Dangerous andElite Dangerous: Arena for Xbox One.

Elite Dangerous: Arena is also available for PC at Frontierstore.net and Steam. See the trailer now. (US, DE, FR)

Alien vs. Pinball Launch Trailer

2016/04/26
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

April 26, 2016 – Happy ALIEN DAY! In celebration of the event and the 30th Anniversary of the landmark sci-fi film ALIENS, Zen Studios is delighted to release its three pack based on the Alien Universe, Aliens vs. Pinball! Featuring three exciting Alien inspired tables (Aliens, Alien: Isolation, and Alien vs. Predator), the Aliens vs. Pinball pack is an exciting addition to anyone’s digital pinball library!

To celebrate the pack’s launch, we’re releasing a brand new trailer for the Alien vs. Predator table.

In Alien vs. Predator pinball, face off against Alien enemies and challenge your skills as you take on the role of a young Predator looking to make his mark in the Yautja ranks. Emerge victorious as you calibrate your camouflage system, collect weapons, use your advanced targeting system, destroy Alien eggs in a lightning fast multi-ball mode, collect Hunting Trophies, and experience the thrill of the hunt!

Alien vs. Predator is available now as part of the Aliens vs. Pinball three-pack for Zen Pinball 2, Pinball FX2, and Amazon, as well as in-app purchases for Zen Pinball and a standalone app for iOS and Android devices.

Please visit aliensvspinball.com for more information on Aliens vs. Pinball, and blog.zenstudios.com for more information on Zen Studios’ robust library of titles.

Universal Studios Hollywood Introduces All-New Preferred Hotel Program

2016/04/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

Universal City, California, April 25, 2016 – Universal Studios Hollywood is rolling out the welcome mat to guests booking their stay at any one of over 20 Los Angeles partner hotels as part of the destination’s newly launched Preferred Hotel Program.

The diverse array of hotels extends from ocean side in Santa Monica to the heart of the San Fernando Valley, and from a vibrant Hollywood and West Hollywood to a bustling downtown L.A., providing travelers with a broad selection of neighborhoods that best suit their vacation and business needs while visiting the City of Angels.

The Preferred Hotel Program, accessible through Universal Studios Hollywood’s desktop and mobile websites, features a listing and descriptive overview of each of the hotels along with a “book now” option designed to make the process as easy as possible. Many of the select hotels also offer a variety of amenities, including complimentary shuttle service to Universal Studios Hollywood, free hotel parking and complimentary breakfast. When guests confirm their hotel package, which consists of hotel accommodations and tickets to the theme park, they will receive the added benefit of one hour early entry to “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™.”

Over the past five years, Universal Studios Hollywood has undergone an unprecedented revitalization. Today, over 75 percent of the destination has been reimagined and can be characterized as an entirely new theme park experience.

In addition to the just opened “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” the summer arrival of “The Walking Dead” permanent attraction, and the recent additions of “Fast & Furious: Supercharged” as the grand finale to the world-famous Studio Tour, “Springfield,” “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem,” “Transformers: The Ride 3D,” the “Nighttime Studio Tour” and the new “Special Effects Show,” Universal Studios Hollywood is continually exploring new, groundbreaking ways to provide guests with the ultimate Hollywood experience.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.  Guests can link directly to the Preferred Hotel Program by visiting www.universalstudioshollywood.com/hotels. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

Universal Studios Hollywood is The Entertainment Capital of L.A. and includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour. As a leading global entertainment destination, Universal Studios Hollywood delivers highly themed immersive lands that translate to real-life interpretations of iconic movie and television shows. Recent additions include “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter TM” which features a bustling Hogsmeade village and such critically-acclaimed rides as “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™,”Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor rollercoaster.  Other immersive lands include “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land” as well as “Springfield,” hometown of America’s favorite TV family, located adjacent to the award-winning “The Simpsons RideTM.”  The world-renowned Studio Tour is Universal Studios Hollywood’s flagship attraction, inviting guests behind-the-scenes of the world’s biggest and busiest movie and television studio where they can also experience such authentic and immersive thrill rides as “Fast & Furious—Supercharged.”  The destination also features the Universal CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, including the Universal CityWalk Cinemas and the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue.

Armored Warfare Unleashes Tier 10 Tanks

2016/04/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – April 25, 2016 – Developer Obsidian Entertainment and global publisher My.com are excited to reveal details of the first Tier 10 vehicles that will be added with the upcoming Update 0.15 on May 3rd. The highest tier in Armored Warfare will include pieces of armored technology, such as the Leopard 2A7, XM1A3 Abrams, PL-01, and more.

“Leading up to the introduction of Tier 10, we’ve been carefully monitoring the community’s opinions on what the highest tier of Armored Warfare should contain,” said Antoine Guyard, EU producer for Armored Warfare. “It became obvious that while having vehicles that actually exist, it would also be good to take it a bit further and let our players experience the vehicles that are currently in the prototype or concept phase, with experimental or planned upgrades. Considering the fact that actions in Armored Warfare take place in mid-2030s, we see it as as perfect solution to bring the most awesome vehicles into Armored Warfare. We hope our players will enjoy these newest additions to Armored Warfare!”

Armored Warfare Tier 10 Vehicle details:

  • PL-01 – light tank concept developed by OBRUM and BAE Systems on a CV90 AFV chassis. Armed with an auto-loading 120mm cannon that is capable of firing APFSDS, HEAT and HE shells as well as LAHAT anti-tank guided missiles. Agile and fast, the PL-01 is the pinnacle of the Light Tank class.
  • SPHINX – French prototype vehicle by Panhard. It’s a sturdy turreted six-wheeled and lightly armored vehicle but with considerable firepower from its 40mm autocannon and ATGMs. SPHINX will be the most potent scouting vehicle in Armored Warfare.
  • Leopard 2A7-140 – the ultimate combination of the most modern Leopard 2 armor kit available and the firepower of a 120mm L/55 Rheinmetall gun or experimental 140mm cannon. Equipped with the most advanced countermeasures available in the world, it will be a tough opponent to beat for any vehicle.
  • XM1A3 Abrams – prototype which combines the most advanced upgrades available for this aging chassis. Based on the M1A2 Abrams with a TUSK kit and ARAT-2 explosive reactive armor, it is armed with a 120mm gun that can be upgraded to the 140mm ATACS cannon.
  • T-14 Armata – super-modern Main Battle Tank from Russia introduced in early 2015. It’s an advanced design that includes an unmanned turret and a new 125mm automatically loaded gun, which surpasses any other MBT currently in service.
  • Challenger 2 ATDU – the latest experimental version of the legendary Challenger 2 and best-armored vehicle in Armored Warfare. Excellent armor and experimental 140mm cannon capable of firing both kinetic and high-explosive shells make it one of the most dangerous beasts on the battlefield.

Read more about the new tier 10 tanks HERE: aw.my.com/us/news/general/first-look-tier-10-vehicles

Armored Warfare is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online tactical military game that puts the player into the world of modern warfare. In Armored Warfare, players get a chance to try the most powerful tools of destruction invented by mankind – from modern main battle tanks to scouts and wheeled vehicles. Using modern defense systems like anti-missile protection and smoke grenades, along with various types of armor and ammunition, players can jump into fast paced battles both in PvP mode and a vast amount of PvE missions.

Download Armored Warfare for free today, visit: aw.my.com.To learn more about Armored Warfare, please visit aw.my.com, ‘Like’ it on Facebook, and follow its development on Twitter @ArmoredWar for all the latest developer updates and news.

Hi-C Ecto Cooler is Back for A Limited Time

2016/04/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News

HOUSTON – Fans of the ghoulish green goodness of Hi-C Ecto Cooler have one more reason to celebrate the return of the Ghostbusters franchise to the silver screen. This summer, the juice drink of choice for those nostalgic for the ‘80s and ‘90s will officially return to store shelves for a limited time. Its resurgence comes after a 15-year hiatus, much to the delight of fans everywhere. Ghostbusters hits theaters on July 15, 2016.

“Hi-C Ecto Cooler fueled a pop culture phenomenon that is well remembered and beloved by fans to this day,” said Charles Torrey, Vice President, Minute Maid/Hi-C Brands, Coca-Cola North America. “Sony Pictures was extremely enthusiastic about bringing it back for this special occasion, and the timing of the upcoming Ghostbusters film made this the exact right time.”

Hi-C Ecto Cooler became a cultural mainstay in 1987 as a tie-in with the original Ghostbusters franchise. The drink’s immense popularity kept it around for more than a decade and kept people deliciously hydrated until it was discontinued in 2001.

Since then, popular online sites have cited Hi-C Ecto Cooler fondly in articles on ‘90s nostalgia, and have inspired vocal online fan groups. Those groups, along with some lobbying support from Sony Pictures, spurred The Coca-Cola Company to bring Hi-C Ecto Cooler back, just in time for the new Ghostbusters theatrical release this summer.

Fans who can’t wait to get their hands on Hi-C Ecto Cooler until May 30 can enter for a chance to win it before it is available for purchase. To enter and learn more about the Sweepstakes, fans can follow @Ectocooler on Twitter and Ecto Cooler on Facebook. Visit: http://bit.ly/HiCEctoCoolerSweeps to read official Hi-C Social Sweepstakes rules and entry details.

Hi-C Ecto Cooler will be sold in 10-packs of 6-ounce juice boxes and in 6- and 12-packs of 11.5-ounce aluminum cans. The cans are specially printed using thermal ink that turns an eerie shade of slime green when the product inside is cold.

Hi-C Ecto Cooler fans can follow the brand on social media at Facebook.com/ectocool and Twitter.com/EctoCooler or learn more at www.ecto.cool.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 U.S. (OR D.C.), 18 YEARS OR OLDER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes ends 5/9/16 at 11:59pm ET. For Official Rules, prize description, odds disclosure, and complete details, visit http://bit.ly/HiCEctoCoolerSweeps. Sponsor: The Coca Cola Company, One Coca-Cola Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30313.

About “Ghostbusters”

Ghostbusters makes its long-awaited return, rebooted with a cast of hilarious new characters. Thirty years after the beloved original franchise took the world by storm, director Paul Feig brings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today – Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth. This summer, they’re here to save the world! The film is produced by Ivan Reitman and Amy Pascal, and written by Katie Dippold & Paul Feig, based on the 1984 film “Ghostbusters,” written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis and directed by Ivan Reitman. The film will be released in theaters nationwide on July 15, 2016.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and more than 3,800 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, 18 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. Our billion-dollar brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, atwww.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

Master of Orion Early Access Launch

2016/04/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PAX, Windows PC News
E3 2015 Wargaming Master of Orion Screenshot

April 25, 2016 — Two new races are looking to shake up the galaxy in the next round of Early Access for Master of Orion: the Darloks and the Silicoids. These newcomers aren’t arriving empty handed either; they’re bringing the ways of Espionage with them, revealing Independent Planets, as well as granting a new victory condition: Economic. Along with Windows and Mac OS X, Master of Orion is also now available on Linux and Steam OS.

The arrival of the Darloks and the Silicoids means that NGD Studios has fully assembled the 10 original races from the first Master of Orion. Joined by the Terran, who are only available in the Master of Orion Collector’s Edition, 11 races are all ready to conquer the stars.

The conniving and sneaky Darloks are master spies, trusted by none in the galaxy. Using their superior Espionage skills, you can hoard information, cripple industry and research, steal technology, contaminate food—havoc is the name of the Darloks’ game. However, all races have access to Espionage, so anyone can wage war in the shadows.

The Silicoids may look like hulking stone goliaths, but they are by no means as dumb as a bunch of rocks. They are skillful engineers, trained in capturing colonies and amassing a large fleet. Slow to grow as a population, the Silicoids have an ultra-rich home world brimming with rare minerals that, in the right hands, can send your campaign into overdrive.

The new victory condition “Economic” is for bringing out the tycoon in you. You can corner the galactic market on the Interstellar Stock Exchange to win the game. Just think of how a few Spies will come in handy here—sabotage a structure or make the populace go on strike to stop enemies building up their economy, letting you get ahead. You can also track your economic progress against other players and purchase shares in universe productivity as investments, or to win the game.

Races on Independent Planets have decided forge a life for themselves, away from the rule of larger civilizations. Unlike you and your adversaries, they have no ambitions of expanding in interstellar space. So why are they useful? Independent Planets could hold the key to victory. You can complete missions for them, such as fending off hostiles, and donate credits to get them on your side. Plus, these planets are part of the Galactic Council, and their vote can be critical in achieving a Diplomatic victory.

The NGD Studios crew has been hard at work listening to player feedback and improving the game experience. There are new advanced gameplay settings, a revised technology tree, an integrated tutorial, and lots of bug fixes. This doesn’t mean feedback has to stop; the team still need your help in taking Master of Orion out of this world.

To learn about the creation of Master of Orion’s galaxies and more, watch the latest episode of Early Access Developer Diaries:

The Master of Orion Collector’s Edition grants immediate access to the game:

Wargaming and Dark Horse Announce World of Tanks: Roll Out! Comics

2016/04/25
Jerry Paxton
Comics News, Geek News, News

Emeryville, CA – April 25, 2016 – Wargaming, the award-winning online game developer and publisher of the globally successful World of Tanks combat series, today announced a partnership with comic book publisher Dark Horse Comics. This agreement will see the creation and publication of the “World of Tanks: Roll Out!” comic book series inspired by the hit video game with over 120 million registered players globally. “World of Tanks: Roll Out!” will be a five issue series, rolling into comic book stores across the US and European territories and digital distribution in the fall of 2016.

“World of Tanks: Roll Out!” will be written by fan-favorite Garth Ennis (Preacher, War Stories, The Punisher), who brings a unique, historically-informed approach to tell a hard-hitting war tale focused on the daring tank crews of  World War II. The legendary Carlos Ezquerra (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, War Stories Vol. 2) will bring his decades of skill to depict the tanks of WWII and the men who commanded them. Covers will be gorgeously illustrated by Isaac Hannaford (HALO: Reach,The Punisher) and will burst with all the intense tank-on-tank combat to be found in the pages of “World of Tanks: Roll Out!”

World of Tanks: Roll Out!” is set during the tank battles of the summer 1944, featuring British versus German armored units in post D-Day Normandy. It’s the German Panthers vs. British Cromwells, as the British tankers push deeper into France and toward the might of the Germans.

“World of Tanks: Roll Out!” comic issue #1 will be available digitally in the fall of 2016 in comic book shops across North America and Europe, and will follow a monthly cadence of release for five issues of brutal tank combat.

World of Tanks (PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Mobile) is the first free-to-play massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armored warfare. With hundreds of vehicles from a variety of countries at your disposal, the path to victory is achieved through team work, strategy and expert combat skill.

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About Wargaming
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher and one of the leaders in the free-to-play MMO market. Founded as a privately held company in 1998, Wargaming has shipped more than 15 titles. Currently, Wargaming is focused on its team-based MMO war series dedicated to the mid-20th century warfare that will include the armored World of Tanks, the flight combat World of Warplanes, and the naval World of Warships. The three intertwined titles will form a common gaming universe integrated within the portal www.wargaming.net.

As part of its multiplatform line-up, the company has introduced World of Tanks on Xbox and World of Tanks Blitz on mobiles, tablets and Windows 10 PCs. Launched in 2014 and 2015, World of Tanks on Xbox introduced epic tank-on-tank battles to console gamers and offers the first cross-platform gaming experience between Xbox 360 and Xbox One. In 2016, Wargaming released World of Tanks for Sony’s PlayStation®4, continuing its console campaign.

About Dark Horse
For 30 years, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, the company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.

24 Hour Alien Day Starts at Midnight

2016/04/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News

April 25, 2016 – Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products reminds media of an out-of-this-world, 24 hour, fan-focused social media event celebrating the ALIEN franchise on Tuesday, April 26th – a nod to LV-426, the planet from the iconic ALIEN films. Fan day activations include the following:

  • ALIEN: Ultimate Trivia Challenge

ALIEN DAY (#AlienDay426) kicks off at 12 AM ET on April 26th with a 24-hour Twitter contest in which every 42.6 minutes a new ALIEN trivia question will be presented via the official Alien Anthology Twitter account, @AlienAnthology.

o   Each trivia question (35 over a 24-hour cycle) will have various prize packages from 20th Century Fox’s ALIEN franchise licensing partners including a Diamond Select Toys Reproduction Kenner 1979 Alien Figure (value $449), Sideshow Collectibles’ Alien Internecivus Raptus Statue ($500), ALIENS Power Loader Vehicle Replica from Hollywood Collectibles ($2000), Reebok’s Alien Stomper sneakers ($175); plus NECAAction figures, Zen Studios’ Alien vs Pinball digital pinball 3 pack, Dark Horse Alien franchise comics and much much more.

o   In advance of the trivia contest kickoff, fans must pre-register their Twitter handle at ALIEN Anthology (http://AlienAnthology.com), and to qualify to win corresponding prizes, participants must “Reply” to the initial “question tweet,” correctly answer the question, and include the hashtags #AlienDay426 and #Contest. A winner (or “winners” when multiple prizes are offered) will be selected for each of the questions. Please refer to “Official Rules” for additional detail.

  • ALIEN & ALIENS Returns to Theaters

On April 26th the ALIEN franchise returns to theaters in 20 cities, including Austin, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas as participating Alamo Drafthouse locations and partner venues showcase double-features of ALIEN and ALIENS. To accommodate the interest, additional screenings were added and promptly SOLD OUT; limited tickets however are still available for certain screening locations. Further ticket detail here: https://drafthouse.com/event/aliens

o   Additionally, in New York, Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winner Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley) will be on hand for a screening of ALIENS at New York City’s Town Hall. This screening will feature a host of Xenomorph mayhem, including custom video pre-shows and a Mondo ALIEN T-shirt designed exclusively by Jay Shaw available for purchase.

o   In Los Angeles, the Alamo Drafthouse presentation of ALIENS at the Theatre at Ace Hotel will include a Q&A hosted by Matt Gourly featuring cast members Jenette Goldstein (Private Vasquez) and Carrie Henn (Newt).

  • Reebok Alien Stomper

One of the most-requested licensed products, the Reebok Alien Stomper worn by Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, as well as the mid tops worn by Lance Henriksen as the Android Bishop, are being released by Reebok in limited edition to mark ALIEN DAY. The iconic movie sneakers will be available beginning April 26th at Reebok.com and select Reebok stores worldwide.

Plus Additional Consumer Product releases:

o   NECA Action Figures – The first-ever Private Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein) and Newt (Carrie Henn) figure, as well as the release of a Kenner toy-Inspired Ellen Ripley figure, will be available to honor the day.

o   ALIEN DIGITAL PINBALL– Fox Digital Entertainment, in partnership with Zen Studios, will launch a digital pinball 3 pack via iTunes, Google Play, PlayStation Network, XBOX Live and Steam.

o   Funko LLC Figure Set – An ALIENS Queen & Power Loader and Ripley figure set in the tradition of their wildly popular ReAction retro action figure series debuts from Funko.

o   Dark Horse Comics ALIENS Comic Book Series – Dark Horse expounds upon Brian Wood and Tristan Jones’ ongoing ALIENS comic book series with exclusive covers for participating retailers and a deluxe 30th anniversary hardcover version of the original ALIENS series from 1986.

o   Alien: Invasion Novel – Titan Books launches the brand-new novel Alien: Invasion (The Rage War book 2) by Tim Lebbon.

o   Alien: Out of the Shadows Audio Drama – Audible launches this brand new audio drama starring Rutger Hauer (Blade Runnerand Batman Begins) in his first audio role with Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter film series) and Corey Johnson (The Bourne Ultimatum) in a terrifying fight for survival and an intense struggle between human and artificial intelligence.

Carmack and Romero Announce Blackroom

2016/04/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Mac PC News, News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

April 25, 2016 — John Romero and fellow id Software co-founder Adrian Carmack proudly announce BLACKROOM™, a visceral, varied and violent shooter that harkens back to classic FPS play with a mixture of exploration, speed, and intense, weaponized combat. Use fast, skillful movement to dodge enemy attacks, circle-strafe your foes, and rule the air as you rocket jump in the single- and multiplayer modes. Powered by Unreal Engine 4 and fully moddable on PC, the game is being developed with community at its core, starting with today’s launch of a Kickstarter campaign to fund development.

Features of BLACKROOM™:

  • Reign supreme in a variety of multiplayer modes, including co-op, 1-on-1 deathmatch and free-for-all arena in a wide variety of locations including hardcore military sims, hellish infernos and interstellar space.
  • Delve into a captivating 10+ hour single-player campaign, spanning wildly varied environments, from ruined Victorian mansions to wild west ghost towns to swashbuckling pirate galleons and beyond.
  • Master fast, skillful movement with rocket jumping, strafe jumping and circle strafing.
  • Challenge yourself with expert abstract level design, invented and perfected by John Romero and made material by Adrian Carmack. Romero’s latest map, Tech Gone Bad, has received universal praise and over 1M unique impressions.
  • Master six built-in multiplayer maps, as well as countless maps created by the community.
  • Extend your experience with full mod support and dedicated servers.
  • Put your skills to the test in Challenge Modes (speedrunning and more) that present unique and demanding goals.
  • Affect the holographic worlds in the BLACKROOM™ with a device called the Boxel, and influence the environment, your weapons and your enemies.
  • Features new soundtrack compositions by acclaimed metal guitarist George Lynch.

In the single-player campaign, step into the shoes of Santiago Sonora, Chief hNode Engineer at HOXAR™, Inc., the world’s foremost creator of holographic simulations. The company’s exciting BLACKROOM™ technology allows users to be anywhere at any time, creating fully-realized holographic worlds that are indistinguishable from reality, all inside of a giant black room. When testing of their new leading-edge Predictive Memory technology reveals troubling anomalies that blend the real world with the virtual, you’re sent in to investigate and are swept across a staggering and dangerous array of simulations developed for BLACKROOM™ users, from medieval castles to horror sets. Peering into your mind and tapping into your deepest memories and fears, however, it’s clear that the BLACKROOM™ is not all fun and games.

BLACKROOM™ reunites game lead John Romero and art director Adrian Carmack, who co-founded id Software and co-created some of the industry’s seminal video game franchises, including Wolfenstein, DOOM and Quake. The Night Work Games team carries on that history of innovation with BLACKROOM™, with a focus on fast-paced action, pushing technical boundaries and developing community-focused, mod-friendly games.

“It is incredible to work with Adrian again,” said John Romero, game lead. “We’re developing exactly the type of game we think a lot of shooter fans want. It’s the type of shooter we’re known for, and the type of game we love to play ourselves. It’s a skillful shooter, from movement to weapon and map mastery.”

Adrian, who got his start with John in 1990 at Softdisk before going on to co-found id Software, echoed Romero’s comments.  “It’s been great working with John again, and we’re really setting out to produce a visceral FPS,” said Adrian Carmack, art director at Night Work Games. “Because of the BLACKROOM™’s setting, we have a lot of freedom to create environments that players might not expect in an FPS. BLACKROOM™ technology lets its users enter just about any universe imaginable, and gives them the power to alter the world. That gives me lots of artistic freedom.”

BLACKROOM™ is targeted for release in winter 2018 on PC and Mac, DRM-free and on Steam. The team today launched its Kickstarter campaign, which will help the team fulfill and expand upon its ambitious plans and gives the community a unique opportunity to get directly involved in the game’s development. Visit the Kickstarter page https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nightworkgames/blackroom-a-new-fps-from-romero-and-carmack?token=07458251.

For more information on BLACKROOM™ and to stay up-to-date with the latest developments, visit the official Night Work Games (www.nightworkgames.com) site and follow the studio on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/nightworkgames), Twitch, Twitter (@nightworkgames) and YouTube.

Night Work Games, the dark and violent subsidiary of Romero Games, is home to a group of dedicated, fun and experienced game developers based in Galway, Ireland. We create and develop the type of games that we love to play.

BLACKROOM™, HOXAR™ and NIGHT WORK GAMES™ are trademarks of Romero Games, Ltd.

DOOM® is a registered trademark of and Quake™  is a registered trademark of id Software LLC, a ZeniMax Media company

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Flight of the Hippogriff

2016/04/22
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos

Universal Studios Hollywood has sent out a video showing off their Flight of the Hippogriff rollercoaster located within the park’s new Wizarding World of Harry Potter area. Check out the video above and more on this roller coaster below:

“Flight of the Hippogriff”

Within “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” the enchanting family coaster, “Flight of the Hippogriff” debuts as Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor coaster.

On their way to a Hippogriff training flight, guests enter the Care of Magical Creatures grounds, where sounds of creatures can be heard in the distance. The winding path leads visitors through Hagrid’s pumpkin patch and by Hagrid’s Hut where Fang’s booming barks and occasional wails emanate from within the walls.

As visitors pass his hut, Hagrid instructs them on how to properly approach a Hippogriff. Once Hagrid’s lesson is complete, guests climb aboard two-seat wicker baskets that string together to form the Hippogriff and begin their training flight, where in fact, they will spot a Hippogriff in its nest.