Author - Jerry Paxton

The Walking Dead: Michonne Episode 2 Release Date

2016/03/14

March 14, 2016 – Today we can share the release date for ‘Give No Shelter,’ the second of three episodes in The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries.

Episode 2: ‘Give No Shelter’ will be available starting Tuesday, March 29th on PC/Mac via the Telltale Online Store, Steam, and other digital distribution services, the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, the Xbox Games Store for Xbox One® and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, for compatible iOS devices via the App Store, and for Android-based devices via Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. The miniseries will conclude with the third episode, ‘What We Deserve,’ in April.

The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries confronts players with tough choices. Today we can also share this new video above, which highlights some of the difficult decisions players were faced with in the premiere episode.

The miniseries stars the iconic, blade-wielding character from Robert Kirkman’s best-selling comic books, portrayed in-game by award-winning actress Samira Wiley (Orange is the New Black). Haunted by her past and coping with unimaginable loss and regret, the story explores Michonne across a three episode miniseries event. Players will dive into the mind of Michonne to discover what took her away from Rick, Carl, and the rest of her trusted group… and what brought her back.

In Episode 2, ‘Give No Shelter,’ a daring escape from the floating colony of Monroe sees Michonne, Pete, and Sam running for their lives. An all too brief reprieve is soon shattered; the leaders of Monroe don’t forgive and don’t forget. With memories of her daughters bleeding ever further into Michonne’s blurred reality, her world is becoming increasingly fractured… just at the point when she’ll need all of her skills to survive.

To date, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series has sold more than 50 million episodes worldwide, earning more than 100 Game of the Year awards from outlets including Metacritic, USA Today, Wired, Spike TV VGAs, Yahoo!, The Telegraph, Mashable, Polygon, Destructoid and GamesRadar, and was also the recipient of two BAFTA Video Games Awards for Best Story and Best Mobile Game.

The Walking Dead is set in the world of Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series and offers an emotionally-charged, tailored game experience where a player’s actions and choices affect how their story plays out across the entire series.

The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries Episode 2 – ‘Give No Shelter’ is rated ‘M’ (Mature) for Intense Violence, Blood & Gore, and Strong Language by the ESRB.

For more information on the game, visit the official website, Facebook, and follow Telltale Games on Twitter.

For more information on The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman, and all of his titles, visit www.Skybound.com and www.TheWalkingDead.com

QuakeCon 2016 First Round of Online Pre-Registration Opens Today

2016/03/14

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

March 14, 2016 – We’re pleased to announce that QuakeCon 2016 online pre-registration for the ‘BYOC Select-a-Seat with UAC Command Center Seating’ package is set to open for attendees today, March 14^th at 7pm CT/8pm ET at: registration.quakecon.org.

The ‘BYOC Select-a-Seat with UAC Command Center Seating’ package ($400 | limit of 32 packages available), which includes VIP seating in the Network Operations Center and fast passes for the entire event, also contains:

Select and reserve a VIP seat at the Network Operations Center (NOC) in the BYOC
Express lane fast-pass registration for the BYOC
Express lane fast-pass to every panel, presentation, and public event at QuakeCon
Limited reserved access seating for all panels, presentations, and events
Direct access to plug your PC into the NOC’s core
Official QuakeCon 2016 UAC Lanyard

Additional BYOC packages will become available over the coming weeks via the QuakeCon pre-registration site followed by pre-registration for general attendees. Full descriptions for each of the limited BYOC packages, and the dates they will become available, are below.

Please note: Press pre-registration will open today at 7pm CT/8pm ET. If you’d like to register for media credentials for QuakeCon 2016, please visit: registration.quakecon.org/media.

PREMIUM BYOC PACKAGES | DESCRIPTIONS & AVAILABILITY

Thursday, March 17^th at 7pm CT/8pm ET

Round 2 | BYOC Select-a-Seat with QuakeCon done Quick

Includes Fast Passes for the Duration of the Event

$140 (Limit of 300 packages available)

Select and Reserve a guaranteed seat of your choice in the BYOC area
Express lane fast-pass registration for the BYOC
Express lane fast-pass to every panel, presentation, and public event at QuakeCon
Limited reserved access seating for all panels, presentations, and events
Official QuakeCon 2016 QdQ Lanyard

Wednesday, March 23^rd at 7pm CT/8pm ET

Round 3 | BYOC Select-a-Seat

Includes Guaranteed Reserved Seating

$40 (Limit of 2,100 packages available)

Select and Reserve a guaranteed seat of your choice in the BYOC area
Official QuakeCon 2016 Lanyard

Thursday, March 24^th at 7pm CT/8pm ET

Round 4 | General Attendee Pre-Registration

While general attendance remains free, attendees wishing to participate in the QuakeCon 2016 BYOC must pre-purchase one of the ‘BYOC Select-a-Seat’ packages through our online registration site to guarantee a spot in the BYOC. As ‘BYOC Select-a-Seat’ packages are limited and all seats will be accounted for prior to the show, we won’t have seats available on-site or on a first-come-first serve basis. Once the packages sell out, we’ll be giving people the opportunity to win a limited number of BYOC seats via social media giveaways, contests, and via our event partners leading up to the show. Be sure to keep an eye on our QuakeCon Twitter account and QuakeCon Facebook page for all the details on how to win!

About QuakeCon

QuakeCon, the ultimate video game festival, will take place on-site at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, TX on Thursday, August 4^th – Sunday, August 7^th. Doors to QuakeCon will open on Thursday, August 4^th at 10:00am CT and will remain open through 12:00pm CT August 7^th. For more information visit: www.quakecon.org.

Download Crytek’s Back to Dinosaur Island 2 VR Demo for Free

2016/03/11

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

FRANKFURT, Germany – March 11, 2016 – Crytek released its Back to Dinosaur Island 2 virtual reality demo as a free download today, giving players everywhere the chance to experience the combined power of CRYENGINE and VR hardware.

Back to Dinosaur Island 2 received a glowing reception when it was first shown to attendees at E3 2015 and has previously only been playable at select industry events. Now, however, gamers everywhere can sample the VR experience firsthand by downloading it for free from Steam.

The demo invites players to scale a deadly cliff face as huge flying dinosaurs react to their presence, and debris rains down from above. Mysterious landmarks on the horizon and stunning vistas on every side combine to immerse gamers in an entirely new reality.

Crytek’s Executive Producer, Elijah Freeman, said, “The feedback we received from people who played Back to Dinosaur Island 2 was really encouraging, and the lessons we learned from creating it have been significant for our current VR projects. The demo goes beyond being merely a visual showcase and includes interactive elements that harness the unique power of the medium. By making this experience available for free, we hope as many players as possible will take the opportunity to feel truly present in a new world of dinosaurs.”

Crytek has also released a video that offers a glimpse of what to expect in the demo. The video is now playing on YouTube, and gamers can visit www.crytek.com and www.cryengine.com for the latest news on Crytek’s ongoing work in VR.

Back to Dinosaur Island 2 can be played using any VR headset with Rift SDK 0.8 and later.

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada – Overview Trailer

2016/03/11

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

March 11, 2016 – Battlefleet Gothic: Armada, Tindalos Interactive’s real-time strategy game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, opens its beta today. All players who preorder the game on Steam or the official store can immediately join this beta, build their first fleets and test their worth as Admiral against other players or the AI!

In addition to the 10% discount offered during the pre-order period, Early Adopters of Battlefleet Gothic Armada will receive one extra faction for free – the Space Marines – and immediate access to the Beta of the game. From today, players can practice building their Imperium and Chaos fleets and get used to the gameplay mechanics in the solo campaign prologue, before testing their skills against the AI or players online in 1v1 skirmishes. The remaining factions (Orks and Eldar), as well as the full solo campaign and other multiplayer modes (like 2vs2) will be made available when the game launches later in March. The Space Marines fleet will be available to play a few weeks after the game launches.

Today’s overwatch trailer shows off what you can expect from the full version of Battlefleet Gothic: Armada when it releases later in March. Discover the branching story campaign, in-depth customization and tactical gameplay!

Made in Unreal Engine 4, Battlefleet Gothic: Armada offers deep management of every ship in your fleet, during and between battles. With different skills and abilities, you can customize all aspects of your ships. Whether it’s crew for weaponry or repairs, or new skills such as the augur probe and micro-warp jump, you’ll be able to add more as each ship gains experience.

Multiplayer battles are all about positioning and flanking your enemy. Carefully align your path with your target, launching a devastating salvo of torpedoes before violently ramming them for incredible destructive force. Alternatively, you may choose to slide close enough to expose your broadside cannons and unleash a barrage of heavy fire. every action has weight and inertia, so mistakes will rarely be left unpunished by your opponent.

Players can now pre-order the Early Adopters Edition of Battlefleet Gothic: Armada for 10% off on Steam and the official store. Early Adopters will receive the Space Marines Fleet DLC for free, along with immediate access to the Beta. This offer is available for players who preorder or buy the game within 2 months after release.

World of Tanks Update 9.14 Brings New Physics and More

2016/03/10

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

March 10, 2016 —Update 9.14 is now live for World of Tanks! This update introduces improved sound and physics, making tank warfare even more visceral, as well as 24 pristine HD models, and a new map for Rampage mode: Ravaged Capital.

Improved physics lets players immerse themselves further into dynamic battles, with vehicles handling more realistically than before. Commanders can master skillfully sharp turns, rapidly changing direction and controlling their tank’s turning radius during movement. In addition, vehicles are now more maneuverable, letting players take full advantage of agile tanks in their arsenal.

Update 9.14 also introduces significantly improved sound. In harnessing the new sound engine, Audiokinetic Wwise, commanders can hear every purr and roar of their steel beast as it roams the battlefield. With sound being processed on a separate core, there are between 10 and 30 distinct sound sources, recorded from authentic vehicles on real proving grounds. When adding enhanced sound effects to orientate players in battle into the mix, as well as original event sounds, and multiple sound presets, World of Tanks adds another layer of authenticity to the gameplay experience.

“The major improvements to sound and physics in update 9.14 have been highly-anticipated by our fans,” said Sergey Laptenok, Publishing Product Director, World of Tanks. “All this was made possible with feedback from players, and we have delivered an experience that brings them closer to the action than ever before.”

Commanders can also look forward to 24 HD models of some of their favorite vehicles. Those who have been battling in the intense Rampage mode can also learn to dominate the new map, Ravaged Capital, which drops players in the heart of Paris’s warzone during World War II.

For more information on update 9.14 and World of Tanks, visit the official website:

http://worldoftanks.com

Fractured Space Update Introduces Custom Matches

2016/03/10

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Guildford, March 10, 2016. Edge Case Games, developers of the team-based space combat game, Fractured Space, revealed that today’s eagerly anticipated game update introduces Custom Matches, one of the features most requested by the game’s community.

The system has been designed for matches with friends, including both friendly encounters and clan training. It allows for everything from one-on-one games to full five-on-five matches.

A Steam Community Group, Fractured Fight Club, has been set up to facilitate challenges and the establishment of casual teams.

Team leaders will decide the number of players and game mode before the game begins, and players can invite others to the lobby to quickly and easily fill out a match. During this process, ranks and Matchmaking Rating (MMR) will be fully visible to assist with balancing.

“Fractured Space is at its heart a team game, and Custom Matches will bring a number of important player benefits, from playing fun matches with friends to full-on clan training exercises,” said Sam Bennett, Community Director at Edge Case Games. “Thanks to our open development model, ECG is able to listen and adapt to features that are important to our community.”

Fractured Space is a team-based space combat game fought in gigantic capital ships with the intensity of a shooter and the big-picture-thinking of a strategy game. Originally launched on Steam Early Access in November 2014 to critical and commercial success, Fractured Space has attracted over 500,000 players as the game continuously evolves using an open development model where the community is encouraged to talk directly to the development team, highly influencing the development of the final game.

For updates on Fractured Space please follow us on Twitter at @FracturedSpace or on Facebook.

About Edge Case Games
Formed in 2014 from the team behind the hit space game, Strike Suit Zero, Edge Case Games brings its expertise and passion for space games to its inaugural title, the tactical space MOBA, Fractured Space. Based in the development hotbed of Guildford, UK, the team is dedicated to expanding the scope and scale of space-based gaming through an open development philosophy that leverages the enthusiasm of the gaming community.

About Fractured Space
Fractured Space is team-based space combat fought in gigantic capital ships with the intensity of a shooter and the big-picture-thinking of a strategy game. Fractured Space is currently available for PC on Steam Early Access and is set for a wider free-to-play release in 2016.

Ashes of the Singularity Release Date

2016/03/10

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Plymouth, MI. – March 10, 2016 – Stardock has announced March 31, 2016 as the release date for its highly anticipated real-time strategy game, Ashes of the Singularity. Set in a future where humanity has expanded into the stars and is now in conflict for control of key planets in the galaxy, players wage planetary warfare on a massive scale to conquer opponents and control planets.

Ashes of the Singularity allows players to command their forces in a war that has spread across much of the galaxy in the 23rd century. Players have a choice of playing either the descendants of humanity, the Post-Human Coalition, or their bitter strong-AI enemy, the Substrate, as they fight for control over the galaxy’s most prized resource, Turinium.

“With Ashes of the Singularity, we want to present players with a game that lets them feel like they are fighting a planetary war, not just a battle,” said CEO and President of Stardock, Brad Wardell.

While the game includes a non-linear campaign, single player scenarios and skirmishes backed by the first multi-core RTS game AI, the game also supports ranked multiplayer with a lively community, custom matches with friends vs. AI or any combination thereof.

“We are not looking to reinvent the RTS,” said Wardell. “Our goal is to introduce a new generation of gamers to the general awesomeness of real time strategy gaming. That means showing how well non-cheating computer players can perform in single player as well as making it easy to get multiplayer games going.”

Key features of Ashes of the Singularity include:

Massive numbers of units in the world that can be easily organized into armies that allow players to fight wars across several different fronts simultaneously.
The world’s first multi-core real-time AI allowing for a non-cheating AI that can beat most players.
A story-driven, non-linear campaign that tells the story of a United Earth in the 23rd century.
A focus on single player replayability while including a wealth of multiplayer features.
The future-proofed Nitrous 3D engine whose 64-bit, multi-core foundation supports DirectX 11, DirectX 12 and multiple GPUs.

Ashes of the Singularity is currently available in Early Access on Steam or through Stardock. The full version with all of its intended features will be released on March 31, 2016.

For more information about Ashes of the Singularity, please visit www.ashesofthesingularity.com.

Zen Studios Announces Pinball FX2 VR for Oculus Rift

2016/03/10

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

San Francisco, CA – March 10, 2016 – Zen Studios, acclaimed developer of hit digital games, is excited to announce that its pinball platform is coming to Oculus Rift in Pinball FX2 VR. Featuring advanced physics, detailed 3D graphics and robust social features combined with an immersive virtual reality experience, Pinball FX2 VR is pinball like you’ve never experienced before!

Pinball FX2 VR replicates the atmosphere of real-life pinball machines in a virtual play space, while presenting gameplay features and effects that you simply cannot recreate on a physical machine. Additionally, the game’s rich scoreboards will track your Pro Score, Team Score, table stats, and more to let you compete against players from all over the world.

Harnessing the power of Rift, Pinball FX2 VR is an exciting new way for people to play pinball, moving beyond the silver ball and to a mesmerizing VR experience. Animated toys spring to life on stunningly active table environments with spectacular depth.

Creating a brand new way to play pinball that deftly combines the look and feel of digital pinball with the sensation of a real-world experience, Pinball FX2 VR is the premiere place for pinball action on Rift.

Key Features

Unprecedented table visuals, lighting, 3D models and the most advanced ball physics on Rift
Includes three beautifully crafted tables: Mars, Secrets of the Deep and Epic Quest
Explore a stunning beachside mansion that houses the tables
Immersive VR environments for each table
Robust social features, including Pro Score and Team Score leaderboards, detailed table statistics, and achievements!

Pinball FX2 VR launches on Rift March 28, 2016. For more information on Pinball FX2 VR, please visit blog.zenstudios.com.

Blind Squirrel Games Under New Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc. Umbrella

2016/03/10

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Industry News, News

March 10, 2016 Orange County, Calif. – A Premier developer of video games for all platforms, Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc. has been newly formed through re-capitalization and incorporation in Delaware. Blind Squirrel Games, the multidisciplinary development studio housing game industry veterans with experience at some of the world’s best developers and publishers, is now a subsidiary of Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc. The company is headquartered in Orange County, California and currently employs more than 100 employees.

With the launch of its rebranding comes a variety of new internal and external projects, as well as several exciting partnerships to be announced this year. Past partnerships have included collaborations with such companies as Disney Interactive, Sony, ZeniMax, Microsoft, Take 2 Interactive, Bethesda Softworks and many more.

“The company has experienced explosive growth over the last few years and is committed to organically expanding even further in 2016. Through our partnerships and existing business we have a projected hiring goal of more than 50 employees and an expansion into a new space by the end of the year,” said Jake Hawley, Board Chairman of Blind Squirrel Entertainment. “Our product growth plans include co-development along with an expanding mobile division and a continued focus on creating high-level partnerships.”

“Creating our own IP is a major focus for us in 2016 as we are very inspired to produce or own titles and brands,” said Brad Hendricks, CEO of Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc.. “The re-capitalization and growth we have experienced now allows us to expand in all types of areas including new technology, creative publishing, funding alliances and a variety of different content. 2016 will be an exciting year for Blind Squirrel Entertainment.”

More details will be revealed later this year about the new IP and new games Blind Squirrel has in development.

About Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc.

Founded in 2010, Blind Squirrel Games® is a multidisciplinary development studio housing staff members with years of game industry experience. Now operating as Blind Squirrel Entertainment, the company is actively seeking projects from publishers in addition to developing its own internal IPs. Blind Squirrel Entertainment is dedicated to creating polished and innovative AAA gaming experiences that reflect the interests of our passionate development team. Capitalizing on our experiences as a premiere developer, we are creating unique IPs that will push the medium into bold new directions

Mirage: Arcane Warfare – Announcement Trailer

2016/03/10

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

TORONTO, CANADA, March 9th, 2016— Torn Banner Studios, the creators of the popular first-person medieval combat simulator Chivalry: Medieval Warfare are proud to finally reveal to their fans a first look at their upcoming magic and blood-soaked title, Mirage: Arcane Warfare. To introduce their newest IP Torn Banner has released a gameplay trailer. Additionally, the official website has launched offering more details about the game: MirageArcaneWarfare.com. The game will make its debut at GDC 2016 (San Francisco, March 14-18) – interested media can schedule a private meeting to learn more about the new game.

In Mirage: Arcane Warfare, the calm of a strange fantasy world is shattered by ruthless civil war. Warriors armed with steel and magic bring violence and death as they do battle across a fantastical Arabian and Persian-inspired setting of desert sands, market bazaars and grand palaces. Built using the powerful new capabilities of Unreal Engine 4, Mirage: Arcane Warfarepresents visually stunning backdrops to some viscerally brutal multiplayer combat.

“Our last game Chivalry was about chopping off people’s heads with a sword. Mirage takes that core gameplay DNA and explodes with a range of new bloody, brutal combat possibilities thanks to the addition of powerful magic” said Steve Piggott, Torn Banner CEO and game designer on Mirage: Arcane Warfare. “Mixing in the elements of fantasy and magic allow us to add entirely new components and levels of complexity to that core team-based combat concept that we find so much fun to play.”

“Our artists have created a rich and unusual world in Mirage, full of colour, character and a unique setting that is so rarely explored in video games,” according to Torn Banner environment artist Lucas Annunziata. “Working with Unreal Engine 4 has not only helped us bring to life the exotic locales of Mirage, it also gives us the tools to make magic effects that dazzle and bloody gore that make us cringe.”

Slated for release on PC through Steam later this year, Mirage: Arcane Warfare will feature a range of diverse player classes each with their own unique weapon and skill sets, exotic fantasy locales, multiple multiplayer game modes including objective-based challenges, brutal gore and a host of other innovative new features. Currently in development, Torn Banner will roll out more information and progress about Mirage: Arcane Warfare in the coming months.

Torn Banner will have a private meeting room off site during GDC week on Wednesday, March 16 and Thursday, March 17. Interested media are invited to schedule a meeting to reserve a session with the team to learn more about Mirage: Arcane Warfare.

For the latest information on Mirage: Arcane Warfare, please visit @MirageGame on Twitter, on Facebook or go to MirageArcaneWarfare.com.