Author - Jerry Paxton

Insurgency: Sandstorm Announced

2016/02/23

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

February 23, 2016 – Completely rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 4, Insurgency: Sandstorm is coming to consoles and PC in a new partnership between Focus Home Interactive and developer New World Interactive. With Insurgency: Sandstorm, New World Interactive expands and enhances its popular first-person-shooter franchise, having sold more than 2.3 million copies on PC.

“We are very excited about working with Focus on Insurgency: Sandstorm. We believe there’s a great opportunity for Insurgency on next-gen consoles and that aligning with a strong publisher will allow us to best leverage this. Considering our background, it was not easy finding a publisher we felt compatible with. We decided to work with Focus because they understand our game and they believe in our vision. In addition, they bring a wealth of knowledge when it comes to shipping console games and marketing to that audience.”
Jeremy Blum – Founder and Game Director of New World Interactive

“We are very proud to partner with American studio New World Interactive. Insurgency is one of the most praised and played First Person Shooters on PC. We are excited to support NWI in this new adventure, and we will do everything we can to make Insurgency: Sandstorm a hit on consoles and PC in 2017.”
Cédric Lagarrigue – President of Focus Home Interactive

Deploy into a gritty, visceral combat experience that delivers first-person gunplay as immersive as it gets. Gear up with an arsenal of diverse firearms before heading into intense team-based action throughout the Middle East.

With a new story mode and Insurgency’s classic multiplayer and cooperative gameplay, the FPS epic comes enhanced and expanded as a new chapter in Insurgency: Sandstorm.

New Styx: Shards of Darkness Screenshots

2016/02/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

February 23, 2016 – Styx: Shards of Darkness, the sequel to Cyanide Studios’ infiltration cult classic Master of Shadows, comes to consoles and PC on Unreal Engine 4 in 2016. Styx’s sneaky adventure comes back with new features, new environments, and Unreal Engine 4!

In today’s screenshots, we witness Styx prowling through some of the huge environments of the game. From the City of Thieves, built from the wreckages of lost ships, to the great Elven city of Korangar hidden in the mountains, the environments of Styx: Shards of Darkness are enormous and semi-open, with an emphasis on verticality. They allow for a lot of freedom to complete the various missions’ objectives. They are fantastic playgrounds for Styx to test his stealth and assassination skills, and try out his new moves such as rope-swinging and zip-lining!

These are just some of the huge open spaces oozing with verticality to explore in Styx’s new infiltration adventure! With new ways to traverse the landscape, a deep and original story, as well as huge new features yet to be revealed, Styx’s 2016 mission will be his biggest yet!

Styx: Shards of Darkness comes 2016 to PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Master of Orion: Early Access Trailer

2016/02/22

Jerry Paxton

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

February 22, 2016 — WG Labs is excited to reveal the first batch of in-game features for Master of Orion waiting for Collector’s Edition owners. Starting February 26, explorers can command their very own galactic fleet in intense Tactical Battles, compete against friends online, and test their skills against cunning AI opponents.

Tactical Battles let budding explorers deploy their custom-designed fleets, commanding squadrons to plot daring runs and lure opponents into devious traps—all in real time. Players will require sharp wits and clear heads as they make crucial decisions on the fly, holding victory and defeat in the balance.

“In our Tactical Battles, players have the chance to experience what it’s like to be an admiral in charge of a massive fleet,” said Chris Keeling, Director of Product Vision at WG Labs. “We’ve created immersive, visually stunning combat that lets the player take command. These tactical battles are all about strategic decision-making at the crucial moment, turning the tide to ensure victory, and bringing your ships home to fight again.”

At the start of Early Access, explorers can lead six diverse races: Mrrshan, Psilon, Bulrathi, Alkari, Human, Sakkra, with more races and content to be added in the near future. Three unique victory conditions await players on the path to Orion: become leader of the Galactic Council to claim a “Diplomatic” victory; exterminate all other races to win via “Conquest”; or have the highest average overall score between other conditions to achieve “Excellence”.

During Early Access, Master of Orion will support 64-bit Windows PC, with other platforms and specifications to arrive later. The game will arrive with full English localization and its star-studded cast, as well as Russian localization. Explorers from across the world can expect German, French, Spanish, Czech, Polish, Turkish, Spanish (MX), Portuguese, Korean and Japanese to be implemented soon.

To secure Early Access, the Master of Orion Collector’s Edition will be available for purchase on February 26, letting players start their campaign immediately.

For more information, visit the official site:

http://masteroforion.com/editions

Corsair Releases New VOID Gaming Headsets

2016/02/22

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Tech News

FREMONT, California – February 22, 2016 – Corsair®, a leader in high-performance gaming hardware, today announced the immediate availability of the Corsair VOID Surround and Corsair VOID Wireless RGB White headsets, further expanding its range of multi-award winning gaming headsets. Offering universal compatibility for PC, PS4 and Xbox One, VOID Surround opens up its legendary gaming audio and supreme comfort for any platform, while the white version of the VOID Wireless RGB headset adds a striking, clean look to complement its 40 ft. wireless range and all-day battery life.

The VOID Surround brings Corsair’s most advanced gaming headset to the widest range of devices yet. VOID Surround’s mobile-compatible 3.5mm connector offers instant connectivity to virtually any audio source, as well as full headset capability with Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One (requires Xbox One Wireless Controller with a 3.5mm port or Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter). The 3.5mm jack also enables use on smartphones, tablets and handheld gaming devices. For connection to a PC, VOID Surround includes a USB 7.1 Dolby headphone adapter, unlocking genuine Dolby Surround for deadly accurate positional audio, as well as a fully customizable EQ in the Corsair CUE (Corsair Utility Engine) software.

“Most gamers don’t play on just one platform, so we wanted to build a headset that can be used anywhere” said Corsair’s Product Manager for Gaming Headsets, Joshua LaTendresse. “With VOID Surround, that’s exactly what we created: the unrivaled comfort and epic immersion of VOID is now universally compatible with any gaming platform.”

As with all Corsair VOID headsets, VOID Surround is built for comfort and durability, with memory-foam ear pads wrapped in long-lasting microfiber and cast aluminum construction. Oversized 50mm neodymium drivers deliver brilliant, precise highs and powerful bass, while a sophisticated unidirectional noise-cancelling microphone makes sure your teammates hear you loud and clear.

VOID Wireless – Now In White

Also launching today is Corsair’s new VOID Wireless 7.1 RGB Gaming Headset in white, a stylish new version of the multi-award winning Void Wireless headset, offering full Dolby Headphone 7.1 surround audio without the hassle of cables. Up to 40 ft. of wireless range grants freedom to enjoy untethered audio, while up to 16 hours of battery life ensures all-day gaming sessions go uninterrupted. Microfiber-wrapped memory foam ear pads and cast aluminum construction guarantee comfort and durability though even the longest, toughest gaming sessions and customizable lighting supports Corsair’s CUE Link, enabling RGB synchronization of all RGB-enabled Corsair headsets, mice and keyboards. Its Corsair’s most advanced wireless headset, now in a striking new color to match lighter gear and décor

VOID Visualizer – See Your Sound

Corsair is also proud to announce a major new software feature for its powerful Corsair Utility Engine software, VOID Visualizer. Combining a digital Corsair VOID headset (VOID Wireless, USB or Surround) with any RGB-enabled keyboard (such as the K70 RGB or Strafe RGB) enables gamers to unleash a stunning multi-color graphic equalizer on their keyboard, turning it into a real-time display of the active audio or microphone signal. Compatible with VOID Surround, VOID RGB Wireless and VOID RGB USB headsets, VOID Visualizer can be enabled with just a few clicks in the Corsair Utility Engine.

Availability and Pricing

The VOID Surround has an MSRP of $79.99. VOID Wireless RGB in white has an MSRP of $129.99. Both are available immediately from Corsair’s worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors. VOID Visualizer is live immediately in Corsair Utility Engine Version 1.15.36.

VOID Surround Gaming Headset Specifications

Genuine Dolby Headphone: Treat yourself to 7.1 channels of accurate and immersive surround
Universal Compatibility: The mobile-compatible connector works with PlayStation 4, Xbox One and mobile devices. The included USB Dolby 7.1 sound card unlocks genuine Dolby Surround for PC.
Embark on Marathon Gaming Sessions: Microfiber-wrapped memory foam ear pads enable extended play.
Unlock Legendary Audio: Oversized 50mm neodymium drivers bring the action to life with brilliant range and precision.
Microfiber/Memory Foam Earpads: Play in comfort for hours… and hours
Crystal Clear Voice Communication: The noise-canceling microphone on the VOID headset puts your voice in the spotlight—and nothing else

VOID Wireless Dolby 7.1 RGB Gaming Headset – (White) Specifications

Legendary Audio, Zero Hassle: 2.4GHz wireless freedom up to 40 ft. + 16 hours of uninterrupted gaming
Epic Immersion and True Multi-Channel Audio: Genuine Dolby Headphone surround delivers lethally accurate 7.1 positional audio
RGB Lighting: Sync with other Corsair RGB devices—or light your own path
CUE Control: Instantly re-spec your gaming audio—EQ, Dolby and volume—with a single digital control.
InfoMic: Everything you need to know about your audio status—instantly.
Unlock Legendary Audio: Oversized 50mm neodymium drivers bring the action to life with brilliant range and precision
Microfiber/Memory Foam Earpads: Play in comfort for hours… and hours
Take Command: The advanced unidirectional noise-cancelling microphone makes you loud and clear

Web Pages

For more information on the Void Surround gaming headset, please visit
http://www.corsair.com/voidsurround

For more information on the Corsair’s range of gaming headsets, please visit
http://www.corsair.com/void

Farming Simulator 17 Announced

2016/02/22

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

February 22, 2016 – Giants Software and Focus Home Interactive are pleased to announce today the continuation of their partnership for the release of Farming Simulator 17, arriving simultaneously on PC and consoles at the end of 2016. The game will be introduced for the first time during the What’s Next of Focus Home Interactive press event organised in Paris, where journalists across the world can discover all upcoming titles released by Focus. There, they can also meet the developers of Farming Simulator 17 and discover some of the brand new features added to Giants Software’s upcoming game.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Focus throughout all these years. This partnership is the water on the seed that made Farming Simulator grow into the global phenomenon it is today. Each time we release a new version together we reach more people, and we look forward to expanding this reach even further in the coming years.”
Thomas Frey – Vice-President of Giants Software

“Farming Simulator is a one of a kind story in the video game industry. Years ago, we imagined a unique destiny for this game and Giants Software, their creators. It is with great satisfaction that we succeed in reaching all of our objectives. There are still a lot of beautiful pages to write for Farming Simulator, and it starts right now with the simultaneous release of the game on PC and consoles at the end of the year.”
Cédric Lagarrigue – President of Focus Home Interactive

Countdown Live Escape Games LA – The Krampus Review

2016/02/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Haunted Attraction Review, Misc Review, News, Reviews

Tucked away on S. Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles, you will find Countdown Live Escape Games LA. Countdown Live Escape Games is company dedicated to bringing interactive escape room challenges to the masses from both their Los Angeles and Las Vegas properties. The LA location features three escape rooms: “The Krampus”, “The Spaceship”, and “The Tiki Room” – each themed in their own way with their own puzzles and stories to unravel.

We recently got the chance to experience The Krampus escape room. The five of us piled into the lobby area of Countdown Live Escape Games LA and were greeted by General Manager Brian Corbitt. We exchanged pleasantries and then were all given electronic waivers to fill out. After that, we were given some basic rules of escape room etiquette and then the story of The Krampus escape room. In short, we were to be sent into the apartment of the so-called “Krampus Killer” to investigate what exactly happened to a number of murdered children from the neighborhood.

Well, we entered the “residence” (of course the door locks behind you), and were subsequently treated to an array of creepy, holiday-themed puzzles and plot twists. The television set in the corner of the apartment kept the countdown timer running – every group to enter The Krampus gets 60 minutes to find a way back out. It is always tricky to review an escape room without spoiling any of the surprises. Suffice it to say that The Krampus provided an interesting story throughout the experience and plenty of well-crafted set dressing to complete the illusion of where we were supposed to be.

There were moments of jump scares and moments of slow burn puzzles – things that happen early in the escape room are sometimes used in callbacks when you get towards the end of the experience – so pay attention to everything! Unfortunately, we needed another 30 seconds or so to get out and so, yes, we failed! However, we were there for a full hour and at $30 dollars a person, it is safe to say that you will definitely get your money’s worth. The biggest and most helpful hints I can provide for your group are to be sure and continue communicating anything that resembles a clue or new puzzle. Also, many times we have found it helpful to put anything that might be a clue into a centralized location so every possible clue can be analyzed.

If you would like to book your own escape room experience with Countdown Live Escape Games LA, checkout their official website.

Countdown Los Angeles
2284 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90007
(747) 333-8886
LosAngeles@CountdownEscape.com

Gallery

Razer Nabu Watch Review

2016/02/20

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

Razer’s latest entry into the fitness wearables market comes in the form of the Razer Nabu Watch. A large, ruggedized watch, the Nabu Watch resembles one of those tactical action watches – however, it has a lot more functionality than just telling the time. Underneath the traditional digital watch face, you will find the Razer Nabu display, which shows off the watch’s smart functions.

Before delving into the smart functions, it is worth noting that the standard watch functions include stop watch, countdown timers, alarms, and world time modes. All function as one would expect and using the watch’s five large buttons to cycle through all of them was easy. It should be noted that this standard Razer Nabu Watch features polycarbonate buttons. The Forged Edition of the watch, which retails for $50 dollars more, features steel buttons.

The Razer Nabu Watch actually contains two separate batteries within its large housing. One of these is a traditional watch battery that powers the time-telling functions and, the other, is a rechargeable battery which powers the Nabu smart functions. The beauty of this is that the watch battery will last a very long time, allowing it to function in watch mode ad nauseum. The Nabu battery, unfortunately, lasts only about a week – but that is still a pretty long time when dealing with a fitness wearable. The Nabu battery can be recharged via a magnetically-attached USB cable.

As far as its Nabu smart functions, this watch will track your steps, sleep patterns, and calories burned via its 3-axis accelerometer and Bluetooth connection to either an Android or iOS app. It is not as full featured as its Nabu brother, but it has enough options to keep most watch wearers happy as they toil through a workout. Additionally, the Nabu Watch will display incoming TXT messages which show on your iPhone or Android smartphones. Its small, 128×16 OLED screen is only one line, but it is very crisp and easy to read. It actually makes me sad that the main watch area of the Nabu Watch has such a weak backlight in comparison.

[ezcol_1half]Pros

Rugged build quality
Crisp, bright Nabu screen
Price is a reasonable $149.99
Slick, Razer style

[/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end]Cons

Brightness of standard watch backlight is very dim
Wide watchband may, at times, dig into small wrists

[/ezcol_1half_end]

A final note has to do with its magnetically-attached USB charging cable. The charging port attaches to the back side of the Razer Nabu Watch but, be warned. The cable is proprietary and you may have trouble replacing it should you lose it. Its magnetic attachment point, however, does mean that it comes off the watch very easily if snagged on something when moving about. The watch will display its battery power on the OLED screen so you can keep track of where it is at on a charge.

Overall, the Razer Nabu Watch is a great option should you wear watches and desire some fitness tracking capabilities. It retails for $149.99 and is available now at the official Razer website and other online retailers.

[easyreview title=”Razer Nabu Watch Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Boasts Butterbeer and British Eats

2016/02/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Universal City, CA, February 19, 2016 – A foray through Hogsmeade village at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” at Universal Studios Hollywood will please the palate with an enticing array of savory fare and beverages, served up at the land’s Three Broomsticks™ and Hog’s Head pub as featured in the Harry Potter books and films, and where guests from around the world can dine on traditional British dishes and sample Butterbeer™.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood opens on April 7, 2016.

Carefully prepared by Universal Studios Hollywood’s executive chef and culinary team, the eclectic British menu will invite guests to step into Three Broomsticks, an aged rustic tavern, where they can enjoy authentic meals while seated at custom-made wooden tables, chairs and benches, in a warm and inviting atmosphere taken straight from the wizarding world.

Sample menu items include Bangers & Mash (savory grilled English sausages with creamy mashed potatoes and minted peas), Shepherd’s Pie (ground beef and vegetables, crowned with potatoes), Beef Sunday Roast (prime rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding and gravy), Beef, Lamb & Guinness Stew and Fish & Chips. Rounding out the hearty fare are decadent treats such as Butterbeer potted cream and sticky toffee pudding.

Gathering inspiration from historic British taverns, the adjoining Hog’s Head pub features original draught beers and spirits created exclusively for the land, including Hog’s Head Brew, Dragon’s Scale, Wizard’s Brew and Fire Whisky.

Three Broomsticks also features a selection of scrumptious traditional English breakfast items, welcoming guests to start their day at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” Tempting menu choices include the Eggy Bread breakfast (French baguette, cut on the bias and served with bacon and Vermont maple syrup), as well as traditional English breakfast (fresh scrambled eggs, sausage links, bacon, black pudding, baked beans, baked tomato, sautéed mushrooms and potatoes) and traditional American breakfast (eggs, sausages, bacon and toast).

Butterbeer, served traditionally and frozen as well as pumpkin juice™, pumpkin fizz and Gilly Water are Hogsmeade beverage staples.

As the countdown to the April 7 opening date continues, Universal Studios Hollywood invites guests to learn more by signing up for the latest news and information at www.universalstudioshollywood.com/harrypotter/signup.

Join the conversation online using #WizardingWorldHollywood. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

Galactic Civilizations III: Mercenaries Expansion Released

2016/02/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

Plymouth, MI. – February 18, 2016 – Today, Stardock released Galactic Civilizations III: Mercenaries. The first expansion to its popular 4X space strategy game adds a new campaign, Galactic Bazaars, new races, the ability to recruit elite units with special abilities, new ship parts, and more.

In Mercenaries, players will be able to visit new Galactic Bazaars where they can hire mercenaries to assist in expanding across the galaxy. With several new mercenary ships and multiple Bazaars to discover on each map, the expansion offers hours of unique gameplay.

“Once they’re gone, they’re gone,” said Paul Boyer, Lead Designer of Galactic Civilizations III. “When a mercenary is hired by a civilization in a game, it is no longer available to the others. You will need to act quickly and choose wisely in order to get the best mercenaries and leave your enemies without.”

The campaign for Mercenaries centers around the peaceful Torian race who have long been enslaved and farmed for their meat by the cruel Drengin. Explore and discover mercenaries, then hire them to aid in escaping the oppressors. Liberate the Torians and help them rebuild their shattered civilization while staying out of reach of the Drengin.

The expansion also includes the Arcean faction and an old favorite from Galactic Civilizations II, the Torians. The Arceans are an ancient and honorable civilization of warriors and the Torians are an aquatic species seeking to escape the slavery of the Drengin. Both races come with new traits, abilities, and tech trees.

Along with this expansion, Stardock is releasing the v1.6 update to the base game, which is a free update for all Galactic Civilizations III game owners. Improvements include more detailed match results, AI improvements, visual updates, and balance improvements.

The expansion costs $19.99 and is available now on Steam at http://store.steampowered.com/app/411650/ or directly through the Stardock website.

For more information about Galactic Civilizations III and its current updates and DLC, please visit www.galciv3.com.

The Flame in the Flood Rafting Tips Trailer

2016/02/19

Jerry Paxton

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

February 29, 2016 – The river is both your greatest ally and your worst enemy. It will get you to your next destination, to food and shelter and safety, but it will just as likely rip your raft to shreds.

The Molasses Flood present a short guide on rafting in the latest Wilderness Tips video. If nothing else, just remember that rocks are not your friends

Coming to Xbox One and PC February 24th with an original soundtrack by Chuck Ragan, The Flame in the Flood is a rogue-lite river journey through the backwaters of a forgotten, post-societal America. Forage, craft, outwit predators, and beat the rapids as you make your way down the procedurally generated river.