Author - Jerry Paxton

Sound BlasterX Product Line Announced at Gamescom

2015/08/05
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Tech News
Creative Labs Sound BlasterX Product Line Announcement Image

Creative Labs Sound BlasterX Product Line Announcement Image

COLOGNE, Germany – August 4, 2015 – Creative Technology Ltd today announced at gamescom 2015 the Sound BlasterX Gaming Series, a new line of gaming audio peripherals designed for today’s generation of discerning gamers.

Gaming content in this day and age encompasses immensely compelling graphics, expansive environments and incredibly detailed audio, akin to a full cinematic experience, delivered on multiple platforms, from mobile, to consoles and PCs. Famous for pioneering gaming audio on PCs and launching the multimedia revolution with the Sound Blaster line of sound cards, Creative continues to innovate and improve the gaming audio experience for today’s gamers. The Sound BlasterX line is committed to upgrading a user from “good enough” audio to the full cinematic experience that discerning gamers of today are looking for, wherever they are playing.

The series is comprised of circumaural (over-the-ear) and in-ear headsets, and an external USB sound card with a built-in amplifier to provide gamers with a durable, complete, high-performance, high-definition gaming audio solution that is built to last.

Each product in the Sound BlasterX series is designed to deliver pristine aural performance and maximum comfort while levelling up a gamer’s overall experience by producing sound on par with today’s advanced graphics and game storytelling.

“Think about when you go to the movies – you go for the big screen, sometimes the 3D element, and cinematic sound. Movies wouldn’t be the same without perfectly timed sound effects, and that’s what many of today’s gamers are missing out on with their overall experience – the nuances that will determine win or lose – and they might not even realize it by settling for basic audio solutions. The graphics and storylines of today’s games are the best they have ever been and for audio details to match that requires something much more than basic motherboard audio or run-of-the-mill gaming headsets. With Sound BlasterX, we have a renewed focus on building gaming audio products that last and are designed to elevate gaming audio to complement the astounding graphics found in today’s games. We’re taking gaming from a desktop experience, to a cinematic experience. Once you hear the difference a BlasterX product makes in your games, there’s no going back to mediocre basic audio,” said Low Long Chye, General Manager of Audio at Creative.

The Sound BlasterX Gaming Series comprises of:

  • Sound BlasterX H7 – the ultimate HD 7.1 Surround USB circumaural gaming headset
  • Sound BlasterX H5 – the professional-grade analog circumaural gaming headset
  • Sound BlasterX P5 –  a miniature yet powerful high-performance in-ear gaming headset
  • Sound BlasterX G5 – a 7.1 HD audio external sound card with built-in headphone amplifier

With this line of peripherals, Sound BlasterX offers a range of high-performance cross-platform gaming audio solutions for gamers – whether on PCs, mobile devices or consoles.

“As gamers, we’re extremely excited about the all new the Sound BlasterX Pro-Gaming Series,” said Jason Bass, COO of compLexity Gaming. “When we tested the products, we were amazed by the performance, build quality, how comfortable they were, and most of all, their signature sound. In fact, the team felt that the headsets resembled studio monitors. The headsets delivered amazingly accurate audio and were so comfortable that we felt as if we were wearing nothing at all.”

The gaming headsets are tuned to enhance the listening experience and not to overwhelm. The entire Sound BlasterX range allows gamers to experience an amazing level of detail while being immersed in the gaming experience for extended hours without listening fatigue. The Sound BlasterX series of products offer a best in class audio solution for gamers with different usage preferences. Audio quality and clarity, comfort and durability are important no matter what level gamers are gaming at and the Sound BlasterX series cater to both the pro and casual gamers.

The Sound BlasterX Gaming Series also comes with the BlasterX Acoustic Engine software for PC that allows gamers to customize their audio profile to the game genres that they are playing. It is designed to intelligently decrease distractions and enhance essential audio details in games, giving gamers an added advantage.

The recently launched Sound Blaster X7 with its companion E-MU XM7 professional speakers, offers an ultra high-end gaming audio solution that completes the Sound BlasterX Gaming Series. This biggest, baddest, boldest Sound Blaster delivers an astounding 24-bit/192kHz high resolution audiophile experience for the ultimate gamer.

More details of the Sound BlasterX H7 and Sound BlasterX H5, the Sound BlasterX P5, and the Sound BlasterX G5 will be announced in separate press releases.

Pricing and Availability

The Sound BlasterX gaming series is priced as follows:

  • Sound BlasterX H7 – US$159.99
  • Sound BlasterX H5 – US$129.99
  • Sound BlasterX P5 – US$69.99
  • Sound BlasterX G5 – US$149.99

Products in the Sound BlasterX series will be available at creative.com over the next few months:

  • Sound BlasterX H5 End-September 2015
  • Sound BlasterX P5 End-October 2015
  • Sound Blaster H7 November 2015
  • Sound BlasterX G5 November 2015

For in-country retail store availability, please refer to authorized dealers.
For more information about the Sound BlasterX Gaming Series, visit BlasterX.com.

Dark Souls III Gameplay Reveal Trailer

2015/08/04
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

dark-souls-3-e3-1

August 4, 2015 – Today BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America and FromSoftware released the Official Dark Souls™ III Gameplay Trailer.

Dark Souls III continues to push the boundaries with the latest, ambitious chapter in the critically-acclaimed and genre-defining series. As fires fade and only embers remain, journey once more into a world filled with more daunting and colossal enemies and environments. Players will be immersed into a world of epic atmosphere and darkness through faster gameplay and amplified combat intensity. New to the series are the Battle Arts attacks as each weapon will be equipped with its own unique Battle Art to deliver powerful attacks that will break through enemy defenses. Dark Souls III is coming soon for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC in early 2016.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Descent Trailer

2015/08/04
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Descent Trailer Screen Capture

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Descent Trailer Screen Capture

August 4, 2015 — Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion to the Exo Zombies saga, as Descent takes our four heroes to a deep water Atlas base in order to stop the source of the infection once and for all. Battle new enemies with enhanced capabilities, wield the powerful Trident Reflected Energy Weapon, and unravel the terrible secret that Atlas has been hiding. Bill Paxton, Rose McGowan, Jon Bernthal, Bruce Campbell, and John Malkovich star in this action-packed Exo Zombies finale.

Reckoning releases August 4th on Xbox Live, with other platforms to follow.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain PC Release Date

2015/08/03
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News
METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN Screenshot

METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN Screenshot

El Segundo, Calif. – Aug. 3, 2015 – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. has announced it will release the PC edition of the eagerly awaited METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN alongside the console iterations on Sept. 1. Pre-orders are available now via Steam, which will include a copy of its illustrious prologue, METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES, absolutely free.

Originally scheduled to launch on Sept. 15, KONAMI has responded to calls from PC users and worked toward an earlier release date. The PC edition will now be available for pre-order via Steam – alongside the PlayStation®4, PlayStation®3, XboxOne™ and Xbox 360 editions. Fans who pre-order their PC copies of METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN via Steam will also receive a copy of METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES. All Steam customers will receive a collector’s video which reveals behind the scenes footage and a unique documentary, in addition to DLC in the form of a ‘Venom Snake’ emblem and Mother Base Staff.

“We initially did not think it would be possible to get such an epic game out onto PC in time for launch alongside its console counterparts, but all involved have worked diligently to meet the demands of our PC consumers,” commented Tomotada Tashiro, President of Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. “Now PC users will be able to explore the vibrant and beautifully-realized locations and set-pieces that elevate METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN beyond all other action titles. We feel confident that Steam users will be satisfied with the contents we will provide for the Steam version.”

METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN heads to PC as a dramatic advance for the multi-million-selling franchise, expanding themes and content seen in METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES. As with its prequel, the PC version of METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN hosts a stunning 4k mode, which adds incredible visual acuity to the game’s huge open world environment. The game is also enhanced for those with NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, meaning the game’s incredible level of detail is further enhanced as the scarred terrain of global battlefields is brought to vivid life with realistic weather patterns and day turning to night during the course of the action. For a limited time those who purchase qualifying GeForce GTX GPUs will get a free copy of METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN.

METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN sets a new standard in stealth-action, with the series’ famed sneaking elements greatly expanded and host of new characters – both good and bad – driving a tale of revenge. The game follows series hero Big Boss` as he enters a series of battlefields following the deaths of his colleagues. Central to the game is a hideously disfigured adversary known as Skull Face, while the ongoing conflict also introduces the new, iconic characters, such as the mysterious Quiet – a female sniper with incredible abilities.

METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN is 200x the size of its prologue and the expansive locations allow players to adapt their tactics to match the demands of the varied environment, creating an intuitive and utterly non-linear gameplay experience. Likewise, a host of acclaimed METAL GEAR SOLID tropes return in hugely advanced forms, including expanded CQC (Close-Quarter Combat) skills, and vastly improved enemy AI.

To complement its solo infiltration missions, METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN also features a fully-integrated base management system where players strengthen their private army, Diamond Dogs, by expanding and customizing their Mother Base. Players can then take the battle online by infiltrating and stealing resources and personnel from each other’s Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), as they vie for worldwide supremacy.

Finally, METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN also features the dedicated squad-based competitive multiplayer component, METAL GEAR ONLINE. Newly redesigned with the familiar gameplay and aesthetic styling of the acclaimed series, METAL GEAR ONLINE introduces Tactical Team Operations and features a ‘class system’ that more uniquely defines the strengths and abilities of player characters on the battlefield. As a result of the updated timing, console versions of METAL GEAR ONLINE will go live on Oct. 6, with the PC version set to release in January 2016.

Formats: PlayStation®4  PlayStation®3  XboxOne  Xbox 360  PC

Music from Arctic Monkeys and More Announced for Rock Band 4 #RockBand4

2015/08/03
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

Rock Band 4 logo image

Cambridge, Mass. – August 3rd, 2015 – Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. (“Harmonix”) and Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT/ TSX: MCZ) are excited to reveal additional tracks that will be included in Rock Band 4, the next generation of the award-winning social and interactive music gaming platform releasing globally October 6, 2015 for Xbox One and the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system.

Players can ensure they’re ready to rock on launch day by pre-ordering game and hardware controller bundles through their favorite video game retailer; details can be found at http://www.rockband.com.

The Rock Band 4 soundtrack grows today with the announcement of more than a dozen amazing tracks that will be included as part of the core game when it ships this October. Whether it’s a sing-along hit like 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” or a heavy hitter that’ll have the crowd banging their head, like the Scorpions rock classic “No One Like You,” the Rock Band 4 soundtrack will feature an eclectic variety of legendary hits to modern, soon-to-be classics.

Below is a full list of the just-announced tracks:

  • 4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up?”
  • The Black Keys – “Fever”
  • Disturbed – “Prayer”
  • Duck & Cover – “Knock Em Down”
  • Eddie Japan – “Albert”
  • Fall Out Boy – “Centuries”
  • Halestorm – “I Miss The Misery”
  • Heart – “Kick It Out”
  • Heaven’s Basement – “I Am Electric”
  • Lightning Bolt – “Dream Genie”
  • Rick Derringer – “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo”
  • Rush – “A Passage To Bangkok”
  • Scorpions – “No One Like You”
  • Slydigs – “Light The Fuse”
  • Soul Remnants – “Dead Black (Heart of Ice)”
  • System of a Down – “Spiders”
  • White Denim – “At Night In Dreams”

These newly announced songs join an already impressive soundtrack line-up, including music by Aerosmith, Avenged Sevenfold, Elvis Presley, Foo Fighters, Jack White, Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars, St. Vincent, Queens of the Stone Age, The Who, and more! A full list of songs announced for Rock Band 4 can be found here. Additionally, Rock Band 4 will be compatible with more than 1500 tracks available for download on the Rock Band Music Store, as well as many tracks exported from previousRock Band titles.

Winner of multiple awards and nominations at the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), including “Best Music Game” from IGN and Game Informer, Rock Band 4 delivers the ecstatic rush of a live full-band game experience like never before. Rock Band 4 builds on the core gameplay people love, with brand new features, including game-changing Freestyle Guitar Solo gameplay that allows players to craft their own face-melting and truly original guitar solos.

Rock Band 4 will be available on October 6.

For more information on Rock Band 4 and to stay up to date with the latest news and announcements, head over to http://www.harmonixmusic.com and http://www.madcatz.com, and follow @RockBand and @MadCatz on Twitter for updates.

EVE Gunjack Release Announced for Samsung VR Platform

2015/08/03
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Mobile News, News

eve-gunjack-for-vr

3 Aug 2015 – Reykjavik, Iceland – CCP Games today announced the upcoming release of Gunjack™, a visually stunning virtual reality (VR) arcade shooter for the Samsung Gear VR platform that is set in the sprawling EVE science fiction universe. Built from the ground up for VR using the next-generation Unreal Engine 4 graphics engine, Gunjack delivers fast-paced and fully immersive action in a gorgeous panoramic sci-fi setting. Gunjack will be available with the official launch of the Samsung Gear VR platform.

Gunjack becomes the second original VR game in development by CCP, joining EVE: Valkyrie, and further demonstrates CCP’s commitment to VR gaming.

“We believe that virtual reality will be a defining element of gaming’s future. It may take some time to get widespread adoption, but we’re going to be there on day one,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP. “We’re making smart investments in VR so we can learn important lessons early and blow people’s minds when they get their hands on their first VR headset.”

In Gunjack, players take on the role of a gun turret operator on a mining vessel in the Outer Ring region of known space. As part of the ship’s defense team, it is up to the player to protect the rig from pirates, opportunists and anyone else looking to take what rightfully belongs to the company.

Gunjack is a first-person arcade shooter built from the ground up for virtual reality. With its intuitive controls and intense, full-immersion action, Gunjack is the ultimate pick-up-and-play VR experience. The sense of immersion inherent in VR games is heightened even further by Gunjack’s amazing action and graphics, built on a solid foundation with Epic’s Unreal Engine 4. Players’ turrets, the environment, and enemy ships spring to life in VR with dazzling clarity.

“Our goal was nothing less than creating the best game yet for the Gear VR headset,” said Jean-Charles Gaudechon, executive producer on Gunjack and studio manager at CCP Shanghai. “Our team has focused on delivering the most action-packed, graphically-stunning game possible on this new virtual reality platform.”

Gunjack is set in CCP’s sprawling EVE Universe, which also includes EVE Online on PC, DUST 514 on PlayStation®3, and the upcoming VR game for PCs and PlayStation®4, EVE: Valkyrie.

More information about Gunjack can be found at http://www.facebook.com/evegunjack.

Star Trek Convention Las Vegas Information

2015/07/31
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

star-trek-convention-las-vegas

I’m sorry to say that we missed the information on this show coming out, but if you are in Las Vegas from August 6 – 9, you might want to pick up some tickets to The Official Star Trek Convention! Here are all the details:

(Las Vegas, NV. . . July 15, 2015) Star Trek fans from around the world will beam into Las Vegas on August 6 – 9 for the world’s largest Star Trek Convention. This decade long tradition in Las Vegas, is expecting over 15,000 attendees to convene at The Rio Suites Hotel.

This four-day convention will be highlighted by special presentations including: a salute to the 20th Anniversary of Star Trek: Voyager on Saturday with cast members; a special celebration of the life and legacy of Lenard Nimoy (by son, Adam Nimoy) as well as a tribute to Grace Lee Whitney; in-person stage appearances by three Star Trek Captains, superstar William Shatner (classic Star Trek’s Captain Kirk, Saturday only), Sir Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation Captain Pichard, Sunday only), and Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager’s Captain Janeway, Saturday only); and a rare convention appearance by Joan Collins, who appeared in one of the best-episodes of classic Star Trek.

Other Starfleet worthy celebrities set to appear include: from the latest Star Trek feature films, Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy, Saturday only); from classic Star Trek Walter Koenig (Chekov, Friday only) and George Takei (Sulu, Sunday only); from Star Trek: Voyager Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine, Saturday only); Deep Space Nine’s LeVar Burton (Geordi LaForge, Sunday only); Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Brent Spiner (Data, Sunday only), Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi, day appearing TBA, Michael Dorn (Worf, day appearing TBA) Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker, Saturday or Sunday only); and many more.

In addition to celebrities, the non-stop theatrical show will include behind-the-scenes presentations, costume and trivia contests, no minimum bid auctions of unique collectibles and one-of-a-kind items, and special fan-made music videos. The exhibit hall will boast major companies and distributors selling and displaying Star Trek and sci-fi collectibles from across the nebula.

Along with nighttime Star Trek themed parties, the Star Trek: Live in Concert will return as apart of the Saturday Evening Gala Celebration. This special night will feature the famed Nevada Pops Orchestra under the direction of Musical Director and Conductor, Richard McGee, with James Darren, performing with this orchestra for the first time. The concert will take place Saturday, August 8 at 9:30 PM (a separate ticket required).

For our cosplayers, we have added a gigantic costume parade. On Saturday, with over 2,000 attendees expected to be in full Trek regalia, costumed attendees will line up at the ‘entrance of the dealers room and upon opening will parade through the dealers room area. Garak’s Tailor and Repair will be returning to handle any emergency costume repairs for free throughout the weekend. Also attendees walk down the hallways will be met with fun attractions and surprising maximum sized photo ops backdrops.

General admission tickets are available in advance (www.creationent.com) or at the door and start at $30 for single day general admission tickets and $149 for general admission weekend tickets. General admission tickets for the Saturday evening concert are $40. Show hours are Thursday, 10:30 AM – 7 PM, Friday, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Saturday, 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM and Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (times are tentative).

For further information, call Creation Entertainment, 818/409-0960, or visit our website at www.creationent.com.