Author - Jerry Paxton

Prototype Biohazard Bundle Launch Trailer

Prototype Biohazard Bundle Screenshot

Prototype Biohazard Bundle Screenshot

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – July 14, 2015 – Today Activision Publishing, Inc. launched the PROTOTYPE® BIOHAZARD BUNDLE, a collection containing the breakout third-person action-adventure games PROTOTYPE and PROTOTYPE 2. It is now available for $49.99 as a digital download on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system via the PlayStation®Store and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, through the Xbox Games Store. This title is rated M (Mature) by the ESRB.

The PROTOTYPE saga follows the intertwined stories of Alex Mercer and Sergeant James Heller, each given shapeshifting powers and superhuman strength by a deadly virus that has devastated New York City. PROTOTYPE and its sequel specialize in giving players unstoppable abilities of destruction and deception, then setting them loose in a dynamic open-world playground to unleash carnage on the shadowy forces behind the outbreak.

Each game in the PROTOTYPE BIOHAZARD BUNDLE includes exciting content and features for fans and newcomers to the series alike. Both titles have been updated for a new generation of hardware with Full HD rendering, improved framerate, and higher-resolution textures and effects. Moreover, PROTOTYPE 2 contains all of the DLC that came with the original RADNET Edition of the game, as well as the majority of in-game content previously offered through retailer pre-orders.

Both PROTOTYPE and PROTOTYPE 2 will be available to purchase individually on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One through the PlayStation®Store and Xbox Games Store, respectively, on August 11 in North America. The original PROTOTYPE will be $29.99; its sequel will be $39.99.

For the latest news and updates from the PROTOTYPE universe, please visit www.prototypegame.com.

Trailer

Sound Blaster Roar 2 Bluetooth Speaker Review

Sound Blaster Roar 2 in white and black images

Last year, we had the chance to review Creative Labs Sound Blaster Roar Bluetooth speaker. We gave it some very high marks for its quality and feature set. This year, Creative Labs has released the next iteration in the Roar speaker series: the Sound Blaster Roar 2. When Creative Labs messaged us to see if we wanted to check one of these new speakers out, we jumped at the chance. The Sound Blaster Roar 2 is noticeably smaller than its predecessor – about 20% smaller overall, actually. It even weighs less at 2.2 lbs compared to the Roar’s 2.5 lbs. On a design level, the Roar 2 is attractive wireless speaker that would fit equally-well into either your dorm, hotel room, or home office. It is available in both white and black color schemes and runs on either a plug in adapter or from a powered mini-USB cable (one is provided in the box).

Referring to power, the Sound Blaster Roar 2 has a rechargeable, 6,000 mAh battery that has been rated for up to 8 hours of non-stop play. In our tests, we found that statement to be pretty accurate, with our review unit pooping out just past 7.25 hours (this could have been due to its power level at the start of the test). Additionally, the Roar 2 is usable as a USB battery pack – just in case you need to recharge your devices while on the road.

Roar-2-Product-Guide_01

The Sound Blaster Roar 2 continues the standard of high quality audio laid out by the original Roar, supporting both wireless AAC and aptX codecs. In addition, the Roar 2 boasts the Creative Multipoint technology that allows the speaker to be connected to two Bluetooth devices at the same time – the user switches between the two as they wish. In addition to its Bluetooth connection, the Roar 2 supports NFC devices as well as ones that can connect to it by way of its 3.5mm audio input jack.

Internally, the Roar 2 features two high frequency drivers and one subwoofer unit, and its bass playback capabilities are pretty impressive. Its on-board digital signal processor is capable of using two nifty bits of Creative Labs tech – the ROAR and TeraBass modes. In ROAR mode, the overall output of the speaker is increased. Creative Labs claims this is to help fill the room with sound in the case of a party, presentation, etc. This mode works well, although I did notice that the bass sometimes got a bit distorted depending on the song being played. TeraBass is a really cool feature which counteracts the perceived loss of bass during low volume playback. Most importantly is that it is said not to over-accentuate bass levels in doing so. The TeraBass mode is what I preferred listening to music streamed from my iPhone with as it helps “fill in the gaps” missing with compressed digital music. Of course, the Roar 2 also features a micro SD card reader, built-in audio recorder, MP3 player, and speakerphone function – all of which you will find a use for at some point.

Roar-2-Product-Guide_02

[ezcol_1half]The Good

  • High quality wireless audio
  • Clear highs and room-filling bass
  • TeraBass feature sounds incredible

[/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end]The Bad

  • Roar bass boost mode can get distorted based on audio being played
  • Its biggest improvement over the original is its smaller size

[/ezcol_1half_end]

Overall, the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Roar 2 Bluetooth speaker continues the high quality journey started by the original Sound Blaster Roar. It has all of the bells and whistles of its predecessor in a 20% smaller package – perfect for taking it on the go. However, if you already own the original Sound Blaster Roar, you might want to think twice about purchasing the new one unless its smaller size is something you need. The Sound Blaster Roar 2 retails for $329 dollars but, if you head over to Sound Blaster’s official product page, you can find it on sale for $229.

[easyreview title=”Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2 Wireless Speaker Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

[button target=”_blank” style=”” link=”http://gamingshogun.com/gamingshogun-rating-system/”]Learn About Our Rating System[/button]

Official Product Link

D23 Expo to Feature Star Wars and Disney Video Game Presence

star-wars-battlefront-e3-screen-1_-luke-force-push_v2

BURBANK, CA – July 13, 2015 – D23 EXPO 2015 will feature the biggest Star Wars™ and Disney video games in a special presentation in the signature 7,500-seat Hall D23 theater and in Disney Interactive’s pavilion on the show floor.

In the Hall D23 presentation on Sunday, August 16 at 11 a.m., fans won’t want to miss never-before-seen gameplay, trailers, new reveals and surprises from Disney Interactive’s most anticipated games. Among the games participating in the presentation are: Disney Infinity 3.0 EditionStar Wars Battlefront™ from Electronic Arts and KINGDOM HEARTS III from Square Enix. Disney Interactive will showcase more Star Wars characters and Play Sets new to Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition and provide the entire audience with limited-edition giveaways exclusively for Hall D23. Electronic Arts will give guests an in-depth look at Star Wars Battlefront, the authentic Star Wars gaming experience coming November 17. Square Enix will also bring special guests and surprises to Hall D23 to reveal new information from KINGDOM HEARTS III.

In the Disney Interactive pavilion on the show floor, players can experience the latest and upcoming titles through hands-on demos, innovative interactive experiences and premium giveaways for all guests.

●     Players will join forces with Star Wars, Marvel, Disney and Disney•Pixar characters in Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition, the next chapter in the best-selling “hybrid toy / video game” series. Guests will have the chance to play some of the new Disney Infinity Play Sets, Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic, Star Wars™ Rise Against the Empire and Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out, and the fully enhanced Toy Box mode. Pavilion guests will also be able to visit the “Only in the Toy Box” Experience. Using a new augmented reality technology, fans can step into a virtual Toy Box environment and interact alongside their favorite Disney, Disney•Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters found inside Disney Infinity.Disney Infinity will also be giving away thousands of pre-release Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition figures featuring popular characters from across The Walt Disney Company (while supplies last).

●     Pavilion guests will also be able to live out some of their Star Wars battle fantasies by going hands-on with Star Wars Battlefront.

●     Fans can experience the latest arcade sensation from Disney Interactive, Lucasfilm and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, Star Wars™: Battle Pod™. Featuring cutting-edge, arcade-style video gameplay, Star Wars: Battle Pod brings players right into the action with a totally unique experience featuring a dome-shaped screen, air jets, and rumble seat.

●     In the pavilion’s game lounge, fans can take a break from the show floor and try out the hottest mobile games including Star Wars: Commander, Frozen Free Fall and LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum.

Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are $74 for a one-day adult admission and $54 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $65 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $112 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.

LA Haunted Hayride Gets Theme and NY Haunted Hayride Announced

NY Haunted Hayride promo poster

LA Haunted Hayride promo poster

(New York City – July 13, 2015) – Ten Thirty One Productions (TTO), the worldwide leader in producing live horror attractions, will expand the most popular Halloween attraction in the country, Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, to New York City this October for the first time ever. The wildly popular attraction, annually held in Los Angeles, led Mark Cuban to make the largest investment in “Shark Tank” history as well as a second investment by Live Nation.  TTO will now be bringing its biggest and best scares from seven years of haunting the west coast to the east coast for the most horrifying experience in town.

“This expansion to New York City is one of the most important moments in the history of Ten Thirty One Productions, and one we’ve been planning for 4 years,” says CEO of TTO Melissa Carbone. “As a native east coaster (where the concept originated), I have a very vested interest in changing Halloween forever in New York City by bringing a completely new immersive magical world to New York.”

Located at Randall’s Island Park, which historically has been home to real-life asylums and psychiatric hospitals, New York Haunted Hayride will embark on its traditional tractor drawn, hay filled wagons through a high-octane fantasy world that exploits the most disturbing fears living in us all.  Patrons can expect to encounter terror from all sides and angles through enchanted Halloween portals of ghostly apparitions, demonic possessions, orphanages of burnt children, creatures of leviathan proportion, psychopathic clowns and much more. Don’t miss the most highly-anticipated Halloween attraction of the year and what’s been called “Terrifying & Awesome.”

“The attraction will be haunting, enchanting, terrifying and everything you want to feel during the Halloween season.  It’s the best work we’ve done from the past seven years, all in one place at the same time,” Carbone adds.

Also returning for its seventh year at Griffith Park’s Old Zoo, the annually-anticipated Los Angeles Haunted Hayride returns with the all new experience, BOOGEYMAN. Expect the most haunting content to date with entirely new rides and new scare zones. Get thrown into unexpected claustrophobic spaces, endless darkness and interact with characters ready to haunt straight from one’s nightmares. Just when the ride can’t get any scarier, “Here Comes the Boogeyman.”

“We organically started to notice that regardless of where you go in the world, each culture has their own version of a Boogeyman.  It’s an intriguing unifying characteristic in the way we experience fear,” says Carbone. “This notion is the overarching theme to an extraordinary ride that will allow hayriders to meet the Boogeymen of the world…and there are some vicious Boogeymen out there.”

The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride continually creates unparalleled experiences with new characters, new sets and a whole new feel from past hayrides.  This year, the entire hayride trail has never been seen as parent company, Ten Thirty One Productions, has built a brand new trail from the ground up. Five Scare Zones will return with brand new zones: Trick Or Treat, House of Shadows, and the mega hit, In-Between Dark Maze with an all-new twist. Purgatory will feature crowd favorites, Theatre Macabre, Death Row, Jack’s Carving Shack, Scary-Go-Round, Psychics, Grub Shack, Bootique and some of the best character performances in the country. Get on the darkest, scariest and most haunting experience to date, Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, BOOGEYMAN.

NY Haunted Hayride promo poster

The terror on both coasts starts on Monday, October 2. The Annual Black Carpet Premiere Night in Los Angeles will take place on Thursday, October 8 where celebrities and VIP guests will get to experience this year’s all new festivities.  Past celebrity attendees at the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride have included Ryan Gosling, David Beckham, Katy Perry, Zac Efron, Kristen Stewart, Demi Lovato, Eva Mendez, Nikki Reed, Megan Fox, Sarah Hyland, Lucy Hale, Chris Colfer, Taylor Lautner, Kellan Lutz, Dax Shepard, Forest Whitaker, Emmy Rossum, Sarah Silverman, Kristin Ritter, Jillian Michaels, and many more. The New York Haunted Hayride anticipates to draw just as many notable names.

The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride and New York Haunted Hayride will be open from Oct 2 – Oct 31.  Tickets for the New York Haunted Hayride start at $35 and $30 for the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. General Admission for Los Angeles Haunted Hayride only includes access to all five attractions for $43 and VIP Admission for $59. TICKETS GO ON SALE FOR BOTH NEW YORK HAUNTED HAYRIDE AND LOS ANGELES HAUNTED HAYRIDE ON TUESDAY, JULY 21Save $5 on Wednesday and Thursday with Super Saver tickets (limited availability). Private wagons, which include VIP access to all attractions, can be purchased for $1,395 in Los Angeles and $995 for New York. Group rates are also available. Your purchase supports the LA Parks Foundation, preserving parks for the people of Los Angeles. For the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, please visit www.losangeleshauntedhayride.com for complete details. For the New York Haunted Hayride, please visit www.newyorkhauntedhayride.com for complete details.

The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride and New York Haunted Hayride are Fur Free Attractions; there is plenty of blood and guts on the ride!

ABOUT TEN THIRTY ONE PRODUCTIONS
Ten Thirty One Productions, LLC is an Entertainment Company focused on the Horror genre. Launching one of the most popular Horror attractions in LA, “Los Angeles Haunted Hayride” in 2009, TTO has quickly grown as one of the premiere horror genre attractions companies in the country. A major component in the business model has and will always be a strong social awareness element that is integrated into the content of the attractions. For example, Environmental Conservation, Animal and Wildlife Welfare, City Park Preservation and more are issues that are addressed in creative ways in every TTO production.  Ten Thirty One Productions recycles, composts, features plastic free concessions, hybrid/electric production vehicles, biodiesel fuels, 100% reused/recycled sets and wardrobes, plant based concessions, carpool discounts and more in an effort to minimize the environmental footprint.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 First Gameplay Trailer

THPS5_School_Tony_Airwalk

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – July 13, 2015 – Today Activision Publishing, Inc. has shared a new gameplay trailer for Tony Hawk’s® Pro Skater 5. Backed with punk band Plague Vendor’s track “Black Sap Scriptures,” the video shows skateboarding pros and hidden characters, classic trick combos in brand-new levels, and tons of skaters ripping together. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 is expected to arrive in North America on September 29, 2015 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 rekindles the signature style of classic Pro Skater games in a brand-new set of levels with the same renowned focus on daring objectives and fine-tuned controls – including manuals and reverts – for endless sessions and high-scoring tricks. Expansive, seamless online multiplayer means you can quickly jump into the action with up to 20 friends and challengers at one time. Pretty much everything you could do in single-player in past THPS games, you can now do online with friends in THPS5, like missions, unlocking new content, and leveling up… or if your skills are on point, go head-to-head against all takers in competitive matches. Adding to the online insanity, you can create your own skateparks, then share them with the community. If your creation is good enough, you might find the Birdman himself in there nailing 900s! Shredders, take note: the online features are exclusive to the PlayStation®4 and Xbox One versions of the game.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 will be available for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One for $59.99. For the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system versions, confirmation of exact release dates will follow, but are anticipated to release prior to the end of the year. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 versions will not have online play and are priced $20 less than the PlayStation®4 and Xbox One versions.

Join the community on Facebook at facebook.com/TonyHawkGames and on Twitter and Instagram at @tonyhawkgames.

2015 San Diego Comic-Con Photo Gallery

sdcc-2015-1145 copy

Here is our official photo gallery from the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con. It was a whirlwind of activity from start to finish. I ran straight into Bill Murray, got tossed out of an event which I had an appointment for, screened M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit, and a whole lot more. Checkout our photo gallery below!

Photographs

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Dead At 55

Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo

Breaking news from Nintendo as it seems that its long-time president, Satoru Iwata, has passed away at only 55 years old. Nintendo’s Japanese website released a very brief statement on the matter:

Nintendo Co., Ltd. deeply regrets to announce that President Satoru Iwata passed away on July 11, 2015 due to a bile duct growth.

We first heard of this through Kotaku and are working on getting additional details.

TRANSFORMERS: Devastation Comic-Con Gameplay Trailer

Transformers Devastation Screenshot Image

July 11, 2015 — Today at Comic-Con International: San Diego, Activision Publishing, Inc. and developer PlatinumGames Inc. released a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming third-person action-brawler, TRANSFORMERS: Devastation. Blasting off with a showdown between cosmic rivals, this new in-game footage puts the heavy metal clash of the heroic AUTOBOTS and insidious DECEPTICONS front and center with explosive cel-shaded detail.

TRANSFORMERS: Devastation brings Hasbro’s converting robot titans to life with classic Generations styling and modern attitude. This new trailer highlights four of the five playable heroes in the game – OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE, SIDESWIPE and WHEELJACK – as well as notorious foes like MEGATRON, STARSCREAM and the towering combiner, DEVASTATOR. Whether leaping into vehicle form to ram enemies at high speed or juggling them in mid-air with a flurry of blinding-fast combos, the dynamic action of TRANSFORMERS: Devastation is so close it’s personal.

TRANSFORMERS: Devastation is expected to launch later this year on the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC via Steam. For the latest updates until then, please visit www.TransformersGame.com and www.facebook.com/TransformersGame.