Author - Jerry Paxton

Shout! Factory Reveals Huge Events for 2015 San Diego Comic-Con

2015/06/24

June 24, 2015 — Now a mainstay at San Diego Comic-Con International, Shout! Factory returns to the convention in 2015 with a dynamic line-up sure to delight pop culture enthusiasts of all ages. Shout! Factory is a leading multi-platform entertainment company, and its Comic-Con offerings, which span its popular Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids and Scream Factory™ brands, are sure to please devoted fans of popular home entertainment properties, collectors and pop culture enthusiasts alike. This year, Shout! Factory unveils an exciting panel event, new home entertainment products, Comic-Con exclusives and engaging booth activities. Fans and attendees are invited to join in on the excitement at the Shout! Factory booth (#4118) on the main convention floor.

Convention attendees who are genre and horror film buffs, obscure franchise fanatics, animation aficionados, fans of retro television or who just have a penchant for pop culture entertainment will not want to miss this year’s panel event: An Inside Look at Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids, Scream Factory and Shout! Factory TV on Friday, July 10^th, at 7:30 pm in Room 24ABC. Join Brian Ward (BD/DVD producer), Melissa Boag (vice-president, Shout! Factory Kids), and Jeff Nelson (senior marketing director, Scream Factory) as they give you an exclusive sneak peak at upcoming Blu-ray and DVD collector’s editions and make some very special announcements. This fan-driven event featuring lively discussion and a Q&A is moderated by Eric Goldman (executive editor at IGN).

Shout! Factory Booth (#4118) and the studio’s Shout! Factory Store, located in the Shout! Factory booth, will once again be essential destinations on the convention center floor. Showcasing highly anticipated current and upcoming offerings from Shout! Factory’s most popular brands, the booth also features convention exclusives, an autograph signing, interactive fan activities including a green screen photo booth, daily sweepstakes giveaways and much more.

For continuing updates on Shout! Factory’s Comic-Con activities and news, please follow us on Twitter @ShoutFactory, on Instagram @shoutfactory, and the studio’s official Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial.

SHOUT! FACTORY BOOTH (#4118) HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

The Shout! Factory Green Screen Photo Booth: During all convention hours Thursday through Sunday, commemorate your SDCC experience with a free digital photo at our photo booth! FromMST3K to Scream Factory, My Little Pony to Power Rangers, we’ve got a backdrop to fit your fandom! Once we’ve snapped your picture and you’ve chosen your background, you can share your photo digitally via the social media platform of your choice.

Kaiju Scavenger Hunt:

To celebrate the upcoming The Kaiju Movie Marathon, Shout! Factory TV is teaming with Famous Monsters Magazine (booth #1507) for a kaiju scavenger hunt! Visit both booths to collect each half of a special postcard, and then turn in the completed postcard at either Shout! Factory’s or Famous Monster’s booth to collect your limited-edition Godzilla poster!

My Little Pony Costume Contest: Is your My Little Pony cosplay so good even Rarity would be impressed? Come show us! If you are dressed as a My Little Pony character, come to the Shout! Factory booth (#4118) and have your picture taken in the green-screen photo booth to enter. Each day (Thursday– Sunday) one winner will be selected to receive a $100 Amex gift card. The grand prize winner a $150 Amex gift card PLUS an entire set of EVERY My Little Pony release by Shout! Kids! No purchase necessary. Rules and restrictions apply.

Comic-Con Exclusives!

Scream Factory’s highly sought-after button packs are back! Stop by the Shout! Factory booth (#4118) for your FREE 2015 Scream Factory Button Pack

Excited for the My Little Pony: Equestria Girls-Friendship Games later this year? Stop by our booth to get your FREE, exclusive My Little Pony: Equestria Girls-Friendship Games Button (while supplies last).

We’re also giving away other Shout! Factory goodies, including Shout! Factory cloth shopping bags and Shout! Factory TV screen wipes.

Schedule Of Shout! Factory Events At Comic-Con International 2015

Wednesday, July 8^th

Preview Night

Thursday July 9^th

12 p.m. Power Rangers appearance at Shout! Factory booth #4118.

All Day My Little Pony Costume Contest at the Shout! Factory booth #4118.

All Day Shout! Factory Green Screen Photo Booth

Friday July 10^th

1 p.m. Meet Samantha Newark (original speaking voices of Jem and Jerrica in

Jem and the Holograms) Special signing with SDCC exclusive posters

at the Shout! Factory booth.

7:30 p.m. Panel: An Inside Look at Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids,

Scream Factory and Shout! Factory TV

Room 24ABC, Convention Center

All Day My Little Pony Costume Contest at the Shout! Factory booth #4118.

All Day Shout! Factory Green Screen Photo Booth

Saturday July 11^th

12 p.m. Power Rangers appearance at Shout! Factory booth #4118.

All Day My Little Pony Costume Contest at the Shout! Factory booth #4118.

All Day Shout! Factory Green Screen Photo Booth

Sunday July 12^th

9:30 a.m. – Shout! Factory Green Screen Photo Booth

3 p.m.

All Day My Little Pony Costume Contest at the Shout! Factory booth #4118.

Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids And Scream Factory Home Entertainment

Highlights For SDCC 2015

The Last Unicorn: The Enchanted Edition (BR/DVD/Digital Combo Pack)

One of the most beloved fantasy films of all-time, The Last Unicorn has enraptured generations of fans with its poetic tale of a brave unicorn’s journey through a mystic land seeking others of her kind. Showcasing the latest hi-definition restoration of the uncut film, endorsed by Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn: The Enchanted Edition is brought to life with exquisite detail never before seen, to ensure the most satisfying film viewing experience for all fans, old and young alike. The release also comes loaded with brand new bonus features, including an audio commentary with Peter S. Beagle, Michael Chase Walker, Connor Cochran, Terri Kempton and Travis Ashmore; “Highlights from The Last UnicornWorldwide Screening Tour with Peter S. Beagle,” the featurette True Magic: The Story of The Last Unicorn, and animated storyboards, as well as the original theatrical trailer.

Dog Soldiers Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack)

Six Men. Full Moon. No Chance. The terrifying thriller Dog Soldiers gets the Scream Factory treatment with a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack. Dog Soldiers features a new 2k scan HD transfer supervised and approved by director Neil Marshall and comes loaded with brand-new bonus features, including an audio commentary with director Neil Marshall, a look at the model of the sets created by production designer Simon Bowles and the featurette The Making of ‘Dog Soldiers’, featuring new interviews with director Neil Marshall, producers Christopher Figg and Keith Bell, actors Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee, Darren Morfitt, Leslie Simpson and Emma Cleasby, special effects artist Bob Keen, special effects supervisor/creature designer Dave Bonneywell, production designer Simon Bowles and director of photography Sam McCurdy. Dog Soldiers also includes Neil Marshall’s short film Combat, theatrical trailers, and a still gallery.

MST3K: Volume XXXIII (DVD)

This summer you can get your kicks with the cool cats on the Satellite of Love, in orbit with some of the cheesiest movies ever made. Don’t be a square, it’ll be a gas! On July 28th, 2015, Shout! Factory will release Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXXIII, featuring four episodes never before on DVD: Daddy-O, Earth vs. the Spider, Teen-Age Crime Wave and Agent For H.A.R.M. The set also includes a bevy of brand-new bonus features including the featurettes Beatnick Blues: Investigating ‘Daddy-O’, This Movie Has Legs: Looking Back at ‘Earth Vs. The Spider’ and Film It Again, Sam: The Katzman Chronicles; interviews Tommy Cook: From Jungle Boy To Teenage Jungle and Peter Mark Richman: In H.A.R.M.’s Way, MST hour wraps, theatrical trailers and four exclusive Mini Posters by artist Steve Vance.

Thunderbirds: The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

In 5…4…3…2…1…Thunderbirds are GO! Available for the first time on Blu-ray, the re-mastered high-definition transfer showcases Gerry Anderson’s visionary Supermarionation technique in exquisite detail never before seen, and promises audiences of all ages an outstanding showcase of thrills, action, and adventure with no (okay, maybe some) strings attached. Featuring all 32 episodes of the popular science-fiction series in a 6 BR set, Thunderbirds: The Complete Series also includes the documentary “Launching Thunderbirds”, which includes a never before seen interview with Gerry Anderson, and a vintage publicity brochure as bonus features.

Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut [Limited Edition] (Blu-ray)

After 25 years, fans and horror enthusiasts can finally experience NIGHTBREED like never before! Scream Factory, in conjunction with Warner Bros., was able to find the long-thought-missing original film elements and combed through over 600 boxes to locate not only the lost scenes but a treasure trove of never-before-seen footage as well. With lost footage meticulously restored, the result is not only a more faithful adaptation of Clive Barker’s book Cabal, but also what he originally intended NIGHTBREED to be. This three disc, extremely limited set contains the new director’s cut, the theatrical cut, and is loaded with brand new bonus features.

The Decline Of Western Civilization Collection (Blu-ray)

The highly-celebrated and long-awaited trilogy known as The Decline Of Western Civilization will receive a deluxe box set release. The 4-disc set contains Penelope Spheeris’ The Decline Of Western Civilization (1980), The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II : The Metal Years (1988), and The Decline Of Western Civilization Part III (1998), a 40-page book containing an essay written by rock historian Domenic Priore (Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Last Stand in Hollywood), rare stills, and bonus features including extended interviews, a commentary recorded by Dave Grohl in February 2015, and more. This is the first ever official Blu-ray or DVD release of the films.

Hackers: 20^th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray with poster)

Hack the planet! A highly stylized cyberpunk exploitation fantasy, Hackers is a joyous ride through ‘90s cyberpunk subculture. The Hackers: 20^th Anniversary Edition also includes the brand new bonus feature The Keyboard Cowboys – a 3-part documentary looking back at Hackers including all-new interviews with director Iain Softley, cast members Fisher Stevens, Matthew Lillard and Penn Jillette, visual effects artist Peter Chiang, wardrobe designer Roger Burton, hacking consultants Nicholas Jarecki and Emmanuel Goldstein and film critic Mark Kermode.

The People Under the Stairs (Blu-ray with poster)

In horror master Wes Craven’s The People Under The Stairs, a young boy is trapped inside the fortified home owned by a mysterious couple. Suddenly thrust into a nightmare, he quickly learns the true nature of the house’s homicidal inhabitants and the secret creatures hidden deep within the house. The People Under The Stairs comes loaded with bonus features, including Audio Commentary with writer/director Wes Craven, Audio Commentary with actors Brandon Adams, A.J. Langer, Sean Whalen, and Yan Birch, House Mother – an interview with actress Wendy Robie, What Lies Beneath – interviews with special make-up effects Artists Greg Nicotero, Howard Berger and Robert Kurtzman, House of Horrors – an interview with director of photography Sandi Sissel, Settling The Score – an interview with composer Don Peake and much more!

Wyrmood: Road of the Dead (Blu-Ray)

In the aftermath of a comet breaking up over Earth, most of the planet’s population quickly succumbs to a strange disease which turns them into “zombies.” Few survive, and those who do, quickly discover all existing fuel sources have been rendered useless by the plague. A raucous, blood-soaked post-apocalyptic epic filled with inspired vehicular mayhem and unrestrained gore, Wyrmood: Road of the Dead is one of the most wildly entertaining genre films in years. This critically-acclaimed rambunctious adventure comes loaded with bonus features, including an audio commentary with the Roache-Turner Brothers, the featurette The Wyrmdiaries: Behind the Scenes of WYRMWOOD, Crowdfunding Videos: Wyrmwood Production Pitch, deleted scenes, a seven minute teaser scene, a gallery of storyboards by the director and the theatrical trailer.

Robot Jox (Blu-Ray)

In the distant future, mankind has forsaken global wars for battles of single combat. The world has been divided into two opposing super powers, with each side represented by trained champions. Their weapons are huge robotic machines, capable of battle on land, sea and in the air. From celebrated director Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, From Beyond) and executive producer Charles Band comes ROBOT JOX, a riveting sci-fi action adventure. Arriving for the first time on Blu-ray, this highly-anticipated release contains insightful bonus content, including new interview with actor Paul Koslo, audio commentary, behind-the-scene footage and much more.

Howling II: Your Sister Is A Werewolf (Blu-Ray)

After countless millennia of watching, waiting and stalking, the unholy creatures known as werewolves are poised to inherit the earth. Legendary horror icon Christopher Lee (The Lord of the Rings, Count Dracula) faces off against sexy cult favorite Sybil Danning (Battle Beyond the Stars, Chained Heat, Grindhouse) in this terrifying descent into a world of nightmares that turns out to be all too real! This high-anticipated release contains extensive bonus content, including all-new interviews with actor Reb Brown, actress Sybil Danning, special make-up effects artists Steve Johnson and Scott Wheeler, audio commentary, behind-the-scenes footage and much more.

I, Madman (Blu-ray)

After a spine-tingling paperback catches the imagination of bookstore clerk Virginia, she seeks out the author’s second book, I, Madman. But once she opens the cover, its eerie tale of obsessive love comes to life, catapulting a disfigured, scalpel-wielding killer from the world of fiction onto the streets of Hollywood with one demented goal: to win Virginia’s love, one murder at a time! Arriving for the first time on Blu-ray, this long-awaited release contains insightful bonus content, including interviews with director Tibor Takacs, actor & artistic supervisor Randall William Cook, screenwriter David Chaskin, actor Clayton Rohner and actress Stephanie Hodge, behind-the-scene footage, audio commentary and much more.

Michael Jordan the NBA 2K16 Special Edition Cover Athlete

2015/06/24

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

2K Sports NBA 2K16 Basketball Box Art Xbox One

New York, NY – June 24, 2015 – 2K today announced that NBA 2K16 will feature Michael Jordan on the cover of this year’s Special Edition. The next iteration of the NBA video game simulation series that’s been top-rated for the last 15 years*, will celebrate Jordan’s Hall of Fame legacy and give fans even more options to customize their in-game experience.

Gamers that pre-order the Special Edition will receive NBA 2K16 on Friday, September 25, four days before the standard launch, along with memorabilia and other in-game content, including:

Jordan NBA 2K16 Poster;
Jordan Fathead® Wall Cling;
Digital Jordan shoes for your MyPLAYER;
Digital Jordan T-shirt for your MyPLAYER;
Digital Jordan jersey for your MyPLAYER;
30,000 Virtual Currency;
MyTEAM VIP+:
- 3 Emerald Packs AND a new Special Edition Exclusive Moments Card.

Jordan’s appearance on NBA 2K16 marks the third NBA 2K cover appearance for the 14-time NBA All-Star, six-time NBA World Champion, five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and NBA Hall of Fame inductee.

“I’m excited about this year’s NBA 2K’s Special Edition,” said Michael Jordan. “NBA 2K16 allows gamers young and old to not only experience and re-create some of my greatest moments on the basketball court but also customize their players with Jordan shoes and apparel.”

The NBA 2K16 Michael Jordan Special Edition will be available in both digital and physical formats for $79.99 on PlayStation^®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One.

2K previously announced that three of the NBA’s top superstars will be making their cover debuts on the standard edition of NBA 2K16: Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Houston Rockets’ James Harden and New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis. The game will also highlight an all-new MyCAREER mode that was written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee.

Developed by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K16 is not yet rated by the ESRB. NBA 2K16 will be available for PlayStation^®4 system and PlayStation^®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Xbox 360; and Windows PC platforms on September 29, 2015.

Fans can pre-order NBA 2K16 at participating North American retail and online vendors, ensuring they receive their copy and in-game bonuses ahead of the game’s September 29 release date. While game covers will be distributed at random, each game box includes a foldable insert with all 3 individual cover athletes, ensuring the ability to insert the cover of their choice into the front of box.

Follow @NBA2K on social media and look for the hashtag #BeTheStory for the latest NBA 2K16 news.

Anime Expo Signs Long Term Contract with Los Angeles Convention Center

2015/06/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Los Angeles, CA (June 23, 2015) – AEG Facilities’ Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) is thrilled to announce that the venue will host Anime Expo (“AX”) for the next five years (through 2019), solidifying LA’s on-going partnership with the event organizer, The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (“SPJA”), while reinforcing the LACC’s position as a top destination for large-scale, multi-day events. The SPJA presented its first event in 1992; AX functions as a convention for promoting Japanese Pop Culture and the arts related to Japanese Animation and as a communication forum for fans and industry professionals. Since its inception, Anime Expo has grown to become the largest anime convention in North America.

The 2015 edition of Anime Expo is just over a week away (July 2-5) and this year’s attendance is projected to reach 100,000 unique / 280,000 turnstile attendees, exceeding previous attendance records (2014: 80,000 unique / 220,000 turnstile attendees; 2013: 61,000 unique / 180,000 turnstile attendees). “2015 marks Anime Expo’s 24^th year and we are excited for another successful event in Los Angeles; the show has consistently grown in all aspects over the years and we’ve found a very welcoming and supportive home in Los Angeles,” commented Marc Perez, Chief Executive Officer of The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA).

AX is a critical annual event for Los Angeles; through direct and indirect spending on travel, lodging, meals, and entertainment convention attendees stimulate the City’s economy and support local businesses and jobs. “Los Angeles is excited to welcome Anime Expo back to the L.A. Convention Center for the next five years,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “L.A. is the creative capital of the world and a perfect home for North America’s largest anime and manga convention. We value our partnership with The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation and the Anime Expo (SPJA), which generates $55 million for our local economy every year.”

With Downtown Los Angeles experiencing exponential growth, the City is more equipped than ever to welcome large-scale events such as AX. “Los Angeles is booming right now, especially the Downtown L.A. area. In recent years, heavy investment in the area has led to an upswing of businesses and developments as well as to the consistent addition of hotels surrounding the Convention Center,” noted Ernest Wooden Jr., President and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board (LATCB).

Preparations for AX 2015 at the LACC are well underway, with AX activating the entire facility for the first time ever for this year’s show. “We’re very pleased that Anime Expo has selected the LACC for its upcoming events, including next year’s milestone 25th anniversary, which is a great achievement for our Center and for the City alike,” concluded Brad Gessner, AEG Facilities Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Los Angeles Convention Center.

HBO Announces Game of Thrones and Outcast Events for Comic-Con

2015/06/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, SDCC

Game of Thrones Jon Snow vs White Walker Swordfight

June 23, 2015 — The HBO series GAME OF THRONES and the new Robert Kirkman CINEMAX series OUTCAST, produced by FOX International Studios are confirmed for panels and autograph sessions at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2015.

Fans can follow @GameofThrones for live coverage of the GAME OF THRONES panel and #GoTSDCC to join the conversation. For OUTCAST, fans can follow @Cinemax and use #Outcast.

Below is information on the two panels.

Friday, July 10

The GAME OF THRONES panel in Hall H at 2:30 p.m. will be moderated by Seth Meyers (“Late Night with Seth Meyers”). Panelists include: executive producer Carolyn Strauss, director David Nutter and cast members (in alphabetical order) Alfie Allen (Theon/Reek), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Liam Cunningham (Ser Davos Seaworth), Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), Conleth Hill (Varys), Hannah Murray (Gilly), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Carice van Houten (Melissandre) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark). Autograph signing is at 4:15 p.m.

Saturday, July 11

OUTCAST, the upcoming Robert Kirkman series based on the Skybound/Image comic produced for CINEMAX by FOX International Studios (FIS), will give audiences a first look with its debut at Comic-Con. The panel will be in Room 6A at 3:00 p.m. and will be moderated by Kumail Nanjiani (HBO’s “Silicon Valley”). Panelists include: creators and executive producers Robert Kirkman and Chris Black, cast members Patrick Fugit (Kyle Barnes), Philip Glenister (Reverend Anderson) and Wrenn Schmidt (Megan Holter), and two surprise special guest panelists. Autograph signing is at 5:45 p.m.

The autograph signings will take place in the Warner Bros. booth #4545. Warner Bros. follows Comic-Con’s ticket drawing/wristband distribution procedure for all signings. All ticket drawings and wristband distributions will take place in the morning of the day of the specific signing at the Sails Pavilion floor, between Ballroom 20 and Rooms 6A, 6BCF and 6DE.

PLEASE NOTE: Cast and producers scheduled to attend are subject to change.

Entertainment Earth Unveils Bizarro Chair Cape for San Diego Comic-Con

2015/06/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, SDCC

June 23, 2015 — After introducing the world to the Batman Classic Chair Cape™, Entertainment Earth is about to change the way you sit once again with the Convention Exclusive Bizarro Chair Cape™!

With the help of the Man of Steel’s alter ego, Entertainment Earth is proving that sitting down in style isn’t just for heroes with the second release of their patent pending Chair Cape™ product line!

This ingenious new product line is not only a first for collectibles giant Entertainment Earth, but a first for the industry as well! No longer does sitting down have to be a mundane and dreary undertaking. At 24-inches long, this clever cape comes with a sturdy yet highly adjustable hook and loop based belt and strap that will fit most chairs.

To continue the inaugural launch of this exciting new product line, Entertainment Earth has partnered with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment to turn your office upside down with the Bizarro Chair Cape™.

Available for the first time on July 8, 2015 at the Entertainment Earth booth #2343 at San Diego Comic-Con, fans will have the chance to assume the identity of Superman’s doppelganger wherever they sit with this limited edition patent pending Chair Cape™! Limited to only 1,200 pieces, each box is individually numbered too!

Be it at the office, in your home, on the patio, a birthday party, a wedding, or even a comic-book convention, the patent pending Chair Cape™ by Entertainment Earth is ready to save the world one seat-back at a time.

Not attending San Diego Comic-Con 2015? *PRE-ORDER your Bizarro Chair Cape – Convention Exclusive at Entertainment Earth now!

(*NOTE: Pre-orders made before San Diego Comic-Con 2015 are not guaranteed to be fulfilled based on limited supplies. Available units will ship after Comic-Con 2015 while supplies last.)

Stay tuned to Entertainment Earth and all our social media networks for the latest SDCC reveal news and future Chair Cape™ releases!

All related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.

Batman: Arkham Knight Launch Screenshots

2015/06/23

Jerry Paxton

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

Burbank, Calif. – June 23, 2015 – “This is how it happened, this is how the Batman died.” Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Batman™: Arkham Knight, the epic conclusion to Rocksteady Studios’ award-winning, best-selling Batman: Arkham trilogy, is available now for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC.

Batman: Arkham Knight raises the stakes for The Dark Knight like never before as he faces the ultimate threat against Gotham City. The intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman™: Arkham Asylum, which escalated in the devastating conspiracy against the inmates in Batman™: Arkham City, culminates in the ultimate showdown in Gotham City in which players can explore a completely open and free-roaming game world. For the first time in the series, players will able to experience the ultimate and complete Batman experience with the newly introduced Batmobile that has been uniquely designed to be fully drivable throughout the open game world and capable of transformation from high speed Pursuit Mode to military grade Battle Mode.

“The Batman: Arkham series is one of Warner Bros.’ most popular and critically acclaimed video game franchises, and with Batman: Arkham Knight, we are giving players the game they have always asked for,” said David Haddad, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Batman: Arkham Knight is the culmination of Rocksteady Studios’ dedication to deliver both an amazing narrative tale and thrilling gameplay experience from beginning to end.”

“Rocksteady has been truly honored to bring to life the rich universe envisioned by DC Comics in the Batman: Arkham trilogy of games,” said Sefton Hill, Game Director at Rocksteady Studios. “With Batman: Arkham Knight being the conclusion to the series, we wanted to give players a story filled with unforgettable moments, ambitious new features such as the Batmobile and an epic open-world Gotham City that allow them to live the complete Batman experience.”

The fate of Gotham City hangs in the balance as Scarecrow is joined by the Arkham Knight, a completely new and original character in the Batman universe, as well as a roster of Super-Villains including Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Two-Face, Firefly and the Riddler. Joining The World’s Greatest Detective are his closest allies, Commissioner Gordon, Oracle, Alfred, Lucius Fox, Catwoman, Robin and Nightwing. Throughout the game, players will be introduced to enhancements to the signature features of the Batman: Arkham series, such as stealth, forensics, navigation, and FreeFlow Combat. In addition, the new Dual Play feature is available in specific areas of the game and allows players to seamlessly switch between The Dark Knight and his fellow heroes including Robin, Nightwing, and Catwoman.

Also available is the Batman: Arkham Knight Season Pass, which will deliver regular new content for six months post-launch: A new prequel story expansion, Batgirl: A Matter of Family; new story objectives featuring legendary Super-Villains invading Gotham City; missions that allow players to take on the role of Batman’s key allies; iconic Batmobiles from Batman’s 75-year history that can be driven on custom-built race tracks; legendary Batmobile skins; advanced challenge maps; and alternative character skins. The Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition includes the main game and the Season Pass. The Season Pass is priced at $39.99 MSRP.

Those playing on PlayStation®4 will also have access to exclusive content, including the Scarecrow Nightmare Missions Pack, Classic TV Series Batman and Batmobile Skins and the Justice League 3000 Batman Skin.

Batman: Arkham Knight is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB. For more information, please visit www.batmanarkhamknight.com, https://www.facebook.com/BatmanArkham or https://twitter.com/BatmanArkham.

Screenshots

The Bard’s Tale IV Kickstarter Campaign Announces FREE Games for Backers

2015/06/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Newport Beach, CA – Backers of The Bard’s Tale IV have even more to look forward to! inXile Entertainment announced today that as part of the new inXile Loyalty Rewards promotion, all returning Torment: Tides of Numenera or Wasteland 2 backers who also back The Bard’s Tale IV no later than June 26th, 12:00 AM PST, will receive a selection of exclusive gifts as additional thanks for their generous support.

Any returning backer will receive a choice of special bonus rewards valued at up to $15. These bonuses include Digital Novella Compilations, Digital Soundtracks, Digital Concept Art Books, and more!

Additionally, all returning The Bard’s Tale IV Kickstarter backers at the $33 reward tier and above will receive both Ultima Underworld 1 & 2 FREE with their pledges, redeemable on GOG.com at the conclusion of The Bard’s Tale IV Kickstarter campaign. This special offer comes thanks to a partnership with Otherside Entertainment, which launched its own dungeon crawler Kickstarter campaign, Underworld Ascendant, to great success and acclaim in early 2015.

Both inXile Loyalty Rewards promotion offers run to 12:00 AM PST on June 26th, 2015, and are retroactive for previous backers. Full details can be found at this page: http://thebardstalerpg.tumblr.com/inxile-loyalty-rewards

This bonus offer comes in addition to other free extras previously offered, including the recently announced re-release of The Bard’s Tale I-III Trilogy for all backers $20 and above, regardless of whether they backed previous inXile games.

The Bard’s Tale IV campaign is currently fully funded thanks to nearly 30,000 backers, and is headed towards unlocking its stretch goals. Featuring an expanded companion system, crafting system, a dungeon created by legendary RPG designer Monte Cook, and more to come, inXile hopes to make The Bard’s Tale IV a truly epic sized experience.

“Once again the RPG fans have come through and supported our efforts to bring our unique style of RPG to the market.” said CEO Brian Fargo. “We are honored by their trust and support. Our games would not exist without our fans and for that we thank them.”

Sword Coast Legends E3 Hands-On Demo

2015/06/22

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News, Previews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Preview

We got the chance to visit the Wizards of the Coast meeting room, deep within the 2015 E3 Concourse Hall. This is an area of E3 without the flash, glitz, and glamour. The Concourse Hall consists of rows upon rows of meeting rooms. Some of these meeting rooms are very pretty once inside but, from the outer aisles of the hall, it’s all business. In fact, I would call it E3’s mullet. But, I digress… Once inside the Wizards of the Coast meeting room, we got the chance to go hands-on with their highly-anticipates Sword Coast Legends – the PC game adaptation of the company’s new Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition ruleset.

Sword Coast Legends plays out in a similar fashion to Neverwinter Nights. It is an isometric RPG with eye-catching visuals and the ability to let you friends team up to take on whatever may await them. I phrase it like that because, while Sword Coast Legends will have a campaign that you guys can tackle, one of its most intriguing features is letting one of your group take on the role of the DM, or, “Dungeon Master”. The DM has the ability to craft entire campaigns, dungeons, quests, whatever you like. The DM can do this on-the-fly or in pre-created modules. What is cool about this is that the DM can alter and adapt to the party’s actions as they desire. This will really lend itself to a more tabletop RPG style experience.

As a player in Sword Coast Legends, I was given control of a Dwarf Fighter of the 6th level. We started out watching one of the developers play as the DM. They constructed a quest line, then a destination dungeon to go along with that quest. It was really neat to see him place traps, monsters, and more. Then we realized that the rest of us players would be jumping into that dungeon… Oh well, my sword and shield crave goblin blood! So in we went, and had a lot of fun. The gameplay is very reminiscent of games like Neverwinter Nights and Pillars of Eternity, so if you like those kinds of games, you will take to Sword Coast Legends without trouble. There is a built-in voice chat system in the game, which is an awesome addition – especially for those of us tabletop gamers who are used to voicing our characters! All of the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules you want are in the game, and I was very pleased to find my Fighter using her “Second Wind” ability to regain a bit of hit points when things got tough. I would have loved more time to explore the ability trees.

We fought our way through the dungeon and then took on the final couple of bosses. That’s when the PR rep at the meeting room called “time” and we were all escorted out of the meeting room to let another group of adventurers give the game a try. Personally, I loved how Sword Coast Legends worked and would love to see if my monthly tabletop group would be interested in taking the game online sometimes!

Overall, Sword Coast Legends looks like it’s going to be one heck of an RPG that will, hopefully, bring gamers together in new ways. I also hope that it will help bridge the worlds of tabletop and computer game RPGs. The two groups, while not mutually exclusive, are different and can learn a lot from one another if given the means. Sword Coast Legends is due out this September and it can’t come soon enough!

Screenshots

Marvel TV Announces San Diego Comic-Con Events

2015/06/22

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News, SDCC

June 22, 2015 — SPOILER ALERT! The stars of Marvel Television are coming to San Diego Comic-Con for can’t-miss panels, exclusive signing events and more!

On Friday, July 10^th, the world-famous Marvel Television Presents panel returns as Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Head of Television) brings you exclusive news and surprises about your favorite action-packed Marvel series on ABC. Join Jeph, showrunners, and the casts of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Marvel’s Agent Carter for this must-see panel that’ll have everyone talking!

Then, on Saturday July 11^th, catch Marvel Animation Presents and see what’s ahead in the world of Marvel Animation. Join Stephen Wacker (VP, Current Series – Marvel Animation Studios), Cort Lane (VP, Animation Development & Partnerships), and Eric Radomski (SVP, Production & Creative Director, Animation) for exclusive first looks at the exciting new seasons of hit animated series: Marvel’s Avengers: Ultron Revolution and Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man vs. The Sinister 6. Also, be there to catch exclusive never-before-seen footage from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy animated series! Star-Lord, Groot, Rocket, Gamora and Drax are back for even more intergalactic adventures in the highly-anticipated new animated series coming to Disney XD this fall.

You’ll also have a chance to meet with the stars of your favorite Marvel Television series on ABC at two exclusive signing events at the Marvel booth (#2329) on Saturday, July 11^th!

MARVEL TELEVISION SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, JULY 10:

Marvel Television Presents — Panel Session

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM in Ballroom 20

Join the casts and producers of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Marvel’s Agent Carter!

SATURDAY, JULY 11

Marvel’s Agent Carter – Cast Signing Event

10:00 AM at the Marvel Booth (#2329)

Cast Attending: Hayley Atwell, James D’Arcy, Tara Butters (EP), Michele Fazekas (EP), Chris Dingess (EP), Louis D’Esposito (EP) and Jeph Loeb (EP)

Marvel Animation Presents – Panel Session

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM in Room 6BCF

Go behind-the-scenes into the world of Marvel Animation!

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Cast Signing Event

2:30 PM at the Marvel Booth (#2329)

Cast Attending: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Brett Dalton, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Nick Blood, Adrianne Palicki, Henry Simmons, Luke Mitchell, Maurissa Tancharoen (EP), Jed Whedon (EP) and Jeph Loeb (EP).

Please note that both signings are ticketed events and passes will be available on a first-come, first-served lottery basis beginning at 9:30 AM on Saturday, July 11^th at the Marvel Booth (#2329).

Stay tuned to www.marvel.com for all the breaking new on Marvel Television at Comic Con International in San Diego. Follow @Marvel on Twitter and “like” Marvel on Facebook for minute-by-minute updates on all things in the MCU.

Adult Swim Announces SDCC Screenings, Panels, and More

2015/06/22

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, SDCC

June 22, 2015 — Adult Swim is back at San Diego Comic-Con, as if you ever had any doubts! This year, Adult Swim will once again engage fans over the course of four epic days with unique fan experiences, as well as celebrity filled signings and panels featuring series stars, creators and producers from popular network shows Robot Chicken, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Forever, Childrens Hospital, Mike Tyson Mysteries, Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell, and Rick and Morty. Adult Swim stars and creators on hand include Mike Tyson, Seth Green, Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland, Dave Willis, Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, Breckin Meyer, Casper Kelly, and many more.

While inside the convention center, fans can stop by the Adult Swim Booth (#3721), but make sure you stretch first! Get limbered up and come lob fishy fun sacks into our illuminated cat holes at the Feline Fun Hole Slide Mouth. Steady your trembling paws, and pray your sacrifice to our great glowing kitty doesn’t go unnoticed. If your aim is true she may cough up something beautiful and exciting.

Need some fresh air? Visit Adult Swim On The Green, located behind the convention center at Convention Way and 5th Ave Pier, Thursday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. A brand new experience for fans, Adult Swim activities will include the Carnival Midway, free nightly screenings, Rick and Morty spaceship sighting, and the Meatwad Full Dome Experience. All events are free with RSVP at http://www.adultswimpresents.com, 18+ and a convention badge is required.

The Carnival Midway offers fans a chance to play custom and classic carnival games to win tickets and redeem them for prizes. Games and booths include Smack Up My Uvula, Flunko, SkeeBalls, Dreadageddon, Put a Ring On It, Face Painting, and a live screen printed free t-shirt tent. Carnival hours are Thursday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Nestled next to the Carnival will also be the quintessential return of the Meatwad Full Dome Experience, which debuted last year, and is returning for another year of intergalactic mind travel. Inside the 40-foot planetarium dome, fans will be taken on a 360-degree journey through space and time, guided by the familiar fast-food friend. The Dome will be open Thursday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

FishCenter and Toonami Pre-Flight will also be broadcasting live from inside the Meatwad Full Dome Experience. FishCenter Live will be in full swing Thursday and Friday from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. and Toonami Pre-Flight will broadcast on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Tickets are required for FishCenter and Toonami and will be given away daily beginning at 9:30am at the Adult Swim On The Green ticketing booth.

Additionally, after the success of the Adult Swim Drive-In Screening in Los Angeles, we’re bringing fans another chance to check out what’s on the horizon for the network with free nightly screenings. Join us Thursday evening for Adult Swim Presents: Things You’ve Never/Rarely Seen for a night of specials, never-before-seen pilots, and an early look at Mike Tyson Mysteries, The Venture Bros., Squidbillies, and more. On Friday, we’re bringing you a preview of Rick and Morty season two and a live episode with show creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland. Saturday will be filled with unaired episodes of Aqua Teen Hunger Force Forever and Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell along with a chance for fans to publicly mourn the end of Aqua Teen. Be sure to drop by with a blanket and cuddle up with Adult Swim on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Last, but certainly not least, Rick and Morty crash land their spaceship at Comic-Con this year. Fans are invited to ogle and gawk at the crash site, as well as take photos to share with friends.

Below is a full list of Adult Swim panels and signings for Friday, July 10 – Sunday, July 12. Panels and signings, as well as talent scheduled to appear, are subject to change. For continuing information about Adult Swim’s plans at Comic-Con and to RSVP, please visit AdultSwimPresents.com.

ADULT SWIM PANELS

FRIDAY JULY 10th
Hilton Bayfront – Indigo Ballroom

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Forever & Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell
12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Join us for a panel to celebrate the upcoming second season of Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell and mourn the end of Aqua Teen Hunger Force Forever. Join Aqua Teen & Your Pretty Face co-creator Dave Willis (Squidbillies), Your Pretty Face co-creator Casper Kelly (Too Many Cooks), and Your Pretty Face cast members Henry Zebrowski (The Wolf of Wall Street), Craig Rowin (The Jack and Triumph Show), and Matt Servitto (Banshee) as they discuss office politics in Hell, reflect on 13 seasons of Aqua Teen, and show clips from both new seasons. Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen & Squidbillies) will moderate the panel and help you say your goodbyes to the longest-running Adult Swim original series.

Rick and Morty
1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Executive producers Dan Harmon (Community) & Justin Roiland (Adventure Time), and writer/producer Ryan Ridley (Community) invite fans for a sneak peek of the upcoming second season, premiering July 26th on Adult Swim. Moderated by Brian Q. Quinn (Impractical Jokers).

Mike Tyson Mysteries
2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
It was a unanimous victory last year but Iron Mike Tyson is taking on Comic-Con again and this rematch is sure to live up to all the hype. After a season of solving mysteries, the Mike Tyson Mystery Team will be back at it again with all-new episodes on Adult Swim this fall. Join series stars Mike Tyson, Rachel Ramras (MAD) and producer Hugh Davidson (The Looney Tunes Show) for a first look at the upcoming second season.

Robot Chicken
3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Join co-creators/executive producers Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, executive producer / co-head writer Tom Root, and actor/writer Breckin Meyer as they discuss their Emmy-winning series, which returns for its eighth season this fall on Adult Swim. DC Entertainment chief creative officer Geoff Johns will also be joining the panel for an early look at the upcoming third Robot Chicken DC Comics Special.

SUNDAY JULY 12th
Convention Center – Room 25ABC

Childrens Hospital
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Adult Swim’s two-time Emmy®-winning live-action comedy returns to Comic-Con for a sixth year! Creator and star Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine) along with series star Rob Huebel, will convene for a lively (and medically accurate!) Q&A.

ADULT SWIM SIGNINGS

Tickets are required for all signings at the Adult Swim Booth (#3721). A limited number of tickets will be given out at the booth on the day-of. First come. First served.

Drawings for Warner Bros. signing tickets will be held on the morning of each signing in the Sails Pavilion. Attendees may start to line up for the limited ticket drawing when the doors open each morning.

FRIDAY, JULY 10th

5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Mike Tyson Mysteries
Warner Bros. Booth #4545

SATURDAY, JULY 11th

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Aqua Teen Hunger Force Forever & Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell
Adult Swim Booth #3721

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Rick and Morty
Adult Swim Booth #3721

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Robot Chicken
Adult Swim Booth #3721

SUNDAY JULY 12th

12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Childrens Hospital
Warner Bros. Booth #4545

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is basic cable’s #1 network with persons 18-34 and 18-49, and is seen in 99 million U.S. homes.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.