Author - Jerry Paxton

Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb to Host Bethesda E3 2015 Showcase Pre and Post-Show

2015/06/01

June 1, 2015 — We are excited to reveal that for the first time since their legendary run on G4 TV’s X-Play, Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb will reunite to co-host the live shows prior to and following the Bethesda E3 2015 Showcase. On June 14^TH at 6:45pm PDT, watch as Adam and Morgan host these shows backstage at the Dolby Theatre, giving viewers an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience that will be broadcasted on Bethesda’s Twitch and YouTube.

During the post-show Adam and Morgan will share their unique insights and talk to some of Bethesda’s most renowned developers for exclusive interviews.

One of the best-known personalities in video gaming, Adam Sessler was the co-host of X-Play for nearly 15 years from its inception in 1998 until 2012. He is the former producer and editor-in-chief of Revision3 Games and was also editor-in-chief of G4’s game content.

“I am thrilled to be reunited with Morgan Webb again and coming together for Bethesda’s first-ever E3 Showcase makes it that much better,” said Sessler. “Over the years the talent and games from Bethesda’s studios have always been a point of admiration, and my excitement couldn’t be more palpable. Seriously, my scalp is tingling.”

Morgan Webb co-hosted X-Play on the G4 television network with Sessler for a decade. She also hosted G4 Underground and penned FHM Magazine’s Tips From the Gaming Goddess column.

“I’m looking forward to that moment when Adam and I get to sit down with Bethesda’s developers right after the show wraps,” said Webb. “We know we’re going to see some big reveals at the Showcase, and we will be there to make sure the fans get all the information they’re craving. We’d love the fans to get involved in the conference via Twitter and Twitch, so we can take their questions straight to the people behind the games they love.”

Fans can join the conversation on Bethesda Softworks’ Twitter (@Bethblog) and in the Twitch chat stream during the Showcase by using the official Bethesda E3 hashtag: #BE3. Adam and Morgan will ask viewer questions to developers live during the post-show, with cool prize giveaways for anyone whose tweet is called out.

The pre and post-Showcase can be watched live on Twitch.TV/Bethesda and YouTube.com/BethesdaSoftworks.

EVGA Now Offering GTX-980 Ti Graphics Cards

2015/06/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Hardware News, News

June 1^st, 2015 – Introducing the EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Accelerated by the groundbreaking NVIDIA Maxwell architecture, GTX 980 Ti delivers an unbeatable 4K and virtual reality experience. With 2816 NVIDIA CUDA Cores and 6GB of GDDR5 memory, it has the horsepower to drive whatever comes next. In fact, the EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti provides 3x the performance and 3x the memory of previous-generation cards*. You can now take on even the most challenging games at high settings for a smooth, ultra high-definition, 4K experience.

These cards also feature EVGA ACX 2.0+ cooling technology. EVGA ACX 2.0+ brings new features to the award winning EVGA ACX 2.0 cooling technology. A memory MOSFET Cooling Plate (MMCP) reduces MOSFET temperatures up to 13%, and optimized Straight Heat Pipes (SHP) additionally reduce GPU temperature by 5C. ACX 2.0+ coolers also feature optimized swept fan blades, double ball bearings and an extreme low power motor, delivering more air flow with less power, unlocking additional power for the GPU.

Learn more about the EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti lineup www.evga.com/articles/00934/EVGA-GeForce-GTX-980-Ti/

Maingear Now Offering GTX-980 Ti Graphics Cards

2015/06/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Hardware News, News

Kenilworth, New Jersey – June 1, 2015 – MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system integrator of custom gaming desktops, notebooks, and workstations, invites gamers to experience the future with the next-generation NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ 980 Ti graphics card.

NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 980 Ti triples the performance and memory of previous generation cards, resulting in an exceptional gaming experience even in ultra-high-definition 4K settings. MAINGEAR’s complete lineup of devastatingly powerful gaming desktops will now feature NVIDIA’s latest GPU based on the Maxwell architecture, with 2816 NVIDIA® CUDA® cores, a 1000 Base Clock, 1075 Boost Clock, 6 GB of memory GDDR5, and 384 bit of Memory Interface.

“NVIDIA’s GTX 980 Ti is the next step in the evolution of gaming graphics cards and delivers the best in 4K and virtual reality gaming,” states Wallace Santos, CEO and Founder of MAINGEAR. “MAINGEAR is at the forefront of gaming innovation and the adoption of NVIDIA’s newest GPU further establishes us as the dominant leader in high performance gaming hardware.”

NVIDIA’s latest GPU comes with an array of advanced gaming features, including VXGI (Voxel Global Illumination) that accelerates dynamic lighting for even more vivid and immersive graphics, and DSR (Dynamic Super Resolution) that offers 4K experience on a 1080p monitor. It also comes with DirectX12, the latest version of the graphics industry standard adopted by gaming developers worldwide, and has features a proprietary technology that reduces latency and scales performance up to 2x in SLI.

MAINGEAR desktops featuring NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti graphics are now available for customization. For more information about MAINGEAR, please visit www.maingear.com.

Parrot Zik 2.0 Wireless Headphones Review

2015/05/31

Jerry Paxton

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

Parrot, the company long-known for their line of remote controlled drones, let us borrow a set of their Zik 2.0 headphones for review, and I am very glad they did. These headphones have been lauded time and time again for their array of sensors and features. I was curious if they would live up to all the hype, so I unboxed them and began an audio journey of discovery.

On a purely design level, the Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones don’t appear all that impressive. They consist of a large pair of cans lined with a faux-leather material that cover the user’s entire ear attached together by a thin metal frame. Even the head band cushioning is understated. There is really nothing visually about the Zik 2.0 headphones that would have led me to believe they are as functional as they are. Maybe that is even more impressive – not that they do all they do, but they do it all while not appearing like they should (ed. note: Check out THAT sentence!).

The most basic of its features is wireless capability – both in Bluetooth and NFC standards. Parrot also has a nifty control suite app that allows you to tweak your audio until your heart’s content. The app is easy to navigate and doesn’t detract from the experience of using the Zik 2.0 headphones. The Zik 2.0 headphones also have a very impressive positional sensor that will detect whether or not the headphones are on your head! If they are removed from your head, the Zik 2.0 will automatically pause your music! Once you place them back on your noggin’, the music will resume. The sides of the soft ear cups feature a nifty gesture-based, touch-control system which allow you to engage Siri, change tracks, volume, etc.

Parrot has also put a really effective active noise-cancellation system into the Zik 2.0 headphones. When engaged, outside sounds simply disappear and you are left with nothing but your music, etc. It has to be heard to be believed. Also as cool, is that the Zik 2.0 headphones feature a street mode which funnels outside audio into the ear cups so you can hear what is going on around you. I highly recommend this mode if you using the Zik 2.0’s while walking in public. Too many distracted pedestrians accidentally step into traffic these days.

In terms of its overall sound quality, you will probably find music to be a little “flat” in its generic, out of the box settings. You really need to tune an equalizer – whether it be at your source or via the Zik application itself – to get the best audio experience possible. Once you have accomplished this, the sound is very good and I enjoyed them almost as much as the V-Moda Crossfade M100 headphones for at-home use. For on-the-go usage, however, I would take the Zik 2.0 headphones over the V-Moda model as it is much more traveler-friendly with its smartphone interface and amazing noise cancellation for those long journeys by air, rail, or wheel.

Overall, the Parrot Zik 2.0 wireless headphones are a spectacular set of cans which are sure to satisfy both the musicphile and professional traveler alike. The Parrot Zik 2.0 wireless headphones retail for about $399 dollars and are available now.

[easyreview title=”Parrot Zik 2.0 Wireless Headphones Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

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Star Hammer: The Vanguard Prophecy Ship and Unit Info

2015/05/29

Jerry Paxton

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

Epsom, UK – May 29, 2015 — “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles” (Sun Tzu)

Space is vast, but it is not empty. Star Hammer: The Vanguard Prophecy is going to fill it with plenty of capital ships and aggressive aliens next week, on June 4th.

In this tactical game, the exploitation of all three dimensions of the battlefield is vital. Superior positioning and fleet organization will often lead to glorious results. However, only commanders with an advanced knowledge of their own vessels and the Nautilid units will be able to make the most effective decisions during the order phases.

All of the human military spacecrafts have shields on 6 different segments that receive individual damage. Also there is a specific setup for every single alien unit. As a consequence, attacking from top rear or left front, for instance, will have totally different results depending on the target and weapons selected.

Offensive tactics are not always effective anyway, so players will also have to regularly optimize energy distribution for each unit, in order to balance power between defensive systems, engines and armament.

To make players’ life easier, and to help prevent them from being outgunned during their first combat in skirmish or campaign mode, developer Black Lab Games today unveils some of the units in the game with their features and equipment!

Kraken Dreadnought

Sprayer

Screenshots

Focus Home Interactive E3 2015 Games Line-Up

2015/05/29

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News

May 29, 2015 — Focus Home Interactive today reveals their E3 2015 line-up of titles and exciting new announcements, which will be showcased behind closed doors or via hands-on stations, in Los Angeles from June 16 to 18. Find below the list of the games you will be able to take a look at, or even try on our booth (West Hall 5312), at E3 next month

– Divinity Original Sin Enhanced Edition (PS4, Xbox One, PC), the multi-award winning RPG developed by Larian Studios arrives on consoles, with a load of new features and enhanced graphics. Watch the teaser

– Blood Bowl 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC), developed by Cyanide Studio, smashes Games Workshop’s Warhammer and American football together, in an explosive cocktail of turn-based strategy, humour and brutality. Watch the teaser

– The Technomancer (PS4, Xbox One and PC), a sci-fi, post-apocalyptic RPG set in a cyberpunk world from studio Spiders, that will bring you to the hazardous red planet. Image Gallery

– Mordheim: City of the Damned (Consoles, PC) is the videogame adaptation of Games Workshop’s cult classic tabletop game. This is a turn-based strategy game that blends RPG elements, fast-paced tactical combat and intricate unit customization in a time wrought by chaos and rivalry. Watch the teaser

– Space Hulk Deathwing (PS4, Xbox One, PC) by Streum On Studio is a First-Person Shooter experience of Games Workshop’s classic boardgame Space Hulk, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Watch the trailer

– Battlefleet Gothic: Armada (PC), developed by Tindalos Interactive, is the real-time strategy adaptation of Games Workshop’s tabletop game, that stages the dark, deadly and intense space battles from the Warhammer 40,000 universe.Watch the teaser

– Farming Simulator (PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox360, PC, Mac, Vita) joins E3 after its recent release on consoles. Developer Giants Software will tell you more about the future edition, and will unveil the first official Farming Simulator wheel controller, created by Saitek. Watch the trailer

– Act of Aggression (PC), the new real-time strategy game on PC from Wargame creator Eugen Systems. Act of Aggression draws inspiration from the Golden Era of RTS titles, with a unique near-future techno thriller ambiance. Watch the teaser

– Vampyr, the RPG from DontNod, will unveil its first teaser trailer at E3!

SOMA Release Date and Gameplay Trailer

2015/05/29

Jerry Paxton

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

Frictional Games has released a new, 12 minute long gameplay trailer for their upcoming survival-horror title, SOMA, alongside word that the full game would be released on September 22, 2015 for the PlayStation 4 and Windows PC platforms. They also released three tidbits of information about the video you can watch below:

1) When the video starts we are about 1 hour into the game.

2) The protagonist is not an amnesiac. He has an established past, knows who he is, but isn’t at all sure about the situation he’s in.

3) There are lots more things to explore in this level than what’s shown in the video. For instance, you can avoid the robot attack completely by acting differently.

Trailer

Pillars of Eternity: Lords of the Eastern Reach Card Game Announced

2015/05/28

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

IRVINE, CA –May 28, 2015 – Obsidian Entertainment, the developer of Fallout: New Vegas, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and the Kickstarter funded Pillars of Eternity, announced today they are entering into a partnership with Zero Radius Games to launch the upcoming card game, Pillars of Eternity – Lords of the Eastern Reach.

Developed by Zero Radius Games, Pillars of Eternity – Lords of the Eastern Reach, is a multi-player card game designed by veteran game designer Chris Taylor (Lead Designer Fallout 1) along with Obsidian’s own Scott Everts and John Lewis. Featuring characters, locations, and items from the popular Pillars of Eternity computer RPG,Lords of the Eastern Reach if a fast competitive game set in the unique world of Eora.

“We are hugely excited to bring Pillars of Eternity to board and card gamers like us” said CEO Feargus Urquhart. “Using Kickstarter to fund the Pillars of Eternity computer game has allowed us not only to deliver an amazing electronic experience, but now let’s us expand the Pillars of Eternity universe with new and different games.”

“Having been friends and colleagues with the team at Obsidian, partnering with them for this project is natural fit”, said Designer Chris Taylor.

Pillars of Eternity -Lords of the Eastern Reach is now available on Kickstarter.

Pillars of Eternity – Lords of the Eastern Reach Kickstarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2081578473/pillars-of-eternity-lords-of-the-eastern-reach-car

About Obsidian Entertainment
www.obsidian.netAbout Zero Radius Games
www.zeroradiusgames.com

Gameplay Images

EA Sports FIFA 16 to Feature 12 Women’s National Teams

2015/05/28

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – May 28, 2015 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced that EA SPORTS™ FIFA 16 will feature 12 Women’s National Teams for the first time in franchise history when it launches starting on September 22, 2015 in North America. Women’s National Teams from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United States of America will all represent their respective federations in several FIFA 16 game modes including Kick Off, an Offline Tournament, as well as Online* Friendly Matches. To see Women’s National Teams in the game, visit http://easports.com/fifa/women and watch the trailer here:

“Bringing some of the best women’s players and teams in the world to our franchise is a massive event for EA SPORTS, and we are equally excited about bringing millions of fans a new way to play,” said David Rutter, VP and GM, EA SPORTS FIFA. “We’re making sure fans get an authentic experience when playing with Women’s National Teams thanks to our innovative player capture and reference tools, as well as the sophisticated gameplay platform which we will continue to innovate on in FIFA 16.”

From all new player movement and likeness, to realistic animations and attributes, the FIFA development team have authentically recreated 12 of the top-ranked teams in the world. Capturing all new player movement was done with meticulous detail and supported by a motion capture session at EA Canada with four top players from United States Women’s National Team: Sydney Leroux, Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe. The players’ movements helped to build new locomotion for women in FIFA 16 including new walks, runs, sprints, and horizontal movement. Soccer Canada also visited EA to provide full-player references captured using the 360 degree body scanning rig – the references were then used to develop new player models. And the mobile headscanning unit travelled to a variety of tournaments and events around the world to capture facial features including hairstyles to ensure players look as realistic as possible inFIFA 16. Players in the game will look and move in game like they do on the pitch when representing their country.

“I honestly can’t believe all of the science and technology behind the game itself, let alone getting us into the motion capture suits and eventually into the game,” said Abby Wambach, world record holder for International goals scored and forward, United States Women’s National Team. “We’re all excited to see ourselves in the game, but even more excited to see the reaction from all of the fans, including the fans of our team that maybe wouldn’t be expecting something like this from EA SPORTS.”

FIFA 16 with Women’s National Teams** will be available when the game launches on Origin™ on PC, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems.

For more information about EA SPORTS FIFA 16 visit www.easports.com/fifa or join the EA SPORTS community at http://www.facebook.com/easports fifa. Follow us on Twitter @easportsfifa and use the hashtags #INTHEGAME and #FIFA16. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports videogames, including Madden NFL football, EA SPORTS FIFA, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR® golf, SSX™ and EA SPORTS UFC®.

*Internet connection and Origin account required. Must be 13+ to create an account.

**Not all features available on all gaming platforms.

Star Wars: Battle Pod Home Version Announced

2015/05/27

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Tech News

Tokyo Japan, (May 26, 2015) – Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. announced today that it will release a home version of the aerial battle arcade hit, Star Wars™: Battle Pod™(http://www.starwarsbattlepod.com/), which first appeared in US arcades in January 2015, in EU, NA, JP, and other regions. The Battle Pods will be available to order beginning June, 18^th with a MSRP at US$35,000 and UK £24,000 (Shipping and setting fees separate).

Made upon order for personal home use, the special Premium Edition of Star Wars: Battle Pod will be equipped with genuine leather seats that are synchronized to move/react to the action of the game and is available in two different glamorous designs inspired by the images of the Rebel Alliance and Darth Vader. This arcade masterpiece includes the owner’s name and a product serial number engraved plate along with a specially bound owner’s manual and exclusive carpeting. Owners will also have their name added to the game ending credits. MSRP for the premium edition is set at US$100,000 (Shipping and setting fees separate). Further purchasing details will be announced after mid-June on theStar Wars: Battle Pod official website™ (http://www.starwarsbattlepod.com/).

Dive into the Star Wars universe from the comfort of your own home with the Star Wars: Battle Pod.