Author - Jerry Paxton

Space Hulk: Deathwing ‘Rise of the Terminators’ Trailer

2015/02/13
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

spacehulk_deathwing-01 copy

February 13, 2015 — The development of Space Hulk: Deathwing, the First Person Shooter for PC and consoles from StreumOn Studio, gains momentum, with the glimpses of the game’s first environments now emerging. Each and every one of the game’s elements have been carefully crafted by the talented teams from StreumOn, with flawless regard for detail and respect for the Space Hulk license created by Games Workshop.

This is perfectly illustrated in the new trailer Rise of the Terminators. Supported by an original soundtrack from band Kadebostany “Walking with a Ghost”, its powerful images will immerse you in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Terminators and Genestealers come alive and clash together in a deadly struggle, and this is only beginning.

Space Hulk®: Deathwing™ is a First-Person Shooter experience of Games Workshop’s classic Space Hulk boardgame set in the universe of Warhammer 40,000, developed on Unreal Engine 4 by Streum On Studio, the team behind E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy. Published by Focus Home Interactive and co-produced by Cyanide Studio, Space Hulk: Deathwing offers players the chance to experience a desperate battle against Genestealers in the claustrophobic tunnels of a Space Hulk, as they will gain skills, new abilities and new equipment thanks to experience earned during perilous missions.

Space Hulks drift along the currents of the Warp, the immaterial dimension of Chaos. Made up of gigantic mangled asteroids, derelict ship wrecks and other spatial debris, they sometimes grow to the size of a moon and often contain treasured and ancient lost technologies. However, they are ripe with danger including infestations of the lethal Genestealers.

Players take on the role of a Space Marine from one of the most secret and most feared Space Marine Companies: the Deathwing from the Dark Angels. Strap on your Terminator armour and equip the emblematic weaponry of the Space Marines to overcome the threats awaiting you in the Space Hulk. As a Librarian, you will also master the destructive powers of the Psykers. Your skills and performance in battle grant you Fervor Points, to spend on 4 skill trees allowing you to improve your abilities, unlock new powers, access powerful relics and devastating new weapons.

Trailer

ScareLA 2015 Moving to Pasadena Convention Center

2015/02/13
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News

scare-la-278 copy

LOS ANGELES (Friday, February 13, 2013) – ScareLA, the Southern California Halloween convention, is excited to announce its expansion to a new venue, the Pasadena Convention Center for the event’s 2015 edition on August 8 and 9, 2015. The move will increase the con’s show floor to over 100,000 sq. ft. to accommodate a growing list of vendors, attractions, and entertainment. Tickets presale is scheduled to launch within the following week with aggressive discounts for fans and e-mail list subscribers.

“ScareLA 2015 is off to a great start with our expansion into the Pasadena Convention Center,” said Lora Ivanova, ScareLA Executive Producer and Co-founder. “What that means for our fans is: more spooky vendors, easier access to classes and stage content, bigger interactive haunt exhibits and hotels within walking distance for anyone coming from out of town or wishing to make this a true mid-summer Halloween staycation. Our team is busy curating our 2015 programming and cannot wait to share our scary passion with Los Angeles this August!”

Debuting in 2013, ScareLA was created to celebrate the rich Southern California Halloween industry and community, from its iconic seasonal theme park events, to stand-alone haunted attractions and even home haunts. The event has become a mecca for horror lovers on the West Coast and beyond extending the Halloween season through the summer. Attracting nearly 4,000 guests in 2013, and more than 6,000 in 2014, ScareLA has become one of the fastest growing independent conventions in the U.S. to-date.

“We’re very excited by ScareLA’s rapid growth, and the Pasadena Convention Center allows us to provide room for more guests, more exhibitors, larger displays, and bigger monsters,” says ScareLA Executive Producer and Co-Founder David Markland.

Featuring multiple parking lots, hotels, convenient public transportation, and fantastic dining options all within walking distance, the Pasadena Convention Center makes attending ScareLA easier than ever before.

The 2015 ScareLA program will take advantage of the new venue’s larger stages to host exclusive presentations from fan favorites such as Knott’s Scary Farm, Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest and more!

Guests returning to ScareLA will find a larger show floor with more Halloween/horror vendors, expanded classroom and workshop spaces, and a wide variety of live entertainment and immersive “mini haunt” experiences.

For more information and to sign up for ScareLA’s email list, visit www.scarela.com. Like ScareLA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ScareLAcon, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @ScareLosAngeles. Join the conversation on social media using #ScareLA.

Six Flags Great Adventure Celebrates Valentines Day

2015/02/11
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

Animal trainer receives a sea lion kiss

Jackson, NJ – February 11, 2015 – Bring together two kissing sea lions, a pair of love birds and the married couple that makes it all possible, and you’ve got a recipe for Valentine’s Day at Six Flags Great Adventure. This weekend, three special couples will celebrate their love Six Flags-style – California sea lions Kenobi and Dichali, blue and gold macaws Eugene and Ariel, and their caretakers, animal training supervisors David and Jessica Peranteau.

Animals brought Dave, a Philadelphia-area native, and Jessica, an Ohio native, together 19 years ago when they were both hired as marine animal trainers. The couple married in 2000 and has traveled the world working with land and marine mammals ranging from tiny hedgehogs to massive orcas. The two settled in New Jersey at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2004, and have developed thriving animal education programs in addition to nurturing and training more than 100 exotic animals, including hand-rearing capuchin monkeys, otters, lions and bears. They have a five-year-old son, Noah, who knows that animals are part of their family. Noah even shares his birthday with the park’s first-ever baby sea lion, Magoo, who was born June 25, 2014.  “I feel like I have two children born on the same day,” Jessica said.

“Animal care requires incredible dedication 365-days a year,” Dave Peranteau said. “Jess and I care so passionately about the animals and know that by educating the public about animals, particularly ones that are threatened, endangered or extinct in the wild, we ensure that future generations like Noah’s will be able to see and appreciate them just as we do.”

Something Is In the Water…It Must Be Love

Each morning then the sea lion trainers arrive for work at Fort Independence aqua stadium, they find California sea lions Kenobi and Dichali snuggled up together, sound asleep.

Although sea lions are not monogamous by nature, these two have developed a strong bond and enjoy spending the majority of their time together. The flippered couple serves as an integral part of the theme park’s animal education program, displaying natural and learned behaviors. One of their most memorable behaviors is a kiss.

Kenobi and Dichali often give kisses to each other, and occasionally share that moment with special guests and their trainers. Jessica Peranteau admits that there is something special about a sea lion kiss.

“It is cold, wet, and prickly.  Add a few fish ‘breath mints’ and a sea lion kiss is something you will never forget,” she said.

Cousins to seals and walruses, sea lions are native to the Pacific coast. Males can weigh up to 800 lbs., and although Kenobi is described as sweet and timid, the nine-year-old has a loud roar that earned him the nickname “T-Rex.” Dichali, who is eight years old, is described as extremely intelligent and loves to learn new things. “She loves to ‘test’ new trainers to make sure they are as smart as she is,” Jessica added.

Love Is in the Air

When you ask the Peranteaus to identify the most loyal and long-standing couple in their care, without hesitation they name Eugene and Ariel. They are a stunning pair of blue and gold macaws, whose species can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America. Blue and gold macaws are monogamous by nature and mate for life, so these two appear to be in their relationship for the long haul.

“Eugene and Ariel are madly in love, and are both quite jealous creatures. Eugene clearly dislikes male trainers around Ariel, and although Ariel can be quite flirtatious with men, she can be rather rude to female trainers who get close to Eugene,” Jessica said.

An attentive mate, Eugene often grooms Ariel’s feathers. The birds are in their twenties, and with an average life span of 60 to 80 years, appear to have several decades of companionship still ahead of them.

Guests can see Kenobi and Dichali in the theme park’s Fort Independence arena, and Eugene and Ariel on the Safari Off Road Adventure, beginning April 3. For more information on Six Flags Great Adventure, visit www.sixflags.com/greatadventure or call 732-928-2000.

The Lost Vikings Invade Heroes of the Storm

2015/02/10
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Blizzcon14_Heroes_SkyTemple_VikingsFight.0

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that characters from their classic The Lost Vikings have made their way into MOBA title, Heroes of the Storm. Check out the introduction trailer and hero tips below!

THE LOST VIKINGS

LOST VIKINGS HERO DETAILS

  • Basic Abilities

o   The Lost Vikings’ Basic Abilities must be unlocked through Talent Selection.

o   Spin to Win! (Q)

  • Deals damage around each Viking.
  • Can be unlocked at Level 4 by learning the Spin to Win! Talent

o   Jump! (W)

  • All Vikings become temporarily Invulnerable.
  • Can be unlocked at Level 7 by learning the Jump! Talent

o   Norse Force! (E)

  • All Vikings temporarily gain a Shield.
  • Can be unlocked at Level 16 by learning the Norse Force! Talent
  • Mount

o   Go Go Go! (Z)

  • The Vikings gain increased Movement Speed for a few seconds.
  • Trait

o   Fast Restart

  • Death time is reduced for The Lost Vikings.
  • Heroic Abilities

o   Play Again! (R)

  • All Vikings are revived and teleported to the summoning Viking.

o   Longboat Raid! (R)

  • Summon a Longboat and go on a Viking Raid!

LOST VIKINGS BATTLEGROUND TIPS

  • The Lost Vikings start without any basic abilities and function differently. You can choose to unlock extra abilities by selecting various Talents throughout the duration of the match.
  • Olaf – Has lots of Health, regenerates Health quickly, and charges to Slow enemies.
  • Baleog – Deals splash damage to enemies behind his attack target.
  • Erik – Moves faster than the other Vikings and has a longer attack range.
  • Each Viking can move, attack, and be killed separately. They will also receive individual respawn timers upon their deaths.
  • Use the activated Talent hotkeys “1”, “2”, and “3” to select and control the Vikings individually, or press the “4” key to guide them as a group.
  • When using the heroic “Longboat Raid!” [R], all of the Vikings need to be near each other to perform the action.
  • When grouped, the Vikings can break the chests on Blackheart’s Bay very quickly.

Elite: Dangerous Update 1.1 Release Trailer

2015/02/10
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

11starport2

Cambridge, UK. 10 February 2015 — Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV) today launched Elite: Dangerous 1.1 free for all players.

The first major Elite: Dangerous update expands the core game with new Community Goals, graphical enhancements and localization for French, German and Russian.

Community Goals unite players with a shared objective, allowing the entire Elite: Dangerous community to participate in major new story events, supplying the construction of new capital ships and working together to reshape the boundaries of human-controlled space. Players will collaborate to help build new starports in undeveloped systems, giving all players a new launch pad for exploration of the galaxy.

Community Goals can be played in Multiplayer, Solo or Private Group modes, with all players contributing to the outcome of the objective and impacting Elite: Dangerous’ shared, connected galaxy.

1.1 places players firmly at the centre of Elite: Dangerous’ galactic expansion. Player-supported starports will acknowledge their chief benefactors, and the player who contributes the most material to the construction of an Imperial Majestic class Interdictor or Federation Farrgagut class Battlecruiser will be given the honor of naming the new capital ship. The in-game galaxy map will now credit the discovery of systems, planets and other bodies with the name of the first player to scan them, and the change applies retroactively to the 895,135 systems players have explored since launch – just 0.000223 percent of our Milky Way galaxy.

Elite: Dangerous 1.1 extends route planning to 1,000 light years and enhances the appearance of planets throughout Elite: Dangerous’ full-scale recreation of the Milky Way. The dark sides of populated worlds can now be seen illuminated by city lights and the cloudy atmospheres of gas giants have been given greater depth and richness.

Update 1.1 is the first in a series of ongoing major updates adding features and content to Elite: Dangerous. 1.2, planned for early March, will focus on multiplayer and introduce new ways for players to group together, communicate and locate friends in Elite: Dangerous’ galaxy.

Update 1.1 Trailer

Dying Light Season Pass Content Release Dates

2015/02/10
Jerry Paxton
News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

dying-light-Night

February 10th, 2015 – Warsaw, Poland/ Techland revealed the release dates for all three content drops of the Season Pass for Dying Light. The first drop, titled ‘Cuisine & Cargo’, launches on February 10th for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4* — supplying players with two extremely challenging new missions. Techland has promised to continue supportingDying Light with new content for many months to come, including the release of ‘Ultimate Survivor Bundle’ in March and the May launch of ‘The Bozak Horde’ DLC.

“The goal is to let players enjoy the game well after release with such drops and other free initiatives which are already in the works and will be announced very soon.”  – Adrian Ciszewski, Game Director

The Dying Light Season Pass contains:

  • Cuisine & Cargo (February 10th)  – Available exclusively as a part of the Season Pass offer, these two hardcore missions let players investigate buildings sealed off in the very first days of the outbreak. Explore the ominous corridors of once the most famous restaurant in Harran, and employ both stealth and combat to ransack a zombie-filled loading bay at the abandoned railroad yard.
  • Ultimate Survivor Bundle (March) – Players will receive seven unique in-game items that will bring fighting zombies to a whole new level. Grab three special outfits and four blueprints for over-the-top weapons to make your adventure in the quarantine zone even more fun.
  • The Bozak Horde (May) – The final Season Pass drop will deliver a new map and gameplay, playable in single-player and co-op. Go inside the Harran Stadium and test your combat know-how against relentless hordes of the Infected. Fight increasingly stronger enemy waves as you oppose a mysterious psychopath called Bozak.

The season pass costs $19.99 / €19.99.

*Note: ‘Cuisine & Cargo’ will go live on the PlayStation Store in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and Australia on February 11th.

Dead or Alive 5: Last Round Tournament Series Announced

2015/02/09
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

DOA5LR_Helena_CE

February 9, 2015 — Today Team NINJA proudly announced the official DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round tournaments – BATTLE ROYAL 2015. In celebration of the final installment of DEAD OR ALIVE 5, Team NINJA has partnered with Big E Gaming and Final Round LLC to bring the most competitive and comprehensive DEAD OR ALIVE tournament in the history of the franchise to the people. With 12 tournaments in total, including 11 qualifier events at major destinations across North America and 6 sponsorships to the grand finals at NEC XVI in December, BATTLE ROYAL 2015 will be a landmark tournament tour for the entire DEAD OR ALIVE community. More information about BATTLE ROYAL 2015 can be found at the DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round Official website: http://teamninja-studio.com/doa5/lastround/us/battleroyal2015.html.

BATTLE ROYAL 2015 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:

  • Winter Brawl 9: $500 pot bonus. 1st place prize – *Player sponsorship to Grand Finals.
    • Date: 2/20/15 – 2/22/15  Location: Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Essington, PA 19029
  •  Final Round 18: $500 pot bonus. 1st place prize – *Player sponsorship to Grand Finals.
    • Date: 3/20/15 – 3/22/15  Location: Hilton Atlanta Airport, Atlanta, GA 30354
  •  NorCal Regionals: $500 pot bonus. *Points towards the Grand Finals.
    • Date: 4/3/15 – 4/5/15  Location: 300 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
  •  SoCal Regionals: $500 pot bonus. 1st place prize – *Player sponsorship to Grand Finals.
    • Date: 5/1/15 – 5/3/15  Location: TBD, Orange County, CA
  •  East Coast Throwdown: $500 pot bonus. *Points towards the Grand Finals.
    • Date: 6/13/15 – 6/15/15  Location: Empire Meadowlands Hotel, Two Harmon Plaza, Secaucus, NJ 07094
  •  EVO 2015: Side tournament. $1000 pot bonus. *Points towards the Grand Finals.
    • Date: 7/17/15 – 7/19/15  Location: Bally’s Paris Las Vegas casino & hotel, Las Vegas, NV 89109
  •  Summer Jam 9: $1000 pot bonus. (free entry tournament). *Points towards the Grand Finals.
    • Date: 8/21/15 – 8/23/15  Location: Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Essington, PA 19029
  •  TFC: $1000 pot bonus. (free entry tournament). 1st place prize – *Player sponsorship to Grand Finals.
    • Date: 9/11/15 – 9/13/15  Location: Hilton Hotel, 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609
  •  Absolute Battle: $500 pot bonus. *Points towards the Grand Finals.
    • Date: TBD  Location: TBD, Dallas, TX
  •  GUTS: $500 pot bonus. *Points towards the Grand Finals.
    • Date: TBD  Location: TBD, CT
  •  Paradise: $500 pot bonus. Official qualifier for Final Round 19. *Points towards the Grand Finals.
    • Date: 11/20/15- 11/22/15  Location: Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, CA 92108
    • *1st place sponsorship prize (flight, hotel, venue and entry to Grand Finals)
    • *Top 2 players with the most points from NCR, ECT, EVO, SJ9, AB, GUTS and Paradise will win flight, hotel, venue and entry to Grand Finals.
  •  NEC XVI: The Grand Finals. $3000 pot bonus. Winner is guaranteed player sponsorship to 2016 finals.
    • Date: 12/3/15- 12/6/15  Location: Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Essington, PA 19029

DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round will take to the ring to deliver the signature DOA fighting style, wrapped up in the most graphically impressive version of a DEAD OR ALIVE game ever seen. Combatants will present an unparalleled level of life-like detail, and smooth striking animations that will firmly place every fighter in the heat of the moment. The game’s dynamic interactive stages once again boast a range of visually striking locations from around the world, while offering even more destruction, deadly new danger zones and a higher level of strategic choices for players to utilize in the quest for victory. Character customization options get even deeper, as DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round will offer over 400 open and unlockable costumes, including 31 brand new costumes consisting of winning designs created by actual Dead or Alive players. Brand new hairstyle and accessory options round out nearly endless possibilities to adorn the fighters for any occasion. Players can bring their run of rosters, costumes and  save data from DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Ultimate, as previously purchased DLC content will be transferable from last gen consoles to the PS4 and Xbox One (PS3 to PS4, Xbox 360 to Xbox One).

Currently in development by Team NINJA, more details about DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round will be revealed in the coming weeks. This title has been rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB.

For more news about Team NINJA, visit https://www.facebook.com/teamninjastudio, and the DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round Official page: http://teamninja-studio.com/doa5/lastround/. Don’t forget to “Like” us on the Dead or Alive Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/deadoralivegame and follow us on Twitter @TeamNINJAStudio.

HyperX Releases Enhanced Cloud II Gaming Headset

2015/02/09
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Tech News

cloud_red_headset

Fountain Valley, CA – February 9, 2015 − HyperX®, a division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the launch of HyperX Cloud II headset. Shipping now, HyperX Cloud II features a newly designed USB sound card audio control box featuring 7.1 virtual surround sound, in addition to the great features and benefits of the previous award-winning HyperX Cloud headset.

Fully designed by HyperX sound engineers, the LED backlit audio control box delivers hardware-based (no drivers needed) 7.1 virtual surround sound with independent audio and microphone volume control. Gamers can easily toggle on 7.1 virtual Surround Sound with a push of a button to emulate having seven positional speakers for enhanced gaming. HyperX Cloud II is USB-powered for PC and Mac to amplify audio and voice, as well as 3.5mm stereo compatible for PS4 and Xbox One

The microphone is digitally enhanced with noise cancellation, auto gain control and echo cancellation via the USB sound card. Certified by TeamSpeak and Skype optimized, HyperX Cloud II provides clearer voice quality, game sounds and reduced background noise. The ear cups and headband are 100-percent memory foam to provide maximum comfort when gaming for hours.

HyperX will also launch its second gaming surface, HyperX FURY Pro Gaming Mouse Pad. Made of cloth material and soft padding, HyperX FURY mouse pads offer optimal precision, comfort and stability. HyperX FURY mouse pads are available in four sizes, and are portable and durable to suit any gamer’s environment.

“We are excited to expand our line of HyperX accessories with the new Cloud II and FURY mouse pad,” said Lawrence Yang, business manager, HyperX. “We can now offer gamers a 7.1 virtual surround sound headset that has all of the comfort and style of the original HyperX Cloud. These two new products give gamers great sound and control so they can enjoy a fully immersive gaming experience.”

HyperX Cloud II is available in red, gun metal, and limited edition pink (coming soon) and is backed by a two-year warranty and legendary HyperX reliability.

HyperX is the high-performance product division of Kingston Technology encompassing high-speed DDR4 and DDR3 memory, SSDs, USB Flash drives, and gaming accessories. Targeted at gamers, overclockers and enthusiasts, HyperX is known throughout the world for quality, performance and innovation. HyperX is committed to eSports as it sponsors over 20 teams globally and is the main sponsor of Intel Extreme Masters. HyperX can be found at many shows including Brasil Game Show, China Joy, DreamHack and PAX.

For more information, visit the HyperX home page.

HyperX Cloud II Features and Specifications:

Headset:
  • Transducer Type: dynamic Ø 53mm
  • Frequency Response: 15Hz–25,000 Hz
  • Nominal SPL: 98±3dB
  • Operating principle: closed
  • Nominal impedance: 60 Ω per syste
  • T.H.D.: < 2%
  • Power handling capacity: 150mW
  • Sound coupling to the ear: circumaural
  • Ambient noise attenuation: approx. 20 dBa
  • Headband pressure: 5N
  • Weight with microphone and cable: 320g
  • Cable length and type: 1m + 2m extension
  • Connection: single mini stereo jack plug (3.5 mm)
Microphone:
  • Transducer Type: condenser (back electret)
  • Polar Pattern: cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 50-18,000 Hz
  • Operating principle: pressure gradient
  • Power supply: AB powering
  • Supply voltage: 2V
  • Current consumption: max 0.5 mA
  • Nominal impedance: ≤2.2 kΩ
  • Open circuit voltage: at f = 1 kHz: 20 mV / Pa
  • THD: 2% at f = 1 kHz
  • Max. SPL: 105dB SPL (THD≤1.0% at 1 KHz)
  • Microphone output: -39±3dB
  • Length mic boom: 150mm (include gooseneck)
  • Capsule diameter: Ø6*5 mm
  • Connection: single mini stereo jack plug (3.5mm)

1Controller adapter required.

HyperX can be found on: