Author - Jerry Paxton

HTC Opens Vive Tracker Applications

2017/01/25

Geek News, News, Tech News, Windows PC News

HTC has launched its Vive Tracker application process, which will send off 1,000 trackers to accepted developers and creative individuals who apply.

From the official post: It’s time to get creative. Two weeks ago we debuted the Vive Tracker, which allows developers and accessory manufacturers to bring new form factors to VR with full motion tracking. As part of the news, we announced that we’d kick-start development of the Vive ecosystem by seeding 1,000 Vive Trackers to the developer and creative community.

Starting today, we’re accepting applications for the initial batch of Trackers. Applications will be open through February 7. That’s two weeks to tell us why your project is going to help the world rethink VR…

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach Review

2017/01/25

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

Slitherine Ltd and Straylight Entertainment have released their new turn-based strategy wargame based on the Warhammer 40,000 universe from Games Workshop. Warhammer 40,0000: Sanctus Reach puts players in command of the Space Wolves, who are tasked with defending the last remaining Imperium of Man planet from the Orkish onslaught. The game features two lengthy campaigns as well as a tutorial mission to get beginners up to speed on the game’s mechanics.

Visually, Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is not a strategy game with next-level graphics. But, it really doesn’t need to have this. Most people playing this game are wargamers, a sect of PC gamers that do not play for pure visual eye candy, but instead the thrill of using the best tactics to defeat their opponents. That being the case, it should be noted that Sanctus Reach is not an ugly game by any stretch of the imagination. Visuals are pretty by wargame standards, but should not tax your machine very much. The unit animations are decent. The in-game audio is decent, but units end up saying the same things over and over again which can be a bit repetitive.

Thankfully, the actual gameplay is a ton of fun. Units have separate movement and action points, so units can shoot and then move – or, move, shoot, and move again. Also, you can always come back to a unit if they still have action points left. This means you can go back and forth between your units, moving and shooting. This makes for some very dynamic gameplay and allows players to pull off pretty much whatever tactic they like. The battlemap is made up of a movement grid which units can traverse, and terrain and cover is very important to exploit during your fighting.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach has both campaign and multiplayer gameplay options. In multiplayer, or single player skirmish missions, players can play as either the Orks or the Space Wolves. If it wasn’t clear before, the campaign is focused on the Space Wolves side of the conflict.

Overall, Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is terrific turn-based strategy game that can provide a ton of entertainment veteran and novice strategy gamers alike. The visuals are good, animations decent, and strategic options just right. Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is available now on Steam.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach Review Score

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Screenshots

PREY Official Launch Date Revealed

2017/01/25

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

January 25, 2017 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced Prey® will release worldwide on Friday, May 5, 2017 for the Xbox One, PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and PC. Prey is the highly-anticipated first-person sci-fi action game from Arkane® Studios – creators of the award-winning Dishonored® series which includes the 2012 ‘Game of the Year’ and the critically-acclaimed follow-up, Dishonored® 2.

When you awaken aboard Talos I, an immense space station orbiting the moon in the year 2032, you find yourself as the key subject of an experiment meant to alter humanity forever – but things have gone terribly wrong. The space station has been overrun by hostile aliens and you are now being hunted. As you dig into the dark secrets of Talos I and your own past, you must survive using the tools found on the station, your wits, weapons, and mind-bending abilities to defeat the Typhon alien threat.

Fans who pre-order Prey will receive the exclusive Cosmonaut Shotgun Pack. The pre-order bonus consists of Morgan Yu’s family heirloom Margrave shotgun and tools to fight threats aboard Talos I including: three Neuromods players can spend to acquire new abilities, two Medkits, a Fabrication plan to create the Shotgun and Ammo, a starter kit for building tools and weapons, and a unique upgrade to help players preserve their limited resources.

Prey has not yet been rated by the ESRB. For more information about the game please visit www.prey.com.

Square Enix Announces Deus Ex VR Experience and More

2017/01/24

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

MONTRÉAL, CANADA – January 24, 2017 – Today, Square Enix® and Eidos®-Montréal announced that Deus Ex: Breach™ and the Deus Ex: Mankind Divided® – VR Experience are now available on Steam for free. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – A Criminal Past, the next DLC story mission, will be available on February 23, 2017.

Deus Ex: Breach allows new players to experience Deus Ex’s gameplay style, providing them with a glimpse of the vast realm of choices and possibilities that the Deus Ex Universe® has to offer. Originally released as a Deus Ex: Mankind Divided game mode, Deus Ex: Breach is an innovative game that offers an arcade approach on the gameplay of the Deus Ex series, providing players with a unique connected puzzle shooter experience. As a Ripper in the year 2029, your objective is to obtain and sell classified corporate data by hacking into some of the world’s most secure servers, using the funds you acquire to upgrade both your skills and arsenal. By obtaining this data, you will be able to unveil and expose the deepest, darkest secrets of the corporations in the Deus Ex Universe, with your efforts potentially unmasking some of the most dangerous individuals in the world. Extract the data. Expose the truth.

In addition, the Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – VR Experience for PC is now available for free on Steam for all HTC Vive® and Oculus® owners. Players will discover four iconic environments from Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, for the first time in virtual reality. Powered by the Dawn Engine®, take in the stunning level of detail and renowned art direction of locations such as Dubai and Golem City, while also taking a stroll in Adam Jensen’s apartment and Talos Rucker’s office. The Deus Ex VR Experience also provides you with an up-close and personal look at some of the 3D models for the main characters and NPCs from the game.

On February 23rd, Adam Jensen, along with both old acquaintances and new characters, will be back in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – A Criminal Past. The second Story DLC will provide players with more insights into the lore of the Deus Ex Universe. They will get to Experience Adam Jensen’s first mission for TF29, set before the events of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, where he poses as a convicted criminal. In Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – A Criminal Past, Jensen is transferred deep into a hostile, high-security prison for augmented felons. His mission: track down and retrieve sensitive information from a fellow undercover agent who has gone dark. Success will help the fight against terror around the world, but Jensen will need to confront a darker side to his role before the day is done.

Deus Ex: Breach and the Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – VR Experience are now available for free on Steam. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – A Criminal Past will be available on the 23rd of February on Xbox Live, the PlayStation®Network, Steam, and online stores. It will also be made available in the Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Season Pass, which is composed of Narrative DLCs and in-game items. More details on the contents of the Season Pass can be found here.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is available for PlayStation®4, PlayStation®4 Pro, the Xbox One all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC, Linux.

Related Links
Official Portal: deusex.com
Official Facebook Page: facebook.com/DeusEx
Follow @DeusEx on Twitter: twitter.com/DeusEx
Twitter Support: #CantKillProgress
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/DeusEx
Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/deusex
Tumblr: http://deusex.tumblr.com

Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment and Avalanche Announce Cars 3 Video Game

2017/01/24

Jerry Paxton

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

BURBANK, Calif., January 24, 2017 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that it will develop and publish the Cars 3 videogame, scheduled for 2017, based on the upcoming Disney•Pixar film. The game will be developed by Avalanche Software, which has re-opened under Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and will be led by John Blackburn. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has also obtained rights to the Octane engine technology, previously developed by Avalanche Software, which will be used to develop the Cars 3 title.

“It is a tremendous pleasure to welcome Avalanche Software into our development stable, and we look forward to working with our new team, Pixar Animation Studios, and DCPI to create Cars 3 based on the upcoming film and hugely popular franchise,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The Avalanche talent and technology are a great addition to our group of outstanding developers, and we are excited for this Cars 3 game as well as all of the future games the team will create under John’s leadership.”

“Disney•Pixar’s Cars is one of the world’s most beloved and recognized franchises, and we’re thrilled to be taking the story further and faster than ever before through a new console experience based on the upcoming, action-packed Cars 3,” said Kyle Laughlin, Senior Vice President, Games, Apps & Labs, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “We are excited to once again be working with the Avalanche team, who have a deep understanding of the Disney•Pixar DNA, and a history of translating our stories into great gaming experiences.”

The Disney•Pixar Cars franchise has generated more than $1 billion at the global box office, and has a strong track record with family gamers, selling millions of units across multiple Cars titles. This includes Cars 2: The Video Game, which was also developed by Avalanche Software and sold several million copies in 2011. Cars 3 is the latest kids and family gaming collaboration between the companies, which have previously produced Lego titles for many of the top franchises from The Walt Disney Company.

Banner Saga 3 Kickstarter Launches

2017/01/24

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

AUSTIN, TX – January 24th, 2017 – Stoic, an independent game development company, today announced that the crowdfunding campaign for Banner Saga 3 is now live on Kickstarter. The 30 day campaign aims to raise at least $200,000 to bring the award winning, BAFTA-nominated series to a worthy, climatic conclusion. The turn based strategy game, which is steeped in viking culture, originally came to be made after a remarkably successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2012 which allowed the team to raise the bar on production and development plans and saw the first game, The Banner Saga, launch to critical acclaim. Banner Saga 3 will be the third and final part to this epic, story-driven saga.

“We’re going full circle and returning to Kickstarter where it all began. In 2012, the backers were instrumental in bringing the saga to life, smashing our initial funding target that led us to increase the scope, fidelity and production values of Banner Saga”, said John Watson, co-founder and Technical Director at Stoic. “We’re proud to be indie, and despite the stellar support we get from our publisher, Versus Evil, we’re not taking any outside funding to bring this series home, we’d love Kickstarter support to add additional features that are simply beyond our current budget”.

In Banner Saga 3, players will embark on their final journey beyond the wall of Darkness to traverse the world unlike anything encountered in previous sagas. The beautifully hand drawn Viking role-playing adventure will once again test the player’s resolve through epic tactical battles against deadly adversaries where a player’s choice directly affects their personal journey. The lives of your clansmen and their families have never been more significant than in the final act of the series. Banner Saga 3 stretch goals for the Kickstarter campaign will aim to enhance the game further if the initial funding goal is met, ultimately this will include more content to help drive the story and add even more production value to the final game.

The Banner Saga launched to critical acclaim and has received several awards and nominations, including winner of the 2014 Geekie Awards for “Best Video Game”, winner of 2014 Game Developers Choice: “Best Debut” award, finalist placement for “Excellence in Visual Arts” category at the Independent Game Festival, three BAFTA Award Nominations, and was the winner of Pocket Gamer’s 2015 Best Adventure/RPG Game and Best Android Game of the Year. The sequel, Banner Saga 2 has also received several nominations and award wins, including a Pocketgamer Gold Award, a nomination for Best Strategy Game at the 2016 Video Game Awards, and has been selected as a finalist for the 20th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards in the Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year category. Banner Saga 2 was also a runner up for Best Strategy Game in RPG Fans best Strategy Game and Hardcore Gamers Best of 2016 Awards and is available now for PC, Xbox One, PS4, Android and iOS.

To learn more about The Banner Saga Trilogy visit its brand new website at: http://bannersaga.com

Razer Announces BlackWidow Chroma V2 Gaming Keyboard

2017/01/24

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News, Windows PC News

IRVINE, Calif. – Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced a major refresh to its keyboard lineup starting with the brand new Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 mechanical gaming keyboard.

Originally launched in 2010, Razer BlackWidow mechanical keyboards quickly became the world’s most popular gaming keyboard and the de facto choice of professional gamers everywhere. Razer began manufacturing its own mechanical switches in 2014 – the Razer Green and Razer Orange switch – that set benchmarks in the industry for gaming-optimized actuation and reset responsiveness and superior durability.

The Razer BlackWidow V2 continues the legacy of offering the best tactile switches with the Green and Orange variants, and adds an alternative – the Razer Yellow switch. Its linear and silent design and reduced travel distance allows keys to be pressed faster than ever before. The new switch’s feel and properties are meant for FPS and MOBA players who press certain keys thousands of times over the course of a match session.

The Razer Yellow switch, like the Green and Orange switches, is rated to 80 million keystrokes, the highest mark amongst current generation mechanical switches and one that is meant to last years longer than any other mechanical switch.

The Razer BlackWidow V2’s durability is matched by the comfort it offers. A newly included magnetic wrist rest optionally attaches to the bottom of BlackWidow V2 keyboard and helps keep gamers comfortable during marathon gaming sessions.

“We’ve made improvements across the board and are still the only company designing keyboard switches made specifically for gaming,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “The Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 builds on the legacy we started in 2010 with the original BlackWidow by offering legendary durability and comfort. This is the best mechanical keyboard we’ve ever produced.”

Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 keyboards feature individually backlit keys that are powered by Razer Chroma™ technology, which unlocks customizable lighting features that can be synced across devices. Gamers can choose from 16.8 million colors and a variety of effects. Custom settings can be created using the Razer Synapse software platform and shared with millions of other Razer software users via the Razer Chroma Workshop. In-game Razer Chroma lighting profiles are also integrated into popular game titles, including “Overwatch,” “Call of Duty®: Black Ops III,” “Blade and Soul” and more. These profiles can display tutorials, in-game actions and more.

Select models of the Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 are shipping now. Pricing remains unchanged from the previous iteration.

Price:

U.S. $169.99 / EU €199.99

Availability:

Razerzone.com – Available Now

Worldwide – January 2017

Product features:

Razer™ Mechanical Switches with 50 g actuation force (Green)
Razer™ Mechanical Switches with 45 g actuation force (Orange / Yellow)
80 million keystroke life span
Razer Chroma™ customizable backlighting with 16.8 million color options
Ergonomic magnetic wrist rest
Razer Synapse enabled
10 key roll-over anti-ghosting
Fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording
Gaming mode option
USB pass-through
3.5 mm 4-pole audio pass through jack
1000 Hz Ultrapolling
Braided fiber cable

For more information about the Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2, please visit http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-keyboards-keypads/razer-blackwidow-chroma-v2

Dark Souls III: The Ringed City DLC Announced

2017/01/23

Jerry Paxton

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

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (January 23, 2017) – Leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., announces DARK SOULS™ III: The Ringed City™, the final downloadable content expansion for DARK SOULS III, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.’s fastest selling title in history. This new adventure has players chasing after the Slave Knight Gael to the literal end of the world as he searches for the Dark Soul of Humanity. DARK SOULS III: The Ringed City will be available for download on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM™ on March 28, 2017.

At the close of the Age of Fire, as the world ends and all lands converge upon themselves, a lone adventurer descends into the madness of the earth and uncovers the secrets of the past. As players make their way to the fabled Ringed City they will encounter ancient beasts, a new cast of characters teetering on the edge of insanity, new armor, weapons, magic, and at the bottom of it all, a long lost city filled with new horrors for players to overcome.

“DARK SOULS III: The Ringed City brings players toe-to-claw against massive beasts in a twisted descent into the bowels of the end of the world,” said Jason Enos, Director of Brand and Latin American Marketing for BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “FromSoftware has crafted visually arresting environments that evoke a sense of destroyed beauty and nail biting encounters that will leave players breathless for more.”

DARK SOULS III: The Ringed City will be available for $14.99 digitally on the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM on March 28, 2017. The game is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB. DARK SOULS™ III: Ashes of Ariandel™ is currently available digitally for $14.99 on the same systems. A season pass for DARK SOULS III, which includes access to Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City, is available for purchase digitally for $24.99. To learn more about BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.’s other products go to: https://www.bandainamcoent.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS or join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

Mountain High Upcoming Events

2017/01/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

For those of you interested in snow/Winter sports, you might have seen our report on Mountain High’s 2017 media day! If not, check it out here, but you can also see the list of upcoming Mountain High events below!

Upcoming Events

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January 2017

Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month

Join us for National Learn to Ski/Snowboard Month. Now through January 31, purchase a midweek Half Day First Timer Package complete with lesson, rentals and a lower-mountain lift ticket for just $85 and receive a second Half Day First Timer Package for a friend free that day. Purchase online at mthigh.com.

Friday, January 20, 2017

KROQ Ditch Day

Come rock the mountain with the Jerimiah Red and the KROQ street team. Enjoy live music, giveaways and more at the West Resort from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday, January 20 and Friday, January 27, 2017

College Night

Show your college ID and ride from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. for only $20! Featuring DJs, vendors and more, College Night is a fun way for students from all over Southern California to meet and party on the slopes.

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Friday, January 27, 2017
94.9 Ditch Day

Play hooky with 94.9 and the Ditch Day crew. Enjoy live music, giveaways and more at the West Resort from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 28, 2017
Microbrew Day

Come sample some of the best craft brews around at the Foggy Goggle and enjoy live music on the main stage. Over a dozen microbrews are available 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for those 21-and-up.

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Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi Announced

2017/01/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News

January 23, 2017 – We have the greatest fans in this or any other galaxy. In appreciation of the fans, we wanted them to be the first to know the title of the next chapter in the Skywalker saga: STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

THE LAST JEDI is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, Jason McGatlin, and Tom Karnowski.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is scheduled for release December 15, 2017.