Author - Jerry Paxton

Knott’s Berry Farm Announces Voyage to the Iron Reef Dark Ride

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Buena Park, Calif. (November 13, 2014) – Knott’s Berry Farm announced plans for a spectacular new interactive 4-D attraction for 2015, Voyage to the Iron Reef.  Opening spring 2015, Voyage to the Iron Reef adds high-tech fun for everyone as guests save Knott’s from mysterious creatures emerging from the seas beneath the Boardwalk in a cutting edge media-based battle.

Ever since construction crews finished expanding the Boardwalk Pier in 2013, guests have happily enjoyed the many new attractions like Coast Rider and Surfside Gliders.  But all that activity on the Boardwalk shores has reawakened a mystic lair in the depths below, filled with creatures who have risen up to wreak havoc on the classic So Cal theme park.

The Queen of the Kraken and her aquatic army have surfaced to feed on the steel of any attraction within their grasps.  Their unquenchable appetite for coaster metal has turned these creatures into swimming mechanical monsters unlike anything ever seen on the ocean floor.

Guests who have what it takes to become brave deep sea navigators will climb aboard four-person submarine-inspired ride vehicles and embark on the four-minute gaming adventure into the Iron Reef.  Equipped with an interactive freeze ray, guests will aim for ballooning puffer fish, an iron clad octopus and other exciting 3-D creatures as they attempt to blast the most sea life and save Knott’s from a watery doom.

Through enchanting underwater forests, disorienting ocean current tunnels, and mysterious mechanical wreckage, high definition 3-D animation will surround guests at every turn.  Along the way, the submarines navigate 600 feet of track and 11 scenes featuring hundreds of media-based creatures and live action special effects.

Altogether, it’s an interactive voyage that features a different experience every time and reacts to the actions and accuracy of the guests onboard.  Following the thrilling finale, the number of creatures taken is digitally displayed onboard and in the undock area.

Montreal-based Triotech, the multi-sensory attraction developer that animated the popular Wonder Mountain’s Guardian at Canada’s Wonderland, is the creator behind the groundbreaking gaming system and animation for Voyage to the Iron Reef.

“Triotech is thrilled to cooperate with Knott’s team and bring our media-based interactive dark ride to Southern California, an area with a rich attraction and entertainment heritage.  We feel that guests of all ages will enjoy this unique attraction,” said Ernest Yale, Triotech’s President and CEO.

Knott’s is well prepared to integrate new technologies into traditional dark ride experiences.  Next year will mark the third consecutive year the park has reintroduced spectacular and unique family attractions.  Both the Timber Mountain Log Ride and

Calico Mine Ride recently delighted guests after both underwent extensive technological and special effect upgrades, reestablishing Knott’s as a destination renowned for premier theme park experiences.

The future home of Voyage to the Iron Reef is hallowed ground for Knott’s enthusiasts.  In 1975, the show building was originally the site of the wacky and whimsical Knott’s Bear-y Tales.  Designed by legendary theme park designer Rolly Crump, Knott’s Bear-y Tales transported guests to a county fair filled with anthropomorphized frogs, owls, and bears.  In 1987, dinosaurs once again ruled the earth as Knott’s Bear-y Tales transformed into Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, capturing the imagination of a new generation of fans.

The same commitment to storytelling and dedication to incorporating the most cutting edge ride technologies that made Knott’s Bear-y Tales and Kingdom of the Dinosaurs so popular is what has driven the Iron Reef creative process,” said Raffi Kaprelyan, vice president and general manager of Knott’s Berry Farm.  “The technology showcased in Iron Reef will honor the legacy of the attractions that preceded it, and propel the on-ride experience into the 21stcentury.”

Voyage to the Iron Reef is the centerpiece of an exciting 2015 at Knott’s Berry Farm.  For project updates and park information, visit knotts.com or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for your smart phone.  Join the conversation about the new attraction using the hashtag #KnottsIronReef on the Knott’s Facebook or Twitter page.

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About Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Fair Entertainment Company:
Knott’s Berry Farm is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FUN.” In addition to Knott’s Berry Farm, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, three water parks, one indoor water park, and five hotels. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract. Visitknotts.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Triotech

MARKET LEADER OF OUT-OF-HOME MULTI-SENSORY INTERACTIVE ATTRACTIONS

Since 1999, TRIOTECH has been creating the most technologically advanced immersive and interactive media-based attractions for both the entertainment and edutainment markets.  With installations in over 40 countries across all continents, TRIOTECH continues to push the limits of multi-sensory interactive attractions.  TRIOTECH also operates its own studio to develop state-of-the-art custom content for its attractions.

Evolve Cabot Gameplay Trailer and Screenshots

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November 12, 2014 — Today, 2K and Turtle Rock Studios released full details, as well as an all-new gameplay video about Cabot, the leader of the Hunters and the third support character in Evolve.

Only one man could lead the desperate attempt to rescue the last of the remaining colonists from Shear: William Cabot. Long retired from planet taming, Cabot agreed to help and, with his robot partner Bucket, assembled the greatest team of Hunters in history. Find out how Cabot’s Damage Amplifier, Radioactive Dust Tagging, and Rail Cannon differentiate him from the other Support class Hunters in a major way in the blog post linked below. Then watch Cabot in action in an all-new gameplay video.

Trailer

Screenshots

Tune in to the official Evolve live stream this Friday, November 7 at 3pm PT to see more Cabot action in-game.

About Evolve
Developed by Turtle Rock Studios, the creators of Left 4 Dead, Evolve is the next-generation of multiplayer shooters where four hunters face off against a single, player-controlled monster in adrenaline-pumping 4v1 matches. Evolve has won more than 60 awards and editorial honors to date, is the only game in history to earn the official E3 and Gamescom “Game of Show” awards in the same year, and is the most critically acclaimed game coming in 2015.

For more information on Evolve, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, subscribe on YouTube and visit http://www.evolvegame.com/news.

SU-27 Flanker Now Available for DCS World

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DUXFORD, UK, November 11th, 2014 – Su-27 for DCS World is now available for download! The Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics are pleased to announce that Su-27 for DCS World is now available for download via in-game Model Manager and as separate module from the DCS e-shop:

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/shop/modules/su-27_dcs_world/

Trailer Video:

Note: This is a free update to owners of Flaming Cliffs 3!

The Su-27, NATO codename Flanker, is one of the pillars of modern-day Russian combat aviation. Built to counter the American F-15 Eagle, the Flanker is a twin-engine, supersonic, highly maneuverable air superiority fighter. The Flanker is equally capable of engaging targets well beyond visual range as it is in a dogfight given its amazing slow speed and high angle attack maneuverability. Using its radar and stealthy infrared search and track system, the Flanker can employ a wide array of radar and infrared guided missiles. The Flanker also includes a helmet-mounted sight that allows you to simply look at a target to lock it up! In addition to its powerful air-to-air capabilities, the Flanker can also be armed with bombs and unguided rockets to fulfill a secondary ground attack role.

Su-27 for DCS World focuses on ease of use without complicated cockpit interaction, significantly reducing the learning curve. As such, Su-27 for DCS World features keyboard and joystick cockpit commands with a focus on the most mission critical of cockpit systems.

Key Features of the Su-27 for DCS World:

  • A professional level flight model provides unmatched flight physics that allow you to truly feel what it’s like to fly this amazing aircraft.
  • A true model of the Su-27 flight control system that allows you to perform the “cobra” and other “out of the envelope” maneuvers.
  • Updated Head Down Display (HDD) with more realistic data link, navigation and HUD repeater modes.
  • Highly detailed, six-degrees-of-freedom (6 DOF) cockpit.
  • Accurate Su-27 Flanker model, squadron markings, and weapons.
  • New instant action, single missions and interactive training missions.
  • Battle the F-15C in head-to-head.

ABOUT DCS WORLD

Digital Combat Simulator World (DCS World) is a free-to-play digital battlefield game, focusing on a military aircraft, ground unit, and naval simulation. It includes a FREE TF-P1D Mustang and a Su-25T attack aircraft. DCS World includes a vast mission area of the Caucasus region that encompasses much of Georgia – the location of the 2008 conflict. Further maps will be available in 2014.

Additionally, DCS World includes:

• Powerful mission and campaign editors
• Multiplayer
• Massive inventory of air, land and sea combat units and weapons
• Advanced AI
• Fast mission generator
• Dynamic weather and seasons
• Training missions
• Mission replay system
• Pilot log book

This all allows the creation of engaging, real-world combat missions in this flashpoint region. DCS is a true “sandbox” simulation that can and will cover multiple time periods covering many types of combat and civilian units. DCS World allows both realistic game play and more relaxed game play to suit the player.

Download DCS World for free from: www.dcs-world.com

About The Fighter Collection

The Fighter Collection, as well as developing software for the entertainment and serious game markets, also operates, rebuilds and maintains Europe’s largest collection of airworthy WWII fighters and is based at Duxford Airfield, in the UK. For more information visit our websites: http://www.fighter-collection.com/

Mixamo Now Offers Direct 3D Character Downloads for Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod

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San Francisco, CA – Nov 6, 2014 – Users of Valve’s Source Engine-based modding applications, Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod, just received a major productivity boost in the creation of 3D characters. Today, Mixamo, Inc announced that it has released a direct download feature that will enable anyone creating a 3D character with the latest version of its character creator software Fuse (which just launched today on Steam), and animating it with its Animations, to import those characters straight into Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod.

Valve pioneered the concept of modding back in 1998 with the release of Half-Life and its development tools. The concept has since spread to a number of popular games and millions of gaming fans. From maps to weapons to tutorials and more, Valve and other publishers continue to enable gaming fans to create a near limitless amount of user-generated content for their games.

Mixamo’s technology has been designed from the ground up to democratize the 3D character creation process for everyone. Using Mixamo’s patented Fuse character creator and its online animation technology, beginning artists, modders and experienced game developers alike can all create and animate detailed 3D characters in minutes, rather than the days or weeks it takes with other tools. This latest feature extends that simple content creation to users of popular software made with the Source Engine: Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod.

“Gabe Newell noted in a Reddit AMA earlier in 2014 that the biggest improvements [to its engine technology] will be in increasing productivity of content creation. Today’s feature release is the realization of that concept for the creation of game characters,” said Stefano Corazza, CEO of Mixamo. “Our entire pipeline is predicated on the same notion that user-generated content should be easy to create and get into games. We’ve now simplified that process for the tens of thousands of developers and modders using the Source engine and for the over 6 million users of Garry’s Mod. As far we know, we’re the first-ever 3D modeling and animation service to do so.”

Valve fans interested in creating 3D characters for Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod can experience this new functionality in the latest version of Mixamo’s character creator software, Fuse 1.3, which just launched on Steam and is available at a time-limited promotional price of $24.75 (Standard price: $99.99).

Mixamo has also published workflows on its website to show modders how to take advantage of this latest direct download feature for:

Garry’s Mod: https://community.mixamo.com/hc/en-us/articles/204187833-Tutorial-Fuse-to-Garry-s-Mod-Ragdoll and

Source Filmmaker: https://community.mixamo.com/hc/en-us/articles/203859456-Tutorial-Fuse-to-Source-Filmmaker

Direct downloads of 3D characters is currently only available for the Windows© versions of Source Filmmaker and Garry’s Mod. Support for Dota 2 is coming soon.