Author - Jerry Paxton

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

2015/06/23

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.

E3 2015 Photo Gallery

2015/06/21

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News, Screenshots / Photos

Here is our gallery of images from the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, CA. Enjoy!

Photgraphs

H&K SL9 Airsoft AEG Sniper Rifle by Umarex Review

2015/06/21

Jerry Paxton

Action Sports, Airsoft News, Airsoft Reviews, Articles, Geek News, News, Reviews

The Umarex / Elite Force H&K SL9 airsoft sniper rifle is certainly one of the most striking airsoft guns you will ever see on the field. Its black, futuristic design looks like something you would see in Appleseed or any other sci-fi action film you can envision. In reality, this airsoft gun’s bite is just as striking as its bark, with a rated 440 FPS velocity and 650mm inner barrel! The H&K SL9 features both semi-automatic as well as fully automatic fire modes, so you can use this rifle in more than just a sniper role.

The Umarex / Elite Force H&K SL9 can also be used as a support gun so long as you outfit it with a G-36 compatible drum magazine. Its metal version 3 gearbox is well-built and the rifle even features a blowback style action that adds a nice bit of feedback to your experience. Its gearbox is OEM’d by ARES and they have included their micro-switch trigger system which makes for a smooth trigger pull. The airsoft rifle comes with its mock suppressor permanently attached as well as a 35 round, short G-36 style magazine. This is in keeping with its purpose as a DMR or sniper airsoft rifle. You can use standard size Umarex / Elite Force G-36 magazines in the SL9 as well should you desire more ammo capacity.

Another great feature of the SL9 is a special button located inside the trigger area which releases any tension on the rifle’s spring. This will allow your rifle’s spring to have a much longer life than if it kept the tension on the spring. Also, the SL9 features ambidextrous controls so, whether you are right or left-handed, you will have no problems shooting it. The battery lives inside the SL9’s handguard and the handguard can be accessed like any other G-36 style airsoft rifle. The box also contains a decent bipod which will allow you to shoot much more easily from a prone position.

The Umarex / Elite Force H&K SL9 can be customized quite a bit to fit the shape and comfort of the shooter. For instance, its cheek rise has multiple segments which can be removed or added onto in order to give the shooter the kind of cheek weld desired. Also, the butt plate of the SL9 is segmented and the box includes several plates which can be added onto it. This will increase the overall length of the gun, but also can better fit those shooters with longer arms.

In terms of in-game performance, I found the SL9’s accuracy to be a little worse than I prefer at longer distances. Even with my scope as zeroed as I could get it (zeroing an airsoft rifle is troublesome at best), it just seemed to have difficulty getting consistent shots at targets from 150 to 200 feet away. That being said, I still absolutely love the way this airsoft rifle feels and looks, and I plan on doing some upgrades to it soon in order to make it more competitive.

Another thing I had trouble with was the Umarex / Elite Force H&K SL9’s fire selector. Unlike an M4 style airsoft gun, I could not use my shooting hand thumb to change the fire mode. The thumb hole grip just doesn’t allow that kind of dexterity. In order to change the fire mode on the SL9, I had to use the fire selector switch on the other side of the rifle. Just something to keep in mind prior to purchasing.

[ezcol_1half]What Is Great

Killer style and design
Rugged build quality
Lightweight nylon fiber body

[/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end]What Isn’t

Accuracy suffers beyond 150 feet

[/ezcol_1half_end]

Overall, the Umarex / Elite Force H&K SL9 is a terrific looking airsoft rifle that performs fairly well as a DMR or support gun (as long as you put a drum magazine on it). This airsoft rifle retails for about $300 dollars and is available now from airsoft retailers everywhere. Its nylon fiber body is lightweight, yet very strong, and it provides a great base platform to add on to if you demand the utmost in your sniper or DMR airsoft rifle.

[easyreview title=”H&K SL9 Airsoft AEG Sniper Rifle by Umarex Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”3″ ]

[button target=”_blank” style=”” class=”btn_blue” link=”http://gamingshogun.com/gamingshogun-rating-system/”]Learn About Our Rating System[/button]

Crossout E3 Behind Closed Door Demo

2015/06/21

Jerry Paxton

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

Gaijin Entertainment's Crossout Screenshot

Russian publisher Gaijin Entertainment certainly has a great stable of games in the online game space. Their War Thunder and Star Conflict games put players against on another in action packed games of combat – both on air, land, and space. At last week’s E3 expo, I got the chance to check out their upcoming vehicular combat title, Crossout, in a behind closed doors preview. Crossout is set in a post-apocalyptic landscape a la Mad Max where players customize and build their vehicles of carnage almost entirely from the ground up.

Building your vehicle is a huge part of Crossout – tweaking it just the way you want it for future battles. You can research new parts and tech in exchange for salvage and old parts and it was really amazing to see the various types of vehicles able to be constructed. You can also take your creations out on a test battlefield to see how they run. In this test area, you will also find an exact clone of the vehicle you are driving so you can shoot at it to see where its weak spots are.

Combat is very fluid and it was extremely satisfying to see the various bits of enemy vehicles explode into pieces. You can literally destroy vehicles piece by piece. After each match, you receive a report of the parts and salvage you received as well as your match statistics. There are a huge number of weapons available in Crossout – all have their own strengths and weaknesses. For example, machine guns have unlimited ammunition but overheat fairly quickly while larger cannons have slower rates of fire and higher damage out put, but limited quantities of ammunition.

Crossout looks like it will be a fun online combat title that will satisfy both players of games like War Thunder and World of Tanks while also appeasing the gear heads out there who like to tweak and customize their rides ad nauseam. Crossout is currently in alpha testing – head on over to Gaijin Entertainment’s official website for more information.

Screenshots

Master of Orion E3 Behind Closed Door Preview #masteroforion

2015/06/20

Jerry Paxton

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

E3 2015 Wargaming Master of Orion Screenshot

Wargaming.net caught the interest of us classic PC gamers this E3 when they announced a reboot of the Master of Orion space strategy franchise. Master of Orion effectively created a new genre of strategy game knows as a “4X” game (“Xploration”, “Xpansion”, “Xploitation”, and “Xtermination”) back when it was released in 1993. Master of Orion, or “MOO” as it is affectionately known, allowed players to control their own empire as it expanded into the galaxy in search of the mysterious planet Orion. MicroProse and Simtex, creators of the original game, followed it up with Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares, which continued the series and was met with equal adulation. We shall not speak of Master of Orion 3! For the greater good…. (…the greater good…)

Wargaming has promised to remain true to the original two titles while also bringing it into the modern climate of PC gaming. My concern, of course, is that they would somehow “dumb down” the game to the point where it no longer has any of the charm or core gameplay mechanics that the original games had. While at E3 2015, I got the chance to sit down with the executive producer of the game, Randy King, as well as some other Wargaming staffers, and get a walk through of some of the new Master of Orion’s game mechanics.

The original ten Master of Orion races have returned, and each gets its own cinematic sequence when starting a game. Additionally, Wargaming has taken a cue from the Civilization series and Master of Orion features animated, 3D advisers and leaders for all the races you will encounter in your quest for galactic domination. These characters look amazing and are all fully-voiced. Master of Orion features several paths to galactic victory – from sheer conquest to diplomatic means. The tech tree has a huge number of branches and technologies to research and, in an update from the original games, you can select a technology farther down the tree and your researchers will “fill in the gaps”, auto-selecting and researching the proceeding tech to reach that goal.

Planetary management will be very familiar to Master of Orion players with a similar interface and the ability to move your population around between industrial, agricultural, and mining castes. Planets still come in all shapes and sizes – some will be in the realm of your species’ tolerances and others will need to be terraformed to suit your colonists.

Taking from current 4X games, Master of Orion no longer allows your ships to travel to any system they desire so long as they have the fuel capacity. Now, star systems are all connected by wormholes. The benefit of this is that players can now use special ship types known as space factory ships to build star bases. Building a starbase near a wormhole’s event horizon will effectively blockade that route from foreign space vessels unless that race has negotiated a treaty allowing their passage through your space. This allows players to create a more solid sense of imperial boundaries and borders. Of course, the same restrictions will apply to your vessels if they try to pass through a wormhole guarded by a foreign star base.

Spacecraft will also be able to happen upon random artifacts floating about the cosmos. Sometimes these are credits, sometimes they are technologies and, sometimes, there are even derelict vessels ripe for the capturing! Planets are all randomly generated based upon variables the player sets at the start of the game (when setting up the galaxy) and all feature a cool cinematic when players colonize them. These cinematic sequences are also generated based on the type of planet being colonized so it will all match up.

Continued on Page Two

CryEngine Adds Oculus Support and Two Additional Platforms

2015/06/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Frankfurt, Germany – June 19, 2015 – Developers can now tap into the game-changing power of CRYENGINE to create virtual reality experiences following the latest update to Crytek’s all-in-one software solution.

The release of CRYENGINE 3.8.1 adds Oculus Rift support to the engine, granting both full licensees and Engine-as-a-Service subscribers equal access to the new VR toolset. The addition of VR development capabilities to CRYENGINE is complimented by initial support for AMD’s LiquidVR™ technology, which is dedicated to making VR as comfortable and realistic as possible. Future updates will bring support for additional VR platforms into the engine.

Crytek’s Frank Vitz, Creative Director CRYENGINE, said: “Since showcasing our own work with VR, we’ve seen an overwhelming response from developers who want to use CRYENGINE for their virtual reality projects as well. Our experience in stereoscopic 3D, combined with the engine’s rendering power and ability to deliver high resolution images at a high frame rate, means CRYENGINE offers a degree of visual fidelity that many people feel is foundational to a compelling VR experience. We can’t wait to see what other CRYENGINE users create now that they have VR capabilities at their fingertips.”

Today’s update also adds OpenGL support to CRYENGINE, allowing developers to more seamlessly port their PC projects to Linux.

Finally, today’s update also empowers full engine licensees to put CRYENGINE to work when developing games for Android TV systems. With Android devices designed for the living room set to become increasingly popular, CRYENGINE ensures users are equipped to bring their vision to life for a whole new audience.

CRYENGINE is available royalty free for as little as 9.90 USD/EUR per month. For more information visit www.cryengine.com.

E3 2016 Dates Announced

2015/06/18

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News

Los Angeles, CA – June 18, 2015 – More than 52,200 video game professionals, analysts, journalists, and enthusiasts, representing 109 countries attended this week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today at the close of E3 2015. On display at the premier global video game event were more than 1,600 products from 300 exhibitors. ESA, which owns and produces E3, also revealed that E3 2016 will take place June 14-16 in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“More than any other E3, this year was about the gamer. E3 demonstrated both the remarkable transformation of entertainment taking place on all video game platforms—virtual reality, augmented reality, hardware, mobile and handheld—and awesome games,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of ESA. “As a driving force for technological and entertainment trends across the globe, the video game industry clearly demonstrated how it is revolutionizing the way people consume, engage and interact with media. Congratulations to our incredibly creative exhibitors, members, partners and the millions of video game consumers who celebrated a spectacular E3 event.”

With an astounding 6.3 million posts on Twitter alone, E3 broke records for social media numbers across all channels. Engagement on Instagram topped previous records with over 7.5 million likes on E3-related posts this month. Twitch, E3’s official streaming partner, reported that more than one half million concurrent viewers watched the E3 press conferences. In addition, more than one million E3-related videos were posted to YouTube.

Also announced during E3, a blue-ribbon panel of industry professionals and experts selected The DigiPen Institute of Technology as winner of the 2015 E3 College Game Competition with its winning video game,RumbleTV. Finalists for the competition included entries from The Academy of Art University, The University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Savannah College of Art and Design.

E3 is the world’s premier trade show for computer and video games and related products. The show is owned by the ESA, the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies, publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.E3Expo.com or follow E3 on Twitter: @E3.