Author - Jerry Paxton

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Comes to USH in Spring of 2016

2015/06/02

Hollywood, CA, June 2, 2015 – The countdown to “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” begins today as Universal Studios Hollywood^SM announces the Spring 2016 arrival of the West Coast’s most anticipated entertainment experience and the introduction of the land’s signature attraction, “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” in hyper-realistic 3D-HD.

More than five years in the making, and inspired by J. K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters and the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood will bring guests the same authenticity and storytelling found at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan and is expected to attract Harry Potter fans and visitors from all over the globe for decades to come.

Visitors will be swept into a fully immersive themed land that brings the Harry Potter fiction and films to life with impeccable detail and precision. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” will be faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including Hogwarts castle which will serve as its iconic focal point.

“Harry Potter is an exhilarating multi-generational global phenomenon that has captivated the world’s attention across every one of its mediums, from books and movies to exhilarating theme park adventures,” said Larry Kurzweil, President of Universal Studios Hollywood. “With its imminent arrival to The Entertainment Capital of L.A., Universal Studios Hollywood is thrilled to bring our guests a new, compelling experience of ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ as we embark on this next chapter in our storied history.”

“The momentum behind J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world is as strong as ever and we are incredibly excited to bring Hogwarts to Hollywood,” said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Fans around the world have experienced the magic at ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ in Orlando and Osaka and we look forward to continued success with our partners at Universal Studios Hollywood as we offer more fans a chance to step into this immersive environment.”

Like its counterparts, Hogwarts castle will sit at the heart of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” where the land’s signature ride, “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™” will take guests on a journey into many memorable scenes alongside Harry, Ron and Hermione. Traveling by Floo powder, guests will soar high above Hogwarts, partake in a Quidditch match, narrowly escape a dragon attack and have a close encounter with the Whomping Willow.

“Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” is an achievement in pioneering theme park ride technology featuring a groundbreaking robotics ride system, fused with elaborate filmed action sequences and immersive visceral effects. Sporting Quidditch-inspired 3D goggles, guests will venture through journeys experienced by Harry and his friends, spiraling and pivoting 360-degrees along an elevated ride track on a whirlwind adventure of a lifetime.

At Universal Studios Hollywood, “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” will make its U.S. debut as a dynamic 3D-HD adventure designed to further immerse guests in an already captivating storyline.

Also within “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” the enchanting family coaster, “Flight of the Hippogriff” will debut as Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor coaster.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” will resonate with immense detail, inviting guests to revel in Harry Potter’s epicurean world with the opportunity to enjoy authentic food and beverage at multiple locations, including: Three Broomsticks™ and Hog’s Head pub, as well the Magic Neep and Butterbeer™ carts.

A foray through the shops will add to the authenticity of the land with eight retail shops and locations, including Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges, Gladrags Wizardwear and Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods™.

As excitement builds for the Spring 2016 arrival of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” in-park guests at Universal Studios Hollywood are able to experience and purchase authentic merchandise, including wands, robes and other collectibles from “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” available within the Features Presentation shop, located just inside Universal Studios Hollywood’s main entry.

To hear details of the Spring 2016 opening of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood, please click here. The announcement video will be available beginning today, Tuesday, June 2, at 1PM ET /10AM PT.

Join the conversation online using #WizardingWorldHollywood and for all the latest news, “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @UniStudios.

Back The Bard’s Tale IV in the First 24 Hours and Get Free Extra Game

2015/06/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Newport Beach, CA – June 1, 2015 – With The Bard’s Tale IV Kickstarter launching on June 2^nd, inXile Entertainment is proud to announce an unprecedented crowdfunding offer: anyone who backs The Bard’s Tale IV on Kickstarter in the first 24 hours of the campaign will receive a FREE copy of inXile’s Wasteland 2, CD Projekt’s The Witcher, or The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.

Released to widespread critical acclaim in September 2014, Wasteland 2 is the riveting sequel to 1988’s Wasteland, the classic RPG and grandfather of post-apocalyptic gaming. Set in a devastated and harsh alternate reality, Wasteland 2’s version of Arizona is rife with dangers and threats, and as a Desert Ranger, players will help bring peace to the highly reactive world through force, diplomacy and skill. Wasteland 2 was made possible by the generous contributions of over 70,000 backers. The PC version will receive a free Game of the Year Edition update significantly improving the game in late summer of this year.

Based on the acclaimed novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings were released for PC platforms in 2007 and 2011 to critical and commercial success, with The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings gathering over 50 rewards ranging from Best Graphics, to Best Story, to Game of the Year. Furthermore, CD Projekt has shown the kind of dedication to fans that fits the crowdfunding model as well, as it has previously released Enhanced Editions of both games as free updates.

If you back The Bard’s Tale IV in the first 24 hours at any reward tier from $20 upwards, you will receive a choice for a copy of Wasteland 2, The Witcher or The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings once your pledge is collected at the end of the Kickstarter.

The Bard’s Tale IV Kickstarter will launch on June 2^nd, 6 AM PST. inXile is looking to raise funds to revive the dungeon crawl, bringing you a single-player, party-based experience, rich with challenging dungeons filled with dynamic phase-based fights as well as devious puzzles and riddles.

“This is our way to show our gratitude to those who continue to support us,” says Brian Fargo, inXile CEO. “We’re also very happy to be working with our friends at CD Projekt, who have shown they understand the right way to treat your fans!”

Wasteland 2 copies available for Steam or GOG.com. The Witcher and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings copies available for GOG.com.

The Bard’s Tale IV Website: http://bardstale.inxile-entertainment.com/

Fast & Furious – Supercharged All Six Celebrity Posters

2015/06/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Screenshots / Photos

The Banner

Click to Make Big

Here are all six celebrity poster images for the upcoming Fast & Furious – Supercharged ride opening on June 25, 2015 as the grand finale of the world-famous Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour.

About Fast & Furious – Supercharged:

“Fast & Furious—Supercharged” is a technologically advanced, epic ride that reunites stars from the Fast & Furious series in a groundbreaking mega-attraction designed to catapult guests into the high-stakes underground world of street racing at perceived speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour. This high-octane ride is conceived as a new installment to the Fast & Furious franchise and will debut as the grand finale to Universal Studios Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes Studio Tour that can only be experienced at The Entertainment Capital of L.A.

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

2015/06/01

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EVGA Now Offering GTX-980 Ti Graphics Cards

2015/06/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Hardware News, News

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

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

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

Maingear Now Offering GTX-980 Ti Graphics Cards

2015/06/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Hardware News, News

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

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

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

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

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

Parrot Zik 2.0 Wireless Headphones Review

2015/05/31

Jerry Paxton

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Star Hammer: The Vanguard Prophecy Ship and Unit Info

2015/05/29

Jerry Paxton

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kraken Dreadnought

Sprayer

Screenshots

Focus Home Interactive E3 2015 Games Line-Up

2015/05/29

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOMA Release Date and Gameplay Trailer

2015/05/29

Jerry Paxton

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

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

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

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

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