Author - Jerry Paxton

IndieCade Showcase Returns for E3 2015

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LOS ANGELES — June 2, 2015 — IndieCade, the premier international festival of independent games, will host their annual IndieCade Showcase @ E3 during E3 2015 in Los Angeles, bringing more than 30 of the most creative and varied independently developed games to the industry’s largest stage. Games to be showcased include video games for all platforms, virtual reality, tabletop games, performance and physical games, and many more.

The 2015 IndieCade Showcase @ E3 is presented in collaboration with Hosting Partner The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and will be located in South Hall, Booth #601.

“The IndieCade Showcase @ E3 is a wonderful opportunity for independent games to make their mark on the industry’s most important stage, and for emerging developers to meet and network with peers from around the world,” said Stephanie Barish, chief executive officer and founder, IndieCade. “Working as we do with key partners like the ESA and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), we’re able to shine a light on the diversity and creativity of independent developers and their artistry, and we invite all attendees to join us in South Hall to try their hand at experiences they simply won’t find anywhere else at the show.”

Each game selected for the IndieCade Showcase @ E3 was curated from submissions for this Fall’s IndieCade Festival. The E3 lineup serves as a glimpse into what’s to come at the larger IndieCade event.

“It is our honor to once again be the hosting partner for the IndieCade Showcase @ E3 and to provide an area for independent creators to showcase their incredible work,” said Rich Taylor, senior vice president for Communications and Industry Affairs at the Entertainment Software Association. “Each year, the games and experiences on display by IndieCade challenge assumptions of what games can be, what games can say, and what it means to interact with yourself and others. We look forward to what independent creators will offer at this year’s E3.”

The IndieCade Showcase @ E3 booth will be divided into several key areas, including areas dedicated to platforms like PC, Mobile, and Console as well as categories like Big Games, eSports, and Installations. In addition, key sponsors will be hosting areas, such as Intel’s Lounge and the VR Zone, sponsored by Oculus. Games will also be shown by IndieCade Festival partners Sony Computer Entertainment America (PlayStation) and LOOT Interactive.

Games that will be available to see and play at the IndieCade Showcase @ E3 include:

Royals [PC] by: Sirvo, LLC — Royals is an optimistic peasant simulator from a long forgotten era.

Face It!  [iOS, Android] by: Navel — Face It! is a joyful party game for mobile about making a fool of oneself in front of friends and family and watch them do the same. Players imitate drawn faces, while their teammates must guess which face was portrayed.
Luckslinger [PC/Mac/Linux] by: Duckbridge — a hip-hop infused spaghetti western action platformer where luck affects the world around you.

GNOG [PC/Mac/Linux] by: KO-OP — a magical journey through a universe of visually stunning and playfully interactive monster heads.

Home Improvisation [PC] by: The Stork Burnt Down — a game about building crazy modular furniture solo or with up-to-8 friends.

Earth Primer [iPad] by: Chaim Gingold — is a science book for playful people. Discover how our planet works. Create volcanoes, sculpt mountains, and control the forces of nature with your fingertips.

Metamorphabet [PC/Mac] by: VectorPark — a playful, interactive alphabet for all ages. Poke, prod, drag, and spin the letters of the alphabet to reveal surprising and luminous transformations.

Time Barons [Tabletop] by: Quibble Games —  a fast-paced strategy card game that pits two players against each other in a war across the ages.

Synonymy [iOS, Android, Mac] by: JarvisFilms — A non-profit, educational word game narrated by Richard Dawkins where players find paths between two random words through their network of synonyms.

TRIPAD [PC / Launchpad DJ Controllers] by: Alexk.net — a minimalist 3-player game ‘platform’, constructed using LaunchPad DJ controllers, cleverly mounted in an angled cubical configuration.

Butt Sniffin Pugs [PC / Pug Butt] by: Space Beagles —  is a pug simulation literally enhanced by your ability to run like a dog and sniff butts.

Lost Valley VR [Virtual Reality] by: Paper Crane Games — A virtual reality photography excursion into the land of beasts that time forgot.

Maquisard [Mac] by: Team Maquisard — The lobby boy of the Hotel Maquisard must figure out which of their guests is a government agent through snooping and deduction.

In Tune [PC / Physical] by: Tweed Couch Games — a game about navigating consent that encourages people to reconsider their interactions with others while getting to know a partner.

Curiouser and Curiouser!  [Book] by: DragonRat Studio — is an Alice in Wonderland-themed physical pop-up book that uses sensors to control digital games played on a screen.

Chambara [PC/Mac] by: Overly Kinetic — “A flash of color! Feathers bursting from nowhere! Come play Chambara!”

Starport [GearVR Innovator Edition] by Otherworld Interactive — Starport is a VR social app that features games, expressive avatars, and amazing environments.

Monikers [Tabletop] by: Palm Court — A dumb party game that respects your intelligence.

ChargeShot [Windows] by: Cowboy Color — Shoot, deflect, and jetpack your way to victory in ChargeShot; a fast-paced, local multiplayer, space bounty hunter deathmatch.

Pixel Ripped [PC/Virtual Reality] by: Pixel Ripped Ltd. — A madcap, VR homage to gaming history.
Join Nicola, an avid 80’s gamer as she battles to play her favorite video game.

Shape of the World [Xbox One] by: Hollow Tree Games — a first-person exploration game that grows around you. Without your presence, will the forest still come alive?

Tetheron [PC] by: Giverspace — In Tetheron, 2-6 players soar joyfully around a destructible arcade arena by tethering and swinging from obstacles and each other.

Tribal & Error [PC] by: Grotman — Discover, use and master an extinct language to help cavemen survive the ice age.

…&maybetheywontkillyou [LARP] by: RainBros — a LARP about being poor and Black in America.

Breath of Light [Android] by: Many Monkeys — Breath of Light is a beautiful and meditative Zen puzzle game with a hypnotic soundtrack.

Swordy [Xbox One] by Frogshark — Swordy is a colorful local multiplayer physics based brawler. Harness momentum and timing using analogue controls.

Dysforgiveness [Physical] by: Team Bluehart — Dysforgiveness is an analog game about changing your body through physical, intimate collaboration with friends.

Australia Repopulates the World: The Game [Physical] by: Seemingly Pointless —The world has ended and all continents are vacant of human life, all but Australia, ready to repopulate the world.

Plug & Play [Android/PC/Mac] by: Etter Studio — Run, hit, switch, fall, love, plug, pull. And push.

Takat [Tabletop] by: Tinfox Games — a card game where you make abstract shapes to score points. Your goal is to deduce your opponent’s color without revealing your own.

FUNBOX [Physical] by: USC Games — Put on the coveralls, get in the box, listen for the cues, and touch those colored dots. The last one standing wins!

Armikrog [PC/Mac/Linux] by: Pencil Test Studios — a unique stop motion clay animated point and click adventure game from the creators of Earthworm Jim and the Neverhood.

Cloud Chasers [PC] by: Blindflug Studios – a steampunk roguelike game about a father and daughter based on the stories and fates of immigrants.

Lumino City [Mac/PC] by: State of Play — Lumino City is a puzzle adventure game created entirely out of paper, cardboard, miniature lights and electric motors by artists and modelmakers.

SUNSET [PC/Mac] by: Tale of Tales Sunset is a narrative-driven first-person story about a housekeeper and her elusive male client. Every decision you make affects how you experience the events – will you direct it towards intimate and romantic or revolt and violence?

WATTAM [PS4] by Funomena – From the criminal mastermind behind Katamari Damacy & Noby Noby Boy comes Wattam – a unique, charming world bursting with interesting people, overseen by the explosive Mayor & his bombastic Deputies.

SMS Racing (SAMSUNG GEAR VR) by Turbo Button, Inc. – SMS Racing is a game about the thrill of texting and driving. Do you have what it takes to race at the highest level while responding to your friends’ messages? You don’t want to be rude, do you?

ABOUT INDIECADE FESTIVAL
The IndieCade Festival has proven itself as the spotlight location for the best, the brightest, and the most inspired independent games in the world, and annually welcomes some of the most innovative and artistic developers in the industry.  Past festivals have included premiered games and award winners that have gone on to change the industry, including Braid, Flower, Alien Hominid, Johann Sebastian’s Joust,Skulls of the Shogun, and Towerfall among others.

IndieCade Festival 2015 will be held in downtown Culver City, CA this October.

Ubisoft Announces E3 2015 Games Line-Up

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PARIS — June 2, 2015 — Today, Ubisoft confirmed it is showcasing new content from three of its highly-anticipated titles and announcing several exciting new games at the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Kicking off the week on Monday, June 15 with the Ubisoft E3 2015 Conference, Ubisoft will share its lineup at the Ubisoft booth from June 16 – 18 and extend the invitation to fans at the Uplay Lounge.

“E3 is always a very special moment for the entire gaming community because we all come together to share our visions for the future of entertainment and reveal the games into which we’ve been pouring our energy and passion. The players’ excitement and feedback when they first experience what we’re developing is what motivates us the most,” said Yves Guillemot, co-founder and CEO, Ubisoft. “We love being a part of this great community, and our talented teams continue to take risks, push boundaries and offer more freedom and choice within our games so that we can create long-lasting, enriching experiences for the players.”

Back by popular demand, actress and comedian Aisha Tyler is hosting Ubisoft’s E3 2015 Conference. The conference takes place at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Monday June 15 at 2:45 p.m. (PDT). The conference will be broadcast live and on demand via YouTube, on Ubisoft’s Twitch channel and on Uplay. All Ubisoft’s videos and trailers from E3 will be available on Ubisoft’s YouTube channel during the event with embeddable links. Fans can head to www.ubisoft.com which will act as a hub before, during and after the event for all the latest news and content.

E3 attendees can visit Ubisoft’s booth — #1023 — situated in the South Hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center to further explore Ubisoft’s full E3 lineup, including hands-on demos of the following games:

  • Assassin’s Creed® Syndicate: Set in London during the height of the Industrial Revolution, players will step into the shoes of twin Master Assassins, Jacob and Evie Frye. Fighting to liberate London, Jacob and Evie help define the birth of organized crime in an adventure filled with action, intrigue and brutal combat.
  • Tom Clancy’s The Division™: In this immersive online open-world action RPG, players will team up with other Division agents to reclaim New York City from the chaos of a deadly pandemic.
  • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege: Inspired by the reality of counter terrorist operatives across the world, Rainbow Six Siege invites players to master the art of destruction. Intense close quarter confrontations, high lethality, tactics, team play, and tension are at the center of the experience.
    Special guests will be in attendance, and a jam-packed program of performances is scheduled on the booth throughout the week.

For the third year running, the Uplay Lounge offers fans the chance to see and play the new games in Ubisoft’s E3 lineup, meet the developers, compete with other gamers and more. Throughout the week, Ubisoft is organizing a series of Master Classes for fans, during which a number of newly announced games will be demonstrated live by the production teams. These Master Classes, which will include sessions on Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege and Tom Clancy’s The Division, will be streamed live on Twitch. In addition, Ubisoft has identified a group of fans who represent the passion and diversity of its gaming communities. These “Star Players” have been invited to E3 by Ubisoft and will receive full VIP treatment at the show. The Uplay Lounge will be open in the afternoons of Tuesday June 16 and Wednesday June 17, and will be located at the SkySpace, on the 71st floor of the Bank Tower in Downtown LA. For more information about the Uplay Lounge and the Star Players in the lead up to the event and during E3, please visit www.uplaylounge.com.

Fans interested in getting all the information about Ubisoft at E3 can follow the #UbiE3 hashtag on Twitter and tune into our conference and coverage live from the Ubisoft Booth and Uplay Lounge on TwitchTwitch. In addition, the UbiBlog will be hosting a slew of features and previews on Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Rainbow Six Siege, The Division and all unannounced titles.

© 2015 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.

©2015 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Tom Clancy’s, Rainbow Six, The Soldier Icon, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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

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Hollywood, CA, June 2, 2015 The countdown to “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” begins today as Universal Studios HollywoodSM  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

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Newport Beach, CA – June 1, 2015With The Bard’s Tale IV Kickstarter launching on June 2nd, 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 2nd, 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

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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

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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 14TH 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

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June 1st, 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

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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

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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.

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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.

[easyreview title=”Parrot Zik 2.0 Wireless Headphones Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]

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