Author - Jerry Paxton

Knott’s Berry Farm For The Cure Partnership With Susan G. Komen OC Media Event

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This is the 2nd year that Knott’s Berry Farm has partnered up with Susan G. Komen Orange County to help provide support to survivors of breast cancer. To kick-off this continued partnership, Knott’s hosted a media event on the morning of January 10, 2015. Attending were people affected by breast cancer, either by going through it themselves, or their friends and families that support them. Also in attendance were several media outlets as well as park marketing and catering staff.

The event began with a nice breakfast buffet in the Cloud 9/Boardwalk Ballroom located in the Boardwalk area of Knott’s Berry Farm. After about an hour of enjoying the pink yogurt fountain, scrambled eggs and bacon, gluten-free macaroni & cheese, as well as a host of other good eats, the presentation began on the ballroom’s small stage. We heard from the manager of the park, who spoke of the important of the partnership, and we also heard from cancer survivors and their ofttimes emotional stories in dealing with their illness. Seeing the strength in the cancer survivors who are managing to stay positive and live life to the fullest while battling such a menacing illness was overly-inspiring.

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After the presentation, we were escorted out to the park’s Jaguar roller coaster – but not before stopping to pledge our allegiance to the US flag as the park officially opened. It is refreshing that Knott’s Berry Farm upholds such important national rituals when so many have forgotten them or, worse yet, are not even being taught it in elementary school! But, I digress…

Our morning concluded after watching the survivors and their loved ones take the first ride on Jaguar of the day. Again, their strength and courage are commendable and we wish them as much good thoughts and continued success as possible in their battles. We would also like to thank Knott’s Berry Farm’s marketing team for having us out to the event.

Knott’s For the Cure Partnership runs from now until March 27th:

  • January 5 through March 27, guests can purchase a Pink Ticket ($39 adults, $35 Jr./Sr. ages 3-11, 62+), online only at knotts.com.
  • A portion of the ticket and merchandise proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen Orange County
  • The three month long promotion will provide guests with the opportunity to enjoy Knott’s world class entertainment, attractions and specially-themed “pink” décor, while supporting a great cause.
  • The famous Calico Mine Ride, Knott’s Berry Farm Main Gate and the Camp Snoopy waterfall will all glow pink in honor of the campaign.

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Life is Strange Video Dev Diary and PC Requirements

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Square Enix has sent our their new video dev diary for the upcoming Life is Strange, as well as revealing its recommended and minimum PC specifications.

Video

MINIMUM:
OS: Windows Vista
Processor: Dual Core 2.0GHz or equivalent
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: ATI or NVidia card w/ 512 MB RAM (not recommended for Intel HD Graphics cards)
DirectX: Version 9.0
Hard Drive: 3 GB available space

RECOMMENDED:
OS: Windows 7
Processor: Dual Core 3.0GHz or equivalent
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: ATI or NVidia card w/ 1024 MB RAM (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 or ATI HD 4890)
DirectX: Version 9.0
Hard Drive: 3 GB available space

Bladestorm: Nightmare Release Date

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BURLINGAME, Calif. January 8, 2015 – KOEI TECMO America today announced an updated launch date for the Troop Command Action title, Bladestorm: Nightmare. The Hundred Years’ War epic will commence on March 17, 2015 in North America for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. The PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system digital only version will also be available at the same time.

Additionally, new images were released offering a first glimpse at the character edit mode and showcasing the Troop Command battle system that makes the game a stand out offering in the strategy genre. More details were also revealed for the new ‘Nightmare’ mode.

In Bladestorm: Nightmare the player is summoned to create a mercenary and accept missions that will advance the English or the French cause in the course of the Hundred Years’ War. The successful completion of these missions depends on a variety of elements that put the player’s fighting abilities, strategy, tactical and leadership skills to the test. The Mercenary does not ride to the field alone, but as the commander of an army unit chosen to fit each individual situation as some missions are better fought with foot soldiers, others with lances, archers, light cavalry, or a combination of melee, ranged and mounted units.

The updated battle system in Bladestorm: Nightmare allows for simultaneous control of up to 4 army units increasing the game’s strategic edge— units can be repositioned at any time and ordered to take certain actions that will aid in a successful mission including attacks from specific angles and holding a position or group within another unit.  The player can choose to switch to command any of these units in real time, combine them in a 200 soldier troop for a charged attack, or issue orders to each and any of them using the battle map interface.

More details were also revealed for the ‘Nightmare’ mode, an all-new and original fantasy scenario involving battling and controlling armies of mythical creatures. In the opening sequence of this mode a group of Mercenaries in possession of a sword able to control monsters arrive in war-stricken Gascony only to find the combined forces of England and France under siege by an army of demonic forces. As the leader of the group, the player fights through this army to rescue the defenders and decides to investigate the origins of this new threat.

Bladestorm: Nightmare is published by KOEI TECMO America and will be available on March 17, 2015in North America.  The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will be available for $59.99 and thePlayStation 3 digital only version will be available for $49.99. This title has been rated T for “Teen” by theESRB.

For more Bladestorm: Nightmare news please follow us on www.facebook.com/koeitecmous or@KoeiTecmoUS  and visit koeitecmoamerica.com/bladestormnightmare.

Deceptive Marketing at CES? The Levitating Bag That Wasn’t

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Leading up to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, we receive a ton of press announcements for a variety of products, big and small. One of the more intriguing of this year’s bunch was STM’s “Levitating” backpack. Here is the CES meeting pitch we got from STM’s marketing firm, Asylum PR:

“…CES is about to be invaded by a magical haunted backpack! No, this is not a stint done by a Las Vegas magician; STM has created a backpack that has levitating powers. You can casually toss your bag onto the counter, the back of a chair, and then when it hits the floor; you can now pay no attention to any damaged goods. Instead of cringing and hoping no damage will be done, ditch the basic purse or laptop bag for one that levitates fragile electronics inside it so they are safe even when the bag is dropped. STM Bags has created the drifter backpack with a floating pocket inside that is lined and padded for electronic devices. If you drop the bag, the pocket will remain safely suspended inches above the ground…”

The marketing firm also sent us at least nine official press releases on behalf of STM, touting the Drifter backpack’s levitating abilities thanks to its “floating pocket”. Between the aforementioned invitation and all of the press releases, we were intrigued and excited. How did they engineer this seemingly-miraculous levitation?

Well, the simple answer is that they didn’t. Our reporter approached the Radtech booth, where STM had setup their meetings and was shocked not to see the backpack anywhere! Oh, here it is (look closely)…

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That’s right, it’s hiding under the table, almost out of sight. Our reporter thought something was weird and proceeded to the meeting. Excited about this new tech, he asked them about the levitation and an unnamed booth rep responded with “It doesn’t levitate, it was a typo. It was supposed to say linear.”

A typo? Linear?!? Well, I have nine press releases and a custom-written invitation from Asylum PR touting a magical, levitating backpack! Not to mention that a “Linear” Backpack doesn’t really make sense at all. To top it all off, the marketing rep was nowhere to be found and, according to my reporter, they looked for about a half hour to find them, coming up empty. Something tells me that we are not the first people to cry foul over this matter. Much like showing an “in-game engine demo” of a highly anticipated video game at E3 only to find out that it was not at all the same engine or code as the released product (Gearbox Software, lookin’ at you), it is an absolutely irritating and awfully-deceptive bait and switch practice.

Does the blame fall on the shoulders of STM or Asylum PR? That, I cannot say – but, it does reinforce the axiom, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” Well, I was that sucker, and I wanted to see a backpack that levitates the tech gear inside.

We reached out to Asylum PR for comment and will update this story when we receive it.

**UPDATE Feb 1, 2015 – They didn’t care to respond.

Blizzard and Dark Horse Team Up for WoW Chronicle Books

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MILWAUKIE, OR – Dark Horse Comics is proud to announce a multi-volume series detailing the history of the Warcraft® universe: World of Warcraft®: Chronicle.

World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 is a journey through an age of myth and legend, a time long before the Horde and the Alliance came to be. This definitive tome of Warcraft history reveals untold stories about the birth of the cosmos, the rise of ancient empires, and the forces that shaped the world of Azeroth and its people.

“We often get questions from players who want to know more about the origins of the Warcraft universe, and the rise and fall of their favorite characters” said Paul Sams, chief operating officer of Blizzard Entertainment. “This new series digs deeply into all of that—we can’t wait for players to read it.”

This beautiful hardcover book features over twenty full-page illustrations by World of Warcraft artist Peter Lee and marks the first in a multipart series exploring the Warcraft universe; from the distant past to the modern era.

“This is an amazing project that will be absolutely irresistible to the legion of Warcraft fans. The people at Blizzard have been great to work with and we are extremely happy and proud to be working with them,” added Dark Horse President Mike Richardson.

World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 is on sale November 4, 2015 in comic shops and November 17 in bookstoresPreorder your copy today!

Wadjet Eye Unveils Technobabylon

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Wadjet Eye Games has revealed its upcoming Technobabylon, an adventure game it is co-creating with indie developer Technocrat. Here is the first teaser trailer and screenshots for the game, featuring one of the its characters.

First Character Trailer

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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt PC Requirements Revealed

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cd Projekt RED has posted up the official minimum and recommended PC requirements to run their upcoming The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is due out on May 19th, 2015.

Minimum System Requirements

  • Intel CPU Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz
  • AMD CPU Phenom II X4 940
  • Nvidia GPU GeForce GTX 660
  • AMD GPU Radeon HD 7870
  • RAM 6GB
  • OS 64-bit Windows 7 or 64-bit Windows 8 (8.1)
  • DirectX 11
  • HDD Space 40 GB

Recommended System Requirements

  • Intel CPU Core i7 3770 3,4 GHz
  • AMD CPU AMD FX-8350 4 GHz
  • Nvidia GPU GeForce GTX 770
  • AMD GPU Radeon R9 290
  • RAM 8GB
  • OS 64-bit Windows 7 or 64-bit Windows 8 (8.1)
  • DirectX 11
  • HDD Space 40 GB

FLIR Unveils Next Generation FLIR ONE at CES 2015

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WILSONVILLE, OR – January 6, 2015 – FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced the next generation FLIR ONE™, a small and lightweight thermal imaging attachment that is compatible with either iOS or Android devices today at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Once connected, the versatile FLIR ONE transforms mobile devices into powerful thermal imagers, which unlock a host of practical applications from home improvement to outdoor adventure.

Inside, it contains FLIR’s upgraded revolutionary Lepton thermal camera core, which features four times the resolution of the original. When combined with multi-spectral dynamic imaging (MSX), the innovative feature that embosses the visible camera image onto the thermal image, FLIR ONE greatly enhances the user’s ability to decipher details in every respect. This proprietary and patented technology is additive in that no thermal information is lost, enhancing the perceived 640×480 resolution of the thermal image.

“With the introduction of FLIR ONE, we helped iPhone users discover a superpower through thermal imaging,” said Jeff Frank, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer at FLIR. “With the next-gen FLIR ONE, we’re thrilled to extend that superpower to Android users as well, while also supporting a range of Apple devices all combined into a lighter, more powerful package.”

When connected to an applicable Android device via the microUSB port or an Apple Device via the lightning connector, depending on the version, the FLIR ONE attachment operates through the FLIR ONE app, which displays live infrared imagery that allows users to see the world from a thermal perspective. FLIR ONE detects invisible heat energy, allowing consumers to “see” and measure subtle changes in temperature. By observing minute variations in temperature, FLIR ONE equips consumers with practical solutions, from spotting energy leaks at home, locating a missing pet at night, or seeing in complete darkness.

The next-generation FLIR ONE can be used as an even more effective tool in a range of situations thanks to its increased thermal power, including:

  • Home improvement: More clearly identify and pinpoint heat loss, energy inefficiency and water leaks.
  • Outdoor adventures: Observe wildlife at a greater distance, day or night, survey a campsite, or find a lost pet.
  • Security and safety: See at night more clearly than ever, detect intruders, and see through light fog and smoke.
  • Creativity: Observe abstract patterns and create artistic images with greater thermal detail.

FLIR ONE detects a broad spectrum of temperatures and includes a more advanced spot temperature measurement display along with an auto shutter that eliminates the need to manually reset the thermal sensor when the scene changes. Despite weighing less than a third the weight of the original, it also maintains its own dedicated battery source, so it will not drain power from the phone.

Users can take photos or record video using thermal imaging and then share them via text, email, or social media through the improved FLIR ONE App. The app will incorporate the companion apps released with the iPhone 5 and 5s version into one unified app, to be available at the Apple App Store and on Google Play in concert with the device mid-year 2015.

Additionally, a FLIR ONE software developer kit (SDK) was released in December for the iOS platform, available here: http://flir.com/flirone/developer.CFM. Developers for Android will gain access to the SDK in the spring.  With this SDK, developers will be able to access absolute temperature data for all pixels and control the Lepton camera’s shutter mode, in both manual and automatic settings.

The FLIR ONE will be available for pre-order online from FLIR.com mid-year and will be availablethrough retail partners across the globe later this year. For more information, please visitwww.flir.com/flirone2015

Come visit FLIR System’s booth #35414 at South Hall Four at CES to check out the FLIR ONE as well as other innovative imaging products for home, work, and play.