Author - Jerry Paxton

Blizzard Ceases Development of Next-Gen MMO Titan

2014/09/24
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Industry News, News, Windows PC News

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It looks like the long-rumored, highly-anticipated next-gen MMO project, codenamed “Titan”, being developed by Blizzard Entertainment is no more. According to a story from the folks at Polygon, Blizzard’s Mike Morhaime and Chris Metzen have confirmed that the project has been scrapped after seven years in development.

Morhaime was quoted as saying, “We didn’t find the fun…We didn’t find the passion. We talked about how we put it through a reevaluation period, and actually, what we reevaluated is whether that’s the game we really wanted to be making. The answer is no.”

This is not the first high-profile game to be canned at Blizzard – the best example I can think of at this moment was the highly-anticipated StarCraft Ghost. However, this is possibly the most expensive cancellation the company has endured with a rumored $50 million dollars to date being spent on its development.

GamingShogun.com reached out for an official news release on this subject, but Blizzard Entertainment has opted not to release anything official – presumably because they never officially-announced it as a project to begin with…

You can read the full story over at Polygon.

Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved Soundtrack Release Info

2014/09/24
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

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New York — (September 24, 2014) – Sumthing Else Music Works, the premier record label dedicated to video game soundtracks, in partnership with Disney Interactive and Harmonix, today announced plans to release the “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved Original Soundtrack,” featuring the original score and classical music selections from the award-winning musical motion game arriving October 21.  Developed by Harmonix, the innovative minds pioneering new ways for users to connect to music through gameplay, “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved” is a breakthrough musical motion video game inspired by Walt Disney’s classic animated film “Fantasia.” The “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved Original Soundtrack” will be available for streaming, digital download and physical CD on October 21.

In “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved”, players enter the magical realms of Fantasia, selected by the legendary sorcerer Yen Sid to hone their musical and magical prowess as his new apprentice.  “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved” takes players on an interactive and immersive motion-controlled journey through worlds of music and magic, unleashing their creativity along the way.

The album comprises the game’s orchestral themes scored by award-winning composer Inon Zur and the music team at Harmonix, alongside new performances of classical masterpieces recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin In The Fields and Chamber Orchestra of London at the famed Abbey Road Studios.

“The Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved soundtrack is a perfect marriage of classical music and contemporary game score that will take listeners on an animated journey through the layered worlds of the modern Fantasia with the timeless feel of the original property.”
– Gwen Bethel Riley, Head of Business Affairs Music, Disney Interactive.

Tracklisting for Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved Original Soundtrack:

  1. Main Theme – London Symphony Orchestra (Inon Zur)
    2.         Toccata and Fugue in D Minor – London Symphony Orchestra (Johann Sebastian Bach)
    3.         Meeting The Master” – Inon Zur
    4.         The Shoal – Emeen Zarookian, Steve Pardo
    5.         Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Allegro) – Academy of St. Martin In The Fields (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
    6.         Introducing The Hat – Michael Veloso, Inon Zur
    7.         The Hollow – Michael Veloso, Inon Zur
    8.         Night on Bald Mountain – London Symphony Orchestra (Modest Mussorgsky)
    9.         Scout’s Theme – London Symphony Orchestra (Inon Zur)
    10.       The Nation – Peter Moore, Steve Pardo, Inon Zur
    11.       Symphony No. 9, from the New World, IV. Allegro con fuoco – Chamber Orchestra of London (Antonin Dvořák)
    12.       Pressing On – Michael Veloso, Inon Zur
    13.       The Press – Drew Olsen, Inon Zur, Steve Pardo
    14.       Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 – Chamber Orchestra of London (Franz Liszt)
    15.       Asking The Moon – Michael Veloso, Inon Zur
    16.       The Capsule – Peter Moore
    17.       The Next Phase – Michael Veloso, Inon Zur
    18.       Making An Impression/A Malignant Force – Inon Zur
    19.       The Apology – Inon Zur
    20.       Selections from the Nutcracker (Medley) – Academy of St. Martin In The Fields (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
    21.       The Four Seasons: Winter, I., Allegro non molto – Academy of St. Martin In The Fields (Antonio Vivaldi)
    22.       Theme from Fantasia: Music Evolved – Inon Zur
    23.       A Familiar Friend – Michael Veloso
    24.       Finale – Inon Zur

A “Director’s Cut” soundtrack, will offer exclusive remixes of the classical selections and original score B-sides for collectors who want to experience Fantasia “unlocked”.  The Director’s Cut will be released for digital download exclusively on Sumthing.com.

“Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved” is rated “E10+” by the ESRB and will be available October 21, 2014 for $59.99 for the Xbox One and for $49.99 for Kinect for Xbox 360.  For additional information about “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved,” join the Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/fantasiagame, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @FantasiaGame and view all videos on our YouTube channel athttp://youtube.com/FantasiaGame.

For more information on Sumthing Else Music Works and its complete catalog of video game soundtracks, visit http://www.sumthing.com/, like us at Facebook.com/SumthingElseMusicWorks and follow us on Twitter@SumthingDigital.

Dark Souls II Crown of the Ivory King DLC Release Date

2014/09/23
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 3 News, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News

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September 23, 2014 — FromSoftware has saved its most challenging obstacles, enemies, and bosses for the final chapter in the truly arduous journey that is the Dark Souls II The Lost Crowns trilogy. The previous DLC chapters (Crown of the Sunken King and Crown of the Old Iron King) were specifically designed to enhance, challenge, and bring players to their knees and Crown of the Ivory King will now deliver the grand finale to Dark Souls II’s The Lost Crowns trilogy with the same torturous zest!

The most passionate fans of Dark Souls II will want to mark their calendars and head over to the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Marketplace, or STEAM on September 30th to purchase and download Crown of the Ivory King. New environments, enemies, traps, and bosses all conspire to defeat players as they embark on a journey to reclaim the crowns that Drangleic’s King Vendrick once owned. Crown of the Ivory King features yet another entirely different world within the Dark Souls II universe for players to explore with death and despair lying-in-wait around every corner.

Dark Souls II’s Crown of the Ivory King DLC will be available on September 30, 2014. Previous chapters of The Lost Crowns trilogy are available for purchase in the Americas via the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Marketplace, and STEAM for a SRP of $9.99 USD. The STEAM season pass encompassing all three chapters of The Lost Crowns trilogy is available for a SRP of $24.99 USD.

Royal Artillery Comes to World of Tanks Xbox 360 Edition

2014/09/23
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox 360 News

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September 23, 2014 — Wargaming announced today the addition of Royal Artillery and the Operations feature for its console multiplayer game, World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition. The update, now live globally, is available as a free download for all Xbox Live Gold members, as well as a free seven-day trial for all other Xbox Live account holders.

The United Kingdom is oftentimes credited with inventing the very first tank, and this latest update for World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition sees some of its heaviest hitters rolling onto the field of battle. In total 9 new British SPGs have been introduced into the game, including the iconic Crusader, ConquerorGC, Bishop and Sexton II. Also being introduced to the game is a new stable of German medium tanks, including the Leopard PTA, Leopard 1, and the VVK 30.02 D, as well as two new maps—Redshire and Siegfried Line.

For players looking for that extra challenge, Operations will task them with unique in-game objectives. Great rewards such as experience bonuses, silver and consumables await players able to pull off each Operation’s unique requirements, but each one will also fully test their skills and prowess during the heat of battle.

For more information on the Royal Artillery and Operations update, visit:

http://worldoftanksxbox360edition.com/en/news/news/royal-artillery/

For more information about World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition, visit:

Rocksmith 2014 Heading to PS4 and Xbox One

2014/09/23
Jerry Paxton
News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA — September 23, 2014 — Today, Ubisoft® announced that Rocksmith® 2014 Edition will launch on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system on November 4, 2014. More than two million people have learned to play guitar and bass through the award-winning Rocksmith® method, the fastest way to learn guitar.*

Players will be able to use integrated streaming and capture features on Xbox One and PlayStation®4 system to record and share their best performances, as well as show off their favorite custom tones from Tone Designer. Rocksmith 2014 Edition is better than ever on Xbox One and PlayStation®4 system with 1080p HD graphics for greater clarity and visual quality.

On PlayStation®4 system, Rocksmith 2014 Edition will support Remote Play through PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, where players can view songs at a locked mastery level without any scoring or input required; this is perfect for players looking to review a song in its entirety without feedback, study specific sections of songs or practice in another room when it’s more convenient.

Rocksmith 2014 Edition comes with more than 50 tracks; there are currently more than 300 additional songs available for purchase, with new add-on content added every week. For players making the jump to next-gen consoles, track libraries can be imported across Xbox 360 to Xbox One and PlayStation®3 to PlayStation®4 systems without having to repurchase content or pay additional licensing costs.

The standard edition includes the Rocksmith® Real Tone Cable, a unique 1/4″-to-USB cable developed exclusively for Rocksmith. This revolutionary cable turns the guitar’s signal from analog to digital, allowing it to be recognized and played through video game consoles, as well as Windows PC and Mac®.

For more information on Rocksmith 2014 Edition, please visit rocksmith.com.

For the latest on all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit ubiblog.com.

Tt eSPORTS Announces Talon Gaming Mouse

2014/09/23
Jerry Paxton
News, Peripherals News

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Taipei, Taiwan – September 23, 2014 – Tt eSPORTS, the leading expert in professional e-Sports gaming peripherals is releasing the TALON series of optical gaming mice, featuring the TALON and TALON Blu mice. With the TALON series, Tt eSPORTS aims to show that quality engineered gaming grade mice can be put out for the more budget conscious gamer; via solid design in sensor, switch, and ambidextrous ergonomic design, and balancing functionality versus features. The two mice in the TALON series differ by lighting setup to better match individual preferences, but have the same hardware at its core offering the same high performance in stable tracking, consistency and a good max speed. With the ambidextrous shape, the TALON series mice feel great in either hand.

At the first glance it’s obvious that the lighting aesthetics of the two mice are different. The TALON changes it up from traditional lighting setups with a more aggressive styling featuring lighting accents throughout the mouse body and sides that cycles through 6 different colors (in the following order: red, orange, yellow, blue, dark blue, and purple).

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The TALON Blu goes for a more subtle approach with blue LED illumination on the mouse wheel, dragon logo, and sides. The TALON may be set to pause on a color or have the lighting system off altogether, and the TALON Blu may be set to static lighting, pulse lighting pattern, or off.

Aesthetics aside, the TALON series features an AVAGO 3050 Infrared Optical sensor, with up to 3000 DPI. The sensor is very accurate in precision, has no prediction, and has a high maximum movement speed (meaning even low sens. users who rely on very fast movements will still have good tracking). A dedicated DPI adjustment button on top of the mouse allow for on-the-fly DPI adjustment in the following steps: 500, 750, 1500, 2500, and 3000 DPI. OMRON switches provide a durable life cycle of 5 million clicks and just as importantly, the perfect click feeling that gamers prefer. The side panels of the TALON series gaming mice are also removable, to allow users to further customize the shape of the mouse to their hand. Thumb buttons (mouse4 and mouse5) are found on the left side, offering convenient navigation. The TALON series optical gaming mice, simply work; they come with no software needed.

The new Tt eSPORTS TALON and TALON Blu optical gaming mice with a MSRP of USD 19.99.

For more information on the Tt eSPORTS TALON optical gaming mice:
TALON: http://www.ttesports.com/productPage.aspx?p=154
TALON Blu: http://www.ttesports.com/productPage.aspx?p=155