Author - Jerry Paxton

MTV Announces Teen Wolf Panel for Comic Con 2014

2014/07/08
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, SDCC

teenwolf

New York, NY (July 8, 2014)— MTV announced today the “Teen Wolf” panel at San Diego Comic-Con will take place on Thursday, July 24 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Ballroom 20.  Tyler Posey, Dylan O’Brien, Tyler Hoechlin, Holland Roden, plus new cast members Shelley Hennig and Dylan Sprayberry, along with Executive Producer Jeff Davis, will once again take Comic-Con by storm, giving fans a can’t-miss panel in which they will share season four secrets, debut a new mid-season trailer and answer fan questions.  The panel will be moderated by Buzzfeed Senior Editor, Jarett Wieselman.

Teen Wolf” will also have a show-themed booth on the convention center floor for the first time ever.  The booth (#3729) will be open to fans all weekend long and will be highlighted by signings and special appearances by cast and crew.  The booth will also feature four full days of activations where fans can insert themselves into a custom character poster and create their own “Teen Wolf”-inspired monster. Additionally, MTV commissioned artist Swann Smith to illustrate a limited edition bestiary that serves as a full guide to the creatures of Beacon Hills.  The bestiary will be distributed for free throughout the weekend and Swann will be on hand signing copies at the booth.

There will also be a cast signing at the Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment booth (#4213), which distributes the DVD.  Special edition season three DVDs that will be exclusive to Comic-Con attendees, will also be available for purchase at the Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment booth.

For more ways to connect with “Teen Wolf” like it on Facebook at Facebook.com/teenwolf or follow the show on Twitter @MTVTeenWolf and #TeenWolfSDCC.

COMPLETE SCHEDULE

Thursday, July 24
“Teen Wolf” Panel
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Ballroom 20

Signing
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment booth (#4213)

“Teen Wolf” was developed by Jeff Davis (creator, “Criminal Minds”) who also serves as executive producer.  Additional executive producers include Russell Mulcahy (“Highlander,” “Resident Evil: Extinction”), Marty Adelstein (“Prison Break”), René Echevarria (“Medium,” “Castle”), Tony DiSanto and Liz Gateley.  The pilot was written by Jeff Davis and Jeph Loeb & Matthew Weisman and directed by Russell Mulcahy.  The “Teen Wolf” series is based on a Screenplay by Jeph Loeb & Matthew Weisman.  Julie Schwachenwald, Dana Gotlieb-Carter and Alexandra James are the MTV executives in charge of production.  The series is a co-production with, and distributed by, MGM, in association with Lost Marbles Productions, Inc., First Cause, Inc. and DiGa.

You Can Give Blood at QuakeCon 2014

2014/07/08
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, QuakeCon

quake-com-q

July 8, 2014 (Rockville, MD) — Bethesda Softworks® and the American Red Cross are partnering to host “The Good Within Blood Drive” during QuakeCon® 2014, North America’s largest Bring-Your-Own-Computer (BYOC) LAN party and gaming festival. The blood drive, which was inspired by The Evil Within™, out October 21 from Bethesda Softworks and Tango Gameworks™, will take place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas on Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19. Donors who take part in “The Good Within Blood Drive” at QuakeCon will receive an official The Evil Within chill pack to honor the donation.

“QuakeCon has a great group of attendees who we think will want to help the community by donating blood,” said Pete Hines , VP of PR and Marketing,  Bethesda Softworks. “The American Red Cross is a terrific organization, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to QuakeCon.”

“The Red Cross is grateful for Bethesda Softworks’ invitation to host a blood drive during such a critical time,” said Jan Hale, External Communications Manager at the American Red Cross. “The summer months are a particularly difficult period for blood collections and being a part of this event gives us more opportunities to help save lives.”

QuakeCon 2014, the ultimate video game festival, will take place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas on Thursday, July 17 through Sunday, July 20. Attendees who would like to donate can sign up with American Red Cross representatives in the Topaz room l during blood drive hours: Friday, July 18, 2014 11 am – 5 pm and Saturday, July 19, 2014 11 am – 5 pm. **Donors must be at least 17 years old and meet American Red Cross requirements for donating blood, which can be found athttp://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements

QuakeCon is a free event open to general admission attendees thanks to the support of id Software and Bethesda Softworks, as well as the QuakeCon volunteer staff and the 2014 event sponsors and exhibitors. To pre-register for QuakeCon today go to: http://registration.quakecon.org. For more information on QuakeCon 2014 visit www.quakecon.org.

Firefall Gets July 29 Release Date

2014/07/08
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

firefall

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. – July 8, 2014 – Red 5 Studios, Inc. announced today that Firefall, the dynamic open-world MMO shooter, will officially launch on July 29, 2014 and will be available for the PC platform through Steam and Firefall.com. Firefall showcases a true AAA MMO experience with fast-paced combat, action-packed missions and quests, and a beautiful, vibrant world that has been expanded for launch with two new continents full of content and multiple story-driven instances.

“We designed a game with an extremely passionate and talented team,” said James Macauley, CEO of Red 5 Studios. “But Firefall wasn’t complete until we were able to incorporate the invaluable feedback from our enthusiastic community during the beta period. Firefall is as much their game as it is ours.”

Players begin their journey in Firefall as an ARES pilot, an elite operative contracted by the Accord to reclaim Earth by leading the fight against an invading race known as the Chosen. Outfitted with military-grade battleframes, players will be able to collect equipment and materials to customize and strengthen their arsenal of weapons and abilities, while experiencing Firefall’s rich lore and engaging content.

Firefall features campaign missions and exciting quests as well as dynamic events that appear throughout the world, offering players new experiences throughout as they embark on their adventure. As players explore the vast open-world from New Eden to Devil’s Tusk, they will encounter unique dynamic events, such as melding-fueled tornadoes, crystite meteor showers and Chosen incursions, which will bring new and exciting challenges to their Firefall experience. In addition to all of the PVE content, Firefall also features a large open-world PVP continent, where players can test their shooting skills and tactical abilities against other players to control outposts and resources in this hostile environment.

Firefall will be available completely free-to-play, with opportunities for cosmetic and convenience upgrades. Special Firefall Launch Packs are also available for purchase, which will include items ranging from the exclusive multiplayer vehicle to a digital soundtrack and a concept art-book. For more information about the digital content packs and early access, visit www.firefall.com.

“The update we are releasing for launch will be the largest update we have ever had,” said Macauley. “It will quadruple the amount of world space in Firefall and add roughly 15-times the amount of content we have had previously in Beta.”

With the release of Firefall, the company has also announced a new website, with full game details, community updates, and more at www.firefall.com.

Paradox Interactive Reveals Gamescom 2014 Lineup

2014/07/08
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

paradox-interactive-logo

STOCKHOLM — July 8, 2014 — Paradox Interactive today announced the catalog of games that would be on display – and playable by attendees – at the Gamescom trade show in Cologne, Germany on August 13–17, 2014. Featuring recently announced titles and impending releases such as Runemaster and Obsidian Entertainment’s Pillars of Eternity, Paradox will be demonstrating and sharing their biggest games with Gamescom visitors, as well as announcing a few never-before-seen titles at the show.

Titles to be shown at Gamescom include:

  •  Pillars of Eternity – available to play on the show floor
  •  Runemaster – available to play on the show floor
  •  Magicka 2
  •  Hearts of Iron IV
  •  Secret projects we can’t talk about just yet

Paradox will be publicly showcasing Hearts of Iron IV, the highly anticipated World War II strategy war-game, for the first time ever in a live demonstration during Fan Gathering 2014, an annual event where Paradox Development Studio fans and devs alike can commingle and plot world domination together. Fan Gathering 2014 will take place in Cologne on August 14, 2014.

Fan Gathering 2014 will also play host to a guest panel of Paradox personnel, including CEO Fred Wester and Paradox Development Studio veteran Johan Andersson, which will be moderated by popular YouTuber Quill18. Hear banter on developing strategy games, ask Fred embarrassing questions about his love of karaoke, or just stare intently into Johan’s deep blue eyes. For more information on how you can attend Fan Gathering 2014, please visit https://www.paradoxplaza.com/fancon-2014.

For more information on Gamescom, please visit http://www.gamescom-cologne.com/.

To learn more about Paradox Interactive, visit http://www.paradoxplaza.com/.

Destiny Beta Dates Announced and Trailer

2014/07/07
Jerry Paxton
News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

Destiny_07

Santa Monica, CA – July 7, 2014 – Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), and Bungie today confirmed the calendar for the highly anticipated Destiny Beta, which will include a diverse sampling of major activities featured in the full game. Fans who pre-orderDestiny at a participating retailer are guaranteed access into the Beta, which will commence as follows:

  • The Beta begins first for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system (PlayStation Plus required for some features) and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system at 10:00am PDT on July 17
  • The Beta begins for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft (Xbox Live Gold required, subject to change) at 10:00am PDT on July 23
  • The Beta will be offline for scheduled maintenance on July 21 – July 22 and open back up to pre-order participants across all platforms until 11:59pm PDT on July 27

Fans can watch the brand new Destiny Beta trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TljtC5qnb-s

“As we prepare to launch our first Beta on multiple console platforms around the world, we are excited and eager to open the flood gates,” said Harold Ryan, Bungie’s president.  “We already love to play Destiny, and with your help we can be ready for our launch in September.”

Activision and Bungie also revealed today three epic collector’s edition versions of the game. The Destiny Ghost Edition and the Destiny Limited Edition both include the following:

  • Limited edition SteelBook™ Case and Game Disc
  • Guardian Folio:
    • o   Arms & Armament Field Guide
    • o   Postcards from the Golden Age  
    • o   Antique Star Chart
  • Collector’s Edition Digital Content Pack:
    • o   Unique Ghost Casing
    • o   Exclusive Player Emblem
    • o   Exclusive Player Ship Variant
  • Destiny Expansion Pass – expands the Destiny adventure post-launch with the following two expansions, which will include brand new story missions, cooperative activities and competitive multiplayer arenas, and a wealth of all new weapons, armor and gear to earn:
    • o   Expansion I: The Dark Below – Set deep beneath the surface of the Moon, fans will discover an ancient tomb that has been unsealed, and a dark god who has risen an evil army in the depths of theHellmouth, the home of the Hive enemy race
    • o   Expansion II: House of Wolves – details will be revealed later
    • o   PlayStation platforms will also include additional exclusive content for Expansion I and II and will remain exclusive until at least Fall of 2015

The Destiny Ghost Edition will also include the following: 

  • Ghost replica, featuring motion-activated lights and voice recordings from award-winning actor Peter Dinklage, voice of the Ghost character, the player’s personal companion in the game
  • Letter of Introduction
  • Golden Age Relics, which include a Photo, Patch, Sticker and two Chrome slides of the Traveler

For digital pre-order fans, the Destiny Digital Guardian Edition includes a digital download copy of the game, Destiny Expansion Pass and the Collector’s Edition Digital Content Pack.

The Destiny Ghost Edition ($149.99), the Destiny Limited Edition ($99.99), theDestiny Digital Guardian Edition ($89.99) and the Destiny Expansion Pass($34.99 for the pass, Expansion I and Expansion II will be priced individually at $19.99 when they launch) are available for pre-order now. All pre-orders on any sku will include access to the Vanguard Armory that includes early access to weapons, gear and exclusive player emblem. Fans can visit http://www.destinythegame.com/wheretobuy to see a list of participating global retailers.

For more information about the Beta and the Destiny collector’s editions, visit www.DestinyTheGame.com.  For exclusive updates, follow the official Destiny social channels at www.facebook.com/DestinyTheGame and @DestinyTheGame on Twitter, and interact directly with the developers at www.Bungie.net. 

Oculus Connect Event Announced Plus New Acquisition

2014/07/07
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Hardware News, Industry News, News

connect_logo

Oculus has announced the first ever Oculus Connect developer convention to take place on September 19 and 20 at the Loews Hotel in Hollywood, CA. The event will bring Oculus Rift developers together for the first time, allowing them to share ideas and show off their projects. Additionally, Oculus Rift personnel will be giving presentations on VR, the Oculus Rift, and more. Also announced is that Oculus has acquired RakNet, the developers of game middleware.

You can read their official blog posts here!

Batman: Arkham Origins Comic-Con Exclusive Figure

2014/07/07
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, SDCC

BTAO_bg01

LOS ANGELES (July 7, 2014) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in the Americas, announced today its exclusive, limited edition BATMAN Arkham Origins collectable figure under licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment.

A 2014 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive, the new figure depicts a younger Batman when he first started on his path as the Caped Crusader. The figure incorporates the details of his powerful physique, and the metallic color variation showcases the careful sculpting used in its development. The articulated cape allows for multiple poses, from gliding through the night sky with his cape spread wide, to a more dormant stance with his wings closed and stowed.

Included with the figure are his iconic Batarang and grappling gun, as well as a display stand.

500 of these limited edition figures will be available for purchase at the Square Enix booth (# 3829). An additional 500 will be available online at https://exclusives.na.square-enix.com/.

Product Details

BATMAN: Arkham Origins
PLAY ARTS -KAI- BATMAN Limited Color Version
(SDCC 2014 EXCLUSIVE)
Release: July 2014, Limited Distribution
MSRP: $99.99

To view currently available Play Arts -Kai- action figures go to: http://square-enix-shop.com/us/.

ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Digital Review

2014/07/07
Jerry Paxton
News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews

roccat-kave-xtd-digital-surround-imageROCCAT’s Kave XTD 5.1 Digital headset is a powerhouse of PC gaming audio. Something to note about this headset, aside from its classy, dark looks, is that it is a true 5.1 channel audio solution. Unlike some headsets, which use virtual surround technologies to emulate 5.1 channel sound from two drivers, the Kave XTD 5.1 Digital actually houses six drivers to perform its 5.1 channel magic.

Setting up the ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Digital headset is straightforward and involves plugging in the desktop control module to your PC via USB port. This desktop control module also houses its own sound card. So, if you have an additional, discrete sound card in your PC, you will want to set your default audio output to the Kave XTD 5.1 Digital prior to playing any games. The desktop control module looks like it was pulled straight out of the world of TRON with vivid blue lighting elements on a dark body. It is also designed smartly in that it won’t just fall off your desk at the slightest shake or shock. An additional element to the desktop control module are its 5.1 channel speaker outputs in case you want to connect a physical speaker system instead of using the headsets. This is an excellent design choice on ROCCAT’s part.

A special mention needs to be given to ROCCAT’s Smart Link technology, which allows you to pair your smartphone to the Kave XTD 5.1 via Bluetooth. This allows you to take calls while you are playing you favorite PC game. This is a real innovation and something that more headset-makers need to consider when designing future models.

One area where the ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Digital lacks is its microphone pick-up quality. My teammates mentioned several times that I sounded distant and did not come in as clearly as other headsets I have tested while playing with them. The actual operation of the microphone is very user-friendly, with the boom mic being easy to flip down and up, out of the way if needs be.

Its audio quality is very good, with great low and high-end sounds – definitely a respectable amount of bass befitting its true 5.1 channels. Its mid-range sound doesn’t play through as well as the low or high-end audio but, overall, the sound is perfect for playing your favorite PC games. Throwing a good smattering of installed PC games at the ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Digital, I enjoyed wearing and listening to them in Call of Duty: Ghosts, The Banner Saga, The Dead Linger, State of Decay, Skyrim, and a ton of other titles. The headset is rather large, but didn’t become uncomfortable even after many hours of gameplay. I did notice some ear perspiration – but no discomfort.

Retailing for $169.95, the ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Digital headset may seem expensive. However, when you compare its price to competing models, the Kave XTD 5.1 Digital proves to have a high value per dollar ratio – especially when you consider this is true 5.1 channel sound.

[easyreview title=”ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Digital Review Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Product Page

ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Digital Official Trailer

Tt eSports Level 10 M Hybrid Gaming Mouse Review

2014/07/07
Jerry Paxton
News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews

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Thermaltake has been making PC gaming peripherals for quite some time – one of their newest being the Level 10 M Hybrid gaming mouse. The idea behind the mouse was to take the things that worked on their Level 10M gaming mouse and refine them while also including the option to play in a fully-wireless mode.

In terms of its design, the Level 10 M Hybrid gaming mouse is very similar to its predecessor – with the exception of a long boom protruding forth from the front of the mouse and an enhanced side grip on its right side. The forward-mounted boom is the interface where the wired cable plugs into. Unfortunately, this boom can be a bit of a problem if you are playing on a desk or mousing area with limited space as it had a tendency to hit things – but, I digress. The shape of the mouse is able to be slightly adjust by using the included adjustment key, and we found that using either a claw or palm grip was possible with just a few height and tilt adjustments. Thermaltake teamed up with BMW DesignworksUSA for the product, and it truly is a beautiful-looking mouse – not very ergonomic, mind you, but beautiful.

Thermaltake has made going back and forth between wired and wireless modes very easy. Embedded into the wired mouse cable, you will find the wireless adapter that plugs into your computer’s USB port. The mouse also comes with a small wireless plug that plugs into that forward boom we wrote about earlier. Once both are plugged in and a small switch on the bottom of the mouse is set to “on”, you are off and running. Simply reverse the process to go back to wired gaming mode. It is worth noting that the wired cable is responsible for charging the mouse’s internal battery. So, be sure to plug it in every so often to keep the charge full. One thing this is lacking on the Tt eSports Level 10 M Hybrid is an on-mouse battery indicator. It is so helpful to be able to see when you will need to plug in ahead of time and checking the levels in software is not always practical. Just some food for thought, Thermaltake!

Also, be sure to check the Tt eSports website for any firmware or software updates for the Level 10 M Hybrid gaming mouse. Speaking of software, the control suite is useful and offers a lot of customization in being able to set the mouse’s multiple profile modes. The lighting options on the mouse are a bit puzzling to me, as there are not many things that light up in comparison with other models on the market. More so, the previous Level 10 M featured a light up dragon design which glowed through the grill on the top of the mouse. The Level 10 M Hybrid lacks this lighting effect. It doesn’t affect performance, of course, but was definitely high on the cool-factor side of things.

**UPDATE: I should note that, usually, the Tt eSports Level 10M Hybrid dragon logo DOES light up when in wired mode. We ended up getting a model that had a defect in that it did not light up when plugged in. We did not know this until a company spokesperson contacted us about our review.

The mouse’s internal Avago ADNS A9800 laser sensor has been the source of controversy in the past with some gamers complaining about its built-in mouse acceleration, a feature than many tournament-level players disapprove of. I used the Level 10 M Hybrid with a variety of games for a decent amount of time and did not notice much issues with mouse acceleration in my evaluation. I took on foreign armies in Call of Duty: Ghosts, went retro with Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines, and took to space in the current build of Star Citizen’s Arena Commander.

Overall, I am impressed with the performance of the Tt eSports Level 10 M Hybrid by Thermaltake. Not only does it have a cool style and design but, also, solid gaming performance. While Thermaltake has listed the mouse with an MSRP of $109.99, you can find it online at several retailers for about $20 dollars cheaper.

[easyreview title=”Tt eSports Level 10 M Hybrid Gaming Mouse Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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