Author - Jerry Paxton

Etherium First Video Released

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January 17th, 2014 — Etherium, the new futuristic real-time strategy title developed by Tindalos Interactive, the studio that created Stellar Impact, is now unveiling its very first video!

This first teaser sets the scene of the universe of Etherium and shows the first colony of the Consortium, one of the three playable factions in the game, landing on Serenade, the desert planet rich in etherium. The Consortium is deploying its forces in preparation for the struggle against the Council and Galaad, the two other factions in the game that will soon invade the planet in an attempt to seize control.

In Etherium, three empires are locked in a ruthless struggle to control the etherium, a mysterious and precious resource found only on a handful of planets. Take the lead of one of the three factions, each with its individual characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, technologies and special skills such as climate control, espionage and precognition.

The solo campaign in Etherium is non-linear: you are free to decide how your conquests progress. Manage your resources, expand your colonies and extend your control of the map to assemble an army capable of crushing your opponents. Epic battles will ensue between formidable armies comprising numerous units: infantry, tanks, aircraft, and even gigantic colossi of war several meters high; real machines of destruction! You will also use scientific research to develop a tech tree enabling you to unlock new units and upgrades, access new structures to develop your colony and to use new special skills.

Etherium has a unique and dynamic weather system that has a direct impact on your strategy. Use a sandstorm to approach the enemy base unseen, or mount a rearguard attack by crossing a freezing river. Each of the 7 planets has diverse environments, and varied terrain that will force you to adapt your strategy: arid desert, swamps that impede tanks, icy worlds, island archipelagos…

Finally, Etherium will also test your strategic skills in online modes, where up to four players can compete simultaneously.

Teaser Trailer

Three New Bound By Flame Screenshots

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January 15th, 2014 — Bound by Flame, the most ambitious RPG to date from Spiders studios (Mars: War Logs, Of Orcs and Men), is today proud to launch the official website! We are now thrilled to reveal 3 new screenshots of the game that show the companions who will help the hero in his quest, and some of the terrifying and ferocious creatures you will soon have the pleasure of confronting on PC, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360®!

Designed for use also on smartphones and tablets, the Bound by Flame website is a real mine of information on the latest RPG from Spiders studios. Here you will find everything you need to know about the game and the gameplay mechanics, the tactical and dynamic combat system, the back story and characters, and you will also learn about the importance of the human/demon duality – a dilemma the hero will struggle with throughout his quest.

You can also find the latest images in the extensive image and video gallery on the site which will be constantly expanded over the several months until the game release date! Finally, the website is also home to the developers’ Devblog, which is fed on a regular basis with rich, varied information about the game’s development.

Bound by Flame will be released on PC, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® in Q2 2014.

Screenshots

Ubisoft Bringing Tetris to Next-Gen Consoles

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA. — January 16, 2014 — Today, Ubisoft® and The Tetris® Company announced a partnership to develop the iconic Tetris franchise for digital channels on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and the Sony PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. The Tetris franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2014 and has sold hundreds of millions of units worldwide across more than 50 different platforms since its launch in 1984. Tetris-branded products are available in more than 50 languages and in 185 countries around the world. Ubisoft draws from experience in creating memorable experiences for casual gamers with licenses such as The Smurfs™ and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World™, as well as the recent announcement of a partnership with Hasbro.

“We welcome Ubisoft to the Tetris family. I am 100% sure they will develop one of the best versions of the Tetris game ever,” said Henk B. Rogers, managing director of The Tetris Company, LLC.

“We’re very excited to start working with this world-renowned brand, and can’t wait to combine Ubisoft’s expertise and all the capacities of next-gen consoles to create an exciting new Tetris experience for fans,” added Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft co-founder and CEO.

Total War: ROME II Assembly Kit Beta Now Available

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January 15, 2014 — A Beta version of the Total War™: ROME II Assembly Kit, a suite of mod-tools specifically designed to help modders get creative with ROME II, is free to download now in the Tools section of Steam.

The Assembly Kit contains a series of tools to help modders edit ROME II’s database and variants, and process data such as textures, models, animations and campaign-game start positions. A suite of exporters also enables users to then edit unit models and animations using third party software.

To get modders started, the Assembly Kit comes packaged with example data, such as naval vessels, soldiers, animation sets, and the complete ROME II database backend. When a mod is complete, it can be uploaded directly to the STEAM Workshop via the ROME II launcher, where over 1000 user-created mods can already be found.

Beyond the Beta phase, Creative Assembly aims to expand The Assembly Kit over time with further tools as they are developed. Early documentation and instructions on how to grab the Kit are available on the ROME II wiki:  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Total_War_Rome_II

Total War: ROME II is out now.

Blackguards Character Class Guides Announced

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Hamburg, January 16th, 2014 – In the course of the next weeks, Daedalic Entertainment will release a series of video guides on their Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/daedalic) which will show new players the ropes of the complex set of rules silently running in the background of Aventuria’s world. The first video guide is already available:

The Dark Eye is Europe’s most successful pen-and-paper system and has constantly expanded since its first appearance 30 years ago. For Blackguards, the world not only provides the continent of Aventuria and an environment with depth to it; Daedalic’s developers also faced challenges in form of a complex set of rules that needed to be implemented as true to the original as possible, yet still kept simple enough to be welcoming for players completely new to the Dark Eye’s world.

The Dark Eye’s rules are particularly recognizable when it comes to Blackguards’ level-up system and character development. Instead of classic level-ups, each battle rewards Adventure Points that can be spent to increase attributes like agility or courage, but also various spells or skills at any time. This way, developing a custom character from the base-classes becomes a very dynamic process. As Daedalic Entertainment recently announced, free character customization right from the beginning will also be implemented upon the game’s release, due to the feedback during the Early Access phase.

Who wants to take on Aventuria right away can have a taste by playing the first four chapters of Blackguards on Steam’s Early Access program.

Blackguards’ will be released on January 24th, 2014 for PC and Mac via Steam. The Standard Edition will be available for US$39.99/ €39.99/ RUR699/ £29.99 and the Blackguards Collector’s Edition for US$ 59.99/ €59.99/ RUR999/ £44.99.

Namco Bandai Games to Distribute The Witcher 3 in Australia and New Zealand

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January 15, 2014 — CD Projekt RED, the developer and publisher behind the highly anticipated fantasy RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is excited to announce that NAMCO BANDAI Games Australia and New Zealand, a leading video game publisher, developer and distributor, will distribute the third part of The Witcher saga and join the studio in bringing the series to the key markets of Australia and New Zealand. Namco Bandai will exclusively distribute and promote the game in these territories.

“We’re really excited to continue to develop our relationship with NAMCO BANDAI Games and, as a result, introduce The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to even more gamers across the globe. Thanks to our shared passion for games and our partner’s understanding of what core values constitute The Witcher series, I’m confident we can make the launch of The Witcher 3 something really special,” said Adam Badowski, Head of Studio, CD Projekt RED.

“CD Projekt RED is a world class developer that cares passionately about its games and its fans. We are therefore delighted and proud to again be their chosen partner in Australia and New Zealand and we are very excited to add the eagerly awaited ‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ to our 2014 line-up.” said Gerard Noonan, SVP, NAMCO BANDAI Games Asia Pacific. “The Witcher series is one of the industries most revered video game franchises and with the power of the new generation of consoles we expect CD Projekt RED will take the series to even greater heights”.

The first installment in the Witcher series was released in 2007 for the PC. The second installment hit the PC market in 2011 and was released for the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft a year later. The two games received over 200 awards. In February 2013, CD Projekt RED announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which is scheduled for a 2014 release and has garnered over 88 awards so far. The game will be released simultaneously for the PC and next-generation consoles: PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.

Airsplat’s Thorsday Deals for January 16

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Here are Airsplat’s Thorsday Deals for January 16, 2014.

APS UAR Urban Assault Rifle AEG Tan V2

Reg. $205.99 Thorsday $139.99

AR WELL MB10 OD TMB Thorsday Specials! Up to 50% Off Select Airsoft Items!

WELL MB10 Airsoft Spring Sniper Rifle OD

Reg. $145.99 Thorsday $99.99

AR UA 315 TAC9 TMB Thorsday Specials! Up to 50% Off Select Airsoft Items!

UHC Tactical 9 Spring Airsoft Rifle    

Reg. $159.99 Thorsday $109.99

ERM JG P90 RAIL TMB Thorsday Specials! Up to 50% Off Select Airsoft Items!

JG KS90 TR Airsoft Electric AEG Rifle 3A    

Reg. $142.99 Thorsday $89.99

AC PVC GB101 TMB Thorsday Specials! Up to 50% Off Select Airsoft Items!

Deluxe 3 Point Tactical Rifle Sling    

Reg. $14.99 Thorsday $5.99  

 Thorsday Specials! Up to 50% Off Select Airsoft Items!

Tenergy 6v-12v Universal Smart Charger    

Reg. $24.99 Thorsday $18.99

ER NE M83 A1 TMB Thorsday Specials! Up to 50% Off Select Airsoft Items!

DE M4 A1 RIS Airsoft Electric Gun AEG    

Reg. $42.99 Thorsday $24.99

ER WE M4 A34 B TMB Thorsday Specials! Up to 50% Off Select Airsoft Items!

WE Katana M4A1 Airsoft Rifle AEG 400

Reg. $379.99 Thorsday $359.99

KRISS Group Unveils KRYTAC Airsoft Brand

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**UPDATED 06:30PM PT – The KRISS Group has released an official press release to go with their new airsoft/training brand, KRYTAC. Read the full release at the bottom of this story!

Kriss-Arms, known for their unique VECTOR sub-machine gun, has quietly unveiled their own airsoft brand called Krytac. Not much is known as of yet regarding their long term plans, but we know at least three “Trident” marked, Krytac M4-style airsoft guns are on display at their 2014 SHOT Show booth. Check out their official website to get on the mailing list for additional information as well as their Facebook page.

Press Release

January 15, 2014 – Las Vegas, Nevada, United States – KRISS Group announces the launch of KRYTAC, its latest brand dedicated to airsoft, non-lethal training and .22 caliber rimfire firearms. Taking advantage of KRISS Group’s experience in modern weapons design and precision manufacturing, KRYTAC will deliver innovative products that exceed the current market standards.

A limited viewing of KRYTAC airsoft prototypes are available to SHOT Show 2014 participants. The first product release of KRYTAC will include five airsoft models with various color options and are targeted to be available by the second quarter. Pricing and details will be released at the IWA 2014 exhibition in Germany. A more complete line of KRYTAC products will be shown later in the year which includes LWRC product lines, fully licensed to KRISS.

For more information about KRYTAC visit SHOT Show booth #432 or go to www.krytac.com.

About KRISS Group
KRISS Group, an innovative Swiss-based group, delivers proprietary technologies to the firearms industry enabling more efficient solutions, corresponding to the 21st century requirements for the global law enforcement, military and civilian markets.

Valve Kicks Off Steam Dev Days Conference

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 January 15, 2014 – Valve kicked off its first-ever Steam Dev Days Conference by announcing the continued growth of Steam, a leading platform for PC, Mac, and Linux software. In addition, Valve detailed Steam’s 2013 geographic performance to the more than 1,200 Dev Days attendees.

 In the trailing three months the number of active Steam accounts jumped 15%, to 75 million from 65 million (announced October 2013). The growth was realized during a busy holiday release season and Steam’s Pre-Holiday and Holiday sales.

In addition, members of the Steam publishing team gave attendees a geographic breakdown of Steam’s 2013’s sales revenue. While the data showed a virtual tie between North America (41%) and Europe (40%) for the lion’s share of Steam’s global activity, Russia and Brazil realized the largest year over year growth (2013 vs. 2012) as individual countries, respectively increasing 128% and 75%. 

Steam Dev Days is a two-day conference in Seattle, WA for all developers and publishers working with Steam and/or the upcoming Steam Machines. For more information, please visit http://www.steamdevdays.com/

Six Flags Great Adventure to Host Massive Job Fair

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January 15, 2013 — Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey’s largest seasonal employer and the largest employer in Ocean County, is hiring more than 4,000 employees including 200 interns for the 2014 season, which will feature the debut of the world’s tallest drop tower, Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom.

The park will host entertainment auditions Feb. 8 beginning at 1 pm and a job fair Feb. 15 from 10 am to 4 pm.  Before attending, new applicants must visit www.sixflagsjobs.com to complete an online application.

Six Flags offers a wide variety of positions and paid internships and provides team members many benefits including advancement opportunities, health and medical benefits, reward and recognition programs, scholarships, free park admission, incentives from area businesses and much more. According to the popular Warner Bros. game show “Let’s Ask America,” available on Scripps Television Stations, U.S. residents polled chose Six Flags as the most fun place to work.

Six Flags is looking for enthusiastic candidates of all ages and backgrounds, and has positions available in retail, games, park services, ride operations, food service, admissions, guest relations/VIP services, market research, loss prevention, security, landscaping, safari guides, lifeguards, entertainment performers and show technical support, accounting, cash control, human resources, graphic design and public relations.

The Six Flags Employment Center opens Feb. 10 with hours Monday to Friday from 1 to 6 pm, and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. Walk-in applicants who have completed their online application and rehires are welcome.

The 2014 season kicks off April 12 and runs on a varied schedule through Nov. 2.  More information is available at www.sixflags.com

Entertainment Auditions

Saturday, February 8 – 1:00 p.m. actors, 1:30 p.m. dancers, 2:30 p.m. show hosts, 3:00 p.m. specialty performers (i.e. stilt walkers, jugglers, drummers)

Showcase Theater, Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, NJ 08527

Enter via Employment Entrance approximately one mile west of main park entrance and follow signs to theater.

Job Fair

Saturday, February 15 – 10 am to 4 pm

Six Flags Great Adventure’s Employment Center, 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, NJ 08527

Enter via Employment Entrance approximately one mile west of main park entrance.