Author - Jerry Paxton

Homefront: The Revolution Announced

2014/06/02

Mac PC News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Screenshots / Photos, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

Larkspur, Calif., June 2, 2014 – Wage guerrilla warfare and reclaim the streets of Philadelphia in Homefront: The Revolution, a captivating new free-roaming FPS to be co-published in 2015 by Crytek and Deep Silver.

Coming to Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4, PC, Mac and Linux in 2015, Homefront: The Revolution throws players into a near future dystopia. Catastrophic events have brought the United States to its knees and enabled the Korean People’s Army forces to impose a brutal military occupation. Trapped in this American nightmare, Philadelphia has become a police state, where surveillance drones and armored patrols keep her once-proud citizens at heel, crushing any dissent with totalitarian force.

To overcome their oppressors, players will have to engage in guerrilla warfare and use ambush, infiltration and hit and run tactics in thrilling un-scripted firefights. At every turn they’ll find a sprawling open-world city, in which recruiting fellow revolutionaries and building improvised homebrew weapons are just two of the keys to creating a powerful resistance force.

The Resistance flourishes far beyond the single player. Homefront: The Revolution supports up to four players in online Co-Op gameplay where you form your own resistance cell and become renowned as Heroes of the Revolution.

“Homefront: The Revolution stands out from the crowd by immersing players in a world where they’ll feel emotionally compelled to fight for their freedom,” said Hasit Zala, Game Director at Crytek. “We’re very excited to work with Deep Silver and deliver an experience that underlines Crytek’s commitment to quality whilst tapping into the huge potential we saw when we first acquired the Homefront IP.”

Homefront: The Revolution represents the first time Crytek and Deep Silver have worked together, with the two partners collaborating to release the game as part of a co-publishing agreement.

“Crytek has an outstanding track record of creating AAA action games. Homefront is a fascinating IP with huge global potential. With Crytek`s technical pedigree and Deep Silver´s publishing expertise, we will take the IP to new heights,” said Dr. Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of Deep Silver / Koch Media.

Developed by Crytek’s Nottingham studio, Homefront: The Revolution harnesses the latest features of Crytek’s CRYENGINE technology. On the ground, players will encounter a dynamic environment that looks and feels truly alive as day turns to night and storm clouds come and go – an authenticity that extends to the strikingly lifelike expressions, skin and clothing of everyone they encounter.

To find out more about the Homefront: The Revolution, and to watch an all-new trailer showing the game in action, visit www.homefront-game.com.

Trailer

Screenshots

Halloween Horror Nights Choose Your Scare Zone Announced

2014/06/02

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News

Universal City, California — For the first time in the history of “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood, fans of the award-winning horror event will seal their own fate as they are called upon to vote for the most fear-provoking Scare Zone in the “Choose Your Scare” online voting competition. The winning Scare Zone concept will materialize in disturbingly real detail at Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Halloween Horror Nights” in Fall 2014.

“From June 4 to 18, 2014, “Halloween Horror Nights” fans will be invited to cast their vote via the Halloween Horror Night’s Official Facebook Page to select one of three possible Scare Zone themes: Corps, Mask-a-Raid or Ghoulz. The winning Scare Zone, which will be located on French Street, will be announced on June 19.

“For years, ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ fans have shared their thoughts on what they would like to see at the event. This year, we’re giving them a chance to participate in the creative process by voting for what they believe will be the scariest Scare Zone,” said John Murdy, Creative Director, Universal Studios Hollywood and Executive Producer of “Halloween Horror Nights.” “Our goal is to produce the most terrifying, most intense horror experience anywhere. The more scared the fans are, the louder they scream and the happier they are, so, to have them join us in this process is very rewarding.”

Fans can recruit friends to help amp up the vote count for a favorite Scare Zone choice by “sharing” their vote via their social media platforms using #UniversalHHN.

Fans can vote for one of the following three Scare Zone concepts:

Scare Zone, Option 1: Corps

“The War to End All Wars” has left a swathe of destruction through battle-torn France, and on French Street at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, World War I-era soldiers have returned from the dead. The constant artillery bombardment has turned the twisted network of trenches into a sprawling graveyard, and now “The Lost Generation” is rising from their muddy graves and coming home to haunt the streets of “old Paris.”

Scare Zone, Option 2: Mask-a-Raid

Masquerade Balls were a staple of the social calendar in pre-Revolutionary War France; a time for the members of the French aristocracy to misbehave behind the cover of elaborate, jeweled masks. But “mask-a-raiding” among the powdered and perfumed party-goers are members of a blood thirsty cannibal cult. Bon appétit!

Scare Zone, Option 3: Ghoulz

In 19^th century France, restrictive laws and social norms prevented medical colleges from acquiring the one asset they need most – human cadavers. To solve this “body shortage crisis,” universities employed “unsavory characters” to do their dirty work and steal corpses from cemeteries in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, the grave robbers on Universal Studios Hollywood’s French Street have developed a morbid fascination with the dead – and a taste for human flesh.

“Halloween Horror Nights” 2014 at Universal Studios Hollywood will bring together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror. “Halloween Horror Nights” will feature a slate of unrivaled film production quality mazes, terror-filled Scare Zones and “Terror Tram” experience uniquely themed to today’s most definitive horror properties.

Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A., includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas and the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue. World-class rides and attractions include the all new 3D Ultra-HD movie motion-simulator adventure, “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land,” the intense, award-winning ride, “King Kong 360 3D” on the famed behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, the critically-acclaimed mega-attraction, “Transformers™: The Ride-3D,” “The Simpsons Ride^TM,” “Revenge of the Mummy^SM—The Ride,” and “Jurassic Park® —The Ride.”

The Great Horror Campout Returns

2014/06/02

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News

Horror attraction fans should take note as The Great Horror Campout is returning, with its first stop in Los Angeles from Friday, June 6 to Saturday, June 7. You may recall our preview of The Great Horror Campout from last year – this time, they are looking to make things even scarier.

Official Press Release

(LOS ANGELES, CA – May 14, 2014) Returning to Los Angeles on June 6th, 2014, for a second kicking and screaming year, the Great Horror Campout is expanding its uniquely entertaining and immersive horror camp to cities across the nation. From Ten Thirty One Productions, the creators of the incredibly popular Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, the Great Horror Campout is a “choose your own adventure” overnight experience unlike any other in the horror themed events genre. With Mark Cuban recently investing $2 million in the company, the biggest deal in Shark Tank history, this year’s Great Horror Campout will be even more frightening with live scareactors, fog and scent effects, water spray and splash, narrow tunnels, crouch spaces which require you to bend down while walking, sudden loud noises, and much more.

“People want engagement and complete immersion in their experiences…and Great Horror Campout is the definition of that. The night is packed with layer upon layer of active content. The days of spectator sport haunted attractions and events are over and we couldn’t be more excited about that,” states Ten ThirtyOne Productions Founder, Melissa Carbone.

Campers can decide how extreme of an experience they get by their choice of activities lasting 12 hours (8pm to 8am). In the “Chicken Zone,” campers may watch horror movies and roast marshmallows, while those seeking “High Startle” zones will want to warm up around the Bonfire or wander off to the Mess Hall.

The interactive “Hell Hunt” experience will give campers, whom wish for a more extreme experience a run for their money, as they come face to face with their worst nightmares, in order to retrieve the items for which they are hunting. The Hell Hunt will be an extremely high-octane hunt for items that will send campers bathing in the blood of a “Pope Lick,” partaking in a sacrificial voodoo ritual, digging through road kill amongst “Beasts of Bray” and more. Campers will have to use creative thinking and problem solving to find the most coveted items, especially when facing “Speed Bumps” that may leave the camper kidnapped, caged or trunked. Those “Hell Hunters” who complete the task will be crowned Great Horror Campout “Hellmasters.” Upon being crowned a Hellmaster, campers will receive a sash and an official patch with the city and year they won. The more patches earned at each Campout, the more prestigious each camper will become in the network of Hellmasters.

During Great Horror Campout, campers may be forcibly handled, moved, bound, hooded, chained and subjected to simulated torture by a cast of actors. If a camper can no longer take the horror, shouting the safe phrase “I WANT MY MOMMY” will immediately put an end to the nightmare.

Ticket Price for a 4-person tent is $139, or $203 for a 2-person tent, and includes: Overnight tent accommodations, Continental Breakfast, Parking, Hell Hunt Experience, Canvas Hell Hunt Bag, Horror Movies, and Marshmallows. Items not included: Sleeping Bags, Pillows, Flashlights, and Drinks (other than at Breakfast). You may pack your own picnic baskets for dinner.

2014 Tour Schedule:

6/6 & 6/7: Los Angeles, CA

6/20 & 6/21: Houston, TX

6/27 & 6/28: Austin, TX

7/11 & 7/12: San Francisco, CA

7/18 & 7/19: Sacramento, CA

7/25 & 7/26: Seattle, WA

8/1 & 8/2: Portland, OR

8/15 & 8/16: San Diego, CA

8/22 & 8/23: San Bernardino, CA

For more information, please visit www.greathorrorcampout.com. Like on Facebook and follow on Twitter for news.

About Ten Thirty One Productions

Ten Thirty One Productions, LLC is an Entertainment Company focused on the Horror genre. Launching one of the most popular Horror attractions in LA, “Los Angeles Haunted Hayride” in 2009, TTO has quickly grown as one of the premiere horror genre attractions companies in the country. A major component in the business model has and will always be a strong social awareness element that is integrated into the content of the attractions. For example, Environmental Conservation, Animal and Wildlife Welfare, City Park Preservation and more are issues that are addressed in creative ways in every TTO production.

PTS RM4 Scout ERG Airsoft Gun Review

2014/06/01

Jerry Paxton

Action Sports, Airsoft News, Airsoft Reviews, Articles, News, Reviews, seal of excellence

Photo by AirsoftOutletNW.com

Airsoft gun makers have been trying hard for several years to create realistic recoil/blowback systems in their AEGs. Early, piston-driven designs caused additional wear on your internal components and new pneumatic systems from companies like G&G, while not putting undue wear on your internals, don’t really add much recoil to using the airsoft gun. Gas blowback airsoft guns have usually had no problem getting recoil effects due to their design. It is that reason, along with their usage being very similar to real-steel firearms, that they are used a lot for training purposes. Unfortunately, using a gas blowback rifle has disadvantages when the temperature is taken into account. Gas blowback airsoft rifles perform poorly in cold weather as the gas inside their magazines condenses due to the temperature. So, the goal is to create an AEG which has recoil comparable to a gas blowback rifle and can be used for training no matter what temperature it is taken to. Enter: The PTS RM4 ERG.

The external design of the PTS RM4 ERG (try saying that five times fast) is nothing you haven’t seen before with other PTS rifles, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less impressive. It features all PTS Magpul furniture with official trademarks and comes equipped with a flip-up rear MBUS sight and a-frame forward sight. The outer barrel is 14.5″ inches in length and the gun features a 6.05mm tight bore inner barrel. The gun’s coloring is all muted black and gunmetal, giving an overall aggressive tone.

This Magpul-licensed airsoft gun was co-developed by PTS and Yih Kai, which is also the manufacturer for KWA. Yih Kai has long-been known for crafting well-built, solid out-of-the box airsoft guns and this is no exception. The PTS RM4 ERG weighs in at a solid 7.42 lbs and I couldn’t locate any “wobble” in it at all. For its purpose as a training rifle, the thing definitely feels as though it can take a beating. Here in the U.S., the gun is being co-distributed by KWA and PTS.

Talking about the gun’s “Kinetic Feedback System” (what they call the recoil system), this thing is incredible. For all intents and purposes PTS, Magpul, and KWA have succeeded in creating a system that mimics the recoil of a gas blowback rifle. While not as much recoil, obviously, as a real-steel firearm, the system produces enough recoil to make you work to stay on target. Additionally, the PTS RM4 ERG features one of the coolest things I have seen on an airsoft gun – when the magazine is dry, the gun does not fire and the bolt catch locks back! In order to begin shooting again, you have to reload and hit the bolt release. This feature is only available when using the specially-designed PMAGs for the rifle (more on the magazines later). Of course, the airsoft gun can use standard M4 magazines as well – but you will not get that auto cut-off feature.

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We got the chance to ask PTS Syndicate’s Andrew Ho some questions on this new airsoft rifle – here is our mini-interview:

Q) Could you explain what the Kinetic Feedback System (KFS) design process was like? What were the goals, challenges, etc?

A) The design had been under development for a couple of years. The details were all handled in Asia by the factory. I entered the picture only this year so I don’t have any details regarding any of the technical design challenges. However, the goal was to make an airsoft electric gun function more realistically than a standard AEG. Granted we have gas blowback M4 rifles that excellently replicate the function and the felt recoil of a real gun on the market but it comes with its own set of limitations i.e. expensive magazines, temperature sensitivity, un-reusuable energy source, wear and tear on the rubber seals. With an electric system, can run off a rechargeable battery instead of constantly having to buy gas propellant, you can use standard AEG magazines, it is not temperature sensitive, and it can use standard AEG magazines (with some loss of ERG functions but not performance)

Q) What are the differences between the 3GX and 2GX gearboxes?

A) That’s company marketing nomenclature. 2GX is KWA’s improved Version 2 AEG Gearbox (their early V2 gearboxes had some minor issues so when they made some changes, the marketing team came up with 2GX). 3GX is the term for the ERG gearbox.

Q) What are the benefits of the KFS over existing recoil systems?

A) If you’ve tried any of the recoil systems from other AEG manufacturers, you’ll either feel very little or sometimes virtually no difference in vibration. That’s because they typically use the bolt plate mass to increase felt recoil. Heavier reciprocating bolt plate makes for slightly more recoil. However, it puts a lot of drag onto a gearbox and increases failure rates. Either that or some manufacturer bolt plates are so negligible in weight increase that you feel nothing. The ERG system gearbox does not operate off bolt plate but reciprocates a heavy spring loaded brass and metal plug in the buffer tube. Thus you get felt recoil that approaches that of an excellent GBB rifle system. You’ll feel it immediately when you try it. Besides the KFS recoil system, the ERG will also stop firing when your magazine is empty (just like a GBB rifle or a real gun). you will have to load a loaded magazine and hit the bolt stop on the side of the receiver (just like a real AR) to get it back into action.

Q) Is the KFS something that will become standard in KWA guns in the future?

A) There is an increase in cost to manufacture this systems and some players don’t care for the additional features of realistic function. (some of us just want to play and shoot our buddies up) KWA will respond to the market’s needs. At this time, they will manufacture both types.

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Getting to the gun’s special magazines, the PTS RM4 ERG PMAG features an extended feeding spring that, when “dry” (i.e. out of rounds), extends up and into the receiver. This hits a lever inside the gun, locking back the bolt catch and preventing dry firing. Additionally, these magazines have a selector slider in them that allows the user to set its max capacity to either 30 or 60 rounds. These two features illustrate the marvelous job PTS has done to ride the line between training and gaming. Magazines are sold in sets of 3 and retail for about $40 dollars a pack. This brings the individual cost of each magazine to about $13.30 dollars – not bad! They feed very well and feature that PMAG style many players have grown to love.

The biggest thing I wish they would have included in this gun package was a PTS Magpul MOE handguard-compatible rail. They are so inexpensive, it would have been nice to put it in the box so that airsofters could utilize existing attachments right away. I picked up a MOE-compatible rail off of Amazon for about ten dollars including shipping and highly recommend it.

Overall, PTS should be proud of what they have accomplished in the PTS RM4 ERG. They have created an exceptional airsoft gun for training or gaming purposes, out of an AEG. We are awarding the airsoft gun a 5 out of 5 stars and granting it our Seal of Excellence. The PTS RM4 ERG retails for about $380 dollars and is available now.

[easyreview title=”PTS RM4 ERG Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]
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Images (please not that the T.U.C., front rail and vertical grip, and upper receiver rail riser were added by me):

DCS: F-86F Sabre Gets Release Date

2014/05/30

Jerry Paxton

News, Screenshots / Photos, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

DUXFORD, UK, May 30th, 2014 –The Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics in cooperation with Belsimtek to release DCS: F-86F Sabre as a digital download in July 2014

The North American F-86F Sabre was the most capable western fighter of the early- to mid-1950s. This swept wing, single engine jet was the most important western aircraft of the Korean War and often tangled with Russian-made MiG-15s over the infamous “MiG Alley”. It was a hard struggle not only for the Korean sky, but also between two excellent aircraft builders of the East and West. In addition to its primary role as an air-to-air fighter, the Sabre could also carry bombs and air-to-ground rockets to attack ground targets.

The Belsimtek simulation of the Sabre is by far the most authentic recreation of this famous warbird to date. Feel what is to fly the Sabre with a professional level flight model, an interactive cockpit, fully functional weapons, a detailed damage model and a richly detailed aircraft. Experience the strengths and weaknesses of the Sabre in combat and find out why seasoned fighter pilots often look back at the Sabre as the most enjoyable aircraft they ever flew.

As part of DCS World, fly the F-86F Sabre in a fully realized combat environment with working weapon systems and capable air and ground threats.

Teaser video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo7Mr9UxmUs&feature=youtu.be

Key Features of the DCS: F-86F Sabre:

Unmatched flight physics that allow you to truly feel what it’s like to fly this legend
Highly detailed, six-degrees-of-freedom (6 DOF) cockpit
Interact with cockpit controls with your mouse
Fully modelled weapon system
Accurate F-86F Sabre model, squadron markings, and weapons.
Detailed modelling of the F-86F Sabre instruments, weapons, engine, radios, fuel, electrical and hydraulic systems
Battle the MiG-15, the Sabre’s nemesis

Screenshots

IndieCade Announces Lineup for E3

2014/05/30

Jerry Paxton

E3, News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

LOS ANGELES—MAY 30, 2014—IndieCade, the premier international festival of independent games, will bring more than 30 independently developed games for this year’s IndieCade Showcase @ E3, providing the largest diversity of indie games and developers of any exhibitor at the show.

The 2014 IndieCade Showcase @ E3 is presented in collaboration with Hosting Partner The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and will be located in South Hall, Booth #2835.

Each game selected for the E3 Showcase was curated from submissions for this Fall’s IndieCade Festival, to be held in downtown Culver City, CA October 9-12. The E3 lineup serves as a preview of what’s to come at the larger fall IndieCade event, and covers nearly all platforms and genres, while also defining new categories, and will include emerging game technologies like Virtual Reality.

“The titles we’ve selected demonstrate the diversity and vibrancy of the independent-development community and represent the best of IndieCade’s mission and goals,” said Stephanie Barish, chief executive officer and founder, IndieCade. “We are thrilled to work with the ESA, as well as our partners at Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and OUYA, to bring the world’s best emerging developers, student teams, and established independent creators to E3, the industry’s grandest stage. We hope everyone takes time to stop by the booth and see something a little different.”

Key partnerships with Premier Sponsor SCEA and OUYA are providing additional titles that will be featured on each platform. SCEA will offer three games on PlayStation platforms, including Hohokum, Counterspy, and Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, while OUYA will offer several games for the OUYA, including Thralled, Toto Temple Deluxe and So Many Me. Details on these titles can be found below.

Additionally, during E3, IndieCade will host an in-booth tournament using Sportsfriendsfor PlayStation 4. There will be three total qualification periods on Tuesday andWednesday, in Hokra, BariBaraBall, and Super Pole Riders. Those who qualify will compete in a tournament to be held Thursday morning. More details will be released via the IndieCade twitter feed [@IndieCade] during the event.

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

HOHOKUM [PlayStation 4] by: (Presented by SCEA) developed by Honeyslug for PS4, PS3, and PS Vita, Hohokum is an expressive and mesmerizing universe where players take on the role of a curious flying kite-like being. Brought to life by the imaginative artwork of Richard Hogg and an entrancing original soundtrack from talented artists in collaboration with Ghostly International, players will embark on a big game of hide and seek to explore vibrant worlds and discover their secrets to find each of their friends and unlock new levels.

COUNTERSPY [PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Mobile] by: (Presented by SCEA) from upstart indie studio Dynamighty comes CounterSpy, a new side-scrolling stealth shooter for PS4, PS3, PS Vita, and mobile platforms. Combining the spy mythology and bold aesthetics of the 1950’s and 1960’s and set during the Cold War,CounterSpy puts players in a rogue third spy agency, C.O.U.N.T.E.R., tasked with infiltrating military bases in search of launch plans needed to stop world superpowers from blowing up the moon!

HOTLINE MIAMI 2: WRONG NUMBER [PlayStation 4] by: (Presented by SCEA) the brutal conclusion to a gruesome saga, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number follows the escalating level of violence through multiple factions born from the events of the original game. Switch between several distinct characters and factions – each with their own motivations and methods of execution – as story lines intersect and reality slips away into a haze of neon and carnage. Blistering combat, an unmistakable visual style, and a powerfully intense soundtrack that will once again push you to the limit and have you questioning your own thirst for blood.

THRALLED [OUYA Exclusive] by Team Thralled: (Presented by OUYA)Thralled follows the journey of a young woman named Isaura, a slave traumatized by the disappearance of her child and tormented by memories of an agonizing past. After years living under oppression, she escapes and takes to the thick forest to locate her lost son.

TOTO TEMPLE DELUXE [OUYA Exclusive] by Juicy Beast: (Presented by OUYA) From the makers of Knightmare Tower, Toto Temple Deluxe is a 2D platforming local-multiplayer game where up to 4 players must hold on to a goat for as long as possible, while their friends jump and dash around trying to knock it out of their hands.

SO MANY ME [OUYA, PC] by Extend Interactive: (Presented by OUYA) a new innovative twist on puzzle solving and platforming with a charming 2D art style. The game stars Filo and his band of misfit clones as they attempt to save a world threatened by an ancient, malevolent evil.

ROAD NOT TAKEN [PlayStation 4, PS Vita, PC, MAC] by Spry Fox: an original puzzle about life’s surprises where players adventure through a vast, ever-changing forest in the aftermath of a brutal winter storm.

FRACT-OSC [PC/Console] by Phosfiend Systems: a musical exploration game where the player explores a vast landscape of an abandoned world that was once built on sound. FRACT features a beautiful open world to explore and decipher with music-based puzzles, stunning visuals, and an amazing score that evolves as you play.

WHAT?!? OH… [Table] by Games Without Strings: What?!? Oh… started as a simple, experimental mechanic where players could generate a conversation simply by playing back and forth phrase cards from their hand. Randomly chosen Starter Emotions, Settings, and Comments start the game with a laugh and a concrete scene, and ensure that no conversation is ever the same twice.

DREI [Mobile] by Etter Studio: Three builders have to work together to build a tower in a game about skill, logic and collaboration. The game connects players across the world to help each other in the battle against gravity.

LONG TAKE [PC/Console] by Turtle Cream: A platformer that is not a platformer. A player that isn’t really the player. In Long Take, you play as a cameraman who must keep the hero inside of the viewfinder to record a cool gameplay video.

GROW [Table] by Chris Hasssebrook: A 3-dimensional strategy game where 2-4 players compete to become the dominant flower color on an abstract tree. Key mechanics include territorial acquisition, a 3-Dimensional modular board, route building, and a light simulation that mimics the growth of an actual tree.

SLAP .45 [Table] by Gnarwhal Studios: takes three of life’s most fundamental elements (slapping, westerns and making rash decisions) and turns them into a card game. When a card is drawn, every player acts simultaneously to shoot each other or jump to cover. The winners will need to have quick wits and even quicker hands to be proclaimed the fastest slap in the west.

PROJECT HEERA: DIAMOND HEIST [PC, PS4, Xbox One] by Mazhlele: A top-down, team-based multiplayer game that pits players as thieves or cops in a battle over who can steal or defend diamonds.

HACK N SLASH [PC/Console] by Double Fine: A puzzle action game about hacking where players reprogram object properties, hijack global variables, hack creature behavior, and even rewrite the game’s code. With advanced hacking mastery, players can dive directly into the game’s assembly in the form of procedurally generated dungeons and modify the live-running code.

ELEGY FOR A DEAD WORLD [PC/Console] by Dejobaan Games: Three portals to long-dead civilizations await you. Your job is to explore these worlds, write about what you find, and share your stories with the rest of the universe. Other players will read what you write and assess it. Your goal is to write something so moving that a thousand others applaud you. Each of the three worlds was inspired by the works of a British Romance-era poet: Shelley, Keats, and Byron

CELESTIA [PC, MAC] by Yang Shi and Cheng Yang: a vocal interaction game where the player guides a newborn star through the universe by singing different pitches/notes to help the star absorb satellites and fend off treacherous threats in her journey of stellar evolution.

BLOOM – The Game [Installation] by Plethora Project: Commissioned by the Greater London Authority as part of Wonder series to celebrate Olympics and Paralympics games, ‘Bloom’ is and interactive architectural installation designed and developed by Alisa Andrasek and Jose Sanchez from The Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL, London. The project proposes a crowd-sourced approach for assembly by using game mechanics as part of the design of one unit. This unit (The ‘Bloom Cell’) would be produced in an Array of 60.000 identical copies where proposed for manufacturing allowing and expecting the public to Play and assemble diverse formations.

STORY POPS [iPad, iPhone] by Localite Games Inc.: StoryPops empower young readers with a smartphone as a dynamic prop to PLAY with their favorite stories and lets readers enact narrative events or roleplay with characters.

CLOSE CASTLES [MAC, PC] by Sirvo: a fast-paced competitive city builder that plays like a fighting game; destroy the opponent’s castle by first building a thriving kingdom. Plop down houses, draw roads to your enemy, and watch your loyal citizens attack!

XING: THE LAND BEYOND [PC, Oculus Rift] by White Lotus Interactive: an atmospheric first-person puzzle adventure where players are crossing between life and death, solving environment-based puzzles and gaining/using powers such as Rain and Snow.

ANAMNESIS [PC, Oculus] by Studio Guts: a first-person exploration game set in near-future L.A. that is recovering from a deadly virus. You are a FEMA relocation agent visiting a temporary shelter complex in order to find out why some of the tenants have lost contact. The Oculus Rift serves as a secondary display port: the monitor displays the first-person view of the character, but players may bring up the Oculus Rift to their eyes at any time in the game to inspect game objects. In the game’s fiction, these are specially designed goggles that read “psychological imprints” left by people that were previously there, giving players the narrative perspective of the character who lived in the space. Anamnesis uses this technique to explore multiple narrative perspectives, environmental storytelling and the utilization of role-play and ritual in the gameplay process.

TETRAGEDDON GAMES [PC, MAC, Flash, iPad, iPhone] by AlienMelon: a digital gallery of “Pop Games” based on our collective cultural taboos, icons, and humor, that encourages players to creatively engage in the creation of itself – it is the internet, in the form of a game, a narration of the dynamic times we are in.

GLORKIAN WARRIOR: THE TRIALS OF GLORK [PC, iPad, iPhone, Xbox One] by PixelJam: a collaboration between acclaimed comic book artist James Kochalka and indie game studio Pixeljam that is a unique hybrid of Galaga-style shoot ’em up, simple platforming action and Saturday morning cartoon

please be nice 🙁 [PC/Console] by Aran Koning: a PC game where the players come up with the features. The first player that beats the current version of the game gets to submit a new feature for the next version of the game. After that, we update the game with the suggestion added to the game and then the cycle restarts.

CAVE! CAVE! DEUS VIDET [PC/MAC/Linux] by We Are Muesli: a PC/Mac episodic visual novel inspired by the works of 16th century Dutch painter Jheronimus Bosch. Strange things happen in Lisbon Museum when 17-year-old punk rocker and Jedi-wannabe Hoodie meets a weird messenger who seems to know too many things about one of Bosch’s most enigmatic paintings, the Temptation of Saint Anthony triptych.

NOVA-111 [PC/MAC/Linux] by Funktronic Labs: a sci-fi themed turn-based adventure game with a twist of real-time action. Navigate your trusty orange science vessel as you voyage through mysterious planets in search for the famed scientists who were lost into the cosmic REAL-TIME vortex.

T.R.E.E. [PC, MAC, iOS] by Franz Michael Ressel: a continuous, community-driven art development game where a community works together to grow and shape a tree to be their own over the course of a few days or weeks.

CHOICE CHAMBER [PC/Console] by Michael Molinari: a game that allows an audience of any size to play along through an endless series of dangerous chambers, providing feedback that changes how the game evolves in real time. Choice Chamber is designed to be played while being streamed live on Twitch, and anyone watching can participate by simply typing in the chat box. A series of polls ask viewers to vote on certain aspects that alter the game’s progression in real time, or viewers can trigger special events, friendly helpers, and even attack the boss themselves.

…and then it rained [Mobile] by Megagon Industries: a minimalist arcade game and an acoustic and visual experience. Set in an abstract world, the player has to catch colored and different sounding rain drops by dragging and reordering matching towers, resulting in a rhythmic and nearly meditative world of sounds and colors.

BOUNDEN [Mobile] by Game Oven: a whimsical dancing game with choreography by the Dutch National Ballet. Twist and twirl elegantly, or get entangled with a friend. Holding either end of a phone, you tilt the device around a virtual sphere following a path of rings.

MONSTERMATIC [Mobile] by Mico Studio: a new engaging and entirely customizable monster creator for iOS devices. The game’s cartoon style, monsterific personalities, playful atmosphere and wealth of tools assist the player in creating their very own custom monster to play with, interact with, and bring to life through the magic of 3D printing at the click of a button.

PAPARAZZI [PC/Console] by Mike Longley: a frantic multiplayer game where two players take the role of either a celebrity or the paparazzi. The paparazzi must take photos of the celebrity, as the celebrity must avoid the paparazzi to reach their limo with some dignity!

CHOOSATRON DELUXE ADVENTURE MATRIX [Table] by Monkey With A Mustache: a Wi-Fi connected Choose Your Own Adventure®-inspired story printer, blending digital and analogue storytelling. It is designed to be easily assembled by kids into a small interactive fiction game box, and encourage social reading, learning, and play. As you play, you make decisions that affect the outcome of the story printing out on the thermal paper. This results in a paper scroll artifact, representing a linear, personal path through a much larger story.

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 2014 will be held in downtown Culver City, CA October 9-12 and passes will be on sale soon to the general public.

ABOUT INDIECADE
Applauded as the “Sundance of the videogame industry,” IndieCade supports independent game development globally through a series of international events highlighting the rich, diverse, artistic and culturally significant contributions of indie game developers. IndieCade’s programs are designed to bring visibility to and facilitate the production of new works within the emerging independent game community. Annual events include IndieCade East, IndieCade’s Showcase @ E3, and IndieCade Festival, the largest gathering of independent game creators in the nation. For more information, visit indiecade.com.

Visit our Website: IndieCade.com
Follow us on Twitter: @IndieCade
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndieCade
Information on IndieCade Foundation: http://www.indiecade.org

MSI Announces All-in-One Gaming PC

2014/05/29

Jerry Paxton

Hardware News, News, Tech News

City of Industry, Calif. – May 29, 2014 – MSI Computer Corp, a leading high-end manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions, unveils their full line-up of the world’s first and most powerful gaming All-in-One computers, including the NVIDIA® GTX 880M powered 27” AG270with speakers & amplifier empowered by Yamaha, and the ultra-slim 24” AG240 and 22” AG220.

“MSI’s squadron of gaming AIOs takes gaming to the next level and outperforms any other unit on the market,” says Andy Tung, CEO of MSI Pan America. “The state of the art components shreds gaming benchmarks, delivers an immersive gaming experience and is hands down the most superb combination of style and performance.”

Superior Performance

MSI’s new gaming AIOs pack the same high-performance components found in bulkier desktops into an attractive and compact design, including Intel® Core® i7 processors for ultra-fast speed, NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 800M series graphics for outstanding image quality, up to 8GB of GDDR5 RAM, and Killer Gaming Networking for lightning fast and lag-free connectivity.

To provide even more devastating power, select models feature Super RAID (2 SSD’s in RAID 0), touchscreen capabilities and Blu-Ray disc burner. Super RAID and Plextor True Speed Performance Technology delivers unprecedented and stable long-term speeds by eliminating the drop in read/write speeds experienced by SSDs after long use. This combination results in stable and reliable read speeds of up to 1000MB/sec.

Immersive Multimedia Experience

While most competitors are using last generation graphics cards, MSI’s AIO Gaming PCs are armed with the next generation NVIDIA® GTX 800M series graphics, including the high-end NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M in the AG270 models. MSI’s newest AIOs deliver unparalleled sensory experience for both gamers and multimedia lovers.

To take advantage of NVIDIA® graphics capabilities, MSI equipped the AIOs with an anti-glare, anti-flicker matte display with their proprietary Eye Pro Technology. MSI’s AIO displays stabilize the electrical current to prevent flickering in standard displays while decreasing eye fatigue by generating 75% less blue light.

MSI’s gaming AIOs have the ability to connect to two external displays to create the ultimate surround gaming experience. They can also act as an external monitor for your next gen consoles or multimedia players with their Instant Display technology. Without even the AIO system powered on, you can still use it as a monitor to play when you plug-in any game console system.

Select models also come with Yamaha speakers and amplifier and Sound Blaster Cinema. Yamaha Hi-Fi speakers and amplifiers pump out hi-fi sound through two powerful full range speakers flanked by an independent subwoofer, amazing gamers with a broader sound spectrum that produces deeper explosions, clearer footsteps and livelier gaming.

Customizable Software

All AIOs come with MSI Gaming Control Center, a user-friendly control center to personalize image quality, turn the AIO into a Wi-Fi Hotspot for internet sharing, adjusting peripherals such as webcam and microphones, and performing system checks. MSI also makes live streaming and video uploading easy with XSplit Gamecaster, a software that automatically detects the best streaming settings, eliminating the need to adjust settings. Gamecaster allows gamers to add, resize and position a webcam feed, draw on screen and modify videos.

MSI’s new lineup of gaming AIOs come with a full 104 –Key gaming keyboard and a 3,500 dpi gaming mouse, and will be available next week at Newegg, Amazon and all other major e-tailers starting at $1,249.99. For more information about MSI’s selection of AIOs, gaming laptops and more, including full specs and high resolution images, please visit www.us.msi.com or contact Pedro Chen at pedrochen@maxborgesagency.com.

AG220, AG240, and AG270 Specs

About MSI

Founded in 1986, MSI is driven and motivated by customer satisfaction. A worldwide leader in computer components, MSI boasts a state-of-the-art R&D department, an annual production of motherboards and graphic cards reaching the tens of millions and sales in over 120 countries. MSI reaches the consumer and commercial markets with a product lineup that includes notebook PCs, All-in-One PCs, servers, IPCs, robotic appliances and vehicle electronics. MSI’s slogan, Innovation with Style, represents the company’s core value “Innovation” and “Style” and embodies the company’s pursuit of excellence through quality products, user-friendly designs and cutting-edge technology.

To learn more about MSI’s complete line of products, visit us.msi.com or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/MSI.ComputerUS and Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/msiUSA.

War Thunder PS4 Release Date

2014/05/29

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 4 News, Screenshots / Photos

(MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION) – May 29, 2014 – Award winning developer and publisher Gaijin Entertainment announced that June 3, 2014 marks the F2P blockbuster military MMO game War Thunder maiden mission in the US on PlayStation®4 (PS4™). It will also celebrate Gaijin Entertainment’s global PS4 strike, releasing the massively destructive Ground Forces Expansion.

To complete the epic scale of War Thunder, Ground Forces Expansion will provide those who possess a thirst for war, but prefer having their treads rumbling across the ground, the ability to unleash a blitzkrieg like attack upon foes. In the very near future, the complete War Thunder experience will include cross platform compatibility allowing the combined battles with more than seven millions players worldwide, across PS4 and PC to battle with or against each other in a do or die effort to lay claim to either the skies or on the ground.

War Thunder on the PS4 will feature lifelike dynamics of real-time war and precision in its details of planes and tanks. DUAL SHOCK 4 Wireless Controller’s intuitive control scheme and ergonomic design provides ease of use and comfort while lock in deadly MMO WWII action. Glorious warfare erupts across a colossal battlefield in majestic 1080p, completely uninterrupted, even in cross platform play against PC foes. War Thunder on the PS4 will also provide players with improved head-tracking system using PlayStation®Camera.

New Screenshots

Bohemia Interactive announces Arma 3 Karts

2014/05/29

Jerry Paxton

News, Screenshots / Photos, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday 29th May 2014 — A few weeks after the studio shared its 2014-2015 development roadmap for Arma 3 (announcing upcoming DLCs and a major expansion), Bohemia Interactive today posted a new devblog to explain how it aims to prevent a split in the Arma 3 playerbase.

DLC often fractures a game’s playerbase, which is most noticeable in the multiplayer environment, where such a split prevents players that do not own DLC from joining friends who do own it. Given the nature of Arma 3 as an open platform, Bohemia Interactive set itself the goal to develop an alternative solution. While the new strategy is somewhat experimental, Bohemia Interactive’s plan is to make all Arma 3 downloadable content available to all owners of Arma 3, with reasonable restrictions applied to those who have not purchased them.

Consequently, Bohemia Interactive’s approach will enable those who do and do not own Arma 3 DLC to play together. Furthermore, it provides players with a generous try-before-you-buy system. Players will also be able to purchase the DLC directly from in-game, which will unlock the content immediately without having to download additional data. Alternatively, people can also still buy the DLC out-of-game, directly from the Steam Store. Besides offering advantages to players, the new strategy also benefits the Arma 3 development team, who no longer have to maintain multiple sets of data, and will not need to test every single combination of ownership for every game update. Plus, with regards to future playable content, the development team can, to some degree, rely on all players having access to DLC content and features.

Joris-Jan van ‘t Land, Project Lead on Arma 3, explains:
“A key component of our new approach is the idea that, while new content is paid, new features are entirely free. This enables us to grow the platform with significant new gameplay updates for everyone who owns Arma 3, while offering up great extra content for those players who want to experience it and support our ongoing development.”

To try out the new DLC approach from a player, technical, and business perspective, Bohemia Interactive today released Arma 3 Karts – the first paid DLC for Arma 3. Originally announced as an April Fools’ joke via the Splendid Split parody video, the Arma 3 Karts DLC features a 20hp 4-stroke engine go-kart, several kart liveries, playable race driver and marshal game characters, new kart-racing Time Trials and Steam Achievements, plus various race objects to build your own racetracks. As the Karts DLC is considered to be a fun little side-step – and also as a way to trial the new DLC strategy – a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the Arma 3 Karts DLC will be donated to the Czech Red Cross. The total amount raised will be announced on www.bistudio.com in June 2014.

Last but not least, Bohemia Interactive revealed the pricing of their planned DLC packages. While the Arma 3 Karts DLC is available for the exceptional price of 1.49 EUR / 1.99 USD / 1.19 GBP, the Arma 3 Helicopters and Arma 3 Marksmen DLC will be sold separately for 12.99 EUR / 15.99 USD / 10.99 GBP. Those who want the complete Arma 3 experience can save more than 25 by picking up the Arma 3 DLC Bundle for 19.99 EUR / 24.99 USD / 16.99 GBP, which includes Arma 3 Karts, plus the upcoming Arma 3 Helicopters and Arma 3 Marksmen DLC.

The main game Arma 3, which has sold over one million copies to date, is available for purchase from Steam and Store.bistudio.com, where people can pick between the regular edition (44.99 EUR / 39.99 GBP / 59.99 USD) and Digital Deluxe Edition (49.99 EUR / 42.99 GBP / 64.99 USD). The Digital Deluxe Edition includes digital extras such as the Arma 3 soundtrack, maps of Altis and Stratis, a 350-page tactical guide, and a Steam version of the original Arma: Cold War Assault. A boxed version of Arma 3 is sold at many major high-street retailers.

The entire development blog post can be found on Bohemia Interactive’s website.

For more information about Arma 3, please visit the official website at www.arma3.com and follow Arma 3 on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

World of Tanks Special Retail Package and Soviet Steel Update for Xbox 360 Edition

2014/05/29

Jerry Paxton

News, Screenshots / Photos, Xbox 360 News

May 29, 2014 — Wargaming today announced details for its upcoming Soviet Steel Update for World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition, as well as information on the Combat Ready Starter Pack that will offer players a tremendous value and exclusive items for the console free-to-play title.

Representing the largest single content update so far for the title, the Soviet Steel, slated to go live on June 3rd, will enrich the game’s roster with 29 iconic USSR tank destroyers, light, medium, and heavy tanks, bringing the in-game vehicle total to over 150. The intimidating IS-3; a brutal close quarters and urban combat icon, the ISU-152; a high tier tank destroyer, and more will clash on two new battlegrounds—Komarin and Ensk.

The company also announced the Combat Ready Starter Pack, containing a war chest’s worth of in-game gold and other goodies at a discounted price of $19.99. Included in the package are:

The premium Panzer 38H Tier II German light tank, famously known for its heavy armor and quick firing gun.
3 days of premium account time granting 50% boost in accumulated Silver and experience.
200,000 in-game Silver.
1500 in-game Gold.
30-day voucher code for Xbox Live Gold status.

The Combat Ready Starter pack will be available this August.

For more information on the Soviet Steel update, visit: