Author - Jerry Paxton

ROCCAT Now Shipping Kave XTD 5.1 Digital Gaming Headset

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Hamburg – January 30, 2014 – ROCCAT™ Studios, German manufacturer of high-quality gaming peripherals, announces the availability of the Kave XTD 5.1 Digital gaming headset, the flagship version of the new Kave XTD series. The Kave XTD 5.1 builds upon the foundations laid by the original Kave headset, improving existing features and adding even more impressive innovations to refine the tried and tested feature set that made the original model a worldwide success among gamers.

Smart improvements for smart gamers

The Kave XTD 5.1 Digital includes a fully-equipped desktop remote with a built-in premium 5.1 sound card. Also included in the feature-packed remote is ROCCAT Smart Link, a patented technology that lets users pair their smartphone to the remote via Bluetooth, allowing them to make and receive calls through the headset while gaming.

ROCCAT Smart Link technology eradicates the problem of overlapping conversations during gaming sessions caused by talking on the phone with the headset still on.  The patented technology automatically mutes the chat software when a call is picked up, giving you complete privacy and preventing you from disturbing your teammates.

The Kave XTD 5.1 desktop remote comes with comprehensive headset and system audio controls and boasts 5.1 speaker ports, letting users connect to their existing speaker system, easily toggle between headset and speaker output and eliminating the need to crawl under the table to re-plug audio cables.

Supreme surround sound and comfy build

Like the original Kave, the Kave XTD 5.1 Digital delivers true, rich 5.1 surround sound.  However, the new Kave XTD 5.1 also features three individual drivers per ear cup aligned at a 12-degree angle for incomparably immersive and crisp sound, comes with a completely redesigned head band for superior comfort and weighs 25% less than the original model.

The Kave XTD 5.1 Digital is also engineered and manufactured using new materials to enhance its comfort and durability, making it suitable for extended hours of gaming.  The detachable microphone will also come with a mute LED indicator, but has also been redesigned to improve sound quality and reliability.

The Kave XTD 5.1 Digital was nominated for the “Best Hardware” award at gamescom 2013 and is now available for USD $169.99.

Links:

ROCCAT Homepage
ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Digital website
ROCCAT on Facebook (global)
ROCCAT on Facebook (German)

Randal’s Monday to Release in Q3 of This Year

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Hamburg, Germany / Alicante, Spain; January 30, 2014 – Adventure gaming experts Daedalic Entertainment and Nexus Game Studios are teaming up to bring the upcoming comic humor point & geek adventure Randal’s Monday to a world-wide audience. Both companies schedule to release the game later this year digitally for PC.

Randal’s Monday, developed by the Spanish team Nexus Game Studios, centers around geek and pop culture references from the 1990s and early 2000s, and gives a pretty authentic insight into how hard it is to overcome these stupid days of each week.

Randal is the best main character one can ever imagine: he’s a kleptomaniac, a sociopath and an awful friend above all. After his friend Matt’s engagement party, waking up on a Monday morning with a massive hangover, Randal finds Matt’s wallet in his pocket. Inside the wallet, the precious engagement ring.

It doesn’t take Randal long to sell the ring – triggering a fatal curse. Matt commits suicide, and Randal is now supposed to live through the same fateful Monday again and again, doing whatever is needed in order to fix the horrible situation. Randal must recover the one ring and his life, before the situation worsens… or the universe collapses.

Randal’s Monday features cynical humor, geek culture references and classic point & click adventure gameplay at its best. The game pays tribute to a generation of gamers, readers and viewers of subculture media products. Players will find countless items and references to things they grew up with. Retro video gaming consoles, anyone? Your favorite movies and TV series from the 80s, 90s and 2000s? It’s all in there! Take your time and pixel-hunt each screen for everything that’s in there – whereas the adventure gameplay takes care to use all of today’s comfort features, of course.

Randal’s Monday is developed by the Spanish team Nexus Game Studios, who teamed up with the adventure gaming experts at Daedalic Entertainment to prepare the world-wide release. The PC point & click adventure game is scheduled to be released in Q3 2014.

FEATURES
• 7 great chapters – gameplay time will depend on how much time you spend in front of the TV in your childhood.
• More than 40 different environments carefully hand-crafted.
• More than 50 characters including repulsive mothers, retired priests and talking skulls.
• Jillions of references and homages to geek culture.
• No zombies (which is a feature nowadays). Whoops, in fact there are some of them… well, ZOMBIES!

http://www.randalsmonday.com

About Daedalic Entertainment
Daedalic Entertainment is a Hamburg-based indie-studio that develops and publishes high-quality games worldwide, focusing on the projects with strong narratives. Over the last few years, Daedalic has collected 21 German Game Developer Awards (incl. “Studio of the Year 2009, 2013”), five German Computer Game Awards (incl. “Best Game 2011”), and more.

http://www.daedalic.de/en
http://www.facebook.com/daedalic
http://www.twitter.com/daedalic

The Elder Scrolls Online: Imperial Edition Announced

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January 29, 2014 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced that it will release The Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition  a premium collector’s edition for the highly-anticipated The Elder Scrolls OnlineThe Elder Scrolls Online Imperial Edition will be made available in digital and limited physical formats. Both standard and collector’s editions are now available for pre-order through participating retailers and pre-purchase from the newly launched, online store (store.elderscrollsonline.com).

In addition to the highly-anticipated game, The Elder Scrolls Online Physical Imperial Edition includes:

  • Molag Bal Statue. A 12” statue featuring Molag Bal, Daedric Prince of domination and enslavement.
  • The Improved Emperor’s Guide to Tamriel. A 224-page illustrated guide annotated by the Imperial scholar, Flaccus Terentius.
  • Physical Map of Tamriel. A 21” x 26” printed map detailing Alliance-controlled zones and the ultimate conquest: Cyrodiil.  
  • Steelbook™ Packaging. A limited edition steel case decorated in the color of the Imperials.
  • Exclusive Collection of Digital Content.
    • Play as an Imperial: Become an Imperial and play in any Alliance. Gain unique bonuses, crafting styles, gear, and more.
    • White Imperial Horse: Summon this Imperial mount and journey through Tamriel with speed.
    • Mudcrab Vanity Pet: Explore Tamriel with a mudcrab pet scuttling along by your side.
    • Rings of Mara: Complete the Ritual of Mara with a friend and receive an experience bonus when you play together.

The Physical Imperial Edition is extremely limited in quantity and available for pre-order now through participating retailers for $99.99.

The Elder Scrolls Online Digital Imperial Edition includes the base game and all digital content outlined for the Physical Imperial Edition above and retails for $79.99.

All those who pre-order or pre-purchase either the Imperial Edition or the Standard Edition in physical or digital formats will also receive The Explorer’s Pack bonus at launch, which includes: Scuttler vanity pet, four bonus treasure maps, and the ability to play as any of the nine races in any Alliance.

Early Access bonuses will also be offered to those pre-ordering or pre-purchasing a PC/Mac version. A five (5) day early access bonus will be offered to those who pre-purchase the Digital Imperial Edition or the Digital Standard Edition through The Elder Scrolls Online Store. Additional early access programs are also available through participating retailers.

The Elder Scrolls Online, developed by ZeniMax Online Studios, is the latest chapter of the award-winning franchise and will bring the legendary experience online for the first time. Players can choose their own style of play as they embark upon an epic adventure across all of Tamriel, playing alone on heroic quests as in previous Elder Scrolls games, exploring the huge, rich world with a few friends, or joining with hundreds of others in massive PvP battles to save the Empire.

The Elder Scrolls® Online will be available worldwide on April 4, 2014 for PC and Mac users. Versions for the PlayStation®4 system and the Xbox One® will be arriving on retail shelves in June 2014.

The Elder Scrolls Online has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

Economic Crimes Unit Raids Funcom Offices

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Looks like the folks at Funcom have hit some rough water as Norway’s National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime agents raided the game developer’s offices this morning. The trouble doesn’t end their as Funcom’s stock ceased trading on the Oslo stock exchange as well. All of this went down because Funcom is accused of breaching the Securities Trading Act. Allegedly, Funcom did not follow official and legal disclosure requirements related to their Lovecraftian MMORPG, The Secret World, from August 2011 until two months after the game’s release in July 2012.

What does this mean for gamers who play Funcom MMOs? Well, the developers offices are officially shutdown for now and we have reached out to our Funcom press contact for official comments. Until then, stay tuned!

Razer Announces Warranty Functions in Synapse 2.0

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January 28, 2014 — CARLSBAD, Calif. – Razer™, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, software and systems, today announced the addition of a warranty function to Razer Synapse 2.0, allowing gamers to quickly register and monitor their warranty period in a single convenient location through Razer’s cloud-based hardware configurator.

The new opt-in Warranty function allows for quick registration of Razer’s Synapse 2.0-supported products, and also allows users to register other Razer gear, such as analog headsets and mouse mats.

Specific to North America, Razer is also removing proof-of-purchase requirements in its product return policy, if the guarantee can be verified automatically with the serial number.

“Razer offers the very best and most innovative gaming equipment in the world; now, we offer the most functional and easily accessible warranty system of its kind,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. “One of the biggest reasons why we integrated a cloud-based software into our line of hardware was to continue to add value to products after purchase. Synapse 2.0’s new warranty utility is the latest example of that, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to showing what our software is truly capable of.”

As with all aspects of Razer Synapse 2.0, the warranty function only requires a connection at the time of registration and is fully functional in offline mode. Warranty registration through the website will also be available for non-Synapse 2.0 users.

More About Razer Synapse 2.0:

Set up instantly from anywhere with the world’s first cloud-based settings network for gamers. With Razer Synapse 2.0, gaming preferences for all your Razer devices are locked and loaded any time you need them from any location in the world.

Instantly store your custom settings and Razer add-ons with Razer Synapse 2.0 to completely eliminate the painstaking process of reconfiguring your peripherals each time you log into a new computer. Spend less time in a pause menu and more time dominating the competition with Razer Synapse 2.0.

Price: Free to download

Availability:

Windows – Now

PC – Now

For more information about Razer Synapse 2.0, please visit www.razerzone.com/synapse2/.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall Now Available for Pre-Order

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Kirkland, WA (January 28, 2014) Harebrained Schemes’ Shadowrun: Dragonfall, a major expansion for the magic-meets-cyberpunk tactical RPG mashup Shadowrun Returns, is just weeks away but the time to take action is now! Fans can pre-order the expansion for $14.99 (requires the original game to play) at http://store.steampowered.com/app/272030. Harebrained Schemes has also released new screenshots and a trailer on its website (http://harebrained-schemes.com/shadowrun/dragonfall/) today in anticipation of the game’s February 27, 2014 launch date.

The Shadowrun: Dragonfall expansion features a robust full-length campaign set in the city of Berlin and contains a multitude of new features and enhancements. The title will be available for purchase on Steam and a DRM-free version will be available on GOG.com. Shadowrun: Dragonfall will debut on Windows, OSX and Linux, with iPad and Android tablet versions to follow.

Shadowrun Returns debuted in 2013 to much acclaim. The game was the first $1m+ Kickstarter-funded videogame to be released and premiered as a #1 seller on Steam. It appeared on 5 “Most Anticipated Games of 2013” lists, and was a featured Game of the Week on the Apple and Google Play App Stores. The accolades for the game have continued with Shadowrun Returns winning numerous “Best of 2013” awards including:

  • Diehard GameFAN – 2013 Game of the Year
  • Diehard GameFAN – Best PC Exclusive Game
  • Diehard GameFAN – Best Digital/Downloadable Game
  • Diehard GameFAN – Best Strategy Role Playing Game
  • Gamasutra – Best of 2013, Gamasutra’s Top Games of the Year
  • Giant Bomb – Best of 2013 list (by Xavier Woods)
  • The Escapist – Best of 2013 list (by Justin Clouse)
  • IGN – Recommended Games Holiday Gift Guide
  • Board Game Geek – Recommended Games Holiday Gift Guide

“The response to Shadowrun Returns has been the highlight our year, from our audience posting their wonderful reviews, to the gaming media who awarded us all of these 2013 honors, to the amazing community of content creators using our editor to create their own awesome stories,” said Jordan Weisman, founder of Harebrained Schemes. “Shadowrun: Dragonfall continues the high standards set by Shadowrun Returns, while adding in new features for the game and the editor that we hope will help draw fans even deeper into the Shadowrun Universe.”

SHADOWRUN: DRAGONFALL STORY

MAN MEETS MAGIC & MACHINE. The year is 2054. Magic has returned to the world, awakening powerful creatures of myth and legend. Unchecked advances in technology have blurred the line between man and machine. Great dragons play humanity for pawns, while ruthless corporations bleed the world dry. In this new reality of elves and trolls, corporate arcologies and terrifying new magics, anything is possible… for a price. And when the powerful and the desperate need a job done, they turn to shadowrunners: mercenaries, living on the fringes of society, surviving day-by-day on skill and instinct alone.

BERLIN. The Flux-State: a stable anarchy enforced by an ever-shifting coalition of megacorps, political factions, and savvy power players. A place where almost anything goes, and the right connections can be the difference between success and starvation. Dangerous jobs abound and there’s no better place to earn a quick payday – provided you live long enough to spend it. For you and your team of battle-scarred runners, it’s just another day in the Free City of Berlin.

But a new threat is rising, one that could mean untold chaos and devastation. The only clue: whispers of the DRAGONFALL, a long-forgotten event from the earliest days of the Awakened world. As you find yourself drawn into a maze of veiled dangers and strange machinations, you will come face-to-face with a grim spectre of the past… and alter the course of Berlin’s future.

SHADOWRUN: DRAGONFALL FEATURES

Experience a New Full-Length Campaign: Return to the “Tech meets Magic” future of Shadowrun as you and your team of runners get drawn into a treacherous conspiracy. Operating out of an offbeat central hub neighborhood, you’ll choose which missions to accept and how you’ll approach them while navigating the dark underbelly of “the Flux”.

An Exciting New Locale: Shadowrun: Dragonfall transports runners to the Free City of Berlin, a thrilling Shadowrun setting full of gorgeous new hi-res environments, a diverse new cast of characters, and a new soundtrack by Sam Powell, the composer of the original Sega Genesis Shadowrun game.

Command Your Team: Lead a small team of shadowrunners, each with their own outlook and backstory. Each member of your team is designed to play an interesting role during missions and has a unique set of skills, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.

New Weapons, Cyberware, Enemies & More: Try your hand at the long-range sniper rifle, devastating grenade launcher, or stun-inducing taser. Chrome yourself out in the latest cyberware, and take on deadly new enemies – including new magical creatures like gargoyles and fire drakes. Dragonfall brings a host of new items, characters, portraits, and improvements to the Shadowrun Returns experience.

Save Anywhere: You can save your progress at any time during the game. In addition to being in Shadowrun: Dragonfall, this save feature will be available in new downloads of Shadowrun Returns and through a patch for already purchased versions.

New Game Editor Features: A wide range of enhancements to the game editor for community content creators – including a scripting system to better control lighting, tracking mission objectives in the main game UI, placing exploding barrels, and allowing players to input keypad passwords and custom text strings in conversations. In addition, content creators will be able to use all of the new Berlin environment art, items and characters in their own stories along with assets from the original Shadowrun Returns campaign.