ROCCAT Unveils Siru Mouse Pad

2014/01/15

Hamburg – January 15, 2014 – ROCCAT today announces the availability of its cutting-edge gaming mousepad: the Siru. The unique, blade-thin gaming surface is less than a millimeter thick, making it one of the thinnest mousepads ever created. The ultra-thin, single-layer Siru is comprised of a battle-ready, easy-to-clean top that provides high glide and outstanding control; and a reusable, non-slip backing that anchors to your desktop. The innovative design of the mousepad provides direct desktop feedback, allowing for exceptionally precise tracking and lightning-fast aim corrections.

Available in two stylish colors – Cryptic Blue and Pitch Black – the Siru is the perfect gaming companion of both laser and optical mice.

BLADE-THIN DESIGN FOR THE SUPERB DIRECT RESPONSE

The Siru measures 13.35” x 9.84” x 0.01”, making it nearly invisible from the desktop surface. Its ultra-thin design allows the mouse to sit on the exact same level as your desktop, giving gamers a superb direct response that results in exceptionally true and precise tracking, and the ability to make rapid, accurate cursor corrections.

OPTIMIZED GAMING SURFACE FOR GLIDE AND CONTROL

The custom developed Siru surface is built for speed, letting your mouse glide over it unopposed while enhancing your ability to accurately track your enemies. The Siru’s innovative surface has been field-tested with over 80 laser and optical mice for precise control to prevent under-and-over aim, making it as stylish as it is deadly.

SOLID GRIP AND HOLD WITH REUSABLE NON-SLIP BACKING

The single-layer, blade-thin Siru makes no sacrifices when it comes to performance and grip. Crafted from the best materials, it features a reusable, non-slip backing that securely anchors to your desktop to guarantee a reliable, immovable surface that won’t drift when you go to war.

The 2014 International CES in Images

2014/01/15

Jerry Paxton

CES, Geek News, News, Screenshots / Photos

Here is our photo gallery from in and around last week’s International CES convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Photos

Knott’s Unveils 3 New Attractions for Camp Snoopy 30th Anniversary

2014/01/14

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Buena Park, Calif. (January 2014) — 2014 marks the beginning of an exciting time in Knott’s history as its treasured Camp Snoopy celebrates the big 3-0 with a complete restoration of the entire land! Today, Knott’s Berry Farm is proud to announce the three new rides coming to the land of High Sierra fun: Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer, Pig Pen’s Mud Buggies and Linus Launcher. The addition of the three new family rides, built by Zamperla, demonstrates Knott’s commitment to reinvestment in one of the most beloved children’s areas ever created.

Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer invites campers to “fly a kite” with Charlie Brown and soar above the land’s winding paths and babbling streams – but watch out for the kite-eating tree! This 32-passenger adventure allows guests to sit side-by-side on 16 swings for a spin that whisks riders up to 18 feet above the ground. As the tree rises, good ol’ Charlie Brown is revealed upside down and all tied up in kite string! Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer will replace Snoopy Bounce.

Pig Pen’s Mud Buggies lets tykes climb aboard their very own all-terrain vehicle for an adventurous ride around the High Sierras. Six four-seater ATVs will spin, bounce, and bump up to 24 guests at a time, while Pig Pen looks on from his center perch. Pig Pen’s Mud Buggies will replace Log Peeler.

Linus Launcher recreates that classic Peanut’s moment when Snoopy grabs Linus’ blanket and launches him on a wild ride. On Linus Launcher, guests lay on one of twelve “blankets” as they fly round and round. Up to 24 guests lay side-by-side while Snoopy launches them up almost 10 feet in the air. Guests will enjoy a Woodstock’s-eye view of Huff ‘n Puff, The Grizzly Creek Lodge, and all of Camp Snoopy below! Linus Launcher will replace Charlie Brown’s Speedway.

Get a sneak peak of the revitalized area with an all-new preview sketch at knotts.com, featuring the new rides. In the picturesque rendering, the three new attractions are stunningly depicted: Pig Pen’s Mud Buggies (front left); Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer (front right); Linus Launcher (back right).

During construction, Knott’s will share exciting announcements and progress through a series of weekly updates on knotts.com. Over the next several weeks, Knott’s will unveil new changes to the land and take readers behind the scenes of this enormous construction project. Join the conversation on social media using #CampSnoopy to track even more updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Camp Snoopy construction began on January 6^th and will continue until the grand re-opening in early summer. Don’t miss any of the exciting news from Knott’s Berry Farm in 2014!

A 2014 Season Pass is a great way to experience all of Knott’s Farm Fresh Fun all year long! Knott’s Berry Farm Season Passes are now available online for just six easy payments of $14.00. For more information on Knott’s Berry Farm including admission, season passes, park hours, and events visit www.knotts.com or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for your smart phone.

V-Wars Makes Comic Book Debut

2014/01/14

Jerry Paxton

Comics News, News

San Diego, CA (January 14, 2013) – Hot off the success of the shared-world vampire prose anthology,V-Wars, IDW and New York Times best-selling and multiple Bram Stoker award-winning horror author, Jonathan Maberry conspire once again to continue the battle that rages between humans and vampires in the all-new ongoing comic book series coming this May.

V-Wars is set in a world transformed by a global pandemic caused by a millennial-old virus that, once triggered, affects individuals differently depending on their DNA. The result is vampires as unique as their cultures and a response from those unaffected humans like never seen before.

“The vampires people used to believe in weren’t charming romantic antiheroes. They were monsters,” says writer Maberry. “Each culture had their own legends, and each of these vampires was completely different from the others; and all of them were different from the vampires in pop-culture. We went directly to the source: the myths and legends of vampires around the world and throughout history. Old-school, scary, and complicated.”

The ongoing V-Wars series will kick off in May on Free Comic Book Day 2014 with the first two issues of V-Wars. V-Wars #0 will be available for free at participating comic book retailers and introduces a world caught in the early throes of the fast spreading Vampire Wars as seen through the eyes of a folklore scholar, Luther Swann. It boasts a cover by the incomparable Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and is not to be missed. V-Wars #1 will be available the same day for standard price and highlights an event that takes the Vampire Wars to fever pitch and makes it bloodier than ever.

V-Wars will make the leap to comics with the help of artist Alan Robinson (Mars Attacks, KISS: Solo) and colorist Jay Fotos (Locke & Key). Together they flesh out this world in a vivid and frightening way.

IDW re-invented the vampire genre once before with 30 Days of Night…and we are doing it again withV-Wars! The future of vampires is here!

Images

Planets3 Announced

2014/01/14

Jerry Paxton

News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Cannes, France – January the 14th 2014 – Cubical Drift, an independent video game studio, is pleased to present the first look at gameplay elements and assets of its debut title Planets3, whose development will be supported by a Kickstarter campaign in the coming months.

A perfect blend of adventure, RPG and construction elements, Planets3 will ship players through a spatial epic in an all in cubes universe. Alone or with friends, they will raise their character’s levels, solve the different storyline quests, build tools, houses and vehicles to explore the many available planets and defeat monsters and bosses in the dungeons.

Planets3 playground: an infinite universe

The Planets3 world is constructed entirely from blocks of different shapes and sizes. With the right tools, players will be able to pick up these blocks to use them at will by using blocks as-is or by breaking them down into materials to create new objects. Planets3 truly allows players to unleash their imagination.

Planets3 is a massive universe, comprised of several solar systems that players can freely visit. Each solar system is replete with planets and their moons, full of resources waiting to be captured.

In Planets3, planets are cubes, their trajectories are square and relatively close to each other. Because of this unique trajectory, the severity of gravity can be different on each planet’s side!

The history of Planets3

Aliens in human form crashed on Earth a few decades ago.and never left.

As the story progresses, players will discover why these aliens stayed on the planet and will have to rescue these visitors, and even help build a ship so they can go back home.

Planets3 also offers side quests that will allow players to unlock the secrets of the Planets3 universe and find objects only available in these optional storylines.

“We started the Planetsł adventure because we believe that there is still plenty of exploration left to be done in the world building genre. Imagine: a world of cubes that has nearly endless possibilities, while also providing a unique look.” explains Michel Thomazeau, Cubical Drift’s founder. “We wanted to bring in the third dimension that is often lacking in the genre.”

Fights

Equipping different pieces of weapons and armor, the player will be able to customize their fighting style: stealthy approach, ranged or close fighting…

This flexible system will allow players to quickly change their style in combat: starting a fight with ranged abilities and finishing their foe off with hand-to-hand attacks.

Craft

Master crafters, scattered throughout the world, are true masters of art, and can teach players to create many of the weapons and objects that will allow them to evolve and explore the entire universe.

Planets3 Is Scheduled to Release in the Summer of 2015

The Kickstarter campaign to support the development of Planets3 will start within the next 2 months.

Griffin and Square Begin Shipping Merchant Case + Square Reader

2014/01/14

Jerry Paxton

CES, Mobile News, News, Peripherals News

Nashville, Tenn. – January 14, 2014 – After a successful announcement at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, Griffin Technology’s Merchant Case + Square Reader is now shipping. The Merchant case is the first protective solution optimized for the new Square Reader.

“We’re extremely excited about the enthusiastic response to the Merchant case. Our case, combined with a Square Reader, is a perfect solution for business on-the-go,” said J. Curtis, Director of B2B Product Development at Griffin.

The Merchant case is custom-molded to secure the Square Reader in place and eliminate excess strain on the iPhone’s headphone jack when connected. A groove along the bottom aligns with the Square Reader and allows credit cards to slide through easily and consistently. Made from a durable silicone, the case protects the phone from bumps and drops and the case’s non-slip material makes it easy to hand over for customers’ signatures. Additionally, an integrated slot located on the back of the case conveniently stores the Square Reader when it’s not in use.

Merchant Case + Square Reader works with Square Register, the free point of sale app that lets anyone, anywhere, accept credit card payments and run their business. With a customizable checkout flow, smart business analytics, and digital receipts, Square Register serves the needs of businesses of all sizes and types, from a locksmith to a retail store.

Griffin’s Merchant case includes the new Square Reader and is now available for $19.99 at store.griffintechnology.com/merchant-square-case-for-iphone-5.

To see the Merchant Case + Square Reader in action visit: http://bit.ly/1dqfdTY.

2K and Turtle Rock Studios Announce Evolve

2014/01/14

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

New York, NY – January 14, 2014 – 2K and Turtle Rock Studios, creators of the cooperative shooter classic Left 4 Dead, today officially announced Evolve™, an all-new multiplayer shooter experience. First revealed exclusively on the cover of Game Informer magazine’s current February issue, Evolve will be available this fall for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC.

Evolve expertly blends cooperative and competitive multiplayer experiences as a team of four hunters face off against a single, player-controlled monster. Set on an alien planet in the distant future, gamers hunt their prey in adrenaline-pumping 4V1 matches. Players experience Evolve as a first-person shooter when playing cooperatively as the four hunters, while they control the monster in the third-person perspective, providing a gameplay experience unique toEvolve. In addition to revealing Evolve, Game Informer details Goliath, the first monster included in the game, and the first squad of four hunters, each with their own unique classes and abilities.

“Our philosophy is to build incredibly fun game experiences that we can’t find anywhere else,” said Chris Ashton, co-founder and design director at Turtle Rock Studios. “Evolve’s co-op vs. lone wolf formula has created some of the most intense multiplayer matches we’ve ever experienced.”

“Evolve will be a generation-defining multiplayer experience,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “As our first new IP for next-gen systems, 2K is working with Turtle Rock Studios to deliver a game that’s instantly entertaining and impossible to put down.”

Evolve is available for pre-order beginning today at participating retailers. Those who pre-order the game from participating retailers will be rewarded with the Monster Expansion Pack, which includes the Savage Goliath skin at launch and a new monster character as soon as it becomes available after Evolve is released. To see a list of retailers that you can pre-order Evolve from now, please visit www.evolvegame.com/preorder.

To learn more about Evolve, gamers can pick up the latest issue of Game Informer magazine or visit www.gameinformer.com/evolve throughout the month of January for an exclusive look at the game.

Evolve will be available in fall 2014 for Xbox One, PlayStation®4 system and PC. Evolve is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information on Evolve, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, subscribe on YouTube and visitwww.evolvegame.com.

Cetacea Concealed Pistol Lanyard Review (Airsoft)

2014/01/12

Jerry Paxton

Action Sports, Airsoft News, Airsoft Reviews, Articles, News, Reviews

While running and gunning in an airsoft game, sometimes players need to swap over from their primary airsoft guns to their backup pieces quickly. Sometimes, players will lose the grip on their sidearms, causing a sometimes expensive piece of airsoft kit to go skittering across the arena floor. This could cost you the game and, more importantly, damage the gun which will cost you money! The solution for most players is to have some sort of lanyard attached to the airsoft pistol so that, in case it gets loose from your grip, it is still attached to your body and wont hit the ground.

Cetacea has been making pistol and gear lanyards for quite some time and, thanks to the folks at AirsoftExtreme, we got to review the concealed carry model. The big difference between the concealed carry model (model #TA-PCO) and others in the product line is that its coiled cable is a lot thinner and meant for plain clothes officers or light usage. I was able to use the pistol lanyard for a few weeks and, during the games I played in that time, found it to be adequate in keeping my sidearm tethered to my person when I used a light, CYMA airsoft pistol . My KWA M226 airsoft pistol, however, still hit the ground (thankfully soft carpet) of my office when dropped using the tether. The problem is that heavier airsoft guns are going to overpower the thin retention coil. Unless you have a very light or inexpensive airsoft pistol, I would probably recommend that you opt for the pistol lanyard

Overall, the Cetacea concealed carry pistol lanyard is an inexpensive way to retain your airsoft sidearm in case you lose your grip of it. Be warned, however, that if your gun is too heavy it could still hit the ground before the retention cable kicks into gear and springs it back to you. The Cetacea Concealed Carry pistol lanyard retails for $11.99 at Airsoft Extreme’s official website.

[easyreview title=”Cetacea Concealed Pistol Lanyard Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”3″ ]

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Knott’s Berry Farm Signs Krazy Kirk And The Hillbillies

2014/01/11

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

If you have gone to Disneyland within the last 20 or so years, you have probably seen the bluegrass / country group “Billy Hill and the Hillbillies” play during one of your adventures. The group brought a cool, fun and live show to the park. Disneyland has canceled its contract with the group, and now you can see them play at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA. Knott’s has announced that the group will play on the weekends at the park’s “Wilderness Dance Hall” located in its Calico Ghost Town area starting January 18, 2013.

*Image from the band’s Facebook page

IOGEAR Unveils Keymander at CES

2014/01/10

Jerry Paxton

CES, News, Peripherals News

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. – Jan. 7, 2014 – Gamers, get ready for combat. The new KeyMander from IOGEAR arms console gamers with the competitive advantage of a keyboard and mouse for PlayStation^®3 and Xbox 360^® by converting signals to replace the joystick controller. The KeyMander (GE1337P; MSRP: $99.95) provides precision accuracy to any game by mapping controller commands to keys on a USB keyboard and mouse. Gamers will be able to leverage this technology with next generation gaming systems early 2014 through a free firmware update.

This new weapon tilts the scales to the advantage of PS3 and Xbox players by improving speed, simplifying access to game features, and managing detailed movements in first-person shooter, role-playing games, real-time strategy games and other massive multiplayer online games. Players can take their tactics and skills to the next level with the KeyMander’s PC software, which adds an arsenal of tools and options.

Key attributes include custom key mapping, macro programming, mouse ballistics editing and speed adjustments for rapid, pinpoint accuracy. Macros allow a gamer to design a custom series of button sequences (up to 16) into one keyboard key. For example, if two separate selections on the controller cause an avatar to crouch then shoot, the KeyMander could be programmed to use a single key to achieve both actions. A turbo function mimics up to 10 consecutive button presses in a single press of a button. The addition of the mouse while gaming supports smooth and responsive aim toward any enemy in the combat zone.

Additionally, the KeyMander can save up to eight different customized profiles within a group. With up to 31 different groups, users can easily store different characters’ settings for a library of games. The instant hotkey switching between profiles during a live game, such as switching among medic, demolitions and sniper profiles, provides an immediate customized control advantage. These custom decisions can be stored for multiple gamers in each household, so that eight individual profiles can have key controls to support each person’s battle preferences.

“Every split second counts in the competitive world of gaming, making the KeyMander a vital tool for the serious player and a marketplace disrupter,” said Jack Wang, IOGEAR CEO. “With the KeyMander, IOGEAR brings our expertise in digital home entertainment to new audiences who will appreciate easy-to-use features along with the new dominance and edge in their gaming experiences.”

In recognition of its contribution to gaming, the KeyMander has been named a 2014 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards honoree in the Gaming Hardware and Accessories product category. It supports simple switching between control emulator mode and keyboard mode for chat, web surfing and other typing functions. By playing on the console using the KeyMander, gamers also take advantage of upgradable firmware that will adapt with the system. The KeyMander is available now online at www.iogear.com with pre-installed firmware for PS3 and is easily upgradeable with free firmware downloads due out in early 2014 for use with Xbox 360, Xbox One^® and PS4^®. Availability through major distribution channels will come later this month.

For more information on IOGEAR, please visit www.iogear.com. Follow IOGEAR on Twitter, the company blog and become a fan on Facebook for additional industry, company, and product details.

Author - Jerry Paxton

Photos

Images