Author - Jerry Paxton

Verizon and PlayPhone Announce Games Portal

2013/03/26

VZW and PlayPhone have unveiled the Games Portal on the Verizon network. According to the PR release, it will serve as a “central gateway” to games on the network’s compatible Android devices – integrating social networks as well as achievements. They also announced the release of the SDK so that developers can start coding it into their games. Check the text below for the full details!

Official PR Text

Hey game developers,

We’re excited to announce that the new Games Portal launching on the Verizon network is almost here. PlayPhone’s SDK to get your game onboard is now available. Powered by PlayPhone, Games Portal gives game developers an unmatched opportunity to harness the power of Verizon’s massive distribution network and monetization efficiencies. The SDK to get your game onboard is now available. Powered by PlayPhone, Games Portal gives game developers an unmatched opportunity to harness the power of Verizon’s massive distribution network and monetization efficiencies.

Integrating is a breeze. Download the SDK now for rockstar gaming real estate.

Games Portal on the Verizon network is the central gateway to an explosive mobile social gaming experience on Verizon android devices. Gamers can discover and play the latest free and premium games with their friends, and they can stay up-to-date on their friends’ gaming activities.

PlayPhone’s SDK provides developers with powerful social game discovery capabilities – social game recommendations, friend invites, leaderboards, achievements and brags – enabling viral games discovery. Add in the sheer size of Verizon’s network and Games Portal becomes the mother lode of distribution, fueling exponential growth to your games.

PlayPhone’s single billing API provides direct billing integration with Verizon enabling a low-friction purchase experience that delivers sharply higher conversion rates than traditional app stores.

Net net: PlayPhone’s collaboration with Verizon gives developers a single point of integration for vast distribution, engaging social features, streamlined billing and access to merchandising, cross-promotion and the power of Verizon marketing.

What are you waiting for?!

Genius Unveils GX Gaming SW-G5.1 3500 Surround Speakers

2013/03/26

Jerry Paxton

News, Tech News

March 26, 2013, Chino, California – Genius today is pleased to announce that the first GX Gaming Series 5.1 surround sound speaker system is now available in USA – the SW-G5.1 3500.

Raising the GX Gaming Series to a new sonic level, this 80 watt RMS speaker system includes a 6.5-inch subwoofer providing 30 watts of heart-thumping bass, five 10 watt satellite speakers for positional audio, and a remote control for convenient volume and bass adjustment. With the hook design, the satellite speakers of the SW-G5.1 3500 can be hung on walls, helping to maximize the surround sound experience.

The 5.1 surround sound setup of the SW-G5.1 3500 gives gamers an advantage in first person shooter games by allowing them to pinpoint enemy locations by sound alone. Gaming on regular stereo speakers only allows users to discern between right and left. The 5.1 sound enables gamers to listen to opponents’ footsteps from all surrounding directions.

The audio from the 3-inch satellite speakers of SW-G5.1 3500 complement the deep, rich bass of the subwoofer pounding out frequencies as low as 50Hz. Users can adjust sound and bass from the control panel on the subwoofer as well as the remote control. Control options also include a STANDBY and an AUX/5.1 CH switch function, which enables users to flip between gaming and music listening.

On the front of the subwoofer above the LED indicator there is a headphone and microphone jack for private listening and chatting while gaming, as well as offering a quick way to connect MP3 players and smartphones to the speaker system. The rear of the subwoofer includes more connections, increasing the flexibility of the SW-G5.1 3500. On the back there are three RCA jacks with 5.1 CH color coding as well as an additional AUX 3.5mm input.

Offering booming bass, crisp middle to high range sound, and the flexibility to connect to gaming, music, and other entertainment devices, the SW-G5.1 3500 surround sound speaker system epitomizes the high-quality that the GX Gaming Series represents in a louder more versatile design.

Genius SW-G5.1 3500, is now available in the US and Canada for the suggested retail price of $149.99.

Technical Specifications:

Total output power: 80 watts
- Satellite: 10 watts (each channel)
- Subwoofer: 30 watts
Driver unit
- Satellite: 3-inch, 4 ohm
- Subwoofer: 6.5-inch, 5 ohm
Frequency Response: 50Hz~20kH

Package Contents:

Subwoofer
Five satellite speakers
Remote control
3.5mm to 2RCA stereo cable
Three color coded cables
Multi-language user manual

ROCCAT Kone Pure Gaming Mouse Giveaway – Expired

2013/03/25

Jerry Paxton

Contests, News, Peripherals News

5 Comments

High-end gaming peripheral maker ROCCAT has been kind enough to provide us with one of their KONE Pure gaming mice to use in a website giveaway! This giveaway is open to residents currently residing in North America! We will select one, randomly-chosen winner on Friday, April 12th, 2013 @ 11:59pm Pacific time.

This is going to be a Facebook and website based contes – no Twitter this time. So, there are two ways to enter and you can take advantage of both to increase your odds of being selected!

First Method to Enter:

LIKE our Facebook profile and leave a comment on our page starting with “ROCCAT – ” and telling us what your current gaming mouse of choice is.

Second Method to Enter:

Marvel Heroes Launches on June 4th

2013/03/25

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

BOSTON, Mass. – March 25, 2013 – Sharpen your adamantium claws, focus your optic blasts and ready your shields for the heroic gaming experience of a lifetime! Gazillion Entertainment announced today at PAX East that the highly anticipated free-to-play massively multiplayer online (MMO) actionRPG Marvel Heroes will launch around the world on June 4, 2013. Players who have purchased Founders Packs as part of the Marvel Heroes Founders Program will receive early access to the game up to seven days early, beginning on May 28, 2013. Marvel Heroes is a free, downloadable game for PC.

“When we started working on Marvel Heroes we knew exactly what we wanted to make – an unrivaled multiplayer free-to-play action-RPG experience that allowed gamers and comic fans to play as their favorite Super Heroes,” said David Brevik, President and Chief Operating Officer, Gazillion Entertainment. “This is an incredibly exciting day for all of us at Gazillion and we can’t wait to let gamers experience the Marvel Heroes world and our fresh take on the massively multiplayer online genre.”

The Marvel Heroes Founders Program lets players purchase limited-edition digital Founders Packs for access to their favorite heroes, unique costumes, early game access, and in-game currency that can be used to buy in-game items at launch. The value-packed Marvel Heroes Founders Program is available until June 3^rd at 11:59 pm PDT with Starter, Premium and Ultimate Packs for purchase at https://founders.marvelheroes.com. Purchasers of both Premium and Ultimate Packs now receive access to the Marvel Heroes Closed Beta.

Marvel Heroes is the Marvel MMO that you have been waiting for! Play as Iron Man, Thor, Wolverine, Hulk, Spider-Man, Captain America and many more as they team up to stop Doctor Doom from devastating the world with the power of the Cosmic Cube. Marvel Heroes features a deep leveling system unique to each Super Hero, diverse locations set across the expansive Marvel Universe, a robust crafting system, action-packed player-versus-player (PvP) and much more. Marvel Heroes is an action MMORPG for PC created by David Brevik, the visionary behind Diablo and Diablo 2 with an extensive original story crafted by Marvel super-scribe Brian Michael Bendis.

Marvel Heroes will be available on June 4^th as a free download for PC and will be available for Mac OS post-launch.

For more information on Marvel Heroes Founders Packs and to receive early access beginning on May 28, visit: http://founders.marvelheroes.com.

Arma 3 Alpha Update Released

2013/03/25

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

Bohemia Interactive has released a big update to their Arma 3 Alpha and Alpha Lite builds, containing a large number of enhancements and fixes. Checkout the full patch notes below.

Patch Notes

DATA

Showcase SCUBA:
- More forgiving alarm threshold
- Added more hints
- Improved scenario endings
- More rockets for the launcher added
Showcase Helicopters:
- Performance optimizations
- Few minor tweaks
Showcase Vehicles:
- More forgiving alarm threshold
- Few minor tweaks
MP: Escape from Stratis
- Fixed: Mission success after resuming game
- ‘Combat Get In’ module added
- Respawn time is now 30 seconds (was 120)
- Improved mission endings
- New task appears when both choppers on the airfield are destroyed
- New mission ending “all boats and helicopters destroyed”
- Warning hint pops up when the group leader is AI controlled
- Patrolling Ka-60 Black now unloads troops when under fire
- More enemies at the airfield
- Some new map locations populated
MP: Headhunters
- “Exfiltrate” task is now set as current after all targets are eliminated
- The mission will now end when either all players are near the exfil marker or in a boat
- ‘Combat Get In’ module added
- Possible respawn desync in multiplayer fixed
New scenario ending screen added
Task notification visuals improved
Seagull in “BIRD”, “GROUP” and “SIDE” respawn replaced by a basic spectator camera
Scenarios-button now always available, even when there’s no content
Added more entries into Field Manual
Compass and watch re-sized
Ka-60 minigun now rotates
Ka-60 doors and glass made correctly penetrable
MH-9 passengers can now see the tail
Helicopter weapons tweaked
Class names for Ifrits changed to be the correct ones
Alamut and MX SW now have correct icons in command menu
Countermeasures now stored in one magazine per vehicle
Correct Alpha Lite logo in splash screens added
Most windows in houses are now destructable
Static weapons should be more durable, shouldn’t be targetable by guided missiles and shouldn’t be flippable by user action when destroyed
Added more camoflage selections for vests and helmets
Red faction uniforms have proper class names
Changed priorities in action menu
TRG iron-sights remodeled after feedback
Collimator sights are now default primary on combined optics (Ctrl + RMB is the default switch)
Camera shake on 6.5mm ammunition removed
Server browser UI overlapping fixed in some places
Squad URL is no longer automatically upper-cased (and thus broken)
Editor loading took long when using MX rifles – fixed
Added freelook in vehicles via default option
Correct tracer colors have been distributed among factions
Fish should be less inclined to travel on land

ENGINE

Shadow improvements implemented
Improved network performance (vehicles are no longer lagging as much)
Fixed several game crashes
Fixed synchronization of cargo poses in MP
Fixed various inventory-related bugs and crashes
Improved vehicle collisions
Grenades can no longer be thrown under water
Fixed airplane / helicopter camera shaking
Default and Development versions have different numbering to prevent incompatibilities in multiplayer

Infinite Crisis MOBA Game Announced

2013/03/25

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

BURBANK, Calif. – March 25, 2013 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Infinite Crisis, an all-new multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Turbine, the award winning studio behind free-to-play online games including The Lord of the Rings Online™. Infinite Crisis is a free-to-play game that features a deep roster of DC Comics characters and is scheduled for release in 2013 for the PC.

Infinite Crisis is a new entrant into the wildly popular MOBA genre that delivers a heart-pounding competitive player vs. player battle experience set in the legendary DC Multiverse – a world in which familiar DC Comics characters have been reimagined in startling ways. Featuring a wide variety of DC Comics heroes and villains, Infinite Crisis puts players in control of twisted incarnations of their favorite characters throughout the Multiverse such as Nightmare Batman and Gaslight Catwoman, playing in league with well-known characters including Green Lantern and The Flash.

“We are thrilled to bring Infinite Crisis, a truly competitive experience featuring the DC Comics lore and characters, to the MOBA genre,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Turbine is a pioneer in online gaming and combined with the amazing world of DC Comics, they are executing on a game concept that expands the MOBA genre.”

“The Turbine team is very excited to reveal Infinite Crisis to the world and extend the MOBA genre with new features,” said Jeffrey Steefel, Executive Producer, Turbine. “We are utilizing years of experience in the online game space to deliver innovations to the MOBA genre with a game that features fast-paced action, a major story arc, destructible environments, catastrophic events and a deep roster of iconic DC Comics characters.”

For more information or to sign up for a chance to participate in the beta visit www.infinitecrisis.com.

Insurgency Gets Big Update

2013/03/25

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

New World Interactive, the people behind the upcoming tactical, online shooter Insurgency have announced a big update to their “early access” build of the game.

Following up with community feedback, new additions include:

Realism Mode: Players can filter the server browser to find matches with Realism mode, enabling gameplay settings that include friendly fire and exclude death messages and the killcam.
Co-operative Mode: Player-controlled security forces can hunt for AI insurgents in specially designed maps.
Expanded Maps: By popular demand, “Heights” is being experimented with to create a more expansive environment. Players will also see a new night version of the Siege map named “Contact.”

Players can join the “Early Access” by going to the INSURGENCY site at: www.playinsurgency.com.

Screenshots

Weekend Box Office for March 22-24, 2013

2013/03/25

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News

This weekend, The Croods took the lead in the box office, with a $45 million dollar take. Unfortunately, the new Tina Fey and Paul Rudd flick, Admission, opened in 5th with $6 million. Here are the top ten box office results for the weekend of March 22 – 24, 2013.

The Top Ten

The Croods – $45M / $45M
Olympus Has Fallen – $30M / $30M
Oz The Great and Powerful – $22M / $178M
The Call – $9M / $31M
Admission – $6M / $6M
Spring Breakers – $5M / $5M
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone – $4M / $17M
Jack the Giant Slayer – $3M / $59M
Identity Thief – $3M / $128M
Snitch – $2M / $40M

EVE Online: Odyssey Release Date Revealed

2013/03/25

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND —Mar 25, 2013— CCP Games, the world’s leading independent massively multiplayer game developer, today announced EVE Online: Odyssey, the 19th free expansion to the award-winning sci-fi MMO EVE Online® will be released on June 4th, 2013. In the tradition of the Apocrypha expansion, Odyssey greatly expands the opportunities for players to explore all corners of the massive EVE Universe and its 7,929 solar systems.

EVE Online: Odyssey will take the exploration of space to a whole new level with an entirely revamped scanning mechanic, a fresh and accessible user interface and enticing new rewards for finding and interacting with sites hidden among the stars. All of Odyssey’s exploration changes are designed to make space feel even more alive and they will make it easier and more compelling for pilots to forge their path through the mysterious and dangerous universe.

Universe-wide resource redistribution and ship rebalancing will shake up the entire EVEmetagame across social, economic, military and political levels, leading to new types of conflicts, fresh strategies and shifting allegiances amongst EVE’s player alliances. EVE Online: Odyssey will also debut new ships, star base improvements, graphics updates and a few surprises to be unveiled in the future.

“Odyssey is an expression of our love for space and exploration,” said Andie Nordgren, Senior Producer, EVE Online. “It brings changes that will wake the wanderlust and taste for adventure in both new and veteran pilots.”

The launch of Odyssey comes as CCP celebrates EVE’s tenth consecutive year of player growth, having passed the 500,000 worldwide subscriber mark in March.

More features and information about EVE Online: Odyssey will be revealed in the coming months, including April’s EVE Fanfest, where CCP will reveal all upcoming EVE Universe plans and kick off a year-long “Second Decade” celebration in Reykjavik, Iceland. With tickets sold out for the first time, the renowned player festival will feature talks by forward-thinking scientists, a performance of EVE music the by Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and a chance to play the latest version, never seen publicly before, from CCP’s groundbreaking PS3 shooterDUST 514®. For those who can’t attend in person, CCP will stream live from the event for free in standard definition and in HD for a one-time payment.

For more information about EVE Online: Odyssey, please visit:www.eveonline.com/odyssey
Additional information about EVE Fanfest can be found here:http://fanfest.eveonline.com/en/default.aspx
For more on DUST 514, please visit: http://www.dust514.com/

XCOM: Enemy Unknown Coming to iOS

2013/03/25

Jerry Paxton

Mobile News, News, PAX

New York, NY – March 25, 2013 – 2K and Firaxis Games announced today that the Game of the Year award-winning* strategy title XCOM®: Enemy Unknown is coming to iOS devices this summer. The game brings the full XCOM: Enemy Unknown experience from consoles and PC to iOS, giving gamers the ability to defend the human race against a terrifying alien invasion anywhere they take their mobile devices. Utilizing the enhanced touch controls of iOS devices, players will command the XCOM project, create a fully operational base, research alien technologies, and engage in strategic combat, all with the touch of a finger. XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be available this summer for iOS via the iTunes App Store for iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod touch®.

Developed by the strategy experts at Firaxis Games, XCOM: Enemy Unknown received wide critical acclaim, earned review scores of 9.1 out of 10 from GameTrailers.com and 9.5 out of 10 from Game Informer, and won more than 80 2012 end-of-year awards worldwide. In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, players oversee combat strategies and individual unit tactics, as well as base management and resource allocation while playing as the commander of a secret global military organization, XCOM. With equal emphasis on deep strategy and intense tactical combat, XCOM: Enemy Unknown allows gamers to control the fate of the human race by defending against a terrifying global alien invasion.

For the latest news and information in the world of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, become a fan on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

*XCOM: Enemy Unknown was named Game of the Year 2012 by GameTrailers, GiantBomb, Kotaku, and MTV Multiplayer

2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.