Author - Jerry Paxton

Ubisoft to Host Major ShootMania Storm Tournament at PAX East 2013

2013/03/20

SAN FRANCISCO – March 20, 2013 – Ubisoft^® and Nadeo will host an exclusive ShootMania Storm Tournament during PAX East 2013 that will award one lucky team the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance move on and compete against professional gamers in a major $100,000 Tournament in San Francisco. The PAX East 2013 Champion will be crowned with a free trip to San Francisco to pit their skills against the world’s elite in the IPLShootMania Storm Launch Event Tournament and lay claim to their slice of the $100,000 prize pool.

The IPL ShootMania Storm Launch Event Tournament will be held April 6-7 at Cobb’s Comedy Club in San Francisco. For more information or to attend the launch event tournament, please visit http://www.ign.com/ipl/all/news/shootmania-100000-launch-week-tournament.

“We know that great undiscovered players and teams are out there and what better place to find them than at PAX East – an event that brings gamers together from across the nation to share, collaborate and compete in games of all kinds,” said Josh Milligan, Senior Director, Online Strategy, Ubisoft. “We’ve reserved the final spot in our $100,000 ShootMania Storm Tournament for the PAX East Champion so that these aspiring pros could make the leap from amateur dreamers to professional competitors. This is an opportunity no shooter fan should miss.”

PAX East Tournament Details

To register for the PAX East ShootMania Storm Tournament, PAX East 2013 attendees should visit the ShootMania Storm booth on Friday, March 22 to sign-up. Players will be allowed to register as individuals (to be placed on a random team) or as a complete team of three players. Competition play will be held during show hours on Saturday and Sunday.

The winning team will win a free trip to San Francisco as well as entry into the $100,000 ShootMania Storm Tournament to be held April 6-7 at Cobbs Comedy Club. If the winning team cannot travel to San Francisco to compete, they will automatically receive the 16^thplace prize, which amounts to $2,000.

Developed by Ubisoft’s Nadeo studio, ShootMania Storm is a fast-paced, multiplayer first-person shooter designed from the ground up for online and eSports competition. With multiple game modes and diverse play styles,ShootMania Storm is an innovative twist on familiar multiplayer gameplay that focuses on skill, speed and strategy. The game also offers stout community support and interaction, with an easy-to-use map-maker and sharing elements that to date have produced more than 15 player-made game modes as well as more than 20,000 player-made maps.

ShootMania Storm will be available for personal computer on April 10 via the game’s official web site and Valve’s Steam distribution service. The game is currently in Open Beta. For more information, to download and play the Open Beta, or to pre-order the game, players should visit www.ShootMania.com.

ShootMania Storm is part of the ManiaPlanet system and follows in the footsteps of TrackMania, Nadeo’s successful arcade racing game. ManiaPlanet is a flexible and robust development, gaming and community platform that pushes cutting-edge graphics, enables limitless game types, and encourages incredible community participation and user-made content.

Withings Launches Smart Body Analyzer

2013/03/20

Jerry Paxton

News, Tech News

Paris – March 20, 2013– Withings, the creator of the first Internet-connected scale has transformed the body scale once again with the launch of Smart Body Analyzer, the first smart scale that is capable of measuring heart rate and air quality, as well as traditional weight measurements and body composition. An unparalleled revolutionary device, this brand new scale provides up to 8 users with a new and accurate way to improve well-being without changing anything within their daily lives. VIDEO

Measure your heart! Smart Body Analyzer provides users with a quick and comprehensive health snapshot providing an overview of data: weight, fat mass percentage and heart rate. Resting heart rate is an excellent indicator of someone’s overall physical state of health. Integrating this metric into a scale makes complete sense when we know that 80% of users weigh themselves in the morning, the time of day when this indicator is most consistent. These measurements, which indicate a person’s overall long-term fitness, are taken instantly when users simply step onto the scale and are uploaded to their dashboard. Each user is automatically identified by the scale and can be aware of their physical health in an easy and reliable way.

Cédric Hutchings, co-founder of Withings says: “The Withings team has worked for over 3 years to develop this new generation of smart scale, a sector which we created in 2009. The primary challenge has been to introduce new measurements into our service so that our customers don’t have to change their behavior or daily life.”

See the invisible! In addition to users’ physical data, Smart Body Analyzer also measures the air quality of its surrounding environment through temperature and carbon dioxide monitoring. CO2 is a gas formed by metabolic activity that builds up to excessive levels in confined spaces, like bedrooms, if they are not aired out frequently to allow fresh air to circulate. High levels of CO2 can produce a range of adverse health effects: deterioration of sleep quality, headaches, dizziness, restlessness, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, sweating, etc. By monitoring and managing indoor air quality, people can live and sleep in a healthier environment.

Intuitive, simple and accurate. Smart Body Analyzer is ideal for managing users’ daily weight data, enabling them to adapt their diet accordingly. Smart Body Analyzer is set up with just a few taps from a smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android). Then, users just need to weigh themselves for the data to be automatically sent to the free ‘Withings Health Mate’ application, which provides a detailed and precise history of past weigh-ins. Within the app, users can see the weight, BMI (Body Mass Index), fat mass, and heart rate recommended values for each user based on health professionals and the World Health Organization (WHO). Data is accessible from whichever device the user chooses (iPhone, Android phone, tablet or computer). Each user has their own account protected by a password, so that all data stays personal and confidential.

A daily health mate in your pocket. The Withings Health Mate is a unique tool which enables users to access their data in one spot, in order to understand at-a-glance their long-term evolution thanks to the graphs and to easily evaluate themselves in comparison to the recommendations from the WHO. Based on the collected data, the application can deliver pertinent advice in order to improve well-being. Withings Health Mate also accompanies users to achieve their objectives such as losing weight thanks to the appropriate guidance.

Withings Health Mate offers users the possibility to share data in a simple, reliable and secure way with a third-party such as the doctor, nutritionist or a close friend or family.

This agnostic application can save data from third party devices, sensors and applications. This gives users a synchronized at-a-glance dashboard of all their health data. More than 80 compatible applications and services such as LoseIt! Runkeeper, DailyBurn, or MyFitnessPal can retrieve data captured by the Smart Body Analyzer.

Design: worth its weight in gold. Withings pays particular attention to the design of its devices which each year are recognized by a number of international awards: IF Design Award, Etoile de l’Observeur du Design, CES Innovations and others. The new Withings scale is a beautiful object with a sleek and refined look. The range of sensors which have been elegantly integrated underneath the plate of glass preserves the overall pure design. The whole Withings range of scales is equipped with a unique technology called Withings Position Control™. This advanced technology enables highly accurate weighing assisted by the indication on the screen which enables users to position themselves on the scale to optimize their weight reading.

Key features

Position Control™ technology: best-in-class weighing technology to ensure accuracy
Fat mass measurement: available in athlete and non-athlete modes
Heart rate measurement: this feature is introduced on a scale for the first time and allows tracking of the resting heart rate by just stepping on a scale. Like all other measurements, heart rate readings are automatically transmitted and rendered on the Withings Health Mate mobile app
Air quality measurement: CO2 and temperature monitoring to better control and manage bedroom air quality
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Bluetooth Smart and Wi-Fi for easy setup and hassle-free data upload

The Smart Body Analyzer is available starting March 20, 2013 for a recommended retail price of $149.95 from withings.com.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut Coming to Wii U

2013/03/20

Jerry Paxton

News, Nintendo Wii U News

Montréal (March 20, 2013) – Eidos Montréal®, a Square Enix® studio, today announced the Director’s Cut of DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION®, the definitive version of the critically acclaimed action-RPG title, is coming soon exclusively to Nintendo’s Wii U™ system.

The Director’s Cut offers a full slate of Wii U™ GamePad features including touch-screen hacking, interactive map editing, augmented sniping, grenade throwbacks and many other neural hub enhancements. Along with in-depth Miiverse™ integration, the Director’s Cut also provides access to developer commentaries and in-game guides.

Tongs’s Rescue mission and the entire Missing Link chapter have also been integrated seamlessly into the narrative flow of the Director’s Cut. Other core DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION augmentations include overhauled boss fights, refined game balance and combat, improved AI, and striking visual improvements which make this edition the best looking and most immersive Deus Ex experience available.

For more information about DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION – Director’s Cut, log on tohttp://www.DeusEx.com.

For a first look of DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION – Director’s Cut, please visit the SQUARE ENIX PAX East booth #848.

Wargaming and J!NX Sign Licensing Deal for World of Tanks

2013/03/20

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

PARIS, March 21st, 2013 – Wargaming announced today that a global* licensing deal was signed with J!NX, the unique video game-inspired clothing brand for gamers and geeks. The famous multi-awarded game World of Tanks will appear in the apparel and accessories products from the well-known clothing company. World of Tanks has a large global community and fan base with more than 55 million registered users.

The World of Tanks licensed product range will include apparel, accessories and other “must haves” and will be available in late March 2013. These branded items will be available broadly through mass-market retailers and department stores, online stores and specialty retailers.

“Since the first moment we played World of Tanks, the J!NX crew has been eagerly pursuing the opportunity to work with Wargaming,” said Sean “J!NX” Gailey, co-founder and chief creative overlord of J!NX. “The extensive history, strategy and amazing art style surrounding World of Tanks makes for the ultimate creative playground for clothing. As players ourselves, we look forward to creating unique clothing that truly resonates with the passionate and loyal community.”

“Teaming up with J!NX allows our players to enjoy and express their passion for World of Tanks, even when they’re away from their PC,” said Frederic Menou, General Manager at Wargaming Europe. “It is a complete fit to our strategy to further extend the experience of World of Tanks, and J!NX is the perfect partner choice as they have the pulse of the market. Their creativity and brand are recognized by gamers around the world – a great match for our game which is played in more than 205 countries.”

About World of Tanks

World of Tanks is the first and only team-based, massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armored warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with other steel cowboys all over the world. Your arsenal includes more than 300 armored vehicles from United States, Germany, the Soviet Union, France, Great Britain and China, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.

Join World of Tanks at:

http://worldoftanks.eu/registration/ (Europe)

World of Tanks Shirt Designs

Rail Nation Open Beta On Now

2013/03/20

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

Munich, 20 March 2013 – Trains have always fascinated people – millions of enthusiasts worldwide dedicate their free time to the pursui t of this fascination for everything to do with railroads, locomotives and the routes they follow. Successful board games, computer games and entire TV shows are dedicated to the theme – but until now, no conte mporary online game covering this area has held the public’s attention. Travian Games and its subsidiary Bright Future (Miramagia, FIFA Manager 13) have more than met this challenge. Now all the tracks are in place and the free-of-charge Rail Nation is powering out of the station on its first open beta journey!

The strategy game is divided into six consecutive railroad eras and has undergone a period of comprehensive fine-tuning during an intensive closed-beta phase with thousands of layers. Now all interested strategy gamers and railroad enthusiasts have the opportunity to found their own railroad company, use their strategic know-how to create economically viable transport s and create alliances in the form of corporations: The fun begins at play.rail-nation.com.

Because movement is everything in the railroad business, Rail Nation has a dynamic landscape map with 3D train models. Every new digital railroad tycoon develops their personal wealth and their company&rs quo;s prestige in direct competition with other companies. With strategic cunning, efficient routes must be planned along with comprehensive timetables for transporting over 40 different goods. Growing profits can be used o build a growing fleet of steam, diesel or electric locomotives and different types of railcar. During the game, the company can service more and more cities and meet the challenges of largescale transportation competitions against o ther players. Targeted goods deliveries to the cities also influence their development.

Players cannot afford to neglect their station infrastructure, and they also have the option to win lucrative bonuses if they mak the right improvements to their locomotive she ds, control centers or train stations, for example. With the option of founding a multiplayer company and uniting friends, competitors or even bitter rivals into a single corporation, Rail Nation places a great deal of value in a joint gaming experience.

Rail Nation is user friendly and appeals both to expert browser gamers and also novices without dispensing with more advanced strategic options. The first real railroad browser game is played in rounds of 3 – 4 months and provides many exciting features for railroad enthusiasts. It is currently available in English and German – more language will follow in the near future.

Interested players can register for the open beta at play.rail-nation.com to take charge of their mighty steam or electric locomotives. There is also a facebook pagewww.facebook.com/RailNation with regular information and updates. The official forum for the game is located at http://forum.rail-nation.com/.

Iceberg Interactive to Publish 4X Space Game Horizon

2013/03/19

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

Haarlem, The Netherlands – March 19, 2013 – Publisher Iceberg Interactive and Toronto-based game developer L3O Interactive announced today that they have struck a publishing agreement for the 4X turn-based strategy game Horizon for PC. Horizon is a game of galactic conquest and is set in the not-so-distant future, where humans have just begun venturing beyond the edges of the solar system, only to find that the universe is far from empty! The publishing deal includes worldwide digital rights and boxed retail rights for Western Europe, Russia, Australia and other territories. The game has been in development for several years, with L3O picking up the pace last year, and is currently scheduled for a summer 2013 release.

Accompanying this press release are six screenshots from the current alpha build of the game. The full pack can be downloaded here: http://www.iceberg-games.com/games/Horizon/Horizon_Alpha_Build_Screenshots.rar

Iceberg Interactive CEO Erik Schreuder says: “With Horizon we are very excited to sign another gem for our ensemble of 4X strategy games. Horizon approaches the genre from the unique angle of humankind’s dawn of space conquest, adding to the rich arsenal of future fiction. Iceberg will now eagerly set out to intensify efforts for a successful launch, focused on extensive QA testing, marketing, localization and other publisher duties.”

L3O Interactive CEO Raffi Parsekhian says: “As passionate gamers ourselves and being a small indie studio, it was very important for us to find the right partnership and we are thrilled to have an established and dedicated strategy game publisher in Iceberg. Their experience and commitment along with our passion to the 4x genre will help bring the best out of Horizon.”

For more information about Horizon, go to the official website: www.Horizongame.com or the official Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/Horizongame.

Screenshots

Pre-orders Now Available for Cities in Motion 2

2013/03/19

Jerry Paxton

News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

NEW YORK — March 19, 2013 — Paradox Interactive, a publisher of games and owner of bus passes, announced today that pre-orders are now available for Cities in Motion 2, their forthcoming transit simulation and design game for PC and Mac. Players can pre-purchase the dynamic strategy title now from the game’s new website, located at www.citiesinmotion2.com. Cities in Motion 2 is scheduled to launch on April 2, 2013 for $19.99.

As a bonus for all pre-purchases of Cities in Motion 2, early adopters will receive the “Modern Collection” DLC which includes additional trolley buses, trams, and a boat for water lines. The Modern Collection also introduces a new stop type, which allows trams, buses, and trolleys to share the same stop and allow passengers to switch vehicles with ease, and therefore minimize congestion.

To purchase Cities in Motion 2, check out www.citiesinmotion2.com/buy

Watch the new pre-order trailer here:

In Cities in Motion 2, players must design, construct, maintain, and expand a multifaceted transit network that serves the needs of a growing city. Fleets of vehicles, including buses, trains, ferries and subways, must be assembled and set in motion on player-created tracks and routes, providing affordable and efficient transit between growing residential and commercial centers. As players engineer their systems, the city will grow dynamically around them, keeping players on their toes with increased population, congestion, and budgetary concerns.

To read more about Cities in Motion 2, visit: www.citiesinmotion2.com

Great Horror Campout Tickets On Sale Now

2013/03/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News

Los Angeles, CA – March 19^th, 2013 – New in 2013, the Great Horror Campout will bring a unique kind of camping experience to Los Angeles. From Ten Thirty One Productions (creators of the popular Los Angeles Haunted Hayride), the Great Horror Campout will be an overnight, twelve-hour experience that puts campers into an immersive horror camping adventure jam packed with content.

Campers can choose the intensity of their adventure, however, whether they decide to stay in their tents with friends or venture into the darkness is all fair game. And unlike the LA Haunted Hayride, the performers at Great Horror Campout may touch you.

With a slogan that promises, “Only the Dawning Sun Will Save You,” tents, horror movies, bonfires and marshmallow roasting are only the beginning. Campers wanting an even more extreme horror experience can participate in the Hell Hunt, an interactive experience that will bring campers face to face with their worst nightmares in order to retrieve the items for which they are hunting. The Hell Hunt 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 tons more. Campers will have to use creative thinking and problem solving to find the most coveted items and compete for the title of “Hell Master.” Campers who complete the Hell Hunt will receive a “Golden Ticket” to the LA Haunted Hayride good for unlimited rides during the 2013 Halloween season.

“The first rule is that we can change the rules… when we want, for any reason we want, and without notice. Campers will need to be listening for the Camp Headmasters announcements for rule changes if they plan on escaping elimination from the Hell Hunt.” said Ten Thirty One Productions, President, Melissa Carbone.

Campers will report to the Great Horror Campout, Base Camp at 8pm where they will meet the Camp Headmaster for the first time, receive dinner, tent assignments, Hell Hunt Bags and more.

“Even the campers who want to stay in their tents with friends or hang at the bonfire for movies will get ruined…just not as ruined as those who think they’re tough enough for the Hell Hunt. We’re beyond excited.” Carbone added.

The Great Horror Campout takes place June 7^th & 8^th at the Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St, LA, CA 90012. Tickets On Sale Now at www.greathorrorcampout.com. Space is limited and based on availability. Campers will select their tent space online during the purchase process. Persons Under 18 years of age will not be admitted. Ticket Price is $149 per person and includes: One-night tent accommodations, Dinner, Continental Breakfast, Parking, Hell Hunt Experience, Canvas Hell Hunt Bag, Horror Movies, & Marshmallows. Items not included: Sleeping Bags, Pillows, Flashlights, Drinks (other than at Dinner/Breakfast).

Disclaimer: During Great Horror Campout you may be forcibly handled, moved, bound, hooded, chained and subjected to simulated torture by our actors. You may witness strong verbal content, which may be considered offensive in nature. This content is part of the experience and is presented for entertainment purposes only.

Great Horror Campout is a Fur Free Attraction and brought to you by “TEN. Great Taste. Only 10 Calories. Get BOTH” and the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride.

MSI Brings Gaming Line to PAX East

2013/03/19

Jerry Paxton

News, PAX, Tech News

City of Industry, Calif. – March 19, 2013 – MSI Computer Corp, a leading manufacturer of computer hardware products and solutions, showcases their entire repertoire of gaming beasts and components during PAX East 2013, including the stunning GT70 Dragon Edition, critically acclaimed GT Series, performance focused GE Series and Z77 Gaming Motherboards.

Also on display, the MSI Quadro Workstation will offer visitors the opportunity to experience the 3D rendering capabilities of the NVIDIA® Quadro K2000M graphics processor. In addition, for the first time in the US, MSI will provide an exclusive look at the Z77 Gaming motherboard series, featuring Killer E2200 with optimized network packets for the highest frag and lowest lag rate, Military Class III components, performance boost with OC Genie II, DDR 3000 memory support, and more.

MSI will also be giving away daily prizes, including a gaming laptop, graphics cards, motherboards and more.

Digital Storm Unleashes Hailstorm II

2013/03/19

Jerry Paxton

News, Tech News

FREMONT, Calif. – (March 19, 2013) – Enthusiasts looking to quench their thirst for a benchmark crushing components and bone chilling liquid cooling need look no further than the Digital Storm Hailstorm II. With space for up to four radiators (ranging from 140mm to 480mm sizes) and a quadruple GPU and dual CPU configuration, enthusiasts can achieve the ultimate level of performance and customization with the Hailstorm II.

The Hailstorm II pairs an advanced liquid cooling system with a blustery current of cold air driven by three front intake fans and a large rear exhaust fan. With the ability to include up to 15 fans total, the Hailstorm II encompasses one of the most powerful airflow designs available, providing prolonged stability and ensuring every component operates at peak performance with zero heat related bottlenecks.

“When we (Digital Storm) set out to redesign Hailstorm we knew it would be a challenging to improve on a system capable of handling nearly any high-end configuration an enthusiast could dream up” said Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm’s Director of Product Development. “This meant the search was on for the biggest and baddest chassis available. When we saw the Corsair 900D at CES we knew we had the enclosure we needed to make the original Hailstorm look like a small mid-tower system and not the bad ass high performance system it really was.”

The sleek brushed aluminum front panel peels back to reveal a vast interior with room for ten expansion slots, up to nine hard drives or SSD with three hot-swap mounts, four 5.25” optical drive bays, and both 2x USB 3.0 ports and 4x USB 2.0 ports for maximum expandability. The most impressive feature of the massive system is its ability to install two power supplies, giving enthusiasts an unlimited level of power to handle the most intense hardware configurations.

Prior to shipping to the customer, each Digital Storm system undergoes a rigorous 72-Hour Stress-Test. Digital Storm technicians stress-test and benchmark the system via industry standard testing software coupled with a proprietary testing process that detects components which can be prone to future failure.