Author - Jerry Paxton

Steam Big Picture Beta Available Now

2012/09/10
Jerry Paxton
News

September 10th, 2012 — Valve announces a major update to the Steam gaming platform called Big Picture. Steam’s new Big Picture mode lets gamers access all of their favorite Steam games on a television. With the press of a button, Steam displays a new full-screen user interface optimized for readability and interaction on TV. Big Picture has been designed to be used with a traditional game controller, while also fully supporting keyboard and mouse input.

Steam gamers can experience Big Picture by connecting their PC or Mac to a TV, typically with a single HDMI cable. Access to the complete Steam store is included, as is the Steam Community. In addition to their complete library of Steam games, each user’s cloud files, Steam Workshop content, account information and preferences will be accessible automatically in the new mode.

“Sega’s roots are in living-room gaming.” said John Clark, Vice President of Digital Distribution at Sega. “For the first time since the advent of PC games decades ago, gamers are finally going to have access to the kind of entertainment experience we’ve always wished they could have with our PC titles – one that’s incredibly social, comfortable, and accessible. We’re excited about the opportunity, and Big Picture has inspired us to bring even more of our titles to Steam in the future.”

“There is nothing more satisfying than slaying thousands of orcs on your big screen. And many of the most die-hard players of Orcs Must Die 2 have always preferred playing with a game controller. Steam’s Big Picture mode finally marries these two and delivers a true living room entertainment experience to players.”

“We’re pleased that gamers on Steam will now be able to immerse themselves in our entertainment experiences in the comfort of their living room on large screen TVs,” said Steve Glickstein of Take-Two Interactive Software. “From action and adventure to sports and sims, our titles deliver big fun on big screens.”

“PC gaming continues to be the leading edge of entertainment, whether it’s social gaming, MMOs, graphics hardware, free-to-play, or competitive gaming,” said Gabe Newell, president of Valve. “With Big Picture for Steam, we are trying to do our part to give customers and developers what they want – their games, everywhere, optimized for the environment in which they are playing.”

Big Picture also includes a new web browser designed for televisions and game controllers. It is accessible from anywhere within the Big Picture UI, and even while playing Steam games on a TV. It supports Big Picture’s new method of typing with a game controller, which is useful for entering URLs, filling out forms, chatting, and other functions.

For more information, including how to participate in the beta, please visit http://www.steampowered.com/bigpicture/

Universal Studios Announces 2012 Eyegore Awards

2012/09/10
Jerry Paxton
Halloween, News

Universal Studios Hollywood kicks off “Halloween Horror Nights” with its annual Eyegore Awards. The eagerly-anticipated event honors individuals within the Hollywood entertainment community for bringing the most indelible and terrifying moments in the field of horror to life.

Special guests will include this year’s new Eyegore Awards host, McKenzie Westmore, host of Syfy’s “Face Off,” Chad Michael Murray (House of Wax and the upcoming film, The Haunting in Georgia), legendary rock-horror icon Alice Cooper, Adelaide Clemens (Silent Hill:  Revelation 3d), Angélica María and Angélica Vale (psychological thriller series “Mujeres Asesinas 2”), Diego Boneta (“Rock of Ages”), Wilmer Valderrama, Sid Haig, Bill Mosely. More talent to be announced.

“Halloween Horror Nights” brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in the living, breathing, three-dimensional world of the most notorious and terrifying creatures.  Mazes include: “The Walking Dead:  Dead Inside,” based on AMC’s Golden Globe®-nominated and Emmy® Award-winning TV series; “Welcome to Silent Hill,” based on the popular video games and film franchise; Am encore performance by shock rocker Alice Cooper in the new, “Alice Cooper Goes to Hell 3D”; “La Llorona: Cazadora de Niños,” based on the chilling Mexican and Latin American legend that has terrified children for centuries; “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre:  The Saw is the Law,” based on filmmaker Tobe Hooper’s notoriously unsettling 1974 horror film classic; and “Universal Monsters Remix,” featuring re-imagined classic horror icons and fused with electronica-inspired music. An all-new “Terror Tram:  Invaded by The Walking Dead,” also based on the hit AMC TV series, will unleash hordes of flesh-eating “walkers” on Universal’s world-famous backlot.

“Halloween Horror Night” begins Sept. 21 and continues on 19 select nights through October. 31.  Event dates:  September. 21, 22, 28, 29; Oct. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31. The event will begin nightly at 7:00 p.m.; closing hours vary. Ticket options include Front of Line passes for priority access at each maze, and Killer Deal Nights tickets to save up to $25.  Information atwww.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/hhn.

EA and Sony Pictures Team Up for Charity with MoH DLC Pack

2012/09/10
Jerry Paxton
News

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – September 10, 2012 – Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced today a unique, philanthropic-directed, cross-promotional partnership in North America that will result in a $1 million minimum donation to charities benefiting the nation’s veterans. In anticipation of the release of the Columbia Pictures and Annapurna Pictures’ Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Academy Award® winner Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal, and the EA game Medal of Honor™ Warfighter, players can help give back to the nation’s real warfighters with theMedal of Honor Warfighter Zero Dark Thirty Map Pack. EA will donate a portion of map pack sales* as part of its commitment to give back at least $1 million through its Project HONOR campaign, a program created to drive charitable contributions to nonprofit veterans organizations. The pack will be available for sale** in North America the week of December 17, in conjunction with the theatrical debut of Zero Dark Thirty, for $9.99.

“Working with Project HONOR is a meaningful way for us to continue our support for combat veterans throughout the armed services,” said Mark Boal, writer-producer of Zero Dark Thirty. “We are thrilled to be a part of this effort, and we’re humbled that EA is stepping up to the plate with such a significant contribution.”

The Medal of Honor Warfighter Zero Dark Thirty Map Pack includes two new multiplayer maps inspired by real world locations. Set in one of the most dangerous hotspots in the world, the first map is Darra Gun Market, Pakistan’s flourishing arms bazaar. Darra, the largest illegal arms market in the world, is a tribal land based on two principles – hospitality and revenge. No police are allowed to enter the area and the laws are made by the tribal leader. The second location is Chitral, which sits in the far north of Pakistan, bounded by Afghanistan to the west and China to the north. It is a remote, rugged area governed by tribes that will not allow even the Pakistani army to operate there.

“Medal of Honor Warfighter is inspired by real world events, real operations, and real warriors,” said Peter Moore, Chief Operating Officer at EA. “We’ve teamed up with Sony Pictures Entertainment to give back to the Special Operations community in honor of the sacrifices they and their families have made for their country and to connect people to the story of the greatest manhunt our world has seen.”

Written by actual U.S. Tier 1 Operators while deployed overseas, Medal of Honor Warfighter puts players in the boots of today’s most highly trained and skilled warriors to experience missions that have an intense sensory connection to real world terrorist threats. From rescuing hostages in Abu Sayyaf’s stronghold in the Philippines to assaulting Al-Shabaab’s “Pirate Town” on the Somali Coast, Medal of Honor Warfighter features international hotspots in the single player campaign and introduces international Tier 1 Operators in multiplayer allowing gamers to show their national pride online.

Medal of Honor Warfighter will be available in North America on October 23 and in Europe on October 26 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. In Europe, the Pakistan maps and SEAL team 6 inspired weapon loadouts will be included in the Medal of Honor Warfighter The Hunt Map Pack, also available the week of December 17 for £7.99.

For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. Columbia Pictures and Annapurna Pictures’ Zero Dark Thirty reunites the Oscar® winning team of director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker) for the story of history’s greatest manhunt for the world’s most dangerous man. Gamers will be able to view the film trailer in the Medal of Honor Warfighter Limited Edition game disc when the game launches in October. For more information on the film, please visit www.zerodarkthirty-movie.com. Zero Dark Thirty will be released in theaters nationwide on December 19, 2012.

For more information on Medal of Honor Warfighter be sure to visit www.medalofhonor.com, and www.facebook.com/medalofhonor, or follow on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/medalofhonor. Press assets are available at www.info.ea.com.

HHN Hollywood Extreme Horror Makeup Event Pics

2012/09/07
Jerry Paxton
Halloween, News

Universal City, California, September 6, 2012—The artistry that transforms mere mortals into the most frightening creatures imaginable was revealed today at Universal Studios Hollywood, as extreme Hollywood horror make-up masterminds offered a sneak peek at this year’s bone-chilling“Halloween Horror Nights” event, which takes place on select nights from September 21 to October 31, 2012.

Extreme Hollywood horror make-up artist Larry Bones and his innovative special effects team partnered with “Halloween Horror Nights” Creative Director, John Murdy, to demonstrate how many highly dramatic, morbidly disturbing creatures will come to life during the event.

As the skilled professionals created the illusions of severed heads, oozing wounds and slashed throats, an additional team of experts showcased other effects employed to craft the many scare-actors featured throughout “Halloween Horror Nights.”  Costume designers were on hand to distress and customize wardrobe, wig makers teased and twisted locks, and a graphic artist adeptly illustrated original “Halloween Horror Nights” concept art.

The extreme Hollywood horror make-up showcase helped set the stage for the September 21 launch of this year’s thrilling “Halloween Horror Nights” event.  For more information and to purchase tickets, including options for Front of Line tickets that enables priority access at each maze and theme park attraction, and special Killer Deal Nights tickets to save up to $25, guests can visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/hhn,.  Advance purchase is recommended as event nights will sell out.

This year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in the living, breathing, three-dimensional world of the most notorious and terrifying creatures.  Featuring a slate of unrivaled film production quality mazes, terror-filled Scare Zones and a new “Terror Tram” experience, uniquely themed to today’s most definitive horror properties, “Halloween Horror Nights” will taunt, terrorize and torment guests with incomparable spellbinding and spine-chilling haunted attractions.

AMC’s Golden Globe®-nominated and Emmy® Award-winning TV series will have a significant presence during “Halloween Horror Nights” when the critically-acclaimed hit takes center stage in a riveting new maze, “The Walking Dead:  Dead Inside.” It will also headline the event’s signature backlot experience, “Terror Tram:  Invaded by The Walking Dead” featuring hordes of roving, flesh-eating zombie “walkers.”

Other haunted attractions will include “Welcome to Silent Hill,” based on the popular video games and film franchise; “Alice Cooper Goes to Hell 3D,” a new 3D maze inspired by the legendary shock rocker’s classic concept album; a reimagined experience, “La Llorona: Cazadora de Niños,” based on the terrifying Mexican and Latin American legend that has terrified children for centuries; “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre:  The Saw is The Law,” maze based on filmmaker Tobe Hooper’s notoriously unsettling 1974 horror film classic; and the “Universal Monsters Remix,” walk-through attraction featuring Universal’s legendary horror monsters of yesteryear, re-defined for the 21st century along with the pulse-pounding sounds of dance and electronic-fusion music.

The ever-popular “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” will also add to the dynamic “Halloween Horror Nights” event, joining suchtheme park’s favorites as “Transformers™: The Ride –3D,” “Jurassic Park® In the Dark,” “The Simpsons RideTM” and “Revenge of the MummySM – The Ride.”

Details on “Halloween Horror Nights” are available at Halloween Horror Nights, on Facebook at: “Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood” and on Instagram @HorrorNightsHollywood or #UniversalHHN.  Updates from Creative Director John Murdy can be found on Twitter at:Twitter.com/HorrorNights, as he reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information.  “Halloween Horror Nights” maze announcement videos can be seen at Universal Studios Hollywood’s YouTube Channel.

“Halloween Horror Nights” kicks off on Friday, September 21, 2012 and continues on select nights through Wednesday, October 31.  Event dates are: September 21, 22, 28, 29 and October 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 31.

Images from the Event

Giada i53 Mini PC Review

2012/09/07
Jerry Paxton
News, Reviews

Giada’s new i53 mini PC was designed to be a fast and efficient home entertainment PC in a very small form factor. We were fortunate enough to get one on loan for a while and have been pleased with its usage. Here are the i53’s official specifications:

CPU 3rd Gen Intel® CoreTM i7/i5/i3(Optional)
Chipset Intel® HM76 Express
GPU Intel® HD 4000
System Memory
4G DDR3-1333 (1 x SO-DIMM slot，Max 8G)
Storage 500G 2.5″HDD
I/O
1 X USB3.0
4 X USB2.0
1 X Card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO)
1 X HDMI
1 X  VGA
1 X SPDIF （Line out)
1 X LAN (RJ45)
1 X DC-in Jack
LAN Gigabit LAN + Wi-Fi 802.11n + Bluetooth
Audio AUDIO-out/MIC-in
Power Consumption
30W
Size 192 x 155 x 26 mm
Color Black & White
OS Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (Optional)

The Giada i53’s design is very sleek, available in a white or black outer shell. The unit stands up on its side by way of an included base and nicely fits into your entertainment device array. Getting the i53 set up was very simple. All I had to do was plug the included HDMI cable from the mini PC to my display, then plug in a mouse and keyboard. After making sure that the power cable was also plugged in, we were off and running.

As you would probably guess, a wireless keyboard with touchpad would be the best way to interact with the i53, even when considering the included remote control. The OS is Windows 7 Home Premium and ran as one would expect. Something I did not expect, however, was the lack of media software included on the PC. So, the first things I did was connect to our WI-FI network and download iTunes.

There is no lack of connectivity in the Giada i53, which features gigabit LAN, Bluetooth, and Wireless-N capabilities – all very important in a media PC, and the download progressed quickly. After installing iTunes and setting up our account, I purchases, downloaded, and screened Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger. The 1080p video was smooth and the audio crisp, providing a very enjoyable movie-watching experience. I then navigated over to Netflix, logged in, and began streaming an episode of the USA Network’s Psych. After caching the video a bit, the playback was very good and, again, provided a very enjoyable viewing experience.

I was also able to run some video games on the Giada i53, which features an Intel HD4000 GPU. I installed Blizzard Entertainment’s StarCraft II on the machine as well as 2K Games Borderlands. Both played well, despite my having to turn down some of the detail settings. While this machine would not be anywhere near my first choice as a gaming rig, it does have some chops to play some last-gen PC games.

In addition to testing out the media functionality of the i53, I also got to use the PC from a productivity standpoint, checking email, writing this review, and even paying some bills. I found no issues with this, despite having to zoom in sometimes on various parts of the desktop/program due to my display’s large size and distance from the couch.

Overall, I highly recommend the Giada i53 as a home media PC. Its got a sleek look as well as plenty of features which allows for the PC to be great for not only video and audio playback but, also, a bit of gaming as well as home productivity.

Images

Wikipad Comes to GameStop this Halloween

2012/09/07
Jerry Paxton
News

LOS ANGELES, SEPTEMBER 7, 2012—GameStop (NYSE: GME), the world’s largest multichannel retailer of video games, has partnered with Wikipad, Inc. to offer the Wikipad tablet, the first tablet with an attachable console-quality gamepad controller, through its stores and website. The Wikipad will be available October 31 to consumers at a retailer price of $499 USD.

“GameStop is the retail destination when it comes to video games. Nobody but GameStop provides gamers with the best gaming content on the market. And for those that purchase or pre-order a Wikipad at GameStop, their tablet will have access to valuable extras including exclusive free, full-length game titles. The Wikipad is powered by an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and will support PlayStation®Mobile platform,” said Fraser Townley, President of Sales for Wikipad, Inc.

Customers can pre-order the Wikipad now at GameStop stores nationwide or online at www.GameStop.com. Wikipads pre-ordered at GameStop will come with value-added extras including full-length titles and an issue of Game Informer Digital.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Wikipad to launch this unique new gaming tablet,” said Joe Gorman, vice president of GameStop’s mobile business unit. “We love the innovation and know our customers are excited to see it in action.”

Wikipad will launch in October with a full suite of games delivered by the latest video game platforms, including PlayStation®Mobile, NVIDIA’s Tegra Zone, Google Play as well as several upcoming unannounced platforms.  To bring the best gaming experience to consumers, Wikipad will offer a premium 10.1” IPS screen, ultra-light chassis, quad core processor, expandable memory and an attachable console quality game controller.
For more information on the Wikipad tablet, visit: www.wikipad.com.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown Available for Pre-Order

2012/09/07
Jerry Paxton
News

New York, NY – September 7, 2012 – 2K Games and Firaxis Games announced today that XCOM®: Enemy Unknown, the re-imagining of one of the best PC games ever made, is now available for digital pre-sale for $49.99 MSRP from participating digital retailers. By pre-purchasing XCOM: Enemy Unknown, gamers are guaranteed to receive the Elite Soldier Pack, a free launch bonus offering top-of-the-line soldier customization features that will only be available while supplies last.

The Elite Soldier Pack will provide the ultimate tools for soldier customization in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, including:

  • Classic X-COM Soldier: Players will instantly receive a new recruit in their barracks inspired by the original X-COM: UFO Defense. The iconic soldier with the blonde, flattop hairstyle will return fully modernized.
  • Soldier Deco packs: Players can customize their soldier with several aesthetic upgrades to armor suits, including the new Hyperion and Reaper soldier armor kits.
  • Complete color customization: A variety of colors and tints for all armor sets in the game allow players complete control to customize their squad’s look.

In addition to the digital pre-sale bonus, all PC versions of XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be powered with Steamworks. XCOM: Enemy Unknownplayers will enjoy the benefits of Steamworks features, such as Steam Achievements, auto-updating, multiplayer matchmaking, Steam Cloud support and more.

Released in 1993, the original X-COM still reigns as one of the best PC games of all time and has been reimagined as XCOM: Enemy Unknown by the strategy experts at Firaxis Games. XCOM: Enemy Unknown will expand on the X-COM legacy with an entirely new story, enemies and technologies to fight hostile aliens and defend Earth. In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, players will oversee combat strategies and individual unit tactics as well as base management and resource allocation as commander of a secret global military organization, XCOM. With equal emphasis on deep strategy and intense tactical combat, XCOM: Enemy Unknown will allow gamers to control the fate of the human race by defending against a terrifying global alien invasion.

To digitally pre-purchase XCOM: Enemy Unknown for PC, please visit: http://www.xcom.com/preorder.

A special edition of XCOM: Enemy Unknown for PC (MSRP $59.99) will be available at participating retail locations. This special edition will contain a copy of the game for PC and a number of unique XCOM items, including an art book; fold-out poster of the XCOM headquarters; XCOMinsignia patch; and a collection of digital bonus assets such as desktop wallpaper, soundtrack and more.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information, please visit http://www.xcom.com. For the latest news and information on XCOM: Enemy Unknown, become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/XCOM.

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

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

Keith Carradine Joins Hitman Absolution Cast

2012/09/07
Jerry Paxton
News

COPENHAGEN (September 7, 2012) – IO Interactive A/S, a Square Enix studio, today revealed the next Hollywood talent in HITMAN: ABSOLUTION’s stellar cast. Keith Carradine will take on the role of the villainous Blake Dexter, a twisted character and maybe the most vicious adversary Agent 47 has faced yet. Dexter comes to life through Carradine’s outstanding performance capture and voice acting skills. Keith Carradine’s latest work includes the role of Sheriff John Taggart in the blockbuster movie “Cowboys & Aliens.”

Players can learn more about Blake Dexter in the latest release of the ICA files video series. The ICA (International Contract Agency) files are a series of videos that provide in-depth background information on the main cast in HITMAN: ABSOLUTION and features exclusive art from comic artist Ben Oliver.

HITMAN: ABSOLUTION is scheduled for release across North America, Europe and PAL territories on November 20, 2012 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC.