Author - Jerry Paxton

Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi Release Date

2013/01/16
Jerry Paxton
News, PSP News

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January 15, 2013   Torrance, CA – Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi, the newest installment and first action-adventure game in the hit Hakuoki series, will begin shipping on February 19, 2013. Amazon is currently offering aHakuoki bandana as a pre-order bonus to those ordering before February 19th!  In addition, each retail copy of Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi will come with a 16-page full-color character guide featuring art of each of the playable characters in the game!

About Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi

Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi blends the beautifully-told visual novel, Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom, into an action-packed adventure game that’s fun for those new to the series or fans from the beginning!  Become stronger and more deadly as one of six legendary samurai, while you battle imperial soldiers, other samurai, and blood-thirsty furies. Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi contains two storylines where players can either follow the events of Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom or play in an alternate universe where events unfold very differently.

Two Major Storylines – Play through Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom with each of six playable characters in “Shinsengumi Memorial,” or change history in “Shinsengumi Chronicle”!

Shinsengumi Chronicle – Change history as any one of the six main characters in. Play in an alternate universe where you control the fate of the Shinsengumi!

Shinsengumi Memorial – Step into the shoes of your favorite samurai and play through battles from Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom.  Join in on the action as you battle your way through Kyoto!

Skirmish Mode – Replay past battles to add some more kills or level up your character to be more deadly.  Unlock two addition characters in this mode and duke it out on your favorite stages.

Fury Mode – When a character’s life is spent, he will enter Fury Mode, unleashing a ferocious killing machine, able to tear down anyone that gets in his way.  However, becoming a fury too many times can unlock a particularly bad ending.

A Special Character Guide with Artwork – Each retail copy of Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi comes with an exclusive character guide featuring all eight playable characters from the game.  Learn about each of these legendary warriors, and see them in their traditional Shinsengumi outfits and Western attire in this 16-page, full color digest!

Amazon Pre-Order Bandana

For those who pre-order the retail version of Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi, Amazon will be offering an exclusive 22” bandana showcasing your favorite warriors.  Featuring all eight playable Hakuoki warriors, this 22” bandana can be framed, used as a traditional furoshiki (Japanese cloth bag), worn, or you can decorate your purse (or man bag) with it!

Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi is rated Mature (M) by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board for blood, strong language and violence.  For more information, visit www.hakuoki.com/warriors/.

Pandora’s Tower Gets A Spring 2013 Release

2013/01/16
Jerry Paxton
News, Nintendo Wii News

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Torrance, Calif., (January 16, 2013) – XSEED Games, an independent-minded publisher, today announced they have come to an agreement with Nintendo that will bring the highly anticipated action role-playing title, Pandora’s Tower™, exclusively to Wii™ in Spring 2013. Developed in Japan by Ganbarion, Pandora’s Tower takes the classic fairytale theme of a maiden in distress and adds a violent twist, with the protagonist setting out to slay over a dozen giant monsters and collect their flesh in order to free his beloved from an evil curse. The agreement with Nintendo grants XSEED Games exclusive publishing rights to Pandora’s Tower in North America.

“It’s fantastic to be bringing such a highly-anticipated title like Pandora’s Tower to such a vocal fan base,” said Shinichi Suzuki, President and CEO of XSEED Games. “North American gamers have been very patient in waiting for this game to be released, and we’re confident they will be pleased when they get their hands on the title.”

A tale of unfortunate circumstances, Pandora’s Tower opens in the Kingdom of Elyria, where an unassuming singer named Elena succumbs to a wretched curse during a festival performance. Bearing an arcane mark on her back,she starts transforming into a savage monster, causing the town guards to attempt to kill her in order to prevent it. A young ex-mercenary named Aeron, whose heart has forever been pledged to Elena, whisks her away in the nick of time – and with the help of a mysterious witch named Mavda, he learns what must be done to avert her wretched fate. He must descend into The Scar, a massive chasm tied down by twelve chains connected to a floating islandin its center, atop which sit thirteen interconnected towers. There, he must use his sword and a sacred chain to battle his way through each tower and extract the flesh of the boss “masters” that dwell within, which Elena must consume in order to reverse her ongoing transformation. But the clock is ticking! The longer Aeron takes to vanquish each beast, the less human Elena becomes, affecting her character and the game’s final outcome in a profound manner. Time is of the essence…

Pandora’s Tower was developed in Japan by Ganbarion in conjunction with Nintendo, exclusively for Wii. The game will be published by XSEED Games in North America in Spring 2013. XSEED Games will release more product updates in the coming months.

Six Flags Great Adventure to Host MTV and United Way Spring Fix Concert

2013/01/16
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

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New York, NY (January 16, 2013) — MTV is partnering with United Way and mtvU, the network’s 24-hour college channel, to host “Spring Fix,” an alternative spring break, in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.  Beginning today, students can apply to be one of the 50 young people MTV will bring to the New York / New Jersey area to help rebuild communities devastated by the storm. “Spring Fix,” will kick-off on Sunday, March 17 and culminate on Saturday, March 23 with a special concert at Six Flags Great Adventure.  MTV cameras will be on the ground capturing all the “Spring Fix” activities, and the network expects celebrities, politicians and more to stop in and take part.  All of the “Spring Fix” coverage will air during a special “Spring Break” themed week on MTV, mtvU and MTV2.

“We’re thrilled to partner with our audience and United Way to provide desperately needed help to communities in need following Hurricane Sandy,” said Stephen Friedman, President of MTV.  “These young people are skipping the typical spring break parties to give back, and we’re honored to spotlight their work across our network.”

To thank the 50 students for their service and raise funds for the United Way, Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey will host a “Spring Fix” concert on Saturday, March 23, 2013, the season opening of the Park.  Six Flags guests will also have a chance to attend the concert, and a portion of the proceeds from that day will be donated to United Way.  Additional details on the “Spring Fix” concert and performers will be announced at a later date.

“Six Flags is incredibly proud to partner with MTV and The United Way to participate in this national spring break benefit program, driving awareness and assistance to those in need from Superstorm Sandy,” said David McKillips, SVP of Corporate Alliances at Six Flags Entertainment.

College students interested in participating in “Spring Fix” can submit applications online today through January 28, 2013 at Springbreak.MTV.com.   Travel and accommodations will be covered for the 50 students selected.  Young people who are unable to join but want to get involved will be able to find additional service opportunities at SpringBreak.MTV.com or at Serve.MTV.com.

MTV’s “Spring Fix” efforts are a continuation of the sustained effort by MTV to help rebuild Seaside Heights, New Jersey, and other areas devastated by Sandy.  In November 2012, dozens of stars, artists and organizations joined with MTV for an hour-long fundraising special, “Restore the Shore,” which helped raise desperately needed aid to help rebuild the heart of the Jersey Shore. Additionally, MTV partnered with Omaze.com to let viewers bid on six different experiences – from tickets to the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards to a Manicure with Snooki – as part of a raffle with proceeds going to Architecture for Humanity’s seaside rebuilding fund.

“People who experience a disaster like Hurricane Sandy face major challenges, like disruptions to their education, loss of income and even health risks.  This project will shine a light on young people who are doing something about it and hopefully inspire many others to join us,” said Edwin Goutier who oversees Student United Way.

In 2006, MTV partnered to host the first ever United Way Alternative Spring Break, with students from around the country trading the typical beach parties and nights out to go to communities in the Gulf Coast to help with long-term recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina.  United Way Alternative Spring Break has offered thousands of young people the opportunity to do meaningful service since inception.

For more information or to get involved, go to Springbreak.MTV.com.

New March of the Eagles Video Developer Diary

2013/01/16
Jerry Paxton
News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

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NEW YORK — January 16th 11, 2013 — Raise the regimental banner and beat the drums of war, Paradox Development Studio has been bringing you weekly updates on how their upcoming game March of the Eagles will give players the reins of power on a continent torn apart by war. Published on the official forums, these developer diaries gave details on the major nations, the art of Napoleonic combat, the subtle game of diplomacy and how to master the seas among other topics.

Read all the March of the Eagles developer diaries here: http://tinyurl.com/c9mvm7m 

Now the development team has released their first video developer diary. This three minute video shows the map changing through seasons and other on screen action as Designer Chris King walks you through the finer points of the supply system in March of the Eagles. Learn how this two tiered model of feeding and arming your troops can lead to difficult decisions about what to build and where to expand.

With its early 2013 release soon upon us, it is time to learn all you can about the field of battle and how to keep your armies from wasting away on the Russian steppe.

March of the Eagles is a strategy wargame set in the turbulent Napoleonic Wars. You can lead any of dozens of European powers in a quest to establish yourself as the most dominant power on land and sea. Take control of any one nation of Europe in this geopolitical barfight, dispatch armies and envoys, raid supply lines, form coalitions and get with the times, already.

He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat. You keep that in mind, because March of the Eagles will be advancing on all fronts in Q1 2013.

Video Dev Diary

New Chinese Tanks Rollout in World of Tanks

2013/01/16
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

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16th January, 2012 – Wargaming today announced that Update 8.3 for its massively popular MMO action game World of Tanks, complete with the addition of a brand new nation, the Chinese, is now live in Europe and Southeast Asia. North-American players will get the update on January 17, while the Korean audience will start testing the new tech tree starting from January 21.

The game’s latest evolution adds 17 steel machines used by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the mid-20th century warfare.

The lower tiers of the new tech tree feature a hotchpot of various foreign designs, including the first Japanese-made tank in the game – the Type 97 Chi-Ha. Heavy Soviet influences are reflected in the top-tier tanks, which also include a number of original Chinese models, some of which never went into mass production.

Decent armor, impressive mobility and accurate guns with high damage potential make the Chinese tanks fearsome opponents to face off.

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 230 armored vehicles from United States, Germany, the Soviet Union, France, Great Britain and China, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.

Join World of Tanks:

IK Multimedia announces iRig HD

2013/01/16
Jerry Paxton
News, Tech News

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January, 2013 — IK Multimedia, the leader in mobile music creation accessories, is proud to announce iRig® HD the new digital guitar interface for iPhone, iPad, iPodtouch, and Mac. iRig HD is the next generation of the immensely popular iRig guitar interface adapter, which, with over half a million units sold worldwide, has changed the way guitar players make music on the go.

iRig HD is a high-quality digital guitar/bass/instrument interface that allows users to plug their guitar or bass into their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac. It can be used with the AmpliTube range of guitar amps/effects apps and software or any other real-time processing app/software, like GarageBand and more. Using AmpliTube, users can play with the sound of their favorite amplifiers and effects, record their performance and compose entire songs, everywhere. iRig HD features crystal clear digital signal thanks to its superior 24 bit converter, an onboard gain control for perfect level setting, a low power consumption circuit for longer device battery life, plus an ultra-slim design and interchangeable adapter cables for maximum portability and universal compatibility. As manyother IK accessories, iRig HD is also made in Italy for the highest possible manufacturing quality.

Plug-in and play with every device

iRig HD is a simple “plug in and play” interface featuring a 1Ž4” instrument input jack, that plugs directly into the digital Lightning or 30-pin connectors of iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, using one of the included cables. Players can easily connect iRig HD to any Mac with the included USB cable. With its ultra-compact design, iRig HD fits easily into any guitar case, gig back orpocket for true mobility.

Supports your favorite mobile music apps

For a complete out of the box playing experience, iRig HD comes with the AmpliTube Free App (downloaded from the iTunes App Store: www.itunes.com/appstore) that provides a great sounding “ready to go” expandable guitar rig complete with effects pedals, amplifiers, speaker cabinets and a single track recorder. Players can play, practice and record anywhere and everywhere on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Plus, AmpliTube effects, amps and gear selection can begreatly expanded via in-app purchase with the entire range of AmpliTube apps including AmpliTube, AmpliTube Fender®, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ and AmpliTube Slash.  Guitar and bass players now have the widest range of amplifiers and effects at their disposal with over 50 superior sounding mobile gear for jamming and recording on the go.  Plus, iRig HD can be used with any app that supports digital audio processing, like GarageBand and many more.

On the road and in the studio

Not only is iRig HD the perfect interface for the guitar and bass players on the go but can also be used on any Mac to take advantage of the superior processing power of the Mac platform. Users can downloadAmpliTube Custom Shop for free or use it as a standalone amp and effects processing powerhouse, or with many popular digital audio workstation program (DAW), such as GarageBand or Logic, as a plug-in for more sophisticated recording and composition. AmpliTube Custom Shop gives access to hundreds of top quality amplifiers and effects from world’s top manufacturers like Fender®, Ampeg®, Orange® and more that can be purchased a-la-carte for a truly customizable software rig.

iRig HD at a glance:

• High-quality instrument-level 1/4” Hi-Z input jack

• Detachable cables for Lighting, 30 pin and USB connector compatibility

• Preamp gain control

• High-quality low-noise, high-definition preamp

• High-quality 24 bit A/D conversion

• Powered by the iOS device or USB

• Ultra-compact and lightweight

• Comes with AmpliTube apps

Price and availability

iRig HD will be shipping in the Spring of 2013 and will be available in musical instrument and electronic retailers worldwide. Price is to be announced.

The Cave Gets Release Date

2013/01/16
Jerry Paxton
News, Nintendo Wii U News, PlayStation 3 News, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News

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SAN FRANCISCO — SEGA® of America, Inc., in a partnership with Double Fine Productions, announced the launch date and price for the upcoming adventure game,The Cave. Created by legendary game designer Ron Gilbert, The Cave will be available on January 22nd for the PlayStation®Network, and the Nintendo eShop on Wii U™ for $14.99. On January 23rd, it will be available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system for 1200 MSP and Steam™ for $14.99.

Named GameInformer’s Best Adventure Game of E3 2012, The Cave is a new adventure game from Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion creator Ron Gilbert, and Double Fine Productions, the award-winning studio behind Psychonauts and Brütal Legend. Players can assemble their team of three from seven unlikely adventures, each with their own unique personalities and stories, and then descend into the mysterious depths of The Cave.

For more information please visit: http://thecavegame.com/

Deep Silver Apologizes for Dead Island Riptide Zombie Bait Edition

2013/01/15
Jerry Paxton
Industry News, News, Xbox 360 News

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Looks like Deep Silver is apologizing for controversy surrounding today’s announcement of their Dead Island Riptide “Zombie Bait Edition”, which came with a statue shaped like a bikini-clad, severed female torso. <begin editorialized rant>Apparently, some people were offended by the statue – not by the game, in which you can dismember walking corpses ad nauseum. Additionally, the game features a ton of adult situations and scenarios, including references to alcohol and drug abuse. This. Is. Ridiculous. If you are offended by dismemberment, Dead Island is not a game you should be playing, let alone buying a special edition of. End of line.</end editorialized rant>.

Deep Silver’s Apology:

We deeply apologize for any offense caused by the Dead Island Riptide “Zombie Bait Edition”, the collector’s edition announced for Europe and Australia. Like many gaming companies, Deep Silver has many offices in different countries, which is why sometimes different versions of Collector’s Editions come into being for North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. For the limited run of the Zombie Bait Edition for Europe and Australia, a decision was made to include a gruesome statue of a zombie torso, which was cut up like many of our fans had done to the undead enemies in the original Dead Island. We sincerely regret this choice. We are collecting feedback continuously from the Dead Island community, as well as the international gaming community at large, for ongoing internal meetings with Deep Silver’s entire international team today. For now, we want to reiterate to the community, fans and industry how deeply sorry we are, and that we are committed to making sure this will never happen again.

Original Product Press Release

15 January 2013 – Hampshire, UK/… Deep Silver today revealed that it will be releasing a strictly limited Dead Island Zombie Bait edition of Dead Island Riptide when the game launches in the UK on 26 April 2013.

Available to pre-order now for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the center-piece of this collector’s edition will be a resin statue, which is Dead Island’s grotesque take on an iconic Roman marble torso sculpture. Measuring 31cm high and 18.5cm wide, each of the Zombie Bait sculptures are hand-painted and depict the grisly remains of one of Palanai island’s zombie infected.

Paul Nicholls, Sales & Marketing Director, Deep Silver, said:
“Dead Island Riptide is one of the most anticipated releases of the year and is set to build on the original’s reputation for OTT action, dark humour and brutal zombie bashing. We wanted to provide a unique collector’s edition that was utterly ‘Dead Island’ and would make a striking conversation piece on any discerning zombie gamer’s mantel.”

There will be a strictly limited production run of the Zombie Bait edition, ensuring that this is a genuine collector’s item for hardcore horror gamers. Also included within this ultra rare package is the special Steelbook edition of Dead Island Riptide, collectable artwork cards, and an exclusive pack of weapon mods that allows even more, manifold ways to dispose of the ghastly zombie hordes on Palanai island.

Dead Island Riptide will be released on April 23, 2013 in the USA and Canada and on April 26, 2013 in the rest of the world for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, for Xbox 360® and for Windows PC.

For more information, visit one of the following official Dead Island sites:
Official Website: www.deadisland.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/deadislandgame
YouTube: www.youtube.com/deadislandgame
Twitter: twitter.com/deadislandgame

Spider Mech Now Available in MWO, Double XP Event Announced

2013/01/15
Jerry Paxton
News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

Spider Jump Jets

MONTREAL – January 15, 2013 – Infinite Game Publishing and Piranha Games launched one of the fiercest and quickest Mechs into the InnerSphere today as the Spider Mech made its way into the MechWarrior Online store. Available now, Spider is one of the most maneuverable and agile of all Light Mechs with a whopping eight jumpjets and an unmatched turning radius. Spider pilots can create nightmares for pilots of heavier Mechs on the battlefield; this is the time to watch your back!

In addition to the Spider becoming available, an exciting 3-day in-game event is coming Friday, January 18 at 10 am Pacific – the first-ever MechWarrior Online Double XP event. Scheduled to run the duration of the weekend, MechWarrior pilots will hunker down at home in order to defend and conquer in the InnerSphere. The event concludes on Monday, January 21 at 10 am Pacific. To truly maximize XP earning potential, MechWarrior pilots can stack up other XP-boosting techniques such as their Founder benefits, Premium Time and Hero Mech XP-boosts to unlock powerful pilot enhancements quickly.

“After a much-needed break over the holidays, we’re raring to go with exciting 2013 content updates,” said Bryan Ekman, creative director, Piranha Games. “The addition of community-focused features such as the Double XP event, new Mechs and performance tweaks let’s us kickoff the New Year in a big way. This is just the beginning of a huge year for MechWarrior fans.”

Smaller yet important content additions accompanied the Spider Mech reveal today as the new Decay Target pilot module offers the power to keep the enemy target Mech in sight longer. This valuable time advantage of up to an additional 1.5 seconds (from the default 2 seconds) may make the difference in being able to take down enemies in heated battles, giving pilots the critical edge they need. This week’s patch also includes another pilot focused content upgrade – a Sensor Range Pilot Module – boosting sensor range from 15 to 25 percent. Finally, players can also outfit their Mech with the new custom Woodland pattern, which is available in the Mech Bay today.

MechWarrior Online continues to boost content for players with meaningful, scheduled gameplay enhancements and bug fixes with the January 15 and 22nd content updates. While the Spider offers its own advantages, fans have reason to get excited about the upcoming Commando Hero Mech named, “Death’s Knell” available on January 22. A new addition to the MechWarrior universe, Death’s Knell is a fast, yet small Mech that packs 176 points of armour and four medium lasers – two in each arm. More details about Death’s Knell is available at http://mwomercs.com/game/battlemechs/hero.

Sign up for MechWarrior Online and jump into the free-to-play action immediately: www.mwomercs.com.

Spider Mech Screenshots