Author - Jerry Paxton

ASH II: Shadows Quick-Review (iOS)

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News, Reviews

ASH II: Shadows is Konami’s follow-up to the well-received ASH on the iOS platform. A JRPG in the vein of the original Final Fantasy, ASH II features a lot of crisp, hand-drawn visuals that really pop on the iPhone 4S retina display. The game follows the story of an ostracized warrior and the party members he teams up with. While the writing in the game is somewhat cliche, overall the story gets communicated well and, along with the visuals, really help to sell the game world. In fact, several times I could not wait to find out what was going to happen next in the chapter.

Throughout the course of the story’s first chapter (the game is episodic and more are on the way), you and your party members will fight tons of creatures and enemies as well as explore the fantasy-based landscape.Combat is handled in the tactical, JRPG manner of each being on the display getting his or her chance to act, whether it be using magic or attacking with a melee weapon. Players can outfit their party members with new items and equipment along the way.

ASH II’s biggest problem is in the EXTREMELY easy difficulty level. I played through the entire first chapter and never once had a problem dispatching my foes. Hopefully, in later chapters, they will remedy the situation as the game mechanics are a lot of fun and are sure to offer the iOS gamer hours of playtime.

Screenshots

CryENGINE 3 Licensed by Warhorse Studios

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

Prague (Czech Republic) / Frankfurt (Germany) , February 9, 2012 – Crytek GmbH (Crytek) and Warhorse Studios are happy to announce that they have closed a licensing deal for Crytek’s proprietary all-in-one game development solution CryENGINE®3. Warhorse Studios is working on an unannounced role-playing game (RPG). The debut title for the studio will combine open-world experience with a rich story and innovative gameplay elements.

“The team at Warhorse Studios consists of industry veterans from AAA classics such as the Mafia franchise and Operation Flashpoint. We’re excited by their vision for an innovative RPG and we are looking forward to working with them to help them achieve that vision with CryENGINE 3.”, said Carl Jones, Director of Global Business Development CryENGINE.

Martin Klima, Executive Producer at Warhorse Studios commented: “We looked at every major technology out there and CryENGINE 3 suits our needs perfectly. We are confident it will allow us to make the vision for our game come true.

Dragons vs Unicorns Gets Single Player, New Screens

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

AUSTIN, TX.- February 09, 2012 – Digital Harmony Games, a new interactive entertainment developer of social, casual games, today revealed new single player details for the upcoming multiplayer, free-to- play game Dragons vs. Unicorns, which will launch on iOS, Android and Browsers this year. Additionally, new screenshots have been released that introduce never-before-seen characters, like the Kamikaze Bat and Pimp Turtle, and the adorable Unicornlings players are charged with protecting! Players can visit www.digitalharmonygames.com to check out all the new details.

Dragons vs. Unicorns’ single player mode is an action defensive mode where players take charge of the Unicorn and defend the adorable baby unicornlings hatched from the nests. The goal is to protect the unicorn eggs and nests from the Dragon Minions as waves and waves of Dragon Minions approach in each successive level! Players will earn points for hatching unicorns and gold for killing minions.

Protecting the precious unicorn eggs aren’t the only task players are charged with, they must also protect the cute and cuddly bunnies that hop from the opposite side of the field to sit on top of the unicornling eggs for incubation. Since the unicorn has made a pact with all things cute, players have the advantage of sending the cuddly hedgehog — who bows to the unicorns every move – flying across the field like a boomerang mowing down anything in its path!

In this action-packed game, players can collect ability orbs from enemy kills to command powerful elements; like the Happy Sun Beam that fries multiple enemies on the screen all at once. Master the high score leaderboards, and earn gold and cupcakes to spend in the Dragons vs. Unicorns store for defensive and offensive upgrades and new abilities!

Dragons vs. Unicorns offers an immersive experience with a simple and intuitive control scheme and easy click and gesture based control. PVP fans will find dynamic physics with realistic damage in the sprite filled, sparkly rainbow and molten lava driven world. Single player mode, VS Multiplayer, persistent player data, social connectivity and so much more will await players in this unique and magical world of Dragons and Unicorns.

For more information, visit www.digitalharmonygames.com and follow on Twitter @DigiHarmGames. And look for their first title Chin Up now available in the iTunes store.

New Screenshots

Two New Forge of Empires Screenshots

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

Germany, February 09, 2012. Today InnoGames released a sneak peek into its upcoming browser game, Forge of Empires, with information regarding gameplay features. Various buildable structures increase citizens’ happiness, which is necessary for city prosperity and productivity. This greatly improves the ability to take over neighboring lands and expand empires.

As a city’s population grows in the game, the inhabitants develop an increasing demand for leisure activities. Players can choose from a number of buildings to meet that demand such as schools, theaters, public bath houses – and further in the title – embellished cathedrals and castles. Productivity quickly declines with an unhappy population, whereas happiness levels beyond the required amount boost the production of resources. Once this is fullfilled, leaders are prepared to obtain surrounding provinces.

Conquering provinces grants a source for rare goods or other rewards, like city-expansions or treasure. As players advance in the campaign, they unlock PvP-Towers. The towers allow one to compete in the various Ages’ PvP-tournaments, which run over the course of 7 days. In the future, InnoGames plans additional PvP-features as well as a Co-Op Campaign.

Forge of Empires is a browser-based strategy game that allows players to create a city and develop it from the Stone Age and onward throughout the centuries. Players can create a vast empire through military campaigns and skillful dealings. Screenshots, artwork and a trailer are available on www.forgeofempires.com.

With about 75 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the world’s leading developers and providers of online games. The Hamburg-based company has scored major successes with games such as Tribal Wars, The West and Grepolis.

New Screenshots

Turtle Beach Had 50% of the Gaming Headset Market in 2011

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

Elmsford, N.Y., February 9, 2012 – Turtle Beach, pioneers of the game audio category, announced today that based on year-ending NPD data for 2011, Turtle Beach was the number one gaming headsets/headphones company with 50% of the market for the year and the number one third party console video gaming accessories company, based on 2011 dollar volume.

The strong growth for the category has led NPD to create a dedicated Headsets category, splitting off from the general Audio category. Headsets continue to be the strongest growing segment in the gaming industry and is expanding rapidly. Turtle Beach led the field with 12 of the top 25 Gaming Headset SKUS in 2011. Overall, Turtle Beach dominated the market, taking an average of 50% market share for 2011, with a 58% share in December alone, a high for the year.

“Turtle Beach created the console gaming headset category and we have been the leader ever since releasing our first XBOX headset more than five years ago. We are number one because our products are based on the principle that quality audio is a critical part of the video game experience and the market has responded,” said Bob Picunko, Chief Marketing Officer at Turtle Beach. “The latest NPD data has shown the strongest growth in the history of Turtle Beach and the category itself. The creation of a dedicated Gaming Headset category and our significant market share is a testament to the quality of our product and the desire of players to have a more immersive audio experience.”

Turtle Beach kicked off with a strong start at CES 2012, where its Ear Force XP400 was named “Best Gaming Hardware” for IGN’s Best of CES 2012 Awards. The Ear Force XP400 features 2.4/5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi technology, an industry first, plus Dolby Post-Processing with six variable virtual speaker configurations that offer custom tuned angles to optimize the surround sound effect.

2011’s successes and continued growth in the category were driven by a range of new products with trailblazing innovations, bringing expanded offerings for gamers of all types. Leading the charge was the Ear Force X12, successor to the Ear Force X11, the best-selling stereo headset for the Xbox 360 of all time. Early in the year the Ear Force PX5 reinvented gaming headsets by introducing patent-pending audio “presets” which allow developers and players to customize audio settings that enhances the game experience and offers a competitive edge. Turtle Beach also launched a line of limited edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 headsets to coincide with the biggest entertainment launch in history. The end of the year brought the Ear Force XP500, the first Xbox 360 headset to feature completely wireless XBOX Live chat capabilities with integrated Bluetooth technology that enables gamers to answer phone calls and stream audio while gaming.

GameStop Announces First Ever Cash Dividend

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

GRAPEVINE, Texas — GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world’s largest multichannel video game retailer, today announced its board of directors approved the initiation of a quarterly dividend to its shareholders of $0.15 per share. The first quarterly dividend will be paid on Mar. 12, 2012 to all shareholders of record as of Feb. 21, 2012. Future dividends will be subject to board approval.

“We have achieved our goal of eliminating debt and are pleased to return excess cash to our shareholders,” said Dan DeMatteo, executive chairman, GameStop Corp. “The board’s decision to initiate a dividend reflects GameStop’s strong capital position and demonstrates our confidence in the long term viability of our business.”

Since initiating a disciplined capital allocation plan in Jan. 2010, the company’s stock and debt buybacks have totaled more than one billion dollars and GameStop now operates debt free.

Genius Exhibits GX Gaming Series at CeBIT

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

February 9, 2012, Taipei, Taiwan – Genius, a leading maker of computer peripherals and consumer electronics accessories, will once again be attending the digital industry’s biggest, most international event – CeBIT 2012 – to be held at the Deutsche Messe, in Hannover, Germany from March 6 to March 10, 2012. Genius is extending an invitation to all CeBIT attendees to visit their booth (#E37 in Hall 17) and get hands-on experience with their top quality product offerings.

Genius will be demonstrating their entire product lines including smart phone and tablet PC accessories, some of the lightest AndroidTM and Apple Bluetooth keyboards on the market, professional-grade graphic design tablets, audio devices like gaming and iPad / iPhone speakers, imaging devices such as digital cameras and camcorders, and gaming accessories like headsets and ultra-responsive computer mice.

The GX Gaming Series and two star products – BV-200 Pico Projector and Ring Presenter – will be highlighted:

  • GX Gaming Series
    This brand new GX gaming series encompasses a full range of professional PC gaming peripherals. Designed for MMO, RTS, and FPS gamers, the GX Gaming Series features 7.1 channel headsets, on-board memory programmable mice and keyboards, as well as gaming speakers with booming bass.
  • Bella Vision BV-200 Pico Projector
    This pocket-sized projector is the perfect choice for viewing movies, giving presentations, or displaying games when space is limited. With the built-in document viewer, you can navigate PDF, Excel, Word, audio, and video files without hooking up to a PC. See for yourself a new way to view media.
  • Ring Presenter
    Ring Presenter is the world’s first ring presentation device that allows full access control of PowerPoint slides, web pages, and documents from your fingertips. With scrolling, laser pointing and clicking functions, you can also control your presentation with this nifty finger device.

With a history of world-changing product unveilings, CeBIT has become a prestigious event. Genius is proud to participate and introduce their newest, industry leading wide-range of products to the attending news reporters and consumers at Booth #E37 in Hall 17.

GX Gaming Series Trailer

Six Flags Great Adventure Will Offer 4,100 Jobs in 2012

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

Anyone looking for work near Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, take note! The amusement park is planning some major hiring in the near future. Checkout the press release below for more info and good luck!

Press Release

WHAT: Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey’s largest seasonal employer, is hiring more than 4,100 employees including 200 interns for the 2012 season. The park will host two job fairs Feb. 11 and 18 from 10 am to 4 pm. In 2011, more than 15,000 applicants vied for the positions, and park management anticipates a comparable turnout for 2012.

Six Flags offers a wide variety of positions and paid internships and offers team members many benefits including flexible hours, advancement opportunities, health and medical benefits, reward and recognition programs, scholarships, free park admission, incentives from area businesses and much more.

Six Flags has positions open in the following areas:

• Merchandise • Games • Park Services • Loss Prevention & Security

• Landscaping • Human Resources • Food Service • Safari

• Marketing • Cash Control • Ride Operations • Lifeguards

• Entertainment • Admissions & Guest Relations

Six Flags is looking for enthusiastic candidates from high school students to senior citizens including teachers, stay-at-home parents, retirees and second-wage earners interested in pursuing careers in occupations such as marketing, accounting, criminal justice, theater arts, human resources, hospitality and business management, horticulture and zoology.

Before attending, all applicants must visit www.sixflagsjobs.com to complete an online application. The Six Flags Employment Center is open Monday through Friday from 1 pm to 6 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 5 pm.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 11 and 18 from 10 am to 4 pm

WHERE: Six Flags Great Adventure’s Employment Center

1 Six Flags Blvd. Jackson, NJ 08527

Schwarzenegger to Star Opposite Stallone in THE TOMB

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

Los Angeles, CA – February 8, 2012 – It was announced today that Arnold Schwarzenegger will star opposite Sylvester Stallone in the action/thriller THE TOMB, which will be directed by Swedish filmmaker Mikael Håfström.

An Emmett-Furla Films/Mark Canton production, the film is produced by Atmosphere Entertainment chairman Mark Canton (300, IMMORTALS), Randall Emmett (LAY THE FAVORITE, RAMBO), George Furla (LAY THE FAVORITE, RAMBO), Robbie Brenner (MACHINE GUN PREACHER, A PERFECT GETAWAY), and Kevin King-Templeton (THE EXPENDABLES, RAMBO, ROCKY BALBOA). Emmett/Furla Films is financing the project. Summit holds worldwide distribution rights to THE TOMB and will release the film in North America.

Written by Miles Chapman for the screen, with a rewrite by Jason Keller, THE TOMB follows Ray Breslin (Stallone) who is the world’s foremost authority on structural security. He’s analyzed every high security prison and has gained a vast array of survival skills. But all Ray’s ingenuity and knowledge are about to be put to work in the most challenging test he’s ever faced: escaping from the master prison of his own design.

Schwarzenegger, in the role of Church, plays a complex inmate with multiple shades of grey. He’s the guy who fights to keep the prisoners from losing their humanity in their darkest hour as they struggle together to stay alive

THE TOMB, which Brenner had originally set up as a spec script at Summit will be shot in Louisiana this spring.

“I am thrilled to be making THE TOMB with two film icons – Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger,” said producer Mark Canton. “It is the perfect pairing for this high octane thriller. Robbie Brenner, Emmett/Furla, Kevin King-Templeton and I have been working long and hard with Summit to bring them together for this dynamic project.”

Schwarzenegger and Stallone will next be seen on screen together in THE EXPENDABLES 2, which is currently in post-production and will be released this summer by Lionsgate. Schwarzenegger just wrapped filming THE LAST STAND, produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and directed by Jee-woon Kim.

Håfström recently directed horror film THE RITE starring Anthony Hopkins for New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. He also directed 2010’s SHANGHAI starring John Cusack; the Jennifer Aniston, Clive Owen thriller DERAILED; MGM’s 1408 starring John Cusak and Samuel L. Jackson, and the Swedish drama EVIL.

Schwarzenegger is repped by CAA. Håfström is repped by WME.