Author - Jerry Paxton

Secrets of the Dragon’s Spine Announced for AoC

Durham, USA – September 3rd, 2012 – Funcom is excited to announce a series of upcoming updates called ‘Secrets of Dragon’s Spine’ for its massively multiplayer online role-playing game ‘Age of Conan: Unchained’. The updates will be released over time, with the first one to hit in the next few months, and will introduce a remote desert region known as The Dragon’s Spine filled with new dungeons, quests, monsters and rewards for players to experience.

The ‘Secrets of Dragon’s Spine’ update series will provide players with all new Hyborian experiences as they venture to the desert region located south and west of the ancient city of Pteion. Rippling desert dunes stretches for miles in every direction from the spine, lifeless, except for a small oasis in the mountain’s shadow, and treacherous caves and tunnels weave in and out of the mountain rock. The only building made by man is the Palace of Cetriss, which can be found in the center of the area, at the foot of the mountain … but men are not the only beings to have forged a thriving civilization in the desolate desert, many secrets lay buried beneath the sands.

“Our version of Hyboria has grown into a vast online world since we launched back in 2008,” says Craig Morrison, Creative Director at Funcom. “With the‘Secrets of Dragon’s Spine’ update we are moving into an incredibly exciting part of Robert E. Howard’s work, and I think both ‘Age of Conan’ players and fans of Howard’s work alike will find a lot to enjoy once they get to explore this new content.”

Within the new content, which is aimed at level eighty players, there will be several new dungeons, a new raid area, a massive outdoor region (roughly the same size as the coast of Ardashir), and a new PvP area, as well as a host of new rewards, armor sets, weapons and other cultural items. There will also be a new mount type that will be revealed later on, which is closely linked to the story in the new area. The new dungeons are called The Coils of Ubah Kan, The Sepulchral of the Wyrm and The Slithering Chaos, and will offer the same kind of selection of experiences as in ‘The Savage Coast of Turan’ update.

‘Age of Conan: Unchained’ is one of the most critically acclaimed massively multiplayer online games of all time, and following launch in 2008 – then called‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’ – the game sold over 1.4 million copies worldwide. Over three million people from all over the world have adventured through the virtual rendition of Robert E. Howard’s legendary world, and the game has become increasingly more popular after several major updates and the switch to a free-to-play model last year.

Mists of Pandaria SoCal Launch Event Announced

Blizzard Entertainment’s PR department has just released their official plans for the Southern California Mists of Pandaria launch event near Blizzard HQ in Irvine. Checkout the info below for all the details!

Hi,

We’ve just unveiled plans for several official global launch events celebrating the upcoming release of World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. Beginning on the evening of September 24, members of the World of Warcraft development team will be on hand at many of our launch events in the US, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the UK, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Taiwan to meet players and sign their copies of the game.

In the US, the launch event will take place in Southern California, near Blizzard headquarters:

Where
Giant Wheel Court at the Irvine Spectrum Center
71 Fortune Drive
Irvine, California 92618

When
9:00 p.m. PDT on September 24

Details
We’ll have a stage presentation featuring an evening of activities, special guests, giveaways, and entertainment — including a “challenge-mode challenge” between Blizzard employees and members of the community — before the expansion goes on sale at midnight.

In addition to the official launch events, retail locations in many places will open at midnight local time to support gamers eager to pick up the expansion as soon as it’s available and set forth on an expedition to the mysterious continent of Pandaria. Check with local retailers for further details.

Regards,
Blizzard PR

Resident Evil 6 Demo Release Info

Capcom has sent us a letter revealing the details of the Resident Evil 6 demo. Check it out!

Capcom is pleased to confirm that from September 18, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners will be able to download a new Resident Evil 6 demo from Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Store. The new demo features completely different content to that contained in the previously released Resident Evil 6 demo exclusive to owners of the Xbox 360 version of Dragon’s Dogma.

Players will be able to dive into content from Resident Evil 6’s three main campaigns, either solo or partnering up via online co-op, and experience firsthand why it is one of this year’s most hotly anticipated titles.

Play as either Leon S. Kennedy or Helena Harper and further explore the dark corridors and moonlit grounds of Ivy University, swarming with the victims of the latest bioterrorist attack.

The action in Jake’s mission switches to the neon-lit streets of Lanshiang as he and Sherry Berkin fight off the J’avo, including their fully mutated forms. Be sure to check out Jake’s special hand-to- hand combat moves and Sherry’s stun baton as you struggle to stay alive.

Showcasing Resident Evil 6’s global setting, Chris Redfield and Piers Nivans head with fellow BSAA team members to the war-ravaged streets of Edonia. The amassed J’avo forces provide a stiff enough challenge, but that’s before the 3-story high B.O.W. Ogroman crashes the party. Select Piers for a slightly different weapons loadout than Chris including a sniper rifle with thermal scope.

In addition, for those owners of the PlayStation 3 version of Dragon’s Dogma, the exclusive demo previously only available for Xbox 360 owners will be available from September 5 to download via token redemption on the PlayStation Store.

Resident Evil 6 will release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 across Europe and North America on October 2. A PC version will follow soon.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Announced

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 31, 2012) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in the Americas, today unveiled the final chapter to Lightning’s saga at a fan-filled 25th anniversary event of the FINAL FANTASY® franchise.LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII, due out next year, incorporates a brand-new story, world, characters and an enhanced gameplay system.

The FINAL FANTASY XIII franchise has now shipped more than 9.6 million units worldwide. Production is underway, and the game will feature Lightning as a playable character and will allow players to experience an active and expansive environment like never before.

Related Links
Official Homepage:   http://finalfantasyxiii.com/LR
Official Facebook® Page: http://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasyXIII
Official North American Members YouTube® Page: http://www.youtube.com/user/SQEXMembersNA
Follow LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII on Twitter®: @OfficialFFXIII

LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII is not yet rated. Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings.

Lock On: Flaming Cliffs 3 Announced

DUXFORD, UK, September 1st, 2012 – The Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics will release Lock On: Flaming Cliffs 3 for Windows PC in September 2012.

Lock On: Flaming Cliffs 3 (FC3) is the next evolution of the Flaming Cliffs series. FC3 features the F-15C, A-10A, Su-27, Su-33, MiG-29A, MiG-29S, Su-25T, and Su-25. FC3 aircraft provide an easy learning curve for new players and focuses on a broad range of aircraft rather than a detailed single aircraft. FC3 adds a number of new features and improvements to previous versions of the Flaming Cliffs series. FC3 is a module of DCS: World, which makes it compatible  with all other DCS: World titles like A-10C, Black Shark 2, P-51D, and Combined Arms.

FC3 will be priced at $39.99.

Key Features of Lock On: Flaming Cliffs 3 include:

  • A DCS World module that is compatible with DCS titles.
  • New 6 degrees of freedom (6DOF) cockpit and model for the F-15C.
  • New F-15C campaign and single missions.
  • Improved takeoff and landing flight dynamics.
  • New, advanced flight dynamics for air-to-air missiles.
  • Updated and improved HUDs and other cockpit systems.
  • Resource Manager that adds logistics control to missions.
  • Expanded theatre of operations map into eastern Georgia.
  • Countless other improvements in the areas of the mission editor, special effects, new models, improved  terrain detail and AI.


Lock On: Flaming Cliffs 3
 will require an installation of Lock On: Modern Air Combat or a previous version Flaming Cliffs.

DCS: World is a new, free, combat simulation. DCS: World provides a free-to-play Su-25T ground attack aircraft with unlimited online restrictions. Online DCS: World includes friendly and enemy forces that can be controlled by other players or AI air and ground units. The purchase of additional DCS modules allows the player to have careers as pilots of the A-10C Warthog, KA-50 Black Shark attack helicopter, P-51D Mustang, or armor vehicle commander.  You may read more about DCS: World and its modules at: http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/

About The Fighter Collection

The Fighter Collection, as well as developing software for the entertainment and serious game  markets, also operates, rebuilds and maintains Europe’s largest collection of airworthy WWII fighters based at Duxford Airfield, in the UK. For more information visit our websites: http://www.fighter-collection.com/

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Razer Unveils New Blade Gaming Laptop at PAX

SEATTLE, Wash. (PAX Prime) – Aug. 31, 2012 –Razer™, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, unveiled the next generation of the world’s first true gaming laptop, the Razer Blade. The Razer Blade raised the bar on portable gaming laptops, pushing performance limits without compromising on its ultra-thin form factor. The new Razer Blade will be available for pre-order for $2,499 on Sept. 2 and begin shipping to consumers in North America on Sept. 30, 2012.

“The all-new Razer Blade is built to defy all conventions; it is has extreme levels of performance and yet amazingly thin,” said Min-Liang Tan, Razer Chief Executive Officer. “The Blade features the next generation of Intel® quad core processors combined with powerful NVIDIA® GTX class graphics chips and the fastest RAM available, resulting in a machine that is insanely powerful.”

The original Razer Blade’s thermal system was completely re-engineered and built from custom-crafted parts with larger vents and specially designed heat pipes that allow more airflow to the unit’s extreme components. With one of the most innovative thermal solutions in the industry, the new Razer Blade incorporates a tremendous amount of power and performance in an ultra-thin form factor.

The new Razer Blade is only 0.88 inches thick, less than half the thickness of traditional gaming laptops of comparable performance. Combined with an ultra-slim power supply, the entire system weighs less than seven pounds, less than half the weight of other gaming laptops, making it the lowest profile, lightest gaming laptop of its class.

In short – the Razer Blade has equivalent performance to some of the most powerful traditional gaming laptops, but at a fraction of their size and weight.

PC gamers will now be able to experience today’s most graphics-intensive games at phenomenal frame rates on the new Razer Blade’s remarkable 17.3-in. high-definition display. The machine’s new hybrid drive solution delivers data up to three times faster than traditional hard drives, with double the storage space. Additional features include quieter fans, optimized speakers, and three USB 3.0 ports with charging capabilities even when the system is switched off.

The most striking and innovative feature of the Razer Blade remains its multi-award-winning Switchblade User Interface (UI). The unique integrated LCD display/multi-touch panel and 10 dynamic adaptive tactile keys put commands and control functions within fingertip reach. The Switchblade UI features a growing list of applications designed specifically for gaming by Razer’s in-house software engineers as well as by Razer’s active community of users. These apps allow users to browse the web for in-game guides, watch online videos, stay connected within their social networks, and take advantage of an expanding list of dedicated gaming apps without ever having to leave a game.

“With the new Razer Blade, we set out to design something truly phenomenal with extreme performance for gamers in an ultra-thin form factor,” said Min. “The design and hardware advancements, combined with our revolutionary user interface, makes the new Razer Blade, without doubt, the very best gaming laptop we’ve ever designed. The Beauty is now the Beast.”

Watch the “Razer Blade: The Beauty is Now the Beast” video at:
http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-systems/razer-blade

Halloween Haunt Museum Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Today, we got the chance to checkout the ribbon cutting ceremony and media walkthrough of Knott’s Berry Farm’s Halloween Haunt Museum. The museum is home to a huge amount of Knott’s “Scary” Farm memorabilia – even including the couch used by Elvira during her fabled park shows back in the day. The Halloween Haunt Museum is located within the Calico Ghost Town area of Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA. The museum is open now.

Knott’s annual Halloween Haunt is scheduled to begin on Sept 21, 2012.

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Primal Carnage Now Available for Pre-Order

Twain Harte, CA – August 31, 2012 – Lukewarm Media and Reverb Publishing’s upcoming dinos-vs.-humans deathmatch,Primal Carnage, is available now for preorder at the official website (http://www.primalcarnage.com/website/preorder). For $14.99, gamers will get a Steam key that will grant them early access to Primal Carnage in the closed beta, as well as an exclusive feathered raptor skin when the game launches later this year. Get in early and experience class-based online combat unlike anything else on the market and the best dinosaur game to date.

Not since 1993’s Jurassic Park has the terror of a dinosaur onslaught felt so real and thrilling. With Primal Carnage, players hunt AND are hunted, and must choose between defending themselves against a slew of deadly prehistoric creatures with an arsenal of today’s weapons, or decimating humans into piles of sinew as vicious carnivores of all sizes and variety. With five unique human classes and five unique dinosaurs, Primal Carnage is a dynamic, enthralling experience. Rendered in high-fidelity using the Unreal Engine, this is one of the greatest looking digital games to date.

Features of Primal Carnage include:

  • Five large, open environments in which to team up and take down the human or dinosaur competition online
  • 10 playable classes (five human, five dinosaur) each with unique skills and abilities that can trump each other in a rock-paper-scissors fashion
  • Play from both first-person (humans) and third-person (dinosaurs) perspective
  • Multiple achievements, unlockables and planned DLC

Primal Carnage is a part of Reverb Publishing’s growing roster of titles, which includes the massively-successful Dungeon Defenders, the recently-released Jeremy McGrath’s Offroad and JAM Live Music Arcade, as well as the upcoming Sanctum 2,Ravaged, Beatbuddy, Black Knight Sword, Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken and much more. For more information on Reverb Publishing and its line-up of titles, please visit us at www.reverbpublishing.com. For more information about Lukewarm Media andPrimal Carnage, please visit www.primalcarnage.com and be sure to “Like” us at www.facebook.com/primalcarnage.

New F1 2012 Developer Diary Released

Los Angeles, Calif. – Aug. 31, 2012 – Codemasters® today released a new developer diary for F1 2012, the next game in the award-winning series which will launch in the US on September 18 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

The new developer diary details the team’s objectives to “break new boundaries” and “match real life” as it introduces a wide range of new features and improvements that star in the game. Advances in physics, weather, audio and more are introduced alongside stunning in-game and real-life footage in the video, now playing at www.youtube.com/formula1game.

“Significant work has gone into the physics model, particularly the suspension, which has a real sea change on the feel of the car,” said Stephen Hood, Creative Director. “You can really attack the track. It’s those extra elements that make you feel like a real FORMULA ONE driver.”

“The whole weather scenario system has really been refined this year,” said Paul Jeal, Game Director. “You’ll get weather fronts come in now and it could be raining at one section of the track but dry on another. So you get those moments where you’re not sure which tyres to be on and that really mixes up the racing.” Stephen Hood added, “If you want that FORMULA ONE experience, the stuff we’ve been doing in 2012 has moved on a whole new generation now.”

F1 2012 is set to deliver the most accessible and immersive FORMULA ONE game for fans of all abilities. Players will feel the unparalleled thrill of becoming a FORMULA ONE driver with a host of new features, wide-ranging technical and gameplay advancements and extensive competitive and co-operative multiplayer components. F1 2012 will feature all of the official teams, drivers and circuits from the 2012 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, including the debut of the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX at Austin, Texas and the return of Germany’s famous Hockenheim circuit to the calendar.

F1 2012 is in development at Codemasters Birmingham for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and Windows PC and is available for pre-order ahead of its September worldwide release. To get all the news straight from the studio, race over to www.facebook.com/formula1game or follow the team on twitter at www.twitter.com/formula1game.

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