Author - Jerry Paxton

Williams Pinball Volume 8 Launch Trailer

Zen Studios — the leading global producer and publisher of digital pinball video games — in partnership with Williams Electronics Games Inc. © have announced that the Williams™ Pinball Volume 8 DLC pack is available now for Pinball FX. Pinball fanatics can now take on classic Williams™ tables Earthshaker!™, Banzai Run™, and the recently revealed Black Knight 2000 on PC and consoles!

Today, fans can showcase their pinball prowess with Pinball FX’s most nostalgic DLC to date! Included in the Williams™ Pinball Volume 8 DLC pack is Earthshaker!™ — a seismic classic from 1989 known for its groundbreaking features and earthquake-themed gameplay. In the second retro table, Banzai Run™, players take on the ultimate motocross challenge and conquer the king of the hill to claim the top spot. The third table, Black Knight 2000, launches players straight back into the ‘90s while introducing an all-new, all-digital, unsurpassed sound system and stylized, electrifying graphics. A timeless pinball experience awaits!

Pinball FX’s Williams™ Pinball Volume 8 Key Features:
  • Nostalgia meets thrilling gameplay with each new legendary table!
  • Get ready to feel the ground shake, rumble, and roar as you chase high scores through these three Williams™ masterpieces
  • In Earthshaker!™, you’ll experience the seismic excitement as the earth trembles beneath your flippers! Get ready to immerse yourself in this beloved table, which will bring hours of retro fun
  • First released in 1988, Banzai Run™ is back and better than ever in this modern take to overthrow the king of the hill to become number one in an exciting daredevil motocross race
  • Black Knight 2000 is a fast-paced, visually aggressive tribute to the ‘90s era of intense pinball action, featuring original music to create a powerhouse of dynamic sound

Maestro Media Unveils Hello Kitty: Day at the Park Board Game

Maestro Media is teaming up with Sanrio®, the global lifestyle brand and home to Hello Kitty® to announce the release of the highly anticipated board game, Hello Kitty®: Day at the Park. This new game invites fans of all ages to experience the icon’s nostalgic charm by joining Hello Kitty and Friends on a heartwarming adventure filled with fun challenges and beautiful game design that is sure to spread smiles.

“We are partnering with Sanrio to bring Hello Kitty and her friends to life in a fresh board game experience,” says Javon Fraizer, CEO of Maestro Media. “This game is designed to foster teamwork and creativity, with a playful experience that promotes Hello Kitty’s message of friendship and kindness.

Developed with families and fans of Hello Kitty in mind, Hello Kitty®: Day at the Park is an accessible strategy board game that promises a unique family-friendly game experience, seamlessly blending the playful spirit of Hello Kitty with engaging and strategic gameplay that everyone can enjoy together. Players can compete as Hello Kitty and other iconic Sanrio characters, including My Melody™, Pompompurin™, Keroppi™, and more to complete thrilling adventures, earn rewards, and explore the charming park setting–all while collecting items and visiting attractions. The Deluxe Retail version of the game will also include a collectible, exclusive Hello Kitty Figurine, only available via purchase of the game.

  • Hello Kitty: Day at the Park Retail Edition ($29.99)
  • Hello Kitty: Day at the Park Deluxe Retail Edition ($59.99) – Exclusive Hello Kitty Figurine
  • Hello Kitty: Day at the Park Deluxe Retail Edition and Hello Kitty Playmat Bundle – ($99.99) Exclusive Hello Kitty Figurine

CD PROJEKT RED Launches Cyberpunk 2077 Update 2.2

CD PROJEKT RED today released a free update for Cyberpunk 2077 introducing new character customization options, Photo Mode functionality, additional gameplay improvements, and much more. The update’s launch was also accompanied by another installment of REDstreams featuring a deep dive into the latest update with its developers.

Snapshot:

  • CD PROJEKT RED launched Update 2.2 for Cyberpunk 2077, bringing a range of free improvements to the game.
  • The update was developed in partnership with Virtuos.
  • Players can enjoy new customization choices, including character and vehicle customization.
  • Photo Mode also received new features including a new camera mode and lighting options.
  • More information about the update was shared in a REDstreams episode on Twitch and YouTube.

Update 2.2 is the fruit of a close collaboration between CD PROJEKT RED and Virtuos, a studio known for its work on many well-known AAA games for consoles and PC. It is available to all owners of Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

As part of Update 2.2, players will access new character customization options — including new variants of cosmetic cyberware, tattoos, makeup options, and more. That’s not the only thing players can now modify — all luxury or sports cars that have partnered with Rayfield now have access to exclusive CrystalCoat technology, meaning players can swap out the colors of select rides. Changes have also been made to Photo Mode, which now boasts additional features — including improved camera modes, the ability to spawn up to three additional characters in the scene, increased camera range, and new lighting options. Players will also be able to enjoy the presence of Johnny Silverhand in the passenger seat as they drive through the city of dreams. On top of it all, Update 2.2 also brings a number of technical improvements and more secrets to Night City.

The Simpsons Holiday Special “O C’mon All Ye Faithful” Premieres Dec. 17

Today, Disney+ revealed the trailer for “The Simpsons” all-new holiday special “O C’mon All Ye Faithful,” premiering December 17 exclusively on Disney+. Derren Brown guest stars in the holiday special, which also features musical performances from Patti LaBelle and Pentatonix. The Christmas-themed double episode is launching timed to the 35th anniversary of “The Simpsons” original Christmas special which aired on December 17, 1989. The trailer for the upcoming Disney+ exclusive special is available here:

Famed British mentalist, Derren Brown, comes to Springfield and uses psychological tricks and showmanship to raise the town’s Christmas spirit. When Homer gets hypnotized and mistakenly believes he is Santa Claus, it sets off a cheery chain-reaction and causes everyone to question what they believe and to explore the meaning of “miracle.” Featuring musical performances by Patti LaBelle and Pentatonix, this special double episode marks the 35th anniversary of the original Christmas special from “The Simpsons” (“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”) and airs exclusively on Disney+ starting December 17th.

In addition to 35 seasons of “The Simpsons,” Disney+ is also home to “The Simpsons Movie” and more than 10 shorts featuring the Simpsons family. All these and more can be found in “The Simpsons” collection on the streaming service: https://www.disneyplus.com/franchise/the-simpsons

PEACOCK Announces SNL50: BEYOND SATURDAY NIGHT Docuseries

Featuring more than 60 contributors, including SNL alumni, and covering decades of SNL history, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most iconic hallmarks of the American late night comedy institution. Executive produced by Academy and Emmy Award winner Morgan Neville, each episode reveals new insights into the show’s rich history, pulling back the curtain on everything from the writers’ room to the famed audition process.

  • All four episodes of SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night will premiere on Peacock on January 16.
  • The four-part docuseries spotlights different elements of the show’s history and legacy, exploring the intricacies of the legendary sketch comedy series:
    • Episode 101, “Five Minutes” – A showcase of the SNL audition process, with never-before-seen audition footage and firsthand accounts from some of the show’s most iconic names as they reflect on their preparation and journey to the SNL stage.
    • Episode 102, “Written By: A Week Inside The SNL Writers Room” – A behind-the-scenes look at the SNL writing process from script to screen, capturing the creativity and chaos of a week inside the writers’ room at SNL.
    • Episode 103, “More Cowbell”  A deep dive into the making of SNL‘s iconic “More Cowbell” sketch, exploring how a simple idea became a cultural phenomenon and offering a tribute to the lasting impact of sketch comedy.
    • Episode 104, “Season 11: The Weird Year” – An exploration into SNL’s 11th season, examining the pivotal year that reset the show’s direction and cemented its enduring DNA with Lorne Michaels at the helm.
  • With unprecedented access to the show’s archives and talent, each episode brings a distinct lens to their dynamic subjects, embracing the unique vision of their award-winning directors: Emmy Award winner Robert Alexander (Ep 101), Academy Award winner Marshall Curry (Ep 102), Emmy Nominee Neil Berkeley (Ep 103) and Emmy Nominee Jason Zeldes (Ep 104).
  • Quote from Morgan Neville, Executive Producer: “I’ve been obsessed with Saturday Night Live as long as I can remember. For SNL50, I’ve been lucky to collaborate with some of my favorite independent filmmakers to tell some deeper stories of SNL. Taken together, these standalone episodes give a new perspective of SNL and what makes it work.”
  • Along with SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, stream every season of SNL, exclusively on Peacock. New SNL episodes also stream live on Peacock, in addition to the broadcast on NBC (11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT).
  • SNL will also mark its 50th anniversary with a celebratory weekend culminating in a live primetime special on Sunday, February 16, on NBC and Peacock.

Samsung News App Gets Gamified with Arrival of Popular Trivia Game The Six

Samsung Galaxy devices are receiving an enhanced Samsung News app experience with the arrival of Samsung’s popular trivia game, The Six. First launched earlier this year exclusively on Samsung Smart TVs, Samsung is building on the success of The Six and this new format by expanding its interactive gaming experience from Smart TVs directly to Galaxy devices – available to play today on the Samsung News app in North America and Canada.

Games for Everyone, Anywhere, Anytime

“Samsung’s commitment to broadening access to all types of gaming content and providing more ways for people to play continues to make our devices a top choice for players,” said Avner Ronen, Vice President of Product Development at Samsung. “As a fan-favorite game, we’ve seen the popularity of The Six on our Smart TVs and are excited to bring this engaging experience to millions of mobile devices.”

The Six offers daily trivia challenges where players compete by answering six questions on topics ranging from entertainment to world history, with faster correct answers earning higher scores. “The Six has grown into a shared experience that sparks fun conversations through approachable gameplay. We continue to see strong engagement, and by expanding the experience across smart TVs and mobile platforms we are captivating an even larger audience, who can now play across multiple screens.”

The Six is available to play on Samsung News today, with more ways to play coming soon.

News Delivered to the Palm of Your Hand

Samsung News has become an essential destination for millions of Galaxy owners, delivering timely, curated news right to their fingertips. With personalized morning and evening briefings, as well as custom feeds based on interests, it offers a convenient and accessible way to stay informed and engaged.

Samsung News has continually expanded its coverage to include tailored updates on major events like the Paris Olympics and U.S. Presidential Election, while also enhancing its offerings with the arrival of new content from LALIGA and partnerships with Yahoo Sports, ESPN, CNBC, Good Morning America and many more.

With the introduction of The Six, Samsung News continues to improve and meet audiences’ appetite for trending, breaking and local news and engaging interactive experiences. Looking forward, Samsung remains committed to driving innovation in products across platforms and devices that engage audiences wherever they are.

For more information on Samsung News, visit: https://www.samsung.com/us/apps/samsung-news/.

Urban Strife Out Now on Steam Early Access

MicroProse, the legendary name in simulation and strategy games, and White Pond Games proudly announce that Urban Strife, the much-awaited turn-based strategy and post-apocalyptic survival RPG, is now live in Early Access on Steam!

Urban Strife immerses players in a gritty, chaotic world where survival demands hard choices, sharp tactics and a willingness to fight for the future. Set in the conflicted, faction-run city of Urban, the game delivers a deeply involving narrative, tense combat and rich crafting systems begging for ‘one more turn’. Experience real bullet ballistics, a realistic day/night cycle, dynamic fire mechanics and advanced sound and smoke propagation as you fight to survive one more day. NPCs live independent lives shaped by faction-based morals, and survival mechanics include hunger, wounds, and sickness. As Early Access progresses, players can look forward to major plot twists and advanced modding support, enabling the community to expand and evolve the apocalypse.

Blood Bowl 3 Season 7: Norse Trailer

Cyanide Studio and NACON are pleased to announce that Season 7 of Blood Bowl 3 is out now, featuring the fearsome Norse faction, the new Arena mode as well as many new features and improvements. Last weekend also saw the conclusion of the Blood Bowl 3 2024 World Championship, an opportunity to take a closer look at this major new competitive event.

A Season 7 packed with new features
  • A new faction, the Norse: the Norse teams love a fight above all else! These cold-hardened players excel in melee, blocking in all directions and punching their way across the field. In addition to their brute strength, this faction can also count on their intrepid and versatile Valkyries… or even on a boar who distributes beer to his teammates!
  • Arena mode, a new way to play: in this new competitive format, players must win a certain number of matches to win, while being careful not to lose too many matches, or risk elimination.
  • Eternal League is on the wayBlood Bowl 2‘s highly popular single-player mode will be opened up for in-depth community testing during the season, and will be available to all players from Season 8 onwards. The Eternal League will enable players to progress their teams ad infinitum by taking part in a number of themed competitions (opposing teams made up entirely of undead players, stadium caught in a perpetual blizzard, referee allowing cheating etc.).

Maximum Football is Now Available on Xbox Game Preview

Maximum Entertainment today announced that the free-to-play, community-driven football simulation Maximum Football is available now on Xbox Game Preview. This marks a major milestone for Maximum Football, which already launched into Steam Early Access last month, as Xbox has long been one of the top platforms for sports and American football gamers. Today’s release gives Xbox players the chance to enter the field in a truly customizable football experience, setting the stage for intense online competition, dynamic team management, and endless player creativity.

View today’s Xbox Game Preview launch trailer:

Alongside the Xbox launch, Maximum Football also celebrates the debut of its Season Pass 1: Gridiron Glory, featuring exclusive rewards, limited-time cosmetics, and exciting gameplay expansions. Whether you’re building a dynasty or competing in ranked online matches, the gridiron is ready for you to make your mark!