Author - Jerry Paxton

Elevated Perceptions Unveils MovieScent

2024/08/22

Geek News, News, Tech News, Trailers / Videos

Elevated Perceptions, a pioneering company in the realm of immersive gaming and entertainment experiences, today introduced MovieScent, an AI-powered device that releases real-time scents based on events and environments within movies, TV shows, televised sporting events and streams.

This innovative product, for the first time, brings the sense of smell to the home entertainment experience. For example, users watching a romantic beach scene can now ‘smell’ the ocean and ‘taste’ the salt in the air, leading to a much deeper emotional connection to their favorite content. Compatible with every movie and game ever made as well as a wide range of devices including all TVs, PCs, mobile phones, tablets, gaming systems and virtual reality (VR) headsets, MovieScent can be used anywhere someone is watching content.

MovieScent will ship in September for $179.99 MSRP on MovieScent.com and Amazon.com, and will be available at all major retailers in the fall. Consumers who purchase MovieScent prior to September 30, 2024, can get it for a discounted introductory price of $149.99 USD.

Farming Simulator 25 Gamescom Gameplay Trailer

2024/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Animals get cuter, more varied and the weather more challenging: Showing off the upcoming agricultural sim at gamescom, publisher and developer GIANTS Software reveals new features for Farming Simulator 25. Attendees visiting the games fair in Cologne can play-test the game from August 21st to 25th in hall 6. GIANTS Software is also present in the business area (hall 4.2).

https://youtu.be/sl7Bk3uB4L4?si=eP12nAIRG4sImmEv

Weather Shift: Twisters with a Chance of Hail
When virtual farmers see darkening clouds in the sky, it could be a sign of some serious weather on the way. Expecting a light twister or hail to touch down in a few areas, they need to take precautions and secure any unroofed bales. While the skies will clear and the new weather events will pass, they always carry the chance of destroying a portion of fields and forests. Players can deactivate the destruction of crops if they like their yield untouched by the weather.

Cuteness Upgrade for Animal Husbandry
With water buffaloes and goats, new animal types fill the pens, producing new types of milk that can be processed and used in production chains to acquire and distribute fine cheeses. Increasing the cuteness factor and fluffiness of the fur, animals produce offspring. Wobbling on their tiny legs at first, animal farmers watch them grow into productive livestock.

Farming Simulator 25 will be released on PC, Mac, PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 12th. It features 25 crops, including new additions like rice and spinach, 400+ authentic vehicles and tools as well as 150 real-world brands. Pre-orders are available now at select retailers. Visit the official Farming Simulator website and the GIANTS Software press area for more information.

The Countdown is on for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood

2024/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is just around the corner and this year’s event will be scarier than ever. Beginning on Thursday, September 5 and continuing on select nights through Sunday, November 3, guests are invited to step into the place where horror lives when they purchase available event tickets, including the popular Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass, which they can purchase now to maximize their visits to Halloween Horror Nights and relive the terror over and over again.

With eight all-new terrifying haunted houses, a reimagined Terror Tram, multiple scare zones and live entertainment, Halloween Horror Nights is Southern California’s scariest Halloween event that features a killer line-up, inspired by the biggest names in horror.

At a glance, here’s what guests can expect at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights:

“The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy,” an immersive experience curated by the multi-award-winning artist.
“A Quiet Place,” a terrifying new experience based on Paramount Pictures’ critically acclaimed franchise that will incorporate American Sign Language (ASL) into a haunted house for the very first time.
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” inspired by Sony Picture’s latest installment of the Ghostbusters franchise.
“Insidious: The Further” based on the latest films in the hit supernatural horror film series produced by Blumhouse Productions in association with Sony Pictures.
“Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines” an all-female monsters led haunted house inspired by Universal Pictures’ classic monsters, featuring music by Slash.
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Legacy of Leatherface,” which pays tribute to the 50^th anniversary of the iconic maniacal monster.
“Monstruos 2: The Nightmares of Latin America,” a sequel to the 2023 hit haunted house.
“Dead Exposure: Death Valley,” an original concept house with petrifying radioactive zombies.
“Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse,” a terrifying experience taking fans on a close encounter with characters from Blumhouse Production’s popular franchises, including M3GAN, The Black Phone, Freaky, The Purge and Happy Death Day.
“The Purge: Dangerous Waters,” a live stunt show that takes visitors on a fiery, rock-fueled adventure while they fight to survive the night, inspired by Blumhouse Production’s popular film franchise.
“Luchadores Monstruosos,” an all-new scare zone.
“Skull Lordz,” a scare zone featuring a gothic inspired royal court of the dead.
“Chainsaw Punkz,” a troop of chainsaw killers will confront guests as they enter the event.
“Murder of Crowz,” a flock of menacing crow stilt-walkers will terrify guests.

Tickets are on sale now with a variety of ticket offerings available. Click here to purchase tickets and for Terms and Conditions. Details for each ticket type are subject to change.

General Admission: general admission ticket to Halloween Horror Nights.
Universal Express: One-time (per day) express access to each participating haunted house, ride and attraction. Does not include early event access.
Universal Express Unlimited: Unlimited express access (per day) to each participating haunted house, ride and attraction. Does not include early event access.
Frequent Fear Pass: Experience up to 33 nights (based on your selected first visit date during purchase) of General Admission to this year’s event. Valid on select nights only; blackout dates apply. Does not include early event access.
Ultimate Fear Pass: Experience the scares over and over for up to all event nights (based on selected first visit date during purchase). No blackout dates on return visits. Does not include early event access.
After 2 PM Day/Night: Daytime General Admission to the Theme Park after 2:00 p.m. and same day evening General Admission to Halloween Horror Nights.
Early Access Ticket: Early access, beginning at 5:30 p.m.(subject to change) to select haunted houses prior to event opening. A Halloween Horror Nights admission ticket must be purchased separately.
R.I.P. Tour: Enjoy V.I.P treatment with an evening of first-class horror, expert shared guided tour of the haunted houses, exclusive experiences along the way and a gourmet dinner.
Pass Member Special Pricing: Platinum Annual Pass Members can reserve their complimentary Halloween Horror Nights General Admission ticket, select nights apply.

Adding to the scares, guests also can experience select theme park attractions open during the event, including “Jurassic World—The Ride,” the highly immersive land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” featuring “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” “Transformers™: The Ride-3D,” “Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride” and “The Simpsons Ride™.” The interactive land SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will be accessible to guests purchasing select tickets.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Gamescom Gameplay Showcase

2024/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

As part of Gamescom’s Opening Night Live Warhorse Studios and PLAION have revealed a new trailer for the upcoming medieval epic Kingdom Come: Deliverance II showing a sneak peek at the highly anticipated title’s gameplay. Knaves ready to prove themselves as hardened knights can also pre-order Kingdom Come: Deliverance II starting today. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on Feb. 11, 2025 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Watch today’s gameplay teaser trailer for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II here:

This sneak peek is just a taste of what to expect from the full gameplay showcase that will debut at 12 AM PT on Aug. 21 when Gamescom opens its doors to the public, which you can watch here tomorrow:

What’s more, players can now prepare their groschen and pre-order the game through their favorite digital store or physical retailer, with those who do receiving The Lion’s Crest pre-order bonus quest.

This is a global pre-order bonus for both digital and physical versions of the game which rewards players with the legendary armor and weapon set of the famous Knight Brunswick. Stand out from the crowd with a polearm for long distance combat, a dagger when you want to get up close and personal, a full set of plate armor for your good self, and a full caparison (a protective and decorative cloth covering) for your noble steed. This set comes replete with a Bohemian coat of arms, with burgundy and gold trim in abundance, because no one said you can’t look classy on the battlefield. And, in classic Warhorse Studios fashion, a questline is connected to that as well.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II releases Feb. 11, 2025 and aspiring knights can purchase one of the following editions:

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Standard Edition: This is the full game. Pre-order now to get the Lion’s Crest bonus items.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Gold Edition: The crown jewel of every noble’s chest with everything for an aficionado or newcomer to the series. It contains the standard edition (including the Lion’s Crest bonus items), Expansion Pass, and the Gallant Huntsman’s Kit:

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Expansion Pass: Includes three upcoming expansions as well as the bonus unlockable content: Shields of Seasons Passing, which is available day one.
Gallant Huntsman’s Kit: Whether you’re sporting St. Hubert’s hunting cap, firing bolts at your quarry with Artemis’ crossbow, or looking dapper in Nimrod’s famous hunting coat, this full costume hunting garb is a ‘must have’ for an aspiring ranger.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Collector’s Edition: The ultimate in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II goodness. You’ll get everything that’s found in the Gold Edition, along with a fantastic statue of Henry and his trusty steed, Pebbles, the exclusive cloth map Alleys of Kuttenberg, the enamel pin set Coats of Valor, the iconic Letter of Hope – which Sir Hans Capon was entrusted with, and the King’s Rebels collectible cards set. Available exclusively at GameStop (US & Canada).

MechWarrior 5: Clans – Gamescom Trailer

2024/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

New footage releases from the Piranha Games dropship today with a two-minute look at the anticipated, story-rich action game, MechWarrior 5: Clans (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2000890/MechWarrior_5_Clans/). Featuring more than 90 minutes of cinematic cutscenes, the linear-style MechWarrior 5: Clans follows the 2019 release of the sandbox-style MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, and brings players a class of MechWarrior game not seen for decades in a narratively driven campaign playable solo or in up to five-player co-op.

Hailed as “All Quiet on the Western Front with Mechs” from the most recent media preview in Digital Trends, the latest title from the modern shepherds of the MechWarrior series, Piranha Games, will take the franchise to new heights when it drops on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on Oct. 3. Today’s footage previews MechWarrior 5: Clans’ gameplay loop with a peek at refined frontend systems, stunning biomes and key in-game moments, teasing more of what to expect when MechWarrior 5: Clans launches this fall.

MechWarrior 5: Clans follows Piranha’s 2019 hit, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, an open-ended, procedural experience that sold more than 2 million units while securing its current 84% Very Positive ranking on Steam from more than 7,500 user reviews. MechWarrior 5: Clans is enjoyable as a self-contained campaign with a gripping narrative and tense, thrilling combat without any prior knowledge of the MechWarrior universe.

MechWarrior 5: Clans sports an exciting set of gameplay features for new and veteran pilots:

The Clan Invasion is Here: For the first time since MechWarrior 2 (released in 1995), pilots can immerse themselves in an action-packed Clan Invasion story – one of the most epic time periods in the franchise that changed the course of the Inner Sphere’s factions and politics forever. MechWarrior 5: Clans is the absolute perfect entry point into the MechWarrior universe for newcomers, and the game that veteran pilots have been waiting more than 30 years to play.
This Isn’t Run-and-Gun, This is MechWarrior: Celebrated core MechWarrior combat returns in MechWarrior 5: Clans. Pilots must strategically plan and execute Star-based team assaults if they are going to bring honor to Clan Smoke Jaguar while advancing their position within the Inner Sphere.
Customizable Mechs: Victory starts in your Mech Lab with an expanded collection of technologically advanced Clan weapon systems, equipment and Upgrades. Clan Mech’s superior technology grants you the ability to swap out larger parts for greater customization and functionality ahead of assaults. Plan accordingly based on terrain, structure and biome specificity for the best chance at victory.
All-Star Strategy: Your squadron (aka your Star) is depending on you. Protect the members of your Star in battle, deepening your bond as you engage the Inner Sphere’s determined defenders. Immerse yourself in the story as you lead your Star through narratively driven missions and thrilling combat.
Stunning Visual Design: Harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5, MechWarrior 5: Clans abounds in environmental detail and destruction – from precisely designed confined cityscapes to bogs spanning incredible distances, battles will take shape on breathtaking landscapes and the complex infrastructure of the Inner Sphere.

Claremont Club & Spa Announces Haunted History Tour

2024/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News

If you dare, join the Claremont Club & Spa team this Halloween season for a spirited tour of the East Bay’s grand dame. You’ve heard the rumors, but are they true? If only these historic walls could talk, they would reveal many a story over their 109-year history. Legend has it, past guests still drop by for a visit. Join the Claremont’s concierge and unofficial historian for a behind-the-scenes stroll down the renowned halls.

Join us for a hauntingly good time as we take a behind-the-scenes look down some of our most legendary halls, providing access to areas not generally open to the public including the most haunted room in the hotel. Who knows who you might run into while you take a look around… Claremont Club & Spa will be hosting spine-tingling tours every Thursday, Friday & Saturday in October and a special Halloween tour on October 31st. Guests will be rewarded for their bravery with libations concluding the tour in the historic Lobby Lounge.

TOUR RESERVATIONS HERE. Advanced reservations highly recommended. This event is recommended for guests of 12 years of age or older. Tickets priced at $40.00 per person.

Join permanent guests of the netherworld this Halloween with an overnight stay in a classic heritage Fairmont category room, touting plenty of old-world European charm. Don’t be left in the dark, rates from $269.00 available through the Adventure Awaits offer, which includes a 15% discount when guests book a 2-night stay or more at one of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ iconic locations throughout California and Hawai’i, plus enjoy a $50 off food & beverage credit to use towards award-winning dining. Discover our storied destinations and start making memories that will last a lifetime. (and beyond!)

HAUGHTINGLY HAUTE CUISINE

Add a bite to the spooky season with fiendish offerings and otherworldly wine pairings. Spirited seasonal menus are unleashed at Chef Jospeh’s Limewood. Ghouls’ delight with several autumnal specialties including the ever-popular steak slider (great for sharing) – shaved prime rib, black garlic aioli, mushroom escabeche, Fiscalini cheddar. “Mummy” favorite libations include the Empress’ Demise, brewed with Empress gin, Luxardo liqueur, St. Germaine, lemon juice, hibiscus cordial and egg white for dramatic effect.

SEASONALLY INSPIRED SPA

Clarifying Pumpkin Enzyme Facial – Treat your skin and reveal a clear and radiant complexion. This facial uses a clarifying pumpkin enzyme mask formulated to relieve congested or dull skin, followed by a cooling and calming aloe vera replenishing gel mask to hydrate and give your skin a healthy glow. 50 minutes – $252 *

* Pricing is inclusive of a 1.5% administrative fee, which is retained by the hotel, and a 18.5% service charge, of which 18% goes directly to your provider as a gratuity and the remaining .5% goes directly to spa attendants as gratuity.

About Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel

Built in 1915, and ideally nestled at the base of the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, overlooking scenic San Francisco Bay, the Claremont offers 276 handsomely restored guestrooms and suites, a celebrated spa and an impressive dining portfolio. The Claremont marks its 100th anniversary with the culmination of an extensive restoration. Meeting and social event planners have access to 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including the Empire Ballroom that can accommodate upwards of 450 attendees and a number of meeting rooms with spectacular Bay views. The iconic urban resort is also home to a private social and tennis club with loyal members who enjoy hotel amenities, fitness facilities and lifestyle programming.

fairmont.com | accorhotels.com

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Dovetail Games Unveils Train Sim World 5, Train Sim World VR, and Roblox Experience

2024/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Train Sim World 5 is coming! But that’s not all, with Dovetail Games making a series of bold announcements as part of their annual Dovetail Direct online event including the latest edition of the game, a new VR title and an experience with Roblox.

Train Sim World 5, coming September 17th, is now available for pre-order for PlayStation, Xbox and PC platforms with three brand new routes across the UK, Germany and the USA. Notably, the highly requested West Coast Main Line introduces a new London terminus to the series with London Euston, as well as the sleek Avanti West Coast Pendolino for Deluxe Edition players. Frankfurt also makes its Train Sim World debut with the ICE-T and more Californian action arrives in the form of Metrolink’s San Bernardino Line.

New gameplay features include Route Hopping, Fast Travel and Conductor Mode, where players can check tickets and manage doors for the first time in Service Mode, enhancing the Train Sim World experience.

Six future Train Sim World add-ons were also announced, covering Wales and the Netherlands for the first time, plus new areas in the UK, USA and Germany.

Matt Peddlesden, Train Sim World 5’s Executive Producer: “We’re answering the call of players with some of their most requested content, including iconic UK, European and American routes and trains. With exciting new features like Conductor Mode, Route Hopping, Fast Travel and a much-requested overhaul to the 2D Live Map, this is a substantial new edition of Train Sim World!”

Train Sim World VR: New York will see Dovetail Games branch out onto a new platform, with New York’s Harlem Line getting the virtual reality treatment in a standalone title exclusive to Meta Quest players. Intuitive controls, brand-new game mechanics and a stylish New York apartment space to explore add a new and totally different dimension to the Train Sim World series. Wishlisting is now available.

Jon Rissik, CEO, Dovetail Games: “Train Sim World VR: New York is a totally new experience for players who want to jump in and enjoy an authentic train driving simulation, with maximum levels of immersion. We can’t wait to see the reaction of VR players to the unique gameplay that it offers.”

Train Sim World Tycoon on Roblox is being developed in partnership with Talewind. This project aims to extend Dovetail Games’ franchise to a younger audience within Roblox’s globally popular virtual universe. Players will be able to build their stations from the ground up, manage their economy, meet new AI characters, play with their friends, explore a vast and diverse world, and of course, drive trains. The interactive and creative elements of Roblox will allow players to customize their train stations, strategize economic management and immerse themselves in a lively, ever-evolving environment.

Gemma Johnson-Brown COO, Dovetail Games: “We’re incredibly proud and excited to expand our trains franchise to new, wider and younger audiences through Train Sim World 5 as well as our upcoming VR and Roblox titles. We look forward to sharing more with players in the coming months.”

Early Access for Titan Quest II to Launch This Winter

2024/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

The day is near – today, THQ Nordic is thrilled to announce the Early Access start for Titan Quest II. In Winter 2024/2025, players will be able to dive into this epic odyssey and experience first hand what it means to rival the gods themselves!

Forged in the creative crucible of Grimlore Games in Germany, Titan Quest II is currently under development. This epic odyssey is destined for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X, eagerly anticipated to launch when the time comes.

For further details on Titan Quest II, please refer to our latest update: https://thqn.net/3KqqyXQ

For a deep dive on various other topics check out the previous dev diaries:

Sparta: https://tinyurl.com/mvuza7y7
The Ichthians: https://tinyurl.com/49jcp68j
Music: https://t.co/ubWkEjBdIr
World Design: https://t.co/tkrKph57GA
Mythical Creatures: https://thqn.net/3JEDTeD
Mythological Level Design: https://thqn.net/3xPwvuI

Prime Video Adult Animated Series Secret Level Teaser Trailer

2024/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

Today, Prime Video announced during the Gamescom Opening Night Live global livestream, their captivating new adult-animated anthology series: Secret Level, featuring original short stories set within the worlds of some of the most beloved video games. From Amazon MGM Studios and Blur Studio, creators of Love, Death + Robots, comes 15 mind-bending episodes and groundbreaking animation. Secret Level will be available exclusively on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories worldwide on December 10.

“Secret Level weaves a tapestry of iconic games across multiple mediums, to tell a series of unique and captivating stories,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “Created and led by Tim Miller, Blur Studio, and Supervising Director Dave Wilson, each episode will take our global Prime Video customers on a brand new journey with breathtaking animation and imaginative storytelling.”

Each episode of Secret Level serves as a gateway to a new adventure, unlocking exciting worlds from beloved gaming classics and highly anticipated new titles. Prepare for an unforgettable journey, where Amazon MGM Studios and gaming’s finest unite in a first-of-its-kind event that brings together more game IP in a single series than has ever been done before. Below is the incredible list of games who inspired the 15 epic stories found in Secret Level.

Armored Core
Concord
Crossfire
Dungeons & Dragons
Exodus
Honor of Kings
Mega Man
New World: Aeternum
PAC-MAN
PlayStation (Highlighting various PlayStation Studios beloved entities)
Sifu
Spelunky
The Outer Worlds
Unreal Tournament
Warhammer 40,000

Secret Level is created by and executive produced by Tim Miller. Dave Wilson serves as executive producer and supervising director.

Starfield REV-8 Land Vehicle Out Now and Shattered Space Release Date

2024/08/21

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox Series X News

During tonight’s Gamescom’s Opening Night Live, Bethesda Game Studios announced the latest free update for Starfield is available tonight! Also announced during tonight’s ceremony was a September 30, 2024 release date for Shattered Space, Starfield’s highly anticipated new story expansion.

August Update
The free August Update introduces the REV-8 land vehicle. The REV-8 gives players the freedom to explore new frontiers — and reach new heights — in their very own cruiser.

The REV-8 comes equipped with a mounted turret, armor for additional protection when driving, room for a companion, and boosters to cover ground more quickly or get out of a sticky situation. Boosters can even add some jump to the ride, allowing players to sail through the air and reach areas that would have previously been much tougher to get to.

To launch the REV-8, head to a ship service technician to install a vehicle module. After being installed on their ship of choice, the REV-8 will automatically deploy outside the ship wherever players land.

Also available in the August Update are new Xbox Series S display settings to mirror existing Xbox Series X settings.

New settings:

Frame Rate Target: You can now choose between 30, 40, 60 or an Uncapped frame rate on VRR displays. If you do not have a VRR display running 120hz, you will still be able to select from 30 or 60. Screen tearing may occur at times when selecting 60 on a non-VRR display.
Prioritize: You can now prioritize between Visuals and Performance while trying to maintain the frame rate target. If you’re choosing a frame rate target of 60 or above, we recommend changing this to Performance. Prioritizing Visuals keeps the highest resolution while maintaining full detail for special effects, lighting, and crowds. Prioritizing Performance lowers internal resolution and detail for special effects, lighting, and crowds. Both modes may adjust internal resolution dynamically when scenes or action get heavier as well. When switching between modes, you will see the lighting change briefly as the system catches up to the new mode.
VSync: You can now toggle between VSync off or on. Choosing off will separate the game frames from the monitor’s refresh rate and may result in screen tearing. Toggling On will synchronize the frame rate to the monitor’s refresh rate avoiding screen tearing but limiting number of frames.