Author - Jerry Paxton

Fnatic Selects Blacklyte Gaming Chairs and Desks

2 months ago

Fnatic, the London-based global esports performance brand, has announced a multi-year global partnership with Blacklyte, a premium brand specializing in gaming chairs and desks. As part of this multi-year agreement, Blacklyte becomes Fnatic’s Official Gaming Chair and Desk Partner, supplying ergonomic, high-performance gaming furniture to support Fnatic’s professional teams and gaming creators.

This collaboration is set to enhance Fnatic’s competitive edge and create the ultimate gaming environment for its players. Blacklyte’s chairs and desks are designed with comfort and performance in mind, ensuring that Fnatic’s athletes can compete for longer and at their best.

Blacklyte were recently announced as the official partner of Blast Premier and Rainbow Six Titles for 2024 as well as Rocket League World Championship amongst others. This partnership with Fnatic however is their first team partnership in Europe as they look to bring their elite gaming chairs to all EU fans.

Sam Mathews, CEO of Fnatic, shared his excitement about the partnership:
“At Fnatic, we strive to provide our players with the best tools to succeed. Blacklyte’s innovative approach to gaming furniture aligns perfectly with our mission to lead in esports performance. This partnership is an important step towards ensuring our players have the best environment to excel at the highest levels of competition.”

Alex Liu, CEO of Blacklyte, added:
“We’re thrilled to partner with a global esports powerhouse like Fnatic. Our shared passion for pushing the limits of gaming performance and creating products that improve the player experience makes this partnership a natural fit. We look forward to supporting Fnatic’s teams and fans with furniture that’s designed to fuel success.”

As part of the partnership, Fnatic and Blacklyte will collaborate on exclusive content, community engagements, and limited-edition gaming products, offering fans a chance to experience the same high-performance chairs and desks used by their favourite teams.

Fnatic’s athletes and product development team will collaborate with Blacklyte to co-create new innovations that support elite level gamers. Fans can look forward to seeing the new Blacklyte gaming chairs and desks in action during upcoming streams from pro players and creators.

Deadpool & Wolverine Home Video Release Dates

2 months ago

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News

LFG! Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine bursts onto digital retailers (Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango) on October 1 and explodes on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on October 22.

The highly anticipated introduction of the edgy, and dynamically comical heroes into the Marvel Cinematic Universe has already proven to be a massive success, becoming the biggest rated-R movie in history and the #5 highest-grossing MCU domestic release of all-time. “The movie broke so many records,” said Ryan Reynolds. “The only way to describe how I feel is, just south of ‘I’m finally enough’ and slightly north of, ‘I forgive my father.’”

Certified-Fresh and Verified Hot on Rotten Tomatoes™ and celebrated by critics as “Just really f*cking fun” (Kristy Puchko, Mashable), “Fires on all cylinders, and one viewing is not enough” (Pete Hammond, Deadline), and “The Greatest Film Ever Made” (Ryan Reynolds), the home entertainment release goes far beyond the fourth wall with exclusive content featuring a hilarious gag reel, deleted scenes, all-new featurettes, filmmaker commentary with director/producer/writer, Shawn Levy and star/producer/writer, Ryan Reynolds and much more of that extras s$%t fans love.

Plus, get your socks ready, nerds…you can look for all the cameos and easter eggs you missed in the theater when the film arrives in stunning, mind-blowing 4K Ultra HD Dolby Vision® along with Atmos® audio for the finest picture and sound presentation at home!

Moreover, a maximum effort has gone into Amazon Prime Video’s Bonus X-ray Experience. More revealing than red spandex, it includes featurettes you can’t get just anywhere including Deadpool doodles, character pros and cons, and trivia that’s been fact-checked by the Merc with a Mouth himself (pinkie swear). And there’s a carousel of fun on Fandango at Home and crisp, juicy bits on Apple TV for pumpkin-pie lovers and everyone else, including those who are Avengers-adjacent, to enjoy.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray will be released in a national sku and special limited-edition SteelBooks®, featuring exclusive custom art and packaging. Fans will see red and yellow with two SteelBook versions to choose – one version spotlights Deadpool and the other showcases Wolverine, with images of each character’s multiple variants in all their glory included inside!

Six Days in Fallujah – Command and Control Gameplay Trailer

2 months ago

Jerry Paxton

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

Today, Victura announced its much-anticipated “Command and Control” update for the historically accurate first-person tactical shooter Six Days in Fallujah, available November 7, 2024, for all players on Steam.

Six Days in Fallujah brings video game players closer to the realities of war by recreating real-world scenarios and authentic military tactics and blending these with documentary videos featuring interviews with Iraqis and Americans who were present during the Second Battle of Fallujah in November 2004.

The upcoming Command and Control update reintroduces, and modernizes, the “squad-based shooter” genre, which was pioneered by games like the original Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Brothers in Arms, and SOCOM, but has been mostly abandoned for more than a decade due to the technical challenges of delivering realistic AI teammates that players can control. This upcoming update will allow players to execute sophisticated military tactics, like fix-and-flank, breaching, and 360-degree security, by giving orders to their AI fireteam.

This update also introduces Six Days in Fallujah’s first two single-player story campaign missions, making Six Days in Fallujah the world’s first documentary videogame. These missions bring players inside the events that led to the creation of ISIS and the first major battle in which Iraqis and Americans joined forces to fight Al Qaeda in Iraq, which had seized control of the city of Fallujah.

Six Days in Fallujah initially launched into Steam Early Access on June 22, 2023, instantly becoming the world’s #1 best-selling PC game, and it remained a Top 10 seller throughout the following week. Conceived by Sgt. Eddie Garcia, a Marine who was wounded during the battle, Six Days in Fallujah was created in collaboration with more than 100 US Marines and Soldiers as well as more than two dozen Iraqi civilians and soldiers.

Developed by Victura’s internal development studio, Highwire Games, Six Days in Fallujah features a first-ever “Procedural Architecture” system that reshapes the physical architecture of buildings each time the game is played; just like actual combat, players never know what to expect. Six Days in Fallujah asks players to overcome real-world scenarios with their fireteams by using real-life military tactics while experiencing an unglamorized depiction of one of the most consequential events of the 21st century.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 ‘Building Our Seattle’ Dev Diary

2 months ago

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 5 News, Windows PC News, Xbox Series X News

Paradox Interactive and The Chinese Room shared further insight into building Seattle’s dark underbelly Seattle in their latest Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 dev diary. While some Vampires see it as their playground, the heart of Seattle is where Kindred are at the highest risk of breaking the Masquerade.

You can find the full dev diary here or pasted below:

Welcome Kindred to another Bloodlines 2 Dev Diary from the team at The Chinese Room.

In this diary, we want to give you some further insight into the choices we’ve made when building our version of Seattle (see Dev Diary 8 for my previous statements on building Seattle for The World of Darkness). Seattle is at the heart of the game, which you will return to again and again between quests or sometimes during them. It is the most human location in the game where you are vulnerable to being exposed as a vampire (aka breaching The Masquerade) resulting in swift and violent justice from the vampires of the Camarilla that rule the city. It is also a kind of vampire playground where you can feed on humans in order to restore your vampiric powers or just for the thrill of the hunt. We hope this diary gives you a taste of what you will experience when stalking the streets and rooftops of the Emerald City.

– Project Creative Director Alex Skidmore

(Visit the Weaver Tower, a seat of power for the Camarilla Coterie.)

Building the player’s movement through Seattle, we really wanted to create traversal that interacted with The Masquerade and reinforced the vampiric experience. Phyre has some absurd movement from the get-go, being able to immensely fast, dash and glide through the air, and can move faster while still using discipline abilities later- but of course, do any of this on the streets without obfuscation and you’ll quickly find yourself breaching the masquerade.

(The Atrium club, where you will meet the enthralling Ysabella.)

Dark alleyways don’t just give you a quieter place to feed on prey, they also provide routes up to Seattle’s rooftops- up here there’s fewer prying eyes, so you can really let your capabilities loose, moving fast and leaping between buildings. The local Anarchs won’t be thrilled about you moving through their rooftop turf though, so it’s a dangerous place for the weak or uninitiated.

This means, there’s a choice to be made at any point between danger to the masquerade and danger to yourself! Finding yourself drawn to the kinds of places vampires would lurk is the goal of this arrangement. As you regain your powers as an elder, you’ll also be more capable of moving as you please- I’m really looking forward to seeing people master it!

– Senior Game Designer Max Bottomley

Since joining the Bloodlines 2 team, a key responsibility I’ve undertaken is bringing life to a key area of the game – our Seattle.

(The Glacier Hotel is where you will find Lou Graham.)

Working closely with the Environment team, I wanted to make sure that as players explore the world it feels both alive and reactive to what they are doing. Players will discover a wide variety of people going about their daily (or nightly!) lives. We’ve crafted a personality for the city that compliments its unique setting, mood and layout. Time has been taken to map out city districts that favour different types of NPCs – you’ll be able to sit back and watch the world move on around you.

When you walk round a corner you never know what you’ll find; maybe it’s a businessman arguing on his phone, or a graffiti artist improving the local artwork, it could be a car thief struggling to break into a car, or even a sex worker making good on their promise with a client.

(You might meet all sorts of people in the seedy underbelly of Seattle.)

We’ve been filling the world with characters that actually do things; taking breaks on seats, telling the police about crimes they’ve seen, or seeing the police chasing down a criminal. The world turns without you, it should feel like you’re just passing through – and as the player, you can interact or just sit back and watch!

Working on this stuff and building out a believable world where bikers drink outside bars or start fights with you has been a hell of a lot of work, but I hope people will find it a fun place to explore.

The city isn’t all combat, it’s also home to exploration and interactions with the inhabitants of Seattle.

(Join Mrs. Thorn or perhaps run into Safia at Wake the Dead café.)

As with many other areas of the game a large part of what we wanted to give players was choice; some of that choice comes down to what conversations you’ll have with some of the NPCs and characters you’ll meet in the city. Use your Vampiric charms to seduce someone, proposition a sex worker, or flip off some angry bikers with a Brujah-approved hand gesture.

The first time you try to flirt with a Sex Worker in the game and get turned down because your choice of clothing didn’t impress them will be an eye-opener!

– Lead Game Designer Gavin Hood

Seattle plays a big part in our game, in both setting the tone of the game and providing an exciting and alluring space for players to explore and discover. Whether it’s the vibrant, ethereal world of  Nick Miller’s photography or the majesty of a real world American Metropolis like Seattle, it’s been really important for us to capture these moments and inject it uniquely into our take on a city inside the World of Darkness.

(A view from the ground in our Seattle.)

One of the ways we’ve done this is to focus on making Seattle “feel” exaggerated, seen through the heightened reality of a 300 year old elder. Exaggerating building heights to make most untraversable, our phrase “Tree trunking”, has helped to do this both visually and viscerally. Unlike a superhero gliding over a City, we’re creating a world that forces you to be part of it. Running through alleyways or gliding across rooftops, you’re never above it or beneath but really part of it. You can’t beat the feeling of stalking on a victim along a ledge or a building precipice with a whole towering City above you.

– Associate Art Director Ben Matthews

Heya fellow Kindred, I’m super stoked to give you a sneak peek of the Seattle you’ll be sinking your fangs into in Bloodlines 2!

We’re bringing that gritty, atmospheric, and immersive vibe that made the original Bloodlines such a cult classic into our version of Seattle, making sure every alleyway, rooftop, and hidden corner feels like it belongs in the World of Darkness. You’ll be stalking through Pioneer Square, lurking around Downtown, and exploring our take on Chinatown, all wrapped in a snowy, seedy, nighttime setting that bleeds neo-noir. Shaping parts of Seattle to fit our setting has been one of the coolest parts of making this, while working with the latest tech. Our favorite bits have definitely been creating those hidden details—cryptic setups, narrative clues with deeper meanings—just waiting for you to uncover.

(Visit the Dutchman to meet all manners of punks and bikers, and possibly meet Silky.)

Each district has its own distinct vibe, whether it’s the cold, corporate chill of the Financial sector or the vibrant pulse of Chinatown. We’re using lighting and color to set the mood and make each area feel unique and immersive.

We’ve been using a hybrid workflow to bring this city to life, combining Houdini for our building structures with modular kits for shopfronts, alley walls, and rooftop dressing. But what really gets us excited is the storytelling dioramas we’ve crafted into each block. Whether it’s a hint of a backstory, a touch of conflict, or just a nod to something darker beneath the surface, we’ve worked hard to make every corner feel like it has a story to tell. This lets us give each block its own flavor while weaving them all together into a larger narrative tapestry that not only looks great but feels alive and full of stories, all while being optimized for performance.

I can’t wait for you to sink your teeth into this fresh take on Seattle, Kindred. Get ready to embrace the night!

– Lead Environment Artist Genesis Asis

Final Lineup of 24th Annual Screamfest Horror Film Festival

2 months ago

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News

Screamfest® Horror Film Festival, the largest and longest-running horror film festival in the United States, is excited to announce its opening and closing night events as well as additional features. Taking place from October 8 to 17, 2024, at the TCL Chinese Theater, Screamfest® will kick off the festival with award-winning filmmaker Joseph Kahn’s (Bodied), sci-fi/horror satire ICK, which will have its West Coast premiere with a red-carpet gala screening on Tuesday, October 8.

ICK follows ex-jock turned science teacher Hank (Brandon Routh) who is stuck in his hometown, dreaming of a life as a professional athlete. While teaching chemistry, he reconnects with his high school crush’s daughter, Grace (Malina Weissman). When a mysterious substance called the “Ick” begins to spread through Eastbrook, Hank and his disillusioned students must band together to combat this gooey menace. Their comedic journey turns into a wild battle for survival, testing their courage and complicating their personal connections.

To conclude this year’s festival on October 17th, Screamfest will honor legendary cinematographer Dean Cundey (Jurassic Park, Apollo 13) with a Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious honor will be presented by a special guest and will be accompanied by a double-feature screening of Dean’s iconic works The Thing and Halloween.

Additional features include the world premiere of Body Language, a thriller directed by Cory Miller and starring Christina Milian (Step Up High Water) and Steven Strait (The Expanse). In Body Language Mariana (Milian) returns home to find Dylan (Strait), her fiancé Nick’s college friend, preparing an engagement dinner. As the evening unfolds and Nick fails to arrive, Mariana becomes increasingly uneasy about Dylan, turning what should have been a celebration into a night of terror.

Making its West Coast premiere after debuting at SXSW is Cold Wallet, directed by Cutter Hodierne. This gripping thriller follows a ragtag team of vigilante Redditors who, after losing everything in a cryptocurrency scam, attempt to kidnap the kingpin who deceived them. However, their home invasion spirals out of control, trapping them in a sadistic game.

Other exciting additions to the lineup include Drive Back, directed by Cody Ashford, In the Name of God from Sweden, directed by Ludvig Gür, and Witte Wieven (Heresy) from the Netherlands, directed by Didier Konings.

This year’s festival features a variety of exciting events, including a writing panel with Conjuring screenwriters Carey Hayes and Chad Hayes. Additionally, the Birns & Sawyer panel will showcase industry veterans such as Michael Goi (American Horror Story), Mark Irwin (The Fly, Scream), Roy Wagner (Nightmare on Elm Street), Dan Pearl (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), and Andrzej Bartkowiak (Species). A legal panel led by entertainment attorney Larry Zerner will provide valuable insights into the industry. Finally, Screamfest will introduce a Horror Nerd Standup Comedy event, offering audiences a chance to enjoy laughs with friends, family, and fellow horror enthusiasts!

Formed in August 2001 by film producer Rachel Belofsky, Screamfest® Horror Film Festival is a female-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that gives filmmakers and screenwriters in the horror and science fiction genres a venue to have their work showcased in the film industry.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased via the festival website: https://screamfestla.com/

SECOND WAVE LINEUP FEATURES:

ICK (US, 2024) – West Coast Premiere

Directed by Joseph Kahn

Written by Joseph Kahn, Dan Koontz, and Samuel Laskey

Produced by Steven Schneider, Joseph Kahn, Joe Heath, David Kang Adi Shankar

Cast: Brandon Routh, Mena Suvari, Malina Weissman, Harrison Cone, Taia Sophia, Zeke Donovan Jones, Debra Wilson and Jeff Fahey

Ex-jock turned science teacher Hank (Brandon Routh) is stuck in his hometown, always wondering what life would be like if he had become a professional athlete. Now, he spends his days teaching chemistry, where he reunites with his high school crush’s daughter Grace (Malina Weissman). Things take a drastic turn when a mysterious dormant substance known as the ‘Ick’, begins to spread rapidly throughout the town of Eastbrook. As the gooey menace spreads, Hank and his disillusioned students join forces to combat the spread.

Their journey to defeat grotesque ‘Ick’ turns into a comedic and untamed battle for survival not only testing their courage but also navigating the chaos of their complex personal connection.

Body Language (US, 2024) – World Premiere

Directed by Cory Miller

Written by Robert Belushi and Cory Miller

Produced by Mandy Jane Turpin

Executive Producers by Carey Hayes and Chad Hayes (The Conjuring)

Cast: Christina Milian, Steven Strait, Annie Gonzalez

Mariana comes home to find Dylan, her fiancé Nick’s college buddy, cooking an engagement dinner for them. However, as the night unfolds, and Nick is no where to be found, Mariana begins to suspect something is deeply troubling about Dylan. What she thought would be an evening of celebration turns into a night of terror.

Cold Wallet (US, 2024) – West Coast Premiere

Directed by Cutter Hodierne

Written by John Hibey

Produced by John Hibey, Benjamin Wiessner, Cutter Hodierne

Cast: Raul Castillo, Melonie Diaz, Tony Cavalero, Josh Brener, Zoe Winters

After losing everything in a cryptocurrency scam, a ragtag team of vigilante Redditors attempt to kidnap the kingpin who screwed them over. But when the home invasion takes a turn for the worst, they become victims in a sadistic game.

Drive Back (US, 2024) – West Coast Premiere

Directed by Cody Ashford

Written by Jon Sarro

Produced by Chris Lofing, Travis Cluff

Cast: Whit Kunschik, Zack Gold, Robert Lewis Stephenson

Struggling artist Reid and his pregnant fiancée, Olivia, celebrate their new engagement, happily surrounded by family and friends. After a cryptic warning from Reid’s father, a car accident leaves them lost in the woods. Searching for directions leads to a rundown store run by a creepy older couple, who suggest the best way home is by taking an old shortcut through dark backroads. But after violent visions, lost memories, a troubling hitchhiker encounter, and an inability to escape the road itself, their car breaks down, and they discover a terrifying killer is hunting their every move.

In the Name of God (Sweden, 2024) – LA Premiere

Directed and written by Ludvig Gür

Produced by Daniel Lägersten, Daniel Berntsson, Kristofer Hultén

Cast: Linus Wahlgren, Lisa Henni, Vilhelm Blomgren, Thomas Hanzon, Isabelle Grill, Charlie Gustafsson

40-year-old priest, Theodor stands by in horror as his wife falls seriously ill. His world crumbles around him and he seeks guidance from his old mentor who convinces him that he has been chosen by God to rid the world of sinners in order to bring new life to true believers. With trembling hands, he commits his first murder, convinced that it is a necessary sacrifice in service of his divine mission. Miraculously, at the moment of the murder, his wife’s health improves and the congregation starts referring to him as the “miracle priest”, knowing nothing of his horrible act. But lurking in the shadows is a disbelieving man who begins to uncover the bloody traces of the priest’s unholy deeds.

Witte Wieven (Heresy) (Netherlands, 2024) – LA Premiere

Directed by Didier Konings

Written by Marc S. Nollkaemper

Produced by Monique van Kessel

Cast: Anneke Sluiters, Len Leo Vincent, Reinout Bussemaker, Leon van Waas

In a small Dutch village in the Dark Ages, Frieda carries the blame for her struggle to conceive a child with her husband. She believes God is her only hope and seeks help from the village priest. But when the local butcher attempts to take advantage of Frieda, chasing her into the forest, he mysteriously disappears. Frieda comes back unscathed, the first to ever return from the unknown dangers outside of the village. The community becomes suspicious that it was not God who brought her back safely but a dark force cloaked in fog beyond the edge of the woods. Frieda becomes suspicious as well, but her doubts begin to form a new faith within her; a faith in the ones that linger in the darkness.

PDP Launches New Afterglow Wave Wireless Headset

2 months ago

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Tech News

Leading gaming accessories maker Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: HEAR), and Performance Designed Products LLC (PDP) today announced the launch of the new Designed for Xbox Afterglow™ Wave Wireless Headset. Created for gamers on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11 PCs, the Afterglow Wave Wireless Headset’s large 50mm drivers and flip-to-mute mic deliver top gaming audio performance while putting on a captivating RGB lighting show. These new wireless headsets are available in black or white colorways for $99.99/£79.99/€99.99 MSRP at www.PDP.com and participating retailers worldwide.

“We’re excited to expand our Afterglow RGB technology to new, additional products so fans can really glow-up their gaming space,” said Billy Brisebois, PDP Marketing Manager, Turtle Beach Corporation. “With millions of RGB color combinations at their disposal through the free PDP Control Hub app, gamers can customize their RGB light show across the Afterglow Wave headset, controller, and even their charging station.”

PDP continues expanding its family of RGB-driven Afterglow Wave gaming accessories, with the Afterglow Wave Wireless Headset for Xbox and PC as the newest addition. Gamers donning PDP’s new wireless RGB gaming headset can cycle through different lighting effects and colors using the “Mode” button, or via downloading the free PDP Control Hub app where they’ll find deeper customization options. Fine-tuned 50mm drivers deliver crisp highs and booming lows for an immersive gaming audio experience across Xbox, PC, and compatible Bluetooth® devices. Soft, memory foam cushions let gamers play in comfort for hours, while on-ear volume controls allow for quick adjustments. Players will be able to communicate clearly with teammates using the Afterglow Wave Wireless Headset’s noise-cancelling mic, which quickly flips up out of the way to mute when it’s time to go radio silent.

Make light work of enemies with PDP’s officially licensed Afterglow Wave Wireless Headset. For more information on the latest PDP products and accessories, visit www.pdp.com and www.victrixpro.com.

SQUAD Western Private Military Contractors Faction Added

2 months ago

Jerry Paxton

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

Today, Offworld has launched Update 8.1 for its acclaimed 50v50 military FPS Squad, headlined by the addition of the game’s newest faction: the Western Private Military Contractors (WPMC). The WPMC are a mercenary group, soldiers of fortune who carry out missions for the highest bidder rather than serving a specific country. It’s an irregular Independent faction that focuses on non-standardized, modern infantry, lacking the tools that other conventional forces have such as heavy vehicles and heavy weapons. The WPMC can also be used on any map and against any faction. It consists of three distinct units for different types of combat:

Murk Water Air Wing (Air Assault), which prioritizes attacking from the air and is equipped with the new close-air support Loach helicopter.
Manticore Security Task Force (Combined Arms), which focuses on controlling the battlefield through a mix of ground infantry and armoured vehicles, including the M60T tank, the TOW and M2 variants of the M1151 armoured car, three helicopters, & more.
Overwatch 6 Patrol Group (Light Infantry) This unit specializes in using ground infantry to swiftly capture strategic objectives, and has access to nine 4×4 quadbikes, SUVs equipped with miniguns, the TOW variant of the M1151 armoured car, & more.

The WPMC comes fully-equipped with a diverse range of vehicles & weapons, including the following:

Convoy Protection Vehicle
M113A3 Mobile Spawn Vehicle
M1117 Armored Car
Loach Scout Helicopter
Loach CAS Helicopter
M14 Battle Rifle
MP5A3 Submachine Gun
M320 Grenade Launcher
Aftermarket parts variants of the M4 Carbine and M16 Assault Rifle
M16 C-MAG Auto Rifle
AK-101 Rifle

Other new additions arriving with Hired Guns include a revised post-match scoreboard system—dubbed the After-Action Report, and containing a more detailed look at individual and squad performance through the match. And to round out the new content, the weapon skins collection Contractors Pack is now available to purchase for all players, containing skins for new weapons featured in the WPMC faction.

Hired Guns releases in time for Squad’s Free Weekend Event on Steam, which runs from September 26 – 30. Players will be able to try the new WPMC faction as well as purchase Squad at its all-time lowest price – $20 (60% off).

Squad is a 100-player combined-arms first-person shooter emphasizing combat realism through communication and team play, emphasizing strong squad cohesion mechanics and larger-scale coordination, tactics, and planning. It features 23 massive open maps, vehicle-based combined arms gameplay, and player-constructed bases to create a heart-thumping, visceral gaming experience with split-second decision-making in real-world scale firefights.

For more information about Squad, please visit: https://joinsquad.com/

Hell is Us Gameplay Trailer Revealed

2 months ago

Jerry Paxton

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

Last night, at State of Play, publisher NACON and studio Rogue Factor unveiled the first gameplay trailer for Hell is Us, the studio’s major new project. Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, the creative director on the game, invites players to join him on NACON’s YouTube channel on September 30 at 5pm CEST to find out more about Hell is Us. The game is scheduled for release in 2025 on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Hell is Us is a third-person action-adventure game where the protagonist sets out to learn more about his past in the different regions of a country ravaged by civil war. The almost total self-sufficiency of the country hides a dark secret: the recent appearance of supernatural creatures resembling ancient headstones and monuments in the region. Armed with weapons specially forged to fight these monsters, the protagonist must learn how to defeat them and use his equipment wisely.

The game also features a singular approach to game design, that can best be named by the term “player-plattering”. This concept is the opposite of “silver-plattering”, which consists of over-explaining and serving everything to players on a silver platter. With Hell is Us, the studio wanted to go back to the roots of old-school adventure games, by encouraging exploration and reflection, and by eliminating traditional aids. Here, there are no detailed maps, quest markers or compasses revealing all points of interest: players will have to rely on their intuition, observational and reasoning skills to progress through their journey and discover the secrets of these mysterious lands. Further information on this concept is available in an exclusive PlayStation Blog article.

Join us on 30 September at 4pm BST / 8am PT on NACON’s YouTube channel for a detailed presentation of the game, hosted by Jonathan Jacques-Belletête !

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 50th Anniv Double Vinyl Announced

2 months ago

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Hasbro, a leading toy and game company, and its Wizards of the Coast division announced today at Brand Licensing Europe 2024 “DUNGEONS & DRAGONS — Bardic Inspiration: A Musical Journey through the Forgotten Realms.” The album was created by acclaimed composer Michael Gatt in celebration of the 50th anniversary of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D), the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game®, and will be available in fall 2024 in vinyl, Dolby Atmos and digital formats.

The album presents 12 original tracks created to evoke iconic locations within D&D’s most famous setting, the Forgotten Realms. Each track serves as an aural homage to the rich lore and enchanting adventures that have defined D&D for half a century. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the Realms, this album invites you to be inspired by D&D’s iconic heroes, villains, cities and dragons.

The new album provides a sweeping tour of the Sword Coast sure to ignite listener imaginations. Composer Michael Gatt, co-producer Jeremy Jarvis, and visual artistic director AJ Hanneld’s real-life odyssey across the world bring unexpected instruments, otherworldly textures, and a spellbinding 40-person choir to the record.

For listeners seeking a true collector’s collectors’ piece befitting five decades of D&D, the physical album release will feature an epic double vinyl (180g, gatefold) that boasts stunning artwork and bespoke designs by renowned agency TBWA\Chiat\Day.

First published in 1974, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS was originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson in Wisconsin, USA. Now enchanting more than 85 million fans, D&D is truly The World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game®. The worlds, monsters, and gameplay of D&D have influenced popular fantasy tropes in film, television, video games, and beyond.

The new album composition, “DUNGEONS & DRAGONS – Bardic Inspiration: A Musical Journey through the Forgotten Realms,” will be available in fall 2024 on double vinyl format for $49.99, as well as in Dolby Atmos and digital formats. More album and retail information will be revealed later this year.

Woojer Meta Partnership and More Series 3 Wearables Retail Availability

2 months ago

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Tech News

Woojer, the global leader in wearable haptic technology, is excited to announce the expanded retail availability of its Series 3 haptic wearables: the Woojer Vest and Strap, now with special Made For Meta edition These innovative devices take everyday entertainment, gaming, VR, music, and even wellness experiences to the next level, delivering powerful, high-fidelity haptic feedback.

Following Woojer’s overwhelming success in a select Best Buy stores, the company is now expanding its retail presence to thousands of doors across major outlets in the US and Canada, including Best Buy, Target, and Costco. This expansion ensures that Woojer’s cutting-edge technology will now be accessible to a broader audience, providing an unmatched sensory experience for more consumers.

The Woojer Vest 3 and Strap 3 offer unrivalled immersion, allowing users to feel every pulse, beat, and explosion, transforming gaming, VR, movies, and even wellness and workouts. With prices set at $499/£486.00 for the Woojer Vest 3 and $199/£175.00 for the Woojer Strap 3, Woojer is making premium haptic technology more accessible than ever.

Woojer Vest 3:

Ready. Play. Feel.

The Woojer Vest 3 is a marvel of human engineering, offering a 360° immersive experience for at-home gaming, movies, VR, and music. Featuring six patented Osci™ TRX2 transducers strategically placed for full-surround haptic feedback, the Vest 3 delivers precise frequencies that resonate throughout the body, creating a unique and mesmerizing experience. The Vest 3’s slim, streamlined design ensures a perfect fit, whether sitting, standing, or actively playing, and is crafted from breathable materials for ultimate comfort.

Ideal for gamers seeking an edge, the Vest 3 sharpens reflexes by allowing users to sense action before it happens, enhancing the immersive experience. This vest also elevates the cinematic experience, sculpting immersive landscapes that bring films to life like never before. For music lovers, the powerful transducers replicate the elation of live music, transforming the living room into a concert hall.

The Vest 3’s integrated control panel, advanced DSP control, and multi-band EQ provide users with complete control over their setup. Compatible with any wireless Bluetooth headset and featuring up to 8 hours of playtime, the Vest 3 is a must-have for anyone looking to feel the pulse of their media.

Woojer Strap 3:

Prepare for Liftoff

The Woojer Strap 3 is a high-fidelity haptic band that enhances any multimedia experience by allowing users to feel sound. Whether worn around the hips, on the chest, or cross-body, Strap 3 brings the intensity of sound to any activity, from workouts and daily adventures to gaming and meditation. Equipped with a single, powerful Osci™ TRX2 transducer and advanced DSP control, the Strap 3 delivers a visceral experience that headphones alone cannot replicate.

Perfect for on-the-go gaming, the Strap 3 intensifies every round of fire, explosion, and collision, making games more immersive than ever. The Strap 3 also recreates the magic of the movie theater experience on laptops, tablets, and smartphones, infusing multimedia with excitement and connection. For those seeking to enhance their workouts or mindfulness practices, the Strap 3 adds a physical dimension that elevates performance and transports users to a state of relaxation.

With its portable, foldable design and customizable color options, the Strap 3 offers endless stylistic choices, allowing users to express themselves while experiencing sound in a whole new way.

There is also a new Limited Edition Call of Duty branded Strap 3 which was established on a shared passion of providing the most immersive experience possible. From the material and design to the precise haptic feedback technology, the Strap 3 Call of Duty collection is crafted to take gameplay to the next level. Only 2,500 hundred of these will ever be made, each with unique serial number.

Availability and Pricing

The Woojer Vest 3 is priced at $499/£486.00, and the Woojer Strap 3 is available for $199/ £175.00. Both products will be available later this year at major retail outlets, including Best Buy, Target, Costco, and other select stores worldwide as well as the Woojer website directly.