Author - Jerry Paxton

Last Train Home Debut Gameplay Trailer

2023/08/15
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Witness the incredible journey of the Czechoslovak Legion and watch the first Gameplay Reveal Trailer of Last Train Home exclusively unveiled during the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2023.

Last Train Home is an epic survival strategy game. The gameplay reveal takes you through the steps required to reach your ultimate destination, Vladivostok:

  • Roam through war-torn cities and the vast Siberian countryside.
  • Send out squads from the train to scavenge along the Trans-Siberian Railway.
  • Lead your soldiers in intense real-time tactical battles.
  • Unlock new skills for your troops.
  • Skillfully manage and upgrade your train.
  • Gather and trade essential supplies.

“After announcing the game Last Train Home, we joyfully observed that players often find resemblances to prestigious brands such as Company of Heroes, Frostpunk, Commandos, and Xcom. These comparisons to gaming industry giants greatly delight us. Indeed, we draw from their successful concepts to some degree, yet we are making a unique Strategy / Management genre combination laid on an epic survival journey story. Through a gameplay trailer, we have decided to showcase this facet for the first time “in action” during the long-anticipated THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2023 event.” – Dominik Jícha, Ashborne Games Marketing Manager

Battlefield 2042: Redux Develeopment Update Trailer

2023/08/15
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

Today, the Battlefield 2042 team released the latest Development Update detailing all the exciting content in store for the shooter.

Hosted by DICE Community Manager Tom Straatman and Producer Bruce Brodie, the video dives into a first look at Season 6 – coming in October 2023 – and its new map, as well as an introduction to Redux, where players can experience their favorite Battlefield 2042 gameplay moments between the end of Season 5 and the start of Season 6.

Starting August 29, and running for six weeks, Battlefield 2042: Redux will give players the opportunity to re-engage and reap weekly rewards. Players will find new ways to play across their favorite maps and modes, including Rush Chaos XL, Tactical Conquest, Breakthrough Chaos, Conquest Assault and Shutdown – as well as plenty of chaos in true Battlefield style.

The rewards in Redux range from new content such as character, vehicle and weapon skins, to previous Store content that now becomes earnable. Alongside updated modes and rewards, players can anticipate Quality of Life enhancements, including a new Codex for those wanting to learn more about the World of 2042.

For a full breakdown of Redux, check out the latest Development Update on the Battlefield blog here.

Follow the @BattlefieldComm Twitter account to stay up-to-date on the latest Battlefield news.

Nights of the Jack Tickets Now On Sale

2023/08/15
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News

LA’s leading immersive event, Nights Of The Jack, the ultimate Halloween experience for the whole family, is back this year for the 6th year and again promises to be bigger and brighter than ever. Welcoming over 100,000 people every year, greater LA area residents and celebrity fans alike are expected to return to King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas for the annual event, that includes thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, immersive scenes and walking trail, premium food, beverages and cocktails and much more. Tickets go on sale on August 14, 2023 at 6:00am PT at NightsOfTheJack.com, with a 20% off discount until September 1, 2023. Nights Of The Jack officially kicks off on Opening Night on Friday, September 29, 2023.

Thirty miles northwest of Hollywood, tucked in the Santa Monica Mountains, there’s a strange and shadowy wonderland that everyone’s been whispering about. Guests are encouraged to follow the mile-long, immersive walking trail, glimmering at every turn with blazing gourds around every corner. This season, Nights of the Jack has created a lot of new attractions, including adding advanced technology throughout the experience with a first-time AR scavenger hunt to earn prizes, AR selfie moments and digital carnival games for prizes. They have also added entirely new scenes, like Día De Los Muertos and The Enchanted Forest, unparalleled lantern art activations and tons of new photo moments.

Nights Of The Jack is Halloween fun for everyone. Adults, families and children alike are welcome and won’t want to miss this hair-raising feast for the senses. Spooky but never scary, kids will love the enchanted renditions of their favorite characters in pumpkin-form and have fun amongst the big multi-sensory scenes. Adults will appreciate the artistry and craftmanship of the elaborate sets and be able to enjoy alcohol from two full bars. Everyone can enjoy picking out Halloween gifts and light-up items from the souvenir shop.

Nights Of The Jack offers a premium food and beverage experience, including some of LA’s best food trucks. The Spookeasy is a high-end full bar and will have ample Halloween treats for adults, including top shelf spirits, cocktails, craft beer and wine. There will also be sweet treats, coffee, hot cider and cocoa nightly, with special additional dessert trucks on Wednesdays.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating another Nights Of The Jack this year in Calabasas,” in a joint statement said by Nights of the Jack co-founders, Ben Biscotti and Tony Schubert. “We can’t wait to see what everyone thinks of the exciting new features this year, including interactive technology elements like digital carnival games, AR scavenger hunt and AR backgrounds to take your selfies to the next level. We look forward to entertaining everyone again for a bigger and brighter season!”

Main Attractions:

  • Immersive Walking Trail – nearly 1 mile of bright Halloween lights, themed scenes and hand-carved festival jack-o’-lanterns
  • AR Scavenger Hunt – brand new interactive challenge to “find Jack” and earn digital points and prizes
  • Digital Carnival Games – brand new interactive games such as axe throw and jack-o’-lanterns toss for prizes
  • AR Selfies – brand new immersive backgrounds with ghosts and ghouls throughout the trail so everyone comes home with amazing photos
  • Art Installations – unparalleled lantern art activations and more
  • Pumpkin Carver – watch live pumpkin carvings from experts and see real pumpkins get turned into Halloween masterpieces
  • Face Painting – themed and festival face painting options for all ages
  • Psychic – stop by our resident psychic and have your palm read, tarot card reading, energy reading or love and compatibility reading
  • Souvenir Shop – purchase fun light-up items and Halloween gifts
  • The Spookeasy – where adults can enjoy craft beer, wine and Halloween themed cocktails
  • Food Trucks – LA’s best food trucks on rotation to fuel all of the Halloween fun

Details:

  • Dates: Nights of the Jack will be open to the public for 30 dates beginning September 29 through October 31
    • September 29 (Opening Night and Friends & Family Night)
    • September 29 – October 1 (Opening Weekend)
    • October 4–16
    • October 18–31
  • Times: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
  • Location: King Gillette Ranch: 26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302
  • Tickets: www.nightsofthejack.com
  • Price:
    • Weekdays: $29.99-34.99
    • Fridays: $39.99-44.99
    • Saturdays: $44.99
    • Sundays: $39.99
    • 2 years and under are free admission.
    • Each ticket will grant you access to the event at the day and time of selected slot.

Nights Of The Jack is also available for private events and corporate sponsorships and features a private 100-person VIP bar that can be closed off for private parties.

Guests can also celebrate a little bit of Calabasas’ history from this very location that inspired the event. According to legend dating back to 1824, a rancher from Oxnard spilled a wagonload of pumpkins in Calabasas while on the way to Los Angeles and later, hundreds of pumpkins sprouted alongside the road.

Creative Technology and xMEMS Labs Partner for Solid-State MEMS Speaker Tech

2023/08/15
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Industry News, News

Creative Technology is excited to announce a strategic partnership with xMEMS Labs, the pioneers in solid-state fidelity, bringing in a new era of audio excellence for users worldwide by incorporating xMEMS’ cutting-edge micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) solid-state speaker technology into Creative’s True Wireless Stereo (TWS) products.

xMEMS technology is a breakthrough in the audio industry, bringing unparalleled sound quality and efficiency to audio devices. Currently, traditional audio devices use conventional drivers to produce sound, which can sometimes result in distortion or loss of audio fidelity. Whereas, with xMEMS’ tiny yet powerful hardware, Creative’s TWS earbuds are set to deliver crystal-clear sound that reproduces every nuance of music and audio content with astounding accuracy. Users will get to enjoy a truly immersive and lifelike audio experience, whether they are listening to their favorite songs, watching movies, or engaging in conference calls.

The solid-state, all-silicon MEMS-based drivers also boast exceptional phase consistency (7x better than conventional drivers), offering superior spatial audio experiences with improved detail and separation. Furthermore, with the integration of xMEMS’s compact hardware, users can expect lighter, sleeker, and more ergonomic Creative TWS earbuds that provide better wearability for users on the move.

“We are excited to partner with Creative to revolutionize the true wireless audio experience,” said Joseph Jiang, CEO and Co-Founder at xMEMS Labs. “By integrating our advanced solid-state MEMS speakers into Creative’s TWS products, we are confident that users will enjoy an unprecedented level of audio quality and efficiency. Together, we aim to redefine the way people listen to music, communicate, and immerse themselves in audio content.”

“As an audio company committed to delivering superior sound experiences, Creative is excited to partner with xMEMS Labs to integrate their innovative MEMS technology into our TWS products,” said Song Siow Hui, CEO of Creative. “By doing so, we are confident that our TWS products will stand out in the market, delivering exceptional sound quality, comfort, and style to our users.”

The partnership between Creative and xMEMS Labs marks a significant milestone in the audio industry, raising the bar for True Wireless Stereo audio devices. The first series of Creative TWS products powered by xMEMS technology are expected to hit the market later this year, promising a game-changing experience for audio enthusiasts and casual users alike.

Official School Bus Extension Announced for Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop

2023/08/15
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

With the Official School Bus Extension for Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop players can look forward to get behind the wheel of officially licensed school buses of the renowned US-based manufacturer Blue Bird and to perform school trips for the first time in the history of the popular Bus Simulator game series. The release of the DLC is planned for August 30, 2023!

Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Official School Bus Extension

  •        Extends the main game by a number of new features!
  •        Includes three officially licensed school buses from the US-based bus manufacturer Blue Bird: an All American FE, an All American RE and a Blue Bird Vision school bus.
  •        Numerous new missions including a new mission type: school trips!
  •        Coming to the digital stores on August 30, 2023!
  •        Alternatively, also available as part of the Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Season Pass.
  •        Playable live on site at this year’s gamescom 2023 in Cologne!

In line with the start of the new school year, bus lovers can now look forward to numerous new challenges with Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Official School Bus Extension! The DLC for Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop not only expands the main game with school buses, but also introduces school trips as a new mission type on both maps included in the main game. The task here is to pick up pupils at various points in the city and to transport them in time to different school buildings that have also been newly integrated into the cityscapes – and collect them again after school to drive them safely back to their home stops.

In the course of the new missions, the players can choose from three new iconic Blue Bird school buses:

  • Blue Bird All American FE: A 40-feet front engine school bus consisting of 2 axles, 2 doors and a total capacity of up to 89 passengers.
  • Blue Bird All American RE: A rear engine school bus featuring a capacity of 89 passengers, 2 axles, 2 doors and a total length of 40-feet.
  • Blue Bird Vision: A total of 83 passsengers fit into this 40-feet gasoline school bus, with 2 axles and 2 doors.

The Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Official School Bus Extension will be available for 12.99 EUR / 12.99 USD for PC, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One as a DLC on the digital stores on August 30, 2023.

Alternatively, the DLC is also available as part of the Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Season Pass. The Season Pass is available at a lucrative bundle price of 24.99 EUR / 24.99 USD (SRP) and includes the already released Ebusco Bus Pack, the soon to be released Official School Bus Extension as well as the upcoming Thomas Built Buses® Bus Pack and the Official Tram Extension which is planned to be released at the end of the year.

An overview of selected offers for Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop, as well as the various game versions and already available expansion options can be found here:

https://shop.bussimulator.com/

Arcade1Up Announces Big Buck Hunter Pro Deluxe Home Arcade Cabinet

2023/08/15
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

Arcade1Up today announced the Big Buck Hunter Pro Deluxe home arcade machine, an authentic hunting experience that puts enthusiasts right in the action from the comfort of their own home. The machine is now available for pre-order at Best Buy ($599.99) and will release this fall.

With pump action rifles equipped with SINDEN light-gun technology, the new Deluxe arcade machine offers realistic fast-paced gameplay. Featuring real feel arcade-style controls and multiple game modes and levels, seasoned pros and beginners alike will enjoy hours of entertainment.

The machine will include four games – Big Buck Hunter Pro, Big Buck Safari, Big Buck Hunter Pro Open Season and Big Buck Safari Outback – and up to four players will be able to join in on the action.

Big Buck Hunter Pro will join Arcade1Up’s other recent Deluxe Edition machines including Class of ’81 Deluxe, Mortal Kombat II Deluxe and The Fast and The Furious Deluxe.

Pathfinder: Gallowspire Survivors Early Access Launch Trailer

2023/08/14
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

BKOM Studios and Paizo are thrilled to share that Pathfinder: Gallowspire Survivors will be launching into Steam Early Access on September 14th. Experience Pathfinder through a whole new lens, and oppose the legendary villain Tar-Baphon in this roguelite bullet hell survivor game.

The disgraced lich-emperor Tar-Baphon lies sealed away beneath his ancient seat of power, Gallowspire. Here, he has cunningly devised the means for his escape. As the wards that contain him begin to fail, three brave heroes step into Gallowspire’s depths, tasked with battling through his army of undead to put an end to his plans.

Players battle through Gallowspire as one of three mighty heroes: Fighter, Wizard, or Rogue. While each has their own strengths and talents that will aid their efforts against Tar-Baphon, the task at hand is too much for a lone hero. Choose an ally to fight alongside you as you slay hordes of enemies, collect and upgrade your arsenal of spells and weapons, and eradicate Gallowspire’s terrifying bosses.

There will be many failures throughout your journey, but aided by a mysterious amulet, the heroes can escape death and grow stronger with each attempt. Only those who find the strength to break through Gallowspire may face the eternal emperor. But one victory will not be enough to seal away the Whispering Tyrant forever. Heroes must confront him again and again to buy the world of Golarion the time it needs to prepare for Tar-Baphon’s seemingly inevitable return.

Pathfinder: Gallowspire Survivors launches into Early Access on September 14th. Those eager to face Tar-Baphon and his undead legion can wishlist Pathfinder: Gallowspire Survivors on Steam. Gamescom attendees can be the first to face the Whispering Tyrant with a hands-on demo. Keep up to date with all the information by joining the official Discord server, liking the game on Facebook, and following BKOM Studios on Twitter.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Game Vinyl Out Now

2023/08/14
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

Today, Gun Interactive and Waxwork Records are thrilled to release THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE Original Game Soundtrack LP by Ross Tregenza and REMAINS: Additional Game Music LP from THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE by Wes Keltner and Jim Bonney!

This very special double album bundle features the complete video game soundtrack to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre—pressed to colored vinyl, housed in deluxe heavyweight gatefold packaging with matte satin coating, composer liner notes, and featuring all-new artwork.

The composers of the game music all have a dedicated love for the original 1974 film: recordings of sheet metal, spoons, tuning forks, furniture—and the Brian Eno-approved instrument the Apprehension Engine—were all mangled, manipulated, and ran through several vintage reverbs, distortions, tape delays, and other effects to create a haunting, sonic cacophony that envelopes the listener and transports them directly to a killing floor in the sweltering Texas summer heat.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Game Original Soundtrack Bundle features:

  • The Complete Soundtrack Game Music by Ross Tregenza
  • REMAINS LP: Additional Soundtrack Game Music by Wes Keltner & Jim Bonney
  • “Chain Saw Motor Green” Colored Vinyl (TCSM LP)
  • “Rust” Colored Vinyl (Remains LP)
  • Artwork by Jake Kontou
  • Heavyweight Gatefold Jackets with Matte Coating
  • Composer Liner Notes

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, developed by Gun Interactive and Sumo Nottingham, is set to release on August 18th—a video game made by horror fans for horror fans. Take on the role of one of the notorious Slaughter family or their Victims in this third-person asymmetrical horror experience based on the groundbreaking and iconic 1974 horror film.

Tempest Rising Gets New Trailer and Steam Preview

2023/08/14
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Today Slipgate Ironworks and 3D Realms surprise-dropped a new playable preview on Steam for the upcoming real-time strategy game Tempest Rising, along with a brand-new gameplay trailer. Inspired by the all-time classics of the RTS genre, Tempest Rising gives players full command of their armies as they build up their bases, lead their units into battle, and execute bold strategies to win.

Tempest Rising’s new playable Steam preview is available until Aug. 28, 2023. It features the full first single-player mission of the Global Defense Forces (GDF) campaign, as they go up against the lethal Tempest Dynasty, as well as the dangers growing unchecked across a war-torn planet Earth. Players will be introduced to five playable GDF unit types, from the Drone Operator to the Sentinel Scout Car, plus six enemy types. There’s a lot for RTS fans and newcomers to the genre to discover, as they’ll get a feel for base-building, intel, air strikes… and even classic gameplay elements like explosive barrels!

About Tempest Rising

Tempest Rising seamlessly merges the classic action of real-time strategy (RTS) games from the ‘90s and 2000s with modern production and performance standards. Encounter a battle-scarred 1997 in an alternate timeline where the Cuban Missile Crisis went nuclear. In the fallout from the war, a strange red electrical vine known as Tempest started spreading across the planet and changed the course of history. Experience the story of three highly different factions across two campaigns with deep and rewarding gameplay that keeps the focus on strategy and skill, with built-in customization options that allow players to approach the game in their own way in both single-player and multiplayer.

Key Features:

  • Classic RTS base-building with fast, fluid, hard-hitting combat and tons of customization
  • Three asymmetrical factions, each featuring unique harvesting models, individual secondary resource systems, and distinct rosters of units providing drastically different playstyles
  • Two epic single-player campaigns with between-mission cutscenes to drive the story
  • Skirmish and multiplayer modes, including ranked matchmaking with Elo rating and unranked matchmaking

Men of War II Final Beta Weekend Begins

2023/08/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Fulqrum Publishing and Ukrainian Studio Best Way are excited to announce the launch of the third and Final Beta weekend for the eagerly anticipated real-time strategy title, Men of War II. Starting today, fans will be able to hit the front lines and try out the new classic and realism modes, before the release on September 20th, 2023. The Final Beta will be open to the public starting Thursday, August 10 through Monday, August 14th at 7pm CEST on Steam.

This open beta gives fans the chance to experience Men of War II’s highly-requested ‘Classic’ setup for matches through the custom lobby, taking players back to the multiplayer experience of previous Men of War games. By selecting which nation they’d like to play as, players will immediately have access to all that nation’s units in each match. There are no battalions and echelons, with the player calling in their forces based on a combination of their manpower resource and control points, combined with timers.

For those fans looking for a new and challenging adventure, the Realism Setting offers fewer visual cues concerning the visibility and health of their units, higher chance of disabling and capturing enemy vehicles, a more limited range of fire for weapons, and even more gameplay changes.

This third and final open Beta has been based on feedback from thousands of players who have already played, tested and provided their thoughts on the previous two public tests. The developers will continue to work on polishing and balancing based on fresh player feedback from this Beta. Players’ progress and saves in this open beta test will not carry over to release.

Join the test now by clicking “Request Access” on Men of War II Steam page. Those players who participated in the previous two open betas will automatically have access to the Final Beta Test.

The full list of content available in the open beta is as follows:

Open Beta Content:

  • 3x PvP Match Setup Mode
    • PvP (typical Men of War II experience using the battalion system)
    • Combined Arms (single customizable battalion for each nation)
    • Classic (all units from the player’s nation available in a match)
  • 4x Game Mode
    • Front Line
    • Assault Zones
    • Combat
    • Incursion – only available in PvP match setup (“Battalions”)
  • 1x PvE Mode
    • Line Defense
    • 8x Maps
    • Airfield
    • Bazerville
    • Borovaya River
    • Carpathians
    • The Coast
    • Farmland
    • Winter March
    • Suburb
  • 3x Single Player / Co-op Missions
    • Ambush
    • Battle of Coisson
    • Towards Freedom

Changes & Fixes:

  • A new enhanced lighting engine with new skyboxes and better quality of existing content.
  • Bunkers, pillboxes and observation towers can now be built as defensive structures on all maps.
  • Additional match settings in the lobby: players can choose the weather and time of day for each battle.
  • Added medical transport for each nation and a Soviet self-propelled heavy howitzer SU-152.
  • New animations for various units and situations, such as artillery reloading and infantry dying in water.
  • New buildings added to maps, including a supply depot, infirmary, fuel station and cranes.
  • New models for artillery shells, grenades and bombs.
  • Various new sound effects.
  • Improved pathfinding for vehicles.
  • Balancing and refinement to single-player missions and multiplayer modes.
  • Performance improvements.
  • Bug fixes, general polish and small tweaks.