Author - Jerry Paxton

Mattel Announces Comic-Con 2023 Fan Experiences

Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced today its return to San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) from July 19 to July 23! The brand’s presence at the epicenter of pop culture will include panels, special guest appearances, product showcases and more at Booths #3029 and #2945. In celebration of fan-favorite properties, activities will spotlight Masters of the Universe, Hot Wheels, Monster High, WWE, , Jurassic Park and more, bringing exclusive experiences directly to fans.

Kicking off the SDCC celebration on July 10, Mattel Creations will offer special edition drops during their celebrated “12 Days of Fandom” event. The fan-first celebration of all things Mattel will unveil the latest collectibles from a variety of iconic properties. From now until July 16, badged SDCC participants will be able to apply for access to the official Comic-Con 2023 Exclusives Portal to gain access to products at the show as well as the below fan experiences. Fans can stay up to date on all things 12 Days of Fandom at Mattel Creations!

Mattel SDCC Fan Experiences:

  • WWE Superstar Meet & Greet

Thursday, July 20 / 1:15 – 2:15 PM PT (Mattel Booth #3029)

Visit the Mattel booth for a meet and greet with the Superstars of WWE!

  • Hot Wheels Design and Packaging Autograph Signing

Friday, July 21 / 12:30 – 1:30 PM PT (Mattel Booth #3029)

Meet the designers of a newHot Wheels line for a signing and giveaway. . Participants include Chris Colangelo, Kevin Cao, Mike Vasquez,Vic Blankenbaker, and Rich Orlina.

  • Monster High Design and Packaging Signing

Friday, July 21 / 2:00 – 3:00 PM PT (Mattel Booth #3029)

To celebrate 13 years of Monster High, come meet Monster High designers as they sign exclusive SDCC Monster High posters!

  • Little People Collector Avatar: The Last Airbender Poster Giveaway

Thursday, July 20 – Saturday, July 22 / 3:30 – 4:00 PM PT  (Mattel Booth #3029)

Little People Collector will be handing out exclusive posters based on the show. During this time, a few lucky fans will receive a poster signed by the creators of the show.

  • UNO Ultimate Foil Card Giveaway

Thursday, July 20 – Saturday, July 22 / 4:30 – 5:00 PM PT (Mattel Booth #3029)

To celebrate the Man of Steel’s 85th anniversary, UNO will giveaway a special-edition UNO Ultimate Superman Foil card at the booth.

Mattel Panels:

  • Mattel & WWE Elite Squad Fan Panel

Thursday, July 20 / 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM PT (Room: 6A)

The Mattel WWE Elite Squad defends their title as the Action Figure champions of San Diego Comic Con with all new WWE action figure reveals and WWE Superstar guests. Join hosts Sam Roberts and Johnny Gargano for a star-studded panel featuring the Mattel Design team and Superstars from WWE!

  • An Inside Look at Mattel’s Jurassic World Toy Design

Friday, July 21 / 11:00 AM – 12 PM PT (Mattel Booth #3029)

In honor of the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park, go off script with the Mattel Jurassic World Design Team and zoom in on toy creation. Hear from dinosaur toy designers Greg Murphy, Chandra Hicks, Carlos Rosales, and Chloe Mun and get ready for an action-packed conversation featuring product reveals, ferociously fun trivia, and more!

  • Masters of the Universe (MOTU) Design Panel

Friday, July 21 / 12:30-1:30 PM PT (Room 24ABC)

The Mattel MOTU product and packaging team will reveal an exclusive look into the creative process behind the latest releases and a sneak peek of what’s to come in 2024 and beyond. Even better, the first 250 attendees will receive an exclusive “Moaty”lapel pin. By the Power of Grayskull!

Stay up to date with Mattel’s activities at San Diego Comic-Con by following @Mattel on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Knott’s Extends Season of Soak City Waterpark Through October 1st

Summer just got longer at Knott’s Soak City Waterpark, with more dates for guests to visit this season. Guests can catch a ride down 23 different speed, tube and body slides or take a relaxing trip down one of the longest lazy rivers in the country. The 15-acre water park has something for each member of the family, an interactive kid’s area and for the more adventurous families, The Wedge, a rip-roaring family raft ride. Tidal Wave Bay, our giant wave pool, has enough room for everyone in the family to catch some excellent waves. Ride over the 4-foot crests like a bodysurfing pro or take it easy in the zero-drop entrance of the pool where waves are mere ripples but still loads of fun. Grab your swimming trunks and sunscreen and plan your day at Knott’s Soak City Waterpark before the season officially ends on October 1.

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment San Diego Comic-Con 2023 Panel Lineup

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to San Diego Comic-Con 2023 with four panels showcasing the highly anticipated original animated films, Adult Swim’s The Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart and Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar, DC’s Justice League: Warworld, and Babylon 5: The Road Home during the July 19-23 weekend.

The Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart will have its World Premiere on Thursday, June 20 at 8:30pm in Room 6BCF. Be among the first fans to experience this all-new original animated R-rated movie with the world premiere screening! Afterwards, join filmmakers Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer along with key cast for a panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar panel will take place on Friday, July 21 at 1:00pm in the Indigo Ballroom. Join series co-creator Brendon Small and guests as they talk all things Metalocalypse, preview some clips from the upcoming R-rated film, and discuss the forthcoming album Dethalbum IV.

Justice League: Warworld will have its World Premiere on Friday, July 21 at 9:00pm in Ballroom 20. Be among the first fans to see Warner Bros. Animation’s all-new, feature-length R-rated film “Justice League: Warworld” at this World Premiere screening! In addition to the screening filmmakers and cast will be on hand for a panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Babylon 5: The Road Home will have its World Premiere on Saturday, July 22 at 6:30pm in Room 6BCF. Babylon 5 celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year and following the world premiere screening of Babylon 5: The Road Home series creator J. Michael Straczynski, along with returning original series actors Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, Tracy Scoggins and Patricia Tallman, will host a panel discussion and audience Q&A about the all-new original movie in this beloved sci-fi saga.

*Talent is subject to change. Additional talent will be announced as confirmed.

Farming Simulator 22 HORSCH AgroVation Pack Announcement Trailer

Mere days after the release of the Hay & Forage Pack, GIANTS Software already announces the next content pack for Farming Simulator 22. Coming to PC and consoles on July 25th, the publisher and developer is about to extend the game with a new map and 14 machines by German manufacturer HORSCH. A trailer offers a glimpse at the new content.

Real-World AgroVation Farm Recreated
Featuring the HORSCH AgroVation farm located in Kněžmost, Czech Republic, players look forward to a faithfully recreated environment from the real world. The farm layout with its small to large fields and various storage buildings was digitized for Farming Simulator 22 and equips farmers with a fleet of brand-new HORSCH machines that debut in the game.

14 New Machines by HORSCH
Efficient tillage, seedbed preparation, drilling and more: The HORSCH AgroVation Pack features efficient high-performance machines like the Maestro 24.50 SV precision planter and the Avatar 12.25 D seed drill, the Cura 24 ST weeder, or the Cultro 12 TC mulcher, and Transformer 12 VF hoe. Find the complete list below.

Avatar 12.25 SD (Seed Drill)
Cultro 9 TC (Mulcher)
Cultro 12 TC (Mulcher)
Cura 24 ST (Weeder)
Finer 6 SL (Shallow Cultivator)
Joker 8 RT (Disc Harrow)
Maestro 9.75 RX (Precision Planter)
Maestro 24.50 SV (Precision Planter)
Partner 1600 FT (Additional Tank)
Pronto 3 DC (Seed Drill)
Pronto 6 DC (Seed Drill)
Taro 6 SL (Seed Drill)
Tiger 8 MT (Cultivator)
Transformer 12 VF (Hoe)

Farming Simulator 22 is available for PC, Mac, PlayStation®5 (PS5™), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One; HORSCH AgroVation Pack is ready for pre-orders and will be released July 25th. A Year 2 Season Pass is available, which includes the HORSCH AgroVation Pack, three more packs and the Premium Expansion – fans save up to 30% compared to getting the content separately.

Marvel Unveils Comic-Con 2023 Panel Line-Up

This July, Marvel returns to San Diego Comic-Con with exciting panels, exclusive announcements, all-star talent signings, and thrilling fan experiences at the Marvel booth starting Thursday, July 20 through Sunday, July 23.

Fans can stop by the Marvel booth (#2329) for the livestream broadcast, giveaways, signings, grab convention-exclusive merchandise at The Official Marvel Store (#2519), Marvel Unlimited subscription offers, and so much more!

Marvel’s social and digital teams will be on the ground at Comic-Con hosting the exciting events in the Marvel Booth and fans at home can experience it all by watching the exclusive livestream broadcast hosted by Ryan Penagos, Langston Belton, Ray Lowe, and Justin Warner. Fans can stay up to date on the biggest stories and breaking news by tuning in on Marvel.com, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Twitch. Tour the convention floor with Marvel, learn about some of your favorite Marvel characters, and don’t miss anything from the Marvel stage and events around SDCC!

An overview of Marvel’s panels can be found below, and stay tuned for additional information about Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and MARVEL SNAP at San Diego Comic-Con! A full schedule of Marvel’s booth activities, including additional signings and events is coming soon.

THURSDAY, JULY 20

Designing the X-Men: A This Week in Marvel Special Event
4:00 – 5:00PM PT | Room: 7AB
Agent M himself, AKA Ryan Penagos (VP & Creative Executive), is here to host a can’t-miss live edition of the This Week in Marvel podcast! Joining him are Krakoan Gardeners Jordan D. White (Senior Editor) and Sarah Brunstad (Editor), Graphic Designer eXtraordinaire Tom Muller, superstar artist Joshua Cassara (X-Force, X-Men) and more. From logos to data pages, new costumes to Hellfire Gala ensembles, Krakoan topography to the layout of the Green Lagoon, get the inside scoop about the creative process behind the modern era of X-Men along with hints of what is coming with the Fall of X. And don’t miss an exclusive giveaway at the end of the panel!

Marvel and Proko Teach “The Art of Storytelling”
5:00 –6:00PM PT | Room: 11
Learn the art of comic book storytelling with Marvel and Proko! Join our panel of industry veterans as they share their expertise on creating compelling stories, developing memorable characters, and mastering the art of visual storytelling. We’ll be covering several topics from Proko’s latest course on making comics with Marvel featuring instructors from the course! Whether you’re an aspiring artist or a seasoned professional, this panel will offer valuable insights and practical advice to help you hone your craft and break into the competitive world of comics.

FRIDAY, JULY 21

MARVEL: Heroes, Hulks, and Super-Soldiers
3:00PM- 4:00PM PT | Room: 6DE
Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski leads a panel featuring Marvel’s superlative solo Super Hero series! J. Michael Straczynski takes Captain America to the streets of Manhattan, while Moon Knight roams the roads of Egyptian lore in David Pepose’s Moon Knight: City of the Dead. Meanwhile the Hulk takes control of Bruce Banner as Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues his new Hulk run, and the hits coming in across the rest of the action-packed Marvel Universe. Be sure to stay until the end of the panel to find out what other heroes will be joining their ranks in their own new titles!

Marvel Fanfare with C.B. Cebulski
4:15PM- 5:15PM PT | Room: 6DE
Past and present Marvel Editors-in-Chief reunite for a panel unlike any other! Listen in on a conversation about anything and everything you wanted to know about the House of Ideas when current head honcho C.B. Cebulski is joined by Marvel Legend Joe Quesada. Never before has so much comic-making mastery been crammed into one panel! But that’s not all – fans who stay until the end will receive an exclusive giveaway comic!

Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game Live Play with Glass Cannon Network
5:30PM – 8:30PM PT | Room: Omni Hotel, Omni Grand Ballroom ABC 4th Floor
A brand new group of Super Heroes is making its San Diego Comic Con debut as your favorite personalities from the Glass Cannon Network bring their unique brand of unhinged role-playing madness to the Multiverse! Join Gamemaster Troy Lavallee along with Joe O’BrienSkid MaherMatthew CapodicasaNoura IbrahimAlicia Marie, and Marvel’s own Nick Lowe (VP, Marvel Executive Editor) as they create a Super Hero story that makes the Avengers look like a knitting club. Don’t miss the action-packed, laugh-inducing mayhem that will leave you wondering if spandex suits come with built-in comedic timing!

SATURDAY, JULY 22

MARVEL: Next Big Thing
3:00PM- 4:00PM PT | Room: 6A
This is the one you’ve been waiting for – the absolute can’t-miss event featuring shocking announcements about the future of the Marvel Universe! Spider-Man’s never had it easy, but what’s coming for him next will shake the wallcrawler to his core. Plus – things are heating up for Guardians of the Galaxy in the throes of the catastrophic Grootfall. And just what is happening in Jonathan Hickman’s all-new Ultimate Universe? On hand to discuss all this and more are C.B. Cebulski (Editor-in-Chief), Nick Lowe (Executive Editor), Zeb Wells (Amazing Spider-Man), Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing (Guardians of the Galaxy) and more. Also, attendees will receive an exclusive giveaway!

SUNDAY, JULY 23

Women of Marvel
10:30AM- 11:30AM PT | Room: 6A
The Women of Marvel return to San Diego! Join us for a lively discussion with Marvel talent across publishing, digital media and studios including Editor Sarah Brunstad, Executive Producer Sana Amanat (Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel), VP of Digital Media Marketing Jessica MalloyCharlie Jane Anders (New Mutants: Lethal Legion), Jody Houser (Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi) and more! What is it like for women working in the industry today, and what is next for Marvel’s woman-led projects?  Plus, stay until the end of the panel for an exclusive giveaway!

Synapse PSVR2 Launch Trailer

Synapse, the eagerly awaited PlayStation® VR2 exclusive action shooter, is out now on the PlayStation™ Store. The latest release from award-winning VR veterans, nDreams, Synapse combines visceral dual-wielding gameplay, a legendary voice cast and the power of the PlayStation VR2 to create a landmark VR experience.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to see people’s excitement for Synapse grow from the moment we announced the game back in February,” said James Shepherd, Head of nDreams Studio. “The team have produced a true showcase of what the PS VR2 is capable of, and I’m thrilled that PS VR2 owners can finally experience the spectacle of Synapse for themselves.”

Synapse has received a slew of positive reviews ahead of its release, with the action-packed gameplay and intuitive use of the PS VR2’s hardware features singled out for particular praise.

“…a pure power fantasy that epitomises everything great about virtual reality.” – Eurogamer

“Synapse is a strong addition to PlayStation VR2’s library that any FPS fan should buy.” – UploadVR

“Synapse is a phenomenal VR game, bringing striking visuals, meaningful progression and true power fantasy together…an immediate must-buy for PS VR2 owners.” – The Sixth Axis

“Synapse is an incredibly well-built VR action game for PS VR2, and a ridiculously easy game to recommend to any action or shooter fans…” – 6dofreviews

In Synapse, players must harness a lethal combination of surging telekinetic powers and deadly weaponry as they break into the mind of notorious enemy of the state, Colonel Peter Conrad (David Hayter). Guided by their Handler, Clara Sorensen (Jennifer Hale), players will need to fight through to the Colonel’s subconscious and extract crucial intel that will put an end to his plans for mass destruction.

Synapse’s innovative gameplay has been crafted to take full advantage of PlayStation® VR2’s next generation feature set with eye-tracking enhanced, motion-controlled telekinesis and adrenaline fuelled gunplay that that players can feel through the PlayStation® VR2’s Sense™ controllers’ haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

For more information on Synapse, visit www.ndreams.com/games/synapse

Tour de France 2023 Races Presentation Trailer

One month after the release of Tour de France 2023 and Pro Cycling Manager 2023, NACON and Cyanide Studio are delighted to share a new trailer, inviting gamers to take part in THE Grand Tour, and also discover the other major races in the cycling calendar.

Just as the Tour de France is celebrating its 110th roll-out, the games Tour de France 2023 and Pro Cycling Manager 2023 are arriving to give gamers the chance to experience their very own Tour de France, playing as either a cyclist or a sports director. And it is not the only official Grand Tour available in Pro Cycling Manager 2023. The game also contains the Vuelta a España, the Petit Tours and Classics, with more than 260 races in total. For its part, Tour de France 2023 concentrates on a faithful reproduction of the eponymous competition, but also offers a whole selection of Petit Tours and other Classics, such as the Critérium du Dauphiné and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

In Tour de France 2023, the players set out to conquer the 21 stages of the annual edition of the event, taking on the role of a pro cyclist. In Pro Cycling Manager 2023, they get the chance to play a sports director and manage a cycling team in a whole bunch of competitions across the globe.

Click here to check out the Steam page for Tour de France 2023.
Tour de France 2023 is out on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PC (Steam & Epic Games Store).

Click here to check out the Steam page for Pro Cycling Manager 2023.
Pro Cycling Manager 2023 is out on PC (Steam).

Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra 4K Camera Review

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is a high-end webcam with stunning image quality and excellent low-light performance. It features a large 1/1.2-inch sensor, an ultra-wide f/1.7 aperture lens, and 4K video recording support at up to 30fps. It’s full supported recording resolutions are 4K30, 1440p30, 1080p60/30/24, and 720p60/30. The camera is also very easy to set up and use. Simply plug it into your computer, and you’re ready to go. Of course, it interfaces with Razer’s Synapse software suite where you can control its various features, and I highly suggest you install Synapse if you use the Kiyo Pro Ultra. The Kiyo Pro Ultra also includes many advanced features, such as HDR, autofocus, and background blur. The Kiyo Pro Ultra is a well-designed webcam made of high-quality materials and very sturdy build quality. The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra comes with a nice mount that lets it sit gently on the top of your monitor but it can also be mounted to a boom arm or tripod via bottom screw mount.

The Kiyo Pro Ultra’s image quality is simply outstanding. The large sensor and wide aperture lens combine to produce incredibly sharp and detailed images, even in low-light conditions. The HDR mode helps to ensure that your images are properly exposed, even when the scene has a wide range of brightness. The autofocus is very fast and accurate, so you don’t have to worry about your image being out of focus. This is important for streamers and content creators who are constantly moving around.

Even the Kiyo Pro Ultra’s built-in microphone works well enough, an area where most webcams fail. Of course, I would recommend that you use a dedicated microphone if you are a content creator, but for basic webinars or zoom sessions you are all set. Additionally, the Kiyo Pro Ultra’s low-light performance is outstanding in the world of webcams. In low-light conditions, the camera can produce much brighter and more detailed images than other webcams. This is due to the large sensor and wide aperture lens, which allow the camera to capture more light. The background blur effect is very natural-looking and can help you stand out from your background. This is a great way to make your video streams or recordings visually appealing.

Twisting the front of the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra will allow you to deploy or retract the built-in privacy shield, which reminds me of the “Iris” from MGM’s Stargate SG-1 television show. I dig it and it provides a little extra piece of mind when it comes to privacy.

Pros:

  • Stunning image quality
  • Excellent low-light performance
  • Advanced features, such as HDR, autofocus, and background blur
  • Well-designed
  • Easy to set up and use

Cons:

  • On the pricey side

Overall:

Overall, the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is an excellent webcam that offers a lot of value for the price. It is a great choice for anyone who wants the best possible image quality for their webcam, whether they are using it for streaming, content creation, or video calls. Most of the time, the people I was in web meetings with actually thought I was using a big mirrorless DSLR camera as a web cam. Simply put: The Razer Kiyo Ultra is the best web cam you can purchase at the time of this writing. It retails for $299.99 and is available now at Razer’s official website.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Atari Haunted House Announcement Trailer

Prepare for the spookiest game of hide and “eek!” you’ve ever played in Haunted House, an all-new casual roguelite adventure from Atari and developer Orbit Studios, coming later this year to PC and consoles.

The São Paulo-based developer took to the stage at BIG Festival 2023, as part of Atari’s headlining presence, to reveal the very first teaser trailer, viewable below:

Fraught with all kinds of ookies and spookies, Haunted House is a reimagining of the old-school survival-horror title. Modernized with dynamic roguelite elements and stealth-based gameplay, sneak through procedurally generated mansion rooms while avoiding undead unwelcomed guests.

Haunted House puts players in the shoes of Lyn Graves, the sharply intuitive niece of renowned treasure hunter Zachary Graves. Along with her friends, Lyn plans a visit to her uncle’s mansion, only to be ambushed by a horde of menacing ghouls that swiftly seize her companions and vanish into thin air. To rescue her uncle and friends from the clutches of these supernatural specters, Lyn must locate and reassemble the shattered fragments of a mysterious urn.

Featuring procedurally generated room layouts, shifting walls, unpredictable enemy positions, and ghastly ghostly encounters, players must cautiously navigate through swarms of ghouls and phantoms to locate Lyn’s missing friends and her uncle. Should Lyn succumb to a sinister spirit, she’ll find herself back at the entrance of the house, facing a completely new floor layout and rearranged enemies, guaranteeing a unique experience with each run.