Author - Jerry Paxton

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Releases Four Holiday Classics on Ultra HD Blu-ray

2022/11/02
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News

Four classic and beloved holiday family films – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Elf, and The Polar Express – will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and Digital on November 1, it was announced today by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

The Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Packs will include an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with each feature film in 4K with HDR, a Blu-ray disc with the feature films and pre-existing special features, and a Digital version of the feature films.

Ultra HD Blu-ray showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.

For the complete 4K Ultra HD experience with HDR, a 4K Ultra HD TV with HDR, an Ultra HD Blu-ray player and a high-speed HDMI (category 2) cable are required.

About the Films:

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. However, things go awry quickly. His hick cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property. Even worse, Clark’s employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs.

The film is directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. The screenplay is by John Hughes and based on characters by Hughes.  The film is produced by Hughes and Tom Jacobsen and stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo and Randy Quaid.

A Christmas Story
Set in a 1940s-era Midwestern town and told from the viewpoints of a seven-year-old boy, who only wants one thing for Christmas — a Red Ryder BB gun — the episodic tale chronicles not only his schemes to convince his mother and father to buy him one, but also offers a warmly nostalgic look into 1940s middle-class American life. From the stories of, and narrated by, Jean Shepherd.

The film is directed by Bob Clark.  The screenplay is by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark and is based on the novel “In God We Trust: All Other Pay Cash by Shepherd.  The film is produced by Rene Dupont and Bob Clark and stars Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin and Peter Billingsley.

Additionally, A Christmas Story Christmas, from Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max, will debut on HBO Max on November 17.  The long-awaited follow-up to the annual holiday favorite A Christmas Story, this time Ralphie is all grown up and must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it…as a dad.  Peter Billingsley returns to the role that has made kids of all ages anticipate Christmas morning like no other.

Elf
This hilarious Christmas film tells the tale of a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf. Years later Buddy learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity.

The film is directed by Jon Favreau and written by David Berenbaum.  It is produced by Jon Berg, Todd Komarnicki , and Shauna Robertson, and stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Edward Asner and Bob Newhart.

The Polar Express
When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

The film is directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay by Zemeckis and William Broyles Jr.  It is based on the classic Caldecott award-winning children’s book written by Chris Van Allsburg.  The film is produced by Steve Starkey, Zemeckis, Gary Goetzman, and William Teitler, and features the voices of Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen.

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS

On 11/1/22, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Elf, and The Polar Express in 4K UHD will be available to own for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on favorite devices from select digital retailers and will be made available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.

BASICS
PRODUCT                                                                                        ERP
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Ultra HD Blu-ray         $24.99
A Christmas Story Ultra HD Blu-ray                                            $24.99
Elf Ultra HD Blu-ray                                                                   $24.99
The Polar Express Ultra HD Blu-ray                                          $24.99
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 97 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Standard Street Date: 11/122
EST Street Date: 11/1/22

A Christmas Story
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 94 minutes
Rating: PG
EST Street Date: 11/1/22

Elf
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 97 minutes
Rating: PG
Standard Street Date: 11/122
EST Street Date: 11/1/22

The Polar Express
Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French
Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French
Run Time: 100 minutes
Rating: G
Standard Street Date: 11/122
EST Street Date: 11/1/22

Call of the Wild: The Angler Gets The Challenger Update

2022/11/02
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Expansive Worlds, a creative division within Avalanche Studios Group and the developers of the immersive hunting game theHunter: Call of the Wild, has released The Challenger Update – available for free for all Call of the Wild: The Angler players on Steam for PC, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store.

“With The Challenger Update, we really tried to tackle some of the great feedback we’ve been getting from our wonderful community. It also brings some exciting new features, improvements, and fixes to the game,” said Paul Rustchynsky, Game Director at Expansive Worlds. “As a studio that prides itself on collaborating with players, we’re humbled by their support and look forward to continuing to improve and expand Call of the Wild: The Angler.”

Key Features:

  • Daily & Weekly Challenges: Put your skills to the test and earn XP by completing periodical challenges. Bragging rights included!
  • Local Souvenirs Shop: This new shop is full of unique and quirky items and cosmetic accessories specific to Golden Ridge Reserve.
  • Activity Feed: Who caught that massive fish? With the activity feed, you’ll be able to stay up to date with the latest happening in your multiplayer session.
  • News Feed: Receive the latest news in-game directly from the development team!

Key Game Improvements: 

  • Improved transitions between water bodies and improved water tessellation.
  • AMD FidelityFX Stochastic Screen Space Reflections (SSSR) added for improved reflections on water surfaces.
  • Support added for DUALSHOCK®4 Wireless Controller and DualSense™ Wireless Controller.
  • The Apex Connect menus have been overhauled to improve the usability of joining friends, adding friends, and managing friend requests.
  • Boats now accurately react to waves, bobbing and rocking with the motion of the water. What’s more, water no longer clips through boats.
  • The animation of the fish is now more accurate to reflect the speed of movement.
  • The verlet system for fishing line rendering has been revised to provide more accurate states between taught and slack.
  • Taylor’s Tackles Store pricing has been refreshed in-line with updated XP earnings for a better sense of progression and clearer differentiation of value between items.

Since its launch on PC on August 31st, 2022, Call of the Wild: The Angler has received six updates addressing more than 150 game issues.

For a full breakdown of the update, please read the patch notes.

For more information, visit www.COTWTheAngler.com, and keep up with the latest updates from the game by following the team on Twitter @COTWTheAngler.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game New Trailer

2022/11/01
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Good Shepherd and Teravision Games released a new trailer for Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game, the upcoming 3v7 asymmetrical multiplayer horror game based on MGM’s 1988 cult classic film.

https://youtu.be/vqS8joebwLo

The trailer dives into how the game is capturing the atmosphere of the original movie, including iconic locations like the Big Top spaceship, the amusement park and more compared side-by-side with their cinematic inspirations.

Men of War II Dev Diary #2

2022/11/01
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Fulqrum Publishing and Best Way today released the second instalment of the Men of War II dev diary video series, in which Andrey Geleta, Game Designer at Best Way, details some of the exciting gameplay, tech, and other innovations that players can expect in the highly-anticipated RTS follow-up.

Built using a significantly redesigned and modified Gem RTS engine, Men of War II will give players much more freedom than previous instalments in the franchise, allowing them to tailor the experience to their own personal playstyles, while enhancing the battlefield with dynamic new features which have been brought to life with new high-resolution (up-to 4K) effects, animations, and immersive sound design.

One new feature is the ‘Frontline’, which divides the entire map into two parts – the territory that belongs to the allies and the territory that is occupied by the enemy. This is constantly in flux, and can dramatically influence the course of events since players will have access to different options and abilities based on which side of the ‘Front Line’ their units are on. AI has also been enhanced and balanced in line with the new mechanics, ensuring that it will intelligently counter the player, giving a deeply satisfying gameplay experience.

Multiplayer modes have been completely overhauled and almost entirely rebuilt from scratch, bringing a suite of options to the game, including tournaments, leagues, personal ratings, customisable lobbies, dedicated servers and more. One key addition is auto-reconnect, that will return players to the battle if they experience any connection issues.

Competitive matchups can be played in a variety of modes from 1v1 to 5v5 – the latter of which will emphasise teamwork, as each player will have their own specialisation depending on their choice of battalion. For example, one may focus on infantry, another on tanks, and a third in artillery. Furthermore, all battalions have been perfectly balanced to make every multiplayer battle unique.

Mod support also returns to Men of War II, which will ship with its own unique set of mod tools, giving players the opportunity to flex their creativity as they create anything they wish.

Disney Plus US Subscribers Get Special Access to ShopDisney Products for Limited Time

2022/11/01
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

Beginning today, Disney+ subscribers in the U.S. can participate in a limited test experience that will bring their favorite stories to life with special access to must-have merchandise available on shopDisney for this holiday season. For a limited time, Disney+ subscribers can visit shopDisney.com/DisneyPlusSpecialAccess or the details pages of select movies, series and shorts on Disney+ to scan QR codes to purchase highly-anticipated items before the general public. Subscribers can purchase products from fan-favorite franchises and titles including Star Wars, Marvel Studios’ Black Panther and Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness and receive exclusive  access to merchandise from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen 2 and Disney•Pixar Lightyear.

“Special access to this curated collection of merchandise for the upcoming holiday season is the latest example of the many ways we experiment with how to improve the user experience on Disney+, which includes enhancing the  benefits of being a subscriber,” said Alisa Bowen, President of Disney+. “We’re excited to collaborate with shopDisney to explore how we can potentially better serve our audiences by expanding the ways they get to interact with the stories and characters they love on Disney+.”

“shopDisney has all of the products to bring your favorite Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic stories to life,” said Naveen Seshadri, EVP Global Retail. “By providing our Disney+ subscribers special access to curated merchandise on shopDisney, we are  uncovering new ways for our fans to shop and further connect content and commerce.”

During this test experience, eligible subscribers can visit shopDisney.com/DisneyPlusSpecialAccess or navigate to the Shop tab within the details pages of select movies, series and shorts on Disney+ to scan QR codes that will take users directly to the merchandise on shopDisney. The Shop tab will be available to Disney+ primary profiles in the U.S. that have been verified as 18 and older.

Special access will grant Disney+ subscribers early access to products including:

Additionally, Disney+ subscribers will have exclusive access for shopDisney made-to-order merchandise, including new t-shirt and sweatshirt designs from Disney’s Frozen 2 and Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear.

For more information visit shopDisney.com/DisneyPlusSpecialAccess.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Rudder Pedals Now Available

2022/11/01
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Peripherals News

Leading gaming accessory maker Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: HEAR) today announced the newest addition to the brand’s growing lineup of gaming simulation accessories, the VelocityOne Rudder, is now available at participating retailers globally. VelocityOne Rudder further elevates flight simmers’ setups to new levels of realism. It perfectly complements Turtle Beach’s award-winning VelocityOne™ Flight Universal Control System and will also be compatible with the recently announced VelocityOne™ Flightstick following its mid-November launch. For flight sim fans on Windows PCs, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, VelocityOne Rudder features dual-pedal configurations for both light aircraft and heavy airliner setups. The pedals have a smooth rudder axis and contactless hall-effect sensors on all axes for fluid movements and a longer product life. Differential brakes allow for tight turns and precise runway braking control, while swappable springs and adjustable pedal width and shape provide added realism whether flying a light aircraft, heavy airliner, or fighter jets. Plus, multiple stable mounting solutions keep VelocityOne Rudder firmly planted on a variety of surfaces. Turtle Beach’s VelocityOne Rudder is available today at www.turtlebeach.com and participating retailers for $299.99 MSRP.

“VelocityOne Rudder is the next step in our commitment to giving flight sim gamers a modern and realistic flight control experience using the latest technologies,” said Juergen Stark, Chairman and CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. “From our booths at the RIAT and Miramar Air Shows to online flight sim groups – the flying community’s early reaction to our new pedals has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re thrilled to be on the leading edge of rebooting what consumers should expect in high-quality flight simulation gaming accessories.”

The complete list of VelocityOne Rudder features includes:

  • Ultra-Smooth Rudder Axis: A single, return-to-center axis provides fluid, low-friction precision forward and backward movement for accurate directional control. Friction-free linear bearings allow for smooth, accurate and maintenance free operation. Two sets of swappable springs for the main rudder axis provide additional adjustability to set the perfect feel.
  • Differential Brakes: The spring-loaded brake pedals deliver precise runway braking control, or steering assist when pressing one pedal at a time.
  • Swappable Pedals: Two sets of interchangeable pedals swap out easily and provide realistic replication of light aircraft or airliner style pedals.
  • Adjustable Pedal Width: Adjustable pedal width accommodates a wide range of users and plane types. Plus, when not in use, the adjustable footprint provides convenient storage.
  • Precise, Long-Lasting Axes: Non-contact hall-effect sensors on all axes deliver high-resolution data and longer product life over standard potentiometers.
  • Stable Mounting Solutions: Sturdy metal construction with rubber pads and carpet grips on the bottom provides a stable base on a wide range of surfaces and has pre-drilled holes for permanent mounting to existing home cockpits.
  • Universal PC Compatibility: Plug the two-meter USB-C to USB-A cable directly into the PC to add VelocityOne Rudder to your existing setup.
  • Take Flight on Xbox: Press the mode button to switch from PC to Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One using the included pass-through cable. Requires the VelocityOne Flight Universal Control System to work on Xbox consoles.

For more information on the latest Turtle Beach simulation products, controllers, gaming headsets, and other gaming accessories, visit www.turtlebeach.com and be sure to follow Turtle Beach on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Halloween Horror Nights Unveils New Maze for 2023 Season

2022/10/31
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News, Trailers / Videos

On this hallowed eve, Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights announces the first haunted house of its 2023 lineup, inspired by the USA & SYFY hit series, “Chucky” – unleashing the iconic killer doll at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood next season.

Sign up for email updates for Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood and stay tuned for more Halloween Horror Nights 2023 news.

The Oregon Trail Heads to PC and Nintendo Switch

2022/10/31
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Gameloft, a leader in the development and publishing of games, and HarperCollins Productions, are thrilled to announce that The Oregon Trail™, the multiple award-winning official successor to the global phenomenon, is journeying to other platforms and will be soon available to play on Steam, Windows, and Nintendo Switch™ for $29.99 USD. Originally released on Apple Arcade in April 2021, The Oregon Trail was Apple Arcade’s most downloaded game of the year. Now, PC and Nintendo Switch players will be able to experience Gameloft Brisbane’s modern take of the classic game on November 14th, 2022.

In The Oregon Trail, players are put at the center of all the trials and tribulations of the journey westward. They must stock their wagon, choose their traveling party, and make sure they all arrive safely to Oregon by making tough choices in dangerous and unexpected situations. Players will also learn the real history behind the trail, including the Native American experience, which is a first in the franchise.

The November release of The Oregon Trail will be a faithful adaptation of the Apple Arcade version and has been created with the support of Gameloft Lviv. It includes all five previous content updates, and the latest new features include more accessibility options, events, and visual filters to see the game in a whole new way! The Oregon Trail is already available to wishlist on Steam and will be listed soon on the Nintendo eShop. It will also be available for preorder on Microsoft Store starting November, 7th.

“We’re incredibly excited for even more players to experience The Oregon Trail,” said David MacMinn, Game Manager. “We’re pleased to see our game expand to multiple new platforms, and we hope PC and Nintendo players will enjoy their time on the trail as much as we did making it.”

“The gameplay in our new version of The Oregon Trail has proven to be as exciting and sticky as it was in the ‘90s,” said Caroline Fraser, Head of HarperCollins Productions. “The stunning graphics will grab players as they journey west and confront new dangers, meet a wide cast of historical figures, and overcome challenging obstacles on their way to Oregon.”

Evil West Gameplay Overview Trailer Released

2022/10/31
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

Evil West, the third-person action-adventure game that puts you in the boots of a vampire hunter rescuing a Wild West devoured by darkness, invites you to take an introductory ride through its action-packed, narrative-driven experience in a new gameplay overview trailer. Prepare for the vampire-infested American frontier, releasing on November 22 for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.

Gameplay Overview Trailer:

Get to know Jesse Rentier, the skilled, young vampire slayer you’ll incarnate in Evil West. Star agent of the Rentier Institute, a secret monster-hunting organization led by his father and many generations of Rentier before him, he’ll have to take the action into his own hands after a deadly vampiric conspiracy emerges from the darkness and wipes out the Institute. With the help of Edgar Gravenor, another survivor from the Institute, he’ll have to battle fierce foes and demystify the conspiracy while rebuilding the organization and becoming the leader it needs.

To reach his goal, Jesse will explore every corner of the Wild West, looking for new Institute members and valuable leads on the conspiracy, taking money from abandoned chests and corpses, and growing his arsenal of weapons. Armed with both old-fashioned firearms and advanced technology like the lightning-fueled Rentier Gauntlet, each with its own skill tree for customized upgrades, you’re free to combine Jesse’s weapons and tools to your liking. Take on explosive combat encounters with your own mix of powerful ranged attacks and devastating melee combos.

Get your hands on the ultra-limited Evil West – Signature Edition, a Focus Entertainment Store-exclusive product with only 50 copies available worldwide. It includes a numbered, laminated wooden frame printed with an exclusive artwork by artist Gabz, a physical copy of the game with the Focus-exclusive box art, and the “Wild Wild East Skin Pack” DLC.

Evil West pre-orders are open across all platforms and on the Focus Entertainment Store with an exclusive cover art for physical editions.

Limerick: Cadence Mansion Announcement Trailer

2022/10/31
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Indie developer Jenito Studios has today released a new trailer for their upcoming fantasy thriller adventure game Limerick: Cadence Mansion, which will be released on PC in 2023 via Steam.

Solve puzzles, outwit evil creatures and explore the arcane halls of Cadence Mansion as you dive deeper into a story of manipulation and dark science.

Wishlist Limerick: Cadence Mansion on Steam.

In Limerick: Cadence Mansion, explore an abandoned mansion inhabited only by monsters, both beast and man, and discover its secrets in your attempts to escape. Solve puzzles to progress through increasingly haunting environments, fend off or hide from evil creatures and tear through the fabric of reality in cinematic boss fights. Scavenge for resources throughout the forgotten mansion and use Panic closets to escape from harm.

A new ballad sounds across Nightsonnet Isle. Awaken, Proofreader, and solve the ancient writ.

The seas will swallow light with darkness. The boulders will shatter and shake. The Poets will be silenced and the Resplendent will rise.

Will you take the quill and right the wrongs of Splendor? Can you unlock the mysteries of its games and riddles? What will you learn of the Anachronism, of the Dissonance and Cacophony, of the Dark Refrain and Prism?

And when you face the darkness, will you be ready?