Author - Jerry Paxton

Christmas in the Wizarding World and Grinchmas Return for 2022

Universal Studios Hollywood rings in the “Awesomest Celebration of the Season” with the return of fan favorites “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” and “Grinchmas™” beginning Friday, November 25, 2022 and running daily through Sunday, January 1, 2023. All holiday festivities are included in the price of theme park admission.

Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” brings the spirit of the holiday season to the village of Hogsmeade™, which is transformed with festive décor and merriment. Guests can savor a delicious Hot Butterbeer™ while enjoying a special holiday a capella performance from the Hogwarts Frog Choir. Activities also include holiday shopping for exclusive items within the village shops, including personalized ornaments and notebooks, and dining on hearty holiday fare at Three Broomsticks™.

As night falls on the snowy town, Hogwarts™ Castle will come to life in a dazzling spectacle, “The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.” The impressive light projection show will amaze audiences with its stunning imagery and animation as the castle infuses the land with joyous wonderment and features music and sounds from the Harry Potter film series.

The cheerful “Grinchmas” Who-bilation will return in jolly fashion to Universal Plaza, located in the heart of the theme park. Festive park-goers can marvel in amazement at the topsy-turvy 65 foot-tall “Grinchmas” tree decorated with hundreds of ornaments and thousands of LED lights. Every evening, a jovial tree lighting ceremony will excite guests as they listen to the Grinch himself tell his story along with the Who-ville Whos, ending in a snowball flurry, bringing joy and merriment to all.

A variety of activities are available to guests looking to get into the “Grinchmas” spirit. The Grinch and his faithful dog Max will be available for photo opportunities throughout the day. Cindy-Lou Who leads daily story time for young visitors looking to learn of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and the Who-ville post office will be accepting postcards with holiday messages. Additionally, an array of sweet holiday treats, including hot cocoa, will be available for purchase.

Adding to the theme park activities, Universal CityWalk will be dressed for the holiday season with spirited décor and a 40 foot-tall Christmas tree featuring more than 200,000 LED lights. The infamous Voodoo Doughnut will tempt guests with delicious seasonal flavors to celebrate the holiday spirit.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.

Admission to Universal CityWalk is free. More information available at www.CityWalkHollywood.com.

SnowRunner Season 8: Grand Harvest Coming October 13

SnowRunner, the blockbuster open-world off-roading experience from Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment, has announced some exciting news for the October 13 debut of Season 8: “Grand Harvest.” This newest SnowRunner expansion will challenge you with a streak of crop failures and poor harvests, leaving it up to you to restore sustainable agriculture with three new vehicles!

Explore plenty of fresh terrain over four brand-new 4km² maps of countryside in need of a serious recovery plan. Your garage will have three new additions to back you up: the classic heavy-duty sturdiness of the Step 39331 “Pike,” as well as the old-school K700 and state-of-the-art K7M, two farming champions that mark the entrance of the Kirovets brand in SnowRunner.

Bringing farming to SnowRunner for the first time, Season 8 offers plenty of new activities: restoring the local town and airfield, farming (and fixing farming equipment), and maintaining a clean energy infrastructure in a landscape of railroad stations, gas stations, construction zones, villages and fields.

“Grand Harvest” will be available on October 13 for all Year 2 Pass owners on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

SnowRunner, as well as its Premium Edition and Year 1 and Year 2 Passes, are available now on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. For more information, check out the game’s page on the Focus Store.

Need for Speed Unbound Official Reveal Trailer

The thrill of the race and the rush of the chase is back. Need for Speed™ Unbound, the latest edition in the Need for Speed™ franchise from Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and Criterion Games™, puts players worldwide in the driver seat of their own street racing fantasy as they outsmart cops and prove they have what it takes to win The Grand, Lakeshore’s ultimate street racing challenge. Need for Speed Unbound features an all-new, unique visual style blending elements of street art with the most realistic looking cars in the franchise’s history. The innovative single player campaign delivers thrills and consequences through an immersive narrative that engages players in the city of Lakeshore as they race, collect, upgrade, and customize the world’s hottest performance cars on their way to the top of the scene. Need for Speed Unbound is built for the new generation of technology and will feature 4K resolution at 60 FPS for the first time in the series when it launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on December 2, 2022.

“Need for Speed Unbound is all about self-expression, taking risks and disrupting the status quo by just being you – through your racing style, unique car builds, fashion, music and much more,” said Kieran Crimmins, Creative Director at Criterion Games. “We are inspired to create a truly authentic universe where players see themselves represented in the game. The visual experience of Unbound redefines expectation, with a new signature art-style that brings graffiti to life, intensifies the competition, and creates adrenaline-inducing, high-speed action.”

START AT THE BOTTOM, RACE TO THE TOP 

Need for Speed Unbound challenges the conventions of the racing genre and ups the ante by introducing true consequence with impactful risk and reward for every race, decision and side bet made. Players uncover the world of Lakeshore when a robbery at a family auto-shop tears two friends apart and sets a rookie racer on a journey to win the ultimate street race and reclaim the priceless car that was stolen from them. Need for Speed Unbound features:

  • The World is Each Player’s Canvas: Graffiti comes to life in a new art style as players ride through the city equipped with a brand-new toolkit of high-energy visual and sound effects, like Burst Nitrous, which rewards players with style-based boost, reflecting how they drive.

  • Run the Streets: The more players race, the more heat they build up. Choose to outdrive or outsmart cops using new escape mechanics to take control of the chase to earn big rewards or even bigger consequences for getting busted.

  • Self-Expression and Style: Hundreds of cosmetic items including exclusive licensed gear from some of the world’s pioneering fashion innovators and custom automotive gear companies give players endless options to not only kit out their car but show off their personal style in game.

  • Find Freedom in the Flow: Ride to a genre-defying soundtrack of trailblazing artists from the world of hip-hop led by multi-hyphenated artist, entrepreneur, actor and fashion icon A$AP Rocky and his creative agency AWGE, including the world premiere of A$AP Rocky’s brand new track  “Sh*ttin’ Me,” also featured in the reveal trailer.

  • Takeover Scene featuring A$AP Rocky: A$AP Rocky will appear in-game as the leader of the Takeover Scene, a new replayable precision driving mode that brings together the community to take over parts of the city and celebrate driving with style over pure speed. AWGE also functioned as creative consultants on the game.

Need for Speed Unbound is available for pre-order through November 29, 2022.* Players who pre-order now will receive an exclusive pack of Unbound content, including a driving effects pack, decals, license plate, banner artwork, stickers and $150,000 Bank in their wallet when they first join multiplayer and more.

Need for Speed Unbound launches in retail and digital storefronts on December 2, 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC via the EA app, Origin, Steam and Epic Game Store for $69.99. Need for Speed Unbound Palace Edition, a deluxe offering created in partnership with Palace Skateboards, will offer players exclusive content, including four stunning custom cars, a clothing pack, driving effect, decals and license plate, character pose and banner artwork for $79.99. More to be revealed at a later date.

EA Play members can also play Need for Speed Unbound early with a 10-hour trial starting November 29, and enjoy exclusive recurring in-game benefits. Additionally, EA Play Pro members on PC will enjoy unlimited access to the Need for Speed Unbound Palace Edition starting November 29, three days before the game officially launches. For more information on EA Play and EA Play Pro, see www.eaplay.com.

The race doesn’t end when the game launches! The world of Lakeshore never stands still through a series of free content updates that will be made available after launch and include new features, experiences, content drops and more. Additional details on post-launch content will be revealed soon.

For more details on Need for Speed Unbound, visit: https://www.ea.com/games/need-for-speed/need-for-speed-unbound

Submarines Come to World of Warships

Wargaming, publisher and developer of the naval multiplayer free-to-play game World of Warships, is welcoming autumn and alongside it, a shipment of new content from Update 0.11.9. The headline addition is the launch of submarines from the United States and Germany into Early Access. Players will also see a number of Operations and a temporary battle type made available in anticipation of Halloween, alongside tweaks to Commanders and large-scale testing for cross-server matchmaking.

Sink deeper with submarines
Submarines have finally arrived in Early Access, a highly anticipated, brand new playable ship class. Operating mostly underwater, these deadly ships feature torpedoes as their primary weapons. Thanks to its armament and stealth, they are effective against all classes of ships, but are vulnerable when detected. As a part of this Early Access launch, two consecutive sets of German and American submarines from Tier VI and VIII will be available in The Armory.

To get acquainted with these deft vessels, a new Operation “Wolf Pack” will take place, running across the duration of the update. Teams of seven will be tasked with hunting for convoys, lurking below the surface and navigating past outposts to destroy these transports before they reach their destination.

Halloween battles ensue
In the lead up to Halloween at the end of the month, Operations “Saving Transylvania” and “Sunray in the Darkness” will be available in World of Warships. In addition, the “Twilight Battle” temporary battle type makes a return from its first appearance in 2018 just in time for the spooky season. Entering the game two weeks after the launch of this update, two teams of seven clash against each other on the map from Operation “Sunray in the Darkness”. Tasked with destroying the enemy team, the ships will have to navigate through an increasingly smaller safe zone, as Filth gradually takes over the water.

Fresh features for Fall
Alongside the major addition of submarines and festive flair for Halloween, Update 0.11.9 sees a number of changes to Commanders and cross-server matchmaking. Several Commander talents, skills and upgrades have seen improvements across the board, updated to provide a better overall balance and offer greater flexibility. The Commander Skills interface also sees improvements, allowing players to view available Commanders from all nations, regardless of whether they have a ship from the same nation in the Reserve.

To top it off, the World of Warships team is also testing cross-server matchmaking technology. With plans for large-scale testing with players across NA, EU and APAC servers, this test could mark the beginning of cross-server play for several tiers, modes and battle types in the future.

British battleships make their way into the Tech Tree
Arriving from Early Access, eight British battleships introduced in the last two updates are now available for research in the Tech Tree. Amongst them are the iconic Renown and Indefatigable. Those swift ships feature accurate guns and torpedoes on board, as well as different consumables across the range of Tier V-X ships, including “Engine Boost”, “Defensive AA fire” and “Specialized Repair Teams”.

Armory and Dockyard
The fast Tier X Spanish destroyer Álvaro de Bazán, accompanied by eight 135-mm main battery guns and two four-tube torpedo tubes, also makes its way into the Armory with its alternative firing mode.

Update 0.11.8 sees the continuation of the construction of American cruiser Puerto Rico, which will be available to players until the beginning of update 0.11.10. The building process also rewards players who reach stage 25 out of 40 with Canadian destroyer Huron.

Limitless with Chris Hemsworth Official Trailer

Today, Disney+ revealed the official trailer for the original series “Limitless with Chris Hemsworth” from National Geographic. In the six-part documentary series, global movie star Chris Hemsworth (“Extraction,” “Thor,” “The Avengers”) takes viewers on a rollercoaster personal journey as he explores how to combat aging and discover the full potential of the human body. Building on the latest scientific research, “Limitless” shatters conventional wisdom about maximizing life. All episodes of the series premiere Nov. 16, exclusively on Disney+.

From Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (“The Whale,” “Black Swan”) and his production company Protozoa, Jane Root’s Nutopia, and Chris Hemsworth and Ben Grayson’s newly formed Wild State, “Limitless” puts cutting-edge science of human longevity center-stage. Part global scientific adventure, part personal journey, each episode of the series follows Chris as he takes up a gauntlet of physical and mental feats designed by world-class experts, scientists and doctors to unlock different aspects of the aging process. Each meticulously crafted challenge is rooted in game-changing science, drawing on new research and long-held traditions. Chris’ mission is to understand the limits of the human body better and discover ways we can all extend health and happiness into old age.

Keeping himself in peak physical condition and best known for portraying an immortal superhero, Chris has always taken care of his health and fitness. But, now in his late 30s, he wants to find out how to harness the potential of his mind and body to stay sharper, stronger and healthier for longer — not only for himself and his children but for his children’s children too. Each challenge pushes Chris further than he has ever gone before. Through the series, viewers will learn techniques they can use to improve their health and enhance their own lives.

Years in the making and with his friends and family alongside, including wife Elsa Pataky and brothers Luke Hemsworth and Liam Hemsworth, Chris entered into “Limitless,” determined to explore his emotional and cognitive health in addition to challenging his physical limits. Open-minded and honest, he worked tirelessly to enhance his mental resilience and face up to some of the toughest realities life holds for all of us. It’s an experience that is deep, authentic and humbling for Chris. In addition to his daring and emotional challenges, “Limitless” also shares fascinating stories from around the world of people who have woven the lessons of longevity into their own lives, with surprising benefits we can all reap.

Chris didn’t want to just talk about the scientific theories that might extend and improve his life; he wanted to test them for real — and he wanted to go big! Every epic challenge is spectacular and unique. They include swimming 800 feet across a 36-degree Arctic fjord, climbing a 100-foot rope dangling over a canyon, and walking along a crane atop a 900-foot-tall skyscraper, 80 stories high.

Each challenge requires an authentic training and immersion program from Chris alongside world-class experts. Some, like the rope climb over a canyon, needed months of preparation. Others, like Chris’ four-day long water-only fast, were (thankfully!) much shorter, but it was so tough he almost walked away from it all. The enlisted experts and scientists who guided Chris through six fundamental aspects of living better for longer include:

  • Ross Edgley, an extreme athlete and sports science author, prepares Chris’ body to handle a swim in nearly freezing waters;
  • Dr. Peter Attia, a longevity physician at Attia Medical, teaches Chris the science of aging and how to combat it through different techniques;
  • Professor Modupe Akinola, an associate professor of management at Columbia Business School, gives Chris the tools to deal with his stress head-on;
  • Dr. Sharon Sha, a doctor and clinical associate professor and associate vice chair of clinical research neurology and neurological sciences for Stanford Center for Memory Disorders, helps Chris combat his mind’s aging process;
  • Dr. BJ Miller, president and counselor at Mettle Health, guides Chris on a journey through old age and mortality;
  • Alua Arthur, death doula and founder of Going with Grace, gets Chris to open up about his own death; and
  • Tanya Streeter, a professional freediver, coaches Chris on his underwater breath-holding capacity.

The six episodes streaming on Nov. 16 include the following:

  • Stress-Proof: Ever since his teenage years, stress has been part of Chris’ life, and he wants to learn how to deal with it better. Psychologist Modupe Akinola challenges him to stay calm during a terrifying walk along a crane that’s projecting out from the roof of a skyscraper. Modupe will train Chris in powerful physical and psychological techniques we can use to control the stress in our lives and combat the risk it poses to long-term health.
  • Shock: To maximize longevity, you might think it’s best to play it safe and stay cozy. But some scientists believe we should do the opposite, as exposure to extreme temperatures can trigger our bodies’ own defenses against the killer diseases of old age. Chris heads for the freezing Arctic with his brothers Liam and Luke to take on the ultimate cold therapy.
  • Fasting: Chris turns to longevity doctor Peter Attia to find out how changing his eating habits can help his quest for longevity. Ironically, the answer is to eat no food at all for four long days. If he can bear the hunger, fasting will unlock his body’s own anti-aging powers and give Chris the edge he needs when he tries to hunt for his next meal … by spearfishing off the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Strength: As Chris bulks up for “Thor: Love and Thunder,” he needs to build a body that looks right for an immortal god. But, he also wants the kind of muscles that are scientifically proven to help him stay strong and healthy as he grows older in real life. Teaming up with extreme sports guru Ross Edgley, he trains for a grueling 100-foot rope climb challenge, changing him from an ornament into an instrument.
  • Memory: Chris has always worked to keep his body healthy; now it’s time to start looking after his brain. Neurologist Dr. Sharon Sha challenges him to go off-grid into the wilderness without a GPS or map. Teaming up with his buddy, First Nations artist Otis Hope Carey, Chris will need to tune into nature to navigate through Otis’ remote ancestral homeland. The hike stirs up Chris’ most precious memories.
  • Acceptance: So far, Chris has done everything possible to delay the aging process. Now he’s facing his most extreme and emotional challenge: three days in a retirement village while wearing an aging suit that turns the simplest activity into a Herculean task. He’s testing the theory that the best way to combat aging and fear of mortality might not be to fight it but accept it.

“Limitless with Chris Hemsworth” is produced by Protozoa, Nutopia and Wild State for National Geographic. Chris Hemsworth and Ben Grayson are executive producers for Wild State. Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel are executive producers for Protozoa. For Nutopia, Jane Root, Arif Nurmohamed and Ruth Shurman are executive producers. Bengt Anderson and Matt Renner are executive producers for National Geographic.

The Pegasus Expedition Early Access Trailer

Fulqrum Publishing and Kalla Gameworks announce today that the story-driven, sci-fi grand strategy title The Pegasus Expedition will now launch as an Early Access Title via Steam, GOG.com and Epic Games Store on October 20.

At launch, players will have access to the full main story campaign featuring around 20 hours of gameplay, and will receive additional content updates, new features and quality of life changes based upon community feedback as part of the Early Access roadmap – including four brand new scenarios, each of which will function as a mini-campaign that introduces surprising new settings and fresh twists to the 4X-gameplay.

The Pegasus Expedition Early Access Roadmap (Estimated Dates)

  • Content Update #1: Scattered Empires – December 2022 / January 2023

  • Content Update #2: At the Center of It All

  • Content Update #3: The Height of the Empire

  • Content Update #4: The Exodus

  • Full Launch: The Purge – 2023

A detailed look at the Early Access roadmap can be found on Steam.

The Pegasus Expedition is a story-driven sci-fi grand strategy game set in a key moment for humankind’s survival. Facing an overwhelming threat at home, humanity sends an expedition to the Pegasus Galaxy in a desperate final attempt to find a refuge for the population of Earth, only to find themselves in the middle of an interstellar war they inadvertently started.

Building on the legacy of the grand strategy genre, the game adds a strong narrative side to the classic 4X-gameplay which involves managing your diplomatic ties, armies, economy and scientific development.

The Pegasus Expedition Key Features

  • Immense handcrafted world – a replayable campaign set in a rich, vast world.

  • Conflict and tragedy – experience a deep storyline, where no-one is perfect and ends will often have to justify the means.

  • Choose to be the leader you wish to be – face difficult moral choices in difficult times, and suffer their consequences.

  • Rewarding gameplay experience – Versatile 4X gameplay with many different approaches to various challenges the campaign presents.

  • Meaningful diplomacy – a diverse and versatile system with over 30 independent factions in the galaxy.

  • Planning-based combat – manage your warfronts’ bigger picture, and weigh which losses you’re willing to take for success.

Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed Challenge Accepted DLC Trailer

Citizens of planet Earth, do not miss out on new Mutators and new Challenges in a new DLC! Test your skills in this post-launch “Challenge Accepted” DLC that adds all 4 Challenge Modes from the first installment to Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed: Race, Armageddon, Abduction, and Rampage. All modes are also playable in local split-screen co-op! Also included: numerous new Mutators that let you alter the rules of the game.

Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed is available for PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series S/X. The SRP for the standard edition is $ 39.99 / € 39.99 / £ 34.99. The Dressed to Skill Edition is available at an SRP of $ 54.99 / € 54.99 / £ 44.99.

Scarlet Moon Releases Inaugural Halloween Remix Series

Scarlet Moon is excited to announce their inaugural Halloween celebration series, Scarlet Moon Halloween. The album kicks off what will be an annual tradition to accompany the game music label’s long-running Scarlet Moon Christmas series. As with that series, Scarlet Moon Halloween will feature Halloween-flavored themes remixed and rearranged as well as other game music tracks done up in Halloweens style. The inaugural Volume I includes tracks from Castlevania, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, DOOM, and the Metroid series. Scarlet Moon Halloween Volume I is available on digital storefronts today:

Scarlet Moon Halloween Volume I on All Storefronts

“While I love Christmas music, Halloween is actually my favorite holiday,” notes Scarlet Moon’s Jayson Napolitano. “We’ve always wanted to start up a Halloween series, and we’ve finally got around to doing it. Please look forward to the results of our continued mission to make game music a lifestyle!”

The full track list for Scarlet Moon Halloween Volume I is as follows:

  1. bLiNd – Kraid’s Brew (“Kraid’s Lair” from Metroid)
  2. Jordan Chin – Vampire Killer (from Castlevania)
  3. Sean Schafianski – Silent Hill (Short Ver.) (from Silent Hill)
  4. Mustin – Night of the Chozos (“Menu Theme” from Metroid Prime)
  5. Peter Reid Jones – Sinister Moon (“Sinister [E2M6]” from DOOM)
  6. Jamphibious – A Moment of Relief (from Resident Evil: Code Veronica)
  7. Sean Schafianski – Silent Hill (Long Ver.) (from Silent Hill)

Learn more: https://www.scarletmoon.com/halloween/

Cooler Master Introduces MM712 Gaming Mouse

Cooler Master, a global leader in designing and manufacturing innovative gaming peripherals and computer components, introduces the MM712 Gaming Mouse — the next evolution of Cooler Master’s lightest gaming mouse to date.

The lightweight MM712 builds upon all of the features that make the MM711 one of Cooler Master’s most popular gaming mice: a total weight of <59g, gaming-grade optical sensor adjustable up to 19,000DPI, pure PTFE feet for superior glide and movement, ultraweave cable for minimal snagging, and hybrid 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless capability.

But the biggest improvement is in the chassis: a timeless, unperforated design that effectively fills in all the holes of the MM711 — while still maintaining the same incredible lightweight.

“The MM711 was an incredible success for us, but we felt like we could do better,” says Dennis Liu, Peripheral General Manager. “The updated MM712 takes what we’ve learned about building lightweight mice and creates a newer version with a more streamlined, contemporary look for an aesthetic with much wider appeal.”

In addition to a redesigned chassis, Cooler Master has also made further updates for significantly improved performance with the implementation of new optical micro switches. Compared to mechanical mouse switches, these provide more durability and near-instantaneous input time, rated for 70 million clicks.

“Although we want the MM712 to be the ideal mouse for everyone, we also wanted to make the necessary improvements for our power users,” says Liu. “With the addition of several next-gen features, the MM712 is poised to be a formidable gaming mouse for the foreseeable future.”

CHUCKY Comes to WWE SuperCard

Wanna play? Horror icon Chucky steps into the ring in WWE® SuperCard*, appearing October 5, 2022, through Halloween 2022, to elicit screams from card battlers everywhere! A special Arcane tier card featuring the dreaded doll will be first offered through a new Quest line that challenges players to complete objectives across the game. Players in Arcane tier or above who complete this Quest will be rewarded with a guaranteed Chucky card. The Quest will be active October 5 through October 9, 2022.

For players who miss out on the Quest or want to Pro or Fortify Chucky, there will be more chances to obtain the card throughout October. Chucky will make multiple appearances in RewardMania and will also appear in other rewards and packs at select times.

For players who want a less scary experience, the Watch Party for the Extreme Rules premium live event is the place to be. Watch Party is a new, limited-time feature that allows players to flex their skills as fantasy bookers and chat with other players during select WWE events. While a Watch Party is active, players can try to predict match results using their own cards. The more correct predictions they make and the better the cards they use, the better their chances of receiving rewards.

For more information on WWE SuperCard and 2K, visit the game’s website at WWESuperCard.com, become a fan on Facebook, follow the game on Twitter and Instagram or subscribe on YouTube.

*WWE SuperCard requires iOS 12.0 or later for iOS devices, including iPhone and iPad, and requires Android 5.0 and up for Android devices. App includes optional in-game purchases.

Cat Daddy Games is a 2K studio. 2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.