Universal City, CA, April 5, 2018 – On Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12, the Jurassic Park 25th Anniversary Celebration will roar to life at Universal Studios Hollywood, and guests are invited to be a part of this exclusive event in honor of the blockbuster action-adventure that brought dinosaurs out of extinction a quarter century ago.
This first-ever themed Jurassic Park 25th Anniversary Celebration, created in partnership with Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, is a separately ticketed event. Space is limited and tickets, which can be purchased here, will sell out.
The multi-faceted immersive Celebration will feature a private screening of the epic Jurassic Park at Universal CityWalk’s all-new, state-of-the-art Universal Cinema. The exciting showcase will also re-release the film’s original trailer.
The remainder of the event, which includes exclusive after-hours access, will take place within Universal Studios Hollywood, adjacent to the theme park’s thrilling “Jurassic Park—The Ride.”
Guests will receive a special commemorative lanyard and unlimited access to all things Jurassic, from the acclaimed theme park ride, to original props, including the Gyrosphere as seen in the record-breaking Jurassic World, original dinosaur maquettes, costume displays and an interactive expo area. Live entertainment, themed food and merchandise will also be available to complement the event.
Unique to the Jurassic Park 25th Anniversary Celebration event, guests will be invited to dress up as their favorite character from the franchise. Please visit www.universalstudioshollywood.com/JP25 for costume guidelines requirements.
More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.
April 5, 2018 – Vampyr, the upcoming action-RPG from DONTNOD Entertainment, will release June 5 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. The game’s wider narrative arcs are unveiled today in a captivating Story Trailer, brought together with an eerie cover of (Don’t Fear) the Reaper. Returning from the frontlines to a London devastated by war and disease, Dr. Jonathan Reid awakens to a once-hidden world of ungodly creatures, secret societies and vampire hunts.
In Vampyr, you play as Jonathan Reid, a doctor in 1918 London newly-turned into a vampire following his return from the Great War. His convictions blown away, Reid discovers the existence of a dark new world were supernatural creatures and secret societies live together in the shadows… and he is now part of this world.
As a newborn vampire shattered by an irrepressible thirst of blood and thrust into a strange new world, Reid attempts to interpret the supernatural in the best way he knows how: rational thinking. However, between ancient societies, mysterious murders and an imminent large-scale vampire hunt, his scientific assurances are challenged like never before. Driven by a personal desire to learn who caused his transformation and why, Jonathan Reid continues working to find a cure to the devastating disease that decimates its citizens.
But doing so, he must confront his nature as a blood-drinker and the terrible temptation to feed on those he swore to protect…
Vampyr releases June 5 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Preorders are now available at www.vampyr-game.com
ATLANTA –April 4, 2018– Cartoon Network has revealed Teen Titans GO Figure!, a new mobile game based on the Cartoon Network hit animated series Teen Titans GO! from Warner Bros. Animation and inspired by the upcoming feature film Teen Titans GO! to the Movies. The game will launch this summer on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets via the App Store, Google Play and Amazon store.
The follow-up to 2016’s top-selling mobile game Teeny Titans, Teen Titans GO Figure! features our cute 3D stylized figures, exciting shopping system and engaging battle system fans know and love from the original Teeny Titans. There are now more than 100 figures to collect and battle, including iconic DC Super Heroes like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and many more. Each figure can be personalized and repainted to create just the perfect custom figure.
Teen Titans GO Figure! kicks into a mystery around who is trying to put the Teeny Titans Figure Company out of business and all signs point to… the Justice League?! But why would the world’s greatest Super Heroes want to put an end to this global figure battling phenomenon? Play as Robin, Raven, Cyborg, Starfire or Beast Boy as you battle, search for clues and travel across multiple cities from the DC Universe experiencing this new story. Explore from the depths of the Batcave to the far reaches of the orbiting Justice League Watchtower in this exciting sequel.
Teen Titans GO! Figure is licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC Entertainment. It is expected to launch this summer in time for the release of Teen Titans GO! To the Movies, arriving in theaters only on July 27, 2018.
OSLO, Norway – April 5th, 2018 – Grab your passport, book your flights, and buckle up: you’re going to South Africa! Funcom is thrilled to announce that Dawn of the Morninglight, the first expansion update for Funcom’s shared-world RPG Secret World Legends, is now available. And the best part? It’s fully free to play. Gamers can download the base game with the new story expansion now and play for free.
Dawn of the Morninglight adds another region to the already impressive roster of real-world locations in Secret World Legends. In addition to visiting New England, Egypt, Transylvania, and Tokyo, players can now jump on a plane and head to South Africa where the Morninglight, a cult that prides itself as being the “fastest growing spiritual movement in history”, has set up shop. Your job? Infiltrate them, rise within their ranks, and uncover the cult’s sinister truth.This free story expansion presents the continuation of Secret World Legend’s story set after the events of Kaidan and players’ recent ascent through the Orochi Tower. Those who have completed the Tokyo storyline will finally see their story continue.
“We’ve been saying ‘to be continued’ for quite some time now,” says Producer Josh Mills. “Finally, here it is, this is where it continues. We have introduced hours of new and fully voice-acted missions, new characters, new cutscenes, new monsters, and of course tons of new loot to discover. Secret World Legends has always been about digging into local folklore and urban legends, from the vampires of Transylvania to the Lovecraftian horrors of New England, and this time we have had the opportunity to take inspiration from the rich folklore of South Africa. Players have a lot to look forward to!”
Secret World Legends was released on June 26th and went on to exceed Funcom’s expectations for the title, breathing new life into the Secret World universe. Set within a dark and mature story universe, Secret World Legends plunges players into a sweeping adventure into the supernatural underbelly of myths and legends that exists in the shadows of our own realm. Travel the globe in pursuit of mysterious forces threatening the world, using your wits and abilities to solve complex investigations and uncover the truth.
Funcom also announced last year that Johnny Depp’s production company Infinitum Nihil have acquired the rights to produce a TV show based on The Secret World.
April 5, 2018 – Knott’s Berry Farm announces the grand opening date of HangTime, the first and only dive coaster in California, to debut on Friday, May 18, 2018. The much anticipated ride will tower 150 feet over the Boardwalk area of the park and will showcase gravity-defying inversions, mid-air suspensions and twisting dive tracks. HangTime will send riders up a vertical lift hill on a 16 passenger train, into a 15-story 96-degree drop – the steepest drop in California. The coaster’s train will come to a halt once at the highest peak, and will leave riders suspended at the crest for several seconds, before descending down a beyond-vertical drop, through 2,189 feet of steel track and five gravity-defying inversions. The coaster pays homage to California’s beach culture by incorporating elements of surfing to the ride throughout the queue and on the ride itself. The surf themed coaster will only be the second rollercoaster in the Western Hemisphere to feature a negative-g stall loop, which gives riders the sensation of floating. HangTime is manufactured by Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, GmbH, and is the company’s next-generation “infinity coaster” model.
WHEN: Grand Opening on Friday, May 18, 2018
WHERE: Knott’s Berry Farm – 8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, CA 90620
April 3, 2018 – A brand new, story-driven, RPG from developer 3Mind Games (stacked with veterans from Ubisoft, EA, and more), is in development for PC and set for release next year. As the first sprawling, narrative game from the studio, The Protagonist is aiming to entice fans of epic space operas such as Mass Effect with its rich, branching narrative and unique, turn-based combat system with flavors of XCOM and Divinity: Original Sin.
This first look into the combat-style and narrative of The Protagonist shows ANGEL and her comrade RADICAL engaging in deadly combat with a new race of alien foes, while the commanding voice of the Terran elite orders its citizens to take up arms against their oppressors.
Burbank, Calif. – April 4, 2018 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and independent game developer, IO Interactive, today announced a worldwide publishing and distribution agreement for the acclaimed international video game, HITMAN™. As part of this agreement, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will publish the HITMAN™: Definitive Edition, which will be available in retail stores for PlayStation®4 Pro computer entertainment system, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One X and Xbox One beginning May 15, 2018.
The HITMAN: Definitive Edition will feature new in-game disguises for Agent 47 inspired by classic IO Interactive titles – Freedom Fighters, Kane & Lynch and Mini Ninjas – celebrating the Danish studio’s 20th anniversary, in addition to all previously released content* and game updates from the first season of HITMAN.
“We’re very excited to be working with IO Interactive, a talented studio with a long-standing legacy creating the iconic HITMAN games,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The passionate, global HITMAN community has embraced the recent return of the series, and we’re thrilled to bring the HITMAN: Definitive Edition to fans and new players next month.”
“We’re super excited to be working with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on HITMAN and together releasing the HITMAN: Definitive Edition to new players,” said Hakan Abrak, CEO IO Interactive. “Working with a partner like WBIE means that the team at IOI can stay focused on what we’re good at, making games.”
The HITMAN: Definitive Edition will include the following content:
IO Interactive’s 20th Anniversary Outfit Bundle – Three new outfits inspired by Freedom Fighters, Kane & Lynch and Mini Ninjas
HITMAN Season One (Main Game) – Seven exotic locations from the first season, including Paris, Sapienza, Marrakesh, Bangkok, Colorado and Hokkaido, along with the ICA Facility
HITMAN Game of the Year Edition Content – Four missions from the Patient Zero Campaign, three themed Escalation Contracts that unlock three unique weapons, as well as the Clown Suit, Cowboy Suit and Raven Suit from the recent Game of the Year Edition digital release
HITMAN Summer Bonus Episode – Featuring ICA bonus missions in Sapienza and Marrakesh
HITMAN: Blood Money Requiem Pack – Including the Requiem Suit, Pale Duck Explosive and ICA Chrome Pistol
All featured Contracts, Escalation Contracts, Challenge Packs and game updates from HITMAN Season One and the HITMAN Game of the Year Edition
Please note that a portion of add-on content is not pre-loaded on the HITMAN: Definitive Edition disc and requires an internet connection. Additional content is approximately 12-24GB depending on platform.
*Elusive Targets that have already run and ended may not be available again as these are time limited events.
SAN FRANCISO – April 3, 2018 – Today, Ubisoft announced that Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Wildlands will get a second year of post-launch content, offering players new free contents, both in the campaign and the Ghost War PvP experience. The first major update entitled Special Operation 1 will be released on April 10 on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC
Ghost Recon Wildlands’ Year 2 will continue to deliver substantial post-launch support with four free major updates titled “Special Operations”, each of which will feature a unique theme, updates for the PvE campaign with special free missions and special challenges with exclusive rewards, updates for the Ghost War 4×4 PvP experience, as well as highly community-requested features.
The first update, called “Special Operations 1” launching on April 10 will contain:
Teammate Customization: The number one feature requested by the community, teammate customization will allow players to customize teammate outfits with all items they have unlocked for their own character.
PvP Update: A new game mode called “Sabotage” with five exclusive maps, the first of six new PvP classes for Year 2, and new perks and weapons.
PvE Update: A free special themed PvE mission and special challenge with exclusive rewards.
The Special Operation I includes the content planned for Updates 5 & 6 from the original Ghost War roadmap.
On top of that, Ubisoft announced Ghost Recon Wildlands’ Year 2 Pass offering seven-day early access to all the six new Year 2 Ghost War classes, an exclusive customization pack, and eight Battle Crates (four Special Ops crates and four Ghost War crates) to further customize players characters in the main game as well as in the Ghost War. Ghost Recon Wildlands Year 2 pass will be available digitally for $29.99.
Since the initial launch of Ghost Recon Wildlands in March 2017, Ubisoft Paris released 13 updates, including the launch of Ghost War – the 4v4 PvP mode – as well as The Predator special event and numerous updates to the core gameplay. With more than 10 million players worldwide, the Ghost Recon Wildlands team is committed to support the game, offering new free content and continued improvement of the core experience.
For more information about the contents of the Year 2 pass or Special Operation I, check out the trailer here:
Developed by Ubisoft Paris,* Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is a military shooter entirely playable in up to four-player co-op or single-player from beginning to end. Players have total freedom to accomplish their missions how they want and watch as the world reacts to their actions. Players can choose to move quietly in the night, go in hot at dawn or work together to execute a sync shot that takes out enemies in one fell swoop. Each choice has a consequence, and players must improvise or adapt their plans to ensure the completion and success of each mission. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands Ghost War allows players to live the ultimate co-op experience in 4v4 modes. Featuring a growing roster of classes, maps and modes, Ghost War focuses on teamwork, strategy and tense tactical engagements.
Venerable horror website, Dread Central, recently got into film production. Their newest offering, #SCREAMERS, takes audiences on a journey through the day to day operations of fictional web video content company Gigaler and the relationships between its employees. Well… that’s not what it is supposed to be about, but that’s really what it’s about. The first 45 minutes of the 120 minute film are spent inside the office of Gigaler as they film a behind the scenes video of how they work. Having worked at several web video companies, including at a website called SpikedHumor back in the mid 2000’s, I can tell you that this is VERY much how startups like this operate – personalities and all. Director/writer Dean Ronalds and Producer/writer Tom Malloy must have experience in this kind of environment to have nailed it so accurately.
The first fifteen minutes of the film introduces us to the main characters of the film, as well as several characters you only see once, as we tour their offices. Gigaler hosts videos (and advertisements) in the hopes that they go viral. When an anonymous source sends them a “screamer” video, they embark on a journey to find out why and who this person is. #SCREAMERS is presented in a found footage style and the cast all do great jobs portraying their characters. Tom Malloy is not just a producer, writer, and director of the film, he also plays the CEO of Gigaler, “Tom”. He portrays the charismatic and ego-driven startup CEO with scary accuracy while “Chris” (Chris Bannow) is the introverted and mild mannered co-creator and COO of the media site – also, playing his character with eerie accuracy. “Griffin” (Griffin Matthews) is the community manager and engagement specialist, scrolling through comments as well as researching what people are responding to. He is also one of the main handheld camera operators throughout the film.”Abbi” (Abbie Snee) is the company’s lead developer, working on the website and, to some extent, a learning algorithm that will track user behaviors.
Unfortunately, #SCREAMERS sets up these characters, and the realistic inter-office dynamic between them, yet never really pushes them or challenges them. We spend 45 minutes in their office and then 50 minutes with them touring upstate New York on the hunt for this anonymous party. There is no real horror or scary things in this entire time – about 95 minutes. So, when the scares start 20 minutes before the end of the film, I was hoping they would hit me like a UFC fighter, as well as challenge the characters to try and overcome them. What happens instead is very formulaic for these kinds of movies. With as different as this film was for all the non-horror stuff, I was hoping that things turned out different and maybe showed some character arc resolutions by time the credits roll. Then I wouldn’t have minded the last part of the film as much. For instance, and I hate spoiling things but this is a good example of what I mean: There are some hints that Abbi might have some sort of feelings for Chris earlier in the film but this is never realized. There is the personality conflict between Tom and Chris, but this never gets ironed out either. Again – if you are going to show us these relationships for 90% of the film, we want to see them play out – not just end up in a formulaic, 20 minute-long ending sequence.
Instead, I am left with a multitude of feelings about #SCREAMERS. On one hand, I liked Tom, Chris, Griffin, and Abbie! I would like to have seen their characters uncover some dark secrets and grow closer as a group, maybe turning the site into one that explores the paranormal or inexplicable web videos. The cast all plays so well off one another, and because this is not a horror film, but a film about them, I wanted to see more of them. On the other hand, the last twenty minutes are very formulaic for a found footage horror film and the whole thing doesn’t pay off anywhere near what I had hoped.
#SCREAMERS plays select U.S. cities on April 5th and 6th, and debuts on VOD April 17th through Dread Central Presents, the genre label from Epic Pictures.
Universal City, CA, Orlando, FL, April 3, 2018 – For the first time ever, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Singapore are partnering with Netflix to bring “Stranger Things” to life at this year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” events. Fans of the series will get the chance to brave the Upside Down and confront the supernatural as each park debuts all-new mazes inspired by season one of the critically-acclaimed series.
The parallel universe, referred to as the Upside Down that terrorized the small town of Hawkins, Indiana in Netflix’s mega-hit “Stranger Things,” will bring the chittering, predatory Demogorgon to “Halloween Horror Nights” to stalk unwitting guests as they encounter iconic scenes, characters and environments from the mesmerizing series.
Working collaboratively with Netflix, along with the creators and executive producer of the blockbuster series—Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer and Shawn Levy, the mazes at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Singapore will be authentic representations of “Stranger Things,” designed to transport guests into artfully recreated scenes and storylines. From the menacing Hawkins National Laboratory, under the U.S. Department of Energy, to the Byers home adorned with an erratic display of flashing Christmas lights and the eerie Upside Down woods oozing a shower of floating orb-like spores, the chilling new mazes will offer surprising twists and unexpected turns around every corner.
Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” is the ultimate Halloween event. For more than 25 years, guests from around the world have visited “Halloween Horror Nights” to become victims inside their own horror film. Multiple movie-quality mazes based on iconic horror television shows, films and original stories come to life season after season. And, the streets of each park’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing scare-actors lunge from every darkened corner.
Halloween Horror Nights begins Friday, September 14 in Hollywood and Orlando and on Friday, September 28 in Singapore. Additional details about the events will be revealed soon. Select tickets and vacation packages for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights are on sale now. For more information about “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort or Universal Studios Singapore, visitwww.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.
