Author - Jerry Paxton

Police Simulator: Patrol Officers Multiplayer Mode Announced

2021/08/05

Protecting the virtual city of Brighton as a police officer in Police Simulator: Patrol Officers has so far been a pure single-player experience. This is now set to change with the next major Early Access update of the successful police simulation: On August 26, 2021, astragon Entertainment and Aesir Interactive will release the big multiplayer update Nightshift with Friends during the course of this year’s gamescom game show. From then on, virtual officers will be able to go on patrol with another person in a 2-player co-op mode, and experience additional brand-new features.

After the recently released Background Check update which added a new vehicle, an additional district and the police computer for checking suspicious vehicles and persons, fans of the popular simulation game can already look forward to the next content highlight: The Nightshift with Friends update introduces a 2-player co-op mode that allows players to patrol the streets of Brighton in pairs and have each other’s backs.

While doing so, they will also be confronted with some new legal violations: Not only are graffiti sprayers up to mischief on the streets of Brighton, smoking exhaust pipes on vehicles will also become a new problem that police officers should keep an eye on, if they want to maintain law and order in their neighborhoods.

For those who prefer the quiet of the night to go patrol, the newly introduced night shifts allow them to move their workday to the darker hours of Brighton. Of course, the Brighton PD will provide officers with new equipment such as torches and warning flares to investigate further new offenses such as too-loud engines on vehicles or driving without lights after dark.

As with every major update released for Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, fans of the game will be able to try out the Nightshift with Friends update in advance next week during an extensive beta test on Steam™, and thus contribute directly to its development and refinement. The exact date for the start of the open beta test will be announced soon on the game’s official channels. A detailed overview of upcoming content can be found in the official Police Simulator: Patrol Officers Roadmap.

Police Simulator: Patrol Officers is available for PC via Steam™ and the official astragon homepage for 19.99 Euro/USD 24.99/17.99 GBP (RSP). The game is supported by a game-grant of the German funding body FilmFernsehFonds Bayern. All contents of the update phases until the official end of Early Access are already included in the price.

More Information:

Steam™: https://store.steampowered.com/app/997010/Police_Simulator_Patrol_Officers/

TWO EVIL EYES Getting Two Disc UHD and Blu-ray Set

2021/08/05

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

George Romero and Dario Argento’s classic tale of horror and suspense, Two Evil Eyes, gets the royal restoration treatment courtesy of Blue Underground with a two disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray set coming August 24th.

The Masters of Modern Horror -George Romero and Dario Argento – bring you an unprecedented pair of shockers inspired by the tales of Edgar Allan Poe. In Romero’s The Facts In The Case Of Mr. Valdemar, a conniving wife (Adrienne Barbeau of THE FOG) and her lover use a hypnotic trance to embezzle a fortune from her dying husband, only to receive some chilling surprises from beyond the grave. Then in Argento’s The Black Cat, a deranged crime scene photographer (Harvey Keitelof FROM DUSK TILL DAWN) is driven to brutal acts of madness and murder by his girlfriend’s new pet. But will this cunning feline deliver a final sickening twist of its own?

Martin Balsam (PSYCHO), E.G. Marshall (CREEPSHOW), John Amos (THE BEASTMASTER) and Tom Atkins (NIGHT OF THE CREEPS) co-star in this wild horror hit that also features grisly makeup effects by Tom Savini (MANIAC). Blue Underground’s acclaimed restoration of TWO EVIL EYES, scanned in 4K 16-bit from the original camera negative, is now presented with Dolby Vision HDR and a new Dolby Atmos audio mix, packed with hours of Extras!

Bonus Features:

Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) Widescreen 1.85:1 feature presentation and Bonus Extras Blu-ray
Audio: Dolby Atmos (English); 2.0 DTS-HD (English); 1.0 DTS-HD (French)
Subtitles: English SDH, Francais, Espanol
Audio Commentary with Troy Howarth, Author of ‘Murder By Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento’
Theatrical Trailer
Poster & Still Gallery
Two Masters’ Eyes – Interviews with Directors Dario Argento & George Romero, Special Make-Up Effects Supervisor Tom Savini, Executive Producer Claudio Argento, and Asia Argento
Savini’s EFX – A Behind-the-Scenes look at the film’s Special Make-Up Effects
At Home With Tom Savini – A personal tour of Tom Savini’s home
Adrienne Barbeau on George Romero
Before I Wake – Interview with Star Ramy Zada
Behind The Wall – Interview with Star Madeleine Potter
One Maestro And Two Masters – Interview with Composer Pino Donaggio
Rewriting Poe – Interview with Co-Writer Franco Ferrini
The Cat Who Wouldn’t Die – Interview with Assistant Director Luigi Cozzi
Two Evil Brothers – Interview with Special Make-Up Assistant Everett Burrell
Working With George – Interview with Costume Designer Barbara Anderson

Escape Blair Witch Escape Room Opens with Danielle Harris-Helmed Trailer

2021/08/05

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

Las Vegas’ newest immersive attraction, Escape Blair Witch, from Global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) and leading Las Vegas attraction producer, Egan Escape Productions, is now accepting reservations online at www.escapeblairwitch.com.

ESCAPE BLAIR WITCH brings Lionsgate’s classic horror film franchise The Blair Witch to life in its first ever official escape experience. The new attraction is located in the same expansive facility that houses Lionsgate’s fan favorite, The Official SAW Escape: Las Vegas, the world’s first immersive escape experience themed after the blockbuster SAW films, launched in 2018. The experience’s heart pounding official trailer also drops today and is filmed at the new immersive escape experience. The trailer is directed by and starring Hollywood’s scream queen Danielle Harris, features Sarah Nicklin and Mark Lawson and is produced by Jason Egan and Sugar Studios.

“We designed Escape Blair Witch as a ‘speakeasy style attraction’, said Jason Egan, owner of Egan Escape Productions, “From the outside, the building looks like an old ranger’s station with no mention of the Blair Witch.”

Players arrive as volunteers to help search for some local students who have gone missing in the forest. As they work their way through multiple scenes throughout the ranger’s station, the forest, and the old house in the woods, they quickly learn that they have become victims themselves and must work to escape the clutches of the Blair Witch.

Due to high demand, limited space and COVID-19 protocols, reservations are required in advance. Private VIP games are available, as well as packages for Birthdays, Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties, Team Building, and more.

For more information or to book reservations please visit www.escapeblairwitch.com.

For detailed information on the safety precautions we are taking for COVID-19, please visit our website or follow along on Facebook & Instagram @EscapeBlairWitch.

Pistol Whip’s Smoke & Thunder Campaign Launch Date

2021/08/05

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Cloudhead Games announced today that its critically acclaimed VR rhythm shooter Pistol Whip’s new Western-themed cinematic campaign, “Smoke & Thunder,” is launching on Oculus Quest, PCVR, and PlayStation VR on August 12th. As Pistol Whip’s most noteworthy update ever, “Smoke & Thunder” adds a ton of new content such as a new fully-voiced campaign set in the Wild West, a pulse-pounding star-studded soundtrack, and the game-changing “Styles” system sandbox for endless replayability. The new additions are a free update to existing Pistol Whip owners. New players can purchase the VR title for $24.99 until August 15. After that date, the new Pistol Whip price will be $29.99.

Smoke & Thunder

Cloudhead’s first cinematic campaign, “2089,” was a fast forward into the future; their second, “Smoke & Thunder,” is a badass blast to the past—with new weapons, mechanics, a dastardly new outlaw threat, and a mighty fine new boss fight for folks to tangle with.

Featuring tracks from The Heavy, Black Pistol Fire, Bones UK, Devora, and an original never-before-heard track from Magic Sword; this five-scene cinematic campaign is abso-rootin-tutley exploding with exciting new content.

Smoke & Thunder’s campaign mode transforms players into the heroes of an immersive Western adventure, equipping them with brand new weapons and providing a fully-voiced tale of sisters Jessie (Victoria Hogan, Kingdom Come: Deliverance) and Tess (Avalon Penrose, Hades). It’s a visually stunning experience, illustrated with cutscene cinematics created by fan-favourite comic artist and returning talent, Fico Ossio, and colourist Raciel Avila.

Once players have conquered the campaign, they can skedaddle on over to Arcade and check out all the campaign scenes—from both ”Smoke & Thunder” as well as “2089”—unbridled for the very first time. In Arcade mode, players can use whatever weapon and modifier they want in endless combinations.

Styles let players create the gameplay THEY want.

Pistol Whip’s new “Styles” system sandbox allows players to combine their preferred weapon type with up to five modifiers to create an unstoppable action experience that’s exactly what they want. After finding a preferred Style that’s uniquely their own, players can challenge friends or compete solo and be the first person to dominate the leaderboard uniquely generated for that “Style’s” choice.

New weapon types also burst onto the scene with the debut of Styles, including Brawler, which transforms the previous No Ammo modifier into a glorious new melee mode. 2089’s Burstfire and the new weapons from “Smoke & Thunder” are also available in all scenes with Styles.

These weapon additions and changes combined with four new modifiers mean the possibilities are endless. From green to grizzled and anywhere in-between, there’s a Style for everyone. Pistol Whip also includes an ever-changing list of recommendations such as Featured Styles, which contain weekly style choices curated by Cloudhead’s own team of developers and players. “Styles” can also be used with all past Pistol Whip updates like the aforementioned “2089” and “Heartbreaker.”

Price Change

Beginning August 15th, the price of Pistol Whip will increase by $5 just a few days after the “Smoke & Thunder” + “Styles” update on August 12 to support the creation of epic content and updates. After August 15th, Pistol Whip will be available for $29.99 on Oculus Quest, PC VR, and PlayStation VR. This price increase will not impact existing owners of Pistol Whip.

About Pistol Whip:

Since its launch, Pistol Whip has continued to see commercial success, remaining one of Quest and Steam’s top-selling VR games. Polygon included the game in its Top 50 games of the year, and Gamespot called it one of the Best VR Games of 2019. Pistol Whip also earned top industry recognition as a GDCA finalist and the winner of Immersive Reality Game of the Year at the 2020 DICE Awards.

About Cloudhead Games:

Cloudhead is the veteran VR studio behind Pistol Whip and the fantasy adventure trilogy The Gallery, winner of over 30 awards and nominations including ‘VR Game of the Year’ in 2018. Before Pistol Whip, Cloudhead partnered with industry-legend Valve to create Aperture Hand Lab, a humorous tech demo set in the Portal Universe, for the next-gen Valve Index. Always innovating, Cloudhead Games is also known for its early solutions in VR locomotion/comfort with “Snap Turns” and “Teleportation,” as well as VR motion capture and hand interactions.

Patron Launch Trailer

2021/08/04

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Overseer Games are proud to announce that Patron will be launching on Steam on August 10th. To celebrate the impending release, a new trailer has been released, showing off the world you’ll soon be able to build.

With a keen focus on social dynamics, Patron asks you to grow a small town into a bustling medieval metropolis, all while carefully balancing resources, production, and social tension. Every move you make will be judged by your townsfolk, and you’ll need to account for sensitive matters such as religion, immigration, and poverty, keeping an eye to the consequences.

Patron launches on Steam & GOG on August 10th for $19.99 USD.

Cruis’n Blast Track Showcase Trailer

2021/08/04

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, Trailers / Videos

Raw Thrills showcases select tracks from arcade favorite Cruis’n Blast for Nintendo Switch in their latest video! This new gameplay trailer highlights some of the game’s 29 thrilling tracks across 6 tours, including Space Attack, Dino Janeiro, Mountain Mayhem, British Invasion and Twister Terror, featuring alien invasions, prehistoric dinosaurs, mountain rallies, police chases, dangerous weather and so much more.

Cruis’n makes its triumphant return to consoles with Cruis’n Blast! The iconic racing series hasn’t seen a new console entry for more than a decade, but the 2017 arcade smash hit Cruis’n Blast is finally bringing the series back home on Nintendo Switch!

Cruis’n Blast features 4-player local network or multiplayer split-screen and 23 larger-than-life vehicles – from licensed supercars to unicorns. Cruis’n Blast releases September 14, 2021, for Nintendo Switch and is available for preorder now.

For more information on options to preorder Cruis’n Blast, visit the official site.

EVERSPACE 2 Zharkov: The Vortex Launch Trailer

2021/08/04

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

ROCKFISH Games has released the second major Early Access update to their spacefaring looter shooter RPG, EVERSPACE 2— Zharkov: The Vortex opens up an all-new star system, a new spaceship class, companion, main and side missions, activities, challenges, and more than 120 improvements and fixes being added to the space action RPG.

Set in a gas cloud system, Zharkov: The Vortex is packed full of new environments, locations, and star bases to discover. Fair warning, Zharkov is EVERSPACE 2’s most dangerous area yet as it is filled with lightning storms, ruined hulks, and strong enemies seeking their next target.

Playing as Adam, a former clone pilot, the player will dive deep into the shady dealings of the Grady & Brunt mining operation and uncover secrets leading to mysteries of The Ancients, and learn how the factions in the game are all connected.

During a certain section of a high-risk undercover operation, players have to prove their 6DOF maneuvering skills when navigating a remote-controlled maintenance drone through narrow tunnels and pass laser security barriers undetected to prevent an inside job from going south.

Further progressing through the fully voiced campaign, EVERSPACE: Encounters players will recognize the new companion added, an old friend: Tareen, the Okkar trader will join the roster of companions and provide some very useful perks. As the new quartermaster, Tareen will expand the player’s storage and increase the number of ships that can be parked at the Homebase.

The latest EVERSPACE 2 ship, the Vanguard, is a lightweight reconnaissance fighter with a focus on speed, quick maneuvers, and defensive measures – perfect for players who love to delve headfirst into the battle and take out enemies in quick succession. The Vanguard’s Special “overcharges” the ship’s shield to up to 200% capacity when boosting or when in Cruise Mode allowing for shield-buffed attacks. This ship also receives an increased critical hit chance when attacking enemies from the rear, making clever combat positioning a significant advantage in dogfights. The Vanguard’s Ultimate, Time Extender, slows down time giving plenty of opportunity to regain the upper hand in any given combat situation if things get messy.

Vanguard ships also come with one out of four random Passive Perks that let cruise drive to be activated with enemies nearby, reduces Web effect by 50%, lowers up to 20% support device cooldown depending on overcharge percentage, or makes Time Extender immediately restore all weapon and boost energy.

Along with the Vanguard, players will also be able to access the second tier of all other current ship types, granting new wing styles and better base stats.

The Zharkov: The Vortex update also brings a significant amount of additional features such as new missile and mine types, a grappling hook, additional music tracks, new gameplay mechanics, and more. For more details, read the latest Steam News Update.
Zharkov: The Vortex Early Access Update Features:

New Star System – Zharkov: The Vortex takes players deep into the eye of the storm
New Companion – Tareen the Okkar Trader joins as the homebase quartermaster, expanding storage capabilities and allowing for more ships to be held in the base hanger
New Light Fighter Class: The Vanguard – A lightweight, highly maneuverable reconnaissance ship with a high emphasis on speed/mobility and defensive measures
New Main and Side Missions – The plot thickens, so players will start putting the pieces together of how everything is connected in this mind-bending sci-fi story
New Gear – The new Fusion Hook allows for quick turns through asteroid fields; new Corrosion, Armorbreaker, Shieldbreaker, and Destabilizer missiles and Web and Corrosion mine launchers add an arsenal of new ways to destroy enemy ships
Newly Voiced Lines – Added English voice acting for dialog added since the previous Contracts/Hinterlands update
New Activities, Mini-Missions, and Challenges – All kinds of activities have been scattered through the new star system
And More – New music, ship colors, item set bonuses, item affix, crafting UI/UX improvements, and lots more!

The full changelog can be found here. A high resolution image of the EVERSPACE 2 2021 roadmap can be downloaded here. The game is currently 20% off on Steam. Deal ends on August 9, 10:00 am PDT.

Follow EVERSPACE 2 on Twitter, Facebook, or join the game’s Discord to stay in the loop on the latest developments.

Every Friday, the EVERSPACE 2 team shows off content from their latest dev build on the ROCKFISH Games Twitch and YouTube channel from 8 pm to 10 pm CEST / 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EST / 11:00 am to 1:00 pm PST.

Square Enix Unveils Multiple Final Fantasy XIV Books and Media Coming in 2022

2021/08/04

Jerry Paxton

Book News, Geek News, News

SQUARE ENIX® today announced that popular FINAL FANTASY® XIV books will be republished as new editions by the company’s Square Enix Manga & Books imprints: Encyclopaedia Eorzea, vol. 1 and vol. 2, the FINAL FANTASY XIV Poster Collection, and the English translated edition of the FINAL FANTASY XIV Picture Book.

In addition, two new manga series, SINoALICE and My Happy Marriage, were announced for release in 2022. Details for these newly announced books and media are available below, including pre-order information.

Encyclopaedia Eorzea ~The World of FINAL FANTASY XIV~
This deluxe, full-color book is the first of two volumes detailing the lore of the FINAL FANTASY XIV world—written and compiled by the game’s development team. Offering an in-depth look at the locales, organizations, and history of Eorzea, Encyclopaedia Eorzea is the perfect companion for FINAL FANTASY series fans. The book also includes a bonus item code for the in-game Namingway minion.

The first volume of Encyclopaedia Eorzea is scheduled for release on April 12, 2022 and is now available for pre-order from the Square Enix Store and select retailers.

Encyclopaedia Eorzea ~The World of FINAL FANTASY XIV~ Volume II
Encyclopaedia Eorzea II is the second volume of SQUARE ENIX’s best-selling Encyclopaedia Eorzea books and contains hundreds of pages of new lore and information, including the far-reaching lands of an entire new continent to the east. The book also includes a bonus item code for the in-game Matoya’s Hat head gear.

Encyclopaedia Eorzea II is scheduled for release on April 12, 2022 and is now available for pre-order from the Square Enix Store and select retailers.

FINAL FANTASY XIV Poster Collection
A collection of 27 premium-quality and full-color removable posters, the FINAL FANTASY XIV Poster Collection features breathtaking character art spanning from A Realm Reborn through Shadowbringers. The posters are printed on heavy, press-varnished card stock to provide a rich visual tribute to the world of Eorzea.

The FINAL FANTASY XIV Poster Collection is scheduled to release on May 10, 2022. Pre-orders will begin on August 10, 2021 on the Square Enix Store, as well as through select retailers. Additional information on the FINAL FANTASY XIV Poster Collection is available here: https://sqex.link/fN7x

FINAL FANTASY XIV Picture Book
Written by FINAL FANTASY XIV Online lead story designer Banri Oda and illustrated by FINAL FANTASY XIV Online concept artist Hiroyuki Nagamine, this whimsical tale was crafted for readers of all ages and has now been translated into English for even more readers to enjoy.

The FINAL FANTASY XIV Picture Book is scheduled to release on July 26, 2022 and will be available for pre-order on the Square Enix Store and from other select retailers on October 26, 2021. Additional information on the FINAL FANTASY XIV Picture Book is available here: https://sqex.link/9rNo

SINoALICE Vol. 1
To the delight of YOKO TARO devotees, this manga adaption of the popular mobile game of the same name is scheduled to release on February 8, 2022.

SINoALICE Vol. 1 and is available for pre-order today from select retailers. Information on where to purchase is available here: https://sqex.to/12Qwy

My Happy Marriage Vol. 1
My Happy Marriage is a Cinderella-inspired slow-burn historical romance set in Meiji-era Japan with an exciting paranormal twist.

The first volume in this series is schedule to release on June 21, 2022. Pre-orders from select retailers are scheduled for September 21, 2021. Please visit the Square Enix Books website for additional information: https://sqex.to/nCG8a

For the latest information from Square Enix Manga & Books, visit: square-enix-books.com.

*Book cover art not final and subject to change.

Related Links:
Official Website: square-enix-books.com
Official Twitter @SquareEnixBooks

The Ramp Out Now

2021/08/03

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Developer Paul Schnepf aka Hyperparadise (best known as the co-founder of Grizzly Games, makers of Islanders and Superflight) is releasing his new project The Ramp on PC today. Described by Schnepf as a ‘digital skateboarding toy’, The Ramp will be available to download on Steam for $5.99/€4.99.

Chill out, do tricks, and look damn cool. In The Ramp, players must focus their energy and go with the flow, listening to a chilled-out soundtrack as they roam free across four wildly different levels – from a simple halfpipe to a multi-story jump ramp. With nothing to unlock, kill or collect, The Ramp aims to capture the delight of skateboarding in its purest form. Enjoy tons of flow and dive into satisfying unique skateboarding gameplay that is easy to learn and hard to master.

‘It’s always scary releasing your work into the world, but I’m super happy with how this one came out,’ said The Ramp creator Paul Schnepf. ‘It’s a small game, but I hope The Ramp can become your happy place!’

Featuring:

Born to ride – A stripped-back experience that captures the essence of real-life vert skateboarding.
Board games – Fly, spin and grind through a choice of four levels, including an empty pool, a half-pipe, and one humongous mega jump.
All on the table – There are no points, levels or unlockables. Any trick can be performed at any time… provided you’ve got the skills.
Pocket pedigree – Created by Paul Schnepf, co-founder of the studio that made Islanders and Superflight.

Star Trek Online – House United Season Out Now

2021/08/03

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

Bat’leths at the ready for Star Trek Online’s newest season, House United, now available for free on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One. Starting today, console players can log into the free-to-play MMORPG based on the Star Trek universe and experience the long-awaited finale of the Klingon Civil War. The game’s newest season features some of Star Trek’s most epic Klingon warriors, including Star Trek: Discovery’s L’Rell (voiced by Mary Chieffo), Aakar (Robert O’Reilly from Star Trek: The Next Generation) and General Martok (J.G Hertzler from Deep Space: Nine), as well as Adet’Pa (Rekha Sharma from Star Trek: Discovery). With the release of today’s update, console players can also explore three new patrols, participate in a brand new Task Force Operation and earn exclusive rewards by completing tasks in a Special Event. House United is also available for free on Arc Games, Epic Games and Steam.

Star Trek Online is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online game that allows players to explore the Star Trek universe from within. Players can forge their own destiny as Captain of a Federation starship, champion the Empire through the far reaches of the galaxy as a Klingon Warrior, rebuild the Romulan legacy as the commander of a Romulan Republic Warbird or carry out daring missions on behalf of the Dominion as a Jem’Hadar soldier. Captains can also explore iconic locations from the Star Trek universe, make contact with new alien species and battle alongside other players in customizable starships. Star Trek Online is currently available on PC, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.

To download and play Star Trek Online today for free, visit www.playstartrekonline.com.

Star Trek Online is licensed by CBS Consumer Products.