Author - Jerry Paxton

Texas Chain Saw 50th Anniversary Food Truck at San Diego Comic-Con

2024/07/24

Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News, SDCC

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Dark Sky Films continues a series of year-long fan events by partnering with local BBQ food truck operator UP IN SMOKE BBQ to create an official popup homage to the film’s iconic “WE SLAUGHTER BARBECUE” roadside store at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, the world’s largest pop culture event in the US. The food truck will be located in Comic Con’s Petco Park Interactive Zone, a no-badge-required event area across from the San Diego Convention Center.

Offering a bespoke menu of Texas Chain Saw Massacre victim-inspired offerings, each food purchased will come with a San Diego Comic Con-exclusive collectible button. (limited quantities available)

EVENT DETAILS:

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE 50TH ANNIVERSARY FOOD TRUCK

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, enjoy barbecue offerings inspired by the horror classic and feast on freshly slaughtered menu items presented by Leatherface himself. Each food order comes with a collectible Texas Chain Saw Massacre 50th anniversary button (until supplies last).

Dates: Thursday, 7/25 – Sunday, 7/28

Location: Petco Park Interactive Zone (badge-free, across the street from the San Diego Convention Center)

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE 50TH ANNIVERSARY FOOD TRUCK

“WE SLAUGHTER BARBECUE” MENU
PICK YOUR MEATS
“KIRK” (brisket)
“JERRY” (pork)
“PAM” (chicken)
“SALLY” (Impossible meatballs / vegetarian)

ENTREE OPTIONS

SLAUGHTERHOUSE SAMMIES: Your choice of meat served on a French roll with our homemade coleslaw and served with a side of house seasoned potato chips
SLAUGHTERHOUSE SLIDERS: Your choice of meat served on one or two slider rolls with our homemade coleslaw served with a side of house seasoned potato chips
SLAUGHTERHOUSE SALAD: Fresh mixed greens topped with one of our meats and our homemade coleslaw served with a side of house seasoned potato chips
ALL BEEF “FRANKLIN”: A 1/4 lb all-beef hotdog served a side of house seasoned potato chips
LEATHERFACE’S STACK ‘O’ MEAT: Our house seasoned potato chips topped with ALL THREE of our meats, shredded cheddar cheese, salsa, black beans and drizzled with our homemade ranch dressing

ALSO SERVING

GRANDPA’S SMOKED CHIPS
THE COOK’S SECRET BAKED BEANS
HITCHHIKER ICE COLD DRINKS (Sodas/water)

The 50^th Anniversary festivities kicked off with an audience-capturing social activation at this year’s SXSW Film Festival, where fans watched the live creation of an ice sculpture unveiling the new 50^th anniversary TCM logo with a chainsaw wielding Leatherface. Fans were then treated to one of the largest Chain Saw reunions ever with twelves guests appearing at this year’s Texas Frightmare Weekend this past May.

Throughout the summer and fall, fans of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE will continue to be treated with special appearances and fan panels at various events acrossst the country.

In August, the restored film will premiere at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, where it is a part of the revered institution’s permanent collection. This weeklong presentation opens on August 8, when members of the film’s creative team, including screenwriter Kim Henkel, cinematographer Daniel Pearl, actress Teri McMinn, and production manager Ron Bozman, will join curator Ron Magliozzi and Caryn Coleman, founder of The Future of Film Is Female, to discuss The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s production and legacy.

For continuous updates and official news about the year-long celebration, follow the official Texas Chain Saw social media accounts @thetexaschainsawmassacre and follow us at @darkskyfilms.

Vampire Therapist Official Launch Trailer

2024/07/23

Jerry Paxton

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

What do the undead have to worry about? How do they deal with the challenges of immortality? And what would a 3,000-year-old vampire do if not live atop a gothic nightclub in Europe? Well, these questions and many more are about to be answered in Vampire Therapist!

Created by and starring Cyrus Nemati (Dionysus in Hades), he is joined by voice actors Matt Mercer (Critical Role), Sarah Grayson (Hades 2), Francesca Meaux (Hades) and newcomer Kylie Clark, to bring these eccentric vampires to life.

Launching today on Steam and GoG, players will step into the boots of Sam, a cowboy from the Old West who is looking to change his murderous ways and connect with what’s left of his soul. Looking for answers in his immortality, Sam travels to Europe and is taken under the (bat)wing of reformed assassin, warrior and undead heartthrob Andromachos.

Together, they help blood-sucking immortals realise that just because they’re dead, it doesn’t mean they can’t live. All of the techniques discussed and used in Vampire Therapist have been created in consultation with licensed therapists to give the game an authentic message.

YouTube Video.
Inspired by the likes of What We Do in the Shadows and Horrible Histories, Vampire Therapist merges this comedic style with deep, introspective subject matters and heartfelt characters and real-life historical personalities.

Lovingly crafted by solo developer Cyrus Nemati, Vampire Therapist promises to take players on a unique journey through the psychology of vampirism that will leave them changed forever!

F1 Manager 24 Official Launch Trailer

2024/07/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox Series X News

Frontier Developments plc (AIM: FDEV, ‘Frontier’) today invites players to create their own team and take total control of the big decisions as their career unfolds in F1® Manager 2024, which launches digitally today across PC, PlayStation® 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation® 4 and Xbox One for a suggested retail price of £29.99/$34.99/€34.99.

Fans can enhance their experience with F1® Manager 2024: Deluxe Edition, which expands their creative options with five additional classically inspired Create A Team livery patterns, whilst an additional five fictional Race Replay scenarios offer unique single-race challenges, all for a suggested retail price of £39.99/$44.99/€44.99.

F1® Manager 2024 turns F1® fantasy into reality with the new Create A Team mode, where players can experiment with detailed logo and livery creation tools, choosing their challenge level using editable Team Origins to live out their own story and set the starting parameters of their career. Taking their team to the top will require careful management of both talent and resources, from negotiating sponsorships to maintaining their driver and staff mentality, ensuring every aspect of their constructor is ready for race day.

With enhanced AI decision-making ensuring each team is always in the hunt for success, leaving a lasting legacy on Formula 1® requires effective decision making over multiple seasons. Players can cement their position by building a successful stable of up and coming affiliated drivers, or shake up the system by departing their team to take on their legacy with one of the established 10 constructors. The future of the sport is theirs to decide, with the option to simulate races bridging the gap between vital upgrade packages, or bringing tomorrow’s talents to the fore to see who will reign over the next chapter of F1®.

Race weekends place simulation and strategy at the fore, as players react to every moment of tension; from a sudden downpour of rain and a late safety car, to the managed risk of new mechanical failures. Team Principals are required to weigh the cost of every decision and instruct their drivers to deliver the best possible results. Using the new Heli-cam to strategise from the skies or immersing themselves in the action with broadcast style cameras and an impressive 70,000 lines of real team radio, F1® Manager 2024 brings the sport to life like never before.

SHIFT 87 Official Launch Trailer

2024/07/23

Jerry Paxton

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

Thank you for taking on the role of “Anomaly Detection Expert” here at Norn Corp. We are thrilled to have you on board after the mysterious events of March 24 at the Nelson Bros Circus, also known as REVEIL. Your primary responsibility is to report anomalies and observe horror elements, so it might not be that different from your previous job! Shift 87 is out today on Steam so request your key right away. But please, read on! There’s more exciting stuff yet to come!

As an “Anomaly Detection Expert,” you will experience more variety, more environments, and more details than in comparable jobs. You will be able to find up to 66 anomalies. The shift duration, or total playtime, is about 2-3 hours, meaning you’ll have plenty of free time after your shift! However, there is one caveat: 50% of the anomalies may be creepy but easy to spot, while the other 50% are more subtle and easy to miss. Sounds doable? Great! Good luck with not getting paranoid!

Thank you for being a part of NORN Corporation!

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail New Raid Features Vocals of Chrissy Costanza

2024/07/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

In collaboration with lead singer Chrissy Constanza of Against the Current, SQUARE ENIX® announced a joint effort that brings an original song to FINAL FANTASY™ XIV’s latest expansion pack, Dawntrail™, as part of the critically-acclaimed online game’s all-new raid series, The Arcadion.

The new song, titled “Give It All,” is composed by reknown FINAL FANTASY XIV composer Masayoshi Soken and performed by the official FINAL FANTASY XIV band THE PRIMALS with vocals from Costanza. This anthemic rock track plays during the final battle of The Arcadion’s thrilling raid tier, as Costanza effectively embodies the boss through the lyrics. The new track will also be featured on the “THE PRIMALS – Riding Home” album due to release on September 7, 2024.

Warriors of Light can view a video message from Chrissy Costanza here: https://x.com/ChrissyCostanza/status/1815769330283639164

In an interview published today on the SQUARE ENIX blog, Costanza gave deeper insight into her background as a gamer, her relationship with the FINAL FANTASY series, her thoughts on how video games and music elevate each other, and more. Costanza declared her excitement for the collaboration, stating that having her music featured in a FINAL FANTASY title is a “dream come true,” calling the experience “completely surreal.”

Read the full interview here: https://sqex.to/trTx1.

“I’ve been both a musician and a gamer my entire life and LOVE both worlds so much. I think music is the foundation of so much of the world, whether it’s the soundtrack of movies or just playing in a store while you’re shopping, it can completely change the emotional landscape of your experience.” said Costanza. “Gaming itself is an immersive experience – video games can be exhilarating, exciting, scary, sad, awe-inspiring and more. Pairing the right music with the right game just completely enhances the player’s experience, and also brings the game out into the real world. It’s more than just a song, it’s more than just a game.”

Released on July 2, 2024, FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail marks the beginning of a new chapter of FINAL FANTASY XIV as the Warrior of Light is poised once more to embark upon the road to adventure. Journey to the distant continent of Tural, explore new areas such as the mountainous region of Urqopacha, the deep forests of Kozama’uka, the rain starved plains of Shaaloani and more as claimants prepare to compete for the throne of the Dawnservant. Eorzea’s champion is to accompany Wuk Lamat, as her ally in this rite of succession—an endeavor which calls them across the glittering seas.

With more than 30 million total registered players, there has never been a better time for newcomers to begin their adventures in the critically acclaimed FINAL FANTASY XIV Online saga. The Free Trial includes all content from A Realm Reborn™, the Heavensward™ and Stormblood™ expansions (and updates through Patch 4.58), including an additional playable race (Au Ra) and five additional playable jobs (Dark Knight, Astrologian, Machinist, Red Mage, and Samurai). Free Trial players can enjoy hundreds of hours of award-winning gameplay and story experiences equivalent to three full FINAL FANTASY titles, without a limit on playtime. The Free Trial and full game are now available on Windows®, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Mac and Steam®, More information can be found at: https://sqex.to/FFXIVFreeTrial

For more information on The Arcadion raid series and further updates to Dawntrail and the 7.x series of patch updates, please visit the promotional website: https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/dawntrail/.

Lidia Sobieska Coming to TEKKEN 8

2024/07/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox Series X News

TEKKEN™ 8 is adding Lidia Sobieska, the next playable DLC character coming to the game since it launched in January. Debuting in TEKKEN 7, Lidia will join the game’s roster on July 25, 2024. Players who purchased the TEKKEN 8 Deluxe Edition, Ultimate Edition, or Deluxe Upgrade Pack will get early access to Lidia Sobieska on July 22. Developed by Bandai Namco Studios Inc., TEKKEN 8 harnesses Unreal® Engine 5 to bring new weight and atmosphere to the game’s battles, with every character remodeled in stunning detail and new dynamic and destructible environments added to the game. TEKKEN 8 is available now on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam®. For more information on the game, please visit https://tekken.com/.

Check out the Lidia Sobieska release date trailer here:

Also known as the “Warrior Prime Minister” of Poland, Lidia Sobieska continues her journey for justice in TEKKEN 8. Her brave political stance and refusal to bend a knee to unjust power have earned her the trust of people around the world.

Lidia Sobieska’s debut is the second DLC character after Eddy Gordo, expanding the game’s playable roster to 34 fighters. Earlier this week, Bandai Namco announced the next character coming this Fall, revealing “The King of Iron Fist Resurrection” DLC bringing back Heihachi in a new free Story Mode expansion and adding him to the roster as the third DLC character. To learn about the TEKKEN 8 fighters, their histories, and their place in the TEKKEN™ saga on the official TEKKEN 8 roster breakdown.

AMPACS Announces First 2-Way Over-Ear Headphone Based on MEMS Speakers

2024/07/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Tech News

Furthering the integration of solid-state micro speakers in over-the-ear headphones, AMPACS, a global leader in electroacoustic product design, today announced a turnkey 2-way headphone solution designed in collaboration with MEMS audio and semiconductor pioneer xMEMS Labs. Pre-production prototypes are ready now, and the production-ready solution will be available in September.

The design leverages xMEMS’ Cowell, the world’s smallest solid-state micro speaker, for precisely rendered highs and mids, and AMPACS’ dynamic driver providing deep, satisfying bass. The result is a ready-made, modular solution that headphone manufacturers can plug into virtually any headphone design, including open-back, closed-back, wired, and wireless, for next-level gaming and music listening experiences.

According to xMEMS VP of Marketing and Business Development Mike Housholder, xMEMS developed the 2-way headphone concept to provide audio brands with a wider soundstage for spatial audio with improved sound clarity and detail while also providing a faster time-to-market solution that reduces production costs.

“Our collaboration with AMPACS is driven by our firm belief that solid-state MEMS speakers will redefine all forms of personal audio,” Housholder said. “And in creating this 2-way design, we’re moving the headphone market one step closer to a solid-state future. We encourage all interested brands to contact AMPACS so they can immediately begin producing headphones quicker and more affordably, while ensuring their products are lighter and better sounding than anything currently available.”

Advances in driver design, plus sufficient room in speaker enclosures, have for years allowed bookshelf speaker manufacturers to separate the highs and mids from the bass to deliver a clearer, cleaner, more detailed listening experience. However, this critical separation just isn’t possible for even the most advanced, single-driver headphones.

Fabricated as a single piece of silicon, xMEMS Cowell serves as a miniature midrange-tweeter in the 2-way headphone design, providing unmatched clarity and detail, while the low end is reproduced by a smaller-than-usual (for high-end headphones) 40-millimeter dynamic driver from AMPACS.

The benefits for headphone manufacturers include improved mid- and high-end frequency reproduction, for cleaner vocals and spatial imaging; lighter weight, for improved wearing comfort; and much simpler back-volume acoustic design, for faster time to market.

Plus, despite including the latest in solid-state technology, the design will not increase costs. In fact, replacing graphene, carbon fiber or other exotic dynamic driver diaphragm materials with this simple 2-way system can actually cut BOM cost.

“As a global leader in headphone ODM designs, AMPACS is uniquely positioned to bring xMEMS’ industry-changing innovations to audio brands and manufacturers throughout the world,” said James Hsu, AMPACS Vice Chairman. “Leveraging our robust research and development team and advanced production technology, we’ve designed and integrated a truly disruptive solution that sounds better and costs less than single-driver headphones on the market today.”

Expeditions: A MudRunner Game Free Co-Op Mode Out Now on Steam

2024/07/22

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Today Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, the latest creation from Saber Interactive, the renowned studio behind MudRunner and SnowRunner, adds a new dimension to the adventure with the debut of the eagerly awaited co-op mode as a free update on Steam. Join up to three friends and fellow wilderness experts to carry out risky explorations, working together to advance scientific progress!

Expeditions: A MudRunner Game’s free co-op mode update is available now on Steam and will release later this summer on the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Discover Expeditions anew with the free co-op mode on Steam!

Whether you’re returning to the wilds or plunging in for the very first time, you can now experience Expeditions together with other players. Share information and conduct scientific research wheel-to-wheel in this all-new cooperative mode. More than just a teammate, become the hero in tricky situations by sharing your fuel or offering repair elements to your team. Stick together, be adventurous, and you can overcome any obstacle with each other!

Expeditions will continue to offer tons of free content, including new game mechanics, specialists, and vehicles, in addition to all the new premium features included as part of its Year 1 Pass. Visit Expeditions: A MudRunner Game’s Steam page to check out its content roadmap and get ready for the upcoming Season 1, arriving later this summer, along with the release of co-op mode for consoles and the Epic Games Store.

Expeditions: A MudRunner Game is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam and the Epic Games Store. Grab the Supreme Edition or Year 1 Edition to get your hands on the Year 1 Pass and exclusive content. For more information, visit the official Focus Store page.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern Announces National Tour

2024/07/22

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Producers Curious Hedgehog and Showpath Entertainment, under license from Hasbro and its Wizards of the Coast division, are thrilled to announce that the live theatrical production DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern will soon launch a National Tour and a new block of tickets for the New York Production at Stage 42 (422 W 42nd St) in New York City through April 2025. Tickets are on sale at thetwentysidedtavern.com.

Due to a groundswell of demand, plans are underway to launch the U.S. National Tour in cities across the country beginning May 2025 with the full list of tour cities to be announced at a later date. San Diego Comic-Con attendees will also get a sneak peek at what’s to come from the production with the official DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern San Diego Comic-Con panel, taking place Sunday, July 28 at 11am PT in Room 32AB. The panel will see creators David Carpenter and Sarah Davis Reynolds, joined by special guests, discuss how they translated the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game® into a theatrical production, celebrate 50 years of D&D, and give a glimpse at the future of the production with the U.S. tour. Critical Role’s Taliesin Jaffe will serve as the panel’s moderator.

Previews for the New York Production at Stage 42 began April 19, 2024, and the quest officially launched on Sunday, May 5, 2024. TimeOut calls DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern, “Unexpected & Fun! Whether or not you know much about D&D going in, it’s an adventuring party you won’t want to miss!” Rolling Stone raves the show is “charming, with surprisingly deep layers of technical storytelling that manages to engage even those who’d never even dreamt of picking up fantasy roleplay.” Nerdist adds, “It’s clear that The Twenty-Sided Tavern is filling exactly the gap that it spotted from afar. Dungeons & Dragons fans are hungry to take their experience from the tabletop to a room full of like-minded people ready to participate in a game they know and love. The experience is rip-roaring funny and creates a wonderful evening dedicated to the magic, beauty, power, and connection that fans create when given the right space to do so.”

At DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern, the audience is not just a viewer but the “fourth player,” influencing key decisions via Gamiotics, a browser-based software that allows you to vote on where the story will go — what characters appear, what experiences they explore, and more. With a cast of five actors and over 30 playable characters, audiences will experience an expansive fantasy world set in the Forgotten Realms, and face riddles, puzzles, combat, and more, to help shape the story. Laughter flows like ale and with the audience in full control and exciting reveals around every corner, no two shows are alike! For those seeking a more daring experience, there are opportunities to join the action onstage and test your strength (or dexterity, or wisdom, or charisma) through a variety of rollicking games, including trivia, charades, and the ever-popular Fantasy Beer Pong. Featuring behind-the-scenes talent from popular theatrical shows such as Dimension 20, Marvel’s Rogers: The Musical, Beavis and Butthead and more, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern is the game you know and the experience you love but bigger and better than ever.

A global phenomenon and leader in cross-platform fantasy entertainment, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS is the most popular tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) in the world, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As part of the festivities, producers David Carpenter (Slava’s SnowShow, PUFFS), Sarah Davis Reynolds, and David Andrew Laws of Curious Hedgehog, along with David Hutchinson and Nathan Brine of Showpath Entertainment (MONOPOLY Lifesized, The Paddington Bear Experience, The SpongeBob Musical) present the all-new, unique, and audience-engaging production that is guaranteed to be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.

Tickets to DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern are on sale through April 29, 2025 via thetwentysidedtavern.com, telecharge.com, or by calling 800-447-7400. Adventurers curious to learn more can join the community via Discord.

Wild West Dynasty to Officially Launch on August 22nd

2024/07/22

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

Development team Moon Punch Studio and publisher Toplitz Productions are excited to jointly announce that the Early Access period for Wild West Dynasty officially is nearing its end.

On August 22, 2024, the gates to the fictitious American frontier at the beginning of the 19th century will open and invite players to survive and thrive, while building a future not only for themselves, but for other settlers as well who decide to join their cause.

After a long arduous journey through Early Access and with the help of invaluable community feedback, Wild West Dynasty is ready to settle down and captivate gamers with its unique mixture of gameplay elements that will cater to a variety of playstyles.

“This is a big milestone for Wild West Dynasty. Thanks to the help of the players and community we were able to align the vision of the developers with the needs and wishes of the gamers. This is a collaboration that shows what you can achieve, when you get the community on board and truly listen to them”, says Szymon Żebiałowicz, Development Lead and CEO of Moon Punch Studio.

Since the original release in Early Access virtually no stone has been left unturned to improve or revise the game on all fronts, rebuilding it from the ground up, starting with visuals and performance to features and UI. Wild West Dynasty Version 1.0 is also adding new elements, a fresh story and a multitude of management options to control the workforce and resources in your settlements, making this a fully new gameplay experience.

Features

Survive, Build, Manage
Conquer the harsh environment. Survive the elements. Build your homestead and convince other settlers to join you. Manage natural and human resources, so not only you but also the whole settlement will prosper. This is your chance to show how the West was won.
A New Beginning
Follow the optional story of the game’s new protagonist John Ryder. Uncover the history and secrets of Red Rock and its inhabitants, make friends and face enemies. Your decisions matter and can mean the difference between life and death, your own included.
Build a Life
You might start by just building a simple house for yourself. But before you know it, you have to manage a full settlement with inhabitants and their needs and of course the required resources to progress. And don’t forget to decorate the buildings with a huge number of craftable items and furniture. DIY has never been this easy.
First Person Perspective
Immerse yourself in the visually stunning world of Wild West Dynasty. Exploring, building, decorating, hunting and all the other activities are even more intense with the optional first person view.
The Heart and Soul of the Settlement
Only the community will be strong enough to thrive and survive. Manage your settlements to make sure that there are enough resources, food and water available to your fellow settlers. Arrange treks to transport goods between all your settlements and distribute jobs so everyone will prosper.
Explore the Open World
Enjoy the beauty of a fictitious version of the American frontier. Explore the prairie and its wildlife, discover settlements and tap new resources needed to advance either your home or the communities you support.