Author - Jerry Paxton

LA Haunted Hayride: Live Drive Up Experience Announced

Do you live in SoCal and worry you’re going to miss out on Halloween entertainment this year? Well, not if the producers of the annual Los Angeles Haunted Hayride have anything to say about it. This year, they’re taking the hayride off the trail and bringing it to you! Announcing Los Angeles Haunted Hayride: Live Drive Up Experience. A first of its kind haunted experience from the “safety” of your vehicle. An immersive and interactive experience from the creators of LA’s favorite Halloween event! Don’t call it a drive thru, and don’t call it a drive in, it’s a combination of the best parts of both, with a unique spin. This is a one of a kind live “Drive Up” experience! Guests will venture down a dark stretch of “All Hallows Lane” that will feature some of the awesomely creepy scenic environments you’ve come to love at the hayride. Then drive into horror where you will experience a haunted show featuring an original multimedia story displayed on a 40′ screen, accompanied by horrifying sets, lighting, sound, effects, and most importantly live characters from the town of Midnight Falls!

“With all of the other heritage Halloween events cancelling in Southern California, it drove us to find a way to bring a safe and unique experience to Halloween fans,” says Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group CEO, Chris Stafford, whose company produces the annual event, “I’m so excited to show our fans what we’ve created for them, and that this reimagined hayride experience will be entertaining people this season.”

Another change this year is a new temporary location for the event. Los Angeles Haunted Hayride: Live Drive Up Experience will take place at Bonelli Regional Park, in San Dimas next to Raging Waters. “There was just no way to bring cars into the hayride location at Griffith Park. We had to find the right spot, one where we could implement the new drive up experience and an outdoor environment that gives you the right fall feeling,” says Jon Cooke, Creative Director. “When I saw the space we’re using at Bonelli, I knew that it would be perfect,” Cooke continued, “the hayride has become a Halloween tradition for people, and although it may be a little different this year, I think people are really going to love it. As a huge fan of the fall season in SoCal, I couldn’t be happier to be able to share this experience with everyone.”

Los Angeles Haunted Hayride: Live Drive Up Experience will take place select nights from September 25th through November 1st. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, August 25th at noon Pacific. Don’t wait! Capacity is very limited for this event, much lower than hayride has had in the past, and tickets are expected to sell out nightly. Complete details can be found at losangeleshauntedhayride.com

Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything D&D 5th Ed Sourcebook Announced

What wonderful witchery is this? Dungeons & Dragons presents a magical mixture of new rules options and subclasses for the world’s greatest roleplaying game with Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. The contents of Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything will be available on November 17, 2020, with a cover by Magali Villeneuve and an alt-cover by Wylie Beckert only available through local game stores. Pre-orders are available now, and fans will get a chance to preview some of the new subclasses and more at D&D Celebration, an online gaming event open to fans all over the world, taking place September 18-20.

Following in the footsteps of Xanathar’s Guide to Everything and incorporating more than a year of playtest feedback from the D&D community, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything introduces class features and subclasses which add flavorful options to the character classes players already enjoy. The artificer class, a fan favorite, also appears in the book, as do group patrons who can help mold the characters’ story and a customization option that lets you shape your character’s origin.

“The special witchcraft of Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything is the freedom it gives you to personalize your D&D character in new ways,” said Jeremy Crawford, the book’s lead designer and the principal rules designer of Dungeons & Dragons. “D&D adventurers are exceptional, and this book gives you the tools to make them and their story even more extraordinary.”

This witch’s brew wouldn’t be complete without new feats, new spells for both player characters and monsters and new magic items, including magic tattoos and mighty artifacts. The book also contains new tools for Dungeon Masters, such as expanded rules for creating and playing sidekicks and rules for venturing into various supernatural environments. The book closes with a plethora of puzzles perfect for any campaign, ensuring there’s something to please every adventurer’s appetite.

A select bite-size menu of features from Tasha’s Cauldron’s of Everything are being presented by the #DnD community today so look for more news from Tanya DePass of “Rivals of Waterdeep,” Sam De Leve of “A Darkened Wish,” Viva La Dirt League and more! On Sept 18-20, D&D Celebration features tons of online D&D gameplay so fans all over the world can gather together, roll some dice and slay frost giants to celebrate the launch of Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. The largest virtual D&D game ever played is scheduled for Saturday, September 19 with more than a thousand concurrent players participating in an epic adventure administered by D&D Adventurers League all with the same meta goal to defend Icewind Dale. With panels featuring D&D game designers discussing the future of D&D, community-led panels and streamed live game play from luminaries in the global D&D community, every fan has something to celebrate at D&D Celebration 2020. All proceeds from tickets for D&D Adventurers League play will go to support Extra Life benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Look for more details on D&D Celebration here (dndcelebration2020.com) and sign up to play a D&D Adventurers League game here. (yawningportal.dnd.com) For more information on D&D, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden, and D&D Celebration visit dungeonsanddragons.com.

Gotham Knights Announced with Trailer

Warner Bros. Games and DC today announced Gotham Knights, a brand-new open-world, third-person action RPG videogame in development from Warner Bros. Games Montréal. Gotham Knights features the Batman Family as players step into the roles of Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin, a new guard of trained DC Super Heroes who must rise up as the protectors of Gotham City in the wake of Batman’s death.

Introducing an original story set in DC’s Batman Universe, Gotham Knights offers a dynamic and interactive Gotham City where an exploding criminal element has swept through the streets. With the Belfry as their base of operations, this new era of heroes will solve mysteries that connect the darkest chapters in the city’s history and must defeat notorious villains in epic confrontations. Players must save Gotham from a descent into chaos and reinvent themselves into their own version of the Dark Knight.

Gotham Knights is playable either solo or as a two-player, online* cooperative experience and will be available in 2021 for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®4 Pro, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox Series X and Xbox One X and PC.

“With Gotham Knights, the team at Warner Bros. Games Montréal is bringing the Batman Family of characters to life in a unique way to delight both fans and new players,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Games. “As we embark on a new era of interactive storytelling, our development team has been diligently working to create a new, in-depth experience within DC’s Batman Universe.”

“The team is thrilled to announce Gotham Knights and share our work in bringing a different story of the DC Super Heroes to the forefront,” said Patrick Redding, Creative Director, Warner Bros. Games Montréal. “We’re looking forward to fans playing and enjoying a lot of action as this new guard of strong DC Super Heroes in Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin, while solving an original mystery set against a living, breathing Gotham City.”

In Gotham Knights, players can explore the open-world action of Gotham and patrol the dark streets of the city’s five distinct boroughs using a variety of traversal abilities and heroic combat moves, as well as the iconic Batcycle. As Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin progress, their distinctive gameplay skills will evolve, along with a growing arsenal of weaponry and gear. Revealed in the Gameplay Walkthrough video, Gotham Knights features rich storylines for players to investigate, including face-offs against some of the most infamous DC Super-Villains, such as Mr. Freeze, who is set on engulfing Gotham City in ice.

The playable characters in Gotham Knights include:

· Batgirl, also known as Barbara Gordon, is a determined fighter and a skilled hacker. As the daughter of deceased Gotham commissioner, Jim Gordon, she had helped Batman as Oracle in the past. Now, after years of recovery and preparation, she is ready to step into her new role, wielding her melee tonfa, and harnessing her training in kickboxing, capoeira and jiu-jitsu.

· Nightwing is Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who was Batman’s protégé before becoming a hero in his own right. He’s a natural leader and the eldest and wisest member of the Batman Family. Nightwing’s mastery in acrobatics is complemented by his expertise use of his signature dual Escrima Sticks, making him proficient at taking out enemies.

· Red Hood, formerly known as Jason Todd, is an intense and volatile anti-hero, which stems from his death and forced resurrection by one of Batman’s most dangerous foes. Red Hood has trouble keeping his temper in check but will not hesitate to step into the line of fire when a friend is threatened. His training has given him peak human strength and proficiency in multiple combat techniques with all manner of weapons – both traditional and high-tech.

· Robin is Tim Drake, the young prodigy and genius of the team, who is a master of deductive reasoning. As a true believer in Batman’s mission, he is motivated by the conviction that Gotham City needs protecting and hopes to be the type of hero Batman personified. An expert fighter armed with his collapsible quarterstaff and skilled in a variety of stealth techniques, Robin also possesses a background in combined psychological warfare and behavioral sciences.

To learn more about Gotham Knights, visit gothamknightsgame.com or join the community conversation on Twitter (@GothamKnights), YouTube (GothamKnights), Instagram (@GothamKnights), Facebook (GothamKnights), Discord (GothamKnights).

Urban Legends of Southern California Drive-Thru Haunt Announced

The producers behind Winter Fest OC, Southern California’s annual holiday tradition, and the previous Creative Director and Producer of Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, have teamed up to develop an innovative and safe way for Halloween revelers and scare seekers to experience the thrills and chills of Halloween, while safely social distancing. “Urban Legends of Southern California” is a drive-thru Halloween Haunt at the OC Fair & Event Center running 24 nights – Wednesday to Sunday evenings from October 1 through November 1.

Devised from the whispered folklore that has tortured and terrorized countless generations of SoCal residents, Urban Legends of Southern California manifests the creatures and stories that have been born from the fates of the cursed and forsaken. This immersive drive-thru terror experience will have guests scrambling to lock their car doors…until they realize that they’re trapped inside!

As guests arrive during their reserved time session, their vehicles will be staged in groups through timed ticketing. Once inside the event, they will be guided in groups through five different Experiential Zones on a clearly outlined course that weaves together the tales of SoCal’s scariest Urban Legend monsters! Unique immersive scenes, coordinated lighting and sound effects, daring live performances, and dazzling special effects work together to give guests a terrifyingly fun, entertaining Halloween experience. The drive-thru experience is about 45-minutes long.

“With the challenges of being able to safely host a traditional Halloween haunt during these unprecedented times, many of Southern California’s popular Halloween haunts unfortunately are cancelling,” said Mark Entner, executive producer of Urban Legends of Southern California. “Using our experience as one of the original creators and producers of the Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, our team felt as though we had to provide an innovative and safe solution for the thousands of Southern Californians who look forward to enjoying the Halloween season each Fall. Our Urban Legends monsters each have ties to Southern California, and we think this is going to be an incredible immersive experience for our guests, while keeping it safe for everyone.”

Entry to the event is through online ticket purchases only with limited reservations available per time session. Early bird admission tickets start at only $49.99 per vehicle on select nights and include up to five people in each vehicle. VIP tickets, group tickets for larger vehicles of six or more people and season passes to all 24 nights are also available now at UrbanLegendsHaunt.com. Guests are encouraged to buy in advance to take advantage of early bird pricing and reserve their date and time session before they sell out.

Advanced safety measures are being taken following the CDC, State and local guidelines, including daily health screenings and body temperature checks, routine cleaning and sanitizing along with regular COVID-19 testing for all team members. All team members, including monsters, are required to wear masks and social distance at all times. Guests are also required to stay in their vehicles at all times during the experience and wear masks if they choose to roll their windows down to fully enjoy the immersive experience. Guests will also be required to turn off their vehicles inside each show zone. The entire event is outside in the open air. For more information, visit UrbanLegendsHaunt.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UrbanLegendsHaunt.

Remnant: From the Ashes – Subject 2923 Launch Trailer

Today, Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a leading publisher of online games, and Gunfire Games announced Subject 2923, the final and most expansive DLC for Remnant: From the Ashes, is now available on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), Xbox One and PlayStation®4 for $9.99. In addition, Remnant: From the Ashes – Complete Edition, which includes the Remnant: From the Ashes base game, the first premium DLC Swamps of Corsus and the final premium DLC Subject 2923, is also digitally available on PC and consoles for $49.99. In the final DLC, players can enter a brand new campaign mode “Subject 2923”, that concludes Remnant: From the Ashes’ thrilling post-apocalyptic story. The DLC is also packed with two unique zones, all-new quests, bosses, weapons, trinkets, armor sets and more.

“With the launch of the Subject 2923 DLC, it not only marks but also celebrates the one-year anniversary of Remnant: From the Ashes’ release,” said David Adams, President of Gunfire Games. “Launching Remnant has been an extremely rewarding experience for all of us at Gunfire, and it’s because of all of the positive support we’ve received from our community of players. After an incredible year for Remnant, we’re ready to begin a new chapter — but before we do that, we’re excited to leave fans with one last and major DLC that we’re sure everyone will enjoy!”

Remnant: From the Ashes – Subject 2923 has players pick up where the main story left off as they continue the fight for humankind. In the DLC’s brand new campaign mode, players will discover the origins of “The Dreamers” — humans bonded with powerful entities — and how they connect to the dreaded Root, the evil force plaguing Earth. To successfully put an end to the Root once and for all, players must overcome new puzzles and threats, traverse unfamiliar locations, and partner up with unexpected allies in hopes of saving the world. These new challenges will take players to a rural region of Earth, into a military base called ‘Ward Prime’, where the U.S. military began the Dreamer Program in the 1960’s – as well as the new world of Reisum, a frosty, mountainous, world inhabited by the Urikki, a horde of humanoid rats.

Those who take on this final adventure for Remnant: From the Ashes can also expect to discover new quests to complete, new gear to acquire – like the Frostborne axe that inflicts frostbite on enemies – along with new enemies and challenging bosses to take down. Along with the vast array of content in the new campaign mode, Subject 2923 also adds new threats and a suite of new rewards to the game’s Adventure Mode and rogue-like Survival Mode*.

Below is a detailed list of features for Subject 2923:

  • New Campaign Mode: Subject 2923: Players will discover the origins of ‘The Dreamers’ and how they connect to the dreaded Root in this brand-new campaign – continuing the story of Remnant: From the Ashes with an expedition to Ward Prime, and several new locations.

  • New Zones, Bosses, and Quests: From rural lands and an abandoned military base on ruined Earth, to the frosty and unforgiving heights of the mountainous world Reisum, players will take on intense new challenges as they continue their fight for survival.

  • Superior Firepower: Players will outfit their character in order to survive these dangerous new experiences, choosing from a host of new weapons and modifications, new armor sets and skins, and new trinkets.

  • Survival, Adventure, and Hardcore Mode Updates: New threats emerge in Survival Mode and Adventure Mode, as monsters, dungeons, and bosses from Reisum are added to the rotation – while Survival Mode and Hardcore Mode receive a suite of new rewards.

*To gain access to Survival Mode, players must own the Swamps of Corsus DLC.

Remnant: From the Ashes is a third-person survival action shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by monstrous creatures. As one of the last remnants of humanity, you set out alone or alongside up to two other players to face down hordes of deadly enemies and epic bosses, and try to carve a foothold, rebuild, and then retake what was lost.

Remnant: From the Ashes is available digitally for $39.99 on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), Xbox One and PlayStation®4. The physical version is also available now at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, among other retailers for PC, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One for $39.99.

Learn more about the game and the new Subject 2923 DLC at http://www.RemnantGame.com or follow the game’s Twitter (@Remnant_Game) and Facebook for the latest updates!

Windbound Story Trailer

In anticipation of Windbound’s launch on August 28, Deep Silver is unveiling a brand-new Mural Story Trailer and previously unannounced pre-order incentives for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Google Stadia.

“Kara.” The mural speaks of her name. It warns of a treacherous path that lies ahead in her heroic voyage through ancient lands and the seas that surround them; fulfilling a destiny that is shrouded in a long-forgotten history with its remnants scattered like whispers throughout the lands.

She must fight through The Forbidden Islands and face its storm to return to her tribe, but it will take time and perseverance to understand its true nature, as unexpected dangers test her resolve and will to survive.

Players who pre-order the game on Microsoft Store, Steam Store or Epic Games Store will receive Kara’s Ancestral Gear bonus items at launch. If players pre-order on Nintendo Switch or purchase the game within two weeks of launch, they will be entitled to redeem Kara’s Ancestral Gear DLC via the Nintendo eShop until September 10. For Japan, Korea and Hong Kong customers, the bonus items will be available to download a week after launch on September 2 until September 15 at no extra cost.

For PlayStation Store and Stadia, players will not be able to pre-order, but will receive Kara’s Ancestral Gear bonus items if they purchase the game within the first two weeks of launch until September 10.

Pre-order Windbound here: https://windboundgame.com/#preorder

To Kara’s tribe, the exploits of her ancestors are legendary. Hunters, fishers, warriors, poets and philosophers, their stories tell of a people who lived in perfect harmony with the natural world and swam the deep waters in the company of gods. Though the tale of their downfall has been lost to time, their legacy lives on in these artifacts that have endured to this day.

Pre-order bonuses:

Ancestral Attire

This treasured garment – fit for either a warrior or a priest – has been handed down from generation to generation, and now the time has come for Kara to honor her past.

Ancestral Oar

The Oceanic Gyre was revered in times past, though its true significance is enigmatic to Kara’s people today. Nevertheless, this salt-treated wooded oar remains sturdy and functional, despite its age.

Ancestral Knife

How or where the ancestors acquired these Sea Shards remains a mystery, but few would deny their efficacy. Luminous, durable and impossibly sharp, this blade cuts as well today as it did a hundred years ago.

Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time Launch Trailer

Adult Swim Games, in partnership with Samurai Jack creator Genndy Tartakovsky and developer Soleil Games, has released the new video game Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time worldwide today. This original 3D action platformer is available for $39.99 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One, as well as Windows PC via the Epic Games Store and Steam.

The game is also available on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac through Apple Arcade, Apple’s game subscription service on the App Store, with a 30-day free trial of the service and $4.99/month thereafter. Apple Arcade subscribers get the full version of the game including all updates and expansions, without any ads or additional in-game purchases.

The game’s mobile edition was co-developed by Novarama Technology SL.

Based on the Emmy® Award-winning series with a script from head writer Darrick Bachman, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is the great animated hero’s untold final adventure. Trapped by his arch-nemesis Aku in an alternate timeline during their ultimate confrontation, Samurai Jack must team up with his closest allies against his most notorious enemies to vanquish Aku and save the future. The game’s story tightly integrates with the series finale to conclude Samurai Jack’s adventures.

Made for fans of Samurai Jack and action games alike, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time features classic combat and gameplay, stylized 3D visuals, and the series’ renowned blend of humor and drama. Explore the fantastic world of the show, unlock new skills and combos, and slice and dice your foes with over a dozen unique melee and ranged weapons.

For more information, visit www.SamuraiJackGame.com.

The Right Stuff Official Trailer

The incredible story of America’s first astronauts begins right here on Earth in the Disney+ original series “The Right Stuff,” with a two-episode premiere on Friday, October 9. Based on the bestselling book by Tom Wolfe, the eight-episode season is an inspirational look at the early days of the U.S. Space Program and the iconic story of America’s first astronauts, the Mercury 7. Produced for National Geographic by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Warner Bros. Television, “The Right Stuff”takes a clear-eyed look at America’s first “reality show,” when ambitious astronauts and their families became instant celebrities in a competition of money, fame and immortality.

At the height of the Cold War in 1959, America fears it is a nation in decline as the Soviet Union dominates the space race. But, the U.S. government has a solution – put a man in space. Newly-formed NASA is given the monumental task, and a group of the nation’s best engineers estimate they’ll need decades to accomplish the feat…but they only have two years.

NASA engineers, including rocket scientist Bob Gilruth (Patrick Fischler) and the passionate Chris Kraft (Eric Ladin), work against the clock under mounting pressure from Washington. Together, they hand select seven astronauts from a pool of military test pilots. These are ordinary men, plucked from obscurity, and within days of being presented to the world, they are forged into heroes before they achieve a single heroic act.

The two men at the center of it all are Major John Glenn (Patrick J. Adams), a revered Marine test pilot and committed family man, and Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard (Jake McDorman), one of the best test pilots in Navy history. Other members of the Mercury 7 include Captain Gordo Cooper (Colin O’Donoghue), the youngest of the seven selected to everyone’s surprise; Wally Schirra (Aaron Staton), a competitive pilot with a gift for pulling pranks; Scott Carpenter (James Lafferty), dubbed “The Poet” by the other astronauts; Deke Slayton, (Micah Stock), a taciturn but incredibly intelligent pilot and engineer; and Gus Grissom, (Michael Trotter), a decorated military veteran who eventually becomes the second man in space.

The series also examines the astronauts’ families, including Annie Glenn (Nora Zehetner), who contends with a speech impairment inthe public eye; Louise Shepard (Shannon Lucio), a wife and mother who refuses to let Alan’s transgressions affect her home; and Trudy Cooper (Eloise Mumford), an accomplished pilot who puts her own ambitions aside to present the image of a happy family.

Set during a time when many wondered whether America’s glory days were behind it, “The Right Stuff” is an aspirational story about ambition and exploration and how ordinary human beings can achieve the extraordinary.

Showrunner Mark Lafferty (“Castle Rock,” “Halt and Catch Fire”) serves as executive producer along with Appian Way’s Jennifer Davisson and Leonardo DiCaprio, in addition to Will Staples (“Animals,” “Shooter”), Emmy® winner Danny Strong (“Empire,” “The Hunger Games” movies, “Game Change”), Howard Korder (“Boardwalk Empire”) and Chris Long (“The Americans,” “The Mentalist”) who directed and executive produced the first episode. Academy Award® winner Thelma Schoonmaker (“Raging Bull,” “GoodFellas,” “The Departed”) is consulting producer and Michael Hampton shepherded this project on behalf of Appian Way and is co-producer.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker Definitive Edition Out Now

Owlcat Games and Deep Silver have rolled the dice and today release the critically acclaimed Pathfinder: Kingmaker Definitive Edition on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and the Xbox One X. The game is available at select retail stores as well as via the digital stores of the respective platforms. The classic RPG will take adventurers to the Stolen Lands, featuring all previously released content packs as well as a brand new turn-based mode.

“Classic RPGs are rare guests on consoles, and we are thrilled to introduce the complete Pathfinder experience to the console owners. And with the new turn-based combat, the players about to get even more gameplay variety they expect from a game of this genre,” said Alexander Mishulin, creative director at Owlcat Games.

View the launch trailer on YouTube:

Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Definitive Edition Content –

The Pathfinder Kingmaker: Definitive Edition adds all previously released DLC content directly to the game and comes with the brand new turn-based mode, which not only brings the game closer to the tabletop experience but also adds a new tactical layer. Providing ultimate control over the battlefield, the new turn-based mode works in harmony with the real-time with pause combat and players can smoothly switch between both depending on the situation they face or the way they want to play the game. Owners of the PC version will receive this new mode as a free patch-update later.

The Definitive Edition features all in-game content from previously released DLCs:

Pathfinder: Kingmaker – The Wildcards
Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Varnhold’s Lot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Beneath The Stolen Lands
Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Bloody Mess
Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Arcane Unleashed
Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Royal Ascension