Author - Jerry Paxton

Pool Nation Launch Trailer

Manchester, UK – July 9th, 2019 – Indie developer Cherry Pop Games today confirms that the ultimate billiards simulator Pool Nation, has today launched on the PlayStation Store. Not only that, they’ve pulled the ultimate trick shot and have teamed up with award-winning video games publisher, Wired Productions Ltd, to bring the title to physical retailers August 30th! Pool Nation will launch with an MSRP of $19.99 / £15.99 / €19.99.

Pool Nation for PlayStation 4® delivers a stunningly realistic on – or offline billiards experience, expanding upon the incredibly popular original PlayStation 3® release with a variety of new multiplayer features, new locations, ruleset customization and more. Developed with Unreal® Engine 4, Pool Nation is a great addition for pool and snooker fans on the PlayStation 4® – offering the most comprehensive pool game on the market!

Prepare yourself for pixel perfect physics, photo-realistic graphics and super-detailed visuals in this truly immersive representation of the sport. Play live matches seamlessly online, compete in Leagues, enroll in the Pool Nation Cup, explore the unique rule set customization tool and re-discover this much-loved sport. Pool Nationgives players the ability to pot with:

  • Leagues (Online competitive mode) – Players must climb the ladder and play with skill to avoid relegation to lower leagues
  • Play for In-game Cash – Online competitive mode. Players progress through varying difficulty levels, the more coins you earn, the higher levels you unlock
  • Friendlies – Invite friends to play online, customize your game type, rules, locations and more
  • Versus – Offline game for one or two players. Play against the AI or locally against friends.
  • Pool Career – Offline single-player career, start out in the qualifiers earn your place in the first cup.
  • Daily Challenges – Play the daily game of 3 Ball to unlock a chance to win free coins, pot 3 balls to win a random daily prize
  • Endurance – Keep sinking balls into pockets as they fall from above. Pot multiple balls in a row, or perform a skill shot and earn a ‘Drop Stop’ giving you a brief respite from the falling balls.
  • Trick shots – New and updated trick shot editor giving you the ability to easily make epic trick shots will be launched soon as free DLC.

For more information, please visit – www.cherrypopgames.com or www.wired.gg

Crusader Kings the Board Game Release Date

STOCKHOLM – July 9, 2019 – Paradox Interactive, a publisher of games that you won’t discard, today announced that Crusader Kings the Board Game will be released worldwide on August 1, 2019. The feats of arms, backstabbing, and love affairs of medieval Europe are being brought back to life at gaming tables everywhere thanks to a partnership with Free League Publishing, with a debut next month in Indianapolis, Indiana at Gen Con 2019, with global retail to begin shortly after the convention. Pre-orders are available starting today at the Free League Webshop.

In the medieval strategy soap opera of Crusader Kings the Board Game, your King or Queen will need to survive the dangers of invasions, plots, crusades, and marriage – the most important choice of all. You will find that the life of a medieval ruler is full of challenging events and if your ruler cannot survive, at least you can count on your heir – hopefully. Failure to raise a suitable successor could bring about the end of your dynasty, leaving you a mere footnote in your nation’s history.

Based on the popular computer strategy game series, Crusader Kings the Board Game moves the infamous ambition and scheming from the computer to the tabletop. Do you have what it takes to become a Crusader King? Rejoice, for you shall soon find out!

Attendees at Gen Con 2019 can try out Crusader Kings the Board Game for themselves at the Free League booth, #2664, or the Paradox Interactive booth, #349. Pre-orders are available starting today here: https://frialigan.se/en/store/

Creative Labs Unveils New AE-9 and AE-7 Sound Blaster Cards

SINGAPORE – 9 July 2019 – Creative Technology Ltd continues its legacy of revolutionizing audio with the launch of its most advanced PCI-e sound cards ever – the Sound Blaster AE-9 and Sound Blaster AE-7. Built with only the most premium components, and complemented with the latest technologies from Creative, these sound cards are designed to define a new performance standard in this class for the ultimate PC entertainment experience.

Sound Blaster: 30 Years of Revolutionizing Audio

Up till 1989, the only sounds coming out of the PC were mere beeps. The same year, Sound Blaster was born, and PC audio was transformed forever. Since then, over 400 million Sound Blasters have been sold; and the Sound Blaster brand has become synonymous with the term ‘sound card’ and high-quality PC audio – first for gaming, and then movies and music.

With experience and expertise refined over three decades of audio innovation, Sound Blaster has continued to reinvent itself with the development of digital audio processing technologies. Each new innovation served to redefine what the ultimate audio experience really means, such as when it evolved beyond the PC in the form of external sound cards for platforms like gaming and entertainment consoles.

“The Sound Blaster philosophy is simple yet demanding. With every new product, we aim to break new ground in four key areas: technology, performance, function and platform. In our 30th year, we will make greater strides than ever before in redefining the Sound Blaster experience. The AE series, which represents our biggest leap in PCI-e sound card innovation yet, is just the beginning.  Later this quarter, we will be introducing our latest addition to the ‘X’ series of multi-channel audio external sound cards; it will be the first Sound Blaster product featuring Super X-Fi, our game-changing and award-winning headphone holography technology. And in the next quarter, we will unveil our latest products under the ‘G’ banner of gaming-focused sound cards with better console compatibility and ease of use than before. Simply put, Sound Blaster makes great sound, and never stops making it sound greater,” said Sim Wong Hoo, CEO of Creative.

Sound Blaster AE-9: In a Class of Its Own

Sound Blaster AE-9 is Creative’s flagship PCI-e sound card, and it more than delivers on its promise to gratify the needs of pro-gamers and pro-audio users. It uses audiophile-grade components such as the top-of-the-range ESS 9038 SABRE-class reference DAC that delivers up to 129 dB DNR, PCM 32-bit 384 kHz sampling, DSD64 playback of lossless audio with ultra-low distortion and jitter elimination, and boasts Nichicon Fine-Gold capacitors, WIMA film/foil audio capacitors and swappable op-amps.

What really makes Sound Blaster AE-9 stand out against the competition is its CleanLineTM Technology, a new breakthrough in filtering a microphone path for clear and uncompromised voice communication. This latest technology features specially-designed circuitry and components which eliminates voltage rail issues and isolates unwanted noise caused by power supply ripple from high-performance GPUs. Sound Blaster AE-9 is the first ever to integrate this technology in its core, allowing users to forgo the need for a desktop mixer while still enjoying the benefits of having one.

Sound Blaster AE-7: Next-in-line, Yet Still an Audio Beast  

It may seem to sport slightly ‘lesser’ specs compared to the Sound Blaster AE-9, yet Sound Blaster AE-7 is very much a powerful sound card in its own right, being equipped with a hi-res ESS SABRE-class 9018 DAC that boasts up to 127 dB DNR, with 32-bit 384 kHz sampling and DSD64 playback. Audio clarity is the order of the day, with a THD of 0.0001% which represents an upgrade over its predecessor Sound BlasterX AE-5, and also the competition. At its price point, Sound Blaster AE-7 presents an excellent value proposition.

Common Features for Sound Blaster AE-9 and Sound Blaster AE-7

  • The Best Sound Blaster Processing YetEnjoy the full spectrum of Sound Blaster audio customization and enhanced audio realism with immersive 5.1 and 7.1 surround virtualization along with Dolby Digital Live encoding and DTS Connect encoding.
  • Award-winning Headphone AmplificationThe custom-designed, award-winning fully discrete Xamp headphone amplifier with push-pull design ensures each audio channel is individually amplified to deliver a whole new level of pristine audio fidelity in an authentic, unaltered lossless model.
  • All-new Audio Control Module (ACM)Both sound cards feature ACMs built with user-friendliness in mind. Sound Blaster AE-9’s ACM stands out with a display unit for direct and easy volume control, a headphone selector switch supporting different types of headphone impedance, a multi-function microphone input port with +48V Phantom power and a built-in amplifier.
  • New and Streamlined Software InterfaceThe newly designed Sound Blaster Command software sports a revamped user-friendly interface which drives Creative’s signature Sound Blaster Acoustic Engine through achieving more audio control customizations with lesser clicks.

Upgrade Promo for Sound Blaster Users

As a gesture of appreciation for their support over the last 30 years, Creative is offering an exclusive promotion to its fans – the opportunity to upgrade from their old sound cards with an attractive 15% discount off the latest Sound Blaster products. This promotion will be valid for all upcoming Sound Blaster products launched between now and the end of the year.  For more information, visit creative.com/upgrade.

Pricing and Availability

Sound Blaster AE-9 (on pre-order) and Sound Blaster AE-7 are priced at USD349.99 and USD229.99 respectively, and are available at Creative.com.

For more information, visit creative.com/SBAE9 and creative.com/SBAE7.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Operation Apocalypse Z Trailer

July 8, 2019 – Today, Activision and Treyarch announced the new season of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 content coming tomorrow, Operation Apocalypse Z.

A new trailer video can be found here:

Operation Apocalypse Z unleashes the hordes of undead in all game modes. Fans will find exciting new ways to play, including Multiplayer maps and modes that channel the Zombies legacy, a new Zombies experience, eerie changes throughout the Blackout map, and more new weapons for players to unlock and master.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is published by Activision and developed by Treyarch, with additional development support from Raven Software and PC development with Beenox. Fans can stay up to date on game updates at www.callofduty.com, www.youtube.com/callofduty and @CallofDuty and @Treyarch on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Super7 Unveils SDCC Exclusives

July 8, 2019 – Super7, makers of pop culture collectibles, launches almost 100 new toys and collectible lifestyle pieces this year exclusively at SDCC. Look for us across from the Marvel booth at our brand new location, Booth #2543, featuring these must-have items and exclusives in San Diego.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ReAction Figures Pizza Power Four-Pack & Pizza Box

Cowabunga! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ReAction Figures are here! Fresh from the oven for their debut at San Diego Comic-Con, the steaming-hot halfshell heroes are stealthily stashed with their favorite food – Pizza! The fabulous four TMNT ReAction Figures are reimagined as authentically detailed 3 ¾” action figures, blister-packaged with accessories on pizza-slice shaped cardbacks featuring some of the Turtles’ favorite pizza toppings, inside a genuine pizza delivery box. Each four-pack set includes:

  • Leonardo with Katanas and Pizza Slice accessory
  • Raphael with Sai and Pizza Slice Accessory
  • Donatello with Bo Staff and Pizza Slice Accessory
  • Michaelangelo with Nunchucks and Pizza Slice Accessory
  • Pizza Delivery Box with cut-out Ninja Costume and accessories

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ReAction Figures Pizza Power Four-Pack is available only from Super7 at San Diego Comic-Con, $75 per set.

Super Cyborg Megatron –

The Transformers Super Cyborg Megatron launches his villainous campaign of peace through tyranny at SDCC 2019! The evil leader of the Decepticons is a Generation One Cartoon-Accurate 12″ poseable action figure with fusion cannon and removable chest plate, showcasing his robotic innards. The debut X-Ray edition Super Cyborg Megatron is cast in crystal clear plastic with painted inner torso, and packaged in a deluxe window box. SDCC Exclusive. $75 each.

Other must have items include:

  • ReAction Metropolis Maria- 3.75″ ReAction Figure from the classic silent film. Maria comes with a vac-metal finish and collectible coin. $15 each.
  • Toxic Crusaders Keshi- The Hideously Deformed Creatures of Superhuman Size and Strength are back as pocket-sized polluted pals! Each Toxic Crusaders Keshi 3-pack features three 1.75″ figure, including one secret figure per pack! $6 per pack.

Check out these exclusives, and the launch of almost 100 SDCC items including ReAction figures, shirts, drinkware, puzzles, candles and more at the brand new Super7 Booth, Booth#2543

YouTube Originals Brings IMPULSE and Cobra Kai to Comic Con

July 8, 2019 – YouTube Originals will host panels for two of its biggest series at San Diego Comic-Con International on Thursday, July 18 and Saturday, July 20. The panels will feature the global smash hit, COBRA KAI, and the critically-acclaimed series, IMPULSE, in anticipation for season two premiering fall 2019.

On the heels of a record-setting premiere of season two, the fan-favorite series, COBRA KAI, starring Ralph Macchio and William Zabka will return in 2020 for a third season. The scripted series is written and executive produced by Josh Heald (Hot Tub Time Machine), and Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (Harold & Kumar, Blockers). Together, the trio conceived the new Karate Kid storyline that picks up decades after the original film. Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg will continue to showrun the series and direct the bulk of the episodes. Will Smith, James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett executive produce for Overbrook Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television Studios. Susan Ekins, Macchio and Zabka are also Executive Producers.

Following more than 42 million views of the season one pilot, IMPULSE will return with an all new season in fall of this year. Maddie Hasson stars as Henrietta “Henry” Cole, a rebellious 16-year-old girl who has always felt different from her peers and longs to escape from her seemingly quaint small town. During a traumatic event, Henry discovers she has the extraordinary ability to teleport, and her newfound power confirms Henry’s conviction that she really was different from everybody else — but it now makes her the focus of those who want to control her. The series is produced by UCP (Universal Content Productions), Hypnotic, and showrunner Lauren LeFranc. View the season one recap video HERE.

COMIC-CON DETAILS:

COBRA KAI Panel at San Diego Comic-Con International:

PANEL TITLE: “COBRA KAI: Past, Present and Future”

DESCRIPTION: Join the cast and creators of the hit YouTube Original Series COBRA KAI which launched its second season last spring to another round of fanfare and critical acclaim. From its iconic roots inThe Karate Kid film franchise, to the current YouTube series, fans can learn the moves it took to bring these popular characters back for a new generation– and try to wrestle free the surprises in store for its upcoming third season.

WHEN: Thursday, 7/18/19, 4:45PM – 5:45PM

WHERE: Ballroom 20

PANELISTS: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Martin Kove, Xolo Maridueña, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald, Hayden Schlossberg

MODERATOR: Perri Nemiroff, Collider

IMPULSE Panel at San Diego Comic-Con International:

PANEL TITLE: “IMPULSE Season 2: The Genre-Bending Teleporter Drama from YouTube Originals”

DESCRIPTION: After getting more than 31 million views on the pilot, the critically-acclaimed YouTube Original series IMPULSE is back for a thrilling new season. Join stars Maddie Hanson, Daniel Maslany, Sarah Desjardins and Enuka Okuma, alongside showrunner Lauren LeFranc (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) to go deep on the story thus far–and the drama to come.

WHEN: Saturday, 7/20/18, 2:00PM – 3:00PM

WHERE: Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

PANELISTS: Maddie Hasson, Sarah Desjardins, Enuka Okuma, Daniel Maslany, Lauren LeFranc

MODERATOR: Jacqueline Coley, Rotten Tomatoes

NASCAR Heat 4 Announcement Trailer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 8, 2019) – Today 704Games, NASCAR Team Properties’ exclusive console simulation-style video game licensee, announced that NASCAR Heat 4 will release in North America this September on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices – including the Xbox One X – and Windows PC. NASCAR Heat 4 is now available for pre-order at NASCARHeat.com.

NASCAR Heat 4 builds on its predecessor and sports a brand-new look and feel for race fans, complete with stunning visual and audio enhancements, an upgraded user interface and the introduction of new tire models for various track types, making for an even more realistic racing experience on 38 virtual tracks across the country.

“NASCAR Heat 4 will be the best NASCAR console game we’ve released to date,” said Colin Smith, President of 704Games. “Over the years, NASCAR video games have built a large and passionate fan base, and when developing this game we made sure many of their voices were heard. We have incorporated a number of features and improvements recommended by the NASCAR Heat community, and we look forward to delivering a better game to fans in September. And we’re thrilled to have two legends of the sport on the cover.”

The NASCAR Heat 4 cover was unveiled this past weekend at Daytona International Speedway ahead of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and features Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart. Harvick joined Stewart-Haas racing in 2014, winning a Cup title in his first season with the team, and Stewart is one of just nine drivers to win three or more Cup titles.

The fourth installment of the NASCAR Heat franchise boasts a deeper career mode where players can operate and manage their own team and, for the first time, start in any of the four series included in the game. The career mode will again include the Xtreme Dirt Tour, which debuted in NASCAR Heat 3, and dirt racing enthusiast and cover star Tony Stewart will be the highest rated driver in the series with his own team, Smoke Racing. Players will have the chance to join his team and race in his No. 14 custom Late Model paint scheme as they progress.

“It’s an incredible honor to represent the Stewart-Haas racing team on the NASCAR Heat 4 cover alongside Tony,” said Harvick. “We have the best fans in the world, many of whom are very passionate about the NASCAR Heat franchise. They will really be impressed with the new look and feel of the game; it’s as real as it gets. Plus, players getting a shot at joining Tony’s new team on the Xtreme Dirt Tour is pretty cool.”

“My passion for dirt racing is well documented, so to play such a big part in that experience in NASCAR Heat 4 is exciting,” said Stewart. “The whole Stewart-Haas team is appreciative of the opportunity to be on the cover, and I can’t wait for fans to get a hold of the game and join my team.”

NASCAR Heat 4 is available to pre-order today for $49.99 at NASCARHeat.com and other retail websites. You can also follow NASCAR Heat 4 on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates.

Dark Horizon: Point of No Return Haunted Attraction Announces Auditions

The team behind the legendary Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor in Long Beach, CA is bringing frights across the country to East Coast with an all-new terrifying haunt for fall 2019. Based in Orlando, FL, Dark Horizon: Point of No Return will host monster auditions and operations interviews for Dark Horizon’s debut year on July 11 – 13, 2019 at the Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites-Waterpark.

DETAILS:
Calling all monsters! You can audition to be a part of the East Coast’s most anticipated bloodcurdling, action-packed, haunted experience debuting this October. If you aren’t afraid of things that go bump in the night, producers of Dark Horizon want you! Featuring brilliant stage shows, sinister sideshows, creepy bars, and bone-chilling monsters that lurk around every turn, Dark Horizon is looking for Florida’s top performers to help bring the ghoulish nightmares to life.

2019 OPEN CASTING
In addition to needing an army of Maze and Streetmosphere Monsters & Supporting Cast, we will also be looking for unique and specialty stage acts, including – but not limited to the following:
• Contortionists & Aerialists
• Magicians & Straight Jacket Escapists
• Hula Hoopers & Jugglers
• Sword Swallowers & Human Blockheads
• Singers, Dancers & Musicians
• Unicycle Riders & Stilt Walkers
• Psychics & Tarot Card Readers
• Fire Performers & Plate Spinners
• Knife Throwers & Glass Eaters
• Strongmen & Human Statues
• Caricature Artists

2019 OPERATIONS TEAM
Assistant Stage Managers (Maze Supervisors)
Operation Supervisors
Show Ushers & Greeters; Support ushers
Sales Associates
Guest Services Associates
VIP Hosts
Tour guides
Payroll assistants

2019 BEVERAGE TEAM
Themed Beverage Attendants including: bartenders, bar-backs, beverage supervisors, and cabana attendants.

REGISTER:
To audition for the 2019 Dark Horizon cast or operations team, register online at: https://bit.ly/306SVkx

WHEN: 
Thursday, July 11, 6PM – 10PM
Friday, July 12, 6PM – 10PM
Saturday, July 13, 10AM – 5PM

WHERE:
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites-Waterpark
14500 Continental Gateway Dr, Orlando, FL 32821

EVE: Valkyrie Custom Summer Cup Tournament Sign-Ups

July 7, 2019 – We are thrilled to announce the EVE: Valkyrie Custom Summer Cup tournament, commencing on July 20 at 19:00 UTC for pilots in Europe, and July 21 at 13:00 CST for pilots in North America.

Start forming a team now with your friends and the greatest pilots you’ve flown with. Team size is limited to a maximum of 3 pilots. The tournament sign-up closes on July 17, so act fast and step up!

For a full list of rules and the sign-up, please click the relevant link below:

EU individual sign-up
NA individual sign-up

🏆Prizes:

🥇1st place: Your Choice of XBOX One or PS4 Valkyrie controllers for each pilot, 6 Epic Paint jobs of your choice (2 per pilot) and Custom Discord Tag

🥈2nd place: 2 Gold Capsules each, 3 Epic Paint Jobs of your choice (1 per pilot) and Custom Discord Tag

🥉3rd place: 2 Gold Capsules each, 3 Rare Paint Jobs of your choice (1 per pilot) and Custom Discord Tag

Check out the official Discord where you can find other players.

PTS VPSC Virgo Mk-1 Airsoft Rifle Review

The annual Operation Lionclaws airsoft game in Victorville, CA has become a must-play event on my yearly calendar. Operation Lionclaws games are nice because they have just enough rules and objectives for seasoned players while being accessible for new players looking to get into more “MilSim” events. In the weeks leading up to the game, I go through all my gear, airsoft guns, etc and figure out if there is anything I need to change. Being in a traditionally warm environment, keeping my loadouts light is paramount – and this extends to my choice of airsoft gun. On one hand, I want an airsoft rifle powerful enough to be allowed for the “rifleman” player class but not so big that it weighs me down unnecessarily.

When I saw the new PTS VPSC Virgo Mk-1, I knew I had to get my hands on it. What I found is my new favorite airsoft gun. When PTS teamed up with VFC to create the rifle, they looked to a more compact or PDW style design. Something that would not sacrifice player mobility for the sake of airsoft firepower. Of course, with PTS as the primary brand on the rifle, you can expect PTS furniture. The PTS VPSC Virgo Mk-1 features a 7 inch Centurion Arms picatinny rail system, tanker style stock, and QRS pistol grip. The overall looks is beautiful and very aggressive, especially when paired with the PTS EPM magazine that comes in the box. I never had the chance to use the EPM magazines before now, but liked them enough to pick up a bunch of them on sale for the game weekend. Also, with its compact design, the PTS VPSC Virgo Mk-1 is also fairly lightweight for a metal rifle, weighing in at 5.2 lbs!

Inside the rifle, you’ll find a VFC Avalon Version 2 gearbox complete with a programmable, inline MOSFET unit. By attaching a battery and holding down the trigger in one semi-automatic mode, you can toggle the fire modes between Semi & Full Auto / Semi & Burst / Burst & Full Auto. This was extremely useful for me as, with most MilSim style games, you cannot use high capacity magazines in your airsoft rifles. Using midcaps is allowed, but you’ll burn through your ammo quickly in fully automatic mode (and some games have further restrictions on that). I set my new PTS VPSC Virgo Mk-1 to the semi-automatic and burst fire combination. The response rate on the rifle is outstanding and the hop up unit allowed for very accurate fire. As with most hop up units and buckings on new rifles, be sure to break it in before getting into a game – for example, I ran about ten magazines through the rifle the day before driving to the AO. This gives the bucking time to set and wear off any coatings or rigidity that might be inherent to the rubber from the factory. In terms of velocity, my PTS VPSC Virgo Mk-1 clocked in at 394 FPS with .20 gram BB’s – which was perfect for my needs on Southern California airsoft fields (where the limit is often 400FPS with .20 gram BB’s). With all these factors, I was not surprised when, while my team and I were sighting in our optics, I was accurately hitting a tree two hundred feet away without issue or deviation. The rifle is a real out of-the-box performer!=

There were some drawbacks to the rifle which are of important note before you actually get it on the field. First and foremost, the small stock was very wobbly on the unit I purchased. This is not a huge issue should you notice early, but make sure you double-check that it’s tightened down prior to play. Also speaking of the stock, it is way too small to fit a decent 11.1v LiPo battery inside. A 7.4v will fit, but I wanted to take full use of its quick rate of fire. I ended up bringing along some camo wrap and wrapping the battery up next to the stock for my play. It’s a practical and effective solution that you should make note of. Finally, there are no QD sling mounts on the stock of the rifle – only loop mount points. Make sure your sling is compatible with loop mounts before deploying to the field.

Overall, the PTS VPSC Virgo Mk-1 is an outstanding airsoft rifle well worth its $370 dollar price point.