Author - Jerry Paxton

Command & Conquer Remastered Collection Reveal Trailer

2020/03/10

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

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Welcome back Commanders! In celebration of the Command & Conquer™ 25th anniversary, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) today announced the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection, a compilation of the iconic real-time strategy (RTS) games that defined a generation will be available June 5 worldwide on PC via Origin™ and Steam, and as part of an Origin Access Premier subscription. Comprised of Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn, Command & Conquer: Red Alert and their three expansion packs – Covert Ops, Counterstrike and The Aftermath – the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection is a passion project between EA and some of the original Westwood Studios team members at Petroglyph.

Command & Conquer Remastered Collection is being created alongside the C&C community, where the project was publicly revealed in October 2018 to gather community insight before development began. An active Community Council has been involved since early pre-production with 24/7 access to the development team. The title features rebuilt graphics and textures with support up to 4K resolution, along with an over seven-hour soundtrack remastered by the renowned original composer Frank Klepacki. The community has helped shape the enhancements of the game through highly requested features like revamped UI, updated controls and a Map Editor for fans to showcase their creations. Multiplayer has been rebuilt from the ground up to support a modern online experience with custom games, 1v1 quick match, Elo-based matchmaking, leaderboards, replays and much more.

“Our team has been working hand-in-hand with the C&C community since day one and we hope this transparent dialogue will result in the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection being a love letter to our fans,” said Jim Vessella, Lead Producer at EA. “We’re taking the classic gameplay that ushered in a new era of the RTS genre and adding the most fan requested features like Skirmish mode for Tiberian Dawn, quality of life control improvements, and full Steam integration with UGC support. For me personally, having been a C&C fan since I was 12 years old in 1995, working with the original Westwood Studios team members at Petroglyph has been a dream come true.”

Pre-orders for the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection digital edition and physical Collector’s Editions are available now, please visit the Command and Conquer website. The pre-orders include:

Command & Conquer Remastered Collection (Digital) – $19.99 USD – Only available on Origin and Steam and includes the remastered versions of Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert, plus all three expansion packs (Covert Operations, Counterstrike, and The Aftermath), and tons of bonus features and improvements.
Special Edition (Physical) – $59.99 USD – Only available on Limited Run Games, this edition comes in a 2-piece big box with embossing treatments and includes a Steam digital download code, Tiberium crystal 16GB USB drive with remastered original soundtrack (119 tracks, over 7 hours of music including the album, “Frank Klepecki and the Tiberian Sons: Celebrating 25 Years of Command & Conquer”); reversible 18” X 24” poster, four factional enamel pins, tech tree prints (one for each faction), and faction sticker sheet.
25th Anniversary Edition (Physical) – $149.99 USD – Only available on Limited Run Games, this edition includes all items in the Special Edition plus a beautiful foil and embossed rigid box, six-disc remastered original soundtrack signed by Frank Klepacki, 100+ page art book, four faction patches, reversible beanie, metal mammoth tank replica, and painted PVC light and sound tesla coil and obelisk replicas.

The Command & Conquer series helped cement the foundation of the RTS genre’s core gameplay when Command & Conquer: Tiberium Dawn was released in 1995, introducing innovative faction mechanics with asymmetric unit creation and technology trees for a highly strategic experience. In addition to gameplay, the series pushed the boundaries for storytelling with its unique and lighthearted full-motion video (FMV) cutscenes, ultimately creating one of the most recognized villains in games with Kane, the megalomaniac leader of The Brotherhood of Nod. In Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn, Earth has been overrun by Tiberium and while GDI (Global Defense Initiative) aims to contain the material, The Brotherhood of Nod looks to harness its power, leading to all-out war between the factions. Command & Conquer: Red Alert is set in an alternate universe where the Soviet Union wages war on the Allies in a fun, action-packed, tactical RTS game.

Command & Conquer Remastered Collection is being developed by Petroglyph, Lemon Sky Studios, and EA, including some of the original Westwood Studios team members at Petroglyph, and will be available on PC via Origin and Steam on June 5. Origin Access Premier subscribers will also get full access to the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection on PC on June 5 for as long as they are subscribed. For more information on Command & Conquer Remastered Collection and to stay up to date on development updates to the community, please visit: https://www.commandandconquer.com.

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival 2020 Tasting Event

2020/03/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos

Knott’s Berry Farm’s Boyseberry Festival is back for 2020 and starts on March 20th, a short week and change away. Last week, we got the chance to checkout some of the park’s new boysenberry-infused food items that you can expect to find when you visit. Walking into the park’s Wilderness Dance Hall, we found a multitude of food stations setup with various items. In the center of the hall stood a table containing a huge array of items for photo-taking. Unfortunately, most of those were not available for tasting (which is a shame as they all looked incredible).

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i7MkarQQSE[/embedyt]

Food Table Photos

As you can see, the two foot long hot dog with boysenberry bun is back as well as boysenberry elote. Personally, I can’t wait to try the boysenberry churro and crepe. But, I digress…

We did get to sample some of the items, including beef tips with boysenberry mashed potatoes (my favorite of the evening) as well as brussel sprouts topped with a boysenberry glaze. The beef tips were incredible, the BBQ sauce used on them was sweet yet savory. However, the mashed potatoes were an “interesting” culinary experience. The sweetness of the boysenberry was undercut by whole seeds which, in mashed potatoes, is not my favorite texture. Out behind the hall was a beer garden which served boysenberry beer and cider – both were outstanding and, as I learned at the event, the beer is served year-round at the park. Its notes of boysenberry are more pronounced than I expected and I can’t wait to sample some more on my next visit.

Over at the merchandise table, Knott’s Berry Farm has set up a variety of items that will be on sale during the Boysenberry Festival, including boysenberry sarsaparilla, a special event pin, boysenberry toffee, and a whole lot more. They are even rolling out some boysenberry lavender body lotion for the event.

Merchandise Table Photos

In short, there is truly something for everyone no matter what table you’re looking at. Of course, during the actual Boysenberry Festival, you’ll find these food and merchandise items scattered throughout the entire park, so consult your map when you arrive as you’ll want to plan your route accordingly. Some of the food kiosk lines can get rather long on busy days, so hit the ones you really want to try first.

The upcoming Boysenberry Festival at Knott’s Berry Farm runs from March 20th through April 19th. You can find out event hours, ticket information, and more over at the park’s official website.

Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth Early Access Date

2020/03/06

Jerry Paxton

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

March 6, 2020 – PLAYISM (https://playism.com/), home to the finest indie games from around the globe and operated by Active Gaming Media Inc. (CEO: Ibai Ameztoy; HQ: Nishi-ku, Osaka https://activegamingmedia.com), and Why So Serious Inc.[A1] (CEO: Daichi Saito; HQ: Chuo-ku, Tokyo https://whysoserious.jp/) owned by KADOKAWA Inc.under the Why So Serious? label, are proud to announce that the 2D action game version of beloved Japanese fantasy novel and 10 million copy bestseller Record of Lodoss War entitled Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is coming to Steam Early Access on March 12th, 2020; one day earlier than originally planned. A Fan Art contest where the winning piece will become an official game banner is also being planned, details will be announced along with the early access release.

Record of Lodoss War – the seminal novel that sold over 10 million copies, along with over 550,000 copies of the OVA – is hailed as the originator of the Japanese elf- and magic-based fantasy genre. The series’ heroine, Deedlit, said to be the genesis of the now-standard “elf” aesthetic, made her first appearance in twelve years in the 2019 installment of Record of Lodoss War, and is back once again to fill in the gaps left in the story with this all-new 2D action game.

Team Ladybug – developers of the Touhou Project spin-off 2D action title Touhou Luna Nights, which itself sold over 150,000 copies worldwide – is collaborating with Why So Serious? to develop this 2D action-exploration game, featuring stunning graphics, amazingly detailed sprite animations requiring up to 36 sketches per each individual movement, and finely-tuned action and gimmicks.

Amnesia: Rebirth Announcement Trailer

2020/03/06

Jerry Paxton

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

March 6, 2020 – Ten years ago Amnesia: The Dark Descent heralded a new generation of horror. Five years ago, SOMA took us to fresh depths of terror. Now, steel yourself for the next nightmare as Frictional Games prepares to release Amnesia: Rebirth this autumn. A new story set in the world of Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Rebirth represents yet another evolutionary leap for Frictional games, challenging players to remain calm in the face of unimaginable terror.

Get a glimpse of what’s to come in today’s announcement trailer and first in-game images.

Amnesia: Rebirth is a new descent into darkness from the creators of the iconic Amnesia series. Set in the desolate landscape of the Algerian desert, the game will focus on new character Tasi Trianon as she sets out on a harrowing journey through devastation and despair, personal terror and pain, while exploring the limits of human resilience.

You can’t let out a breath. The creature is only inches away. Its sole purpose – to feed off your terror. And so you crouch in the dark, trying to stop the fear rising, trying to silence what lies within you.

Retracing Tasi’s journey and pulling together the fragments of a shattered past will be the only chance to survive the pitiless horror that threatens to devour you. Time is against you. Still, you must continue, step by step, knowing that if you fail you will lose everything.

Amnesia: Rebirth is scheduled for release in autumn 2020 on PC and PlayStation 4. Wishlist on Steam in order to follow along with the updates as they are released.

Follow Amnesia: Rebirth on Steam, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or on their website at http://amnesiarebirth.com/.

Cartoon Network and Outright Games Announce Ben 10 Video Game

2020/03/03

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

London, March 3, 2020 – Cartoon Network, the #1 global animated series network, and worldwide family entertainment publisher Outright Games, today announced a major partnership to create a brand-new video game set within the iconic world of Ben 10. Developed by studio PHL Collective, this exciting new video game will launch on consoles and PC later this year.

The game announcement comes hot on the heels of recently announced news that the world of Cartoon Network’s Ben 10 will expand when Ben 10 vs. The Universe: The Movie, premieres globally this fall. Featuring new characters, settings and powers for Ben, fans won’t want to miss his most epic adventure yet. The movie is the first for the newest iteration of Ben 10, which debuted around the world in 2016.

Outright Games pride themselves on bringing the best kids’ stories to life, and with this new game set within the popular Ben 10 franchise, they are looking to cement their position as the leading global publisher of family-friendly, interactive entertainment.

‘We are thrilled to be working with Cartoon Network again to create a brand-new Ben 10 game’ said Terry Malham, CEO of Outright Games. ‘Returning to the world of Ben 10 is something we’ve been keen to do for a while. The response from fans has been incredibly positive and we are so glad to work with Cartoon Network and continue to develop this ongoing partnership.’

To keep up to date with information around the new Ben 10 game please visit the Outright Games website and social channels: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Mythic Odysseys of Theros Sourcebook Announced for D&D 5e

2020/03/03

Jerry Paxton

Book News, Geek News, News

RENTON, WA – March 2, 2020 – Get ready to clash with the gods of Theros! Wizards of the Coast is combining the world’s greatest roleplaying game with the world’s greatest strategy game to create one amazing adventure! Mythic Odysseys of Theros is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign sourcebook set in the Magic: The Gathering world of Theros where players can wield god-weapons and select new races to indulge in a challenge fit for the gods. Mythic Odysseys of Theros will be available everywhere on June 2, 2020!

Walk the lands of Theros and choose a supernatural gift that sets players on the path of destiny, aligning with one of Theros’ fifteen gods and carving a tale of odysseys and ordeals. The new sourcebook introduces several new races and subclasses, including the Bard’s College of Eloquence and Paladin’s Oath of Heroism, presenting players with challenging mythic monsters. Destiny and immortal schemes will lead players to unknown challenges, leaving behind tales that are celebrated in the pantheon of myths and writ among the eternal stars.

Mythic Odysseys of Theros will be available everywhere on June 2 and will retail for $49.95. An alternative cover with a distinctive design by Kevin Tong is available exclusively in game stores on June 2. For more information about Mythic Odysseys of Theros and Dungeons & Dragons, please go to dungeonsanddragons.com.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond to Screen at Wizard World Cleveland

2020/02/28

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News

CLEVELAND, February 28, 2020 – “The Walking Dead” franchise has been a favorite of Wizard World fans since the original show first aired on AMC on Halloween 2010. Now, almost 10 years later, Wizard World Cleveland attendees will have the opportunity to be among the first to see the premier episode of the newest series in the ‘“TWD” Universe, “The Walking Dead: World Beyond,” during a special, advanced screening on Saturday, March 7 at 6:15 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

Attendance is part of the regular admission at Wizard World Cleveland, which will be held March 6-8. Fans with three-day or Saturday tickets may attend, on a first-arrive, first seated basis.

“The Walking Dead: World Beyond” features two young female protagonists (Aliyah Royale as “Iris” and Alexa Mansour as “Hope”) and focuses on the first generation to come-of-age in the apocalypse as we know it. Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. In the end, all of them will be changed forever. Grown up and cemented in their identities, both good and bad. In addition to Royale and Manour, the series stars Nicolas Cantu, Hal Cumpston, Nico Tortorella, Annet Mahendru and Julia Ormond. It was co-created by Scott M. Gimple and “The Walking Dead” veteran writer and producer Matt Negrete, who is the showrunner of the new series. Produced and distributed by AMC Studios, the series will premiere on Sunday, April 12 at 10 p.m. ET on AMC.

Chandler Riggs, who portrayed “Carl Grimes” in the original “The Walking Dead” will be among the celebrities in attendance at the sixth annual Wizard World Cleveland. Stars of the hit series “Outlander” (Caitriona Balfe, Richard Rankin, Colin McFarlane, Duncan Lacroix) and “Teen Wolf” (Tyler Hoechlin, Khylin Rhambo, Ian Bowen, Dylan Sprayberry), classic film The Princess Bride standouts (Cary Elwes, Wallace Shawn), Emily Swallow (“The Mandalorian”), the “Supergirl” tandem of Mehcad Brooks and Jesse Rath, Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk,” “The King of Queens”), WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley, voice actors Phil LaMarr (“Futurama,” “Samurai Jack”), Austin Tindle (“My Hero Academia,” “Dragonball Z”), Kyle Phillips (“My Hero Academia,” “The Silver Guardian”) and Aaron Roberts (“My Hero Academia,” “Dragon Ball Super.”) and video game “Overwatch” voice actors (Anjali Bhimani, Benz Antoine, Carolina Ravassa, Chloe Hollings) are also scheduled to appear.

Wizard World Cleveland will feature an “Animation Celebration” of top animators, writers and artists, as well as an outstanding array of programming, live entertainment, cosplay contests, gaming, dedicated Kids Zone and more. Kato Kaelin serves as entertainment host on the main show stage.

Wizard World events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. The third event scheduled on the 2020 Wizard World calendar, Cleveland show hours are Friday, March 6, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kids 10 and under are admitted free with paid adult.

Wizard World Cleveland is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor and participate in the famed Wizard World Costume Contest on Saturday evening.

For more on the 2020 Wizard World Cleveland, visit http://wizd.me/ClevelandPR.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Opening Cinematic

2020/02/27

Jerry Paxton

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

DUBLIN — Feb. 27, 2020 — Larian Studios has been on the road alongside Wizards of the Coast showing off Baldur’s Gate 3 for the very first time, and now the team is ready to reveal this next-generation turn-based RPG to the world with the release of the game’s CGI intro and first gameplay screenshots.

Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine and coming to early access later this year, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that truly reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before as you venture through the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons in Larian’s biggest adventure yet.

Gather your party for a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Abducted, infected, lost… You are turning into a monster, drawn from a Mind Flayer parasite planted in your brain, but as the corruption inside you grows, so too does your power. That power may help you to survive, but there will be a price to pay. More than any ability, the bonds of trust that you build within your party could be your greatest strength. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms together. Resist and turn darkness against itself — or embrace corruption and become the ultimate evil.

Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Play alone, selecting your companions carefully, or as a party of up to four in online multiplayer.

No two adventures will ever be the same. The Forgotten Realms are a vast, detailed and diverse world, and there are secrets to be discovered all around you — even verticality is a vital part of exploration. Adventure, loot, battle, romance… how you survive, and the mark you leave on the world, is up to you.

Features

Online multiplayer for up to four players allows you to combine your forces in combat and split your party to follow your own quests and agendas. Devise the perfect plan together… or introduce an element of chaos when your friends least expect it.
Origin characters offer a hand-crafted experience, each with their own unique traits, agenda, and outlook on the world. Their stories intersect with the wider narrative, and your choices will determine whether those stories end in redemption, salvation, domination or other outcomes.
Evolved turn-based combat based on the D&D 5E ruleset. Team-based initiative, advantage and disadvantage, and roll modifiers join combat cameras, expanded environmental interactions, and a new fluidity in combat that rewards strategy and foresight.
Define the future of the Forgotten Realms through your choices and the roll of the dice. No matter who you play or what you roll, the world and its inhabitants will react to your story.
Player-initiated turn-based mode allows you to pause the world around you at any time even outside of combat. See an opportunity for a tactical advantage before combat begins? Want to pull off a heist with pin-point precision? Need to escape a fiendish trap? Split your party, prepare ambushes, sneak in the darkness — and create your own luck!

Stellaris: Federations – Story Trailer

2020/02/27

Jerry Paxton

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

STOCKHOLM – Feb. 27, 2020 – Paradox Interactive, a publisher and developer of games that remind you why it’s important to vote, today announced that Stellaris’ upcoming diplomacy-driven expansion, Federations, launches for PC on March 17, 2020. The pen is mightier than the plasma launcher in this expansion that focuses on the galactic community and its internal politics with expanded capabilities for federations and the establishment of a powerful galactic senate. Stellaris: Federations is now available for pre-order for PC platforms for a suggested retail price of $19.99 / €19.99 / £15.49.

Federations can be pre-ordered at the below platforms:

Federations features include:

Expanded Federations: With expanded diplomacy capabilities, players can build up the internal cohesion of their Federations and unlock powerful rewards for all members. Whether you join a Trade League, Martial Alliance, or Hegemony, membership can be extremely advantageous.

Galactic Community: Unite the space empires with a galactic senate that can vote on a wide range of resolutions to drive legislative agendas. For example, players can pass a resolution to increase commitments to collective defense or funnel profit towards wealthy elites. Members can also sanction those who defy the community, and enact a single galactic focus. Sway the senate to position yourself as a leader, trading favors and maneuvering, doing whatever it takes to gain influence among schemers.

Origins: Each empire has a story that shapes its path. Give your civilization deeper roots with the new system of Origins. By choosing an Origin, players can flesh out their empire’s background and alter its starting conditions. Whether it’s Void Dwellers who have abandoned their homeworld to live in perpetual orbit, or a society that worships and protects a powerful Tree of Life, you can lay the groundwork wisely for the seeds of your empire.

New Constructions: Construct glorious new projects for your empire like the Juggernaut, a massive mobile starbase that provides a movable repair base even in enemy territory, or the Mega Shipyard, a new megastructure that can churn out fleets with incredible speed. Offering both tactical advantages and a good dose of shock and/or awe, these are sure to be an asset to any space empire.

For more information about Stellaris, visit http://www.stellaris.com/

BIOSTAR Launches Upgraded H61 Motherboards

2020/02/27

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Hardware News, News

27th of February 2020, Taipei, Taiwan – BIOSTAR, a leading brand of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, today introduces the H61MHV2 motherboard that supports Intel’s 2nd and 3rd generation Core i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron processors in the 1155 package. BIOSTAR has been a manufacturer of robust and highly reliable motherboards for many years and has a wide range of models on both Intel and AMD platforms to choose from and a plethora of supplementary components catering to many user preferences.

Due to popular demand and the availability of supporting components, BIOSTAR has decided to relaunch INTEL’s H61 chipset series motherboards with the all-new H61MHV2 motherboard, a reboot of its popular predecessor the IH61MF-Q5. Built in a Micro-ATX form factor, the H61MHV2 motherboard is packed with some of the most requested upgrades build to be compatible with the old architecture and looks to provide a robust, affordable and highly reliable user experience that caters consumers who are looking for a good motherboard to upgrade their existing office workstation without breaking the bank.

The H61MHV2 motherboard is equipped to support 2 DIMMs of DDR3 rams that offer better bandwidth and has a lower operating voltage range for lower power consumption. It is also equipped with HD Audio and HDMI which offer crystal clear sound effects and high definition video output that provide users with a more immersive experience for daily content consumption and gaming. The H61MHV2 is also equipped with GbE LAN that delivers 10 times faster speeds than traditional Ethernet LAN and deals with heavy applications without any latency and is backwards compatible with any existing GbE devices.

Overall the BIOSTAR H61MHV2 motherboard is an amazing upgrade for office users who like to run basic tasks such as browsing the web, sending emails and running office applications in a reliable and affordable package.

Learn more about the BIOSTAR H61MHV2 here.