Author - Jerry Paxton

Tropico 6 Beta Available Now and new Trailer

2018/09/27
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

RIDGEWOOD, NJ (September 27, 2018) – Citizens of the world, it’s time to pack your bags and set sail for paradise! Kalypso Media and El Presidente himself are thrilled to announce that fans pre-ordering the PC version of Tropico 6 on the Kalypso Shop will gain instant access to an exclusive closed beta, allowing gamers around the world to preview the latest entry in the acclaimed strategy series. If that’s not enough, they can also help themselves to a 10% discount, with an additional 15% off for first time customers registering a new Kalypso community account!

There will be two mouthwatering pre-order options for budding dictators to choose from. The Standard Edition is available with a 10% discount and direct access to the beta, while the special El Prez Edition also comes with a 10% discount and immediate beta access, but also adds some special in-game content (a tourist outfit for El Prez and a Flamingo Pond for the presidential palace), the digital soundtrack and a fabulous digital calendar.

The beta itself will initially contain a generous amount of content for eager Tropicans to get stuck into, offering the complete tutorial spanning all four eras (Colonial, World Wars, Cold War and Modern Times), two sandbox maps demonstrating Tropico’s new archipelago system in all its glory, and two full missions to sample the kinds of challenges that wannabe dictators will face in the full release. Supported languages include English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Russian, while the Tropican Ministry of Propaganda and Misinformation has also confirmed that additional content and features will be added to the beta closer to full release.

To celebrate the announcement, Kalypso has prepared an all-new live action trailer featuring the benevolent leader himself:

DiRT Rally 2.0 Announcement Trailer

2018/09/26
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

Larkspur, Calif. – Sept. 26, 2018 – Codemasters has today announced DiRT Rally 2.0, the follow up to the incredible fan favorite that puts players in control of a collection of the most iconic rally cars against the most challenging stages around the world. Marking a return to the simulation style off road racing that made the original such a hit with gamers, DiRT Rally 2.0 will launch on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X and Windows PC on Feb. 26, 2019.

To celebrate the announcement of DiRT Rally 2.0, Codemasters has released a trailer for the game which can be viewed now here: www.youtube.com/DiRTgame.

DiRT Rally 2.0 will take racers to six rally locations around the world where they can take on incredible hand crafted stages in a wide variety of cars from the history of the sport and modern day. The official game of the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy, DiRT Rally 2.0 will also feature cars from the 2018 season as well as eight of the official WorldRX circuits at launch.

All pre-orders editions of DiRT Rally 2.0 will include access to the amazing Porsche 911 RGT Rally Spec as a bonus vehicle to use on the stages. In addition, there will also be a DiRT Rally 2.0 Deluxe Edition which includes the first two seasons ofpost-launch additional content, each with three locations (split between rally and rallycross) and five early vehicles unlocks (Ford Escort MkII, Lancia Stratos, Subaru Impreza 1995, AUDI Sport quattro S1 E2 and Ford Fiesta OMSE SuperCar Lite). The Deluxe Edition will also allow drivers to get their hands on the game four days early, launching on Feb. 22, 2019, and also includes upgraded starter cars for My Team, in-game bonuses and high reward events. More details about the seasons will be revealed soon.

“We are thrilled to finally be able to talk about DiRT Rally 2.0,” commented Ross Gowing, Chief Games Designer, Codemasters. “Rally is incredibly important to Codemasters and the entire team is absolutely dedicated to creating the most authentic experience possible in a game.

“Our passionate, knowledgeable community helped to make DiRT Rally a special title. We have been working with a selection of that community alongside a roster of real-world rally drivers to ensure that we meet their high standards,” continued Ross. “We are not afraid to make a challenging game. Driving a rally car down a stage is not easy, and we want players to experience that same adrenaline rush from driving on the edge.”

DiRT Rally 2.0 will release worldwide on PS4, Xbox One and PC on Feb. 26, 2019, offering gamers the most authentic rally and rallycross experience available in gaming. You can keep up with all the DiRT Rally 2.0 news and follow updates from the studio on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/dirtgame) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/dirtgame).

Zhiyun Releases Weebill Lab DSLR Stabilizer

2018/09/26
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Tech News

Shenzhen, China, September 26, 2018, Zhiyun Tech is proud to announce the release of the new WEEBILL LAB stabilizer for mirrorless cameras. Named after Australia’s smallest songbird, the WEEBILL LAB mimics its namesake by offering a light, compact and nimble stabilizer body that’s filled with features and delivers in performance. The LAB designation identifies Zhiyun’s new top-of-the-line range that offers extensive control, monitoring and streaming to tablets and smartphones connected with the WEEBILL LAB.

Zhiyun designed the WEEBILL LAB to deliver revolutionary controls that are natural to filmmakers. The high-quality aluminum tripod can be folded to hold the WEEBILL LAB as a traditional vertically-held stabilizer, or it can be quickly snapped on the horizontal part of the body to offer a more natural horizontal grip, perfect for underslung shots or a steady two hand grip.

WEEBILL LAB – easy grip gimbal for mirrorless cameras

The WEEBILL LAB is an all-new professional stabilizer for mirrorless digital cameras up to 3 Kg in weight. It stands out by its lightweight body, versatile design, great control, and action-oriented design features while its engine is 50% smaller, but delivers 80% more power compared to other stabilizers in its class.

The WEEBILL LAB comes with double quick-release plates (Manfrotto/Arca-Swiss) for easy setup and fast equipment switching, without the need to re-balance. After installation, it becomes immediately obvious that the tilted angle of the roll-axis ensures that the camera’s display is clearly viewable under the most important angles. The most distinguishing feature of the WEEBILL LAB is the ability of the aluminum tripod to act as an extended vertical grip for two-handed use, and most importantly, to be transformed into a horizontal grip for extra stabilization and easy grip for low shots, and shots with a difficult angle.

Each axis also features a simple latch, with a bright red aluminum tab, to quickly snap an axis in place, while the frame also has a mounting for an external monitoring device.

The hand rest features the signature LAB series OLED display which displays vital information about the gimbal with both a control joystick and adjustment dial below it as well as an easy switch for pan and follow/follow mode. Zhiyun’s PhoneGo mode from the Smooth series also debuts on the digital camera stabilizers, which allows for extremely sporty performance and crazy transition effects.

Finally, the WEEBILL LAB can operate for 10 hours on a single charge of its two 18650 batteries. It can simultaneously charge the camera installed on it.

Zhiyun LAB – Premium features for professional filmmakers

LAB is Zhiyun’s new denominator for premium models of the new stabilizers, an indicator of the best quality and high-end features for filmmakers. The two new LAB products feature a unique ergonomic grip style to quickly switch from dual-handed to sling-mode for low angle shooting. The handles feature synchronous zoom and focus wheels for fine-grained adjustments, as well as mode selection and control buttons, invaluable for detailed filmmakers.

Possibly its best feature is the ability to use any tablet or smartphone as a dedicated monitor by streaming all the footage over Wi-Fi. But more than saving money on an external monitor, the ViaTouch Control System allows full remote control over the gimbal and the camera settings. This allows for easy framing and adjustment when filming on a tripod, or take your movie quality to the next level as a dedicated stabilizer operation can be supported by remotely controlling the camera settings and movements for amazing dramatic footage.

Zhiyun LAB overview:

  • Revolutionary Single/Dual Handed Structure
  • Wireless streaming of shot footage on external devices
  • Synchronous zoom and focus control wheels
  • ViaTouch Control System with the motion-controlled interface
  • Rich control panel through Smartphone or Tablet

 

Coming Soon – CRANE 3 LAB ergonomic stabilizer for professional DSLR filming

The CRANE 3 LAB will also be released before the holiday season. Visually similar to the smaller WEEBILL LAB, the CRANE 3 LAB supports professional DSLR camera and lens combinations. Visitors at the recent BIRTV2018 and IBC 2018 shows already had a first opportunity to feel the ergonomic advances made by Zhiyun to the stabilizers’ design. With its protruded handle on the back, all feature and control buttons are easily accessible in the two-handed grip mode, whilst the sturdy tripod can double as an additional grip.

As its name suggests, the CRANE 3 LAB is part of Zhiyun’s LAB series of premium products and supports all its features, including external monitoring and control, quick axis locking.

About ZHIYUN

Zhiyun Tech is a pioneer and a world leader in gimbals and stabilizers for both professional filmmakers and personal video creators. Zhiyun’s innovative solutions and dedication to delivering products that go beyond customers’ expectations strengthen the belief that everyone can be an excellent filmmaker with the right gimbal to equip with their shooting device.
Learn more about Zhiyun Tech at www.zhiyun-tech.com or check us out on Facebook: @ZhiyunGlobal or follow us on Instagram: @Zhiyun_Tech

Superman Celebrates 40th Anniversary with 4K Release

2018/09/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News

BURBANK, CA, September 25, 2018 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced today that 1978’s Superman, featuring the beloved DC Super Hero, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on November 6th. An Alexander Salkind presentation and directed by Richard Donner (The Goonies, Lethal Weapon, The Lost Boys), the film stars Academy Award® winner Marlon Brando (On the Waterfront, The Godfather) as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman (The French Connection, Unforgiven) as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman.

Based on the DC character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman was produced by Pierre Spengler from a story by Mario Puzo and a screenplay by Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton.  Ilya Salkind served as executive producer.  The film also features Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Glen Ford as Jonathan Kent, Valerie Perrine as Eva Teschmacher, and Terrance Stamp as General Zod.

Superman was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Film Editing, Best Music (Original Score) and Best Sound.  The film also received a Special Achievement Academy Award for Visual Effects.  In 2017, Superman was inducted in to the Library of Congress National Film Registry.

Ultra HD* showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc of Superman will feature Dolby VisionTM HDR that dramatically expands the color palette and contrast range and uses dynamic metadata to automatically optimize the picture for every screen, frame by frame. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc of Superman will also feature a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar. Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.

Superman will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack for $41.99 SRP and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature film in 4K with HDR and a Blu-ray disc with the feature film and special features. Fans can also own Superman in 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on November 6th.

Screamfest 2018 Announces First Wave of Films

2018/09/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – September 25, 2018 – America’s largest and longest running horror film festival, Screamfest Horror Film Festival, is proud to announce the first wave of its official 2018 film line up.  In its 18th year, the festival, which will run from Oct. 9-18, 2018 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood, has launched careers – providing a platform for filmmakers and actors to showcase their latest work to enthusiasts and general audiences. Actress Lin Shaye, the star of the successful horror franchise Insidious and other popular horror films including A Nightmare on Elm Street, Dead End, 2001 Maniacs, and the soon-to-be-released reboot, Grudge, will serve as this year’s festival ambassador.

“Screaming is good for the soul,” said Shaye.  “I am extremely excited and honored to serve as this year’s Screamfest ambassador and scream with all of you! I’m thrilled to support and celebrate a space where filmmakers, actors and fans can unveil their hard work, and celebrate the horror genre.”

 Screamfest Horror Film Festival will offer unique access to some of the most creative forces in the horror genre through film screenings, Q&As and conversations with some of the most captivating artists working in the industry today.

“We could not be more excited to partner with Shaye,” said Belofsky.  “Her work has inspired many and she has become a force in the horror and genre community.”

The festival is best known for discovering Paranormal Activity in 2007. Other past premieres include Tragedy Girls, Tigers Are Not Afraid, Trick ‘r Treat, 30 Days of Night, Let the Right One In, The Grudge, The Collection, The Human Centipede and Diary of the Dead. Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Sam Raimi, Clive Barker, Eli Roth, James Wan, Zack Snyder, William Friedkin and John Landis are just some of the filmmakers who have supported the festival year after year.

Film festival badges are currently on sale at www.ScreamfestLA.com and individual film tickets will be available end of September 2018. All screenings are open to the general public. Winners will receive a 24 karat gold dipped skull trophy designed by the legendary, Academy award-winning special make-up effects creator, Stan Winston, who partnered with the festival until his passing.

Screamfest Horror Film Festival is proud to announce that the following films have been admitted to the festival – the first wave of the 2018 line up.

SPLINTER-VERSARY– 10 year anniversary screening of SPLIINTER 

***Splinter premiered at Screamfest 2008 and took home six awards that year. ***

A couple retreats to the wilderness for the weekend but are car-jacked by an escaped convict and his girlfriend on the run from the police. As they travel the backroads, they find themselves in deeper trouble. A parasitic creature has taken over the woods, and the two couples are now in its sights. Finding shelter at a gas station, they must use their wits and every weapon at their disposal to stave off the onslaught, not only from the insatiable creature, but also each other.

Directed by:

Toby Wilkins

Produced by:

Kai Barry & Ted Kroeber

Executive Producer(s):

Graham Begg, Chad Burris, Jamie Carmichael, Mark Cuban

Written by:

Ian Shorr, Kai Barry

Main Cast:

Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo & Jill Wagner

AMITYVILLE MURDERS: (US) – 2018

Directed by Daniel Farrands

Written by   Daniel Farrands

Cast: John Robinson, Chelsea Ricketts, Paul Ben-Victor, Diane Franklin, Burt Young, Lainie Kazan

Produced by Eric Brenner and Lucas Jarach

On the night of November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. took a high-powered rifle and murdered his entire family as they slept. At his trial, DeFeo claimed that “voices” in the house commanded him to kill. This is their story.

World Premiere

DEMENTIA II (US) – 2018

Directed by Matt Mercer and Mike Testin

Written by   Matt Mercer and Mike Testin

Cast: Suzanne Voss, Matt Mercer, Najarra Townsend, Graham Skipper

Produced by Matt Mercer and Mike Testin

Suzanne wasn’t always this confused. She wasn’t always DEAD either… When an ex-con takes a job as a handyman for an unstable elderly woman to avoid a parole violation, it becomes a choice he may regret.

West Coast Premiere

DISCARNATE (US) – 2018

Directed by Mario Sorrenti

Written by   Mario Miscione, Marcella Ochoa

Cast: Thomas Kretschmann, Nadine Velazquez, Josh Stewart, Chris Coy, Bex Taylor-Klaus

Produced by Harald Kloser (Independence Day: Resurgence.White House Down, 2012), Marcella Ochoa, Co-produced by John Michael Elfers

A neuroscientist’s obsession with a drug that expands the human mind inadvertently unleashes a deadly supernatural force on his team.

World Premiere

DRAUG (Sweden) 2018

Directed by Klas Persson and Karin Engman

Written by   Klas Persson and Karin Engman

Cast: Elna Karlsson Thomas Hedengran Nina Filimoshkina Ralf Beck Urban Bergsten Matti Boustedt

Produced by Klas Persson and Karin Engman

In the 11th century a missionary goes missing somewhere in the huge forests bordering the northern parts of Sweden. Among the rescue party chosen to find him is Nanna, a young woman on her first real mission and her first return to the part of the country where she was born. But what they will find deep inside those woods is something else entirely. Something dark. Something ancient. Something evil.

World Premiere

THE FINAL WISH (US) 2018

Directed by Timothy Woodward Jr.

Written by  Jeffrey Reddick, Jonathan Doyle, William Halfon

Cast: Lin Shaye ( Insidious franchise, Ouija franchise) Michael Welch (Twilight franchise, All The Boys Love Mandy Lane) Tony Todd (Final Destination, Hell Fest, Candyman) Spencer Locke (Insidious: The Last Key, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Resident Evil: Extinction)

Produced by Jeffrey Reddick, Lauren De Normandie, Timothy Woodward Jr, Johnny Cleveland, Thommy Hutson

From the creator of the Final Destination franchise comes a new tale of death. Following the passing of his father, Aaron Hammond (MICHAEL WELCH) returns to his hometown to help his devastated mother (LIN SHAYE) and to confront his past demons. Shifting through his father’s belongings, Aaron comes upon a mysterious item that is far more than it seems.

World Premiere

THE GOLEM (Israel)  2018

Directed by  Doron Paz and Yoav Paz

Written by   Ariel Cohen

Cast: Alex Tritenko, Brynie Furstenberg, Hani Furstenberg, Ishai Golan, Lenny Ravich

Produced by Ariel Cohen, Doron Pazm Shalom Eisenbach, Yoav Paz

In this re-imagining of the old mystical folklore, when a woman’s tight-knit Jewish community is besieged by foreign invaders, she conjures a dangerous creature to protect them but it may be more evil than she ever imagined. THE GOLEM is the third feature for co-directed by Doron and Yoav Paz.

North America Premiere

THE HAUNTED (UK )  2018

Directed by:

David Holroyd

Written by David Holroyd

Cast:

Sophie Stevens, Nick Bayly, Ray Macallan, Maggie Daniles, Kirstie Steele, Virginia Denham

Produced by:

Crispin Manson, Matthew Stradling

In a rambling, isolated house, Emily’s first night-shift as carer to an elderly dementia patient turns into a nightmare as she is tormented by a vengeful spirit and uncovers the house’s dark secrets.

World Premiere

LOST IN APOCALYPSE (China) 2018

Directed by Sky Wang

Written by   Sky Wang, Baiying Wu

Cast: Martin Yang, Mingyi Yang, E’Naan Zhang, Ray Wang, Fengzhu Jia, Qianhua Chen, Simpson Tang, Man Yang

Produced by Iris Liu

A group of seemingly unrelated individuals fight their way out of a virus-infested hotel, only to find themselves at a worse place than before.

West Coast Premiere

OPEN 24 HOURS (US) 2018

Directed by  Padraig Reynolds

Written by   Padraig Reynolds

Cast: Emily Tennant, Brendan Fletcher, Vanessa Grasse

Produced by

A paranoid delusional woman, Mary White (Vanessa Grasse), has just been released from a mental hospital for setting her serial killer boyfriend on fire. Her boyfriend, James Lincoln Fields is brutal serial killer known as The Rain Ripper. After being released from the Hospital, Mary’s vulnerable demeanor aids her in obtaining employment at an all night petrol station. However, left alone to her own devices, her paranoia and hallucinations return with furious consequences. Customers and friends suddenly start turning up dead, mutilated, all around her. Is The Rain Ripper back to finish her off?

West Coast Premiere

PLEDGE (US) 2018

Directed by Daniel Robbins

Written by   Zack Weiner

Cast: Zachery Byrd, Aaron Dalla Villa, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Phillip Andre Botello, Jesse Pimentel, Erica Boozer, Joe Gallagher, Zack Weiner, Jean-Louis Droulers

Produced by Mark Rapaport, Keaton Heinrichs, Akiva Nemetsky

A group of college freshmen pledge an exclusive fraternity but soon realize there’s more at stake than they could have ever imagined.

US Premiere

TUMBBAD (India) 2018

Directed by Rahi Anil Barve, Anand Gandhi

Written by  Mitesh Shah, Adesh Prasad, Rahi Anil Barve, Anand Gandhi

Cast:  Sohum Shah, Harish Khannaa, Anita Date, Mohd Samad, Jyoti Malshe, Deepak Damle, Dhundiraj Prabhakar Jogalekar

Produced by Amita Shah, Mukesh Shah, Sohum Shah

A greedy village boy, in 19th century India, pursues a cursed Ancestral treasure, guarded by the devil himself. TUMBBAD opened the Venice’ Film Festival’s Critic’s Week 2018.

West Coast Premiere

YOU DIE (Italy) 2018

Directed by Alessandro Antonaci, Stefano Mandalà, Daniel Lascar

Written by   Alessandro Antonaci, Stefano Mandalà, Daniel Lascar

Cast:  Erica Landolfi, Simone Moretto, Micol Damilano, Rocco Marazzita, Alice Piano, Simone Valentino, Carola Cudemo, Ja’Michael Darnell, Daniele Marmi

Produced by Daniel Lascar, Simone Offredo, Francesco Scrufari

US Premiere

Pathfinder: Kingmaker Launch Trailer

2018/09/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Larkspur, Calif. – Sept. 25, 2018 – Owlcat Games and Deep Silver proudly announce the highly anticipated Pathfinder: Kingmaker, the RPG allowing aspiring adventurers to recruit party members aligned with their playstyle, shape the surrounding world through meaningful choices and influence their own capitol city, is now available for both Windows PC and Mac via Steam and GOG.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker allows players to carve their own path through the lawless Stolen Lands, exploring the vast and fantastical world of the Pathfinder® Roleplaying Game universe. Setting out from humble beginnings, characters will face fearsome beasts, meet lifelong companions, and build their own kingdoms as a deep and engaging story unfolds around them.

“Making Pathfinder: Kingmaker has been the most incredible journey,” said Oleg Shpilchevsky, Head of Owlcat Games. “As a team we have lived this game, poured our passion, energy and personalities into it. The time has now come to allow fans to experience all that the Stolen Lands has to offer. We hope you enjoy it.”

“We’re thrilled to see Pathfinder’s world of Golarion so vividly realized by the team at Owlcat,” says Paizo Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Erik Mona. “Pathfinder: Kingmaker brings one of Pathfinder’s most exciting epic adventures to computers everywhere, leaping from the tabletop to the computer and bringing the exciting environments and canny creatures of Kingmaker to life on the computer screen.”

For more information on Pathfinder: Kingmaker, please visit https://owlcatgames.com/.

# # #

Pathfinder: Kingmaker takes players on a tour through the infamous Stolen Lands, the dangerous and turbulent territories well known within Pathfinder fandom. The computer RPG revisits familiar characters and well-known locations of the series’ lore as well as treat players to brand new adventures, deadly foes, and unforeseen twists and turns. Fans of the fantasy pen-and-paper RPG will experience its epic, heroic universe in new ways while computer RPG gamers will discover their favorite genre in a more contemporary light, in stunning 3D graphics that bring the universe to life.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker will challenge players as both adventurers and rulers as they claim explored lands and carve their own kingdom from the wilderness. Kingdom founding goes beyond simple stronghold-building to become a true reflection of the hero’s character and choices made throughout the game. Each kingdom is a living thing shaped by alignment, choices, allies, and the hero’s ability to lead his or her people.

Product Details

Title:                                    Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Platforms:                          PC
Genre:                                 RPG
Players:                               Single Player
Developer:                         Owlcat Games
Publisher:                           Deep Silver
Age Rating:                        ESRB Rating Pending
Release Date:                    Sept. 25, 2018
Pricing:                                Explorer Edition – $39.99
Noble Edition – $54.99
Royal Edition – $69.99
Imperial Edition – $84.99

Silent Night – A Ghost Story for Christmas Announced

2018/09/25
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Haarlem, the Netherlands, September 20, 2018 – Publisher Iceberg Interactive and developer Darkling Room announced today Silent Night – A Ghost Story for Christmas, a new stand-alone installment in the Crown ghost-hunting adventure franchise.

Silent Night – A Ghost Story for Christmas is the first game in the series to be presented in 3D and is due to be released December 2018 for PC.

The transformation to 3D can be admired in the following launch trailer:

Silent Night – A Ghost Story for Christmas is a spooky festive tale, set at Northfield Church during an endless Christmas Eve. Beyond the Church, the Carrion Woods await, where the wood-dwellers still haunt the pines and rocky places. Nigel Danvers, ghost-hunter, encounters the spirits that rise when the North Wind doth blow, bringing heavy snow.

Northfield is haunted by the terrible Winter of 1349, when the Black Death swept across the land, killing over two thirds of the population. The plague was silent, invisible and deadly. Everyone was blamed, from witches to wood folk, as the once kind people of Northfield turned on each other. T’was the night before Christmas, and all through the church, plenty was stirring, especially the ghosts. To break the trap and escape, Nigel must make a terrible decision on the loneliest night of the year.

Jonathan Boakes, creator and writer of the Crown franchise:

“I’m very pleased to be moving the Crown games in a new direction. It’s been refreshing to move the ghost-hunting games to full 3D. All the new whizzes and bangs of 3D have given us new vigour, with lots to look forward to. Wrap up warm, the Carrion Woods await.

The main star of the game is Northfield Church, which has been painstakingly recreated inside and out, with full exploration. The church is based on Duloe Church, just up the road from me, here in Cornwall, so it was a nice job to capture both textures and actual photogrammetry of the site.”

Wishlist Silent Night – A Ghost Story for Christmas on Steam now, to be notified when the game releases.

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights 2018 Review

2018/09/24
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, Haunted Attraction Review, News, Reviews

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights has been a Southern California’s flagship haunted attraction for quite some time now thanks to their film tie-ins and big budget. We got the chance to visit the event during its opening weekend thanks to their amazing PR team, and stayed for the whole night, beginning at 7PM and finished at 1AM. This year, the flagship street zone and opening ceremony are tied into Michael Dougherty’s modern Halloween classic, Trick r Treat, and it was a welcome change from The Purge inspired opening of the last few years.

This year’s mazes include the previously-mentioned Trick r Treat as well as Poltergeist (based on the 1982 film), Stranger Things Season 1, Halloween 4, The Horrors of Blumhouse Chapter Two, Universal Monsters, and the Terror Tram. Overall, most of the mazes in this year’s lineup were at the very least “good”. However, the two standouts were Poltergeist and Universal Monsters. Poltergeist recreated the facade of the Freeling house from the film and the maze hit all the right moments that scared you as children. For the movie buffs out there, you might be interested to know that Steven Spielberg actually ghost directed Poltergeist while a very young Tobe Hooper was listed as the director on paper. Universal Monsters was a trip through the various Universal Monsters films of old, from Dracula to Frankenstein and many more. I loved that the event paid homage to these classic monsters and did so with terrific set design to sell their various environments. A big runner up award in this goes to Holidayz in Hell. It’s not quite a street zone, but not quite a maze and serves as a transitional area between guests and the New York street backlot mazes. Holidayz in Hell takes a year’s worth of holidays and, as it suggests, places them in some sort of Hell dimension with tons of gory props to look at along the way.

Unfortunately, the Stranger Things maze didn’t quite live up to its potential. In terms of set design and construction, its beautifully-crafted. Moving from the woods to the Byers house and then on to Hawkins Lab and the school – each look amazing. The designers and builders should be given big kudos for their work. Also, John Murdy (the director of Horror Nights) did an amazing job with the audio work in this maze. Where the maze loses its spark is in its scares. The Demogorgon is shown way too early in the maze and there is no real build up to what should be the final confrontation between it and Eleven at the maze’s climax. The biggest problem with the maze design of Halloween Horror Nights is its dependence on dark “Boo Box” hallways. What was once just a spice that could allow the event to hold large puppets (such as in the maze based on John Carpenter’s The Thing) is now simply everywhere – in every maze – multiple times. You just start expecting you turn into a dark corner hallway now.

Trick r Treat was a mixed bag with some really great beats separated by some more Boo Boxes. Also, I got the feeling that the designers of this maze didn’t quite watch the film closely enough as the scene in the maze with Kreeg didn’t happen that way at all in the film. But, I digress… In any case it is wonderful that this sleeper of a film upon its release has become the cult classic that it is today and garnered such attention. Between this and the maze from Murder House Productions, the Trick r Treat fan in me is very pleased.

Halloween Horror Nights features some terrific 2D and prosthetic makeups this year, thanks to the folks at Magee FX. This studio is also responsible for the prosthetic work on the Whoville citizens during Universal Studios Grinchmas event. They have done a great job of selling each maze’s and street area’s scare actors. For Trick r Treat (and its associated scare zone), they masterfully-replicated the masks of the various special school children who perished in the bus crash as seen during the film. In Universal Monsters, they brought to life some of the classic movie monsters of old, including Frankenstein. They are to be commended for their practical makeup work.

As usual, the park was sold out on the night we attended and, reflecting this, the Stranger Things maze had a two hour wait in line for standard admission guests! I highly recommend that you pay for the upgraded front-of-the line tickets – you will not regret it! On the food front, Horror Nights had a decent array of food options this year. We ate from the New York street backlot food truck and I had a tasty meatball sub while my wife had some good sliders. In the upper lot, you’ll find quite a few options as well, including my favorite Luig’s Pizza near Springfield.

Overall, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights is a lot of fun this year, with tons of things to see and do. While I am concerned by the dependence on Boo Boxes between visual beats in the various mazes, Horror Nights has, as usual, gone all out on set design and makeup effects. I loved the focus on Trick r Treat and can’t wait to see what the event has in store for us next year. Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights runs through the end of October – you can find ticket information and more at their official website.

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Space Hulk: Tactics Genestealer Trailer

2018/09/24
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

September 24, 2018 – Focus Home Interactive and Cyanide Studio are proud to announce the pre-order beta for Space Hulk: Tactics will begin on Steam tomorrow, Tuesday, September 25. A faithful adaptation of the classic Warhammer 40,000 board game of Man versus Alien in desperate battle, Space Hulk: Tactics brings new twists to the formula along with extensive customisation, two full campaigns, and much more.

In today’s trailer we profile the Genestealers, the festering malice at the heart of the Space Hulk, ready to cut down any and all Space Marine Terminators that come aboard. Their strategies and playstyle are completely different, creating truly asymmetrical multiplayer. Using their numbers and agility to their advantage, the Genestealers are a more aggressive force, but one with less options on how to handle each situation.

In the Steam pre-order beta, players can look forward to playing these Genestealers but also the Terminators, in skirmish and multiplayer across five maps. Also available is the full customisation system and the map editor, letting the creatives in the community get started early on new creations and master plans.

A preview of each faction’s campaign will also be playable, serving both as a tutorial and a taste of what awaits in the full game. Save games will be compatible with the release version, so players can immediately continue their mission on October 9. The pre-order bonuses will also be available in the beta, giving access to second founding chapters and other alternate versions of the base game’s Blood Angels, Space Wolves, Dark Angels, and Ultramarines chapters.

The pre-order beta will run up until the launch of the game, with regular updates to address bugs and balance issues as reported by the community. On launch day, October 9, players will gain access to more official maps as well as the two complete, massive single-player campaigns. All Steam pre-orders have a 10% discount up until launch and will give instant access to the beta, as well as the pre-order cosmetics.

The Space Hulk: Tactics pre-order beta begins September 25 on Steam. The game releases on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on October 9.

 

Carnival Games Coming to Xbox One and PlayStation 4

2018/09/21
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

September 21, 2018 – 2K today announced that the next entry in the popular Carnival Games® franchise that has sold-in over 9.5 million units worldwide, previously announced for the Nintendo Switch, is also coming to Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Carnival Games will be available at digital retail locations on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 for $39.99 SRP on Nov. 6, 2018, and will also be available at physical retail locations for $39.99 SRP on Nintendo Switch on Nov. 6, and on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on Nov. 20.

Carnival Games is fun for the entire family and can be played alone or with up to four players simultaneously. The game features 20 exciting and re-imagined games in four unique alleys that can be played with family and friends.

Like a real-life county fair, Carnival Games allows players of all ages and experience levels to enjoy classic games like ring toss (“Post Master”) and alley ball horse racing (“Roll-R-Derby”), as well as brand new attractions like drone racing (“Light Speed”) and cosmic bowling (“Cosmic Strike”). Four uniquely themed alleys – Jungle Lane, Saturn Station, Vulture Gulch and Nuts & Bolts – provide a different look and feel for the games within them. Players have the chance to win tickets by playing any of the 20 games and redeem them for new games and outfits for their customizable carnival guest characters.

Developed by Mass Media Games, Carnival Games is rated E10+ by the ESRB. For more information on Carnival Games, subscribe on YouTube, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook and visit http://www.2K.com/carnivalgames.