Author - Jerry Paxton

Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies Announced

2014/03/28

News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON – March 28, 2014 – SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced that fans of their critically acclaimed strategy game Company of Heroes™ 2 will see a standalone multiplayer offering launching in June this year for $19.99. Each individual army will also be available as a standalone purchase for $12.99 via digital download, providing new players with a minimal entry point into the massive Company of Heroes 2 multiplayer community.

Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies brings players back to the Western Front first introduced in the original award-winning Company of Heroes™. The Western Front Armies introduces two unique collections of new content – the US Forces and the German Oberkommando West. Each army has distinctive tactical gameplay options, new infantry, team weapons, vehicles, abilities and upgrades on a total of eight seasonal multiplayer maps set on the Western Front. The Western Front Armies also includes a new progression system that introduces other unique content into the game and enables players to dive deeper into the tactical and strategic aspects of the game than ever before.

All Company of Heroes 2 players can then battle across 31 maps (along with more than 1000 community maps available on Steam Workshop) in auto-match multiplayer, regardless of what content they already own, even if they have just purchased the new Western Front Armies.

“We know how much fans love the setting of the original game and we have responded to their request to revisit the Western Front,” said Greg Wilson, Executive Producer at Relic Entertainment. “By offering Western Front focused content to Company of Heroes 2, we are giving players a brand new set of tactical options that significantly expand their multiplayer experience. At the same time, it has never been easier for new players to get access to our vast multiplayer community. “

For more information on Company of Heroes 2, please see www.companyofheroes.com.

Screenshots

Stronghold Crusader 2 Skirmish Gameplay Trailer

2014/03/28

Jerry Paxton

News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

London, UK – 28th March 2014 – Firefly Studios has released a new gameplay trailer for Stronghold Crusader 2, the long awaited sequel to the cult ‘castle sim’ Stronghold Crusader. Released at EGX Rezzed, one of the UK’s biggest PC and indie games shows, the new trailer confirms skirmish mode and reveals a new AI character in the form of the fearless Saladin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecAkXsqGxJ0

In a developer blog posted on the game’s official website, Firefly reveals details on skirmish mode, additional single player content and a number of Saladin’s unique AI behaviours:

“We wanted to create a trailer that sends out a clear message: Crusader 2 will feature a full skirmish mode at launch. This includes eight AI characters and the ability to take your castle siege online, which extends to eight players and the option to play in teams or co-op. It simply wouldn’t be a Crusader game without a skirmish mode and the kind of replayability that offers. This is what we intended to deliver from day one and it’s fundamental to the game’s design.

Skirmish mode will be included in the game at launch alongside two single player campaigns, one from each side of the conflict between the invading Crusader hordes and Arabic freedom fighters. While the single player campaigns are very much designed to teach players the basics before taking their fight online, the Crusader 1 style skirmish trails will also make a return. These trails contain some of the most difficult missions in the game, putting the skills of even the most hardened Stronghold Crusader veterans to the test.

Our new AI character reveal should also make Crusader 1 fans very happy! Saladin is a classic character returning from the original game, who led his armies against Richard the Lionheart in the Third Crusade. He is at his core a kind hearted person, but on the battlefield he is a fierce warrior fighting for the freedom of his people. As an AI opponent Saladin likes to attack early on in skirmish matches, harassing the player with hordes of Horse Archers and setting fire to your buildings with torch-wielding Slaves. In the final game each AI character will have his or her own unique castle design, troop preferences, tactics and difficulty level.”

The full news post can be found at www.strongholdcrusader2.com.

Trailer

Six Flags Great Adventure’s Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom Nearly Complete

2014/03/28

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

JACKSON, NJ – March 28, 2014 – Only four pieces of track remain on the ground today, the final orange components to Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, the world’s tallest drop ride, opening at Six Flags Great Adventure this Memorial Day weekend. The center of three towers was completed March 27 at 41 dizzying stories, and the final track piece of the right tower, considered the “topping off,” is expected to be set Monday morning, wind and weather permitting.

“Wind is certainly a factor at 415 feet,” said Mike Fatovic, construction supervisor at Six Flags Great Adventure. “It can seem very calm on the ground, and sometimes it is a very different story at the top of the tower.” Due to today’s high winds, no track pieces will be set; however electrical work continues at the construction site.

Following the topping off, the construction, maintenance and engineering teams will focus on adding three gondolas that will whisk riders to the top of the tower, installing the lift mechanism—a winch and cable system–and ride controls, followed by extensive ride testing, inspections and certification before the first passengers board the ride later this spring.

Connected to the iconic Kingda Ka roller coaster—the 456-foot monster that ranks as the world’s tallest coaster and fastest in North America—Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom will hoist riders 41 stories into the sky and rocket them back to Earth at 90 miles per hour while Kingda Ka trains launch right toward them at speeds of up to 128 miles per hour. Riders will pause for a few terrifying moments 41 stories in the air—even higher than London’s Big Ben and twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty—allowing them to catch a glimpse of the skyscrapers in Philadelphia 52 miles to the south before gravity plunges them back to ground level in less than 10 seconds.

Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Wireless Earbuds Review

2014/03/27

Jerry Paxton

News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

The Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Wireless Earbuds are the follow-up to the company’s successful BackBeat GO wireless earbuds. This time around, however, Plantronics put even more features into the mix, that truly raise the bar for wireless audio products. In terms of design, the earbuds themselves are very similar to their progenitors, even down to the inline control unit. Where the BackBeat GO 2 leaps ahead of the pack is in its sound quality and charging case.

My first encounter with these wireless earbuds was at CES in January, and one of the most highly-touted features of the BackBeat GO 2 at the time was its charging case. The charging case is a small pouch that features an internal USB battery so you can charge your earbuds on the go, instead of having to plug into a computer USB port. This concept is pretty cool, and it does indeed allow you to stay off-the-power grid for a long time while you are not listening to music. The biggest issue with the charging case is its form factor. It is not all that easy to fit the earbuds, their connecting cord, and the micro USB charging cord of the case in the allotted pouch space. The pouch is made of a very rigid material, and I had hoped it would have been easier to store inside.

Taking calls while wearing the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 wireless earbuds is a breeze and the claimed issues with the microphone from the first BackBeat GO are a thing of the past. I had no trouble at all taking or placing calls, talking to people, understanding what they were saying to me – etc. I was actually very impressed with the audio clarity of the callers.

Battery life was also very good and I was able to go for about a week of gym sessions without having to charge the earbuds in the case. Not to mention that if you do need to charge up, you can always use the charging case.

For my dollar, the biggest selling point of the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 wireless earbuds has got to be their sound quality and ability to block out the outside, ambient noises. I was continuously impressed at how my music sounded and how effective the earbuds were at noise cancellation. This is also somewhat of an issue, however, as I don’t know if I can fully recommend them for doing outdoor workouts like jogging, hiking, etc. Canceling out the ambient noises of a gym isn’t a bad idea – but, outside, you need to be able to hear any dangers that lurk around you. Speaking more on working out, these earbuds are water and sweat resistant as well as rugged enough that they won’t break if they fall to the ground for some reason.

Overall, the Plantronics BackBeat GO 2 Wireless Earbuds are an outstanding choice for a wireless audio product. Whether you are in the gym, lifting weights, or at the office, listening to music while you work, these will meet and exceed your expectations. However, I do have to caution wearers to be careful if using them outside as the do block out a lot of ambient noises (too many distracted runners get hit by cars). Also, at an official MSRP of $99.99, they are one of the more affordable, high-quality wireless earbuds on the market right now.

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Legions of Steel Coming to Mobile Devices

2014/03/27

Jerry Paxton

Mobile News, News

Epsom, UK – March 27, 2014 — Fans of Legions of Steel – a boardgame designed by Clark Browning, Marco Pecota and Derrick Villeneuve – the French developers from Studio Nyx (www.studio-nyx.com) are working on reviving the eternal war between the Empire of the Machines and the factions from the Milky Way.

The Slitherine Group and Studio Nyx are now combining their efforts to develop a new game under the official Legions of Steel license. This adaptation for iOS and Android devices, will feature gameplay that both capture the essence of the original boardgame, and delivers the standards expected by modern gamers.

The team behind this project consists of veterans of the game industry. Sharing a passion for Legions of Steel they are fully committed to making a vibrant tribute to the series with this digital adaptation.

Soon players will be able to take command of Human and Machine squads during intense battles in solo and multiplayer modes. So stay tuned as we are likely to unveil more assets and information in the upcoming weeks!

“Our tablet catalogue continues to grow”, said JD McNeil Chairman of the Slitherine Group. “This new partnership with Studio Nyx builds on our strategy of expanding the number of quality games that we are releasing for portable platforms, aimed specifically at our dedicated audience. It also displays our commitment in helping our developers to deliver their very ambitious projects to the market and supporting them throughout the development cycle to create these very unique games”.

Insurgency Molotov Spring Update Goes Live

2014/03/27

Jerry Paxton

News, Screenshots / Photos, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Denver, CO — March 26, 2014 — New World Interactive (NWI) is proud to announce that the first major content update for the gritty, team-based shooter INSURGENCY is now available. Titled Molotov Spring, this is the first of many major content updates NWI plans to deliver free of charge to its community. The update features two new maps, four new game modes, all new cooperative missions, an expanded arsenal, and more than 10 new achievements. To commemorate the update, INSURGENCY is available for PC and Mac OSX as a promotion on Steam’s weeklong deal for $9.99 (a 30% discount from the SRP of $14.99).

Molotov Spring Gameplay Trailer

Molotov Spring Screenshots

Shadowrun Online Coming to Steam Early Access

2014/03/27

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

March 27, 2014 – Shadowrun Online, the turn-based MMO successfully funded on Kickstarter, is coming to Steam Early Access on March 31. A prequel to the first Shadowrun Online campaign, Lockdown (also an upcoming tabletop RPG book), this introductory offering will focus on the core mechanics of combat.

Cliffhanger Productions Co-Founder, Jan Wagner, talks about the release and upcoming features of Shadowrun Online in a new developer video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynWEDQEq-WE

“We are very excited (and a little frightened) to finally show this first glimpse of the game to the world,” said Wagner. “We don’t want to pile on features unless we have nailed the core gameplay elements, so we created this small and polished section for our players to enjoy.”

The initial release of Shadowrun Online through Early Access will provide players with a PvP map, two characters, four missions, and basic skills. This limited, combat-focused approach will provide valuable feedback from Kickstarter backers and the Steam community and help guide development.

Moving forward, incremental updates (approximately monthly) will allow Cliffhanger Productions to respond to community requests and to provide players with new content and features, including character creation, skill progression, and new missions.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us and we have invested everything (and then some) into development. Although we originally planned to begin our release schedule last year, it became apparent that our original code-base was too restricting, and we weren’t willing to make compromises due to code limitations. Our backers and the Shadowrun community have been incredibly supportive, and more than anything we want to live up to their expectations.”

Shadowrun Online: Lockdown will be cross-platform when it releases, allowing people to play on PC, Mac, and mobile devices.

Website:
http://www.shadowrun.com/

Eliza Dushku Stars in Gable V Now on Machinima Prime

2014/03/27

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos

March 27, 2014 — Machinima and Kevin Tancharoen are teaming up once again. Following the huge success of Mortal Kombat: Legacy and Mortal Kombat: Legacy II, Tancharoen is once again delivering quality scripted programming to the Machinima audience. He describes his latest short film, Gable V, as a “sci-fi, futuristic version of the Truman Show.”

Starring Eliza Dushku (Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse), Gable V is now live on Machinima Prime.

Gable V

Galactic Civilizations III Out on Steam Early Access

2014/03/27

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

PLYMOUTH, MI March 27, 2014  Would-be space emperors can now begin the fight for galactic supremacy as Stardock announced that the alpha for Galactic Civilizations III is available on Steam for Founders Elite Edition owners at http://store.steampowered.com/app/226860/. Galactic Civilizations III is the highly anticipated third installment in Stardocks critically acclaimed 4X PC strategy franchise, coming exclusively to 64-bit PCs.

Founders Elite Edition owners can take this opportunity to help Stardock shape the final product, said Derek Paxton, vice president of Stardock Entertainment. We love working directly with the fans, and getting feedback in this critical early stages is the only way to make the best game possible.

Elite Edition owners will automatically receive all future DLC and expansions to Galactic Civilizations III for free, get their names in the credits, receive a special forum badge, and can name a star that will appear in the final game at launch.

Paxton continued, Though were still early in development, the core Galactic Civilizations gameplay is functional were excited to collaborate with our fans as the game evolves in preparation for its final release next year. The alpha enables fans to jump in, develop their empires, and annihilate their enemies with fleets of powerful warships.

The alpha includes both single player against the AI as well as multiplayer via the Internet. It also introduces the newly implemented ideology system, which gives players unique benefits for choosing merciless, benevolent, or pragmatic paths. Additionally, the alpha introduces a new economic system that gives players intuitive, visual control over the overall production of their empire.

Galactic Civilizations is the defining franchise for Stardock, said CEO Brad Wardell. The original OS/2 version was the first commercial 32-bit PC game. Galactic Civilizations III is our first natively 64-bit game, which gives us the capability to create the experience weve always wanted to make. Our team has never been more focused and dedicated, and we look forward to creating new Galactic Civilizations adventures for years to come.

Galactic Civilizations III is the ultimate space 4X strategy game that pits players against rival alien races as they fight for galactic domination through technical, economic, political, and military means. When the latest iteration of this fan-favorite series launches, players will be able to design their own ships in the overhauled ship builder, and colonize unique planets in the massive galaxy, all while on the quest to make their empire the greatest the galaxy has ever seen.

For updates, and to learn more about Galactic Civilizations III, please visit www.galciv3.com.

Arma 3 Guerilla Warfare Community Guide Video

2014/03/27

Jerry Paxton

News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday 27th March 2014 — Bohemia Interactive today released a brand new episode in their official Community Guide video series for Arma 3. In the latest episode, Andrew Gluck (better known as Dslyecxi) from ShackTactical explores the concept of guerrilla warfare – something which factors heavily into the Arma 3 singleplayer campaign.

Guerrilla warfare relates to an asymmetrical form of combat, where a smaller, less equipped force fights against a larger and more conventional military force. Approaching the concept from the perspective of guerrilla fighters, the new video explains how to deal with the equipment disparity, how to conduct successful hit-and-run attacks, how to safely withdraw from the area of operations, and more.

Bohemia Interactive’s Community Guide video series aims to explain some of the basics of Arma 3. Previous episodes focused on topics such as infantry combat, multiplayer teamwork,helicopters, sniper- and launcher teams, combined arms warfare, and air assault. The full Community Guide playlist is available on Arma 3’s official YouTube Channel.

People can purchase Arma 3 (44.99 EUR/39.99 GBP/59.99 USD) on Steam andStore.bistudio.com. There is also a Digital Deluxe Edition available (49.99 EUR/42.99 GBP/64.99 USD), which includes digital extras such as the Arma 3 soundtrack, maps of Altis and Stratis, a 350-page tactical guide, and a Steam version of the original Arma: Cold War Assault. A boxed version of Arma 3 is sold at many major high-street retailers.

For more information about Arma 3, please visit the official website at www.arma3.com and follow Arma 3 on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.