Author - Jerry Paxton

BATTLETECH Release Date Moved to Early 2018

2017/08/14

STOCKHOLM – Aug. 14, 2017 – Paradox Interactive and Harebrained Schemes today announced that the release of BATTLETECH has been moved to early 2018. Initially planned for release later this year, the move will give the Harebrained Schemes team the time they need to deliver the type of quality experience the company is known for.

“Throughout development our Backers have been clear: ‘Don’t rush it, just make it great.’ and we have taken that advice to heart,” said Jordan Weisman, CEO of Harebrained Schemes and creator of the original board game and BattleTech universe. “HBS, Paradox, and our Backers all share a deeply personal attachment to this project and we are committed to delivering a game that not only meets the high expectations of our Backers and fans but introduces BattleTech to a new generation of players.”

“The feedback and enthusiasm from Beta participants has shown us just how great BATTLETECH can be, and rushing development to fit a timeline would be a disservice,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive. “We believe in the Harebrained Schemes team, and want them to give the game the time and attention they need to create a turn-based game worthy of the name.”

To help eager MechCommanders pass the time, Harebrained Schemes is again updating their Backer Beta this week to include a large number of improvements including gameplay changes, AI upgrades, balance changes, and interface enhancements based upon the reams of useful feedback they’ve received from their community. A subsequent update coming soon will also allow Backers to go head-to-head in PvP multiplayer allowing them to test their skills against human opponents. The Beta will last at least another month, so players interested in becoming Late Backers to gain access to the Beta should go to http://battletechgame.com/ to get in on the action.

OpTic Gaming Wins 2017 Call of Duty World League (CWL) Championship

2017/08/14

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Aug. 14, 2017 – A fierce season of competition came to a close last night as OpTic Gaming won the 2017 Call of Duty World League (CWL) Championship, Presented by PlayStaton®4. Hosted by Major League Gaming Corp. (MLG) in partnership with Activision Publishing, Inc., OpTic Gaming won this year’s crown over Team EnVyUs in a thrilling final competition to determine this year’s champion as the best Call of Duty team in the world.

“This does not feel real at all. I feel like a legend with my teammates,” CWL Championship 2017 MVP Matthew ’FormaL’ Piper said after receiving the honor. FormaL also earned MVP honors during the CWL Stage 2 Playoffs. When asked about his consistency following the second MVP award, FormaL cited his team. “It’s not me. It’s my teammates, I really mean that. They allow me to play like that and do the flashy stuff. I owe all of that to them.”

Call of Duty esports saw a substantial rise in competition this year, with a year-over-year increase in participation of 400%. The playing field has also leveled in 2017, with nine teams capturing tournament wins around the world; including, Splyce, the first-ever European team to win a CWL event on North American soil.

Held in Orlando, Fl., the tournament featured the world’s top 32 Call of Duty teams from North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) as they competed at the five-day event for a share of the $1.5 million championship prize pool, and the finale to this year’s CWL season which offered $4 million in total prize purse, the largest in Call of Duty history.

“Congratulations to OpTic Gaming on a fantastic finish, our 2017 CWL Champions,” said Rob Kostich, executive vice president and general manager, Call of Duty. “The 2017 season was the best yet with amazing competition and incredible fans at every stop. On behalf of everyone at Call of Duty, we congratulate all the teams on an outstanding year of competition and thank our fans for all of their amazing support.”

Here are the final top four placements after the CWL Championships:

1st – OpTic Gaming
2nd – Team EnVyUs
3rd – Luminosity
4th – Red Reserve
5th/6th – FaZe Clan
5th/6th – eUnited
7th/8th – Ghost Gaming
7th/8th – Splyce

For a list of all final team placings, please visit www.callofduty.com/esports.

For more information on the exciting competition and the latest intel on the Call of Duty World League Presented by PlayStation®4 check out: http://www.callofduty.com/cwl, tv.majorleaguegaming.com or follow @CODWorldLeague on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Activision and MLG (both part of Activision Blizzard) join forces with PlayStation®4 to bring Call of Duty World League to a global audience, with the goal of providing fans the best esports experience at live events and broadcast on mlg.tv/callofduty. Activision Publishing, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc.

Conan Exiles Announces Pricing and Xbox One Gameplay Video

2017/08/11

Jerry Paxton

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

Oslo, Norway – August 11^th, 2017 – Only five days to go! On August 16^th, Conan Exiles comes crushing onto the Xbox One platform as it finally enters Game Preview (the equivalent of Early Access on PC). Included on day one is also the brand new free expansion update The Frozen North which introduces tons of new content, features, and expands the game world by 70%. This release marks the start of the second phase of Conan Exiles’ Early Access phase.

Funcom today also revealed the price point for Conan Exiles on Xbox Game Preview: 34.99 USD. The game is currently available in 39 countries with pricing customized across various currencies. The price point will increase once Conan Exiles leaves Game Preview on Xbox One and Early Access on PC and launches in full in Q1 2018.

“We are thrilled to be opening up the gates of Conan Exiles to gamers on Xbox One,” says Funcom Head of Games, Lawrence Poe. “This version of Conan Exiles benefits from the six months of content updates, improvements, and enhancements done to the PC version during our first phase of Early Access. The launch of Xbox Game Preview paired with the release of The Frozen North expansion update marks the beginning of the second phase of Early Access for us, and the game is now bigger and better than ever. There is still work to do before full launch, but we are on track and very excited about what the future holds for Conan Exiles.”

Since launching into PC Early Access on January 31 ^st 2017, the development team has been working tirelessly to introduce new content, improve mechanics, and eradicate bugs and exploits. The team has added siege weapons, a new dungeon, a dye system, new armor and weapons, new decorations, avatar defenses, new building pieces, and much more.

To dig deeper into the many additions and improvements made to Conan Exiles, players can visit www.conanexiles.com/updates for a full overview. They can also head over to www.conanexiles.com/thefrozennorth to read up on the upcoming free expansion update which will be available on both PC and Xbox One on August 16^th.

You can learn more about Conan Exiles and see the latest updates from the developers on www.conanexiles.com.

Sudden Strike 4 Launch Trailer

2017/08/11

Jerry Paxton

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

RIDGEWOOD, NJ (AUGUST 11, 2017) – The legendary World War II Real-Time-Strategy series Sudden Strike has returned! Kalypso Media is proud to announce that Sudden Strike 4 is now available digitally worldwide on Steam, with a North American retail and PlayStation® Store release to follow on August 15, 2017. The boxed retail edition for Windows PC, Mac, Linux and PlayStation®4 is also available today across Europe. Today marks the return of a beloved PC strategy series and a groundbreaking moment for PlayStation®4. For the first time in the series’ history, Sudden Strike has received a multi-platform release, positioning the game to become the definitive strategy experience available on consoles.

Sudden Strike 4 on Steam supports Windows PC, Mac and Linux platforms, and includes the ‘Battle of Kursk’ DLC, a digital artbook and a digital soundtrack. These bonuses are also available with the physical Day One Edition for Windows PC, Mac and Linux. The PlayStation®4 Day One Edition is complete with a digital artbook and digital soundtrack. Both versions of the Sudden Strike 4 Day One Edition feature reversible cover artwork designed by Games of Thrones artist Robert Simon

Valnir Rok New Screenshots

2017/08/11

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

August 11, 2017 – Independent game developer encurio GmbH will begin the second phase of Closed Alpha testing on their upcoming online Viking survival roleplaying game – Valnir Rok – this weekend. Starting 6:00AM EST this Friday, August 11 through 12:00AM EST Monday, August 14 gamers who registered for Closed Alpha Test access at www.valnir.net will be able to explore the brutal online land steeped in Norse mythology.

For those that want to join the Viking horde, please visit the official Valnir Rok website and register today! The Closed Alpha Testing period is also subject to change dependent on the developers need for longer/shorter testing durations.

Also, if you’re planning to attend gamescom 2017 in Cologne, Germany starting August 22be sure to visit the Valnir Rok booth to meet the development team and play the latest version of the game. The Valnir Rok gamescom booth is located at Hall 10.1, E52.

NBA LIVE 18 Demo Announced

2017/08/10

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

Redwood City, Calif. – August 10, 2017 – Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced that the NBA LIVE 18 free demo* will launch tomorrow for all players with Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus accounts, August 11^th on Xbox One and PlayStation® 4. In a franchise first, all progress and unlocked content coming out of the experience will carry over into the full game when it launches on September 15^th. In addition, players who pre-order NBA LIVE 18 will get 33% off the retail price ($59.99) at participating retailers**.

In the NBA LIVE 18 free demo, players will experience The Rise, the prologue section of The One – an all-new way to pursue your legacy, centered on the player and defined by your choices. Progress made in The One during the free demo can be carried over into the full game, so players jumping in early can continue their experience when the full game launches. Players in the free demo will also be treated to specially-timed Live Events – limited-time activities with special rules, rewards and characters, only available in The One. Rewards earned in weekly Live

Events will also carry over into the full game, giving players reason to regularly come back and check out the new events in order to earn new rewards. The free demo rounds out with a Play Now experience between the NBA Finals rivals Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. The NBA LIVE 18 demo is available to all players with Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus.

NBA LIVE 18 will also feature Houston Rockets superstar James Harden as the cover athlete. Harden has always been a wholly unique individual, staying true to himself and reaching stardom through his skill and authenticity. Through intense dedication to the sport and his fiercely competitive nature, Harden embodies The One for Houston and its fans.

“When I heard about working with EA SPORTS and being the cover athlete of NBA LIVE 18 I was pretty excited for the opportunity,” said Harden. “NBA LIVE 18 is all about creating your own identity and making your mark on the league, and I can definitely relate to that. If anybody knows about creativity it’s me.”

Harden started his career as the first player ever drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since joining Houston in 2012, Harden has been a powerhouse in the league, finishing his first season with an average of 25.9 points and 5.8 assists per game, and growing into a perennial all-star and one of the league’s most-dominant players.

EA Access members receive an additional 10 percent discount*** when they purchase a digital version of NBA LIVE 18 on Xbox Live.

Players who need even more basketball in their lives can also check out NBA LIVE Mobile, available as free-to-download**** on the App Store and Google Play.

NBA LIVE 18 is developed by EA Tiburon and will be available worldwide September 15 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

The EA SPORTS™ brand is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. The EA SPORTS studios create connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through videogames, includingMadden NFL football, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball and EA SPORTS UFC® franchises.

For more information about EA SPORTS games, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider Gameplay Trailer

2017/08/10

Jerry Paxton

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

August 10, 2017 – We’ve just released the official gameplay trailer for Dishonored: Death of the Outsider. After the events of Dishonored 2, things might finally seem calm for Billie Lurk and her former mentor Daud – but a new storm is brewing in the Empire of the Isles. In the first standalone adventure in the award-winning Dishonored series, Billie will play a key role in the bloody battle against the black-eyed bastard himself, the Outsider. A former killer-for-hire in search of redemption, Billie will take on one last job and pull off the ultimate assassination – and the Empire will never be the same again. Get your first look at Dishonored: Death of the Outsider in action in this gameplay trailer, featuring Rosario Dawson, Michael Madsen and Robin Lord Taylor returning as Billie, Daud and the Outsider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr6XWVJLB5c.

See a new side of Karnaca as Death of the Outsider takes you through its gritty underbelly. Investigate mysterious cults, infiltrate underground fight clubs, and even pull off a bank heist as you search for a way to do the impossible: kill a god. Playing as a new assassin, you’ll have access to slew of powerful new supernatural abilities, weapons and gadgets, all of which are designed to help you cut a bloody swath through Karnaca and leave your mark on the history. Or perhaps you’ll choose to be merciful and use your skills to slip unnoticed through the world. In true Arkane fashion, the intricately designed levels allow for a wide array of playstyles, with branching paths and heavy choices that will greatly affect the outcome of your mission.

Death of the Outsider brings players back to the Empire of the Isles, with breathtaking visuals, intricately designed levels, and brutal combat systems that are a hallmark of the Dishonored series. With a new character comes a unique new set of supernatural abilities, deadly weapons and powerful gear, empowering players to become the ultimate assassin. And with developer Arkane Studios’ signature style, you can once again be as bloodthirsty – or as merciful – as you like. Check out Bethesda.net for even more details in our recently released video featuring insights from Creative Director, Harvey Smith.

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider will launch on September 15, 2017 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Death of the Outsider is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information about the game, visit dishonored.bethesda.net.

Corsair Launches the Neutron NX500 NVMe PCIe SSD AIC

2017/08/10

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Hardware News, News

Fremont, CA – August 10^th, 2017- CORSAIR^®, a world leader in enthusiast memory, high-performance gaming hardware, and PC components, today announced the launch of the CORSAIR Neutron NX500 NVMe PCIe SSD AIC. The NX500 boasts performance up to five times faster than traditional SATA 3.0 SSDs, connecting to your system via an available PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot. Achieving up to 3,000MB/sec sequential read and 2,400 MB/sec sequential write speeds, or 300K/270K IOPS random read/write, the NX500 is the fastest SSD CORSAIR has ever produced.

Available in 400GB, 800GB and 1,600GB* capacities, and clad in a custom-designed high-surface-area heat sink, the NX500 is engineered for speed and all-but eliminates performance thermal throttling thanks to temperatures up to 20°C lower than m.2 PCI Express NVMe SSDs. Whether you’re editing video, transferring files or loading the latest games, the NX500 has the cooling, style and performance and to make sure both you and your system never fall behind.

Connecting to your PC using an available PCI Express SSD 3.0 x4 slot and using the latest NVMe interface, the NX500 unlocks the bandwidth of the PCI Express slot, eliminating bottlenecks by putting your data in the fast lane. Thanks to this high bandwidth, the NX500 is built for professional users and easily handles demanding productivity, content creation or gaming workloads.

Equipped with high-performance MLC NAND, and dedicated DDR3 cache, the NX500 provides superior reliability and performance over TLC NAND SSDs. The NX500 also boasts enhanced error correction, dynamic wear-levelling and advanced garbage collection, greatly enhancing NAND lifespan and drive reliability.

For those that need even more protection or control, the NX500 is also fully compatible with the CORSAIR SSD Toolbox software utility, providing in-depth support for over-provisioning, Secure Erase, disk cloning, and firmware updates. Users can also monitor S.M.A.R.T attributes and overall SSD health, all from their PC’s desktop. Paired with dedicated support from the world-class CORSAIR customer support team and a comprehensive 5-year warranty, the NX500 pushes the limits of SSD performance with style.

Specifications:

NVMe Interface Faster than SATA 3.0: Up to 5X faster in sequential read and write than SATA 3.0.
PCI Express 3.0 x4 The NX500 accesses your PC’s PCI Express bandwidth and puts your data in the fast lane, leaving SATA SSDs in the dust.
Dedicated Cooling: High-surface-area heatsink from the cooling experts at CORSAIR keeps your storage cool and always at peak performance.
Multi-Level Cell (MLC) Endurance: Better reliability and higher performance than Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND SSDs.
High-Bandwidth, Low-Latency Storage: Easily handles demanding gaming, productivity, and content creation workloads.
Enhanced Error Correction: Additional error bit correction and improved data retention while supporting the latest generation, high endurance MLC NAND.
Static and Dynamic Wear-Leveling: Works with MLC NAND to contribute to an overall enhanced lifespan.
Compatible with CORSAIR SSD Toolbox: Support for over-provisioning, Secure Erase, disk cloning and firmware updates, or monitor S.M.A.R.T attributes and SSD health, all from your desktop.
Five-year Warranty: Dedicated support from the world-class CORSAIR customer support team.

Availability, Warranty and Pricing

The CORSAIR Neutron NX500 NVMe PCIe AIC SSD in 400GB and 800GB capacities are available immediately from the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors, as well as direct from the CORSAIR webstore.

*The CORSAIR Neutron NX500 NVMe PCIe AIC SSD in 1,600GB capacity will be available later in August, 2017.

All CORSAIR Neutron NX500 NVMe PCIe AIC SSDs are backed by a five-year warranty and the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.

For up-to-date pricing of the CORSAIR Neutron NX500 NVMe PCIe AIC SSD, please refer to the CORSAIR website or contact your local CORSAIR sales or PR representative.

Web Pages

For more information on the CORSAIR Neutron NX500 NVMe PCIe AIC SSD, please visit:

http://www.corsair.com/neutron-nx500-aic-ssd

For more information on the CORSAIR Solid State Drives, please visit:

http://www.corsair.com/ssd

Fallout 4 Game of the Year Edition Coming This September

2017/08/10

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

August 10, 2017 – Return to the Wasteland on September 26 with Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition. With all the latest gameplay updates (including Survival mode), graphical enhancements, the ability to play Mods for free on PC and consoles, plus all official add-ons included, this is the ultimate way to experience the award-winning post-nuclear adventure from Bethesda Game Studios.

Winner of more than 200 “Best Of” awards – including the 2016 BAFTA and 2016 D.I.C.E. Game of the Year – Fallout 4 is the studio’s most ambitious game yet. As the sole survivor of Vault 111, players enter a world destroyed by nuclear war. In a fight for survival they are faced with rebuilding and determining the fate of the Wasteland.

Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition includes the fully updated original game along with all six add-ons: Nuka-World, Vault-Tec Workshop, Contraptions Workshop, Far Harbor, Wasteland Workshop and Automatron. Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition will be available on September 26 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

To celebrate the Game of the Year Edition, a limited quantity of Fallout 4 G.O.T.Y. Pip-Boy collector editions will be made exclusively available in North America at select retailers. The Pip-Boy Edition includes Fallout 4 Game of the Year Edition and will retail for $99.99 USD, and will also release on September 26

Blood Bowl 2: Legendary Edition – Content Reveal Trailer

2017/08/10

Jerry Paxton

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

The Blood Bowl 2: Legendary Edition’s release is just around the corner! The highly anticipated Legendary Edition will bring in September a wealth of new content, notably all the official races and Star Players from the original board game! To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Content Reveal Trailer is now out, showcasing the latest teams and the newest features brought by the Legendary Edition.

The Legendary Edition doesn’t only bring 8 new races, many new Star-Players and cheerleaders gone wild: also brand new is the single-player mode Eternal League, an unending career as a coach for any of your available teams. Compete in matches across multiple seasons, participating in tournaments with different sizes and rules, as you keep evolving and levelling up your team.

The second new single-player mode is the Challenge Mode. This mode presents the player with crazy and wild match situations, which have to be solved within a single turn with a set of pre-rolled dice. These challenges could be anything from sending a Thrall six-feet-under, pushing an ogre off the pitch, or scoring the most improbable touchdown of your Blood Bowl career.

Beyond these exciting new features are the new Khemri stadium, even more insane matches with the All-Star teams and the Mixed Teams, and many new tools and options enriching an already deep multiplayer experience. These will be revealed as we get closer and closer to the release of Blood Bowl 2: Legendary Edition!

Blood Bowl 2 Legendary Edition will be available as a stand-alone game for newcomers, and as an affordable expansion for all Blood Bowl 2 players this September on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Pre-ordering the Legendary Edition or the Official Expansion on Steam will grant you a 10% discount and beta phase access. Pre-ordering the Legendary Edition will also instantly unlock Blood Bowl 2 base game + Team Pack races. Visit the official website for more info.