April 3, 2018 – A brand new, story-driven, RPG from developer 3Mind Games (stacked with veterans from Ubisoft, EA, and more), is in development for PC and set for release next year. As the first sprawling, narrative game from the studio, The Protagonist is aiming to entice fans of epic space operas such as Mass Effect with its rich, branching narrative and unique, turn-based combat system with flavors of XCOM and Divinity: Original Sin.
This first look into the combat-style and narrative of The Protagonist shows ANGEL and her comrade RADICAL engaging in deadly combat with a new race of alien foes, while the commanding voice of the Terran elite orders its citizens to take up arms against their oppressors.
Burbank, Calif. – April 4, 2018 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and independent game developer, IO Interactive, today announced a worldwide publishing and distribution agreement for the acclaimed international video game, HITMAN™. As part of this agreement, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will publish the HITMAN™: Definitive Edition, which will be available in retail stores for PlayStation®4 Pro computer entertainment system, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One X and Xbox One beginning May 15, 2018.
The HITMAN: Definitive Edition will feature new in-game disguises for Agent 47 inspired by classic IO Interactive titles – Freedom Fighters, Kane & Lynch and Mini Ninjas – celebrating the Danish studio’s 20th anniversary, in addition to all previously released content* and game updates from the first season of HITMAN.
“We’re very excited to be working with IO Interactive, a talented studio with a long-standing legacy creating the iconic HITMAN games,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The passionate, global HITMAN community has embraced the recent return of the series, and we’re thrilled to bring the HITMAN: Definitive Edition to fans and new players next month.”
“We’re super excited to be working with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on HITMAN and together releasing the HITMAN: Definitive Edition to new players,” said Hakan Abrak, CEO IO Interactive. “Working with a partner like WBIE means that the team at IOI can stay focused on what we’re good at, making games.”
The HITMAN: Definitive Edition will include the following content:
IO Interactive’s 20th Anniversary Outfit Bundle – Three new outfits inspired by Freedom Fighters, Kane & Lynch and Mini Ninjas
HITMAN Season One (Main Game) – Seven exotic locations from the first season, including Paris, Sapienza, Marrakesh, Bangkok, Colorado and Hokkaido, along with the ICA Facility
HITMAN Game of the Year Edition Content – Four missions from the Patient Zero Campaign, three themed Escalation Contracts that unlock three unique weapons, as well as the Clown Suit, Cowboy Suit and Raven Suit from the recent Game of the Year Edition digital release
HITMAN Summer Bonus Episode – Featuring ICA bonus missions in Sapienza and Marrakesh
HITMAN: Blood Money Requiem Pack – Including the Requiem Suit, Pale Duck Explosive and ICA Chrome Pistol
All featured Contracts, Escalation Contracts, Challenge Packs and game updates from HITMAN Season One and the HITMAN Game of the Year Edition
Please note that a portion of add-on content is not pre-loaded on the HITMAN: Definitive Edition disc and requires an internet connection. Additional content is approximately 12-24GB depending on platform.
*Elusive Targets that have already run and ended may not be available again as these are time limited events.
SAN FRANCISO – April 3, 2018 – Today, Ubisoft announced that Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Wildlands will get a second year of post-launch content, offering players new free contents, both in the campaign and the Ghost War PvP experience. The first major update entitled Special Operation 1 will be released on April 10 on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC
Ghost Recon Wildlands’ Year 2 will continue to deliver substantial post-launch support with four free major updates titled “Special Operations”, each of which will feature a unique theme, updates for the PvE campaign with special free missions and special challenges with exclusive rewards, updates for the Ghost War 4×4 PvP experience, as well as highly community-requested features.
The first update, called “Special Operations 1” launching on April 10 will contain:
Teammate Customization: The number one feature requested by the community, teammate customization will allow players to customize teammate outfits with all items they have unlocked for their own character.
PvP Update: A new game mode called “Sabotage” with five exclusive maps, the first of six new PvP classes for Year 2, and new perks and weapons.
PvE Update: A free special themed PvE mission and special challenge with exclusive rewards.
The Special Operation I includes the content planned for Updates 5 & 6 from the original Ghost War roadmap.
On top of that, Ubisoft announced Ghost Recon Wildlands’ Year 2 Pass offering seven-day early access to all the six new Year 2 Ghost War classes, an exclusive customization pack, and eight Battle Crates (four Special Ops crates and four Ghost War crates) to further customize players characters in the main game as well as in the Ghost War. Ghost Recon Wildlands Year 2 pass will be available digitally for $29.99.
Since the initial launch of Ghost Recon Wildlands in March 2017, Ubisoft Paris released 13 updates, including the launch of Ghost War – the 4v4 PvP mode – as well as The Predator special event and numerous updates to the core gameplay. With more than 10 million players worldwide, the Ghost Recon Wildlands team is committed to support the game, offering new free content and continued improvement of the core experience.
For more information about the contents of the Year 2 pass or Special Operation I, check out the trailer here:
Developed by Ubisoft Paris,* Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is a military shooter entirely playable in up to four-player co-op or single-player from beginning to end. Players have total freedom to accomplish their missions how they want and watch as the world reacts to their actions. Players can choose to move quietly in the night, go in hot at dawn or work together to execute a sync shot that takes out enemies in one fell swoop. Each choice has a consequence, and players must improvise or adapt their plans to ensure the completion and success of each mission. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands Ghost War allows players to live the ultimate co-op experience in 4v4 modes. Featuring a growing roster of classes, maps and modes, Ghost War focuses on teamwork, strategy and tense tactical engagements.
Venerable horror website, Dread Central, recently got into film production. Their newest offering, #SCREAMERS, takes audiences on a journey through the day to day operations of fictional web video content company Gigaler and the relationships between its employees. Well… that’s not what it is supposed to be about, but that’s really what it’s about. The first 45 minutes of the 120 minute film are spent inside the office of Gigaler as they film a behind the scenes video of how they work. Having worked at several web video companies, including at a website called SpikedHumor back in the mid 2000’s, I can tell you that this is VERY much how startups like this operate – personalities and all. Director/writer Dean Ronalds and Producer/writer Tom Malloy must have experience in this kind of environment to have nailed it so accurately.
The first fifteen minutes of the film introduces us to the main characters of the film, as well as several characters you only see once, as we tour their offices. Gigaler hosts videos (and advertisements) in the hopes that they go viral. When an anonymous source sends them a “screamer” video, they embark on a journey to find out why and who this person is. #SCREAMERS is presented in a found footage style and the cast all do great jobs portraying their characters. Tom Malloy is not just a producer, writer, and director of the film, he also plays the CEO of Gigaler, “Tom”. He portrays the charismatic and ego-driven startup CEO with scary accuracy while “Chris” (Chris Bannow) is the introverted and mild mannered co-creator and COO of the media site – also, playing his character with eerie accuracy. “Griffin” (Griffin Matthews) is the community manager and engagement specialist, scrolling through comments as well as researching what people are responding to. He is also one of the main handheld camera operators throughout the film.”Abbi” (Abbie Snee) is the company’s lead developer, working on the website and, to some extent, a learning algorithm that will track user behaviors.
Unfortunately, #SCREAMERS sets up these characters, and the realistic inter-office dynamic between them, yet never really pushes them or challenges them. We spend 45 minutes in their office and then 50 minutes with them touring upstate New York on the hunt for this anonymous party. There is no real horror or scary things in this entire time – about 95 minutes. So, when the scares start 20 minutes before the end of the film, I was hoping they would hit me like a UFC fighter, as well as challenge the characters to try and overcome them. What happens instead is very formulaic for these kinds of movies. With as different as this film was for all the non-horror stuff, I was hoping that things turned out different and maybe showed some character arc resolutions by time the credits roll. Then I wouldn’t have minded the last part of the film as much. For instance, and I hate spoiling things but this is a good example of what I mean: There are some hints that Abbi might have some sort of feelings for Chris earlier in the film but this is never realized. There is the personality conflict between Tom and Chris, but this never gets ironed out either. Again – if you are going to show us these relationships for 90% of the film, we want to see them play out – not just end up in a formulaic, 20 minute-long ending sequence.
Instead, I am left with a multitude of feelings about #SCREAMERS. On one hand, I liked Tom, Chris, Griffin, and Abbie! I would like to have seen their characters uncover some dark secrets and grow closer as a group, maybe turning the site into one that explores the paranormal or inexplicable web videos. The cast all plays so well off one another, and because this is not a horror film, but a film about them, I wanted to see more of them. On the other hand, the last twenty minutes are very formulaic for a found footage horror film and the whole thing doesn’t pay off anywhere near what I had hoped.
#SCREAMERS plays select U.S. cities on April 5th and 6th, and debuts on VOD April 17th through Dread Central Presents, the genre label from Epic Pictures.
Universal City, CA, Orlando, FL, April 3, 2018 – For the first time ever, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Singapore are partnering with Netflix to bring “Stranger Things” to life at this year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” events. Fans of the series will get the chance to brave the Upside Down and confront the supernatural as each park debuts all-new mazes inspired by season one of the critically-acclaimed series.
The parallel universe, referred to as the Upside Down that terrorized the small town of Hawkins, Indiana in Netflix’s mega-hit “Stranger Things,” will bring the chittering, predatory Demogorgon to “Halloween Horror Nights” to stalk unwitting guests as they encounter iconic scenes, characters and environments from the mesmerizing series.
Working collaboratively with Netflix, along with the creators and executive producer of the blockbuster series—Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer and Shawn Levy, the mazes at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Singapore will be authentic representations of “Stranger Things,” designed to transport guests into artfully recreated scenes and storylines. From the menacing Hawkins National Laboratory, under the U.S. Department of Energy, to the Byers home adorned with an erratic display of flashing Christmas lights and the eerie Upside Down woods oozing a shower of floating orb-like spores, the chilling new mazes will offer surprising twists and unexpected turns around every corner.
Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” is the ultimate Halloween event. For more than 25 years, guests from around the world have visited “Halloween Horror Nights” to become victims inside their own horror film. Multiple movie-quality mazes based on iconic horror television shows, films and original stories come to life season after season. And, the streets of each park’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing scare-actors lunge from every darkened corner.
Halloween Horror Nights begins Friday, September 14 in Hollywood and Orlando and on Friday, September 28 in Singapore. Additional details about the events will be revealed soon. Select tickets and vacation packages for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights are on sale now. For more information about “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort or Universal Studios Singapore, visitwww.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.
Airsoft chronographs have been relatively stable in terms of features until recently, with models that attach to rifles and some that even boast wireless communication. However, the basic chronograph hasn’t changed all that much. Acetech’s newest airsoft chronograph, the AC6000, is trying to push the basic chronograph to the next level and is, without a doubt, the most solid chronograph I have gotten the chance to use. The Acetech AC6000 features a plastic, dark gray body with silver accents and feels very well built. It measures roughly 5 inches by 4 inches with a height of 2.4 inches, making it easy to transport to a game in your tactical bag. It has a five-way control pad on the front as well as a power button and large LED screen. On the bottom of the AC6000, you’ll find a standard tripod mount as well as the battery door, which is easy to open and close. The Acetech AC6000 is powered by 4 AAA batteries and the battery life seems to be excellent – at least in my dealings with the unit. On the back of the chronograph, you’ll find a mini-USB port which is an additional way you can power the unit! It should be noted that this port will not charge batteries – just power the chronograph. Still, if you are out of batteries on the field but remembered to bring your USB battery, you are all set.
Functionally, the Acetech AC6000 airsoft chronograph features an enlarged, 36mm diameter tube with an increased number of sensors to accurately measure any projectiles passing through it. This enlarged tube diameter is an outstanding addition as it not only allows for more accurate readings but also less room for error based on where you are pointing the muzzle in relation to the chronograph. I am sure we are all aware of the frustration of shooting a BB into a chronograph only for it to display an OUT error or inconsistent number. This problem becomes worse when you have a bigger mock suppressor or flash hider on the airsoft gun.
The screen is super crisp
The LED screen of the Acetech AC6000 is beautiful and easily the best on any airsoft chronograph I have seen. It is bright, crisp, and using the directional control pad to navigate through the various menu options is straightforward. The AC6000 has a 25 shot memory in it so you can easily compare your readings when switching out BB weights. Also, you can change the BB weight on the measurement screen – this is a big deal as you usually have to change this setting on an entirely different screen. The entire Acetech AC6000 experience is based on providing a great user experience to the person using it.
Overall, the Acetech AC6000 airsoft chronograph is an exceptional choice for players looking to accurately measure their airsoft gun’s velocity. The Acetech AC6000 retails from $80 to $90 dollars depending on the retailer. This is on the higher-end of the airsoft chronograph price spectrum – however, the AC6000 is a high-end airsoft chronograph and that price point is just fine for the value and features you’re getting with it. You can also check on some popular airsoft retailer websites as there are coupon codes that can be applied to your purchase. It should be noted that Acetech does make a lesser-expensive airsoft chronograph called the AC5000, however that one does not have the same quality of display and larger tube diameter – not mention some other bonuses found on the AC6000.
It is an unfortunate aspect of video gaming that, sometimes, people can get addicted and take things too far. Some people have gamed for so long, without eating or drinking, that they even died at the keyboard! A less dramatic situation might be when you are playing a overnight session of your favorite MMO with a guild and can’t break away for sustenance. Ample might have a solution for you with their meal replacement shakes. Admittedly, I was off-put by how the Ample meal replacement shake comes to you. It is a bottled powder that, when mixed with water, milk, or juice becomes the meal replacement drink proper. I unscrewed the cap and smelled the contents. The tan colored, course powder had a neutral scent that alleviated my concerns. Now I was just curious what to mix it up with. I decided on non-fat milk and began carefully pouring the milk into the bottle. I filled it to the top of the label and shook it with a moderate amount of intensity. The powder blended up very well and I did not get nearly as many clumps as I expected – especially for a non-micronized powder.
After preparation, I opened the bottle again and took a swig. The taste was bland – not offensive at all but not very tasty. The consistency was a bit “iffy”, having a chalky texture that wasn’t that great – but, that’s what you get for having healthy oils and dietary fiber floating about. I finished my bottle and went about my business. Thankfully, the Ample meal replacement shake did help me feel fuller longer so that I didn’t have to eat a full meal for a while after. If you are looking to replace one of your daily meals with an Ample drink, I think you will be pleased with the results. I believe the secret of this is in the aforementioned dietary fiber. It tricks your body into feeling like it has eaten something better than other meal replacement drinks made mostly of sugar. Also, unlike some other meal replacement options I have digested, the Ample formula did not upset my stomach at all, which is a big benefit.
Nutritionally, I think it is important to read some of the ingredients in the mix, which Ample has kindly listed out, with verbosity, on the label. I am big on making sure I take in enough protein to support my workout routine. If the Ample meal replacement drink didn’t have enough, that would probably be a “deal-breaker” for me with regards to future usage. Thankfully, Ample has put 27 grams of the proteiny-goodness in each bottle! Furthermore each bottle has 10g of dietary fiber and 10g of unsaturated fats. The formula does have 10g of saturated fat and 490mg of sodium, so factor that into your diet before drinking. If you are using Ample as a true meal replacement, these shouldn’t affect you too much – but, as always, consult your doctor before going on any diet plan or trying any new meal replacement drinks. If the standard formula, which contains whey protein, is not your cup of meal replacement drink, Ample also offers both “ketogenic” and “vegan” formulas.
Overall, Ample meal replacement drinks do a good job of providing sustenance to you when needed – especially if you are unable to make a meal on your own due to whatever is going on in your life: Work, chores, or long gaming tournaments. Ample is available in a variety of sizes, formulas, and quantities. Check out the official website for more info!
LONG BEACH, Calif., (March 30, 2018) – The Queen Mary, dubbed one of the “Top 10 most haunted places on Earth” by Time Magazine, is pleased to announce the notoriously haunted StateroomB340 will once again be available for overnight guests starting Friday, April 13th. Featured on SYFY Channel’s Ghost Hunters and the British TV series Most Haunted, room B340 offers thrill seekers and scare enthusiasts the unique opportunity to spend the night in the axiom of all alleged paranormal activity at the Queen Mary. Room reservations will be available at 877-342-0742.
“Several of the cabins onboard the Queen Mary are considered haunted. But, the stateroom with the most infamous reputation is room B340,” said Stephen Sowards, General Manager of the Queen Mary. “The last time the room was occupied by a guest was in the 1980’s. For decades we’ve had thousands of visitors request to occupy the room, and after 30 years, we are excited to once again extend the offer to our guests.”
Stateroom B340 has a large volume of recorded paranormal activity with many stories of haunted encounters noted in the ship’s logs. Reports date back to the final ocean voyage in 1967 and include complaints from guests staying in B340 claiming that someone was knocking on the door in the middle of the night. Other complaints include bathroom lights turning on by themselves, the sink faucet turning on and off on its own, and unexplained bathroom doors shutting. Some guests have reported the covers of their bed being pulled off while asleep and waking to see a dark figure standing at the foot of the bed.
During voyage years, the space encompassed three third class staterooms, and has since been remodeled to become one large guest room suite. A perfect blend of authentic style and modern amenities, B340 is larger than the average cruise ship cabin. Featuring operable portholes and offering all the modern conveniences of a contemporary hotel, the famously haunted stateroom offers a true ocean liner experience. In addition to standard hotel room amenities, B340 will supply a chest with unique items available for guests to amplify their overnight haunt experience, including a Ouija board, tarot cards, crystal ball, and ghost hunting equipment.
The Queen Mary’s year-long haunted attractions and tours continue to draw thrill-seekers of all ages in 2018 with continued updates and enhancements. Since its soft opening in winter of 2017, the re-inspired Ghosts and Legends Tour has added more frights with a new scene, more ambient lighting, and elevated scare factors all in hopes to strengthen the presence of the Queen Mary’s resident ghosts. Additional haunted attractions offered onboard the Queen Mary include Paranormal Shipwalk, Dining with Spirits, and Paranormal Investigation. The Paranormal Investigation tour invites guests to join ship para-investigator and ParaXplorer Project founder Matthew Schulz as he leads visitor investigators into the depths of the RMS Queen Mary’s purported active locations.
Cabin reservations for stateroom B340 will be available for booking Friday, April 13, 2018 and start at $499 per night. Reservations are available at 877-342-0742. Check-in is at 3 p.m. and check-out is at 11 a.m. For more information, or to purchase tickets for the haunted attractions and tours, please visit queenmary.com
March 30, 2018 – Last night, FX Networks officially unveiled The LEGION Chamber, an artistic video installation inspired by the FX drama series Legion which allows fans to step inside a 360-degree micro-theatre featuring a one-of-a-kind presentation by the internationally-acclaimed Marco Brambilla Studio. An extraordinary visual art piece hosted at Goya Studios in Hollywood this weekend (March 30 – April 1) only, The LEGION Chamber takes fans on a surreal journey through main characterDavid Haller’s altered states of reality forcing them, like him, to question what is real and what is not. Once inside, participants will find themselves disconnected from the outside world – literally – and fully entrenched in David’s hypnotic digital realm. Legion, the acclaimed drama series from creator and executive producer Noah Hawley, will return to FX on Tuesday, April 3 at 10 PM ET/PT.
The LEGION Chamber hours and location details are below:
HOURS
Friday, March 30th – 11AM – 7PM
Saturday, March 31st – 11AM – 7PM
Sunday, April 1st – 10AM – 6PM
LOCATION
Goya Studios, Stage C
1541 N. Cahuenga Blvd Los Angeles, Ca 90028
For more information on how to experience The LEGION Chamber, go to facebook.com/legionfx.
WonderCon once again returned to the Anaheim Convention Center and we were fortunate enough to attend. The little brother to the San Diego Comic-Con, WonderCon sees tons of exhibitors, cosplayers, and fans turn out to shop and congregate. This year, there seemed to be a lot more attendees walking the show floor, perusing the exhibitor booths for things to purchase and ogle. Last year at WonderCon, I purchased an Ultra Saber and proudly wielded it around the floow while taking pictures. This year, I picked up a Soul of Chogokin Gypsy Danger being sold several days before its advertised street date!
The Anaheim Convention Center does have food for when you get hungry – although, I would highly recommend leaving the center for lunch and heading over to the Anaheim Hilton which is located smack dab against it. The Hilton there has a great restaurant that is not frequented by many con guests so you can usually get right in when all the other attendees slog it out in the food courts. The restaurant has great convention day burgers that I recommend. Outside the convention center, you could also find a long row of food trucks, all with their own style of cuisine. If you couldn’t find something you liked there, you were just lying to yourself.
Past the food trucks, one could find AMC’s The Terror Experience based on their new show, The Terror. The experience, like most experiences at conventions, was short, but a lot of fun and I hope it’s a harbinger of things to come for WonderCon. Small interactive installations are something that fans LOVE at San Diego Comic-Con and seeing someone do it at WonderCon was great. My only advice would have been to put the experience closer to the convention center instead of forcing guests to walk through food truck row – that place was super crowded and we almost couldn’t find the experience with as far down as it was.
Panels are a huge part of the San Diego Comic-Con, but WonderCon has steadily been gaining notice by the entertainment industry and this year saw some good panels – including one from Warner Bros. Pictures which featured the cast and crew of Ready Player One! Also fun were the Geek & Sundry panels – which also included a live taping of “Talks Machina”, the after show component of their popular web series, Critical Role.
Overall, this year’s WonderCon was the best yet, and a great warm up to what I hope to find at the San Diego Comic-Con in July.
