Author - Jennifer Paxton

EA Acquires Respawn Entertainment

2017/11/09
Jennifer Paxton
Geek News, Industry News, News

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.– Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced today an agreement to acquire Respawn Entertainment, LLC, a leading independent game development studio and creators of AAA shooter and action games including the critically-acclaimed Titanfall™ franchise. Respawn brings to EA the proven leadership and studio talent behind Titanfall andTitanfall 2, two of the most highly-rated shooter titles in the last five years. The acquisition builds on a successful publishing partnership between Respawn and EA, with multiple projects currently in development – a new title in the Titanfall franchise, a game set in the Star Wars™ universe and a VR gaming experience.

“We’ve seen firsthand the world-class caliber of Respawn as a development studio with incredible vision, deep talent and an inspiring creative mindset,” said Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts. “Our longtime partnership is grounded in a shared desire to push the boundaries and deliver extraordinary and innovative new experiences for players around the world. Together, we’ve brought this to life in the Titanfall franchise, and now with the Respawn team joining EA, we have exciting plans to accomplish even more amazing things in the future.”

“We started Respawn with the goal to create a studio with some of the best talent in the industry, and to be a top developer of innovative games,” said Vince Zampella, CEO of Respawn Entertainment. “We felt that now was the time to join an industry leader that brings the resources and support we need for long term success, while still keeping our culture and creative freedom. EA has been a great partner over the years with Titanfalland Titanfall 2, and we’re excited to combine our strengths. This is a great next step for Respawn, EA, and our players.”

Respawn is the creator and developer of the critically-acclaimed Titanfall franchise that energized the first-person shooter genre with its innovative gameplay. The first game, Titanfall, was published by EA in 2014, and received global recognition with more than 75 top awards. Fans and critics fell in love with the game’s refreshing, fast-paced multiplayer gameplay. Respawn and EA launched Titanfall 2 in late 2016, with a new single-player campaign and expanded multiplayer gameplay, resulting in one of the year’s top-rated shooters.

Respawn will join EA’s Worldwide Studios organization, a global creative collective of leading game development studios bringing to life an unmatched portfolio of top games and services across all major platforms.

Under the agreement, EA will pay $151 million in cash, and up to $164 million in long-term equity in the form of restricted stock units to employees, which will vest over four years. In addition, EA may be required to pay additional variable cash consideration that is contingent upon achievement of certain performance milestones, relating to the development of future titles, through the end of calendar 2022. The additional consideration is limited to a maximum of $140 million. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the calendar 2017 or soon thereafter, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The acquisition is expected to be neutral to EA’s net income in fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. EA has more than 300 million registered players around the world.

In fiscal year 2017, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.8 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™ and Plants vs. Zombies™. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

EA SPORTS, Battlefield, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. NBA, John Madden, NFL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. Titanfall is a trademark of Respawn Entertainment, LLC. STAR WARS © & TM 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

About Respawn Entertainment

Founded in 2010, Respawn Entertainment is an independent videogame development studio based in Los Angeles, California. Founded by the team behind the multi-billion dollar franchise Call of Duty, Respawn is responsible for creating the Titanfall franchise reaching nearly 20 million players worldwide. More information about Respawn is available at www.respawn.com.

Surf World Series Launch Trailer

2017/10/26
Jennifer Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Watford, United Kingdom, October 26th, 2017: Wired Productions, an independent videogames publisher and developer, and Vision Games Publishing are pleased to confirm that the lull is nearly over. Surf World Series is arriving globally at physical retail with an SRP of £15.99/€19.99/$19.99, November 10th.

Watch the release date trailer here:

Set across some of the world’s most iconic shorelines, Surf World Series dares players to compete in a series of breathtaking arcade surfing challenges in a bid to dominate the leaderboard. Developed by Climax Studios in partnership with Vision Games Publishing and Standfast Interactive, Surf World Serieschallenges players to carve up the surf:

  • Ride monster waves at 5 of the world’s most iconic shorelines, from the infamous Bell’s Beach, Australia, to the extreme waves at Waimea Bay, Hawaii
  • Become a master, learning increasingly difficult tricks along the way, from nailing kickflips and cutbacks to landing massive aerials and navigating treacherous tubes
  • Trick your way through 44 single player challenges, or carve up the competition online against 15 other players across 3 different online game modes
  • Perform surfing’s most intense tricks, including the Superman, Sushi Roll and many more!
  • Enjoy afternoon, evening, night, and bad weather variations with different waves and visual aesthetics.
  • Design your own signature surfer with 6 playable characters plus rank up to unlock thousands of customizations to define your own unique style.

For more information visit Surf World Series website, follow the game on Twitter or like it on Facebook.

Surf World Series, is available to buy now digitally, and will release at retail November 10th.

Robotech Visual Archive: The Macross Saga Art Book Announced

2017/10/26
Jennifer Paxton
Book News, Geek News, News

TORONTO, ONTARIO – October. 25, 2017 – Robotech is a sweeping science-fiction anime epic in which humans use a vast arsenal of transforming robotic mecha to defend the Earth against alien domination. The franchise has captivated fans for over 30 years, and is widely credited with popularizing anime around the world. Now, UDON Entertainment has teamed up with Harmony Gold to produce ROBOTECH VISUAL ARCHIVE: THE MACROSS SAGA – the ultimate collection of artwork assembled from Robotech’s first and most iconic era.

This 248-page hardcover tome gathers classic mecha designs, dynamic character artwork, early roughs, key art, storyboards, character profiles, and more. Mecha designs are accompanied by detailed tech specs and armament info, as well as text write ups. Additional material in the book includes a complete episode guide, an interview with Macross chief director Noboru Ishiguro, and a unique essay by Robotech producer Carl Macek on the development of the Robotech property and its place in anime history.

This book will be the first in a series of Robotech art books, with future volumes covering The Masters and The New Generation eras, as well as new material created to expand the Robotech universe for international audiences. ROBOTECH VISUAL ARCHIVE: THE MACROSS SAGA arrives in stores everywhere December 2017.

ROBOTECH VISUAL ARCHIVE: THE MACROSS SAGA
DETAILS: 248pg, 8.25×11.25”, Full Color, Hardcover
MSRP: $44.99USD
RELEASE DATE: December 2017
ISBN: 978-1772940596
DIAMOND CODE: JUN172052

Stargate Panel Announced for LA Comic Con

2017/10/24
Jennifer Paxton
Geek News, Movie News, News

October 24, 2017 – The Stargate franchise is coming to Stan Lee’s LA Comic Con! Special guests from the franchise will come together for the Stargate: Past, Present, and Future panel to discuss favorite moments from the franchise’s history and give a glimpse into the upcoming series, Stargate Origins. Beyond the panel, the Stargate Command team will be on-site all weekend long at the official Stargate Command booth and photo experience, giving fans a chance to score free giveaways, check out the new digital platform, grab a photo right on the ramp to the stargate, and interact with fellow Stargate fans.

WHEN: Saturday, October 28th at 12:00PM PT

WHERE: Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con, Spotlight Room at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90015

MORE:   It’s been 20 years since Stargate SG-1 premiered, and nearly 25 years since viewers took their first trip through the Gate to an ancient world with the original film. Now, Stargate is officially back with the new Stargate Command digital platform and upcoming original mid-form series Stargate Origins. Go through the gate with Damian Beurer (Host, Legion M co-founder), Chris Judge (Emcee & Actor, SG-1), Mercedes Bryce Morgan (Director, Stargate Origins), and Ellie Gall (Catherine Langford in Stargate Origins) to revisit the franchise’s iconic history and look forward to an exciting new chapter. With exclusive sneak peeks, these key players in the Stargate universe—new and old—will dial home to celebrate its storied past and share behind the scenes insights into the highly anticipated new series.

Horror Rewind Halloween Attraction Announced in Los Angeles

2017/10/06
Jennifer Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News

October 6, 2017 – Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings some their most terrifying horror films to life when HORROR REWIND arrives in Downtown Los Angeles the weekend of Friday the 13th. Taking place over the course of three nights, this immersive experience is produced by The Great Company in collaboration with the creators of premiere interactive horror theater Delusion.

In a secluded corner of the Arts District of Los Angeles, a deranged horror movie super fan, has created a living, breathing installation in homage to his four favorite films (THE FLY, THE HILLS HAVE EYES, 28 DAYS LATER and CARRIE). In tribute to these films, he has trapped innocent civilians inside and transformed them into demented and deformed monsters, forced to live-out his most terrifying celluloid nightmares.

For those who make it out alive, forget what your mother told you and stop by the ominous van parked outside. There you’ll be able to feed your own macabre obsessions and purchase any of 19 brand new Blu-rays featuring collectible packaging cover designs by acclaimed digital artist Orlando Arocena.  Limited edition posters of Arocena’s work will also be available as a gift with purchase while supplies last.

Fans can also purchase the full line-up of the Halloween faceplates from Arocena here: http://bit.ly/FoxHalloweenWM

Admission is free but ticketing is EXTREMELY limited and on a FIRST-COME-FIRST SERVE BASIS!

Guests must register in advance at HORRORREWIND.EVENTBRITE.COM to receive an appointment day and time.

A limited number of standby tickets will also be available via the above website.

WHEN: Friday, October 13 – Sunday, October 15
8pm – Midnight
WHERE: Arts District, Downtown Los Angeles
Exact location to be revealed upon confirmation of appointment.

Knott’s Scary Farm 2017 Review

2017/09/28
Jennifer Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, Haunted Attraction Review, News, Reviews

Knott’s Scary Farm, the progenitor of theme park wide Halloween events, is back for 2017 with some new mazes as well as updates to its returning ones. Also, there are hints that old habits are coming back for the better! Should you attend this year’s Scary Farm? Read on to learn more.

Knott’s Scary Farm feels like an event in a sort of transition. When park management changed several years ago, the new boss laid out rules that Scary Farm decorations, facades, etc should not interfere with day operations. As a result, the park ended up moving four of its haunted houses to the backstage area which, no matter how they try to theme it, is just a big parking lot. Also gone were the in-ride haunted experiences found within the Calico Mine Ride and Timber Mountain Log Ride. Before this, haunted houses were constructed in the park proper, which gave guests reasons to visit each of the park’s themed zones. Also, Scary Farm decorations and overlays were up during normal business hours, meaning that guests coming to visit the park during the day would be enticed into returning for the Scary Farm to see what it was all for (I know that’s one of the reasons my family started attending back in 1991).

There has been another change in park management, with new directives. The result is that this year’s Knott’s Scary Farm feels like a harbinger of great things to (hopefully) come next year! The decorations, facades, and overlays are starting to return. The Timber Mountain Log Ride now has an in-ride overlay which feels like a welcome return to the event’s roots. The park’s venerable Ghost Town zone has a slew of cobwebs and creepy crawlies attached to buildings and other things. The sheer number of cobwebs alone gives me goosebumps and was a great call by park designers! Next year, I hope to see even more of a return to yesteryear and that they bring those haunted houses from the backstage area into the park again. Also, we’d love to see a haunted experience in the Calico Mine Ride again.

Moving on to the Scary Farm’s new mazes, we have Pumpkin Eater and Dark Ride. Pumpkin Eater is a gruesome maze with lots of gory eye-candy. It puts guests on the trail of a dark and mysterious creature known as the Pumpkin Eater that terrorizes a small town. The maze looks great, has some terrific scares, and is a great addition to the Scary Farm lineup. Dark Ride sends guests through a broken down carnival dark ride that has been taken over by shunned circus performers and carnival workers. The maze does a great job of presenting its fictional dark ride to guests, even having a faux ride track, animatronics, and corny jump scares that one finds on the real thing. My only complaint, if you could call it that, was hoping that guests would actually get pushed around the maze in a ride car in the way that Jon Cooke, designer of the maze, was in the Scary Farm preview event – even if only a part of the way through.

The returning mazes all have something new about them – some gimmicks working better than others, so I wanted to start with the best of them: Trick or Treat: Lights Out. Remotely-controlled flashlights and lanterns have been a hit-or-miss technology in the haunted attractions industry. They are prone to interference, breakage, and the elements at large. Simply put: The usually don’t work! In the case of my walkthrough of Trick or Treat: Lights Out, it worked splendidly. They have turned the lights of the returning maze off and given each guest a remotely-controlled flashlight. Throughout the course of the maze, your light will flicker, change intensity, hue, and even vibrate for feedback! The technology has never been presented better than in this maze and it gave a whole new life to the experience. Of course, now the issue will be to see if the Scary Farm can properly maintain the lights if they want to use them again next year (or through the end of the run, for that matter).

Shadow Lands, which was one of my favorite mazes in 2016, is back with some new route changes, decor updates, and new creatures. There isn’t much more to say about Shadow Lands, save for the fact that it is still awesome in every way a haunted house can be awesome! Special Ops: Infected is back with some new set pieces, including a tank! The fast and furious zombie shooting haunted house has a leader board now so you can track your number of kills. It seems like the light guns are holding up well and I think it would be great to see this return again next year. Voodoo also returns and, this time, guests go through the maze backwards. It may seem a bit gimmicky but the reversal of the route does actually give Voodoo new life. It could probably go another year in reverse before needing replacement. Tooth Fairy, a maze in desperate need of replacement, returns with a new Tooth Fairy creature as well as some other new surprises near the end of the maze. It is still gruesome and scary but is showing its age. Paranormal Inc. is another maze which, while still fun, should probably be replaced next year. And, I don’t mean replaced completely – it would be cool to see them do a new maze in the next fictional episode of the Paranormal Inc series. Finally, Red Barn returns with its crew of redneck cannibal folk and is holding its own. It was launched in 2016, and still has something to offer guests in the way of scares.

The street zones have always been a big part of the Knott’s Scary Farm experience, and 2017 is a GREAT year for them. In Ghost Town Streets, the decorations are in full effect and the monsters are doing a great job – even on the always rocky first night of performance. I expect it will just get even better as they settle into their roles. The CarnEVIL area of the park has some new set pieces for the clowns to work with and the Dark Ride maze also gives them some material as they can assault the guests waiting to get inside. Camp Snoopy, known as The Hollow during the Scary Farm, is killing it thanks to its characters creating backstory. Last year, the witches of the Hollow began doing impromptu shows, fleshing out their backstories and adding a lot of flavor to the zone. This year, they have park-backing and special effects to work with as well! Fiesta de los Muertos is back, and does a great job given the brightness of the area and lack of fog to use as concealment. With the heart that the scare actors put into this zone, I hope park management will give them some new set pieces and decor next year instead of using the area to prop up a DJ stage and dance zone (who comes to the Scary Farm to dance?).

The in-ride overlay has returned for 2017 in the Timber Mountain Log Ride “Halloween Hootenanny”. The decorations stay up during the day, giving guests some fun Fall flavor, while the scares ramp up in the evening. In case I haven’t mentioned this enough in this review: In-ride overlays and haunt experiences are excellent and should be done more next year! Now we just need to get monsters back in the Calico Mine Ride!

Of course, no trip to Knott’s Scary Farm would be complete without taking in Elvira’s show! According to the Mistress of the Dark, this will be her final year at Knott’s Scary Farm, so be sure to check it out! As for her last show – how was it? It was a blast! Lots of yucks, dancing, and more. If you are a fan of Elvira or the Scary Farm, you need to make time to see it. Also returning is the park’s venerable stage show, The Hanging. This year’s show has a ton of material to pull from and manages, more or less, to walk the line between tasteless and funny. It’s not the strongest year I have seen for The Hanging, but definitely not the worst!

Overall, the 2017 Knott’s Scary Farm is terrific, and a bright harbinger of things to hopefully come to the park in 2018. If you like the log ride overlay, extra decorations, etc I urge you to grab someone working for the event during your visit and let them know. It is important to let park management know that these changes are the right course of action for the event. Knott’s Scary Farm runs on various days throughout October. You can find park and ticket information at its official website.

 

Buffy Gifting Suite Awaits New York Comic-Con Attendees

2017/09/22
Jennifer Paxton
Geek News, News

Los Angeles, CA (September 22, 2017) – The 20th Anniversary celebration of Buffy the Vampire Slayer continues with a one-of-a-kind fan experience during New York Comic-Con.  For years celebrities have been invited to gifting suites to fill up their bags with complimentary items, but this time Buffy’s loyal fandom will have the opportunity to do the same at the Buffy Fan Gifting Suite.  The New York City suite will be open for one day only on Friday, October 6th from 1 – 6 PM allowing attendees to choose a few items from a wide-assortment of Buffy merchandise – from apparel and accessories to games and brand new books – all for FREE!

Starting today, fans of the iconic series can select a gifting suite appointment time and find additional details by visiting BuffySlays.com – the new online shopping destination from 20th Century Fox Consumer Products showcasing exclusive Buffy merchandise. While registration for the Buffy Fan Gifting Suite is on a first come first serve basis, wait list information will be posted in the days ahead on the Buffy Facebook page. A New York Comic Con badge is not a requirement to access the gifting suite.

The Buffy Fan Gifting Suite will feature a wide variety of apparel, merchandise, and unique collectibles that have been released this year in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the iconic TV show.  Highlights below of participating partners with a selection of downloadable images here.

  • The gifting suite will feature a selection of exclusive Buffy merchandise from Fox Consumer Product’s all-new shopping portal, BuffySlays.com. Items currently available now for purchase include a Buffy varsity jacket, a selection of unique tees, mugs, blankets, notebooks, posters and more.
  • Releasing next month, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Official Grimoire: A Magickal History of Sunnydale (Insight Editions) is the first and only truly comprehensive collection of every magical moment from all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, humorously narrated by beloved resident witch Willow Rosenberg. Completely illustrated and annotated by the rest of the gang, this book of spells is a unique keepsake for fans of the Buffy-verse and an incredible celebration of the show’s twenty-year legacy. This grimoire from the baddest witch around will teach potential slayers and aspiring wiccans everything they’ll ever need to know about magic in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
  • Buffy: Demons of the Hellmouth, from Titan Books, is a fully licensed guide to the vampires and other demons that flocked to the Sunnydale Hellmouth.  This in-universe illustrated guide is written by Rupert Giles, and also contains handwritten notes from Buffy and Willow.
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer Encyclopedia: The Ultimate Guide to the Buffyverse (Harper Design) is a comprehensive, authorized compendium of all things Buffy the Vampire Slayer, published in celebration of the revered show’s twentieth anniversary. Coming October 3rd, fans can discover Buffy’s world fully with this full-color A-to-Z encyclopedia that catalogs, explains, and cross-references every detail of the Buffyverse, from characters, locations, and weapons to episodes, demons, and recurring gags. Packed with content from the television show, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Encyclopedia is the first companion book that also includes key facts from the official canon comics and its spin-off show Angel—making this comprehensive volume the only truly complete guide to the entire Buffyverse. Lavishly produced and written by Buffy experts, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Encyclopedia is the authoritative source for fans, allowing them to indulge in the intricacies and nuances of the series as never before. With color stills and photography throughout, an eerie cover with special effects, and an incredible design that reflects the show’s aesthetics, this fully authorized companion is a must-have for all Buffy enthusiasts.
  • Funko, purveyor of pop culture and licensed-focused collectibles, will feature at the gifting suite their brand new Funko Rock Candy: Buffy the Vampire Slayer-Willow Collectible Figure, and Funko Rock Candy Vampire Slayer-Buffy Collectible Figure. Additionally, Funko’s New York Comic Con booth (#722) will offer an exclusive Buffy the Vampire Slayer Pop! 2-pack! (Buffy & Faith). Following NYCC, this 2-Pack will only be only available at BoxLunch stores and BoxLunch.com.  BoxLunch, a cause-driven pop-culture gift store, offers fans numerous Buffy items to purchase including apparel, accessories and collectibles. For every $10 spent in-store or online, BoxLunch helps provide a meal to a person in need through their partnership with Feeding America.*
  • The team of imaginative pop culture fanatics at Ripple Junction have locked themselves in the library and studied up on the last 20 years of fandom celebrating Buffy.  Ripple Junction has developed a full line of tees for young men and women available at major retail outlets, as well as ripplejunction.com and Amazon.com.
  • Releasing on October 3rd from Simon & Schuster, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 20 Years of Slaying: The Watcher’s Guide Authorized. A special hardcover collector’s edition of the authorized Buffy the Vampire Slayer Watcher’s Guides, now with updated content from the cast and crew! Just in time for the show’s twentieth anniversary, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Watcher’s Guides have been compiled into one hardcover collector’s edition for the first time! Inside, you’ll find all the best content from Volumes 1–3 of the original Watcher’s Guides, as well as exclusive new content, including never-before-seen interviews with the cast and crew.
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer Adult Coloring Book (Dark Horse) – Enter the world of the Slayer, the Chosen One who wields the skill to fight vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness–  Favorite characters and moments from the beloved television series are represented in this delightful adult coloring book. Contains 45 black-and-white, detailed, and original illustrations.
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Big Bads & Monsters Adult Coloring Book (Dark Horse) brings to life these ready-to-color pages filled with your favorite Big Bads and monsters in your own way in this follow-up to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Adult Coloring Book. Forty-five original black and white illustrations give you the Chosen One and all the Scoobies, and a rogues gallery of the very worst and most interesting vampires, demons, witches, and more, interspersed with elements of magic, a little humor, and the heart of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
  • From Jasco, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Board Game where players must help Buffy The Vampire Slayer protect Sunnydale from the forces of evil in this fully cooperative board game.
  • Hot Topic, the retail destination for music and pop-culture inspired clothes and accessories, plus fashion apparel for girls and guys is celebrating 20 years of slaying. Hot Topic offers a wide selection of Buffy merchandise inspired by beloved characters from the show including Willow’s iconic pink, fuzzy sweater, tops featuring memorable quotes from the series, and more.
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Vampyr Stationery Set includes a 192-page blank pocket journal, 20 blank notecards featuring iconic Buffy quotes, envelopes, and 20 Hellmouth sticker seals. Enclosed in a keepsake box designed to look like it came from Giles’ library, this special stationery set allows fans to share the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with their fellow Scoobies. (Insight Editions)
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Vampyr Hardcover Ruled Journal includes a section of text adapted from the original Slayer Handbook before giving way to blank ruled pages. Atmospheric, engrossing, and designed with a dynamic in-universe aesthetic, this blank ruled journal invites readers to add their own story to the legacy of the Slayer. (Insight Editions)
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sunnydale High Hardcover Ruled Journal is a finely crafted writing journal that includes a ribbon bookmark, elastic closure, inside back pocket for storage, and beautiful leatherette cover featuring the iconic emblem of Sunnydale High. (Insight Editions)
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Season 8 Vol 1 (Dark Horse) A New York Times bestseller! Series creator Joss Whedon brought Buffy the Vampire Slayerback to life with this comics-only follow-up to Season 7 of the television show. Aptly named Season 8, these comics are the official sequel to Buffy and continue where the live-action series left off with the Slayer, her friends, and their ongoing challenge to fight the forces of darkness. This oversized omnibus edition is one of two volumes that will contain the entirety of Season 8. Contains Buffy Season 8 Library Edition Volumes 1-2 (excluding sketchbook materials), all series covers (Buffy Season 8 #1-#20), the Willow one-shot Goddesses and Monsters, and the “Always Darkest” short from MySpace Dark Horse Presents #24.

About Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The series, created by Joss Whedon, premiered on the WB Network on March 10th, 1997. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated series, which ran for seven seasons from 1997-2003, stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers. Chosen to battle vampires, demons and other forces of darkness, Buffy is aided by a Watcher who guides and teaches her as she surrounds herself with a circle of friends called the “Scooby Gang.”

About 20th Century Fox Consumer Products

20th Century Fox Consumer Products licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of 20th Century Fox Film, 20th Century Fox Television and FX Networks, as well as third party lines.  The division is aligned with 20th Century Fox Television, the flagship studio leading the industry in supplying award-winning and blockbuster primetime television programming and entertainment content and 20th Century Fox Film, one of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures throughout the world.

*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks. BoxLunch guarantees a minimum of 5,000,000 meals (monetary equivalent of $500,000) to Feeding America and member food banks from Feb 2, 2017 to Jan 31, 2018. Meal claim valid as of 7/1/17 and subject to change. Feeding America – 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60601, Tel: 800.771.2303

Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights Opens with Red Carpet

2017/09/18
Jennifer Paxton
Geek News, Halloween, News, Screenshots / Photos

Universal City, CA, September 15, 2017 – “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood got off to a terrifying start this evening as Hollywood celebrities paraded along the red carpet to celebrate Southern California’s most extreme Halloween event.

“Halloween Horror Nights” dates are: September 15-16, 22-23, 28-30, October 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 25-29, 31 and November 2-4, 2017.

Attending celebrity guests included Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day), Israel Broussard (Happy Death Day), Tobin Bell (SAW franchise), Leigh Whannell (Insidious, SAW), Blumhouse Productions’ Jason Blum (Happy Death Day, Insidious, Get Out), Frank Grillo (The Purge:  Anarchy, The Purge: Election Year); Matthew Passmore (JIGSAW), Jennifer Tilly (Child’s Play), Tom Payne (“The Walking Dead”), Emily Kinney (“The Walking Dead”), Jabbawockeez,  Slash (Musician),  Christian Navarro (“13 Reasons Why”), Vanessa Hudgens (“Powerless”), Guillermo Diaz (“Scandal”), Jaime Camil (“Jane the Virgin”), Jordan Clarkson (LA Lakers, NBA Player), Lisa Edelstein (“Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce), and John Murdy, Creative Director at Universal Studios Hollywood and Executive Producer of “Halloween Horror Nights,” among others.

“Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood, brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror. The popular event features a new slate of unrivaled film and television production quality mazes, frightful scare zones and a re-imagined “Terror Tram” experience – all uniquely themed to today’s most definitive horror properties.

Touting more mazes than ever, this year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” lineup includes: “The Shining,” inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s psychological thriller; “American Horror Story: Roanoke,” based on FX’s critically-acclaimed, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning television series; “The Horrors of Blumhouse,” featuring iconic and unnerving moments from The Purge franchise, Sinister movies and upcoming Happy Death Day, inspired by prolific filmmaker Jason Blum’s blockbuster films; “Insidious: Beyond the Further,” based on Universal Pictures and Sony Picture’s upcoming supernatural thriller Insidious franchise including, Insidious: The Last Key; “Ash vs. Evil Dead,” based on Starz’s comedy horror television series; “SAW: The Games of Jigsaw,” inspired by the SAW film series and the upcoming series installment, JIGSAW; “Titans of Terror,” which unites slasher film villains, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Leatherface; and “The Walking Dead” attraction inspired by AMC’s record-breaking television series.

The all-new “Titans of Terror Tram: Hosted by Chucky” ratchets up the scares, transporting guests into a nightmare of carnage on the world-famous studio backlot, pitting guests against Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Leatherface and the infamous serial killer doll, Chucky. The Jabbawockeez award-winning hip hop dance crew also returns by popular demand.

Tickets to this year’s event are available for purchase at www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood. Advance purchase is recommended as event nights will sell out for all ticket options, including the all-new R.I.P. Tour, the After 2 p.m. Day/Night Combo Ticket, the Frequent Fear Pass and must-have Front-of-Line ticket.  Guests electing to purchase the After 2 p.m. Day/Night Combo Ticket can enjoy the park’s popular daytime attractions such as “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Fast and Furious—Supercharged” on the world-famous Studio Tour by day, then step into the mazes and attractions located throughout the park to experience the terror of “Halloween Horror Nights” for one admission price.

The ever popular Frequent Fear Pass allows fans, who just can’t get enough of “Halloween Horror Nights,” to visit multiple times throughout the run of the event.  The in-demand Front-of-Line ticket to “Halloween Horror Nights” is also available enabling guests to enjoy one-time priority access to all the mazes, attractions, the all-new Terror Tram experience and new Jabbawockeez hip hop dance performance.

For updates and exclusive “Halloween Horror Nights” content, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood, like Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood on Facebook; follow @HorrorNights #UniversalHHN on Instagram, Twitter,Snapchat and Periscope; and watch the terror come to life on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War Interactive Trailer

2017/09/18
Jennifer Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

September 18, 2017 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today launched a NEW “Campaign That Never Forgets: Friend or Foe” bringing to life the videogame that never forgets, Middle-earth: Shadow of War. Beginning with an interactive live-action film directed by Neil Huxley (Avatar, Watchmen) and shot by Director of Photography, Fabian Wagner (Game of Thrones), the “Campaign That Never Forgets” faithfully recreates the award-winning Nemesis System, driving viewers to make key story decisions during the siege of a fortress in Mordor.

Those decisions then result in a personal relationship with a specific Orc as a loyal ally or vengeful enemy, which will extend beyond the interactive trailer and follow viewers across the internet, emulating the gameplay experience created by the Nemesis System. In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, players now have entirely new ways to journey through the dynamic world, with more choices and opportunities than ever before due to addition of Orc Followers. Whether spared, scarred, recruited or marked, every encounter will be remembered and help fuel the dynamics of society and conflict within Mordor, all brought to life through the expanded Nemesis System.

The interactive live-action film kicking off the Official Middle-earth: Shadow of War “Campaign That Never Forgets” can be viewed and shared at https://shadowofwar.com/.