QuakeCon 2017 Dates Announced
QuakeCon 2017 will return to Dallas on August 24-27, Bethesda has announced.
The largest bring your own computer (BYOC) LAN party in North America is open to the public for free and will take place at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. A special room rate at the resort is being offered to QuakeCon attendees for $185 per night.
Over two thousand BYOC seats will be available at the event, but other "diverse activities" are being offered for those who choose not to bring a computer, according to Bethesda. Attendees will get sneak peeks of upcoming Bethesda games as well as the ability to attend presentations, tournaments, workshops, and exhibits from leading tech companies.
Accel World vs. Sword Art Online Announced for PS4, Vita
Bandai Namco today announced Accel World vs. Sword Art Online, a new anime crossover RPG from the author of both series, Reki Kawahara. It will launch digitally on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in Summer 2017.
Check out some images from the game in the gallery below.
The original story from Kawahara involves the worlds of Sword Art Online and Accel World, chaotically merging into one. As the merging unfolds, skilled Alfheim Online players from Sword Art Online and Burst Linkers from Accel World join forces to stop the Seven Kings of Pure Color.
Players construct three-person teams composed of favorite characters from both franchises, combining skills like magic and fairy flight from Sword Art and special techniques from Accel World. An online multiplayer mode will let you team up in battle with three friends.
Star Wars: Here’s Every Announcement Poster
As readers surely know by now, the news came earlier this week that Star Wars: Episode VIII will be called Star Wars: The Last Jedi. That of course got fans to speculatin' about the nature of the title -- who is the last Jedi? And also, why is the logo's font in the first poster for the film red?
You'll have to click through the links above for more on those burning questions, but below you'll find a quick slideshow of every Star Wars announcement poster ever released. From the original film (before it was even called A New Hope) to the prequel films and of course up through The Force Awakens, Rogue One and now The Last Jedi, see them all right here:
11 Relaxing Video Games for De-Stressing
Note - this piece was first published in 2017, but we thought you could use some relaxation this week.
When we think about our favorite gaming moments, we tend to think of the high-octane stuff: car chases, escaping heavily-armed guards, racking up a kill streak in the final moments of an online game...
But there’s another side to games, too: the peaceful ones that offer us some much-needed variety and help us de-stress at the end of a long day.
If you’re looking for calmer games to help you unwind, here’s our list of gaming’s most relaxing titles.
Professor Layton and The Unwound Future commands no extensive knowledge of video game logic, which makes it appropriate for both experienced and inexperienced players. Made up of riddles, visual challenges, and brain teasers, it’s great for both long play sessions and short bursts. It’s this engrossing playstyle and the stunning animated presentation that make it an exceptional short-term antidote to stress.
New Beauty and the Beast Character Posters Released
Ahead of Beauty and the Beast's debut this March, Disney has released a fresh batch of new character posters, spotlighting the core cast of its upcoming live-action film.
See Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, and many more in the gallery below.
In addition to Watson, Stevens, and Evans, the film stars Kevin Kline as Maurice, Josh Gad as Lefou, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.
Beauty and the Beast opens in theaters on March 17, and is directed by Bill Condon. While you wait for its release, check out this teaser for a sneak peek at Emma Watson singing as Belle, and then find out what Stevens recently had to say about the physical challenges of playing the Beast.
Smallville’s Vandervoort Joins the New Saw Movie
Saw: Legacy, the eight installment in Lionsgate's horror franchise, will star Laura Vandervoort and Hannah Anderson.
As reported by Variety, Vandervoort and Anderson are the first two cast members to have been announced for the upcoming film. Saw: Legacy was filmed this past November and is currently in post-production.
In addition to appearing in the film Ted, Vandervoort played Indigo in the Supergirl TV series, and previously starred as Kara Zor-El herself in Smallville.
Vandervoort as Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) in Smallville
Obsidian Announces Pillars of Eternity 2
A fan-funding campaign for a follow-up to 2015's Pillars of Eternity, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, is now live.
Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind Fallout: New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and the original Pillars of Eternity, launched the campaign on Fig. The campaign has an overall goal of $1.1 million USD.
According to Obsidian, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire "improves upon the rich narrative, beautiful environments, and intricate, tactical combat" that helped make the first game a success.
The sequel sees players return to the world of Eora, this time to explore the Deadfire Archipelago. Traveling "by land and sea," players move from island to island, exploring the environments and smoothing out relations between the locals, "trading companies, and bands of fierce pirates."
Logan: New Poster Features Weathered Wolverine
In anticipation of its debut this March, 20th Century Fox has released a new poster for Logan.
Check out poster below for a close-up look at the weathered and scarred face of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine.
In addition to Jackman, Fox's third and final Wolverine film stars Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Richard E. Grant as Dr. Zander Rice, and Dafne Keen as Laura Kinney (aka the genetic clone X-23).
Comic Book Reviews for January 25, 2017
It was another big week of comics as January draws to a close. DC wrapped up their Justice League vs. Suicide Squad crossover while kicking off new series like Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77 and Odyssey of the Amazons. Marvel delivered the long-awaited Civil War II: The Oath #1 and the final chapter of the Deadpool 2099 storyline. Elsewhere, Image released new issues of Saga and reborn while IDW gave Back to the Future fans a closer look at the rise of Biff Tannen.
Scroll down to check out our reviews for these and various other new releases, and be sure to let us know your favorite books of the week in the comments below.
Update - we've added an early review for AfterShock Comics' Animosity: The Rise #1, which is due in stores next week.
Ace Combat 7 Now Coming to Xbox One and PC Too
It had previously only been announced for the PlayStation 4, but Bandai Namco has announced that Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown will be coming to PC and Xbox One as well.
PlayStation 4 players will be able to play sections of the game developed specifically for the PSVR headset. There has been no word yet on whether these VR sections will also eventually make their way to the PC version.
Bandai Namco promises "fierce air combat experiences," and "a multitude of authentic and futuristic aircrafts to fly." It sounds like there will be a mix of modern weaponry and "near-future super weapons" at your disposal during your dogfights.
Sunao Katabuchi, writer of Ace Combat 4 and 5, is making a return to the series as lead writer for Skies Unknown's single player campaign. There will also be multiplayer modes, but details are slim for them so far.