There’s a new NCIS show called NCIS: New Orleans and the first season is now available on DVD – and here is our spoiler free review.
NCIS: New Orleans, a spin off series from NCIS, features Agent Dwayne Cassius “King” Pride (Scott Bakula) as the head of a dedicated team of Navy investigators in New Orleans, consisting of Special Agent Christopher Lasalle (Lucas Black), Special Agent Meredith Brody (Zoe McLellan), coroner Dr. Loretta Wade (CHH Pounder) and Forensic Scientist Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich).
NCIS: New Orleans had it’s pilot as a two part episode of NCIS during it’s 11th season in a story called Crescent City. Thankfully that two part episode is included as part of the 6-disc set.
Scott Bakula plays Agent Dwayne “King” Pride, and fans of both Quantum Leap and Star Trek: Enterprise will be happy to see him back on their screens.
During some of the early episodes, characters from NCIS make the occasional appearance, sometimes it feels like the producers felt NCIS: New Orleans needed them, but after a few episodes this stops, so when a character from NCIS does show up its actually a welcome addition rather than feeling a little forced.
Fans of JAG, the show that NCIS originally span off from will recognise Zoe McLellan who in JAG played Petty Office Jennifer Coates in a lot of the episodes. She is playing a different character here but it does take a little getting used to if you watched a lot of JAG!
The 6-DVD set includes all 23 episodes of the first season, plus the two episodes of NCIS, plus a number of special features making the set one to own if you are a fan.
Here’s a short behind the scenes clip:
All in all NCIS: New Orleans had a promising first season, with the right balance of action and story, and I look forward to seeing what they do with season two. If you are a fan of NCIS, or you like procedural drama’s then definitely check out NCIS: New Orleans.
NCIS: New Orleans is available now on DVD from Universal Pictures (UK).
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe has announced today that PROJECT X ZONE 2 is now available on Nintendo 3DS.
With more than 400 000 units sold, the first game in this original series surprised both fans and press with its massive line-up: combining highly tactical gameplay and unique humour! With this new opus, PROJECT X ZONE positions itself as one of the biggest mashup strategy games ever!
Among the famous franchises depicted, PROJECT X ZONE 2 features series such as TEKKEN, TALES OF VESPERIA, GOD EATER or SOUL CALIBUR (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment), along with DEVIL MAY CRY, STREET FIGHTER or RESIDENT EVIL series (CAPCOM) and even Sakura Wars, YAKUZA: Dead Souls or Virtua Fighter (SEGA Interactive Co., Ltd./ SEGA Games Co., Ltd). In addition and exclusively, three guests from NINTENDO Series are also playable: CHROM and LUCINA from FIRE EMBLEM AWAKENING and FIORA from XENOBLADE CHRONICLES.
“Doing a collaboration with publishers such as Sega and Capcom is a delight. On Project X Zone 2, we cooperated with the desire of giving the fans an opportunity to play as their favourite characters among dozens of renowned franchises. And everyone will enjoy it thanks to the addition of subtitles in French, Italian, German and Spanish!” said Hervé Hoerdt, Vice President of Marketing & Digital at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe.
PROJECT X ZONE 2 is now available in stores and via the NINTENDO eShop.
Io-Interactive invites players to join Agent 47 on his very first assignment for the International Contract Agency this weekend on PlayStation 4.
Scheduled to start at 11:00 CET today and ending on 15th February at 11:00 CET. In North America, the PS4 Beta is scheduled to start at 08:00 PST on 12th February and ends on 15th February at 08:00 PST.
Labeled “The Prologue”, the Beta takes place twenty years before the Paris Showstopper mission. Set in a secret ICA training facility, the Prologue features a pivotal moment in Agent 47’s life – his introduction to the ICA and very first meeting with his future handler Diana Burnwood. The Prologue features two free-form training hits, which will introduce players to the features and mechanics of the upcoming HITMAN game. The Prologue will also be available as part of the first episode of HITMAN releasing 11th March, 2016.
The only way to guarantee your access to the HITMAN Beta this weekend is to pre-order the game digitally on PlayStation 4 via PSN. Alternatively, you can pre-order the Collector’s Edition.
Access to the HITMAN Beta is available for the pre-orders of the Full Experience, Intro Pack and Collector’s Edition.
HITMAN will launch on 11th March for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC. The HITMAN beta starts on 12th February through 14th February on PlayStation 4 and 19th February through 21st February on PC. Players can guarantee access to the beta by pre-ordering the Full Experience or the new Intro Pack.
All pre-orders will also include the ‘classic’ REQUIEM pack which includes exclusive in-game digital items inspired by Hitman: Blood Money including the Requiem Legacy white suit, Blood Money shirt, tie and gloves, silenced ICA-19 chrome and white rubber duck explosive.
PlayStation users exclusively will also gain access to The Sarajevo Six. 6 Bonus Contracts, one of which will be released with each location and sees Agent 47 travel the world in pursuit of six former members of a paramilitary unit called CICADA in this self-contained side-story exclusive for PlayStation 4 users.
To celebrate a year since the release of their indie break-out hit The Escapists, veteran games developer and international games label Team17 and solo indie dev Mouldy Toof Studios have announced that they will be releasing a brand new free map, Paris Central Pen, which will be available for all PC, Mac and Linux owners of The Escapists via a free Steam update on the 16th February.
The all new Paris Central Pen map is inspired by the La Santé Prison in Paris, which was once home to the infamous Carlos The Jackel and was hailed as one of France’s most notorious and brutal prisons.
The Escapists is the creation of former-roofer and the solo indie developer of Mouldy Toof Studios, Chris Davis. Team17’s CEO Debbie Bestwick, spotted the charming, 8bit, prison-escape game during its modest Kickstarter campaign and signed The Escapists to Team17’s games label on the 19th February 2014. It wasn’t just Team17 and the backers who saw the potential in the game, as The Escapists was greenlit by the Steam community within just 96 hours of its application and featured prominently within the Microsoft Xbox gamescom press conference.
Originally Davis had created the PC version of The Escapists in Multimedia Fusion, a program he got for free on the front cover of a PC magazine as a child. When he joined the Team17 label the studio’s own team recreated the game from scratch internally in Unity to allow Davis to bring his creation to a wider audience across Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4.
The Escapists entered Steam Early Access on the 20th August 2014 and then launched fully on PC and Xbox One on the 13th February 2015, with a PS4 version following in May and then an Xbox 360 version in December.
The Escapists reaches its first birthday milestone, over 1.25 million copies have been sold to date with the game being awarded a Mega Sales award from the ID@Xbox team.
The Escapists PC, Mac and Linux owners will be able to get the Paris Central Pen free map via a Steam update to their game on the 16th February, with the update following on Xbox One and PS4 at a later date.
Once upon a time there was a solo games developer named Matt Gambell who dreamt of combining classic tycoon gameplay with Kingdom management.
Many, many man hours later and following a spell in Early Access Matt’s dream has been realised with the full release today of RPG Tycoon for PC & Mac for just a couple of gold coins (£6.99/$10).
Start with a single plot of land and limited funds with which to hire the services of your starting Heroes before sending them on over 30 quick and 60 epic quests that, should they be successful, will see the fame of your kingdom grow. This fame in turn attracts settlers from surrounding towns who will be looking to spend money in the shops and on services you add to your kingdom. Watch those coffers begin to fill – at least for as long as you keep those settlers happy, so don’t forget to increase its ambience with some well placed trees or decorative items. Who doesn’t like a fountain?
You won’t be alone in your ventures as competing AI governed kingdoms will also be vying for the highest score and to be awarded the title of ‘Greatest Kingdom in All the Land’
Matt has created RPG Tycoon to be modded with ease, so with just a basic knowledge of XML or image editing software players can create and share new quests, heroes, buildings, items and more in no time at all.
Here is the latest trailer from Universal Pictures’ fantastical epic dark fairy tale, The Huntsman: Winter’s War which stars Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Chris Hemsworth and Jessica Chastain out 8th April in the UK.
The fantastical world of Snow White and the Huntsman expands to reveal how the fates of The Huntsman Eric and Queen Ravenna are deeply and dangerously intertwined. Chris Hemsworth and Oscar® winner Charlize Theron return to their roles in The Huntsman Winter’s War, an epic action-adventure in which they are joined by Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain, as well as director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan. Producer Joe Roth (Maleficent, Alice in Wonderland) once again leads the team in a breathtaking new tale nested in the legendary saga.
Long before the evil Queen Ravenna (Theron) was thought vanquished by Snow White’s blade, she watched silently as her sister, Freya (Blunt), suffered a heartbreaking betrayal and fled their kingdom. With Freya’s ability to freeze any enemy, the young ice queen has spent decades in a remote wintry palace raising a legion of deadly huntsmen—including Eric (Hemsworth) and warrior Sara (Chastain)—only to find that her prized two defied her one demand: Forever harden your hearts to love.
When Freya learns of her sister’s demise, she summons her remaining soldiers to bring the Magic Mirror home to the only sorceress left who can harness its power. But once she discovers Ravenna can be resurrected from its golden depths, the wicked sisters threaten this enchanted land with twice the darkest force it’s ever seen. Now, their amassing army shall prove undefeatable…unless the banished huntsmen who broke their queen’s cardinal rule can fight their way back to one another.
I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to sound. It’s a tragically expensive habit to be stuck in the middle of too with speakers and amplifiers quickly reaching hundreds if not thousands of pounds. Fortunately there’s what I consider a bit of a cheat that helps immensely when trying to achieve quality audio on a budget; headphones. There’s also no better place to try and find a quality headset than for gaming with a huge amount on offer at practically any price range.
I’m already a headphone convert given the quality comparisons to full sound systems there is no comparison for price. I already use a headset quite regularly including an optical lead, amplifier and a whole collection of cables. It sounds nice but sometimes you just want a headset with a 3.5mm jack that you can simply plug in and go. So I decided there was no better place to start for a gaming headset than the legendary Razer Kraken Pro.
There are a couple of first impressions that you can’t really escape with the Krakens the most obvious of which is the colour. Although you can buy them in a multitude of colours I went for the classic green which you can’t help but notice. They’re bold and brave but still look cool. I love the garish style and I was pleased with the quality feel when I first got my hands on them. The intentional flexibility in the cups and on the headband is rare in headphones at this level.
The lasting memories I had of the Krakens from conventions and anytime I had used them before was definitely the comfort. Having used larger more rigid headsets before the Krakens are a total breath of fresh air. They sit very nicely on your head and I’ve had a lot of people try them on for size and everyone seems to find them comfortable. The cups can move freely in their housing which really allows them to lay nicely over your ears. The circular cups cover my ears completely and block out almost all sound without folding my ears in or crushing them at all. I’ve had people breaking my door down as I sit there in total ignorance listening to music or playing a game. The Krakens are excellent at blocking out external sound.
You can easily wear the Krakens for extended periods in total comfort. I never get the sense they’ve been clamping down on my head or around my ears and I’ve never had to take them off for comfort reasons. Comfort means a lot when it comes to headphones and some of the most expensive sets can forget this. Even if you get the sound right it’s no use when you can’t stand wearing the set. Gaming sets tend to be more aware of the length of time they might be worn in a single sitting and the Krakens are probably the most comfortable I’ve ever worn. Some Turtle Beach sets are as comfortable as the Krakens but the Krakens can definitely go toe to toe with some of the best.
Sound quality is a bit of a mixed bag. Even more than with most headsets and sound systems what you feed them determines what they put out. Games are first on the agenda and the balance of bass, mid and treble are definitely keyed into this which sometimes means the balance is off for certain music or other audio. The punch of bass means that explosions and gunfire have a nice power behind them, especially considering the Krakens don’t have external power. Depending on the game, the bass can make for a slightly clumsy mid range but on the whole it’s just what you need.
Music is a tricky one to get right and there aren’t many headsets I’ve tried that can perform well with all types of music. The powerful soundtrack from Man of Steel stays clear and sounds full and rich while other tracks start to lose clarity for the high frequencies which can sound overly sharp and tinny. It depends hugely on what you listen to but bass remains refined and undeniably precise even though it can muscle in a little too much when you start to experience hissy treble.
If I pair the Krakens up with my Sound Blaster on my PC it’s incredible how capable this headset can be. With a decent sound card and a good equalizer the sound the Krakens can produce is absolutely phenomenal. Their ability to handle bass really comes into it’s own when you give them the right feed and even at high volume stay nice and crisp at the top end with some ear thumping, rumbling low notes. Listening to anything orchestral on my PC is a complete joy with the Krakens.
The Krakens are an amazingly comfortable headset that are very mindful of the fact they were meant for playing games. The attention to detail at the low frequencies really excels when playing games. The high end can take a bit of a backseat at times, especially with music, but considering their price there really isn’t much better quality to compare the Krakens with. But their party trick is letting you wear them for hours on end with absolutely no problems. You really can forget they’re on and just immerse yourself in whatever you’re listening too. The Razer Kraken Pro headset performs far better than I expected and at this price there are few better.
Quantum Break has today released a new trailer. Not only that, but the box art reveals that Alan Wake and its DLC, The Signal and The Writer will be included when you buy the game.
This means that you will then own a copy of Alan Wake and its DLC on Xbox 360, which will then of course be playable through backwards compatibility on Xbox One.
The game has also been confirmed for release on Windows 10, if you pre-order the Quantum Break, you will get the Windows 10 version for free.
In the aftermath of a split second of destruction that fractures time itself, two people find they have changed and gained extraordinary abilities. One of them travels through time and becomes hell-bent on controlling this power. The other uses these new abilities to attempt to defeat him – and fix time before it tears itself irreparably apart. Both face overwhelming odds and make dramatic choices that will determine the shape of the future.
Quantum Break is a unique experience; one part hard-hitting video game, one part thrilling live action show, featuring a stellar cast, including Shawn Ashmore as the hero Jack Joyce, Aidan Gillen as his nemesis Paul Serene and Dominic Monaghan as Jack’s genius brother William. Quantum Break is full of the vivid storytelling, rich characters and dramatic twists Remedy Entertainment are renowned for. Your choices in-game will affect the outcome of this fast-paced fusion between game and show giving the player a completely unique entertainment experience.
Both the Xbox One and the PC version of the game will be released on 5th April.
Here are the PC Specs for the game
Introducing the Xbox One Quantum Break Bundle
Xbox also unveiled the Xbox One Special Edition Quantum Break Bundle which features a 500GB Cirrus White console and matching wireless controller, a full-game download of Quantum Break and a full-game download of Alan Wake< as well as The Signal and The Writer DLC content, playable soon on Xbox One via Backward Compatibility. Xbox One Special Edition Quantum Break Bundle will be available for £319.99 RRP exclusively at GAME on 5th April.
The Xbox One Quantum Break Bundle will also be available with standard black hardware.
SEGA has announced the SEGA 3D Classics Collection available 26th April, when you can Power Drift with awesome SEGA decals all over your Nintendo 3DS! That’s right, pre-orders and a limited number of launch copies will come with the SEGA Classics Decal Sheet bonus item. The sheet will be available in every physical launch edition of the collection, and features nine SEGA logos and console stickers. The decals are a silver hue to add a nice contrast to your Nintendo 3DS, giving it a distinct retro sheen. The collection features some of SEGA’s signature games, and the bonus item adds the right amount of vintage goodness to complete the throwback experience.
Here’s a quick SEGA history primer on the decals:
Master System logo — Originally released in 1985 as the Sega Mark-III in Japan, the Master System was redesigned and renamed when it launched in North America in 1986 with an added FM Sound Unit.
Master System console — An authentic line-art likeness of the North American/European version of the console!
Mega Drive logo — Originally released in Japan in 1988, the Mega Drive was the 16-bit successor to the Master System. Widely considered one of the greatest video game consoles of all time, the system was home to many classic games such as Altered Beast, Sonic the Hedgehog, and many more.
Genesis logo — Please choose a “Blast Processing” joke to your liking. Are we good here?
Genesis console — An authentic line-art likeness of the Model 1 SEGA Genesis console!
16-Bit — Emblazoned on the front of the Genesis, the 16-Bit logo let everyone know you were working with POWER. Affix this decal to give a blast processing boost to whatever needs it most.*
Professor Asobin -Before Sonic, Alex Kidd, and Opa Opa, this dapper white rabbit appeared in most SG-1000 game manuals and gave helpful advice to players. Although he was briefly replaced by Dr. Games, he soon returned and appeared in game manuals up until the Mega Drive/Genesis era.
SEGA logo – A SEGA decal collection wouldn’t be complete without the company logo!
GigaDrive logo – This last logo represents something different than the other ones we’ve covered because it’s a “virtual console.” In order for the SEGA 3D Classics Collection to run perfectly on the Nintendo 3DS, developer M2 created the GigaDrive which is how these games take full advantage of the 3DS’s capabilities (such as stereoscopic 3D).
Today a release dates and all-new screens for the first of three episodes in The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries.
The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries will premiere its first of three episodes, ‘In Too Deep,’ this 23rd February on PC/Mac from the Telltale Online Store, Steam, and other digital distribution services, the PlayStation Network for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, the Xbox Games Store for Xbox One and Xbox 360, followed by a release on compatible iOS devices via the App Store, and Android-based devices via Google Play and the Amazon App Store starting 25th February. The second episode in the miniseries, ‘Give No Shelter,’ will follow in the month of March, and conclude with the third episode, ‘What We Deserve,’ in April.
All three episodes in the miniseries will be available for purchase at the cost of $14.99 USD or equivalent when the first episode debuts, including access to the second and third episodes as they become available.
In this premiere episode, ‘In Too Deep,’ Michonne joins Pete and his crew on the sailing ship The Companion as they cruise the coast for survivors and supplies. When a desperate signal for help draws them to a scene of horrific massacre, Michonne and the crew are lead further to the floating survivors’ colony of Monroe, which may just be harboring the person responsible for the carnage.
The Walking Dead: Michonne – A Telltale Miniseries stars the iconic, blade-wielding character from Robert Kirkman’s best-selling comic books, portrayed in-game by award-winning actress Samira Wiley (Orange is the New Black). Haunted by her past, and coping with unimaginable loss and regret, the story explores Michonne’s absence between issues #126 and #139 of the comic book. Over the three episodes of the miniseries, players will discover what took Michonne away from Rick, Ezekiel, and the rest of her trusted group… and what brought her back.
Ahead of its release, fans are invited to get an exclusive extended preview of the first episode of the series on Youtube.com/TelltaleGames this Sunday February 14th at 8:30pm EST / 5:30pm PST. The development team will introduce the series allowing fans to experience the first five minutes of the premiere episode, exploring Michonne’s struggle to remain among the living while being haunted by her past.
Goat ready for the latest advancements in Goat Simulation technology in the biggest Goat Simulator experience yet! In collaboration with Coffee Stain Studio and Double Eleven, Goat Simulator: The Bundle launches on Xbox One, at retail on the 4th March for £15.99 and €19.99.
Goat Simulator: The Bundle brings next-gen goat simulation to you! This exclusive bundle for Xbox One contains the original Goat Simulator experience, as well as both DLC add-ons! Embark on an adventure within a simulated goat MMO world, playing as up to 5 different classes in the MMO Simulator add-on. Or survive a zombie apocalypse, crafting items and exploring a new zombie map in the GoatZ add-on! That’s not a baaaaaaad deal…
Gameplay-wise, Goat Simulator is all about causing as much destruction as you possibly can as a goat. Think of it like an old-school skating game, except instead of being a skater, you’re a goat. And instead of doing tricks, you wreck stuff, as a goat!
Feature:
· Includes Goat Simulator and its 2 DLC add-ons, GoatZ & MMO simulator, for the biggest goat bundle to date on Xbox One!
· Destroy and wreck stuff as much as possible in style! Do a backflip while head-butting a bucket through a window to earn ultimate goat points
! · Embark on an adventure in a simulated goat MMO world! Play as 5 different classes, complete dozens of quests and level up 101 times!
· Survive in a simulated zombie apocalypse! Craft items, explore a new zombie map and unlock super powered goats!
I have literally just got back home after watching an early morning showing of ‘Deadpool’, released today in the UK (10/2/16) and will release in the US (12/2/16). I had a nervous worry about this film as a fan of Deadpool and had concerns about how he could be brought to the big screen correctly after the travesty of ‘Wolverine: Origins’. Pleased to say it only took ten minutes into the film to know that it had nailed it!
*Spoiler Free – I will not be talking about plot or key moments of the story of film so as not to spoil it, below are my thoughts on the film*
The above teaser from this past weekend’s Superbowl really showcases why Deadpool has finally received the big screen spotlight the character deserved. It shows Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool but for me and especially now after seeing the film, Ryan Reynolds is Deadpool, the character is and always will be his as much as Wolverine is Hugh Jackman. Reynolds has spoken how it has taken 11 years to make this film happen, wanting to make up for fans disappointment for the first ‘go’ in Wolverine Origins. His trip into DC Comics with Green Lantern was widely criticised and panned by critics and fans, so this film has a lot to do for a lot of people.
As above, the first ten minutes completely won me over simply because it managed to layout the tone, humour and intent of the fim before a single line of dialogue was uttered. I won’t spoil it but make sure you pay attention to every detail on the screen so ignore your popcorn and forget the person/s you are with or you will miss potentially the greatest opening to a comic book film yet!
Deadpool really is a waterfall of stand out moments that just hit you in wave after wave of action and laugh out loud moments. The pace is almost relentless in delivering you all the Deadpool you could possibly want. Capturing the humour of the character was a worry, fans will know that he is known for breaking the fourth wall and talking right to the audience and this is used to not only drive the narrative but for some truly sublime comedy moments. Whether it’s mocking Reynolds himself, comic book films and even taking potshots at MARVEL itself, the jokes on screen and in dialogue between characters is beautifully but carefully written to never over do it so the audience is always being smacked in the face with something new. I genuinely had tears from laughing from the big jokes and aching cheeks from grinning at all the little nods that fans of the comic books will get.
What helps to make the humour work so well is down to the excellent casting for the film. Reynolds just embodies everything that makes Deadpool work in this film but it really is the supporting cast that help make it all work. Morena Baccarin as love interest Vanessa is simply remarkable and really gives a performance that compliments Reynolds. For her role to work as well as it did meant really being open to doing whatever it took to make the partnership believable and credible and in key moments that relationship is jaw dropping exquisite. Baccarin is integral to why the story works and I can not imagine another actor doing the role or being more giving as Vanessa.
The rest of the cast is also superb with T.J. Miller adding even more comedy impact as Wade’s best friend Weasel. The dialogue exchanges between Wade and Weasel really elevate the film away from what could be considered the ‘standard Avenger’ MARVEL film. Deadpool is very much a Rated R kind of comic book character and many have voiced concerns about it having a 15 rating, but have no fear. This film does more to push the limits of that age rating with its action sequences and humour than any previous film in my opinion and acheived so much even when on paper they perhaps shouldn’t have been able to. Deadpool is very much not restricted by a lower than mature rating but it certainly celebrates the freedom that it’s rating gives it to push the envelope.
It may not have the huge budget of an Avenger level film but the big action sequences and special effect do not suffer at all and all used to great effect. Whilst the film is the origin story for Deadpool, it does as much to establish the MARVEL universe that 20th Century Fox has with their XMen franchise license but cleverly acknowledges the main Avenger universe in great dialogue lines from Deadpool. We are all waiting for the Avenger universe to bring together allmits characters but for me right now the potential for a big team up film with 20th Century Fox is made more believable thanks to Deadpool.
I have not enjoyed a MARVEL film as much as this since Guardians of the Galaxy. In the same way that used a great musical soundtrack of pop songs to give an audio feast for the audience, so does Deadpool. It is fair to say that the director Tim Miller has been influenced by Guardians to use music and comedy to great effect but having a stellar cast to bring the comic book characters to life in a vibrant and powerful way. Deadpool is so good a comic book film that the main MARVEL franchise will have to take stock and look again at what makes a great MARVEL film work.
Deadpool more than delivered on its hype, Ryan Reynolds has made the character performance that fans have been demanding for years. It just ticks all the right boxes in all the right ways that I left the cinema almost dazed from just how good the film was.
Quite simply, go see Deadpool as soon as, the Merc with a Mouth finally has a film that does him justice. A great watch and highly enjoyable experience that shows that keeping the comic book characters true to what fans love will make the transition to the big screen effortless.
Now I’m off for a Chimichangas but must say this, DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL THE CREDITS HAVE ENDED, trust me!
Today Sonos has announced today that Apple Music is available on Sonos systems worldwide. Music fans worldwide will have access to Apple Music features like For You, New, Radio, and My Music, and will also be able to stream the entire Apple Music catalog through Sonos smart speakers tuned for great sound in every room of their homes. Apple Music on Sonos was tested by hundreds of thousands of listeners through a successful beta program that started in early December.
To stream Apple Music on Sonos, customers simply select “Add Music Services” from any Sonos controller app, scroll down to the Apple Music icon, and login.
“The feedback from Apple Music members on Sonos during the beta period has been great,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “Sonos plus Apple Music provides an amazing listening experience at home – and we’re excited to offer it to all Sonos customers starting tomorrow.”
“This partnership has been an excellent example of two companies that truly care about music coming together to deliver a great listening experience,” said John MacFarlane, Sonos chief executive officer. “Working with Apple gives us the opportunity to share Apple Music throughout people’s homes in a way that’s easy, intuitive, and sounds great.” Apple Music is all the ways you love music, all in one place, with the expertise of world-class music experts who have programmed playlists for any moment. Curation is at the core of every element of Apple Music, from the handcrafted radio stations and Beats 1, to the suggestions in For You and top albums and songs in New.
A Sonos station on Apple Music, curated by artists in collaboration with Sonos, is also launching tomorrow. New users can sign up for a free, three-month trail membership of Apple Music.
Ubisoft announced an Open Beta for Tom Clancy’s the Division which will take place 19th-21st February on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC and everyone can preload the content starting 16th February. Xbox One players will also have exclusive 24-hour early access starting on 18th February.
With the highly anticipated release of Tom Clancy’s The Division just weeks away, and following the recent Closed Beta, the Open Beta is an invitation for all players to get a taste of the game’s mid-crisis New York ahead of its official launch on 8th March. This beta will test the game systems further, and provide player feedback that will benefit the game experience at launch.
In addition to the content that was featured in the Closed Beta, the Open Beta will include an all new story mission for players to explore in their pursuit to save the city. Furthermore, everyone who participates in this latest testing phase will receive a special in-game reward which will unlock for players when the full game is released.
Tom Clancy’s The Division takes place weeks after a devastating pandemic sweeps through New York City on Black Friday. One by one, basic services fail and in only days, without food or water, society collapses into chaos. The Division, an autonomous unit of tactical agents leading seemingly ordinary lives among us, is activated to save society. Team up with other players to investigate the source of the virus, protect civilians from dangerous factions, and reclaim the city from the overwhelming turmoil.
Deadpool more than delivered on its hype, Ryan Reynolds has made the character performance that fans have been demanding for years. It just ticks all the right boxes in all the right ways that I left the cinema almost dazed from just how good the film was.
