New Trailer Shows Off 28 Minutes of Intense, Action-Packed Gameplay

Battlestate Games, developers of the much-anticipated military-themed FPS/MMO Escape from Tarkov, today announced the highly anticipated launch date for the game’s Closed Alpha. Aspiring combatants who have signed up for the Alpha (HERE) should keep a close watch on their inboxes for an invite as we get closer to the Alpha launch, as a select group of gamers will get their first hands-on taste of Escape from Tarkov’s furious battles starting on August 4.

Along with the news of the upcoming Closed Alpha, Battlestate Games has also delivered a 28-minute-long gameplay video, showcasing battlegrounds, weapons and combat, which can be downloaded at the links below.

Watch the video on YouTube HERE.

Sim155 Ltd. has announced that Combat Air Patrol 2 (CAP2) will launch today via Steam Early Access at (6pm GMT/12:00 PM Eastern USA). Check out what veteran programmer Ed Scio at Sim155 had to say about today’s release:

Well, this is early access launch day so I thought it’d be good to explain what to expect over the coming days, weeks and months. I have to admit its been a scramble to get ready for the launch though without a deadline I’d probably never get around to releasing CAP2. I’m looking forward to getting feedback, both good and bad. Bear in mind this is an Early Access title. For instance, the main strategic feature of CAP2, the dynamic campaign, is approximately 75% complete. There are lots of minor items on my release list which won’t make the 6pm (UK) release build so expect a stream of updates over the next few days. All elements will likely evolve with your feedback.

After the initial flurry of updates this week, we’ll run a general beta build for those of you who want to try new features/bug fixes as soon as they are available. Based on feedback we’ll then transition them to the main build. There may be several beta builds per week so only subscribe to those if you are OK with that. I’ll be primarily using this blog to keep you up to date with development.

Here are our main areas of upcoming development:

• Dynamic Campaign. We’ll be improving the dynamic campaign by adding more targets, enemy capabilities such as mine laying, offensive capabilities such as integrating Tomahawk strikes into a mission package.
• VR. Its been difficult to hold off starting on this, especially with all the recent buzz around the official launches but we managed to show some restraint. We’ve got the Rift kit, Vive is on the way so we should start on this next week. We’ll create a VR build which anyone can opt into. Initial builds will be a simple implementation followed by UI upgrades.
• Multiplayer. As described in previous posts.
• Rendering. Expect to see graphical improvements such as SSAO, DOF, self shadowing terrain, shadow casting vegetation.
• Carrier. We’ll create a fully populated deck and also have animated lifts, defenses and radars.
• Aircraft. Expect graphical updates to the AV8B cockpit together with increased control functionality.
• In Flight refueling. We have the animated refuel probe in game already, just waiting for drogue logic/physics implemented.
• Scenery. A high priority feature to be added is OSM (Open Street Map) data for accurate road and building generation.
• 3D Models. In addition to generated OSM scenery models we’ll be adding custom models not adequately described in OSM,
• Map Areas. We plan to add Yuma and well known training areas such as the ‘Mach Loop’ and the ‘Jedi Transition’.
• Satellite Imagery. We’ll begin sourcing satellite imagery to apply to the terrain.
• 32/64 bit build. We have both builds running now though as they are functionally identical only the 32bit is published. We’ll make the 64bit build available together with larger terrain cache sizes.

You can follow the development of Combat Air Patrol 2 on Facebook. Find out more about Combat Air Patrol 2 at the games official website.

Dick Cole, the man who copiloted the lead B-25 on the famous 1942 Doolittle Raid

By Michael Dolan @ HistoryNet.com

After he spent those 30 seconds over Tokyo that made him world famous, Richard Cole—Colonel Jimmy Doolittle’s copilot on the innovative April 18, 1942, raid against the Japanese capital—parachuted into China. With help he reached India where, for the better part of a year, he flew transport planes carrying cargo over the Himalayan “Hump” between New Delhi, India, and Kunming, China, and back, then transported glider-borne troops in an invasion of Burma.

Between those assignments Cole met, wooed, and wed fellow aviator Lucia Marta Harrell. Retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1966, the former B-25 pilot took up orange growing in Comfort, Texas. His neighbor Warren Reed—who once had been a P-38 pilot—was growing grapefruit. For 14 years, the two former airmen delivered produce to a circuit of customers. Now, at age 100, Dick Cole travels to aviation-related events, has closed down more than one hotel bar, and at home enjoys rummaging in his barns. He recently sat for a phone interview facilitated by daughter Cindy Cole Chal.

Read on…

(Originally published in the July/August 2016 issue of World War II magazine. Subscribe here.)

Starter Edition priced at $15/£12. Available only until June 19.

By Andy Chalk @ PCGamer

If you think Rainbow Six: Siege looks cool—and if you don’t, Shaun’s excellent “Why I Love” column on the sweet stress of waiting may change your mind—but don’t want to drop $50 just to give it a try, the new, PC-exclusive Rainbow Six: Siege Starter Edition might be just what you’re after. It’s available now on Steam for $15/£12, and includes all of the maps, modes, weapons, and other features from the standard edition, with no restrictions or time limits.

The only difference between the Starter and Standard Editions is in how the Operators are unlocked. The Starter Edition will include just two Operators instead of the usual 20, randomly chosen from a pool of six of the game’s most “intuitive” for newcomers: Rook, Sledge, Ash, Fuze, Mute, and Smoke. Additional Operators can be unlocked for 12,500 renown each (a much higher rate than the Standard Edition) or purchased outright with a $35 R6 Credits bundle.

The Starter Edition also comes with 600 R6 Credits that can be used to unlock two more Operators of your choice (from the pool of six) or on other stuff if you prefer, and it works with the Rainbow Six: Siege season pass, which gives access to eight post-release Operators that will be added over the course of the year.

So it’s Rainbow Six: Siege with fewer guys and more grinding, then, although if you’d like a more specific breakdown of what’s what, a Starter Edition FAQ is available here. There is one other point to be aware of, however: Even though this seems like a pretty good idea to me, the Starter Edition will only be on sale from today until June 19.

The Giant, a remake of Der Riese, one of the all-time fan favorite Treyarch Zombies maps, is now available for a la carte purchase for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 players on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. The Giant was previously only available as a bonus, included with the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Juggernog Edition, Hardened Edition and Digital Deluxe Editions, as well as part of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Season Pass. Now, however, the map is available as a stand-alone offering for eager Zombies fans.

The Giant takes players back to a secret research facility of Treyarch’s classic Der Riese Zombies map, picking up the Zombies story with classic characters Dempsey, Nikolai, Richtofen and Takeo.

Additionally, The Giant is now available for individual purchase on PlayStation 3, with availability on other last gen platforms to follow.

For more information, and to view the “The Giant” Zombies Bonus Map Trailer visit the Activision Games Blog.

NEW GAMEPLAY TRAILER AVAILABLE NOW

Just Cause 3: MECH LAND ASSAULT, the second content pack from the Air, Land and Sea Expansion Pass is out now for Expansion Pass Holders, and will go on sale as a separate add-on for everyone else on June 10th. To celebrate the release, the first new gameplay trailer has been made available today showing Rico causing chaotic destruction in brand new, gravity-defying ways.

MECH LAND ASSAULT takes Rico Rodriguez to the new island of Lacrima, home to an abandoned eDEN research base and a prison camp run by the mysterious Black Hand. Defended by huge powerful Mechs, Rico will need the new Bavarium Power Core rifle to disable their shields and hijack them. Once inside, Rico can use their powerful cannons and the GRIP Gravity Guns to hurl and smash the enemy into pieces.

Features:

• Pilot two types of powerful Mech and drive them anywhere in Medici.
• Unleash the Mech’s Gravitational Remote Influence Projector or “GRIP” to attract and hurl objects at your enemies.
• Jump and smash helicopters from the sky or ground pound tanks with the GRIPS’s “Force Pulse” attack.
• Prove your skills and earn upgrades in Mech arena challenges.
• Call in a Rebel Mech buddy for extra firepower when the going gets tough.
• Includes a powerful new energy weapon, the Bavarium Power Core rifle.

The MECH LAND ASSAULT pack is priced at $11.99 / €11.99 / £9.49 whilst the AIR, LAND & SEA Expansion Pass is available for $24.99 / €24.99 / £19.99. The final content pack – BAVARIUM SEA HEIST – will be released by the end of summer 2016, released one week early to Expansion Pass holders.

Watch the Launch Trailer on YouTube here.

More game information available at the official Just Cause 3 website.

On June 6 1944 the Allied forces under the supreme command of Eisenhower launched the largest amphibious invasion in history. The goal was to land in France and finally liberate mainland Europe after so many years of Nazi occupation. Many men died on that day and performed the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. One year later, fascism had been defeated and peace had been restored to the world.

We at Slitherine will always remember. We just make games, but in our own small way we can help other people keep the memory of such heroic and tragic times alive, in the hope they will never be repeated.

Over the years we have released a number of games set on the western front of World War II. We are giving a 30% discount on them, starting from today, until the 6th of June! The discount is valid only in our stores (Matrix Games, Slitherine & AGEod). For those games which are available on Steam you’ll also be given a free Steam key. All you have to do is write “D-Day30” in the coupon code field when you’re buying the games from our stores.

Click here for the complete list games on sale!

By Aris Mpitziopoulos @ Tom’s Hardware

Thermaltake introduced the Toughpower DPS G Platinum line that consists of three new, semi-digital and fully modular PSUs made by Enhance Electronics. The highest-capacity 1200W model is our test subject in today’s review.

Read The Review Here

Check out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

• Phanteks Launches Glacier G1080 Water Block
• SeaSonic Unveils its Flagship Prime Titanium PSU Series
• Thermaltake Hard Tube RGB Water Kits Announced
• ASUS Outs ROG Swift PG258Q Gaming Monitor, Designo Curve and ProArt 5K UHD Monitors
• EVGA Unveils Unique L-shaped VGA Power Adapter
• Be Quiet! Unveils the Dark Base 900 Chassis with Reversible MB Tray
• Tt eSPORTS Reveals the New VENTUS Z Gaming Mouse
• Patriot Announces New Spark SSD
• Reeven Intros the Rheia Mid-tower Chassis
• Reeven Also Intros the Zephyros RGB LED Fan
• AORUS Announces RGB Fusion Keyboard and Award Winning X7 DT

Sim155 Ltd. has announced today the pricing of its exciting new air combat simulator, Combat Air Patrol 2 (CAP2). Combat Air Patrol 2 (CAP2) is a flight and naval combat simulator game for PC (Steam/Windows) where you pilot the AV8B Harrier II.

As launch is fast approaching we thought we had better let you know how much CAP2 will cost. The Early Access price will be $29.99. Its worth noting that Steam converts the price for different regions based on factors other than exchange rate – so for example the UK price will be £22.99 and the Euro price €27.99, both are slightly more than the current exchange rate. Some regions will be less.

Remember – the last competition before launch is closing today, just head over to the hub and hit follow for your chance to win a free copy.

You can follow the development of Combat Air Patrol 2 on Facebook. Find out more about Combat Air Patrol 2 at the games official website.