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Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 15, 2013 in Videogames 
Yes, you read that right – Child of Light. Ubisoft is letting the leads of Far Cry 3 make a JRPG video game centered around poetry-driven storytelling and a young princess who must save a fantasy realm. It’s about as crazy as you can get – mainly because you don’t expect this kind of crazy experimentation from Ubisoft usually. Granted, they have gotten better, with such titles as Blood Dragon and now this. The game is based on the UbiArt engine, which is the same tech behind the gorgeous Rayman Legends, and it seems to exude the same flowing artistic elements. It looks incredibly pretty and enchanting, so I can’t wait to see more. Watch the initial trailer after the break. Read more…
Tags: Child of Light, Ubisoft
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 15, 2013 in Videogames 
And you won’t have to wait long to play it! The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is one of the highest-regarded games for the Gamecube, and it’s arriving September 20th on Nintendo digital store, the eShop, and in brick-and-mortar shops on October 4th. Now that review copies are showing up on many doorsteps, more videos have popped up giving us a better look at all the visual changes involved. GameXplain has uploaded a video of a side-by-side comparison of the original Gamecube version and the Wii U update. Let’s just say: it looks great. Watch the video below! Read more…
Tags: Legend of Zelda, Wii U
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 14, 2013 in Videogames 
Nintendo is just rolling out the Pokemon X & Y reveals all over the place! You’d almost think there was a new Pokemon game coming out or something, eh? Despite being leaked early by IGN, Nintendo posted a video featuring the Pokemon announced in CoroCoro, as well as their English names, and new Pokemon too, like Pyroar (which has a male and female version). The short trailer also shows off some action footage of these Pokemon, before briefly showing some of the many customization options for your trainer. Seems like GameFreak is adding a good amount of new features this time around. X & Y arrive October 12th. Read more…
Tags: Pokémon
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 14, 2013 in Videogames 
Every once in a while, something catches your eyes just via the art. Hyper Light Drifter is a game just like that. A new Kickstarter from Alex Preston, Beau Blyth (Samurai Gunn), Will Wiesenfeld, and Disasterpeace, which combines a Link to the Past and Diablo into one neon-lit fantasy 2D action RPG. They mention Miyazaki as a significant influence, which is always a plus in my book. PC is the primary platform and will be aimed to release in June 2014. At time of this writing, they’ve already double their $27,000 goal, and look to be continuing upward. Check out the trailer below or go here to back the project if it tickles your fancy! Read more…
Tags: Hyper Light Drifter, Kickstarter
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 13, 2013 in Videogames 
Ever wanted to lend your digital games just like your physical discs? While most have gotten used to the fact of digital rights generally being locked to single device, it would be nice to have more freedom. So here’s a little something! Valve announced that Steam will soon have a Family Sharing feature, in which you’ll be able to let other Steam accounts (your close friends and family) play your game library. While you lend your library to your friend, they’ll be able to download and play any game you own (unless the publisher specifically forbids it). If you start up a game though, it’ll start a countdown timer on your friend’s PC, telling them to save and quit or buy the game to continue playing. Sign up to the Steam group here to enter for a chance to get beta access next week! Read more…
Tags: Steam, Valve
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 13, 2013 in Cinema 
Is there still money in the Harry Potter well? Warner Bros. sure thinks so, and they’ve announced that they’re adapting J.K. Rowling’s 2001 book called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them for film. The big change? They’re getting Rowling herself to write the script this time around. There doesn’t seem to be a hard timeline yet, but I’m seeing a lot of excited Potter fans today peek their heads out over this news. Hopefully they’ll still be around in a few years when this arrives. And will casual fans want to see a film without Harry and the gang? Despite those concerns, I am still glad they’ve brought Rowling on to script it. Good choice! Read more…
Tags: harry potter, J.K. Rowling
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 12, 2013 in Videogames 
The latest CoroCoro magazine is out in Japan, and since it’s the last one before the worldwide launch of Pokemon X & Y, it’s got some more information. Perhaps the biggest news in this issue concerns Mewtwo, everyone’s favorite psychic pokemon from the first generation. We knew he was getting a Mega Evolution — a temporary evolution triggered in battle by holding a Mega Stone — but now it seems that he’ll have one of two. Depending on whether you’re playing X or Y, players will find Mewtwonite X or Mewtwonite Y. The previous Mega Evolution was apparently Mega Mewtwo Y, so this new one is Mega Mewtwo X. Maybe there will be other version-exclusive Mega Evolutions? The closest thing Pokemon has had to this in the past was the event legendary pokemon Deoxys, which had a different form exclusive to each Game Boy Advance game, though the forms were more changeable in later generations. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Nintendo, Pokémon
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 12, 2013 in Videogames 
With the way Square Enix struggles with any worthwhile HD endeavors, I’m always surprised to see them release a videogame, even when it’s an upgraded version of an older game. But putting my mild incredulity aside, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX is finally out in North America and PAL territories this week. The game collects the previously Japan-only “Final Mix” version of the first Kingdom Hearts, the PS2 remake of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and completely redone cutscenes from Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days on DS. Re:Chain of Memories and 358/2 Days both happen at around the same time after the first game but before Kingdom Hearts II, hence the “1.5” in the collection’s title. Everything has been remastered in HD, with some characters getting updated models and Kingdom Hearts I having some gameplay improvements. Now to wait for the inevitable Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX down the line…oh, and Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD, which was announced well before this collection! Read more…
Tags: Disney, Kingdom Hearts, square enix
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 11, 2013 in Videogames 
Deep Down‘s name sounds a bit awkward, like other Capcom games such as Resident Evil. But watching this trailer, the name really fits, evoking a sense of dread as you explore areas deep below the Earth’s surface. Many are noting that it seems to take the oppressive atmosphere of From Software’s Dark Souls while mixing in a sci-fi future concept of exploring past memories, a framework used in Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series. The result is this trailer that has practically sold me on the PS4 exclusive. Admittedly, there still isn’t much concrete information on Deep Down‘s plot, gameplay, or release date, so there’s plenty of time for expectations to fall as more details come to light. But for now, consider me excited. Read more…
Tags: Capcom, Fantasy, PS4
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 11, 2013 in Tech 
In what is surely not a shock, Apple has announced the next version of their smartphone, the iPhone 5S. Coming in white, black, and now a slightly-trashy gold, the iPhone 5S looks mostly the same as the iPhone 5, just like the iPhone 4 & 4S before it. There’s a silver ring around the home button with a fingerprint ID scanner for security, but the main changes are under the hood. The new A7 processor reportedly makes this phone twice as fast as the previous one, while OpenGL ES 3.0 improves the graphical capabilities. There’s also the M7, a motion co-processor, used for motion-sensing apps. Read more…
Tags: Apple, iOS, iPhone
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 10, 2013 in Tech, Videogames 
If you didn’t get the memo, Sony really, really wants you to buy a PlayStation Vita. The ailing handheld is in desperate need of a good install base. In Japan, they just announced two new products that will hopefully help turn the tide for the system. The first is the PCH-2000, a slightly redesigned Vita that is 20% thinner, 15% lighter, and comes in six colors. The battery now lasts for 6 hours, you can charge it via micro USB, and it comes with 1GB of storage, though you’ll want to consider buying a memory card, like the new 64GB one that costs about $100. A key difference is that this redesign sports a LCD screen instead of an OLED screen, which is sure to help battery life and screen consistency, but is a shame for those of us who love the current OLED screen. This WiFi-only Vita will be out on October 10 and cost the same amount as the current model. But the bigger news is their other big Vita announcement. Read more…
Tags: Playstation Vita, Sony
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 10, 2013 in Television 
There are only three episodes left to go in what is surely one of the greatest TV shows ever made, Breaking Bad. If you haven’t been collecting the series on Blu-ray so far, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has a proposition for you. Check out Breaking Bad: The Complete Series, a Blu-ray collection of all 62 episodes and 55 hours of special features on 16 discs. Those bonus features include a two-hour documentary on the making of the final season exclusive to this set, as well as all other previously released bonus material, even the retailer exclusives. All the discs are housed in a replica barrel from the show. There’s also a Los Pollos Hermanos apron, a collectible booklet, and a Breaking Bad challenge coin for fans. The set looks great! Read more…
Tags: Blu-Ray
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 9, 2013 in Videogames 
Capcom’s Monster Hunter is still a huge series in Japan. The latest in the series is Monster Hunter 4, and will be showing up on the 3DS on September 14th… in Japan. Hopefully we’ll see it arrive on western shores eventually, but for now you can just drool over their cross-promotion with Nintendo: Mario & Luigi costumes for the Felynes, and Link armor and weapons for your character. Now you can slay monsters with the Sacred Bow or Master Sword while your assistants run around with mustaches on. I’m sure it’s been a long desire of yours. The trailer is embedded below, or you can watch the full Monster Hunter Nintendo Direct here! Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Monster Hunter, Nintendo
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 9, 2013 in Videogames 
I know Grand Theft Auto is big. You know GTA is big. But sometimes it’s astounding to just see how big. Scottish newspaper The Scotsman is reporting that GTA V’s total budget (marketing and development) is $265 million. That’s way over the previous record holder, (the massive flop) Star Wars: The Old Republic at $200 million, and encroaching upon the highest budget film ever, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End at $300 million. That’s big money right there. Rockstar certainly feels they can make it back, given that GTA IV sold over 25 million copies. I love big-budget movies and games, but I still worry about how large each budget is becoming. The bigger they are, the harder they fall — not that GTA V is in danger of this. Read more…
Tags: Grand Theft Auto
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 8, 2013 in Videogames 
While Plants vs. Zombies 2 is already out on iOS and its abundance of micro-transactions dividing the populace, there is another PvZ game on the horizon: Garden Warfare. Currently an Xbox One exclusive (but expect that to change eventually), Garden Warfare is a class-based third-person shooter, taking cues from a multitude of other shooters, and mashing it together into a silly bundle of zombies. It definitely looks interesting, and I hope it turns out alright. Check out the trailer below and some gameplay here. Read more…
Tags: Plants vs. Zombies
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 8, 2013 in Cinema 
It looks like with all his talk about film and movie creation, Keanu Reeves got the itch to direct his own film. Man of Tai Chi is his directorial debut, and is semi-based upon the life story of his stuntman pal, Tiger Chen, who stars. Granted, this looks like a very loose adaption, but I am interested in seeing Reeves try his hand at directing. Many actors have successfully made the jump before. Reeves still has a lead role in the film, but I imagine part of that is simply to use his star-power to help sell it. You won’t have to wait long to see it, too: it arrives on video-on-demand on September 27th and in select theaters November 1st. Trailer below! Read more…
Tags: Keanu Reeves
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 7, 2013 in Science, Tech 
People have been making Tony Stark jokes about Elon Musk for a while now. At first it was just an amusing joke, but now it appears Musk is leaning into it. He’s been creating a virtual workshop not unlike what Stark uses in the Iron Man films to create his armor, using a combination of a Leap Motion controller, Oculus Rift, a projector, and Kinect. Reaching your hands out to control the positioning and shape of a 3D model on the screen is pretty neat, especially being able to view it with the Rift, but I wonder how quickly your arms will tire. Creating more intuitive interfaces is definitely worthwhile though, and I think stuff like this could really explode. Read more…
Tags: Elon Musk, SpaceX
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 7, 2013 in Cinema 
Which one of you asked for this? Where was the demand for a Robocop remake? I’ll suss you out if it’s the last thing I do. José Padilha is directing this new take on the classic film with a ton of solid actors in tow: Koel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, and Abbie Cornish. But despite a great lineup, I’m still not sure about the presentation of the film. It feels less like Robocop and more like a generic sci-fi action pic. Perhaps it’s just the way the trailer is cut. At least the important elements from the original are there! Watch the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Robocop
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 6, 2013 in Fandom, Hobbies and Collections 
I think in the future, everything will be made out of LEGOs. Not just our silly online videos recreating a movie trailer or the crazy space ships from our favorite films, but LEGOs will form everything. Our cars, our buildings, the air we breathe, maybe even your children will be LEGOs. It’s really the only path I see towards the future. So the first step is to recreate everything from the past with LEGO bricks first — starting with Thriller. Annette Jung has created the opening scene of Michael Jackson’s iconic music video, Thriller. I’m gonna bet it took a long time to make this, because it looks amazing. Read more…
Tags: Lego, Michael Jackson
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 6, 2013 in Cinema 
Alfonso Cuarón’s latest film, Gravity, is arriving October 4th. That means you can probably just skip this trailer and wait until the movie comes out in a month. If your excitement for the Children of Men director’s next film hasn’t reached a fever-pitch (like me) then perhaps you should watch it. Just get a handle on things, you know? I love the attention to real detail here. There’s no sound in space. Finally! The only sounds you hear are what Sandra Bullock and George Clooney would actually hear in their helmets. James Cameron called this the “best space film ever,” which is clearly hyperbole, but still makes me even more excited. One month, people. Read more…
Tags: Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 5, 2013 in Videogames 
Kickstarter seems like a good fit for indie developer WayForward. Though they’ve worked on some big titles like DuckTales Remastered, Contra 4, and Adventure Time, it seems like they always wanted to do more with some of their original ideas. WayForward has created a Kickstarter for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, to develop the game and bring it to every current console (except Wii), next-gen console, and Steam. If you’re into obscure games, you might recognize the game’s name from the critically-acclaimed, but very rare Game Boy Color game. A DSiWare sequel came out a few years ago, with a 3DS eShop sequel also on the way. But this is an all-new, HD game for consoles! Read more…
Tags: Kickstarter, Shantae
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 5, 2013 in Videogames 
Nintendo released another Nintendo Direct, holding a rather self-congratulatory roundtable to discuss more information on Pokemon X & Y. First of all, it was revealed that you would get your starter pokemon from your friend, not a professor. The professor will actually offer you a choice soon after of one of the starter pokemon from Pokemon Red & Blue, meaning you’re basically getting two starters. Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle’s evolved forms also have new Mega Evolutions, a temporary battle state triggered by a Mega Stone and a trainer’s Mega Ring. Charizard’s looking pretty good! Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Nintendo, Nintendo Direct, Pokémon
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 4, 2013 in Videogames 
Contrary to popular belief, Disney and Harmonix’s Fantasia: Music Evolved does have some classical music in it. Just look at this gameplay demo of part of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in the newly revealed section of the game called “The Haven.” I’m not sure how much the area is incorporated into the actual game, but it has plenty of charm, including some sort of fantasy snow creature. I’m hoping the game is filled with many of these realms, though I’m sure there are multiple songs featured in a single realm. Hopefully there is the option for even more classical music as DLC. Read more…
Tags: Disney, Music, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 4, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Were you one of the many people upset by the changed ending in the movie version of Watchmen? Personally, I thought that the new one worked rather well and tied Dr. Manhattan into it to boot. But I did miss the squid, and I forgot just how graphic the original ending was in comparison. It turns out there was a reason it was changed besides studio executives thinking that a giant squid might be a little out there. When David Hayter was asked about writing the script, he explained that the studio was very sensitive to 9/11-esque imagery that may offend viewers in such a big budget film. It makes sense, and the Hiroshima shadows were a good way to underscore how many people died without showing their bloody corpses. Read more…
Tags: Watchmen, Zack Snyder
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