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Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 18, 2014 in Videogames 
Swery65’s Deadly Premonition was a true cult hit, a b-list Japanese version of Twin Peaks that was far more than just the sum of its parts. I’ve been anticipating his next game D4, or Dark Dreams Don’t Die, a strange, cel-shaded, episodic adventure game played with Kinect motion controls (or regular controls if you don’t like motion controls/if the motion controls suck). Apparently at Tokyo Game Show, it was revealed that the prologue the first two episodes are releasing Friday in North America and Japan for $14.99 on Xbox One. What a surprise! Here’s hoping it is as appealing as Deadly Premonition. Read more…
Tags: Deadly Premonition, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 18, 2014 in Videogames 
Many have had Final Fantasy XV on their wishlists for years, from back when it was called Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Even with the stunning trailer from E3 2013, we still don’t have a ton of information on how it plays, but that will change within a year. Whenever Square Enix decides to release Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, the console port of the PSP game that also spun off from Final Fantasy XIII, is the time we’ll get access to a FFXV demo. Square Enix has stated every copy of Type-0 will come with a code to download Final Fantasy XV: Episode Duscae, a playable demo of the game’s opening scenes. Read more…
Tags: Final Fantasy, square enix
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 17, 2014 in Comic Books, Television 
It’s pretty cool that Marvel will be airing Agent Carter in-between the two halves of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season two. Many have wondered if Dominic Cooper would return to play Howard Stark (Iron Man’s father), since he played the role in Captain America: The First Avenger and subsequently cameoed in the Marvel One Shot Agent Carter that inspired this series. While the jury is still out on that, considering he’s a movie star, but it seems that he will have a butler: Edwin Jarvis, to be played by James D’Arcy. In the original comics, Jarvis was Tony Stark’s butler, but since the Iron Man in the movies has the AI J.A.R.V.I.S. as a butler, it’s clear that this is the original Jarvis who now works for Howard. Still though, it would be strange to have Howard Stark’s butler in the show, but not have Howard Stark appear… Read more…
Tags: Agent Carter, Marvel
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 17, 2014 in Comic Books, Television 
It seems that Gotham won’t be the only DC comic adaptation on Fox. Californication creator/executive producer Tom Kapinos is working with Warner Bros. TV to adapt Lucifer for Fox, which has given it a put pilot commitment. Though from DC Comics, the character Lucifer mainly appeared in its older Vertigo imprint, first appearing in The Sandman as a supporting character. Later, in the 00s, DC put out Lucifer, the character’s own series in which he opens a piano bar in LA after becoming bored of ruling Hell, which is likely what this series will be based on. Read more…
Tags: DC Comics, Lucifer, sandman, Vertigo, Warner Brothers
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 16, 2014 in Videogames 
Capcom has finally rereleased Mega Man 7 on the Wii U Virtual Console. The first six games were originally released for NES, but Mega Man 7 was released for SNES. With the change in platform came a new graphical style to keep up with Mega Man X, which resulted in split opinions on the game’s quality. Regardless, it’s pretty cool that retro fans can now play Mega Man 1-7 all on one system, as well as Mega Man 9 and 10 from the WiiWare backwards compatibility. Granted, the system won’t be getting Mega Man 8, since it was only released on PS1, but barring that, you’ve got access to all Mega Man games released on old Nintendo consoles. Add that to the Game Boy Mega Man games on 3DS Virtual Console, and you’ve got a fun weekend! Read more…
Tags: Capcom, Mega Man, Wii U
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 16, 2014 in Videogames 
We all knew Minecraft was big, but I don’t think anyone saw this happening. Microsoft has announced that they have purchased Mojang, makers of Minecraft, for a whopping $2.5 billion. Creator Markus “Notch” Persson will be stepping away from his company and not join Microsoft, feeling that running such a big game/company isn’t as appealing to him as smaller projects that don’t create as much pressure. It remains to be seen what this means for versions of Minecraft on non-Microsoft platforms, such as Sony’s PS3, PS4, and Vita, the latter of which is launching soon. While it’s possible that sales or support could be halted, I’d wager Microsoft will continue allowing Minecraft on other platforms, since the work is already done or mostly done and it’s surely a worthwhile revenue stream. But until Microsoft comments, anything could happen with the property. Read more…
Tags: Microsoft, Minecraft, Mojang
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 11, 2014 in Cinema, Comic Books 
DC and WB are trying to keep the Batmobile that will appear in Batman v. Superman under wraps. But the thing about shooting out in public is that leaks are going to happen. Some shots have surfaced, as collected on /Film, and while they’re currently unverified, it’s hard to imagine what else this would be from. It seems that the Batmobile has fins that raise up, allowing the driver to enter. It looks like an interesting fusion of the Tumbler from The Dark Knight trilogy and the more stylized, older designs (but in a different way than the similar fusion Batmobile appearing in Batman: Arkham Knight). Check out some more designs below for what we’ll likely be seeing in 2016. Read more…
Tags: Batman v. Superman, Batmobile
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 11, 2014 in Videogames 
Hoo boy, this is already getting confusing. Nintendo is putting out an upgraded 3DS with more power called the New 3DS and New 3DS XL. But since that’s not being released outside of Japan until 2015, any new 3DS models are going to cause confusion. Take some limited edition 3DS XLs announced for release at Gamestop. There are limited run models featuring designs from Super Smash Bros. (September 19), NES (October 10), and Persona Q (no date, but likely November 25, the day of the game’s release). But while these are all awesome, new designs, they are not the “New 3DS XL,” so anyone buying these new models should be aware that the hardware will be outdated sometime in the first half of 2015. The designs are still worth getting, but it’s a weird time to release them. Also, that NES model could have a better design on the shell than just the controller. Read more…
Tags: 3DS, NES, New 3DS, Nintendo, Persona 4, Super Smash Bros.
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 10, 2014 in Videogames 
Both Europe and Japan have the option to buy a limited edition version of Hyrule Warriors that comes with the blue scarf Link wears in-game. But so far, it seemed like North America wouldn’t have that option and would have to go scarf-less. Nintendo of America has offered some good news via Twitter, but it’s unlikely to make very many people happy. There will be a Limited Edition for the US when the game launches on September 26, but it will only be sold in very limited quantities at the Nintendo World Store in New York City. And due to high demand, you can’t preorder it. Read more…
Tags: Legend of Zelda, Nintendo, Wii U
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 10, 2014 in Tech 
In what was one of the worst kept secrets of the mobile phone industry, Apple has announced their latest model of iPhone, this time in two variants. The iPhone 6 has a 4.7 inch screen (1334×750 resolution), while the iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5 inch screen (1920×1080 resolution). Personally, I don’t see why I would ever want something too small to be a tablet yet too big to be a phone; even the iPhone 6 seems too big when the iPhone 5S feels just right. But I suppose there’s a market that has been demanding phones of this size, so hopefully they’re happy. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will ship on September 19, starting at $199 and $299 respectively. Read more…
Tags: Apple, iPhone
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 9, 2014 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Despite “only” earning $41 million (from a $45 million budget), 2012’s Dredd has a good amount of fans eagerly awaiting a sequel. Lead actor Karl Urban agrees and has been encouraging efforts to push a new film into production. But if that time does come, it may not be a sequel, but a prequel. Speaking at Chicago Comic-Con, Urban suggested that the film might explore how the Judges were established. “It’s more likely that we’ll do the Origins story, with Dredd trekking through the Cursed Earth to find the first Chief Judge Fargo,” Urban said, referring to a 2006 storyline that was meant to tie up various loose threads from previous comics. Read more…
Tags: Dredd, Judge Dredd
Posted by Bob Muir on Sep 9, 2014 in Animation, Fandom 
14 years after the last episode, and people still like DuckTales. It’s a shame that Disney hasn’t felt like making the entire series available legally for streaming, considering how low any prospective sales are these days, but there are likely many fans who would gladly watch a few ads to revisit the series. Until then, fans continue showing their appreciation for the classic cartoon with various fanworks. But while not every video is gold, YouTube channel Oh My Disney has redone the opening with real, live ducks. Obviously, coordinating real ducks well enough to perform is difficult, so there’s not a lot of motion. But seeing a real duck with a top hat is still adorable! Read more…
Tags: Disney, DuckTales
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 28, 2014 in Videogames 
One of the reasons why the Xbox One faltered after launch was that many consumers just didn’t want to be forced to buy the new Kinect camera, bundled with every console for $500. Microsoft has since made a Kinect-less version for only $400, which has brought in more gamers (though still not as many as Microsoft wanted, since many have already purchased a PS4). But what about those who bought the system and soon wanted the Kinect after all, perhaps after realizing the confusing UI is best navigated with relatively-reliable voice commands? They will soon be able to purchase a stand-alone Kinect on October 7. Read more…
Tags: Kinect, Microsoft, Xbox One
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 28, 2014 in Videogames 
Nintendo has been slowly releasing more DLC in its games, which would normally be reason to be concerned about getting nickel and dimed. Opinions were split on the three free Mercedes cars (well, karts) that just got released in Mario Kart 8; while getting more content for free was a good thing, the sponsorship had many wary. But the latest Mario Kart 8 DLC announcement should put concerns to rest. There will be two upcoming DLC packs, one in November 2014 and one in May 2015. Each pack will come with three new characters (including Link from Zelda and the Villager & Isabelle from Animal Crossing), eight new courses, and four new vehicles. The courses will be partially based on other Nintendo games like Excitebike, F-Zero, and more. As a bonus, if both packs are purchased, you’ll get eight color variations for both Yoshi and Shy Guy — and you can use them right now if you preorder the packs on Nintendo’s eShop. Read more…
Tags: Mario Kart, Nintendo, Wii U
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 27, 2014 in Videogames 
The last weird Pokémon crossover we saw was Pokémon Conquest, which mixed the ever-popular critter collector with Nobunaga’s Ambition, a strategy RPG set in feudal Japan. It’s about time for another unexpected mash-up, and this time it’s Pokkén Tournament, a fighting game made by Namco Bandai and overseen by Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada and Soulcalibur producer Masaaki Hoshino. The debut trailer showed Machamp and Lucario (both fighting-type pokémon) fighting each other, with Lucario evolving into Mega Lucario at the end. The announcement confirms hints and leaks from last year’s Tokyo Game Show. Read more…
Tags: Namco Bandai, Nintendo, Pokémon, Tekken
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 27, 2014 in Animation, Comic Books 
In Marvel’s Ultimate universe, Peter Parker has died, and young Miles Morales has taken his place. Strangely, the cartoon Ultimate Spider-Man isn’t based on the Ultimate universe, which means Peter Parker is still the star. But a new dimension-hopping storyline has the classic hero interacting with Spider-Men from other worlds, including the real Ultimate universe. And that means someone is voicing Miles: Donald Glover, formerly of Community. A giant Spider-Man fan, he had previously launched a Twitter campaign to play a live-action Spidey, which doesn’t seem to be happening. But this is a perfect fit, so I’m glad to see Glover finally get a chance to play his hero. Check out the video and see him in action. Read more…
Tags: Marvel, Spider-man
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 26, 2014 in Television 
Shutter Island was enjoyable for what it was, a trippy, semi-horror suspense film from master director Martin Scorsese. Now, HBO is working out a deal with Paramount to adapt the movie into a TV series. Unlike recent films-turned-TV-series like Fargo, this one’s likely to get a name change; Ashecliffe is the tentative title, named after the mental hospital where the movie was set. If things go smoothly, Martin Scorsese will direct the pilot episode (as he did for Boardwalk Empire) and Dennis Lehane (the original novel’s author) will write the pilot’s script. One thing is likely a safe bet: I doubt Leonardo DiCaprio will be part of the show. Read more…
Tags: HBO, Horror, Martin Scorsese, Paramount
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 26, 2014 in Videogames 
Twitch is a rising star of the internet, allowing gamers to stream their games for everyone to watch. While there were rumors earlier this year that Google was in the process of buying the company, it turns out that they were false. Amazon has officially purchased Twitch for $970 million, which is quite a nice sum. I had a feeling something like this was happening, as Twitch recently attempted to not only change how past streams were stored on the site, but also implement a music copyright system to regulate archived broadcasts. What this means for the average streamer or viewer remains to be seen, but it sounds like business as usual. It seems that Twitch will continue operating independent of Amazon, but I’m sure they’ll have access to more of Amazon’s resources. Hopefully things continue running smoothly! Read more…
Tags: Amazon, Twitch
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 21, 2014 in Videogames 
It’s always good to see fighting games, which usually only get arcade-to-console ports, come to PC. So it’s a pleasant surprise to hear that Kiss Ltd. and Funbox announce that Guilty Gear X2 #Reload is coming to Steam on Friday, September 5. But while it’s a great version of a fun fighting game, it’s also a strange choice. The latest Guilty Gear release in arcades and on other consoles is Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R, with many more updates over #Reload. It’s the current standard in the fighting game scene, so it’s not entirely clear why Kiss and Funbox chose to rerelease this version instead of a more relevant version still played in tournaments. Maybe if there’s enough interest, there will be a more recent port in the future? Read more…
Tags: Guilty Gear, Steam
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 21, 2014 in Videogames 
Keiji Inafune is well-known as the creator of Mega Man, but he no longer works at Capcom. So what is he making now? Two indie games, Mighty No. 9 and Azure Striker Gunvolt, which are basically Mega Man and Mega Man X, respectively. Inti Creates, the developers of Mega Man 9, 10, Mega Man Zero 1-4, and more are working on both games, so a crossover game isn’t that crazy of an idea. That’s what Mighty Gunvolt is, with another Inti Creates game called Gal Gun added in (but you don’t have to pay attention to that). And apparently, anyone who buys Azure Striker Gunvolt when it releases on 3DS within the first three months will get a download code for Mighty Gunvolt for free. What a sweet promotion! Read more…
Tags: Azure Striker Gunvolt, Keiji Inafune, Mighty No. 9
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 20, 2014 in Videogames 
For those who were disappointed by Dark Souls II, Bloodborne looks to make everything right. The PS4 exclusive — developer From Software is collaborating with Sony’s Japan Studio — is what Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki has been working on, which explains why he only supervised Dark Souls II instead of directing. The trailers have been hype-tastic enough, but they’re obviously cut together from various parts, not really showing the flow of regular gameplay. The latest Bloodborne video shows six minutes of a level (cutting out what is presumably back-tracking or fighting some random mooks), and for fans of punishing gameplay, it looks wonderful. The boss at the end is pretty terrifying too. Read more…
Tags: Bloodborne, PS4
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 20, 2014 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Following a long period of hinting, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has confirmed that he will be starring in DC and WB’s Shazam movie. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s playing Shazam, previously known as Captain Marvel before copyright issues screwed things up. Apparently, though he’s signed on for the movie, he has yet to decide whether he wants to play the hero Shazam or the villain Black Adam. While I bet WB would like him to play Shazam and build a franchise around the star, The Rock says he’s always liked anti-heroes, with Black Adam being one of his favorite DC characters. While I’m sure he’d make a good Shazam, I have a feeling he’d make a better Black Adam, since he’s got the looks to match the character. Read more…
Tags: DC Comics, Shazam, Warner Brothers
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 19, 2014 in Animation, Cinema 
The future of Studio Ghibli is still in question, with the studio considering shifting from animation to simply managing its library. But until then, there are still two films that have been released after Hayao Miyazaki’s final film The Wind Rises but still haven’t made their way outside of Japan. The first is a movie from director Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies), The Tale of Princess Kaguya. Gkids is releasing the English dub of the movie theatrically on October 17, featuring the voices of James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, and Chloë Grace Moretz. Though there’s no dialogue in this first trailer, it does give a good example of how different the animation is from the usual Ghibli style, though it’s still unmistakably their work. Read more…
Tags: Studio Ghibli
Posted by Bob Muir on Aug 19, 2014 in Animation, Cinema, Fandom 
Up is well known for tugging at your emotional heartstrings, especially in that bittersweet opening sequence that sort of overshadows the rest of the film. So what if Michael “Explosions” Bay, known for cinematic fast food like the Transformers franchise, directed Up instead of Pete Docter? The result would be something like this fan trailer by YouTube user MrStratman7, which makes Up seem much more epic and action-focused than it actually is. And naturally, there are explosions — tons and tons of endless explosions. In fact, keep watching after the title appears for one final explosion. Read more…
Tags: Michael Bay, Pixar, Up
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