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Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 5, 2013 in Videogames 
Do you like rougelikes? Maybe a little Metroidvania-style gameplay? And what about tying it all together with a family tree that let’s you play through each child in a generation? Rouge Legacy is a recent indie game that has really taken off, mainly because of it’s unique take on lives and death. You play as a knight exploring a castle that changes every time you enter – but if you die, it’s permanent. Instead, you return to the castle as your knight’s child, and the cycle continues again. Each new generation of knights has unique traits, some helpful, some hurtful, and some just weird (like colorblindness or hypogonadism). Check out the trailer below, or pick it up on Steam! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 4, 2013 in Videogames 
With echoes of Independence Day, Volition and new publisher Deep Silver put out this patriotic trailer for this fall’s Saints Row IV. It promotes American values such as liberty, freedom, and kicking alien butt. The leader of the Third Street Saints has now become president of the US and must defend the country from an alien invasion led by Emperor Zinyak. Plus, it’s another game where the president rides around in a giant mech. It doesn’t quite make up for Metal Wolf Chaos never being released on the original Xbox, but at least Saints Row IV has a dubstep gun, which counts for something. Read more…
Tags: Saints Row IV
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 4, 2013 in Star Wars 
People will do crazy things for Guinness World Records, even when you can make up a record for almost anything these days. Case in point: Jonathan Rice decided to run in Death Valley, the hottest place on Earth, dressed up as Darth Vader. He’s the creator of the Darth Valley Challenge, which requires participants to run a mile through Death Valley dressed as their favorite Star Wars character. Rice has been running the past three years, with his fourth run occurring a few days ago on June 30. This year, Rice was joined by supporters dressed up as other Star Wars characters, as well as a support driver dressed as Chewbacca.
So how did Rice do? Not only did he manage to finish his mile in 6 minutes and 36 seconds, he did it at 4PM, during which the National Weather Service recorded a temperature of 129 degrees, the hottest day ever recorded in June. Even for that short time, that’s a pretty incredible feat, considering how fast you need to run for a time like that. (For reference, as a member of my high school track team, my fastest time was a rather average 5 minutes and 15 seconds, on a regulation flat track, wearing extremely light clothing in very temperate weather.) Here’s hoping he didn’t have to spend time in a bacta tank afterwards!
Source: CNET
Tags: Darth Vader
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 3, 2013 in Videogames 
When the first trailers for Final Fantasy XIII came out, showing main character Lightning riding on a train, everyone immediately drew comparisons to the opening of Final Fantasy VII, with Cloud riding on a train. Connections were also made between the weather-based names and their demeanor. So how fitting is it that preordering Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, the third and final game of the FFXIII trilogy, will grant players Cloud’s outfit and massive Buster Sword? Read more…
Tags: Final Fantasy, PS3, square enix, Xbox 360
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 3, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
We had already heard that Christian Bale wasn’t returning to the role of Batman after The Dark Knight Rises. He doesn’t want to play Batman again unless it’s under Christopher Nolan’s direction, and Man of Steel screenwriter/Dark Knight trilogy co-story writer David S. Goyer has said that the Batman appearing in the nebulous Justice League film will be a rebooted character. But on the other hand, Man of Steel, co-produced by Christopher Nolan, did pretty well for Warner Brothers, and rumors began to swirl. So what does Bale have to say on the matter?
As you’d expect, he’s made up his mind on the matter. “We were incredibly fortunate to get to make three [Batman films]. That’s enough. Let’s not get greedy,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “Chris [Nolan] always said he wanted to make it one film at a time. And we ended up sitting there looking at each other, saying ‘We’re about to make the third.’ We never really knew if we were going to get to be there, but if that was how it was going to be, this was where it should end as well.” Well put!
To dispel rumors even further, Bale stated that he hasn’t even been involved in any talks about a Justice League movie. “I have no information, no knowledge about anything. I’ve literally not had a conversation with a living soul. I understand that they may be making a Justice League movie, that’s it.” Since he’s completely done with Batman, Bale has no issue with anyone else playing the role. “It’s a torch that should be handed from one actor to another. So I enjoy looking forward to what somebody else will come up with.”
It was a good run, but I think it’s fine to let Bale retire his cowl. Besides, if he returned, it would tie Nolan’s more realistic Batman to a most likely hyper-realistic Justice League film. For all that was said about making a more realistic Superman, it would be very hard to fit Nolan’s Batman into the world of Man of Steel. Did you see the end of that movie? While Green Lantern or Wonder Woman or even the Flash would work in this world, a Batman film would be rather boring and ordinary compared to what is going on around him. (Disclaimer: I believe Batman works best alone and don’t really like the dynamics of the Justice League due to power disparities. I think what Marvel did with the Avengers, making every team member viable in some way, works far better than a team with nigh-invincible characters like Superman. The only reason Batman is in the Justice League is because he was popular, but he’s basically relegated to “the brains.” In short, I think Marvel’s shared universe and prominent headliners work better together than DC’s.)
Source: Entertainment Weekly
Tags: Batman, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Warner Brothers
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 2, 2013 in Cinema 
Not every poster design gets sent out to theaters. Take a look at these potential Ender’s Game posters focusing on the characters. As “draft” posters, they’re not the finished thing, but you could’ve fooled me. The main stars are present, everything looks futuristic, what’s the problem? We don’t know, since they were leaked, but I’d have been fine with them. Could it be they decided it was a bit weird to only show the male characters’ faces while showing almost all of the female characters’ bodies as well? Actually, let’s chalk it up to that. So whether the ad department was concerned with minor sexism or visual inconsistency, these aren’t your final Ender’s Game posters — but they still look pretty cool. Read more…
Tags: Ender's Game, Science Fiction
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 2, 2013 in Anime, Cinema 
This year, Studio Ghibli is releasing two new films in Japan — Hayao Miyazaki’s Kaze Tachinu (The Wind Is Rising) and Isao Takahata’s Kaguya-hime no Monogatari (The Tale of Princess Kaguya). Once they’re released, Studio Ghibli will have released 21 films since Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind in 1984 (which was actually pre-Ghibli, but is generally considered to be a Ghibli film), including one TV movie. To celebrate their achievement of creating some of the best animated films ever made, Ghibli made this mural for Japanese theaters. Read more…
Tags: Studio Ghibli
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 1, 2013 in Videogames 
Minecraft is an unstoppable freight train. It’s popularity continues unabated, and continues to shock even me, such as when I heard my girlfriend’s 7-year-old cousins talking about how they’re installing mods and custom features in Minecraft on their PC. I think it’s amazing that kids are being introduced to such a creative world and learning about fun things like modding. Hopefully that tech knowledge will inspire future endeavors! The new Minecraft update (out now), version 1.6, introduces horses, leads, clay blocks, and carpets into the game world, and The Farlanders have done a neat little trailer showing off these features. Check it out! Read more…
Tags: Minecraft
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 1, 2013 in Television 
You thought you’d have a break from news about Game of Thrones now that the third season was over (and I’m sure many of you are still collecting your emotions over that), but guess what? Now casting begins! One of the most important roles to cast for next season is the Red Viper, Prince Oberyn Martell. HBO has wasted no time in casting this role, and have announced that Chilean actor Pedro Pascal will be the man for the job. Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss released a statement saying, “the Red Viper is sexy and charming, yet believably dangerous; intensely likable, yet driven by hate. The boys love him, the girls love him, and he loves them all back.” There are a few minor spoilers in the EW article, so tread lightly. Read more…
Tags: Game of Thrones
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 30, 2013 in Star Wars 
We know a lot about the development of The Empire Strikes Back, especially given the wealth of documentaries out there that cover all of the Star Wars films, and the original costume for Boba Fett was always something neat to see. Anything new that adds to the collection of media out there about the making of these movies is a wonderful thing, so I’m very glad that this full video was released on YouTube. It’s a screentest for Boba Fett’s costume, showing off the details and design of the suit so that it could be approved later. In the video they explain all of Fett’s features and even mention that they want to change the color scheme to “blue and green” which is a nice little note. Check out this piece of Star Wars history below! Read more…
Tags: Boba Fett, Star Wars
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 30, 2013 in Animation, Cinema 
Apparently, the narrative that Pixar has been doing too many sequels is stronger than I thought. While I never had too much of an issue with Pixar’s sequels, I won’t deny that I prefer more original stories. You have to have those original stories to make sequels, anyway! But Pixar has heard your calls and have said their new plan is to release an original film every year, and a sequel every other year. Seems pretty solid, right? If you hadn’t said anything I may have thought that was already the plan. But so far we only know one upcoming original Pixar film, Lee Unkrich’s Día de los Muertos-inspired movie. Hopefully we’ll hear more about these original projects soon! Read more…
Tags: Pixar
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 29, 2013 in Videogames 
Conan O’Brien has been checking out video games more and more recently, and while he doesn’t seem to understand them all that well, his outside perspective is both hilarious and refreshing. In this video he visits E3 and takes a look at both the PS4 and Xbox One. Perhaps the most telling thing is that he immediately tunes out all of the gritty, violent shooters and action games, and finds true happiness with Mario Kart 8 (and Bayonetta). He also makes a quick stop to talk with the voice of Mario, Charles Martinet, which is simultaneously funny and depressing. Watch the whole video below. Read more…
Tags: Conan, E3 2013
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 29, 2013 in Animation, Cinema 
When you think of big-budget superhero movies, which unused characters do you think are really dying for good adaption? Dr. Strange? The Flash? What about… Captain Planet? No? Please come back and watch a Captain Planet movie, Sony Pictures exclaims as the crowds run away. Yes, apparently the cartoon superhero is looking to make a comeback, and he was on top of the list of “unused superheroes.” Is there any way to make this film without embracing the cheesy, kitschy, and oh-so-90s stylings? I suppose there’s an opportunity to make a comedy out of this, but a) that’s already been done by Funny or Die, and b) do you really think they’d go that route? Read more…
Tags: captain planet
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 28, 2013 in Cinema 
At first I hadn’t been too excited for Ridley Scott’s next film, The Counselor. The one sentence blurb didn’t catch my eye (a counselor gets in deep with the drug trade and meets strange people), so I wasn’t really paying attention. That is, until the casting and scripting news arrived. Penned by No Country for Old Men writer Cormac McCarthy, and starring Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, and Penélope Cruz, it looks to be a hard-R return for Scott, and I really can’t wait to see it later this year. The Counselor arrives in theaters October 25th. Trailer after the break. Read more…
Tags: Ridley Scott, The Counselor
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 28, 2013 in Animation 
Those wonderful Mickey Mouse animated shorts are still happening – and the latest one has just arrived. This one is called “No Service” and features Mickey and Donald has they attempt to battle a “no shirt, no shoes, no service” rule with their limited collection of clothing. It’s a surprisingly self-aware cartoon, subtly mocking that neither character has ever been completely clothed. I’m both surprised and glad Disney signed off on this, because it’s a great little short. I hope we see many more like this in the future! Watch it below. Read more…
Tags: Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 27, 2013 in Videogames 
Katamari Damacy became a cult classic for good reason: it was an original gameplay concept based on a simple mechanic and a surreal style. Creator Keita Takahashi has since become disillusioned with making games and, after the similarly bizarre non-game Noby Noby Boy (which is more of a toy), he left Namco Bandai to do things like make playgrounds. But alongside Wild Rumpus and Venus Patrol, he’s working on a new indie game called Tenya Wanya Teens, though you’re more likely to find it at indie development gatherings, or perhaps an art installation. Read more…
Tags: Katamari Damacy
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 27, 2013 in Cinema, Comic Books 
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is already out on Blu-ray — in fact, I’m looking at my girlfriend’s classy box containing all three films on the shelf. But there was an ad included, mentioning the ability to later buy collectibles that would be included in an upcoming “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” of the trilogy. If this Polish Batman site is to be believed, these are the first images of what’s in the box. We don’t know what is on the nine discs besides the movies, but it looks like there’s at least an art book and a lithograph of some sort. There are toy models of significant vehicles from the series, though I’d argue that their coloring is off. And damn, look at what I assume are individual cases for each movie! There’s some amazing stylized art there, such as the Scarecrow’s mask being mixed with a straight jacket, or Bane’s mask and prison bars. It’s just a shame that Warner Brothers didn’t put this out before people bought the first trilogy set! Read more…
Tags: Batman, Batman Begins, Blu-Ray, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Warner Brothers
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 26, 2013 in Fandom, Videogames 
I love vintage travel posters. I also love Pokemon. So how would it look if vintage travel posters tried to entice travelers into visiting locations in Kanto, the region of Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow? Something like this, I’d imagine. A storefront called Little Pixel Posters has designed such posters, and I want to decorate a room with some of these. It’s a shame you can’t actually visit, but with the way vintage travel posters inspire the imagination for a given city or country, this is the next best thing. Well, besides playing the games and exploring the region virtually. That’s always good too. Read more…
Tags: Nintendo, Pokémon
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 26, 2013 in Videogames 
As Konami continues rereleasing various Metal Gear Solid collections, there’s often one sticking point: the first Metal Gear Solid. It’s not the first game in the series — Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake saw release on the MSX — but it’s arguably the most iconic entry, and it’s only available today in its PS1 form, and only digitally on PS3. So it’s no surprise to hear that Kojima is considering remaking the game. Read more…
Tags: Konami, Metal Gear Solid
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 25, 2013 in Cinema 
On July 19, Edgar Wright is putting out a third film starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost called The World’s End. You may have heard some people calling it the third film in Wright’s “Cornetto Trilogy” or “Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy,” with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz being the first two films. Of course, despite featuring the same two main actors (and a slew of the same supporting actors), none of the films have any narrative connection. So why are the films a “trilogy” and what does ice cream have to do with it? Read more…
Tags: The World's End
Posted by Bob Muir on Jun 25, 2013 in Videogames 
I never got to play a Suda51 game before, so I’ve been checking out Killer7, and it’s delightfully bizarre. Later this summer, Killer Is Dead, the third game in the unique director’s loose “assassin” trilogy, will release, and unlike what I’ve seen of Suda51’s last few games, it’s just as crazy. Supposedly it’s drawing inspiration from James Bond, what Suda51 calls a “Dark Side 007,” but all I see is a guy with a robot arm slicing up robots and then fighting a near-naked dude. The action is stylish and looks fun, so I can’t wait to see this come out on August 27 in the US! Read more…
Tags: Suda51
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 24, 2013 in Videogames 
If you want a great way to show off your Oculus Rift, look no further. User Arpvidz on YouTube has been testing out a lot of software for the Oculus Rift, but none impressed him (or I) as much as Titans of Space – a virtual tour through our solar system and space. They take advantage of the 3D in the Rift excellently, and make the planets and stars suitably huge (and even then, obviously, not to scale!) which leaves Arpvidz speechless. While you can download the demo here and try it out, you’ll need an Oculus Rift to take full advantage of it. Although you could try the eye-crossing trick on the YouTube video below! Read more…
Tags: oculus rift
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 24, 2013 in Cinema 
It can almost become a game to watch out for new short films online. Which one will garner enough attention to get picked up by a big movie studio? Or will they try to Kickstart it? Dr. Easy is a new sci-fi short film by Warp Films, Film4, and Shynola — it’s a prologue to what they hope will be a full adaption of the book The Red Men by Mattew De Abaitua. It’s a great look into what they could do, and I hope someone takes notice. Click through to watch the film. Read more…
Tags: Short Films
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 23, 2013 in Videogames 
I’ve been very interested in Chris Roberts’ Star Citizen game, and they’ve been hard at work on the game. Their latest update included a new trailer, set in the style of a fake luxury car commercial, but for a new space vehicle called the 300 Series. This line of ships is available to players to purchase in advance of the game, so you have a ship ready to roll once it arrives. I hope they do more faux commercials like this as the game continues to form. Check out more details about the game here, and then watch the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Star Citizen
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