Fuse

Overstrike 9 strikes back...

There's nothing quite like being told that you can't have something.

Some people just submit when they've been told they can't have something they want.  Some (like a few very young kids I've seen at the mall) throw themselves on the ground and scream like a howler monkey on steroids.

And then there are people - like those in the Raven corporation - who say "Well, yeah, boo, sucks to be you," steal most of your high-tech alien weaponry, and attempt to blow you up multiple times.

That's the basic premise of Fuse, a new shooter from Electronic Arts and Insomniac Games: leading four elite agents of contact team Overstrike 9 in reclaiming the high-tech weaponry stolen by the Raven corporation before they obliterate everything.

According to IGN, Fuse is a "story-driven, cooperative action [in which] players must thwart a rogue paramilitary organization called Raven from stealing the deadly alien energy source known as Fuse.  Your team -- Dalton Brooks, Izzy Sinclair, Jacob Kimble and Naya Deveraux -- will pursue Raven around the world, from the fortified desert facility to underwater bases, island strongholds, icy mountain peaks, palatial hideouts and beyond."

Even though the game is mainly centered on co-op play, there is also a solo player option.  When playing solo, players use "the game's LEAP feature to switch between the four characters at will during combat," so much like a similar ability employed in the LEGO video games.  Each agent has his own set of skills and specializations that are unique from all the others in the group, and you're also given access to some pretty sweet experimental Fuse weapons that make gameplay even more interesting.

Besides solo and co-op options, Fuse can also be played online or offline and characters can "level up along unique character paths, allowing players to unlock more powerful Fuse-driven abilities as the game progresses.  In addition, the game's progression system is unified between different play modes, allowing players to continue improving their agents regardless of how they play," (IGN).

All in all, it really seems like EA and Insomniac are doing their very best to give their players the most options they possibly can, which is always good in my book.  What's really interesting is that the game is being described as "Bringing the best bits of Ratchet and Resistance together," and that sounds pretty fun.


Fuse will be releasing in the U.S. on May 28th (May 31st in the UK, May 30th in AU, and at a yet to be determined date in Japan) for the XBox 360 and the PlayStation 3.

DISCLAIMER!: Fuse has not yet been rated the ESRB, though the target rating is T for Teen and above.


Get out the magnum, ladies and gents.  You've got a corporation to stop.




 - Edessa, signing off

Skylanders Giants

Bring on the Giants!

There are some days when I just really, really wish that I had a PlayStation 3 or an XBox 360 instead of my PSP.

True, my PSP is smaller and lighter with a built-in screen, so it's much more portable than a full-sized console. So that's a win there.

But there are quite a few games - like LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, for instance - whose PSP editions are very watered down, so you don't get all of the levels or all of the content (which is all available on normal-sized consoles, by the way). That, and then there are a number of games that are only available on the larger consoles.

Like Skylanders Spyro's Adventure.

I've heard so many good things about this game, and I love the way it looks. The unfortunate thing is that I don't have a PS3 or an XBox or even a Wii, so I can't play it.

It's a big, fat bummer, and it's even more of a bummer when I find out that the new Skylanders sequel is releasing later this month.

I really gotta buy myself a full-sized console...

But for everybody else who does have a normal console, you really might want to check out this new game. It looks like it's just as much fun as the original!


Published by the ever-famous Activision and developed by Toys for Bob and XPEC, Skylanders Giants takes off where Spyro's Adventure left off.

The synopsis (courtesy of IGN): "The follow-up to the blockbuster Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, Skylanders Giants builds upon the breakthrough fundamentals of the first game, once again merging the physical and virtual realms with an innovative line of cross-platform toy figures that have 'brains,' which players everywhere can magically bring to life in the world of Skylands. This second installment of the franchise features a variety of new characters, new challenges and a thrilling new story-driven adventure."

I'm hooked. How about you?

The game introduces eight new playable characters (which are also toy figures), and they're twice the size of every other previous Skylanders character. It's called Giants for a reason, right? According to IGN, these giant characters' "in-game powers and abilites [also] reflect their colossal scale."

I'm thinking crushing and stomping are both going to have some part to play in these new characters' abilities. Skylanders, SMASH!

Some of the new Giants figurines are also coming with built-in lights that light up when they're around the Portal of Power. These characters also have some in-game benefits that the others don't and, best of all, they don't require batteries!

Besides the eight giant characters and the light-up figurines, the game is also introducing eight other regular-sized Skylanders that are all playable.

In addition to all of these figurines, Giants is one hundred percent compatible with the original Spyro's Adventure with all of your previous stats and customizations intact, new arenas, a new mode called Battle Mode, enhanced Elemental Zones, new Hero Challenges, and a bunch of other related features (information from IGN).

DISCLAIMER!: Skylanders Giants has been rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and older by the ESRB for Mild Cartoon Violence.

Giants releases to the U.S. on October 21st - October 19th if you live in the U.K. - for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and XBox 360.

And here's the official trailer from E3:

Oh, and one quick little thing before I'm done for today: if you follow HNED and like what we do, please consider showing your support by Liking us on Facebook! Not only can you show your support in this way, but you also get access to a lot of other film, game, Star Wars, and media industry news that I only post of Facebook (mainly because there's so much of it that I don't want to clutter up the blog). I update the HNED page every day with not only breaking news, but also contest news from other companies (mainly IGN), every HNED and Holocron post is linked on the page, and I also have special tidbits like Song, Picture, and Question of the Day. Click on the little Facebook icon over there to check out HNED's official page! *points to the left sidebar*

And to those of you who have already Liked HNED, thank you soooo MUCH! You're all so very awesome, and I really appreciate your continual support. You guys rock!




 - Edessa, signing off

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Hard to believe that this is actually Andy Serkis...

Planet of the Apes has always been a story that greatly interested me.

I mean, movies about ape-like aliens putting humans in zoos and taking over the world? That sounds pretty cool, if you ask me.

I've never seen any part of Planet of the Apes, but the story has still intrigued me. That, and I've always wanted to watch it so I can dissect the proposed worldviews, but I do that with every movie I see anyway.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is definitely high up there on my "To Watch" list, mostly because of Andy Serkis (that man is pure awesome genius!) but also because of the story and so I can dissect the worldview. And now that a sequel's being made, I find myself even more anxious to see Rise so I can see this next installment.


Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the sequel to 2011's Rise, a story that takes place not too long after tehe events of its predecessor. The synopsis (courtesy of Movie Insider): "The sequel, which continues the story of the original film, follows the apes on the path to emerge as society's new rulers."

That would be kinda strange, having a bunch of gorillas in Congress with human slaves who wait on their every whim.

This is when I could totally and very easily make a crack about the government.....

....but I won't. =)

Even in its early development stage, Dawn still has a nice handful of notable people attached to it.

Matt Reeves (Let Me In, Cloverfield) has taken over the directing chair, which was formerly inhabited by Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Escapist). Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver - both of whom wrote the Rise screenplay - are on hand again to write Dawn, and they have been joined by Scott Z. Burns (Contagion, The Informant!, Bourne Ultimatum).

What makes me really, really, REALLY excited, though, is that Andy Serkis is returning to play Caesar, the genetically enhanced main ape who is planning world domination. Serkis is a brilliant actor, particularly in the field of motion-capture (which explains how he is realistically able to play an ape without the use of a suit and fifty layers of make-up), and I just love to watch him act. He's probably my favorite actor, and I can't think of a single film of his that I didn't like.

Brilliant man. Just amazingly brilliant!

20th Century Fox is also distributing this sequel, as well as producing it alongside Chernin Entertainment.

Currently Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is in the Development Phase, when the script is finalized and casting and budgeting begin. The film is set for a May 23, 2014 nationwide release, but that could change over time. No worldwide date has been set yet.

Officially the film is not being filmed in 3D, but that hasn't been confirmed yet. Personally I think they should go ahead and film it in 3D. If they don't, they'll probably end up converting it later, so they might as well just do it now.

Besides, enraged apes taking over the world in 3D? I think I wanna see that.... =D


Do you think Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will be Good, Bad, or Ugly? Did you ever see the original Rise of the Planet of the Apes? If you did, did you like it?




 - Edessa, signing off

War of the Roses

The mounted combat in "War" has been called groundbreaking

History has always been one of my loves. It's just so awesome to be able to see what life was like before you were born, to see the lives of the thousands - maybe even millions - of people who changed the world. There's just something so amazing about that.

The unfortunate thing about history is that there are always some people out there who are trying to change it so their organization, ancestors, or beliefs don't look so bad. There's even a big push to remove the Holocaust from the World War II curriculum at schools because it might "offend" some people.

But the Holocaust should offend you! It should be horrfifying and abhorrent to you because that's what it really was! And that's why it should be kept in history textbooks and curriculums completely untouched, to remind us and the next generations of what is evil and what should be fought against. Anyone who says that the Holocaust never happened or was not as bad as people make it out to be is either in denial or will not have his worldview shaken by the revelation that man is not mostly good.

But I digress....

As far as history goes, I know the most about Ancient Greece (especially Sparta) and Rome, the early Medieval era, the American Revolution, and both World Wars more than I know of any other time period. But one part of history that I've always wanted to study but have never gotten around to has been the War of the Roses, a civil war between two English royal houses back in the 15th century.

But whether or not you like studying history like I do, I'm sure you'll be able to learn a thing or two about the War of the Roses from a new action video game releasing soon. True, I don't advocate playing video games to learn the truth about history, but even the most entertaining of games has something for everyone to learn. Maybe that's part of why I love them so much. =)


Published by Paradox Interactive and developed by Fatshark, War of the Roses is an action game, as expected, as well as a third-person shooter.

The synopsis, courtesy of IGN: "War of the Roses takes players back to the battle-ravaged medieval era of 15th century England. The game pulls you into a team-based multiplayer melee combat experience, putting their band of knights right in the thick of chaotic battles against opposing hordes armed with swords, battleaxes, longbows and other iconic medival classics."

This is an online game with both multiplayer and single player campaigns, both of which have been described as "deep." The game also has a nice range of features, including: over 30 authenitc weapons across 10 categories, customized gear (including choosing your own fighting style and weapon metal type), the ability to completely customize your armor, over 30 play-style changing perks, mounted gameplay, the ability to completely customize your own crest and coat of arms, a deep leveling system, 7 historically inspired war zones, an Extensive Persistence System, and "vicious 64 player competition in both Team Death Match and Conquest modes" (official website).

A 64 player Team Death Match?! That's awesome!

Overall, the game looks to be pretty solid. The graphics look pretty good from what I've seen of various screenshots and videos. If you would like to see the official trailers, they're up on YouTube if you search for it. I would have posted one of the trailers here, but honestly they left something to be desired and had quite a bit of spurting blood.

You can also check out the official website at this link: http://www.waroftherosesthegame.com/ Note that you will have to enter a date of birth to get in, but I just made one up and it went through without a glitch.

DISCLAIMER!: War of the Roses has not yet been rated by the ESRB, but the target rating is T for Teen or higher. Considering the fact that I had to give a date of birth when enterting the website (as I had to do for The Secret World), I think it will likely be rated M for Mature, but I can't confirm that at the moment.

War of the Roses doesn't have an official release date yet, but from looking over the website it looks as though it will be available sometime in early October. You can still pre-order the game through sites like Gamefly, and the game is only available on the PC (sorry, everybody else).




 - Edessa, signing off

Jurassic Park IV, V, VI, and 3D

In my Senior year of high school last year I took a Worldview in Film class, an online course where my classmates and I were required to watch a broad range of films (from Mulan to The Matrix) and study the worldviews presented.

Even though I didn't like all of the movies I had to watch (The Village scared me so bad that I couldn't sleep for almost a week), it was still an amazing, eye-opening class.

There were quite a few movies I was excited to see, particularly Avatar and Jurassic Park. Avatar was a great film, but I found that Jurassic Park just left a sour, bitter taste in my mouth.

Sure, the story was pretty inventive, the visual effects were good for its time, it ran at a good clip, and the acting was superb. But watching the dinosaurs tearing at and eating their victims? Even the parts where it was implied that a character was being devoured alive was unsettling. The language was incredibly offensive to me as well.

But the most disturbing part was watching the two little children screaming in terror, getting electrocuted on electric fences, getting injured, being trapped in a crushed car and then thrown into one of the deep dinosaur pens, and generally running for their lives. My maternal instincts seriously overloading by the time the film (thankfully) ended, and I vowed right then and there to never make a movie where kids are put in danger like that. It really just broke my heart.

I know a lot of people won't agree with my thoughts on Jurassic Park, but that's perfectly fine with me. Personally I'm not hankering to see any of the other JP films, but Hollywood is counting on everybody else wanting to see more dino-chomping action, which explains why they're making three more films.

Yep, you read that right. Three more JP films are in the works, plus converting the first one into 3D.


Jurassic Park's IV, V, and VI - all of which are being distributed by Universal Pictures and produced by Amblin Entertainment and The Kennedy/Marshall Company - are all supposed to be a "new trilogy," according to Joe Johnston (who was formerly going to direct the project). Besides that, nobody really knows anything about what this "new trilogy" is going to be like.

Personally I'm guessing that it's going to be something along these lines:

1. Group of people find (or get trapped on) an island inhabited by dinosaurs

2. Group of people find they can't get off of the island, or that they have to do something before they can get off

3. Group gets on wrong side of the dinos

4. Group has multiple run-ins with various types of dinos, most of them bad

5. A lot of group members die in rather gruesome ways

6. Group finally figures out how to get off of island or find the thing they've been looking for

7. Group escapes island, all thankful to be alive

OR

7. Everybody dies. The end.

Yeah, I think that about covers it, don't you? =)

Steven Spielberg (as expected) is producing this new JP trilogy along with Kathleen Kennedy (the lady who took over Lucasfilm, Ltd., when George Lucas retired) and Frank Marshall (who has produced about forty-ish films, including War Horse and The Bourne Legacy).

John Sayles (Amigo, Silver City, The Alamo) and William Monahan (Edge of Darkness, Body of Lies, The Departed) are both writing the screenplay for JP IV. Aso on hand just in case a rewrite is needed are Rick Jaffa (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and Amanda Silver (Rise of the Planet of the Apes).

As I mentioned earlier, Joe Johnston was originally going to be the director for this new trilogy, but that is no longer the case any longer. I'm thinking that maybe Spielberg should jump in and direct just because he can, but that's just my Imaginatrix having fun.

Laura Dern was formerly rumored to be starring in the film (she played Dr. Ellie Sattler in the other JP films), but she is no longer attached to the project. It might be fun if Sam Neill reprised his role as Dr. Alan Grant but, again, that's just because I happen to really like the way Neill acts. He was absolutely brilliant as Sir Bryan Gilbert in the 1980s version of Ivanhoe, which you should totally watch if you haven't already.

Besides this small handful of people, there are not many individuals currently working on JP IV-VI; however, the films are currently in the Concept and Development stages and will likely stay that way for a while yet. And since the original JP is being converted into 3D next year, I think there's a very strong possibility that these next three films will also be released in 3D when they hit theaters. I don't have any firm confirmation on that, but I really don't see why the filmmakers wouldn't just go ahead and do it.

And speaking of JP and 3D, if you like watching intelligent, scientifically-created dinosaurs chase and eat terrified people (well, that sounded really wrong... lol!) then you can head over to theaters nationwide on April 5, 2013, to watch it all in remastered IMAX 3D. No worldwide release date has yet been set.

Considering the fact the JP IV-VI are all still in the early phases of the filmmaking proccess, we don't have a theatrical release date yet. My estimation based on what I know of the industry and assuming that the whole proccess runs at peak efficiancy, I think IV could release sometime in 2014 or 2015. But that's assuming that everything moves at a swift pace. It could be closer to 2017 or 2018 by the time IV comes out, but right now there's really no way to know.


Do you think Jurassic Park IV, V, and VI will be Good, Bad, or Ugly? Would you like to see Spielberg directing this new trilogy? Did you like the original JP movies? And would you go see the first film when it re-releases in 3D?




 - Edessa, signing off

Guardians of Middle-Earth

PvP like a boss in "Guardians of Middle-Earth"

Ah, Lord of the Rings.

Arguably the best book in the history of the world (after the Bible, of course), and by far one of the most complex. The Hero Cycle is almost perfect in LOTR, and the circular plot, characters, allegory, symbolism, and virtually everything else is spot-on perfect.

LOTR is one of those books that I never grow tired reading, and I've already read it about ten or eleven times since fifth grade. It's just that good!

Over the years there have been quite a few LOTR-themed video games (Aragorn's Quest, LOTRO, Battle for Middle-Earth, just to name a few), and the newest one will be stepping up to the plate later this month. Whether it lives up to its humungously awesome namesake or not will have to be determined later by the players themselves, but if LOTR and video games are two of your favorite things then I would encourage you to consider Guardians of Middle-Earth.


Published by Warner Bros. Interactive (the same company that is currently developing and hosting Lord of the Rings Online) and developed by Monolith Productions, Guardians of Middle-Earth takes place in the Third Age, around the time of the War of the Ring.

The synopsis (according to IGN): "A shadow grows over Middle-earth as the greatest armies of the Third Age prepare for the coming battle. Take up arms in the clash over Middle-earth with the most powerful heroes from the greatest fantasy epic of all time."

While not exactly an MMO, per se, Guardians is a specifically PvP (or Player vs. Player) game that "brings up to 10 players together in five versus five competitive multiplayer battle arenas in the epic setting of Middle-earth" (IGN). I imagine it sort of along the lines of a Marvel vs. Capcom or Super Smash Bros. sort of game, albeit set in Middle-Earth.

The best part, in my opinion?

"The game offers more than 20 iconic guardians, including Gandalf, Sauron, Gollum, Thrain and many more, for players to control in player vesus playerplayer (PVP) matches" (IGN).

Sauron?? Seriously??! That's AWESOME!

The IGN article goes on to say that "Gamers will have the ability to connect with other players via an in-game voice communication system, as well as access to a comprehensive onlie stat and leader board system where they can track their friends' victories and defeats, and more."

If PvP isn't your thing, Guardians also offers an option to play against the game's AI system. You can also purchase items and buffs through the store with in-game currency, and Warner Bros. Interactive has promised to release more LOTR playable character post-launch. Several of the new PCs (or Player Characters) will be in conjunction with the Hobbit film releasing this December.

DISCLAIMER!: Guardians of Middle-Earth has been rated T for Teen by the ESRB for Fantasy Violence.

Guardians will be available for purchase on an undiclosed date sometime in 2012 (some places say that it will release on September 25th, but that hasn't been confirmed yet). The game is exclusive to the XBox console, unfortunately for everybody else. =)


Here's the official E3 2012 trailer. Enjoy! (I know I did!)

 

 

AND REMEMBER! Today is your last day to give Stilwater and me topics and questions you would like us to discuss in our Cad Bane vs. Boba Fett debate! Check out this link for more information, and to submit your discussion topics!

 - Edessa, signing off

Borderlands 2

A monster from "Borderlands 2"

Sometimes I wonder what the world would look like if there was no such thing as sequels.

Would such a world cultivate more original, creative ideas?

Or would that same world just fall prey to parodies?

It's an interesting issue to think about. Either way, sequels have been around for a long time, and sometimes they even surprise us by being even better than the original.

Whether Borderlands 2 will be such a game has yet to be determined, but considering the hype going around the Internet a lot of gamers are hoping that it will be just as good - if not better - than the original Borderlands.


Borderlands 2, like its predecessor, is a role-playing shooter, an action game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K games. According to IGN, "Borderlands 2 is the epic sequel to the ultimate four-player role-playing shooter loot fest. Combining incention and evolution, Borderlands 2 features all-new characters, skills, enviroments, enemies, weapons and equipment, which come together in an ambitiously crafted story. Players will reveal secrets, and escalate mysteries of the Borderlands universe as they adventure across the unexplored new areas of Pandora."

One thing I find incredibly interesting (or maybe annoying, I'm not sure yet) is that "Pandora" seems to be a favorite name for a lot of fictional places. Pandora was the name of the Na'vi planet in Avatar, for instance, but I digress...

According to the game's official IGN wiki, Borderlands 2 sports five distinct classes for players to choose from: Gunzerker, Assassin, Siren, Commando, and Mechromancer. All of these classes are very similar to the ones offered in the original Borderlands, and playable characters from the first game (Lilith, Brick, Mordecai, and Roland) all return as non-player characters (or NPCs). For more information on the classes, characters, vehicles, and equipment available in this sequel, you can visit this link: http://www.ign.com/wikis/borderlands-2

There are three versions of the game that will be available for purchase on the same day.

The Standard version is, of course, standard.

The Deluxe Vault Hunter Edition (one of two special edition packages) includes a Marcus Kincaid bobblehead, a copy of Inside the Valt: The Art and Design of Borderlands 2, a collectible sticker set, a map of Pandora, a digital comic download code, and downloadable in-game content. This set is selling for $100 U.S. dollars. Be aware that this particular version is reportedly on back-order from most suppliers, but I haven't checked to see if this is still the case.

The Ultimate Loot Chest (the second, and more expensive, special edition package) includes all of the items listed in the Deluxe Vault Hunter Edition, plus a collectible scaled replica of the red loot chests found throughout Pandora, a steelbook case, a Creatures of Pandora wide-format ID chart, a lithograph postcard set, field notes from Sir hammerlock, a cloth map of Pandora, and a numbered certificate of authenticity. This version is selling for $150 U.S. dollars

DISCLAIMER!: Borderlands 2 has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol.

Borderlands 2, in all three editions, will be available for purchase on September 18, 2012. You can also pre-order through stores such as GameStop or through online retailers like Amazon and eBay. The game will be available for the XBox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and possibly the PlayStation Vita.




 - Edessa, signing off

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Welcome to the silver screen, Mr. Drake.

Each game console seems to have its own "pet franchise," a game series that is not only confined to one company or console but also a series that is well-recieved by the gaming community.

Microsoft and the XBox have Halo.

Nintendo and it's Wii and DS's have Mario (along with others, like Zelda).

And Sony and the PlayStation have Uncharted.

The Uncharted series has always had positive reviews from various proffesional reviewers. The first installment, Drake's Fortune, recieved a 89.70% rating from GameRankings and a comparable 88 from Metacritic. Among Thieves, the second game in the series, not only recieved a 96.46% and 96 scores from GameRankings and Metacritic, but it was also the recipient of the Overall Game of the Year awards from both IGN and Spike, among many other awards. With four games that have currently sold over 17 million units worldwide, spin-off novels, and a graphic novel series, Uncharted is a very popular franchise, one that the film industry is eager to cash in on as well.


Distributed by Sony Pictures and produced by Arad Productions, Atlas Entertainment, and Columbia Pictures, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune follows a plotline similar to the one in the franchise's inception game, and with the same title, too. The synopsis (courtesy of Movie Insider): "Treasure Hunter Nate Drake, a descendant of explorer Sir Francis Drake, believes he has learned the whereabout of El Dorado, the fabled South American golden city, from a cursed golden statue. The search becomes competitive when a rival hunter joins the fray, then is racheted up several notches when creatures -- actually mutated descendants of Spaniards and Nazis -- begin attack those hoping to learn the treasure's true secrets."

Sounds an awful lot like Indiana Jones, doesn't it?

While no cast has yet been hired, Neil Burger is currently in talks to direct the film. Burger has directed a few movies in the past, including Interview with the Assassin  in 2002, The Illusionist in 2006, The Lucky Ones in 2008, and Limitless in 2011. David Russell (I Heart Huckabees, The Fighter, The Silver Linings Playbook) was originally in talks for the director's chair, but has been passed up.

Burger is also in talks to join Uncharted as a screenwriter. The writing crew currently includes Kyle Ward, Thomas Dean Donnelly (Sahara, A Sound of Thunder, Conan the Barbarian), and Joshua Oppenheimer (Sahara, A Sound of Thunder, Dylan Dog: Dead of Night, Conan the Barbarian). Mark Wahlber and Hugh Jackman were both considered for the role of Nate Drake though, like David Russell, both men have not been accepted for the role.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune has been in the Development Phase since June 25, 2009, and it does not have an official theatrical release date yet. I'm thinking it might be in theaters sometime in 2014-ish, but right now it all seems to depend on whether or not Neil Burger is signed on as the director/screenwriter.


What do you think? Will the film likely be Good, Bad, or Ugly? Will it be able to compare to the original video game? Who would you cast as Nate Drake?




 - Edessa, signing off

Coming Soon: SWTOR Free-to-Play

It is official. After losing a little over one million subscribers, Star Wars: The Old Republic (or SWTOR) will soon be available as f2p, or free-to-play.

According to Matthew Bromberg, the GM of BioWare Austin, "Players want flexibility and choice. The subscription-only model presented a major barrier for a lot of people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe."

Since its launch, SWTOR has had a monthly price tag of $14.99, making it one of the more expensive games to play. Every game purchase does come with thirty days of gameplay free, and it appears as though many gamers leveled their characters all the way up to the 50 level cap and then quit when their thirty free days expired. After reading various articles on SWTOR, most gamers I read about admitted that they would either return to the game or start playing it if there was an f2p option.

If you are one of those individuals, then BioWare has heard your cries and has responded very positively.

An f2p option will bring in a lot of excited new players, but it may also cause a rift between gamers who pay for subscriptions and those who are "freebies." Most - if not all - online games that offer subscription and free options have faced a division between payers and players. Those who pay for a subscription sometimes believe that they are being gyped because freebies are getting the whole game experience free, whereas the freebies wonder why the payers don't like them. It's an unfortunate occurance, but it does happen.

Thankfully, though, BioWare is giving good incentives for their subscribers to continue paying by giving them special perks that freebies can't get without a monthly fee. So what do you get out of monthly subscription and f2p accounts?


If You Pay (Subscriber):

• Access to a new currency called Cartel Coins
• Full access to levels 1-50 (the level cap will be raised soon)
• Full access to the Character Creator
• Full access to all Warzones
• Full access to all Flashpoints
• Full access to all Space Missions
• Full access to all Operations
• Full access to all travel features
• Priority access during login (subscribers will get into the game faster than freebies)
• 50 available listings on the Galactice Trade Network

If You Play (Freebie):

• Full access to levels 1-50 (the level cap will be raised soon)
• Limited access to the Character Creator (some species are only available to subscribers)
• Limited access to Warzones (access is limited to a certain weekly cap)
• Limited access to Flashpoints (access is limited to a certain weekly cap)
• Limited access to Space Missions (access is limited to a certain weekly cap)
• No access to all Operations
• Limited access to all Travel Features (no details available)
• Normal access during login (subscribers who login at the same time will get into the game faster than a freebie)
• Limited access to posting on the Galactic Trade Network (no details available)

If you're a Subscriber or are considering subscribing, you might be wondering what these "Cartel Coins" are. Basically they're a special type of currency that only subscribers have access to, a reward for those who are willing to buy a monthly subscription. These Coins will be used to purchase special in-game items that can only be bought with Cartel Coins, like a Kowakian Monkey Lizard Pet, a Sith Meditation Throne, and the Lost Helm of Darth Nihilus.

If you're a current subscriber, you might also want to consider looking at what special rewards you can start receiving today. Visit the link below for more information on all the stuff you can start getting today. If you're interested in more specifics concerning the f2p option for SWTOR, you can also click on the link for more information: http://www.swtor.com/free

Physical copies of SWTOR will also go on sale in the U.S. for $14.99 just prior to the launch of the f2p option. SWTOR goes f2p sometime this Fall, though the exact date has not been released yet.

As for the reason why SWTOR has decided to go f2p so soon after its launch, BioWare wants to bring its subscriber base back up. Losing one million players is disastrous, even for a game as popular as SWTOR. According to Jeff Hickman, the game's Executive Producer, on the official SWTOR blog: "We [at BioWare] feel that flexibility and choice in playing our game is important for all current and future players. For that reason, we began the exploration of expanding the game to include a Free-to-Play option." If you would like to read more of his post, please visit http://www.swtor.com/info/news/blog/20120731.


If the inclusion of an f2p option is as successful for SWTOR as it was for LOTRO, I wonder what kind of effect it will have on other popular MMOs, such as World of Warcraft. WoW introduced a "play free to level 20" option in response to SWTORs original launch, but will Blizzard Entertainment cave in and go f2p if SWTOR is successful with its inclusion of freebies? I'll keep tabs on that and let you know if anything like that develops over at WoW.

What do you think of this new step for BioWare and SWTOR? Do you think more gamers will join and stay on? Is this a good financial decision for BioWare? And is the coming f2p option affecting whether or not you will start playing, or whether you will continue to play?

Personally, I believe that f2p is how all online games will function eventually, and I like that BioWare is going to allow more players to join with the inclusion of an f2p option. True, freebies will have restrictions on parts of their game, but I don't think that will ruin their overall gaming experience. And by giving subscribers special rewards for paying, BioWare is giving payers more new reasons to keep buying monthly subscriptions and to stay on even when the rush of freebies start charging in. In my opinion, I think this is a good step forward for BioWare and SWTOR, but I would love to know what you all think of this!

For more information of the f2p option, please visit the links I posted above. And if you would like to know more about SWTOR itself, please visit the official website at http://www.swtor.com/. SWTOR can be purchased physically from stores like Target, Walmart, and GameStop, or ordered online through places like eBay and Amazon, or downloaded digitally from Origin at http://buy.swtor.com/us/.




 - Edessa, signing off

Marvel Comics Upcoming Films List

With the superhero film craze going on, I've decided to devote this post to a list of Marvel superhero movies that are currently in development.


The Inhumans
     Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
     Producer: Marvel Studios
     Synopsis: "Aliens who were put on Earth as sleeper cells aliens to eventually call back their race to take over the planet. Ultimately, the group of aliens fully assimilates and don't want to cause war" (Movie Insider).
     Phase: Announced on March 8, 2011
     Director: N/A
     Starring: N/A
     Screenwriter(s): N/A
     In Theaters: TBA (To Be Announced)

Doctor Strange
     Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
     Producer: Marvel Studios
     Synopsis: "Dr. Strange was a self-centered New York surgeon robbed of his touch after a car accident. After a stint as a wandering derelict, he encounters a healer in the Himalayas and learns to tap into psychic powers to battle wrongdoers" (Movie Insider).
     Phase: Development since June 21, 2010
     Director: N/A
     Starring: N/A
     Screenwriter(s): Thomas Dean Donnelly (Conan the Barbarian, Sahara), Joshua Oppenheimer (Conan the Barbarian, Dylan Dog: Dead of Night, Sahara)
     In Theaters: TBA

Ant-Man
     Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
     Producer: Marvel Studios
     Synopsis: "The character, bio-scientists Dr. Henry Pym, debuted in 1962, as 'The Man in the Ant Hill,' who discovers a liquid that evaporates into a gas, reducing a man to the size of an insect. Inhaling the fumes Pym shrinks in size, scurries along the floor and soon finds himself trapped in an ant hill. Eventually he returns to his normal size, deems the forumla too unpredictable and locks it away" (Movie Insider).
     Phase: Development since October 24, 2008
     Director: Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead)
     Starrring: Nathan Fillion [Rumored] (New in Town, Super, Serenity)
     Screenwriter(s): Joe Cornish (The Adventures of Tintin, Attack the Block)
     In Theaters: TBA

Untitled Hulk Film
     Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
     Producer: Walt Disney Pictures, Marvel Studios
     Synopsis: "A stand-alone movie featuring the Hulk" (Movie Insider)
     Phase: Development since April 30, 2012
     Director: N/A
     Starring: Mark Ruffalo [Rumored] (The Avengers, Shutter Island, Rumor Has It, The Kids Are All Right)
     Screenwriter(s): N/A
     In Theaters: TBA 2015

X-Men Origins: Deadpool
     Distributor: 20th Century Fox
     Producer: Marvel Studios, The Donners' Company
     Synopsis: "Wade Wilson, a mercenary who is dying of cancer, submits himself to the Weapon X genetic alteration experiment and emerges as an indestructible semi-sane anti-hero" (Movie Insider).
     Phase: Development since December 9, 2009
     Director: Tim Miller (debut film)
     Starring: Ryan Reynolds (Safe House, Green Lantern, X-Men Origins: Wolverine)
     Screenwriter(s): Rhett Reese (Zombieland), Paul Wernick (Zombieland)
     In Theaters: TBA 2014

The Wolverine
     Distributor: 20th Century Fox
     Producer: Seed Productions
     Synopsis: "Set in Japan, Wolverine trains in the way of the samurai in a bid to control his primal urges, during which time he falls in love with Mariko Yashida, heir to a Yakuza family" (Movie Insider).
     Phase: Pre-Production since March 26, 2010
     Director: James Mangold (Kinght and Day, 3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line)
     Starring: Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jessica Biel
     Screenwriter(s): Christopher McQuarrie (The Tourist, X-Men, Killshot), Mark Bomback (Total Recall, Unstoppable, Live Free or Die Hard)
     In Theaters: July 26, 2013 (Nationwide)

Untitled X-Men: First Class Sequel
     Distributor: 20th Century Fox
     Producer: 20th Century Fox, Bad Hat Harry Productions
     Synopsis: "Potentially set in the 1970's or 1980's, but could also show Magneto's involvement in the assassination of President Kennedy" (Movie Insider).
     Phase: Development since April 6, 2012
     Director: Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class, Stardust)
     Starring: Jennifer Lawrence [as Mystique] (The Hunger Games, Like Crazy, Winter's Bone)
     Screenwriter(s): Simon Kinberg (X-Men 3: The Last Stand, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, XXX: State of the Union)
     In Theaters: July 18, 2014

X-Men 4
     Distributor: 20th Century Fox
     Producer: 20th Century Fox
     Synopsis: "A sequel involving the storyline and cast from the X-Men movie that was released in 2000" (Movie Insider).
     Phase: Development since June 3, 2011
     Director: N/A
     Starring: N/A
     Screenwriter(s): N/A
     In Theaters: TBA


Other Marvel Comics-inspired films include: Avengers 2, Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Thor: The Dark Worlds, Iron Man 3, Iron Fist, Deathlok, Luke Cage, Nick Fury, Runaways, Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner, The Black Panther, The Black Widow, Fantastic Four (reboot), Daredevil (reboot), and an untitle Spider-Man/Venom Spin-off project.

Next Wednesday, we'll look at DC's superhero film line-up, which includes Wonder Woman and Superman, among many others.




 - Edessa, signing off

Ratchet & Clank Collection

You do not mess with the R.Y.N.O.!

Ratchet & Clank is one of those special kinds of franchises that seems to have everything: awesome weapons with equally awesome mods that can all be leveled up, cool armor suits, interesting plotlines, good voiceover work (particularly by James Arnold Taylor), and a fuzzy alien hero with a seriously epic name for players to control. I play Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters on my PSP, and I would definitely reccomend the game to anyone who likes third-person shooters. Sure, it's not an easy game (I still can't seem to beat the last Quodrona level in Master Mode), but it sure is a lot of fun.

If you love Ratchet and his robot companion, Clank, or if you've never played any of the games before, the Ratchet & Clank Collection will likely be a good investment if fun third-person shooters are right up your alley.


Published by Sony Computer Entertainment and Developed by Idol Minds Digital Entertainment and Insomniac Games, the Ratchet & Clank Collection is a box set of three R&C classic games: the original R&C, Going Commando, and Up Your Arsenal. All of the games have been "remastered in 1080p...with additional upgrades such as Trophy and 3D support" (IGN).

Here are the synopsises (synopsi? Whatever the plural of "synopsis" is) for all three games, courtesy of IGN: "In the original Ratchet & Clank, save the galaxy as Ratchet, a wrench-wielding Lombax, and his robot buddy, Clank, in this action-adventure with a multitude of crazy weapons.

"In Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, Ratchet and Clank return as heroes for hire. Upon taking a job to find a stolen experiment for mega-corporation Abercombie Fitzwidget, Ratchet and Clank meet a large cast of character who will help them along the way.

"In Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, gamers return to Planet Veldin, the setting of the original game, where the duo set off on a gripping new adventure through a multitude of diverse planets to fight for galatice peace. Up Your Arsenal includes a multiplayer feature that allows up to eight players to play at once."

According to the official PlayStation 3 blog, this box set of three classic R&C games has been created "to commemorate the achievements of the Ratchet & Clank saga," a saga that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year (the first game was originally released on the PlayStation 2 in 2002).

If you live in Europe then the collection was released in the spring of this year, but North American fans will have to wait until this fall to get their version.

Why do North Americans have to wait longer? "...It's becuase we have something very special planned for our North American fans to celebrate the 10th anniversary" (The Official PlayStation Blog). What is this "special" something that Sony has in store?

*NOTE: Skip over the next paragraph if you're the type of person who likes surprises and wants to find out the special something for yourself!*

For North American gamers only - sorry, international gamers - the Collection will come with a demo for Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, the new game in the Sly Cooper franchise. The reason why North Americans get this bonus content is because Sony wants to reward the gamers here for their patience, since the game released internationally in the spring and the North Americans have had to wait an extra few months.

*NOTE: Continue reading here if you like surprises.*

The Ratchet & Clank Collection will release in North America on August 28, 2012, for the PlayStation 3.

DISCLAIMER!: The Ratchet & Clank Collection has been rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older for Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes.


Who here plays Ratchet & Clank, and what do you love about the franchise?

My favorite thing about R&C is the weapons. I adore my dual, double barreled Lacerator pistols, my Acid Bomb Glove, Agents of Doom (mine are Agents of Dread because I've leveled them up to Titan 4), and the Rocket Launcher. Currently I'm saving up for the R.Y.N.O. and I can tell you right now that I am gonna have so much fun with that bad boy when I finally get Ratchet's fuzzy hands on it!




 - Edessa, signing off

Cowboy Ninja Viking

Cover art from issue #1 of "Cowboy Ninja Viking"

Yes, Cowboy Ninja Viking really is a film that is currently being developed. No, you did not read that wrong.

And, yes, the plotline sounds just as weird as the title does.

I actually found this film last night during a role-playing session while waiting for the GM (or Game Master) to finish up something. It was so strange that I just had to blog about it this morning.


Cowboy Ninja Viking (why do I keep cracking up when I say that??) is a film adaption of a graphic novel written by A.J. Lieberman and illustrated by Riley Rossmo in 2009. The basic plotline is as follows (courtesy of Movie Insider): "The Cowboy Ninja Viking is the birth child of Doctor Sebastian Ghislain, a psychotherapist who recruits Multiple Personality Disorder patients to create a unit of counter-intelligence agenst called the Triplets. Problems arise when the Triplets become out of control assassins -- leading to the deadliest Triplet of them all, Cowboy Ninja Viking, being called in to take down his own brethren."

I don't know about you, but the synopsis sounds even worse than the title, in my opinion.

Walt Disney Pictures is distributing the film, and I'm not sure if that's good or not. MG/360, Management 360, and The Mark Gordon Company are all producing Cowboy. No cast or director have yet been hired, but we do know who the screenwriters are: Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, two guys who have co-written G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Zombieland, Earth vs. Moon, and the new X-Men Origins film Deadpool (which will be debuting in 2014 with Ryan Reynolds as the title character).

Cowboy Ninja Viking has been in the works since November 7, 2010, and no release date has yet been decided upon. I don't know if the movie will be available in 3D, but I would say that it's probably a good possibility.


Do you think that Cowboy Ninja Viking will be Good, Bad, or Ugly? Have you ever read the original graphic novel?

None of the libraries where I am have the original graphic novel, so I'll have to wait to read it, if I ever do.




 - Edessa, signing off

Batman Reboot

Who will rise to take over the cowl?

With The Dark Knight Rises debuting in theaters today, I figure now would be a good time to discuss what Warner Bros. has in store for Batman, arguably DC's most iconic character.

If you keep up with movies, you've probably already heard what I'm going to say. But for everyone else I have two words for you: Batman reboot.

Yes, that is correct. Distributor/Producer Warner Bros. Pictures is already working on rebooting the Batman franchise even though Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises just debuted today.

The question you're probably asking right now is why. Why is Warner Bros. rebooting the franchise? Particularly, why are they rebooting it now? Why not in at least ten years? Didn't they think that Nolan's trilogy was good?

From what I can gather after reading various statements (particularly Nolan's recent one stating that he no longer wishes to direct anymore Batman films), press releases, and even message boards, this so-called "reboot" isn't exactly a "reboot."

Allow me to explain.

In a reboot a whole new cast and crew are hired to re-do a film that was made years earlier (The Amazing Spider-Man would be a good example). Usually reboots are not made less than ten or so years after the original film was released (though, again, The Amazing Spider-Man is a good example of when that timetable does not occur).

With this new Batman movie projected to release sometime in 2015 (three years from now) and Nolan's refusal to direct anymore Batman films, many people are beginning to believe that this "reboot" is really more of another director's interpretation of Batman. True, Nolan's cast and crew will not be working on this new film, but since it's projected to release so soon it appears as though Warner Bros. is just giving another director a shot at interpreting the superhero's life.

Either way, this untitled Batman film is already in the Development Phase and Warner Bros. isn't stopping it. The screenwriter is David S. Goyer. If that name sounds familiar it's because he has writen many film screenplays, and seems to specialize in superheroes: Blade: Trinity, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Unborn, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Dark Knight Rises, and Man of Steel (the new Superman reboot releasing in 2013) among many others. As it stands currently, Goyer is the only official crew member working on the film, though the casting and hiring process begins during the Development Phase. As I mentioned in the paragraph above, this reboot (or reinterpretation, however you wish to view it) will be in theaters sometime in 2015, though that could change between now and whenever filming begins. No plot details have yet been released.


I'll break from my usual "do you think this film will be Good, Bad, or Ugly" question for now. Instead, I'd like to ask you who you would like to see under Batman's cowl, which enemy you think he should battle in this reboot, and who you think should be in the director's chair. I want to hear your responses, so comment away!




 - Edessa, signing off

World of WarCraft

Even if you don't play MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, usually shortened to MMOs), you've likely heard of World of WarCraft. This game, with its many expansions and huge player population, is arguably the most successful online game ever.

Period.

"World of WarCraft" coming to the silver screen

Exclamation point.

Its spawned novels, game guides, and even other MMOs who want to duplicate Blizzard Entertainment's success. So far, none have (though BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic has proved itself to be quite a competitor). WarCraft sits as King of the MMO Hill right now.

But can it also continue its success in the world of filmcraft?

Distributor Warner Bros. is counting on it.


Produced by Legendary Pictures and Ghost House Pictures, WarCraft "revolves around the Horde, the Alliance and the mythology of the world" in the best-selling MMO by the same title (Movie Insider). No other plot details have yet surfaced, but the film is in the Development phase (and has been since July 22, 2009) so the screenplay has not yet been finalized. Chris Metzen and Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, Thor 2) are the screenwriters for this project.

Sam Raimi, the man who directed the original Spider-Man trilogy, will be directing WarCraft. He will also be producing the film along with Thomas Tull, Charles Roven, and Jon Jashni. No cast has yet been hired. WarCraft does not have a cemented release date, but I'm assuming that it will be sometime in late 2013 or 2014. I also do not know if the film will be available in 3D, though I think it's a good possibility.


Do you think that WarCraft will be Good, Bad, or Ugly? If you play World of WarCraft, do you think that a film adaption will be good for the game or detrimental? Do you think you'll go see this film?




 - Edessa, signing off

Star Wars 1313

Lately the Star Wars community has been going nuts over the newest SW video game.

Star Wars 1313 is "Named for Level 1313, a ruthless criminal underground deep below the surface of the planet of Coruscant. Star Wars 1313 puts players in control of a deadly bounty hunter as he uses an arsenal of exotic weaponry to hunt down his marks and uncover the truth surrounding a criminal conspiracy. Star Wars 1313 emphasizes epic set pieces and fast-paced combat with a hero who uses human skills and gadgets, rather than supernatural Force powers, to make his way through this dangerous world" (IGN).

Developed and Published by Lucasarts, Star Wars 1313 is a third-person action shooter that has been called a sci-fi version of the Uncharted video game franchise. From what I have seen in the trailers, the game has amazing graphics, especially in the surroundings.

Currently, SW 1313 is in the development phase, so no platforms have been announced and the release date is TBA until further notice.

DISCLAIMER!: With Star Wars 1313, Lucasarts has specifically stated that they are going for a rating of M for Mature. It should not be rated AO, but don't expect it to go any lower than M.

Demo for Star Wars 1313.

Demo #2 for Star Wars 1313

More details about Star Wars 1313



So, what are your thoughts on this game? Do you think the Mature rating will bring down sales, or is it a good idea? Would you play this game?




 - Edessa, signing off

Robocop

The poster for the original "Robocop" film

In 1987 the original Robocop film was released to theaters. With Peter Weller in the titular role, Robocop told the story of a Detroit police officer who was gravely injured during a shootout. Taking a page from the Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman, the officer was reconstructed by scientists, becoming a cyborg that looked like a splice of Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still and Maria from Metropolis. The only parts of him that remained human were his face and his memories, which would haunt him whenever he went to his recharging chair to "sleep."

The film spawned two sequels, creating the Robocop trilogy. But now, almost thirty years later, the franchise is getting a remake courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Distributed by Sony and produced by Phoenix Pictures, Robocop tells the story of the mysterious titular character, who is still haunted by memories that only appear when he is recharging. Jose Padilha (director, screenwriter, and producer of Elite Squad: The Enemy Within) directs Joel Kinnaman (Safe House) as Robocop. No other cast members have yet been hired.

This action/sci-fi film has been in Pre-Production since September 25, 2011. Originally the plan was to begin shooting in early 2012, but they'll probably start filming sometime in July or August. Robocop will be in theaters on August 9, 2013. No worldwide release date has been confirmed yet, and the film will likely not be available in 3D.


Do you think that this Robocop remake will be Good, Bad, or Ugly? Have you seen the original Robocop trilogy, and did you like it?




 - Edessa, signing off

Starbound

The genre of science-fiction as been a love of mine ever since I watched my first Star Trek episode when I was about seven. Reading and watching sci-fi is a lot of fun, but sometimes I just need to get into the world myself. And that's where games like Ratchet & Clank and Starbound come in and make my day.

Every planet in "Starbound" is different

Starbound is a new sci-fi action game that was published and developed by Chucklefish, which is an indie game company. The synopsis (from IGN): "Starbound begins with you fleeing your homeworld in a space shuttle, just as it's destroyed by an unknown enemy" - sounds strangely like Superman's origin, but anyway - "With nothing to guide it, the escape pod shoots into space without direction, becoming hopelessly lost in a sea of stars. As luck would have it, the space shuttle makes contact with an abandoned space station and an adventure begins that will take you hunting across the universe."

This online game is both quest and story-driven, and contains a huge universe to explore. "Throughout your travels you'll find new ways to upgrade and repair [the station], restoring it to its former glory. You'll need to find a crew, conduct research, catch rare creatures, and unlock its multitude of facilities. From a factory capable of producing mechs to labs where captured enemies can be studied and trained, the space station contains everything you need to explore the universe" (IGN). Starbound is a "fully cooperatively and competitively multiplayer" online game with multiple servers (PlayStarbound). I do not yet know if there will be a monthly fee, but the people at Chucklefish specifically want to make the game accessible to all people.

Starbound is currently in development, but they will be introducing Beta Testing soon. For updates, go to http://playstarbound.com/. Starbound has a TBA release date of sometime in 2012, though that could change between now and the end of the year. It wll be available for the PC, Mac, and Linux.

DISCLAIMER!: Starbound has not yet been rated by the ESRB, though it will likely be rated E 10+ or higher.




 - Edessa, signing off

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

In 2010, 20th Century Fox released the very first Percy Jackson film, which was based off of the series of novels by Rick Riordan. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (say that five times fast) grossed $226.5 million at box offices worldwide when it was released, but many critics were not so impressed.

Percy's got a sequel!

Rotten Tomatoes, after compiling 138 reviews of the film, gave The Lightning Thief a mediocre 5.3 out of 10 stars and a 49% Fresh average rating. Audiences liked it a little better, ranking it at 57% Fresh and at 3.4 our of 5 stars. Despite these "meh" numbers, The Lightning Thief was described as "mischievous and witty and amusing" (At the Movies) with "sharp pacing and a nifty sense of fun" (Houston Chronicle).

With Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters distributor 20th Century Fox is hoping to keep the franchise going.


In this sequel to The Lightning Thief, "Percy Jackson [a boy who is the half-human son of the Greek God of the Sea, Posiedon] journeys to The Sea of Monsters to free captured friend and find the Golden Fleece" (Movie Insider).

Thor Freudenthal (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hotel for Dogs) replaces Chris Columbus as the director, while Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, and Brandon T. Jackson reprise their roles as Percy, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood. Jake Abel joins the cast as Luke, and Mary Birdsong and Yvette Nicole will be two of the three Fates. As far as I am aware, Sean Bean will not be reprising his role as Zeus.

Sea of Monsters is currently in the Pre-Production stage (casting actors, finalizing budgets and crew, location scouting, etc.) since June 10, 2011. The film will be shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, but I do not know when filming will begin. Currently there are no plans to shoot or convert the film to 3D, but that could change at any time.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters will be in theaters nationwide on March 15, 2013. No worldwide date has been set yet.


Do you think that Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters will be Good, Bad, or Ugly? Do you think that 20th Century Fox will be able to revive this fantasy franchise, or do you think they're just wasting their money?




 - Edessa, signing off

Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock

Dr. Who is one of those shows that everybody tells me I have to see but that I never actually get around to seeing. I don't know much about it, other than there's this guy who does a lot of time travel and his name is Dr. Who. Personally, I don't like time travel all that much (mainly because my brain tends to overheat because I'm trying to figure out how in the world that could work and exactly what kind of ramifications time travel would have on history).

But for those of you who do like time travel and Dr. Who, then the new video game Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock will probably be just up your alley.

A screenshot from Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock

Developed by Supermassive Games and published by BBC Multimedia, Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock has a very interesting combination of 2D and 3D. All of the cutscenes are 3D, but the game itself is played as a 2D side-scroller. "Made using the Unreal 3 engine it's a mixture of platforming, puzzling and exploration that's lightly reminiscent of the likes of Shadow Complex - but Supermassive's been smart enough to make sure all those elements serve the licence well" (EuroGamer).

The plot, from EuroGamer: "The Tardis has crashed, leaving you stranded and allowing Matt Smith...to do what he does best, manically tending to chattering brass devices and dancing around like a drunken octopus. It's present-day London that the Doctor finds himself in, exiting the Tardis to a handsomely realised Bank of England. It's a part of London that you'll get to know well over the course of The Eternity Clock, as it's all set within the same locale, but across four different eras..."

Dr. Who offers both single and two-player modes, and no worries, Who fans: EuroGamer promises that the game is "...a smart and thoughtful handling of the source material."

The game was originally planned to be released on June 30th, but it has been postponed for now. I'll let you know as soon as I find out when it will release. It will be available for the PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita.

DISCLAIMER!: Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock has not yet been rated by the ESRB, but will likely be rated E +10 or higher.


Here is the trailer for the game:

 - Edessa, signing off