Community Creator Replaced as Showrunner

This is not news that will be greeted with joy by Community fans, I'm guessing (And yes, they'll be a healthy dose of editorial in this news story). Dan Harmon, the man who created Community and has served as its showrunner, is being replaced in that capacity in Season 4, reports TV Guide, along with other outlets. The new showrunners will be newcomers to the series, Moses Port and David Guarascio.

Port and Guarascio wrote for Just Shoot Me and created The CW's short-lived Aliens in America. Recently, they served as consulting producers on Happy Endings. However, the tough pill to swallow, regardless of Port and Guarascio's own accomplishments, is not having Harmon be the guiding force for the series anymore, given Community's very unique feel and vision among the sitcom landscape.

TV Guide says Harmon was only signed to a one-year deal last year. He will have a consulting producer title on Community going forward, though TV Guide stresses that doesn't mean he's be actively involved in the show. No doubt fans will ponder what it means hearing Sony (who produce the series) "had been looking to make a change at the top," according to TV Guide, which is why they hadn't made a new deal with Harmon.

Community is a rather low-rated show, but one with excellent reviews and an intensely loyal core fanbase who know much about the people who make it. That being the case, it's odd to see this dramatic change behind the scenes, as many of the key creators of Community will likely be dramatically different next season. Besides Harmon no longer running the series, executive producers Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan are leaving for a new deal at 20th Century Fox while co-executive producer Chris McKenna has a new deal at Universal TV. TV Guide says McKenna also wouldn't have taken the showrunner job if offered without Harmon's involvement in the series.

All of which begs the question, will Community: Season 4 feel like Community? TV Guide says Sony had been "looking at ways to broaden Community and attempt to extend the show's life on NBC," as they sought new showrunners. But it's pretty clear fans of the series love Community the way it's been.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/19/community-creator-replaced-as-showrunner

Why Avengers Rocked

The Avengers has been out in the U.S. for two weeks now, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The film is expected to remain number one at the box office this weekend, and has recently broken yet record -- it's now the film to make it to the $400 million domestic mark quickest. It did that in just 14 days (previous champ was The Dark Knight at 18 days). Additionally, it's now the sixth-highest worldwide grossing film ever at $1.07 billion, and has a strong 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

So clearly, people like the first combined adventure of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and the rest. After seeing the film, everyone seems to leave the theater with a bunch of "Wasn't it awesome when…" favorite bits -- and that includes the IGN staff. So let's talk about some of favorite parts from The Avengers, and then why don't you guys chime in below with your own most memorable lines/scenes/explosions/characters/whatevers?

Beware of spoilers if for some unfathomable reason you haven't seen the film yet!

Jim Vejvoda: The thing that rocked most about Avengers is that it simply worked at all. Everyone had a moment or two to shine, a standout line or fight, and the dynamic between all these disparate personalities was spot-on. The global scale of the threat, the final battle, all of the climactic elements that many felt were missing in the Marvel films leading up to this was addressed here to glorious effect.

Scott Collura: As Jim said above, every character gets their moment to shine, and the dynamic between them all is just perfect. A few of my favorite interactions:

Cap to Black Widow, about Thor and Loki: “There’s only one God, ma’am. And I don’t think he dresses like that.”

Iron Man to Thor: "Shakespeare in the Park? Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?"

Tony Stark to Pepper Potts: "Phil? His first name is Agent."

Bruce Banner to Tony Stark: "Are you saying that the other guy saved my life?"

Black Widow to Loki, abruptly dropping her facade: "Banner... that's your play."

Agent Coulson to Loki: "You lack conviction."

Cap to Hulk: "And Hulk… smash!"

Max Nicholson: Teamwork! There’s a particular shot during the Manhattan finale when we see all the Avengers sweeping through the city streets as they tag-team the Chitauri in one seemingly “single take.” (Blink and you’ll miss it, but there’s even one part where Iron Man fires his repulsor at Cap’s shield and it deflects into an alien soldier.) All stitched together, it’s perhaps one of the most technically impressive shots in the entire flick. Plus, it all builds up to the subsequent shot which provides the fan-favorite “Hulk punches Thor” moment.

And of course, there is perhaps no better example of “Whedonesque” than the final, final tag of The Avengers. It’s simple, sweet and downright hilarious. If you still haven’t stuck around until after the credits, do yourself a favor next time and kick back for a few more minutes. You won’t be disappointed. (And to think, this almost didn’t make the final cut!)

R.L. Shaffer: Shawarma. It's what the Avengers needed, and it's what we needed -- the icing on an already very tasty cake. Who would have thought such a quick last minute shoot, done after the film's premiere, would have such an impact... but it has. Shawarma sales have shot through the roof. Fans across the entire planet are discovering the tasty Mediterranean dish. If only Marvel could sell it in stores, they'd make billions. I even found myself firing up the grill to cook up some shawarma after seeing the movie. But beyond that, the scene was just a wonderful little moment, a quick glimpse of superheroes in their downtime, which is something we don't often see. And I thank Joss Whedon for providing the tastiest post-credit cookie of them all.

Jesse Schedeen: I was extremely excited to see the Thanos reveal during the mid-credits sequence. It wasn't necessarily a huge surprise to learn he was the villain pulling the strings given the character's usual motivations and penchant for sitting on floating space rocks. But it did cement the idea that Marvel isn't afraid to go full-on cosmic with these movies and celebrate the more fantastical characters in their lineup. Telling Thanos that to battle the Avengers is “to court death” is practically like handing the villain a hand-written invitation to crush the planet between his giant, purple fingers. I'm eagerly waiting to see how he responds in the sequel, and hoping that we'll see more of Marvel's cosmic characters in the interim.

Dan Iverson: If I had to pick just one single moment of the movie which I considered to be better than the rest I would have to say Bruce Banner joining the final fight in Manhattan. Sure, "Puny God" was shocking and one of the very best moments in comic-book movie history, but Banner stating that he's "always angry" and then taking the armored leviathan out of the sky with ease had the character come off as the most interesting and fun to watch in the film. Plus, this bit of mayhem confirmed that there is still a future for Hulk in cinema... we just want to watch more of Hulk smashing indescribably large targets.

Matt Fowler: In accordance with the brand new natural order of the universe, there is no other discernible time other than "time to watch The Avengers."

Right. Now go see Avengers. Again.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/19/why-avengers-rocked

Depp's Night Stalker Stakes Out a Writer

His latest big screen adaptation of a cult classic horror TV series isn't exactly doing great business at the box office, but that apparently isn't deterring Dark Shadows star Johnny Depp from moving ahead with his plans to produce and star in a feature film version of The Night Stalker.

The Hollywood Reporter says D.V. DeVincentis (High Fidelity, Gross Pointe Blank) has been hired to script The Night Stalker based, like Dark Shadows, on the 1970s Dan Curtis TV series.

Scott Pilgrim helmer Edgar Wright will direct The Night Stalker for Disney.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/19/depps-night-stalker-stakes-out-a-writer

Game of Thrones Review

The appeal of a novel is readily apparent. Fascinating characters and intricate plots suck you into elaborate worlds, and you furiously flip pages to find out what happens next. But video games are more complex than that. Stories are just one aspect of the total package, and the balance of the various elements determines how effective the adventure is at getting you invested. In Game of Thrones, the story deftly carries the mantle of the book (or the show, for that matter) it's based on, and the addition of moral choices gives impressive flexibility in how events play out. However, the other aspects struggle to keep up their end of the bargain. Confined exploration and entertaining bouts of shallow combat are adequate enough, but are hardly a draw on their own. Thankfully, Game of Thrones pushes its story to the forefront, creating a flawed though memorable addition to the Song of Ice and Fire universe.

Ambushing Mors in the woods is always a bad idea.

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Game of Thrones doesn't retell the story of the novel. Rather, the game's story travels a parallel path to the cataclysmic events that rocked a kingdom. You view Westeros through the eyes of two separate characters created just for this adventure, Alester Sarwyck and Mors Westford. Alester returns to his home of Riverspring after spending the last 15 years in self-imposed exile. Merely walking through the gate should, by rights, make him the ruler given that his lord father recently passed, but his conniving bastard brother, Valaar, stands between him and his rightful seat of power. Internal conflicts flare up in Alester as he tries to wrestle power away from Valaar without succumbing to the dirty influences whispering in his ears.

Way up in the north, Mors calls the Wall home and the Night's Watch his family. Trapped in his own exile after he disobeyed orders during the war that placed Robert Baratheon on the Iron Throne, Mors mercilessly slays wildlings and deserters to stay true to the sacred oath he swore. When a letter arrives from the Hand of the King commanding him to protect a mysterious woman, he travels to southern lands to keep her safe.

Would you believe this man is a wildling?

Both Mors and Alester are strong figures that have a clear idea of the difference between right and wrong. Alester puts his family and townsfolk above all else. He would rather be humiliated at the feet of Queen Cersei than suffer the wrath of her displeasure. The greater good is a burning flame in the back of his mind, always reminding him that things are better for everyone if he doesn't let his pride get in the way. Mors couldn't be more different. He acts with his rigid view of morality in mind at all times. To kneel at the feet of evil is to align yourself with wickedness, so he takes the punishment for his choices without wavering in the slightest.

Dialogue choices determine how others react to your characters. If you approach a prostitute in Mole's Town with insults on your lips and violence in your heart, she may run away instead of offering you the valuable information you require. But if you appear to be a pushover, a clever villager might talk himself out of punishment for a murder he committed. There's no morality judge to keep you in line. You respond in conversations with whatever you most want to say and bear the consequences of your actions. Regardless of what card you play, the world changes slightly as you get deeper into the story. Alliances are frequently forged and destroyed, so choose carefully. There are five different endings based on what you do in the last chapter, but the bigger changes occur throughout the adventure as characters are either present or absent based on how you treated them earlier.

You can decide if Little Bludgeon should live or die.

For the most part, Game of Thrones stays true to the world George R. R. Martin created. A web of intrigue stretches from the crown in the Red Keep all the way north to the Wall. Black Brothers fight wildlings, Gold Cloaks keep peace based on the Lannisters' whims, and everyone mutters quietly of the Others who reside where snow flourishes. Occasional missteps feel out of place for those intimately familiar with the source material, but aren't egregious enough to take you out of the experience. For instance, as in most role-playing games, you have a healthy assortment of armor to clothe your characters in. However, draping a Lannister cloak over Alester's shoulders is just strange, and there's no reason Strong Belwas' gauntlets should be in a Westeros dungeon. Plus, why are street vendors selling wild fire? But such discrepancies are nitpicky considering how true to the books most of this game is.

The only time the story stumbles is in the dialogue. Certain characters are dangerously close to being gruff caricatures rather than fully realized people, existing only as easy straw men to tear down. And though the main cast is well acted, supporting characters are woefully inconsistent. Thankfully, the dialogue is good most of the time. And the villains are just as fleshed out as the heroes. Valaar is particularly well crafted. A bastard who was spat on for most of his life, Valaar has a thirst for power that's so overwhelming that he performs any act, no matter how insidious, to curry favor with the queen. Violence bubbles under the surface of every conversation with him, making you yearn for the moment when you can thrust your sword through his throat.

Source : http://www.gamespot.com/game-of-thrones/reviews/game-of-thrones-review-6377620/

What We Want From Mario on Wii U

Nintendo and Mario go way back. In fact, everyone’s favorite plumber has a long history of defining whatever console he and his “special” mushrooms grace. It all started way back with Super Mario Bros. for NES, but held true for Nintendo’s subsequent console endeavors as well. Super Mario World for SNES. Super Mario 64 for Nintendo 64. Super Mario Sunshine for GameCube. Super Mario Galaxy for Wii. Nintendo’s console history is littered with Mario being super, so it’s no surprise Wii U is set to continue this trend.

Problem is, we couldn’t care less.

This might sound crazy considering how incredible and ground-breaking Mario’s other console adventures have proven, but Nintendo sort of dashed our dreams of an HD Mushroom Kingdom with the confirmation that Mario’s first Wii U venture, set to be shown off at this year’s E3, would be based on the New Super Mario Bros. Mii demo from last year’s show. To be fair, what we played at E3 2011 was simply an early tech demo, one that showed off a handful of New Super Mario-esque levels and let up to four people play as either Mario or Mii characters. But the thought of a full game based on this experience just doesn’t sound good enough. It’s just too easy, too safe, and not at all what we’ve come to expect from Mario’s console debuts.

It’s completely possible Super Mario Bros. Mii (or whatever the game’s final name turns out to be) will exceed our expectations. The actual game might have plenty of new features and hidden secrets to help it stand out. But regardless, as much as we adore side-scrolling Mario platformers, it’s just not what we want for Mario’s Wii U debut. What we want? Well, since you asked…

Wii U Magic

The Wii U’s launch is a huge step for Nintendo. Not only is it the company's first foray into the realm of HD graphics, it also marks the launch of a completely new controller, and thereby a new way of playing and thinking about games. Again, if anyone is in a position to show off what this new system and its tablet controller are capable of, it’s Mario.

While graphics aren’t everything, and are definitely far less important than good gameplay, it makes little sense to squander the world’s first peek at a high definition Mushroom Kingdom. The problem with New Super Mario Bros. Mii is that it doesn’t really matter whether it’s in HD or not - that franchise has looked as good as it ever needed to since the original’s DS debut six years ago. What we want is a dazzling world full of all the magical Mario staples we’ve come to know and love. Show us that graphics don’t need to be realistic to be gorgeous. Show us how the Big N does HD, and leave us salivating over the prospect of seeing other Nintendo franchises in such detail (Zelda, anyone?).

Graphics aren't everything, but it's cool when they're shiny.

The ideal Mario game on Wii U should also make good use of the tablet controller. Just like Mario Galaxy showed us that motion controls could be successfully implemented in a sprawling platformer (who knew?), Mario on Wii U needs to do the same for tablet gaming. In short, Nintendo needs to show the world why it needs this system immediately. We need to understand all the new gameplay applications this new hardware and its controller have to offer.

Huge Scope

Better hardware has more advantages than just shiny graphics - it also allows game developers to create a much grander scope in their games than was previously possible. Just like how Super Mario 64 felt huge and all-encompassing when it first came out (heck, it still feels like that in many ways), Mario for Wii U needs to have a scope like no other Mario game before it.

What does this mean, exactly? It means a large assortment of varied worlds to explore, full of stars to collect and secrets to unearth. We don’t want to see the same snow, desert and water levels that have become the norm - we want them included, but alone they’re not enough. Mario 64 had levels on slides, a level where you were either shrunken down or blown up, and even one inside a clock. We don’t think it’s asking too much to expect the same imaginative and inspired world designs in Mario’s Wii U debut. Sure, this is possible to achieve in a side-scroller (look at Super Mario Bros. 3, for crying out loud), but it would be mind-bendingly incredible if it was successfully executed in a full, three dimensional, HD platformer.

Please, Nintendo. PLEASE let us return to the castle!

And while we’re at it, bring back the damn castle. Add a few extra wings and as many painting as you can manage. It’s been too long since we’ve jumped through a painting and into a world beyond our wildest dreams.

No Miis, Please

We like Miis. We love them, even. In fact, we’ve spent more time than we care to admit making Miis that resemble Bruce Wayne or the various Beatles. (Editor’s Note: Okay, so maybe that last one just applies to me. -Audrey) But seriously, enough is enough. We’re fine with Miis showing up in sports games. We’re fine with them living in our 3DS’s. We’re even fine with Miis being used as avatars in Mario games. But they do belong in the Mushroom Kingdom. It makes absolutely no sense to shove them in and call it a day.

Just say no to Miis in Mario.

In truth, this one is more of a personal preference than anything else. It’s definitely not anything that could make or break a Mario Wii U game, but Miis feel so tacked on and out of place in the Mushroom Kingdom we thought it was worth mentioning. Also, something about seeing a Mii jumping on a Goomba is just... wrong.

Mario’s Future

For all the flack the Mario franchise gets for iterating, most Mario games actually bring a lot of "new" to the table. Take New Super Mario Bros. Wii, for example. A lot of people dismiss the game as a clone of its predecessor, but that's a mistake. It brought some truly innovative updates to the concept of multiplayer platforming and absolutely set the standard for all future examples (we’re looking at you Rayman Origins and Kirby’s Return to Dreamland). Likewise, just compare Super Mario Bros. to Super Mario World, or Mario 64 to Mario Sunshine or Mario Galaxy. They’re all quite distinct, even if many of them share common mechanics and themes (and even if Peach is always the reason behind all the madness).

We expect to see Mario's legacy of innovation continued in his future games, and especially in his console debuts. It’s why the franchise is so memorable, and part of why it’s so very, very successful. Don’t cheapen the plumber's name with an HD debut not befitting his revolutionary history. Mario deserves better. Wii U deserves better. And gamers deserve better.

What do want from Mario's Wii U debut? And are you perturbed by the idea of Miis in the Mushroom Kingdom, or is it just us? Let us know in the comments below!

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/19/what-we-want-from-mario-on-wii-u

Second Arrow Trailer Revealed

The full trailer to Arrow -- the upcoming CW series about DC Comics' Oliver Queen / Green Arrow -- shown at CW's Upfront yesterday, has yet to make its debut online. But on the heels of one promo being put out yesterday, a second has surfaced, which shows more of the character's backstory. Check it out below!

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/19/second-arrow-trailer-revealed

YES! YES! YES! It's IGN's Interview with WWE's Daniel Bryan!

Daniel Bryan goes head to head with CM Punk for the WWE Championship at this Sunday’s Over the Limit Pay-Per-View. I had a chance to talk to the WWE Superstar, and former World Heavyweight Champion, about his “Big Gold Belt” title reign, his upcoming match with Punk, what Vince McMahon thinks of him being a vegan, his storyline with AJ and more.

IGN: The last time I spoke with you, you hadn’t even cashed in your Money in the Bank case yet to win the World Heavyweight Title.  What have the past six months been like for you professionally?

Daniel Bryan:  It’s been crazy.  It’s been a lot of fun.  I went from being a guy who was sparingly being used on television to being the World Heavyweight Champion and the focus of a lot of the storylines on Smackdown.  And now I’m in a big match for the WWE Championship on a Pay-Per-View and it’s unreal.

IGN:  Those of us who anticipated you becoming a World Champion in the WWE expected you to be having matches with guys like CM Punk.  Guys similar to your stature.  Did you ever think that your very first championship feuds would be against guys like Big Show and Mark Henry?

Bryan:  No, I never thought that if I was going to be the champion in the WWE that those would be my first opponents.  My first feuds.  Especially because I also felt like I didn’t match up very well with those guys.  But then it seems to me that both of those feuds went very well.  And I was thrilled to wrestle those guys because it forces me to go outside my usual box.  You know, I could go out there and wrestle CM Punk and have a fantastic match, but that’s along my normal line of thinking.  Wrestling someone like Big Show requires and totally different style.   And for me that was fun.    

From WWE.com, the Anaconda Vice vs. The Yes! Lock.

IGN: Will we see the “Code of Honor” this Sunday?

Bryan:  I suspect not.  It’s interesting because in our first match in the WWE against each other, on Monday Night RAW – it was a Champion vs. Champion match – and we did it.  We shook hands before the match.  And for some reason, I don’t think that’s going to happen on Sunday.

IGN: Are you yourself surprised, given your indie history and legacy, that you’re now a part of a major high-profile relationship storyline with AJ?

Bryan:  [laughs] Definitely.  And you know what’s funny is that I feel like – not since I started with WWE, but since I got fired and then brought back - they had this storyline with me and the Bellas.  Then it was me and Gail Kim.  And now it’s me and AJ.  It seems like I’m always in these stories with these Divas.  And I don’t know what the deal is.  Maybe they just see me as someone who’d be funny to pair up with them.  Like “Yeah, it would be funny to put him with the Divas.”   But I really have no idea.

IGN:  It seems though, that in your story AJ, you’ve been able to move past that nerd-persona that they gave you.  Would you agree?

Bryan:  Yeah, I do.  But I think the origin of me and AJ was part of the whole nerd persona.  The idea that we were both nerds.  Because it started before I was the World Heavyweight Champion and they just started throwing these little thing at me and her backstage and we were supposed to be really awkward.  So the idea still started with “Oh, he’s a nerd.”  But now it’s evolved into something that’s way better.

Daniel Bryan, playing mind games with AJ.

IGN:  How long have you been a vegan?

Bryan:  Since December of 2009.

IGN:  Did you ever think that being a vegan would draw this much heat from large crowds?

Bryan:  No, I didn’t know actually.  And I do it for health reasons, you know.  Not for entertainment reasons or anything else.  So for me it wasn’t even an issue of bringing it up on TV.  Other than “Oh, that’s an interesting fact about this guy.”  And the idea that you can tell people you’re a vegan and get everyone to go “BOOOO!” is crazy.  It’s interesting because the first experience I had with that wasn’t even with the crowd but it was with Vince himself.  And Chris Jericho loves telling me this story about how he had gone back to Vince and said “This guy’s good.”   It was after the first match I had on TV, and it was against Chris, and he told Vince I was good.  “He can get the people behind him,” he said.  And Vince said [in Vince voice] “Yeah, but who doesn’t eat steak?”  He thought people wouldn’t buy into a guy who didn’t eat steak.  And that’s when I kind of realized that there are a lot of people out there who just think it’s completely foreign for me to not eat animals.

More from Daniel Bryan, including the origin of the "YES!" chants, on page 2...

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/19/yes-yes-yes-its-igns-interview-with-wwes-daniel-bryan

Tech Fetish: Facebook, Brain-Controlled Robots, & Killer Asteroids

Welcome to another edition of Tech Fetish, IGN's only podcast discussing hardcore science news. This week Mark Ryan Sallee, and Justin Davis bring you all the hotness from the world of science and technology.

Facebook's IPO, the extreme success of the Galaxy S III and a woman controlling a robotic arm with her brain are just some of the hot, hot pieces of tech on deck. The classy duo also talk at length about leap year and waffles, for some reason.

The full line-up of of discussed topics:

• Worldwide Samsung Galaxy S III Pre-Orders Reach 9 Million


• Microsoft Announces $99 Subsidized Xbox 360 Bundle


• Facebook's Huge IPO


• SpaceX Rocket Launches Saturday


• Paralyzed Woman Uses First Mind-Controlled Robot Arm


• NASA Counds 4,700 Potentially Hazardous Near-Earth Asteroids

Tech Fetish Podcast - Episode 131 (Must Right Click to Save)

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Email us questions, feedback and topic suggestions!

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/tech-fetish-facebook-brain-controlled-robots-killer-asteroids

Game of Thrones Mailbag #2

Gods be praised, it's time for another Game of Thrones Mailbag.

We blasted out three signals for white walkers yesterday, checking to see if there were any Thrones fans out there, who hadn't read the George R. R. Martin books, who had questions or concerns about anything they saw on the show that they thought needed further explanation. The point of this Q&A is not to spoil the story. We simply want to clarify the things that have already been presented on the show. You know the drill.

P.S. While there might be a few questions here that seem a bit facepalm-y, we're going to answer them. Simply because, well, we don't want this show to leave anyone behind. No matter how rudimentary the query.

Check Out IGN's Game of Thrones Mailbag #1

So now we will answer your questions...WITH FIRE AND BLOOD!


Nerla asks: "What is 'The Brotherhood?' Who’s involved and has it been mentioned before?”

It Is Known: Before this season? No. The first mention of the Brotherhood was back in “Garden of Bones,” and then it resurfaced on last week’s “A Man Without Honor.” In both cases, Tywin is looking for the location of this group and now believes that they tried to assassinate him. And whereas he stopped The Mountain from torturing people for their whereabouts in “Garden of Bones,” he’s now given him full permission to raid villages and farms and burn them to the ground. I won’t say anything more about them except that the Mountain mentioned their full name: The Brotherhood Without Banners.

Nerla asks: “I count 9 major houses who presumably once were independent kingdoms: Stark, Greyjoy, Tully, Baratheon, Arryn, Martell, Targaryen, Lannister,Tyrell. So which are the Seven Kingdoms that are always being mentioned?"

It Is Known: Right now there are no kingdoms, only regions. The “Seven Kingdoms,” which is a term that basically means “Westeros South of the Wall,” refers to the Seven Kingdoms that existed pre-Aegon the Conqueror. Aegon conquered six of them (The North, The West, The Vale, The Riverlands (which then included the Iron Islands), The Stormlands and The Reach) while Dorne was later acquired through peaceful treaties.

Nerla asks: “What's Dany's full name? What's the deal with the ‘Stormborn?’ I know her mother died giving birth to her in a storm. (I have the blu-ray). Is it some sort of bastard name?”

It Is Known: Her true name is Daenerys Targaryen. The “Stormborn” part is just because, well, Westeros loves a good nickname. And the more names you can prattle off when you’re introducing yourself, the more important you probably are. She was born during a violent storm on Dragonstone and the folks back then liked omens. A lot. So yes, she is just called that. As well as, now, “Khaleesi,” “Mother of Dragons,” and “The Unburnt.”

Nerla asks: “Just to clarify, the ‘Mother of Dragons’ is the daughter of the Mad King? Also, the Starks and Barathions are not related but old comrades, is this correct?”

It Is Known: Yes, Dany is the daughter of Aerys Targaryen, the Mad King. Spirited off to safety right before the sack of King’s Landing. And yes, the Starks and Baratheons aren’t related. In fact, Robert wanted to finally join their Houses with the marriage of Sansa and Joffrey (little did he know about Joffrey’s actual lineage, ay?).

Nerla asks: “How is it that everyone, no matter where in Westeros, knows that Jon Snow is a bastard? Is it because of his last name?”

It Is Known: Yes. If your last name is “Snow,” you’re a bastard born to someone in the North. In the West? “Hill.” The Reach? “Flowers.” The Vale? “Stone.” The Iron Islands? “Pyke.” The Riverlands? “Rivers.” The Stormlands? “Storm.” The Crownlands (the area surrounding King’s Landing)? “Waters.” Dorne? “Sand.” Yes, you can always tell a bastard.

Nerla asks: “What are the names of the five wolves and what are their significance to each of Ned's children?”

It Is Known: They’re eventual payoff is yet to be determined, but since the wolf is the sigil of the Stark’s House, Jon thought their discovery was an omen. Jon’s wolf is Ghost, Robb’s is Grey Wind, Bran’s is Summer, Arya’s was Nymeria, Sansa’s was Lady and Rikkon’s is Shaggydog.

Ghost is off with Jon beyond the wall, Grey Wind is currently helping Robb win battles, Shaggydog is, um, around, Nymeria was chased away by Arya, Lady was executed by Ned, and Summer is acting as Bran’s protector. And it’s with Summer that we’re seeing the most connection to the Starks as Bran is currently dreaming that…he is Summer. And these are dreams so real and accurate that Bran even asked Maester Luwin about the stories he’s heard about “magical people who live inside stags and wolves” back in “What is Dead May Never Die.”  But that’s all I’ll say about it.

Nerla asks: “Does Tywin Lannister know that Arya Stark is not in King's Landing? Is he in the dark about her being missing?”

It Is Known: Oh yes. He’s in the dark. If Tywin knew that Cersei didn’t have Stark girls, he’d freakin’ freak out. No, Cersei definitely wants to keep that gem a secret since not only would Tywin be more pissed at her and Joffrey more than he already is, Jaime’s life would be in danger if the Starks found out that another one of their family was possibly dead. As far as most everyone knows, save for Cersei, Tyrion and a few other people, Arya’s at King’s Landing with Sansa.

Nerla asks: “Who's the Lady in the mask Jorah talks too? Character and actor name? And when was the first time he betrayed Dany? Did it have something to do with not telling her that Robert was dead back in Season 1?”

It Is Known: Since I’m not fully sure of how much the show will actually explain about her character, I’ll only tell you her name is Quaithe and she’s from a far-off, unmapped region called the Shadow Lands. She is played by Laura Pradelska and her character speaks in, sort of, prophetic riddles. Perhaps they haven’t said her name on the show because it’s too similar to Qarth itself. As far as your second question goes, that sounds like something that the show itself will answer so I won’t go into it here.

Nerla asks: “Why are they not pointing out the difference between Wights (more or less zombies) and the White Walkers (Humanoid beings made from the cold, and have control over the whites, and know as "The Others" in the books)?"

It Is Known: It is curious that we haven’t heard anyone use the term “wight” on the show and I know that’s led to some confusion. Yes, the White Walkers are different than the “dead that come alive.” If you go back to the first scene of the series itself, the White Walker is the giant thing that decapitates Gared. The reanimated little girl however is a corpse-turned-evil thing called a Wight. The thing that Jon killed at Castle Black was a Wight. White Walker’s haven’t been fully seen yet, but they seem to be Predator-tall. And it doesn’t necessarily take a White Walker to “create” a white. If you die Beyond the Wall, you become one. There’s a reason Ygritte wanted Jon to burn her body if he killed her.

A White Walker, y'all.

 Warning: No BOOK SPOILERS on the comment sections for our Game of Thrones reviews. Please do not post anything that will ruin the series for others. You will be banned. And for everyone who hasn't read the books, beware of trolling jerks.



Source : http://www.ign.com

Ryan Reynolds is the Highlander?

Chalk up Ryan Reynolds to yet another potential franchise film. This time, the actor is being eyed for the lead in Lionsgate-Summit's reboot of Highlander.

The actor is currently at the top of the studios' wish list for the remake. Variety reports that both parties are currently in serious negotiations for the film. However, it's still unclear if an official offer has been made. Insiders claim that Reynolds is also still weighing other offers and that he could end up pursuing another project.

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is already set to direct the film, which has yet to be paired with any plot details. The original series followed an immortal swordsman who battled other immortal swordsman through the centuries.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/ryan-reynolds-is-the-highlander

Road to E3: Halo 4

The biggest video game trade show in the country, E3, bombards Los Angeles with gaming love starting on June 5th, 2012. With the biggest names in gaming gathering in one spot, it takes a lot of effort to keep track of it all. Every day, we'll cover a different game we expect (or know) will flex its digital muscles in LA.

To celebrate Craig and Smokey’s favorite day of the week, we’re talking about what will arguably be the biggest game of the year: Halo 4. We haven’t heard from Master Chief since 2007, leaving us plenty of time to ponder the possibilities for the the future of everyone’s favorite Spartan. Why did Cortana wake him up? What gives with that giant iris that’s tractor-beaming his ship into its maw? And why was he missing his codpiece in the debut trailer, only to have it appear later? All questions needing answers!

Halo 4 

• Developer: 343 Industries


• Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios


• Release Date: November 6, 2012


• Genre: Cyber-warrior battle fest

Under the guiding hands of 343 Industries, Halo 4 is the first game in the series-proper made by Bungie. With shades of reboot and origin story shaping the narative, it promises a deep dive into John-117’s world -- territory Bungie historically left to the supporting fiction, comics and novelizations until now.

The first entry in the brand new Reclaimer Trilogy, a trifecta of titles 343 says will take 10 years to complete, Halo 4 will feature a direct connection between the single-player story and multiplayer modes for the first time via an in-game mechanic -- or giant spaceship, specifically -- called Infinity. Aboard this UNSC ship of ships, the galaxies finest warriors will continue the endless red versus blue, using wit, charm, firearms, sticky grenades, and an all-new persistent progression system that’s similar  to the perks in Call of Duty.

We should learn the first Halo 4 story details at E3, along with a full introduction to the new antagonist race (other than the leaks from Todd McFarlane’s Halo toys, of course). We know we’ll see the return of the Covenant, but we’ll likely find out what role they’ll play, and if any other enemies like the Flood or the Brutes will return. E3 should also provide our first hands-on time with multiplayer, and likely will include the introduction of new maps, a detailing of the new aforementioned persistent upgrades, and more details on Spartan Ops -- a new cooperative mode that 343 will update every week with new content and objectives.

IGN will begin its domination of E3 on Monday, June 4th. Until then, tune in for our continued coverage as we travel down the road to E3.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/road-to-e3-halo-4

Firestorm Meets the Justice League International

The small crossovers between the New 52 titles continue next week, this time with The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #9, which will cross paths with the team known as the Justice League International!

On sale on Wednesday, issue #9 is written by Joe Harris with art from Yildray Cinar.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/firestorm-meets-the-justice-league-international

The Office: Season 8 Review

Note: Full spoilers for The Office: Season 8 follow.

Looking back at my review of The Office's Season 7, I concluded with the hope that the writing staff would plan the next year out ahead of time because having a destination in mind (in last year's case, sending off Michael Scott) seemed to have done the show some good. Too bad they didn't take that advice. Instead of a heading in a single, coherent direction in Season 8, the stories and the characters were all over the map.

Season 7 ended without revealing the next branch manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, but the question was answered soon enough in the season premiere, "The List," with Andy sitting in the corner office. The choice wasn't out of left field, and it had some potential to bring a new flavor to the show – the insecure manager who is in over his head and knows it, rather than the incompetent manager who desperately wants to be one of the guys – but instead of properly cultivating Andy as a manager, they decided to have him share the spotlight with James Spader's Robert California, who wore out his welcome early on (as I feared he might). Even when Andy did try to flex his managerial muscles, as in "Garden Party" and "Gettysburg," the storylines were too absurd to accept as legitimate character development, yet not funny enough to make it worth pushing the reality of the show to an ever more extreme degree.

Speaking of "Garden Party" and "Gettysburg," there were quite a few outings that took the characters away from the office this year, including an entire arc set in Tallahassee, Florida (more on that storyline later). I suspect the motivation behind this was to change things up and keep them fresh, but it didn't always work. There were times, like in "Pool Party" when it felt like I was watching a different series – an Office spinoff, maybe – instead of the show I know and used to love. It wasn't always a problem with the locations themselves, but with the writing. By the time Andy and Erin crashed a stranger's bachelorette party to break up with his bland girlfriend, I wished they'd been part of a different show.

I haven't made it a secret that I'm not much of a fan of the Andy and Erin relationship. Last season, Andy pined for Erin while she was dating Gabe, so I guess it was Erin's turn to carry the torch. The writers fell back on the old love-triangle trope, giving Andy a girlfriend, but they didn't bother to give her any personality or defining characteristics. So I wasn't rooting for either side, really. There was also a potential romantic entanglement between Andy and Robert's wife (guest star Maura Tierney) in "Mrs. California," but that went nowhere. The last few episodes of the season devoted a good deal of screen time getting Andy and Erin back together, which proved to be a bit of a letdown after a run of some of the best episodes in a long time.

Those episodes made up the previously mentioned Tallahassee arc, which demonstrated that there is life, and laughs, left in this show when they get it right. Beginning with the 14th episode, "Special Project," we got a great business-related arc centered around the launch of the Sabre Store down in Florida. It was a silly idea, but the characters involved made it interesting and fun. Dwight got a chance to experience both the thrill and the stress of leadership while Jim had his hands full fending off the affections of crazy Cathy. That little drama resolved better than I'd hoped. I enjoyed seeing Jim squirm and being forced to turn to Dwight for help (their scenes together were some of the best of the whole season). Poor Cathy was punished for her actions by being banished from the show, never to be mentioned again. Ryan was true to character, talking a big game but ultimately choking when his big moment came. And of course, we'll never forget you, Florida Stanley.

For everyone else in the Office, the stories were relatively minor. Pam and Angela both had babies named Phillip, but the origin of Angela's pregnancy had much more intrigue to it. There were hints all along that the father of Angela's baby was not her possibly gay state senator husband, but the issue resided on the backburner for the majority of the season. It wasn't until the finale, "Free Family Portrait Studio" that Dwight finally took the initiative to get the kid tested. And we still don't even know the outcome (though they left little room for doubt).

The only other plot of note was the subdued and sweet courtship of Darryl and the new warehouse forewoman, Val. Grounded in realism, Val was one of the better new characters introduced this season. I also appreciated the expanded role of Nate, Dwight's former handyman who became a warehouse worker in "Lotto." He's like the Creed of the warehouse, stealing entire scenes with just a line or two (Creed continues to reign supreme in that regard, though).

While we're talking about new characters, I can't avoid mentioning Nellie (recurring guest star Catherine Tate), who first appeared briefly interviewing for the manager job in "Search Committee" and returned as the head of the Sabre Store project in "Tallahassee." I had hoped that Tate would be a colorful addition to the cast, but either the material failed her or she failed the material – I'm not sure which, but there was definitely some fail involved on some level. Hopefully the writers will tone her down next year and make her part of the ensemble rather than trying to make her into the new Michael Scott. And then they can focus on Andy as manager, which they should have been doing all along.

To be sure, every season of The Office has had its ups and downs. It used to be that the peaks were steeper than the valleys; now, it's the opposite. At this time last year I didn't think the writers and cast had another season in them, and yet here we are heading into Season 9. At this point, I'm too invested in the characters to give up on the show entirely – and I am looking forward to seeing David Wallace in charge again – but with the big changes in store and potential departures both in front of and behind the camera, it's hard to imagine that the show will recover the ground it's already lost.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/the-office-season-8-review

Original Blade Runner Writer on Sequel

Scroll down for an update on this story!

Hampton Fancher, who co-wrote Blade Runner, is in talks to reteam with director Ridley Scott for the planned sequel to the sci-fi classic. Specifically, according to a press release from producers Alcon Entertainment, the idea is "to develop the idea for the original screenplay" for the follow-up.

Additionally, it has now been confirmed that the film will in fact be a sequel to the original tale of the Replicant-hunting, down-on-his-luck future cop played by Harrison Ford. "The filmmakers would reveal only that the new story will take place some years after the first film concluded," we're told. So does that mean Ford will be back?

Fancher worked on the original Blade Runner before Scott was even onboard, and the way the story goes, creative differences led to Scott and producer Michael Deeley dumping the scribe and hiring David Peoples to rewrite him. Obviously those creative differences have long since abated, but you can read about the whole bloody affair in the great book Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner.

Despite today's announcement, we still have no clear idea on this production's timeline, though obviously it's still very early days.

Update: In a chat with The Daily Beast, Scott revealed the following: "I started my first meetings on the Blade Runner sequel last week. We have a very good take on it. And we’ll definitely be featuring a female protagonist." Does that mean she'll be the protagonist? Time will tell.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/original-blade-runner-writer-on-sequel

Disney's New Peter Pan

Disney will soon be adapting Peter and the Starcatchers, a new Peter Pan story based on the best-selling children's book by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The studio has hired Jesse Wigutow (The Osterman Weekend) to pen the screenplay.

The book was recently adapted into a Broadway play, which has already turned out to be a huge hit -- it was nominated for nine Tony Awards earlier this month. So it's no surprise that Disney has decided to fast-track a feature film. And since Barry and Pearson are gearing up to write more books set in the same universe, it's likely the movie will have franchise potential.

No word yet on a director or production start date.

Via ComingSoon.net

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/disneys-new-peter-pan

From Ms. Marvel to Captain Marvel

Marvel is gearing up for the release of their new Captain Marvel ongoing series, starring none other than Carol Danvers as the titular hero, having taken up the mantle and left the Ms. Marvel moniker behind. Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick with art by Dexter Soy, Carol's new adventure kicks off with a team-up with Captain America.

Captain Marvel #1 is set to debut on July 18, with a regular cover by Ed McGuinness and a variant by Adi Granov.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/from-ms-marvel-to-captain-marvel

Geeky Graduate Gift Guide

Is your child leaving the safe confines of home to venture out into the world of dorms and dining commons? Or maybe your significant other is donning their cap and gown to celebrate the adventures of the real world. Either way, we have a list of great gifts for your geeky graduate that will properly prepare them for the next stage of their lives.

Portal Bookends - $29.99

Education after high school means a quickly increasing collection of text books and required reading material. Keep those bookshelves organized with these Portal bookends directly from Valve.

Pop Quiz Clock - $26.99

Getting to class or your new job is important, but so is arithmetic. The Pop Quiz Clock from Think Geek makes sure that your numerical skills stay up to par, no matter what time of the day. If math isn't your strong suit, there's a science version too.

Interactive 8-bit Question Block Lamp - $74.99

As seen on Cheap, Crazy, Cool, these custom built-lamps will not only remind you of your favorite plumber, but will help you keep the lights on while celebrating life after lunch room food and locker room pranks.

Cooking for Geeks Cookbook - $34.99

As tasty as trips to the drive through or delivery pizza are, there's nothing like a home cooked meal. Cooking for Geeks not only provides a number of recipes, but also gives you facts about food and cooking processes to make sure you brain gets fed too.

Android Mini Toy - $7.50 each

Decorate your grad's desk with a 3-inch Android Mini Toy. With 13 variations, getting the perfect Droid for your giftee is an adventure in and of it self.

MOTHER 3 Handbook - $20+

Mother 3 was never released Stateside, but that didn't stop Fangamer from creating a beautiful, full-color guide, featuring everything from an in-depth walkthrough to a useful enemy guide.

IGN Apparel

Get fitted in shirts, hoodies and hats while representing your favorite gaming site. SplitReason has stuff for girls and guys, and you'll be instantly cooler the moment you put one of these on.

Star Wars Rebel Pilot Headphones - $29.99

Featured on Cheap, Crazy, Cool, these Rebel Pilot Headphones are perfect for your former padawan. In addition to its awesome Rebel Pilot decor, the headphones feature 40mm stereo speakers and can be easily folded up for quick travel.

Zombie Survival Course - Starting at $149.00

Just because your grad finished school doesn't mean their training is complete. Make sure that they're properly prepared for the dangers of the real world with some zombie survival training!

Sifteo Cubes - $149.00

Keep those valuable brains sharp with a set of Sifteo Cubes. These bite-sized games deliver a number of puzzles to stimulate the mind and can be expanded for difficulty by picking up additional cubes.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/geeky-graduate-gift-guide

The Last of Us: A Tale of Two Ellies

It's been a big week for The Last of Us. A cutscene debuted, IGN saw gameplay for the first time, I reenacted the demo, and Podcast Beyond spent a show talking about developer Naughty Dog's latest.

“

After delving further into the game’s narrative over the past few months, we decided to modify Ellie’s model...

But the folks behind The Last of Us also sat down with IGN and went through an extensive Q&A session -- which touched on why Naughty Dog changed Ellie's character model.

"After delving further into the game’s narrative over the past few months, we decided to modify Ellie’s model to better reflect [actress] Ashley [Johnson]’s personality, and also resemble a slightly younger teen more fitting to the story," said creative director Neil Druckmann. "We're happy with the final result shown in the cinematic we have released today, and hope the fans like her too."

Trouble was, a lot of you sounded off in the comments that you didn't notice a difference between December Ellie and May Ellie. So, I went through both trailers again for a comparison. Check out the images below and let us know in the comments what you think of the change.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/the-last-of-us-a-tale-of-two-ellies

Doing Pokemon Spinoffs Right

When I first heard about Pokemon + Nobunaga’s Ambition, my initial thought was that it must be some elaborate joke. Sure, Pokemon spinoffs are practically a dime a dozen these days - but pairing one of the world’s most successful video game franchises with a far less prominent strategy RPG series that’s all about war and conquest was just too strange to believe… even for a Japan-only title.

Not only was this game the real deal, Nintendo of America further blew my mind by announcing the title would be coming stateside as Pokemon Conquest. Whoa, right? The more surprising revelation came a few weeks later when I got the chance to actually play the game. It wasn’t the jumbled, confused pairing I was fearful it would be, nor was it just a standard Nobunaga’s Ambition title with Pokemon thrown in for no reason. What I played was a fully realized and truly expert melding of these two distinct game worlds - and just exactly what I’ve always wanted from a Pokemon spinoff.

Before the comments section ignites with declarations about how amazing this or that spinoff series is, allow me to clarify that I’m by no means saying the other non-core Pokemon games are all bad. I realize the Mystery Dungeon titles have a pretty huge following, and I’m actually rather fond of the Pokemon Ranger formula. Heck, I even had a decent time playing through PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond. But none of these experiences really had the kind of depth or polish the core games have trained me to expect.

But Pokemon Conquest is different. So much so that my limited time with it has renewed by faith in the concept of Pokemon spinoffs. Again, it’s not that the other spinoffs are a heaping pile of Garbador, it’s more a testament to how much attention to detail and effort this particular game exhibits. Pokemon mainstays like special abilities and type advantages/disadvantages are seamlessly applied to monsters and warlords alike, and craftily integrated with the Nobunaga concepts of unit, time and castle management.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Other things for aspiring tyrants to keep in mind is that the bond between your warriors and the Pokemon you've paired them with influences how effective they are in battle - the stronger the bond, the better they’ll work as a team. This takes one of the overarching themes of the Pokemon franchise - the bond between trainers and their monsters - and makes it a key component of the actual gameplay, one that has a true and lasting effect on the experience. All of this, especially when paired with the plethora of other gameplay aspects and strategic elements, is a lot to keep in mind. Yet, at the same time, all these parts join to create such an organic and intuitive whole that the game is actually quite easy to learn, and enticing to master.

If it's successful, Conquest could pave the way for more and better Pokemon spinoffs.

To top it all off, the overarching story is possibly the best I’ve ever seen in a Pokemon spinoff. Sure, there’s a healthy sprinkling of the sillies (would you really want otherwise from a game centered around electric mice and singing, pink puffballs?). But overall Pokemon Conquet actually has a really clever premise handled in an impressively thoughtful manner. The basic gist involves an ancient legend that if someone is able to conquer all 17 kindoms of Ransei, the Pokemon that created the land will reveal itself. As countless rulers go to war to try to expand their kingdoms, it’s up to you to protect your castle and conquer the 17 kingdoms before the power-hungry warlord Nobunaga beats you to it. It’s a fairly heavy concept - ya know, the overthrowing of kingdoms and war and whatnot - but it’s handled with the lightest touch, as well as a brilliant balance of humor and urgency.

The remarkable thing is that these two worlds really fit together this seamlessly - but the fact that they do only further exhibits the amount of time and attention the developers invested in this experience. Pokemon Conquest is not the quick, cute romp that is PokePark. It’s not the passable but lackluster Pokemon Rumble series either. This is a more than 40 hour adventure, not counting subsequent playthroughs (each of which will unfold differently). It’s got world building, characters, backstory. It isn’t just taking advantage of the Pokemon name for a quick sale, it endeavors to stand alone as a unique homage to both franchises.

All of these factors are why this unassuming title embodies what a spinoff should truly be. It takes the things people adore about the monster catching franchise and presents them in a completely fresh and unique package for an experience that is separate from - yet couldn’t exist without - the Pokemon brand.

Pokemon Conquest will hit store shelves on June 18. Sure, it would have been cool if it was a 3DS game rather than a DS one - but in the end it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that I’m more excited than ever for the future of the Pokemon name. The core entries are dependable, solid experiences, and I love how they evolve from generation to generation all while respecting their own legacy and tradition. But for a Pokemon spinoff, I crave something unexpected. Something that shows me a whole other side to the series I’ve loved for more than a decade. That’s why I was (and still am) so enthralled by Pokemon Snap - and if the final game looks as good as what I demoed, it’s why gamers with an interest in seeing more innovative Pokemon spinoffs would do well not to pass this one by.

 

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/doing-pokemon-spinoffs-right

Neeson Talks Taken 2

In 2008's Taken, Liam Neeson starred as Bryan Mills, an ex-operative "with a particular set of skills" whose daughter was kidnapped by Albanian sex traffickers. But in Taken 2, its Neeson's character who'll need the saving, as the family of the ones he killed in the first film are now seeking vengeance.

"The action is supposed to take place about a year or a year and a half after the first story," said Neeson in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. "I’ve taken a job over in Istanbul looking after a sheik who is there, and afterward I discover that my wife’s going through a very bad time with her new husband. So I suggest she and my daughter come over for a few days and hang out with me in this amazing city. And then… [Laughs] all this s*** happens, of course."

" taken -- let’s put it that way," he continues. "They kidnap him to humiliate him, torture him, and ultimately bring him back to the village in Albania where the boys from the original film came from. With the help of my daughter... she wants to help me escape from where these bad guys have me."

Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen have returned to play Bryan's daughter and ex-wife respectively. Olivier Megaton (Columbiana, Transporter 3) has taken over directing duties for Pierre Morel, but writers Robert Mark Kamen and Luc Besson are both back. Taken 2 is currently slated for an October 5, 2012 release.

Click over to Entertainment Weekly for more pics and the full chat with Neeson.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/neeson-talks-taken-2

IGN Live Presents: Dragon's Dogma

Capcom is set to release the action RPG Dragon's Dogma On Tuesday, May 22. But you can get a good long look at it a day early during IGN's live stream from 10:00AM-Noon Pacific.

What: Dragon's Dogma Live Stream

When: Monday, May 21, 10:00AM-Noon Pacific

Where: Here in this article and on IGN's new Xbox Live app.

See you Monday!

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/ign-live-presents-dragons-dogma

IGN Readers on Third Party Games

Last week IGN Nintendo asked you readers to tell us all about the third party game you're most excited for. We provided you folks with a handful of choices (no, not every third party game in existence was included) and asked you to cast your vote in our reader poll. As you can see... Bioshock Infinite seems to be at the top of the heap.

Check out the full results in the infographic below (care of Lucas M. Thomas), then sound off with your own thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/ign-readers-on-third-party-games

Snake, Drake and Cole Confirmed for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale?

A few weeks ago, Infamous 2 voice actor Eric Ladin Tweeted that he was back in a motion capture suit and doing more work as Cole, the game's hero. When he confirmed it wasn't for another Infamous game, we all jumped to the conclusion it was for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.

Today, he's confirmed it -- along with the fact that Metal Gear Solid's Snake and Uncharted's Nathan Drake are in the game. Or he's just trolling everyone.

Ladin's Tweet doesn't spell out characters, but it does say that he's part of a PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale cast with Drake's voice actor Nolan North and Big Boss/Solid Snake voice actor David Hayter.

There is an IMDB listing for the game showcasing these actors, however this page has been in constant flux. At one point, it had a different voice actor for Cole and characters that have since been removed -- folks like Sully from Uncharted. So, even though the list looks solid now, take it with a grain of salt.

Let us know what you think of the cast so far in the comments below, and then vote in our poll letting us know who you'll play as first from the confirmed cast.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/snake-drake-and-cole-confirmed-for-playstation-all-stars-battle-royale

Community: "Introduction To Finality" Review

Looking for reviews of the other two Community episodes that aired Thursday night? You can find the review of the video game-themed "Digital Estate Planning" here and check out the review of "The First Chang Dynasty here!

Note: Full spoilers for the episode follow.

Our Community cup runneth over - three episodes in one night to sign off on Season 3! One can hardly complain, now can one? Where "The First Chang Dynasty" was a great way to bring the season to a close, "Introduction to Finality" felt a little out of place, with a tagged on series final ending, you know… just in case. This hurt the episode a bit, especially after two such notable outings.

The timeline of the last few episodes has been a bit of a problem for me. We've been skipping months at a time, and with "Digital Estate Planning," we seemed to leave the timeline altogether. The group got expelled, then months later learned that Chang might be behind the whole thing, then took a break to play a video game, then got reinstated to Greendale, and then months later are taking summer classes. Ultimately this isn't really a big deal, but it did hurt the flow of storytelling. When "Introduction to Finality" began, it was another episode that felt out of place, as if it could have been the first episode of next season.

And perhaps it was intended to be. "The First Chang Dynasty" gave us some great endings to multiple arcs and also supplied us with an interesting cliffhanger, having Troy sacrifice himself to the air condition repair school to save the group. As a first episode to Season 4, "Introduction to Finality" would have restarted the story telling be showing us the aftermath of Troy's departure (Abed cracking into Evil Abed) while also putting things back on track be quickly putting an end to Troy's air conditioning journey. Meanwhile, it started a storyline for Shirley and Pierce and their sandwich shop. But this was still Season 3.

So even though the laughs were there -- Evil Abed making Britta 10% darker, the quirky alternate reality of the repair school -- the whole thing felt very disjointed. And the Summer Fun Court storyline was very average, with Jeff's speech at the end being tedious and overwrought. And then the ending montage started and the purpose of this episode became very clear. This was shot months before anyone knew the fate of the series, and Dan Harmon and the writers had put together an ending to give us some closure on the series, if in fact this was going to be the last episode.

It was a nice montage, set to Community's theme song. Had this been the last ever episode, we would know that Jeff was one step closer to graduating and that he was ready to seek out his dad. We'd know that Abed was ready to grow up a bit, though not entirely. We'd know that the future for these characters looked hopefully. And we'd know that Star-Burns lives. But tacking this ending on to what was already an average, out of place episode simply added to the anticlimactic feel following the season true finale, "The Last Chang Dynasty."

But who can really complain? We get a Season 4!

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/community-introduction-to-finality-review

Get a Free Xbox 360 with the Purchase of a PC

Microsoft's "Buy a PC, get an Xbox 360" deal has returned for all of the starving college students in the United States and Canada.

Starting today, Canadian students can get a free 4GB Xbox 360 when picked up alongside a Windows PC valued at $599 or more. On May 20, the same console will be up for grabs in the U.S. when paired with a PC purchase of $699 or up at a participating retailer.

To take advantage of the deal, valid student identification must be provided.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/18/get-a-free-xbox-360-with-the-purchase-of-a-pc