by Chris Ullrich, Jun 15 2010 // 5:00 PM
It’s a beautiful day in Los Angeles as E3 kicks off in full force. We’ve been wondering the show floor and checking out as much as we can to bring you all the highlights of new games, booths, sights and more from the show.
First up today we’ve got a gallery of the show floor and some of the booths from the various companies here at the show. Plus, we’ve got some shots from the giagantic and awesome Activision show last night that took place at Staples Center.
In case you din’t hear about it, the Activision show featured footage from their various upcoming titles including DJ Hero 2, Tony Hawk: Shred, True Crime: Hong Kong and, of course, Call of Duty: Black Ops. The show also featured performances by DJ Z-Trip, Tony Hawk, N.E.R.D, Jane’s Addiction, Usher, Chris Cornell, Rihanna, Eminem and more. Quite a show indeed.
Check out the gallery after the jump and keep it here for more as the E3 show progresses.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: Activision · Games · News · Video Games · Xbox 360
Tagged: Activision, Call of Duty: Black Ops, DJ Hero 2, E3 2010, Eminem, Jane's Addiction, MTV Games, Tony Hawk, Tony Hawk: Shred, Z-Trip
by John Carle, Jun 15 2010 // 4:00 PM
During Monday’s Microsoft Press Conference, Microsoft Game Studios followed last year’s trend by showing actual gameplay footage from the campaign mode of their upcoming Halo title, Halo: Reach. While Halo 3: ODST got attention last year with its in game footage, it was usurped by the announcement of Halo: Reach. This year, Halo: Reach further blew gamers away. Having gotten their lips wet from the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta, fans weren’t even ready for the visuals that were brought to them on the E3 Press Conference
Seen below, the four player campaign is a drastic upgrade to the graphics and storytelling of Halo 3 and ODST. The team of four Spartans worked their way through a Covenant attack as they head to one of the UNSC bases. During this treacherous trek, you will see the drop pod Elites attacking, who now need to have a full team of Spartans to combat them. Combat strategy looks to have evolved using the game’s new weapons to clear the path of carnage.
The most startling part of the Halo: Reach footage comes from the reveal of the new gameplay mode shown at the end which transitioned flawlessly from the early part of the level with no loading screen necessary. We won’t spoil it for you, check it out yourself.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: E3 2010 · Games · Microsoft · News · Video · Video Games · Xbox 360
Tagged: E3, E3 2010, Gameplay Footage, Halo, Halo: Reach, Microsoft Game Studio, Video Games, Xbox 360
by Joe Gillis, Jun 15 2010 // 3:00 PM
Even with E3 dominating the week we can’t forget that awesome comics are also coming out on Wednesday as well from our friends at Marvel. This week we’re pretty excited about the latest issue of Ultimate Comics, Heralds #3, New Avengers #1 and Black Widow #3. Remember, comics come out on Wednesday this week so be sure to head on over to your favorite comics store early for best selection.
Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.
Comics On-Sale:
AGE OF HEROES #2 (HA)
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #633
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #633 HEROIC AGE VARIANT
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #634 YU COVER
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #634 FYLES COVER
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #634 QUINONES VARIANT
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS: BLACK CAT #1
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN PRESENTS: BLACK CAT #1 CAMPBELL VARIANT
ANITA BLAKE: CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED – THE CHARMER #2
ATLAS #2
BLACK WIDOW #3 (HA)
DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER – THE JOURNEY BEGINS #2
Continue Reading →
Posted in: Comics · Marvel · News · Press Releases
Tagged: Age of Heroes, Brian Bendis, Comics, Heralds, Jeph Loeb, Marvel, Peter David, Posters, Robin Furth, Stuart Immonen, The New Avengers, Ultimate Comics, Ultimate X
by Cortney Zamm, Jun 15 2010 // 2:00 PM
At last year’s E3, we were treated to several previews of 5th Cell’s action adventure puzzle game known as Scribblenauts, a DS game whose objective was to solve puzzles and finish levels by summoning nouns. The game turned out to be a critical success, with incredibly fun gameplay that offered endless possibilities. So it’s no surprise that, at this year’s E3, the trailer for the game’s follow-up, Super Scribblenauts, has emerged.
With Super Scribblenauts, players will be able to not only summon nouns like the previous game, but will be able to add on adjectives to those nouns, resulting in even more creative and endlessly possible ways to solve the game’s puzzles. Some hilarious examples you’ll see in the trailer are “winged armed angry cow”, “zombified telekinetic bully”, and “gentlemanly red raptor”. The trailer also mentions that the game will include refined controls, allowing players to move Max with both the stylus and the control pad, something that was a huge problem in the original game. Super Scribblenauts will also n even more expansive dictionary of words that the game will recognize.
Be sure to arm yourself with both stylus and dictionary this October when Super Scribblenauts is released for the Nintendo DS. You can watch the trailer after the jump.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: E3 2010 · Games · Geek · News · Nintendo · Video · Video Games
Tagged: 5th Cell, E3, E3 2010, Scribblenauts, Super Scribblenauts
by Matt Raub, Jun 15 2010 // 1:00 PM
A few months ago, Robert Downey Jr. was speaking at an Iron Man 2 press conference and joked that he has been offered just about every role there was to be offered out there, since he blew up the screen in the first Iron Man film. It seems that this story is proof of that, as Disney has just signed him to star in the upcoming Wizard of Oz prequel, titled Oz: The Great and Powerful.
Raimi was confirmed to be directing the film over the weekend, and now will be working with the modern day chameleon, Downey. Of course, after the success of Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, the film will definitely be in 3D. From MTV:
“Oz: The Great and Powerful” is already set to star Robert Downey Jr. in the titular role. The story follows the future wizard, a circus wrangler in the real world, as he is carried away to the magical land by a tornado. The people who live there mistake him for a powerful being and thus, a legend is born.
This would be the first film that Raimi has been attached to since walking off of Sony’s Spider-Man 4 when they decided to go for a High School Musical-style reboot. While we’re sure Disney is hoping for a repeat of Burton’s Alice, we the fans are all hoping that we don’t have to sit through another 90 minute CGI acid trip.
Posted in: 3-D · Action · Adaptation · Announcements · Casting · Comedy · Disney · Fantasy · Movies · News · Prequels and Sequels · Sci-Fi
Tagged: 3D, Alice in Woderland, Disney, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Robert Downey Jr., Sam Raimi, Wizard of Oz
by John Carle, Jun 15 2010 // 12:00 PM
Yesterday, Activision debuted a first peek at Call of Duty: Black Ops’ single player campaign during the Microsoft’s Press Conference. In addition, they also announced a three year timed exclusivity deal with the XBox 360. Until 2012, every game add-on or map pack for every Call of Duty branded game will come first to the XBox 360 console. While PlayStation 3 will eventually get the downloads a month later, any true Call of Duty fan is likely to go to the Microsoft platform to get their hands on it first.
Immediately following the press conference, Activision sent out a remixed trailer of Call of Duty: Black Ops with Enimen’s “Won’t Back Down” which will be featured in the game. This follows the recent trend Activision has been following of leveraging their music game properties like Guitar Hero and DJ Hero to feature big name artists in association with other franchises. True Crime: Hong Kong, one of Activison’s other upcoming titles, recently announced a hip-hop and pop soundtrack featuring Rhea.
Enimen’s newest album, “Recovery” will be available on June 21st featuring “Won’t Back Down.” Check out the remix video after the jump as well as the first campaign footage from Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: Activision · E3 2010 · Games · Music · News · Trailers · Video Games · Xbox 360
Tagged: Activision, Call of Duty, Call of Duty: Black Ops, E3, E3 2010, Enimen, Recovery, Trailer, Video Games, Won't Back Down, Xbox 360
by Chris Ullrich, Jun 15 2010 // 11:00 AM
With iPhone 4 pre-order frenzy in full effect at Apple and AT&T stores (and even taking AT&T’s order network down)another new item has quietly had a refresh. Today, Apple released a new version of its compact Mac the Mac Mini with a host of improvements and enhancements.
The new Mac Mini is made out of a solid chunk of aluminum and comes in two flavors:
Regular:
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB RAM
320 GB hard drive
$699
Server:
2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB RAM
Dual 500 GB hard drive
$999
Both models have been updated with NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics, the same integrated GPU in the MacBook and MacBook Pro. They also sport a new HDMI port (finally) and the “Server” Mac Mini allows you the option to not have an optical drive in favor of an additional hard drive.
Apple has also made the Mini a bit easier to upgrade, at least in terms of adding more RAM. Instead of a completed procedure involving several kinds of tools and a trip to Home Depot, the new mac Mini has simple twist off panel on the bottom to allow for RAM upgrades. No word yet on if this makes it easier to upgrade the hard drive but since the new Mac Mini is available today, word on that should be coming shortly.
Posted in: Apple · Gear · Geek · News · Tech
Tagged: Apple, Computers, Hardware, HDMI, Intel, Mac, Mac mini, Nvidia, OS X, Servers, Snow Leopard, Snow Leopard Server, Tech
by Chris Ullrich, Jun 15 2010 // 10:00 AM
I’ve been following this film for quite some time and, in fact, saw an early cut of it during the recent SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX. Without revealing too much I can say I thoroughly enjoyed Neil Marshall’s Centurion and am pleased to be able to bring you a brand new “Red Band” trailer for the film today.
In this new trailer you get a chance to see what the film is about. It’s a violent look at life as a soldier in ancient Rome as well as an adventurous tale of revenge and survival. It also features some great battle scenes and lots of fun swordplay.
The film itself follows Quintus, sole survivor of a Pictish raid on a Roman frontier fort, who marches north with General Virilus’ legendary Ninth Legion, under orders to wipe the Picts from the face of the earth and destroy their leader Gorlacon.
But when the legion is ambushed on unfamiliar ground, and Virilus taken captive, Quintus faces a desperate struggle to keep his small platoon alive behind enemy lines, evading remorseless Pict pursuers over harsh terrain, as the band of soldiers race to rescue their General, and to reach the safety of the Roman frontier.
Expect a full review closer to release. Until then, be sure to check out the awesome trailer after the jump. Centurion, which features Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, David Morrissey and Olga Kurylenko, premieres on VOD, XBOX and Amazon.com on July 23 and opens in theaters August 27, 2010.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: Action · Drama · Movies · News · Trailers
Tagged: Action, Centurion, David Morrissey, Dog Soldiers, Dominic West, Doomsday, Drama, Magnet Releasing, Magnolia Pictures, Michael Fassbender, Movies, Neil Marshall, Olga Kurylenko, Trailers
by Matt Raub, Jun 15 2010 // 9:00 AM
With True Blood kicking off this Sunday, HBO is getting their new and returning series ready for the world to see. That means that we get some of the first glimpses at our favorite comedies returning since last season, such as Bored to Death and Eastbound and Down.
The former, Bored To Death, stars Jason Schwartzman as a failed writer living in Brooklyn who decides to moonlight as a private detective. The only problem is that he isn’t very good at that either. The show is actually made watchable by the supporting characters played by Zach Galifiniakis and Ted Danson.
The latter, starring Danny McBride, is about a rundown, foul-mouthed, ex-major league pitcher who has to settle into the life of a regular gym teacher in a small town. The show comes from Jody Hill (Observe & Report) and Will Ferrell, and had us in stitches for the first season.
Both comedies are slated to return around the same time, keeping HBO’s popular comedy series together in one night, most likely. Check out the new teasers for both shows after the jump, and get ready for Eastbound & Down and Bored To Death to return this September.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: Comedy · HBO · News · Trailers · TV · Video
Tagged: Bored to Death, Danny McBride, Eastbount & Down, HBO, Jason Schwartzman, Jody Hill, Ted Danson, Zach Galifiniakis
by Erik Jensen, Jun 15 2010 // 8:00 AM
While you won’t be able to get your grubby little mitts on a sparkly new iPhone 4 until June 24th, pre-orders begin today. As announced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at their annual WWDC 2010 developer’s conference, you will have your choice of white or black iPhone 4′s, in either 16GB ($199) or 32GB ($299) capacities. With such a short window between pre-orders and actual delivery, one thing Apple doesn’t appear worried about is a supply issue.
Apple is expecting sales of their latest iPhone to top 3 million units per month. With such an aggressive ramp-up, Apple must have a strong supply side strategy in place. Faced with inadequate supplies of their iPad tablet, this is likely an issue they would rather not have to face again with their iPhone 4 release.
Where can you pre-order? There are at least five options at this point and a decent mix of online-only and in-store options exist. Hit the jump for the run-down of in-store and online retailers as well as some further details on upgrade restrictions for existing AT&T customers.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: Apple · Hardware · Mobile Apps · News · Tech · WWDC
Tagged: Apple, AT&T, iPhone 4, Pre-Order
by John Carle, Jun 15 2010 // 7:00 AM
Over the weekend, Midway released a trailer for the Mortal Kombat reboot. Unfortunately it is not tied to the much darker and more violent minimovie that has been floating around online. Rumors surrounding this mini had it pegged as the newest reboot to the series but writers of the third Mortal Kombat film have denied this.
As mentioned in our E3 preview, the rebooted Mortal Kombat will have a presence on the show floor. As you will see below, the game will feature a retro look over much improved graphics. It almost looks as though the events of Mortal Kombat II and Mortal Kombat 3, as well as the characters, will be combined for Mortal Kombat.
Favorites Johnny Cage, Sub-Zero and Reptile have all returned while classics like Liu Kang, Scorpion and Sonya are all notably absent from the trailer. Old school levels like the Deadpool and the Pit II also make their return, hopefully with their respective fatalities as well. New to the series will be tag team fighting mode where four players enter Kombat together, switching back and forth and performing double team maneuvers. Midway has already boasted the game will feature the most brutal fatalities of any Mortal Kombat yet. With the preview of Kung Lao’s new fatality, we are inclined to agree.
Take a peek at the reboot trailer for Mortal Kombat after the jump and keep it here all week long for your up to date information on all things E3.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: E3 2010 · Games · News · Playstation 3 · Reboots and Remakes · Trailers · Video Games · Xbox 360
Tagged: E3, E3 2010, Johnny Cage, Midway, Mortal Kombat, Playstation 3, Reboots, Sub-Zero, Video Games, Xbox 360
by Matt Raub, Jun 14 2010 // 3:00 PM
Good news, everyone. Futurama is returning to TV! But you already knew that, didn’t you? For those who didn’t, the epic sci-fi animated series received a stay of execution from the benevolent Comedy Central, who originally obtained the rights to syndicate the show and air all of the direct-to-DVD movies.
The new series picks up on June 24th, but we’ve got a brand new look at the first episode today. There was a bit of panic for a while on whether or not Comedy Central was willing to pay the original voice cast to return to the show, but that was almost immediately quashed, and they’ll all be returning.
The franchise had moderate success after it’s series of DVD movies, all of which were syndicated on Comedy Central. Much like Family Guy, it seems that the fans just won’t let this show go down. Check out the brand new clip after the jump, and you’ll see that, just like they’ve done in the past, even this scene has a few tongue-in-cheek lines on where they’ve been, and how they are back on the air.
Check out the clip after the jump, and join Bender, Leela, Fry, and the whole gang as they return on Thursday, June 24th, at 10/9C.
Continue Reading →
Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Action · Animation · Comedy · Comedy Central · Fandom · News · Sci-Fi · Video
Tagged: Beast With A Billion Backs, Bender's Game, Billy West, Comedy Central, Family Guy, Fox, Futurama, John DiMaggio, Katy Sagal