The Flickcast

Microsoft Tries New Strategy with ‘Fable II’

Posted on October 15, 2009

927246_65995_front Anyone who has been a member of XBox Live for the past few years has been aware that they could purchase some classic XBox games via download through XBox Originals. This would lay the groundwork for the recently deployed Games on Demand program that contains XBox 360 gems like Grand Theft Auto 4, Mass Effect and Oblivion. Stored to the player’s hard drive and tied to their XBox Live account, the customer never has to touch a disc to play their favorite games.

Also added to this list has been the XBox exclusive Fable II which came out last year on retail discs. The way Fable II is being sold to customers is an entirely new way to distribute previously released full retail games as it takes an episodic format. Through Games on Demand, players can download the first of five chapters in the game for free.

Instead of giving a traditional demo which would stand apart from a retail copy, players get to experience the full first chapter of the game and save their progress throughout at no cost. Should the player enjoy what they play, they will be able to continue purchasing chapters through the in game menus. The only setback of this first chapter of the game is that it won’t receive full online XBox functionality until players have purchased additional chapters.

Chris Pine Is The New Jack Ryan?

Posted on October 15, 2009

Chris Pine, who was recently seen as Captain James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot, is reportedly in talks to help reboot another franchise character for Paramount: CIA analyst Jack Ryan. The article stipulates that said talks have just started, but Pine is expected to come aboard the Jack Ryan film soon while the project is still taking shape.

The studio and producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mace Neufeld are reportedly working with a script draft by Hossein Amini, based on an original concept. The project is still in development and at the moment there’s no word on if Pine will make another Star Trek film before taking on the role of Jack Ryan. Let’s hope he does.

While I do think Pine was a surprisingly good Kirk, I have to wonder if he’s right for Jack Ryan. Alec Baldwin worked very well as the character and so did Harrison Ford. Pine just doesn’t seem to fit somehow. Maybe because he just seems too young — which worked fine for Star Trek but seems a bit of a stretch for this. Although, if he does end up doing another Star Trek first, he’ll be just about the same age Alec Baldwin was when he did The Hunt for Red October. Maybe Pine will end up a great choice after all.

‘Saving Private Ryan’ Writer gets Tapped for Raimi’s ‘Warcraft’

Posted on October 14, 2009

Since its announcement, there has been tons of buzz surrounding the Warcraft film. Warcraft: Rise of the Lich King has already been put under the reigns of Sam Raimi (Spider-Man franchise, Drag Me to Hell) as it tells the story of Arthas, the young paladin prince who would be corrupted by an evil sword and ultimately become the ruler of the undead legions of Azaroth.

Speaking with MTV News, Raimi said “We want to be really faithful to the game…to the Horde and the Alliance and the mythology that takes place in the game, and the archetypes that the game presents… I think we would try and find touchstones within the game to make it accurate and true and choose one or some of the lands that are portrayed in the game with as much accuracy and authenticity as possible.”

Raimi followed by revealing that Robert Rodat, the Oscar nominated writer of Saving Private Ryan would be penning the script for the movie. An interesting choice for writer of the 2011 release, Rodat did the script for The Patriot in 2000 before disappearing from the scene for almost ten years.

While Rodat has shown he is adept at war drama, this will be his first venture in to the world of epic fantasy that Warcraft encompasses. He also must face the stigma that video games rarely get translated in to quality films, with the rare exception of the first Resident Evil movie. After such debacles as the Super Mario Bros. movie or box office failures like Silent Hill, Rodat has a lot of pressure going in to this film, especially from the more than 11 million World of Warcraft subscribers who will undoubtedly be the first to attend the movie when it hits theaters.

Brand New ‘Blur’ Racing Game Trailer

Posted on October 14, 2009

blur-racing-4

We’ve been tracking Activision and Bizarre Creations’ Blur racing game for some time here at The Flickcast. As its release draws nearer, we’re even more eager to get a chance to play it — especially when we see new trailers for the game like we have for you today. In the past the company has delivered some rather inspired videos to get you in the mood for some extreme racing action. This time is no exception.

In this latest video, you get to further check out the game and see some of “Blur’s power-ups and four-player split-screen in action.” Which, of course, sounds and looks awesome. In case you haven’t been following our Blur coverage, here’s a bit of info on the game:

“Blur is the ultimate powered-up racing experience, dropping players into heart-pumping, electrified action with multiple cars trading paint as they charge towards the finish line. Drivers careen through real-world track locations packed with fast curves, sneaky alternate routes and hair-raising jumps in over 50 licensed cars as they collect intense Power-ups, including the ability to blast other cars out of the way with huge bursts of energy, boost their speed, and more.” I know, right?

Click through to check out the new trailer. Blur hits store shelves later this year.

Dave’s Weekly Comic Book Recommendations

Posted on October 14, 2009

Man, oh man, there are a lot of great books coming out this week. Liberty Comics From DC Comics, we have a slew of “Blackest Night” Batman books if you’re into that kind of thing, which I’m not. Adventure Comics also looks intriguing, but other than that and Green Lantern Corps, I’m not interested in much else from these guys.

From IDW, The ACT-I-VATE Primer comes out and if you like some Indy Comics this book is for you. ACT-I-VATE is a webcomic collective founded by Dean Haspiel (aka Zach Galifianakis’s character on Bored to Death). In this book you will get some high quality indy comics from the likes of Haspiel, Nikki Cook, Joe Infurnari and Michael Fiffe.

My pick of the week is Liberty Comics which features some great previews from new books. All proceeds go to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which protects comic book creators’ First Amendment rights, among others. A worthy cause if there ever was one. Most especially in this book, I’m looking at the preview of my good friend Ben McCool’s new book with Ben Templesmith, titled Choker. I can tell you: when this book hits stands sometime early next year, you want it.

From Marvel Comics there is a ton of great stuff. Marvel continues to feed my sick obsession, and empty my wallet with new Deadpool comics. Most importantly, Deadpool #900–I know! How did it get to #900 when the character has only been around since the early 90s? Regardless, that book has a slew of talent telling all kinds of stories. Like Jason Aaron, Victor Gischler, Charlie Huston, Fred Van Lente and Kyle Baker. The book just looks gorgeous.

Four New Clips from Tonight’s ‘Glee’

Posted on October 14, 2009

Things have been heating up on Glee with only 7 out of the 22 episode season airing so far on FOX. Will and Terri Shuester got a bit more argumentative when Terri decided to become a nurse at the school, thus infiltrating any flirting that may have been going on between he and Emma. Also the glee group is hitting some troubled times as Sue Sylvester continues to make their lives hell. What else could possibly go wrong?

Well it looks like tonight we’ll find out, as Jane Lynch’s Sue Sylvester gets appointed as co-director of the glee group. Will is forced to play nice with the totalitarian cheerleading coach, and Quinn’s secret may be out in the open once the school paper writes an exposé.

Click through to check out four new clips from tonight’s episode, “Throwdown”, which airs at 9pm/8pm Central. Be sure to hit iTunes after the show, as tonight’s music includes Jill Scott’s “Hate On Me”, The Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”, Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown’s “No Air”, and Avril Lavigne’s “Keep Holding On”.

Marvel and Stephen King Announce New ‘Dark Tower’ Series

Posted on October 14, 2009

DarkTower-TheGunslinger-small If you’re a fan of Stephen King and his Dark Tower series and if you’ve been anxiously awaiting each issue of the comic based on that series to hit store shelves, then this announcement is for you. Marvel and Stephen King are teaming up once again for a new comic sries based on his novels: Dark Tower: The Gunslinger.

Check out all the info from Marvel’s official press release. And, as always, be sure to check out some larger art for this new comic after the jump.

Marvel, in collaboration with Stephen King, is proud to announce a new chapter in the Dark Tower graphic fiction adaptation—Dark Tower: The Gunslinger. Beginning in 2010, The New York Times Best-Selling creative team of Peter David, Robin Furth and Richard Isanove return for a new arc exploring the life of Roland Deschain, revealing how and why he began his pursuit of the man in black across Mid-World’s Mohaine Desert!

Beginning another epic tale, told over multiple limited series, Dark Tower: The Gunslinger marks another milestone for the graphic fiction sensation that’s captivated fans worldwide. The Dark Tower collaboration between Marvel and Stephen King has drawn accolades from all corners, revolutionizing the comic book industry with previously unprecedented mainstream media coverage and the first worldwide midnight openings for a graphic fiction series.

“We are extremely excited to continue our epic journey into the Dark Tower universe with The Gunslinger,” says Ruwan Jayatilleke, Senior Vice President, Strategic Development-Acquisitions & Licensing. “And we are equally ecstatic to continue our collaboration with Stephen King as well as keeping comic book fans on their toes!”

Following the climactic Battle of Jericho Hill, Roland Deschain now begins the most important journey of his young life in Dark Tower: The Gunslinger. Stay tuned to www.marvel.com and www.stephenking.com for more news on this momentous new Dark Tower series.

The Flickcast – Episode 28: Book of Shadows

Posted on October 14, 2009

blair-witch-1 This week on The Flickcast the band, um, team is back together as Christina rejoins Chris and Matt for the show. This time around, the trio talk about even more cool and interesting topics including the recent troubles with Apple’s Snow Leopard and “Guest” account, the T-Mobile Sidekick’s data loss and the marketing strategy, merits, and box office success of Paranormal Activity. Plus, Joss Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods being converted to 3-D, Chuck coming back to TV sooner, Bryan Singer returning to the X-Men franchise, the ending that Zombieland could have had and a whole lot more.

The team also made some great picks, as they always do. This week its Christina’s pick of the FX comedy Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Matt’s pick of Jim Henson’s 1986 film Labyrinth and Chris’ pick of Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which you can now watch in its entirety on Hulu.

As always, if you have comments, questions, critiques or offers of sponsorship, feel free to hit us up in the comments, on Twitter and at Facebook, MySpace or via email.

Thanks for listening.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | TuneIn | RSS

Older Posts

Newer Posts