Have you tried cloud gaming? Or simply streaming from your XBOX or Playstation while in another room? It’s hit or miss. Even with line-of-sight to my equipment, lag and latency issues always arise. Well, Alienware wants to mitigate those issues by introducing an in-house solution for all your existing video games.
PC Mag published an article detailing their hands-on, albeit limited, experience with Alienware’s ‘Concept NYX’ home server at CES 2022. This vast black box ran multiple games on multiple screens, sometimes numerous games on the same screen. It’s a handy device if you live with many gamers and you all want to store your titles on the same piece of hardware.
As stated, it’s a server. One specifically designed for home use and the users’ existing libraries of games. Concept NYX isn’t exactly a new concept to anyone who has housed a network server in their home before. However, Alienware and Dell are trying to make this an all-in-one solution that can appeal to the average gamer.
From the PC Mag article, this is a home solution and a home solution only. Gaming on the go was not mentioned. Regardless of the server’s processing power, you’d still be at the mercy of your ISP when trying to play Security Breach on your iPhone in the toilet at work through a firewall.
The allure of the NYX isn’t there for me. I have a TV in nearly every bedroom with some streaming stick or device attached. How often will someone find themselves needing to play Cyberpunk or Fallout New Vegas while in the kitchen or dining room?
Considering the premium, Dell loves to slap on Alienware tech while also managing to underdeliver what indie shops can provide for less money makes this thing sound DOA if it ever arrives.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
[Source: PC MAG]
Alienware Wants To Make Streaming Easier and Homebased
Mondo’s Licensed Tiki Mugs Are Buy One, Get One Free!
The tiki scene may not be a big thing where you live. But, here in Florida, it is pretty common. There’s an entire construction industry that specializes in turning your back patio into a tiki hot spot. Sadly, none of these companies offer to turn your home into Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.
Let us say you do a tiki remodel of your place. You’ve got everything looking tropical and pleasant, but you have no drinkware! What do you do? You cannot have a tiki room without tiki mugs! Luckily Mondo has come to the rescue with a month-long sale of their licensed tiki mugs.
If you’ve got a favorite character from pop culture, odds are Mondo has a mug with its likeness on it. Check out the full selection here. Unfortunately, their buy-one-get-one deal ends on 1/30/2022.
- Jaws
- The Little Mermaid
- Universal Monsters
- Halloween
- Halloween III: The Season of the Witch
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- IT
- Aladdin
- Spongebob Squarepants
- Ducktales (Woo ooo)
- Mickey Mouse
- Thanos
- Doctor Doom
- ALIENS
- Krampus
- Jurassic Park
- Transformers
- Predator
- Ghostbusters
- Planet of the Apes
- Iron Giant
- Cthulhu
- Masters of the Universe
- Skeletor
- Fin Fang Foom
- Godzilla
- King Kong
- Venom
- MODOK
Not only is there a character(s) from those bits of pop culture above, but many of them come in three or four varieties. Ever wanted a chrome head of Venom to drink out of? They got it! The tiki mugs range in prices from $30 to $100. There’s plenty to choose from.
So, are you ready to let everyone know that you’re past 40 and prepared to settle into a life of socks with sandals? Then buy out the entire stock, bro!
[Source: Mondo]
Korean Zombie TV Show ‘All of Us Are Dead’ Is Coming To Netflix
Cartoonist and author Joo Dong-geun’s popular young adult zombie Webtoon ‘All of Us Are Dead’ is getting a television adaption from South Korean production company JTBC Studios with a collaborative effort from Netflix. It will make its way onto the streaming service on January 28, 2022.
It is a story of horror and survival as high school students find themselves in the middle of a zombie outbreak. Chun Sung-il serves as the writer while Lee JQ and Kim Nam-su are co-directing it.
The cast includes Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, Yoo In-soo, Lee You-Mi, and Lim Jae-hyeok.
Netflix said in a press release, “All of Us Are Dead is based on a popular webtoon by creator Joo Dong-geun, touted as a ‘Korean-style zombie graphic novel’ with its wild imagination, gripping storyline, and meticulous details. Ever since the news was out that Netflix was adapting it into a series, the project has become highly anticipated.”
You can watch the announcement teaser below:
Netflix describes the synopsis as follows,
“The date announcement trailer gives a striking glimpse of the intense battle between students-turned-zombies and survivors desperate to escape. It opens with a student in the school lab, inviting the audience to find out more about the virus that creates total chaos. The horrific visuals of students infected by the mysterious zombie virus and stunning action set in different parts of the school are also a must-watch. Trapped in a virus-ridden school with no cellphones, no food, and nobody to take care of them, the students reach for desk lamps, bookshelves, and bows to defend themselves from zombies In a desperate fight for survival. All of Us Are Dead will open up a completely new chapter in the history of zombies with a story of daring teenagers who manage to find love and friendship even amidst a zombie apocalypse.”
The show originally went into production in August 2020 but was delayed due to the global pandemic.
Marvel Comics Announces ‘Miracleman’ Omnibus
Originally called Marvelman and later Captain Miracle, the comic book character who became known as Miracleman was created by Mick Anglo in 1954. The character would exchange hands from being an indie character to Quality Communications, and Eclipse Comics before making its way to Marvel Entertainment.
Marvel recently announced that they are doing an omnibus graphic novel to collect issues released during their ownership of Miracleman.
“KIMOTA! In honor of the 40th anniversary of Miracleman’s groundbreaking reinvention, Marvel is proud to announce the brand-new MIRACLEMAN OMNIBUS,” Marvel Universe explained.
“This extraordinary collection will house the influential work on the character from all of its legendary creators such as Alan Davis, Garry Leach, John Totleben, and more. Fans and comic book history aficionados will finally get a chance to uncover Miracleman’s origins, his incredible feats and the everyday struggles of his alter-ego, freelance reporter Michael Moran, who must reconcile his life as the lesser half of a god in glorious Omnibus format. Considered one of the medium’s greatest masterpieces, Miracleman’s adventures launched a new wave of comic book storytelling and its extraordinary impact on the Super Hero genre is still felt to this day,” they continued.
You can check out the cover:
40th anniversary 'Miracleman Omnibus' from Marvel Comics coming in September 2022. pic.twitter.com/dM75zCDGcs
— Jukt Micronics (@JuktMicronicsX) January 3, 2022
Marvel describes the plot as follows, “Middle-aged reporter Michael Moran always knew he was meant for something more. When an unexpected series of events leads him to reclaim his destiny, Miracleman is reborn. But Miracleman’s return threatens unravel Moran’s life. Their connections to Dr. Emil Gargunza and Project Zarathustra bring with them disturbing revelations and trigger the return of a childhood friend who, beneath his sinister smile, has become something terrifying. Pushing the concept of the Super Hero to its logical conclusion, MIRACLEMAN is nothing short of a revelation.”
Miracleman has had several iconic names attached to its comic book. Alan Moore wrote the character for Quality’s ‘Warrior’ anthology series in the early eighties. Neil Gaiman wrote an updated story arc in 1988. Writer Grant Morrison and artist Joe Quesada wrote a “lost” story for Marvel Comics in 2014.
Diamond Select Offering New Statue of Spider-Man’s Rhino!
The massive thug in a rhino costume sounds like something that would have been maybe a one-off character in Marvel comics. However, the Rhino has remained a Spider-Man villain for 55 years. The classic look of Rhino is represented here in Diamond Select‘s Premier Collection of statues. Rhino is currently available for pre-order. He’ll run you $250.
The Rhino statue weighs 7lbs, and the overall dimensions are 15″W X 14″H X 4″D. As of this article, there are only six slots left for pre-order.
Sometimes you need to go back to the simplistic villain designs. Rather than a bunch of overdone tech or details, the original Rhino (Aleksei Sytsevich) was just a dude in a gray animal costume. Sure, the details behind the suit were a bit more intricate than that, but by looks alone, Rhino is memorable because he was so basic. He didn’t look like a rejected Decepticon from Michael Bay’s Transformers films.
Nothing can stop the Rhino! The Spider-Man foe takes center stage in the Premier Collection as an all-new statue, showing the horned villain with his head lowered, ready to charge. Standing approximately 9 inches tall, this statue features detailed sculpting and paint applications, and is limited to only 3,000 pieces; it comes packaged in a full-color box with a certificate of authenticity.
I don’t think Rhino translates well outside of the comics. We saw what Sony tried to do with him in the travesty that was The Amazing Spider-Man 2. His best representation outside of print, in my opinion, was in Insomniac’s Spider-Man game. The game maintained the lore that Sytsevich was trapped in the suit but updated the look to resemble something the film was trying to go for but failed.
What are your thoughts on the character of Rhino and his new statue? Let us know in the comments section below.
[Source: Diamond Select]
Iconic Comedian Betty White Passes Away
Legendary actress, comedian, and TV star Betty White has passed away, multiple outlets confirmed. The iconic celebrity was ninety-nine years old.
“Beloved actress, comedian and American icon Betty White has died, just weeks before a milestone birthday,” TMZ said in a report. “Betty passed away at her home just before 9:30 AM Friday.”
They continued, “A source close to Betty tells TMZ … she didn’t have any sudden illness, nor was she battling any particular ailment. We’re told she’s believed to have died from natural causes. As we told you back in 2020, Betty rarely left her home once the COVID-19 pandemic began.”
White’s agent Jeff Witjas gave a statement to Deadline giving confirmation of her passing.
“Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever,” he said. “I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved so much. I don’t think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden. She believed she would be with him again.”
Many in the entertainment industry reacted to the star’s passing including collaborators, co-stars, admirers, and friends.
“What a true LEGEND. Thank you, Betty White for shining your golden light on us. Your legacy will carry-on forever!”
What a true LEGEND. Thank you, Betty White for shining your golden light on us. Your legacy will carry-on forever! #BettyWhite
— Krystal Vayda (@krystalvayda) December 31, 2021
“Our national treasure, Betty White, has passed just before her 100th birthday. Our Sue Ann Nivens, our beloved Rose Nylund, has joined the heavens to delight the stars with her inimitable style, humor, and charm. A great loss to us all. We shall miss her dearly.”
Our national treasure, Betty White, has passed just before her 100th birthday. Our Sue Ann Nivens, our beloved Rose Nylund, has joined the heavens to delight the stars with her inimitable style, humor, and charm. A great loss to us all. We shall miss her dearly.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 31, 2021
“What an exceptional life. I’m grateful for every second I got to spend with Betty White. Sending love to her family, friends and all of us.”
What an exceptional life.
I’m grateful for every second I got to spend with Betty White.
Sending love to her family, friends and all of us.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) December 31, 2021
“I was lucky enough to meet Betty White many years ago. Very gracious and amazing lady. Rest In Peace.”
I was lucky enough to meet Betty White many years ago. Very gracious and amazing lady. Rest In Peace.
— Kevin Sorbo (@ksorbs) December 31, 2021
“The world looks different now. She was great at defying expectation. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We’ll miss you, Betty. Now you know the secret.”
The world looks different now. She was great at defying expectation. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We’ll miss you, Betty. Now you know the secret. pic.twitter.com/uevwerjobS
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 31, 2021
Betty White (January 17, 1922 – December 31, 2021) starred as Sue Ann Nivens on the CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973–1977), Rose Nylund on the NBC sitcom The Golden Girls (1985–1992), and Elka Ostrovsky on the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland (2010–2015). She was also featured in numerous films, celebrity events, game shows, and hosted Saturday Night Live in May 2010 after a successful fan campaign.
Dwayne Johnson Refuses To Say If He Is Back For ‘Fast And Furious’
It is no secret that ‘Fast & Furious’ co-stars Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson had a falling out during the filming of ‘The Fate of the Furious,’ leading to Johnson exiting the franchise for the spin-off ‘Hobbs and Shaw.’
Diesel recently made a social media plea for Johnson to return as the franchise prepares to enter its next phase, but the ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ star called the post “emotional manipulation” and downplayed any chance of returning to the film series.
“I was very surprised by Vin’s recent post,” Johnson told CNN. “This past June, when Vin and I actually connected not over social media, I told him directly – and privately – that I would not be returning to the franchise. I was firm yet cordial with my words and said that I would always be supportive of the cast and always root for the franchise to be successful, but that there was no chance I would return. I privately spoke with my partners at Universal as well, all of whom were very supportive as they understand the problem.”
“Vin’s recent public post was an example of his manipulation. I didn’t like that he brought up his children in the post, as well as Paul Walker’s death. Leave them out of it. We had spoken months ago about this and came to a clear understanding. My goal all along was to end my amazing journey with this incredible ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise with gratitude and grace. It’s unfortunate that this public dialogue has muddied the waters. Regardless, I’m confident in the ‘Fast’ universe and its ability to consistently deliver for the audience, and I truly wish my former co-stars and crew members the best of luck and success in the next chapter,” he continued.
Dwayne Johnson is set to appear in the DC Films ‘Black Adam’ and ‘DC League of Super-Pets.’
Spend Your Holiday Cash On These Not-So-Mint-In-Box ’80s G.I. Joe Toys!
For years I ran a collectibles store on eBay. We sold props, replicas, comics, and the bread and butter were always toys. When the G.I. Joe 3.75″ toy line had a resurgence around 2003, our entire stock of ’80s Hasbro A Real American Hero vehicles got bought out at lightning speed. The G.I. Joe brand has seen a few brief spikes in the following years but never truly regained the glory it possessed nearly forty years prior.
After our collection was sold, we stopped paying attention to the brand and focused on the thriving Star Wars and, to my surprise, Playmates Simpsons toylines. So today, I was checking out the collectors’ scene to see what was fetching high prices, and the Joes did not disappoint.
If you were a kid of the ’80s, you’ll probably remember boxes of Joe and Cobra vehicles not always being in the best condition when you’d pick them up at the toy store. Maybe it was because they were “army toys” or stores didn’t appreciate the budding collectors market, but finding a perfect box of the Dragonfly or Snow Cat was like tracking down a unicorn.
The only way you could almost guarantee getting something that had not been tossed around in the back room was to order through the trusty Sears and J.C. Penney Christmas catalogs. The preservation efforts of collectors or kids with foresight have led to a healthy amount of classic G.I. Joe toys returning to the market, and the Big Bad Toy Store has quite a few for you to blow your holiday money on.
I’ve picked out a few whose prices stunned me. Let us know your thoughts on these prices in the comments section below.
Now, if the Night Striker WHALE is going for $2,499, what would the original olive drab version go for?!
This AFA Grade 85 Cobra C.L.A.W. is going for $799. Cobra’s one-man jetpack isn’t very big. The front wheels never stayed on correctly. Is nearly a grand worth it?
Riot Games To Pay $100m To Settle Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
League of Legends creator Riot Games has been on a rocky road to redemption. Since 2018 when Kotaku published a report detailing rampant sexism within the company. The company, which was founded in 2006, has decided to settle its discrimination lawsuit with 2,365 women to the tune of $80,000,000.
In addition to the current and former employee payouts, Riot Games has to set aside large chunks of change for the following according to PCMAG:
- $4m for Private Attorney General Act penalties.
- $18m reserve fund to pay for diversity, inclusion, and equity programs and provide pay adjustments.
Jurist reported on the exact amount the company would need to set aside for future corrective measures:
- A $6m cash reserve to afford third-party monitoring of nearly even level Riot Games business and hiring practices.
Riot Games was accused of harboring a “bro culture” where women’s ideas and input were secondary to their male counterparts. Allegedly, the unfair treatment spanned from promotions to pay to even how ideas were readily accepted if exposed by men, even if the same ideas were dismissed when coming from a woman just a short time prior. However, Kotaku also states that “some top female employees [told] Kotaku they had not personally experienced gender discrimination at Riot.” The initial investigation interviewed 28 former/current employees.
I doubt this is a lot of money to Riot Games, considering the popularity of League of Legends in eSports. However, suppose these reports from Kotaku and Yahoo! News are accurate. In that case, this could have been avoided if the company had made changes years ago rather than downplaying the severity of the accusations.
To put it bluntly, the suitable heads didn’t roll, and a massive lawsuit was inevitable. Understandably, some things on a day-to-day level may slip by a CEO or COO, but if sexism is the company’s most noticeable culture by employees, then there’s no excuse to feign ignorance. That is unless you’re a duplicitous snake, Nicolas Laurent.
Oddly, the settlement only addresses the concerns of the female employees, while COO Scott Gelb’s fondling of male employees’ genitals does not appear to be rectified. Perhaps this is part of another lawsuit or a different settlement yet publicized? Gelb was suspended for two months without pay in 2018, according to the company’s CEO Nicolo Laurent via PCMAG.
Nicolas Laurent is not without his issues. Yahoo! News reported earlier this year that his executive assistant was accusing the CEO of Riot Games, Sharon O’Donnell, of sexual harassment and retaliation for rejecting alleged intimate advances. Unfortunately, it may be a while before we know anything new about this case.
[Source: PCMAG]
[Source: PCMAG]
[Source: Jurist]
[Source: Yahoo! News]
[Source: Kotaku, Kotaku]
Lord of the Rings Actor Sean Astin Recalls Playing Sam
‘Rudy’ actor Sean Astin received audience and critical acclaim among moviegoers, fantasy fiction readers, and fans of the work of J.R.R. Tolkien for his portrayal of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ character Samwise Gamgee, friend to protagonist Frodo, played by Elijah Wood.
For the anniversary of the first film’s release, Astin spoke with Collider about the role and why he still enjoys discussing it with fans.
“I didn’t even know what Lord of the Rings was when my agent called me,” he admitted. “Would’ve been late spring of ’99. She’s like, ‘It’s the Lord of the Rings trilogy.’ I’m like, ‘What’s that?’ She goes, ‘The Hobbit. It’s The Hobbit.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ So that’s bad. But I went to the bookstore. And I went in there, [because] she said I was going to audition for Sam. So from the second I heard of the existence of these things, I heard the name Lord of the Rings and the character of Sam. So everything I’ve experienced from Lord of the Rings has been from Sam’s point of view.”
He continued, “So I feel like I could do a dissertation, or maybe I have, on Sam. But in terms of perspective about him, I mean, he’s so reliable. He’s so reliable in his ethics, in his choices, the choices of Master Samwise, but just as a literary character, he’s such a reliable literary character.”
“It’s reliable that he’s a devoted friend and never is compromised. So the story takes you in all these different places and all these different conflicts and all these … But the one thing that you can go back to and can have faith in is that at least there’s Sam by your side all the time. It’s just one thread of many to focus on. So I don’t think my perspective on that has changed,” he added.
Sean Astin would go on to win six awards for his portrayal of Sam in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, including Best Supporting Actor at the Saturn Awards for ‘Return of the King.’
