Remember when Ubisoft was just on top of it? Those early days of ‘Ghost Recon,’ ‘Splinter Cell,’ and the first couple ‘Assassin’s Creed’ titles? Awesome experience after awesome experience. Then something went wrong. Everything became formulaic and way too much DLC.
For a while, I shied away from Ubisoft titles. Then something caught my eye from Ubisoft Quebec. Something that looked kinda like ‘Breath of the Wild’ but with a Greek mythos theme. This videogame had a soft art style. It even had a little bit of that ’90s ‘ttude.
‘Immortals Fenyx Rising’ was the title. The story of a man going from zero to hero when all of the gods and champions of Olympus were missing. It borrowed heavily from the previously mentioned ‘Zelda’ title. Many similar mechanics, but without some of the annoyances found in Nintendo’s original. Having the game also appearing on the Nintendo Switch made it even more appealing. Especially if you’re always on the road like I am.
Of course, the first thing that came to mind was that this game would somehow be deemed a failure. I was wrong, judging by this article at Nintendo Life. On the contrary, the associate director of ‘Fenyx’ was very positive about the Switch’s performance.
Julien Galloudec praised the final product saying, “And for the Switch, it has been a challenge definitely. The key was to look at the game in different pieces and see, depending on the context, what we can optimize, what we can change, what can, for example, be less dynamic without touching the experience. That was a big focus – making sure that no matter the platform, the experience is the same but tailored and tweaked to the platform’s specificities and make sure that the sense of the experience is the same. So that has been quite a challenge, but we are delighted with the results on all platforms, managing to get the best out of it.”
Ports of popular titles on the Switch have been hit or miss. ‘Doom 2016’ may not have been a graphical powerhouse, but it delivered fast-paced action on a mobile platform. On the other hand, ‘Apex Legends’ is not something you want to play on Nintendo’s handheld.
Have you played ‘Fenyx Rising’? What are your thoughts on the game? Is it the right amount of Zelda, or too much?
[Source: Nintendo Life]
‘Immortals Fenyx Rising’ Team Pleased With Nintendo Switch Version
‘Jessica Jones’ Actress Carrie-Anne Moss Opens Up About Aging In Hollywood
‘The Matrix 4’ and ‘Jessica Jones’ star Carrie-Anne Moss discussed aging in Hollywood with her friend Justine Bateman during a conversation about Bateman’s upcoming nonfiction book ‘Face: One Square Foot of Skin.’
“I had heard that at 40 everything changed,” Moss said according to The Hollywood Reporter. “I didn’t believe in that because I don’t believe in just jumping on a thought system that I don’t really align with. But literally the day after my 40th birthday, I was reading a script that had come to me and I was talking to my manager about it. She was like, ‘Oh, no, no, no, it’s not that role [you’re reading for], it’s the grandmother. I may be exaggerating a bit, but it happened overnight. I went from being a girl to the mother to beyond the mother.”
Moss described the process as “kind of brutal” and discussed her frustration that male celebrities avoid the same path.
“You don’t feel like you’ve aged much and suddenly you’re seeing yourself onscreen,” she continued. “I would look at these French and European actresses and they just had something about them that felt so confident in their own skin. I couldn’t wait to be that. I strive for that. It’s not easy being in this business. There’s a lot of external pressure.”
“I find it psychotic that we have leapfrogged any conversations that we should be cutting up our faces,” Bateman added. “It’s become normalized. Time out, time out! This is not a fact. This is an idea that we can either pull in and make a belief or not.”
Moss is perhaps best known for her role as Trinity in ‘The Matrix’ trilogy and will reprise the role in the upcoming sequel ‘The Matrix 4.’ Previously, she portrayed Jeri Hogarth in the Netflix Marvel series ‘Jessica Jones’ and as Rebecca Pruitt in TV’s ‘Tell Me a Story.’
‘Friends: The Reunion’ Wraps Filming
‘Friends: The Reunion’ has officially wrapped filming and will be released on the HBO Max streaming service.
Several social media accounts related to the popular TV comedy announced that after a reportedly three-day shoot, the filming has come to an end.
“That’s a wrap,” their Twitter account wrote with a picture. “Could we BE anymore excited!? Friends: The Reunion is coming to (HBO Max).”
That’s a wrap! 🎬 Could we BE anymore excited!? Friends: The Reunion is coming to @hbomax. #friendsreunion pic.twitter.com/bZ7I4h6dWs
— FRIENDS (@FriendsTV) April 11, 2021
According to GeekSpin, the reunion was filmed on the show’s original studio Stage 24 in Burbank, California, despite the show taking place in New York City.
The reunion was supposed to be released with the premiere of HBO Max, but delays to the pandemic lockdowns forced the special to be delayed. All six of the main cast including Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green), Courteney Cox (Monica Geller), Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay), David Schwimmer (Ross Geller), Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani), and Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing) are set to return along with series creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman.
The get-together is not an episode, but an unscripted interview similar to ‘The Fresh Prince OF Bel-Air’ special that was released in 2020. Though Kudrow confirmed that the show had “different facets” to it, including some pre-shots done before filming took place.
TMZ reports that the original fountain from the ‘Friends’ opening theme song will also be featured in the intro for the reunion.
Shooting was delayed in part due to the fact the cast and crew wanted to avoid doing the reunion over Zoom, preferring to have in front of live studio audience like how the sitcom was originally filmed.
“We haven’t all been in the same room in front of people, Kudrow told The Hollywood Reporter in 2020. “I mean, we have privately once many years ago but that’s it. The whole point of this is to be in the same room. That hasn’t changed. And HBO Max is being phenomenally patient and understanding.”
She added, “If everyone’s tested and clean, then we don’t have to be 6 feet apart. Everyone who checks out, so to speak, can sit next to each other on the couch. Because from one end to the other might be 6 feet and one of the two chairs? I thought of that too. But the reunion of the cast and celebration of the show will definitely happen.”
With filming officially wrapped and the announcements made, it would appear that fans can expect to see it stream on HBO Max along with the complete ‘Friends’ episode catalog.
The Unaired ‘Star Wars: Detours’ Coming To Disney+?
Seth Green and Matthew Senreich struck gold with Robot Chicken all those years ago. Even today, I prefer to watch them lampoon ‘Star Wars’ rather than sitting through the sequel trilogy. Can the same be said for their unaired ‘Star Wars: Detours’ project from 2012?
By now, you’ve probably seen clips of the forgotten CGI parody floating around YouTube. Some of the Green and Senreich tropes are there. Overly confident Boba Fett and awkward Vader moments abound. Depending on your personal taste, ‘Detours’ could be considered comedy. I’m a fan of ‘Robot Chicken’, but the charm is in the stop motion. That same type of comedy just doesn’t hit when carried via CGI. Especially CGI that looks nearly two decades old.
The general public, at least Disney+ subscribers anyway, maybe finding that out soon. We Got This Covered is reporting that the “forgotten” is on the way. Apparently, on May 4th, all 39 episodes will premiere. The trailer that premiered so many years ago is below.
Making a judgment call on this show based on that trailer isn’t easy. Some of it feels quite dated, both in the humor and the animation. Stopmotion ‘Star Wars’ is often hilarious when coming from Green and his team. Here it feels like a try-hard effort. George Lucas was involved, apparently. If we’re talking Lucas with a “Prequels” mindset … God help us.
Now, there is a leaked episode out there, but I’m not gonna take the liability to link it. It’s not hard to find, though. Just type in the magic words, and you’ll be blessed with this mess. Beware, the cringe factor may be too much for some. Keep those sickbags on standby.
What are your thoughts on ‘Star Wars: Detours’? Should it be left unaired? Let us know in the comments.
Hasbro Pulse Reveals ‘Star Wars’ Black Series Wedge Antilles Helmet
Who else is thankful for Hasbro’s Black Series of ‘Star Wars’ prop replicas? I am. For years I bought and sold ‘Star Wars’ props on eBay. Man, did those prices get insane during the prequel years. Eventually, all my stock was gone, and I had nothing left for myself.
Then along comes Hasbro with this line of relatively inexpensive replicas. Sure, they may not be super screen-accurate. If you’re putting it up on the wall or on a bookshelf, who will notice? These certainly beat the ones you find at the Halloween stores every year by far.
Now that many of the main characters have had their goods appear in the Black Series, we’re going to start seeing some fan favorites hit the market. The veteran of Yavin, Hoth, and Endor finally gets some love! Yes, Wedge Antilles has made the list with a brand new helmet!
BleedingCool.com reported on the reveal from Hasbro Pulse Fan Fest. During the Star Wars panel, new merchandise was shown off. This, personally, is my favorite thing that popped up.
Those who own Luke’s helmet may notice a number of similarities. In essence, these are the same helmet. It just has different paint and “decals.” I’ve got Luke’s myself, and for the price, it’s a good deal. Buy a motorcycle helmet mount on Amazon and it makes a great bit of decor.
This version of the x-wing helmet does feature different voice lines. It’s great for those of us who miss Wedge. He was underused in both ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ and ‘Squadrons.’
STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES WEDGE ANTILLES BATTLE SIMULATION HELMET – (HASBRO/Age: Adult/Approx. Retail Price: $99.99/Available: Summer 2021). Whether piloting an X-wing or a Snowspeeder, WEDGE ANTILLES wore his iconic helmet into battle against the evil EMPIRE. Featuring highly detailed deco, movie-inspired design, interior padding, electronic lights, and sound FX, this full-scale STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES WEDGE ANTILLES BATTLE SIMULATION HELMET is a great addition to any fan’s STAR WARS collection. Three internal speakers create an immersive surround sound battle simulation experience while synchronized LED lights inside the visor simulate blaster fire from enemy vehicles. Flip the switch inside the helmet to choose between a simulation of piloting WEDGE ANTILLES’ X-wing at the Battle of YAVIN or his Snowspeeder at the Battle of HOTH, featuring communication from R2-A3. Includes helmet and instructions.
[Source: BleedingCool.com]
Exclusive Interview: DJ Slope Talks ‘Pac-Man: The Complete History’
YouTuber Daniel Ibbertson (DJ Slope) has put together part one of a multi-part series focused on a legendary video game franchise. ‘Pac-Man: The Complete History‘ takes us through the yellow puck’s unusual origins. How did the pellet muncher grow into such a hit? Was he really inspired by pizza?
From the often mistaken origin story to the oddity called ‘Baby Pac-Man,’ DJ Slope dives deep into the game’s history. Mr. Ibberson sat down with us to talk about the documentary and what we can expect from the upcoming second installment.
We talk about more than just the documentary during the interview. We discuss the research process. Dan goes into some of the tricks of the trade when it comes to video editing, as well. Check it out below!
If you’ve got an hour to spare, below you can find the first part of the documentary:
The second part of the complete history should be up next weekend. Stay tuned.
For more of DJ Slope’s documentaries, include his investigative research into the numerous scams found on Kickstarter and IndieGoGo, click here. Early access to his videos and other exclusive goods can be found on his Patreon.
New Report Exposes The Controversy Surrounding ‘The Last Of Us’ PS5 Remake
The original version of ‘The Last Of Us’ is getting a remake for Sony’s PS5 video game console, but not without controversy. A new report reveals that video game developers Visual Arts Service Group (VASG) were originally tasked to develop the project, but were demoted in favor of Naughty Dog.
Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier writes that Sony’s desire to develop video game franchises lead to some decisions that gave Naughty Dog the upper hand again.
The San Diego-based VASG was tasked with developing the game following the release of ‘The Last Of Us Part Two’ which the team had done support work. However, Sony seemed ambivalent to the remake project, refusing to give the group the proper funding. Sony Worldwide Studios exec Hermen Hulst was shown a portion of the game’s development but apparently did not like what VASG founder Michael Mumbauer showed him, again refusing to increase the budget of the game.
As a result, Sony demoted VASG to serve as support staff and gave the project to Naughty Dog, who then received more financial support for the remake. Schreier reports that this caused an exodus by several VASG employees, including Mumbauer, who had left Naughty Dog to found the group in 2007.
IGN reports that Sony Bend originally wanted to make a sequel to 2019’s ‘Days Gone,’ but that project was rejected in favor of two developments from Naughty Dog. These projects are thought to be a standalone spin-off of ‘The Last Of Us’ and a new addition to the ‘Uncharted’ franchise.
Little is known about how the remake will work with the gameplay or if additional features will be included. ‘The Last Of Us’ is one of Sony’s most popular video game franchises with the sequel being award-winning and critically acclaimed, though many fans protested the graphic death of Joel, the first game’s protagonist.
‘The Last Of Us’ was previously remastered for a PS4 release.
Paul Dano Cast As Steven Spielberg’s Father In Upcoming Biopic Based On The Director’s Life
The award-winning ‘There Will Be Blood’ actor Paul Dano has been tapped to play ‘Jaws’ filmmaker Steven Spielberg’s father in an upcoming biopic loosely based on the Oscar-winning director’s childhood.
According to Deadline, the character will be based on Spielberg’s dad, but will have a “separate and original voice.” Dano joins a cast featuring ‘Oz the Great and Powerful ‘ actress Michelle Williams as the ‘Jurassic Park’ director’s mother and ‘The Interview’ lead Seth Rogan as a “favorite uncle.”
The biopic is currently untitled and will be the first time the ‘The Lost World’ director has shared screenwriting duties since ‘A.I.’ He partners with frequent collaborator Tony Kushner, who worked on the scripts for other Spielberg projects ‘Lincoln’ and ‘Munich.’ The Amblin project is produced by Spielberg, Kushner, and Kristie Macosko Krieger.
There is not much else known about the project. Amblin has been tight-lipped on giving details about the feature. Spielberg has occasionally referenced his childhood in Arizona, citing it as an inspiration for many of the characters he has developed.
Spielberg’s personal story will follow his remake of ‘West Side Story,’ which was delayed due to the pandemic. Kushner wrote the screenplay for the romantic musical.
Dano is also featured in the upcoming Matt Reeves’ DC Comics project ‘The Batman,’ where he will play the antagonist known as The Riddler. He previously portrayed the younger version of the Beach Boys co-founder and leader Brian Wilson in the biopic ‘Love & Mercy.’
Michelle Williams has also portrayed real-life personalities, playing actress Marilyn Monroe in ‘My Week with Marilyn’ and J. Paul Getty’s former daughter-in-law Gail Harris in ‘All The Money In The World.’
Rogan played Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak in the film ‘Steve Jobs’ as well as a script advisor in ‘The Disaster Artist,’ the James Franco film based on the life of filmmaker Tommy Wiseau.
ANIME NEWS: Harmony Gold and Big West Reach Agreement to Distribute MACROSS Sequels and Films
Big news was announced today for fans of both Robotech and the anime Macross, the source material for the earliest part of the Robotech Saga.
Harmony Gold has penned an agreement with Big West (co-producer of the original Macross series) that will open the way for both parties to work together on the future of both the Macross and Robotech franchises.
For years, Harmony Gold has been derided by a vocal portion of the anime fan community for tying up the rights to Macross here in the States, and now it would seem like the runway is cleared for a closer working relationship between the two parties.
In 2019, it was announced that Harmony Gold would extend its agreement with Tatsunoko Productions, shocking many anime pundits who assumed that as of 2021, the Robotech brand would be no more.
Here’s the official press release, courtesy of Harmony Gold PR…
BIG WEST CO. LTD., STUDIO NUE, INC. AND HARMONY GOLD U.S.A. ANNOUNCE EXPANSIVE AGREEMENT FOR THE FUTURE OF ROBOTECH AND MACROSS WORLDWIDE!
April 9, 2021 – Tokyo, Japan & Los Angeles, California – Landmark agreement between the anime companies will allow immediate international distribution of most Macross television sequels and films, while affirming Harmony Gold’s rights to the Robotech franchise. Both companies will cooperate on the international distribution of future Macross and Robotech projects post 2021.
Tokyo based BIGWEST Co. LTD. and Los Angeles based Harmony Gold U.S.A. announced an agreement regarding the worldwide rights for the legendary Macross and Robotech franchises. This expansive agreement signed by both companies on March 1, 2021, ends two decades of disagreements and will allow Big West and Harmony Gold to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential of both the Macross and Robotech franchises worldwide.
The landmark agreement immediately permits worldwide distribution of most of the Macross films and television sequels worldwide, and also confirms that Big West will not oppose the Japanese release of an anticipated upcoming live-action Robotech film. The agreement also recognizes Harmony Gold’s longstanding exclusive license with Tatsunoko for the use of the 41 Macross characters and mecha in the Robotech television series and related merchandise throughout the world excluding Japan.
Moving forward, both parties will cooperate on distribution regarding future Macross and Robotech projects for the benefit of both franchises.
Big West Representative Director, Kaya Onishi added, “Stories that feature Valkyries, a transformable realistic mecha, in action among the galaxies while diva’s sing in the background, as well as love triangles involving the pilots and singers. That was and continues to be the concept behind the Macross series, and I am happy that I can now help bring Macross to people all over the world on the 40th anniversary of the series. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Harmony Gold Chairman, Frank Agrama for his courageous decision in this matter.”
Harmony Gold USA Chairman, Frank Agrama stated, “This is an incomparably historic moment for both Harmony Gold and Big West and the anime industry overall. This is also an exciting moment for fans of Robotech and Macross worldwide. I thank my friend, Big West Representative Director, Kaya Onishi for her hard work to help us reach this long-desired resolution that protects both of our franchises while building a better tomorrow for both our companies.”
We’ll have to wait and see what exactly this deal will materialize like for both Robotech and Macross fans, but it seems like it could be a good sign for the Macross purists?
So what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!
[Source: Harmony Gold PR]Chris Pratt Announces Release Date For New Film ‘The Tomorrow War’
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ actor Chris Pratt announced on social media that his new film has an official release date and that it will appear on a streaming service.
“(The Tomorrow War) officially being released on Amazon, July 2nd,” Pratt wrote on Instagram. “I’m so proud of this film!! My baby is all grown up!! This was the first feature film I ever executive produced. And honestly, it’s just so fantastic. I honestly can’t believe how good it is (humbly-we crushed it).”
He continued, “It’s emotional, action packed, funny, scary, moves well and leaves you floored! It’s just really, really good! It’s testing through the roof!!! For real. You can’t fake that stuff. Every day people watched this movie and gave it an A+!! This movie honestly has it all. Don’t take my word for it. See for yourself July 2nd. Thanks Amazon for being an amazing partner. Gonna blow you away with this one!!!”
Deadline reports that director Chris McKay shared Pratt’s enthusiasm for the sci-fi thriller.
“I’m so proud of this incredible cast and crew who worked under challenging circumstances to create a unique, original sci-fi action movie… something that’s increasingly rare,” the ‘Dolittle’ director said. “Watching this team of actors and artisans effortlessly blend action, horror, comedy, and drama was a dream come true for me … and I hope will thrill audiences this summer,”
‘The Tomorrow War’ is billed as a science fiction action film with the premise, “The fate of a futuristic war rests upon one man’s abilities to confront the ghosts of his past. Humanity is losing to an alien invasion, so to fight back, scientists develop a way to draft soldiers from the past to fight the war.”
Besides the ‘Jurassic World’ star, it also features Yvonne Strahovski, Betty Gilpin, Keith Powers, Mike Mitchell, Sam Richardson, and J. K. Simmons.
