Sony Posts $312 Million Loss, PlayStation Stagnant

On the heels of Nintendo's $220 million quarterly loss, Sony released its consolidated financial results for its first fiscal quarter of the year, which ran from April 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012. Here is another version of the report.

The major takeaway is that the company as a whole lost another $312 million to add on top of its epic stock fall, debt downgrade, and a gigantic quarterly loss last year. It’s worth noting that a loss of $312 million is significantly lower than the $2.03 billion loss from Q3 of 2011, indicating that the company is on the upswing even if it’s still in the red.

The company notes that “the operating environment surrounding Sony in the first quarter continued to be difficult with the economy slowing in many areas of the world and the trend toward appreciation of the yen taking hold.” As Sony is also under a massive corporate restructure to streamline the company’s operations towards profitability, the company incurred “11.3 billion yen of restructuring charges included in the operating results,” inflating the loss. 11.3 billion yen is roughly equivalent to $14.5 million.
“Uncertain foreign exchange rates and trends in the global economy” have caused Sony to “downwardly [revise]” its fiscal year forecast moving forward.

Sony is a gigantic corporation, and the PlayStation brand is merely a segment of it (it’s the third biggest segment of the business by sales and operating revenue). But the PlayStation brand itself is also experiencing further financial difficulties. Sony notes that “Primarily due to the lowering of the annual unit sales forecast for portable hardware, sales are expected to be significantly lower than the May forecast… Sales are expected to be essentially flat and operating income is expected to decrease significantly year-on-year.”

Jumping further into the numbers, one finds a year-over-year sales fall. “Sales decreased 14.5% year-on-year (a 10% decrease on a constant currency basis) to 118.0 billion yen ($1.493 billion). This decrease was primarily due to lower sales of hardware and software of the PSP (PlayStation Portable) and PlayStation 3, partially offset by the contribution of the PlayStation Vita introduced from December 2011.”

Sony projects sales of PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 to amount to 16 million units globally during the entirety of its fiscal year. However, it has downgraded earlier estimates of 16 million PSPs and PlayStation Vitas sold during the fiscal year to 12 million. Its total software sales of 196.7 million units in 2011’s fiscal year is expected to be replicated in fiscal year 2012.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Comic Book Reviews for 8/1/12

This week in comics: Avengers vs. X-Men gets its groove back, the Swamp Thing/Animal Man crossover begins, iZombie comes to a close at Vertigo, Deadpool kills the whole Marvel Universe, Marvel goes all "Before X-Men" with The First X-Men mini-series, and Hawkeye gets a brand new solo series.

Action Comics #12 - Written by Grant Morrison | Art by Various

"Grant Morrison recently confirmed that he won't be continuing his Action Comics run beyond his initial 16-issue plan. That news casts a large shadow over issue #12. Like the rest of this story arc, there are both successes and missteps to be found, but the prevailing question now becomes 'How can Morrison properly wrap up such a wide-reaching story in a mere four issues?'" -Jesse

Final Score: 7.0

Animal Man #12 - Written by Jeff Lemire & Scott Snyder | Art by Steve Pugh

"With any episodic story there inevitably comes the 'recap' installment where the characters spend a majority of the issue reflecting on the past and little else. Luckily, Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder sidestep the painful parts of this necessary evil and add in just enough new content to set up for the long-brewing Rotworld storyline." -Joshua

Final Score: 7.5

Batwing #12 - Written by Judd Winick | Art by Marcus To

"Hit the panic button, folks, because Batwing is officially in trouble. I get the idea. Really, I do. Justice League International could benefit from tapping into other books’ readerships. David Zavimbe is from Africa. Stick the JLI into Batwing, and both titles do better, right? Not really." -Poet

Final Score: 5.5

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #2 - Written by J. Michael Straczynski | Art by Andy & Joe Kubert

"Aside from Silk Spectre, Nite Owl might be the Watchmen character best suited for an extended origin treatment. After all, Nite Owl is essentially equal parts Blue Beetle and Batman held together by a glue of sexual dysfunction. Unfortunately, issue #1 did too little to realize that potential, as it powered through Dan Dreiberg's early years and all the way up to his early team-ups with Rorschach. Where is there left for the series to go from there?" -Jesse

Final Score: 6.5

Detective Comics #12 - Written by Tony Daniel | Art by Tony Daniel

"Way to prove me wrong, Mr. Daniel. In my review for Detective Comics #11, I expressed my satisfaction with the depth given to Mr. Toxic. I was hopeful for a closer look at the emotions driving Mr. Toxic’s desperate quest in issue #12. I was expecting an open-ended portrait of a conflicted new villain. I was wrong." -Poet

Final Score: 4.5

Dial H #4 - Written by China Mievelle | Art by Mateus Santolouco

"One of the goals of the New 52 relaunch was to offer more bold and unique series outside of the usual superhero crowd. For whatever faults it might have, Dial H is never guilty of being familiar or formulaic. If anything, its weirdness has been a hurdle to overcome. Luckily, China Mieville's opening arc has progressed to the point where it's easier to see past the surreal nature of the writing and appreciate the characters." -Jesse

Final Score: 7.5

Earth 2 #4 - Written by James Robinson | Art by Nicola Scott & Eduardo Pansica

"The most alluring feature of Earth 2 is how it continues to build its unique world and introduce old characters in new ways. I never thought the Atom would win me over, but here I am rather impressed with his impactful debut. While there are a few other good moments in this issue, a lack of elegance in the transitions and dialog stop this from being the standout title it could be." -Joshua

Final Score: 7.0

G.I. Combat #4 - Written by Various | Art by Various

"For better or worse, G.I. Combat #4 offers little change over the previous issues. The series is still you best outlet for man vs. dinosaur mayhem, and its revamped take on Unknown Soldier is becoming comfortably decent, if not spectacular. As far as whether this book has more long-term potential than Men of War, that still remains to be seen." -Jesse

Final Score: 6.0

iZombie #28 - Written by Chris Roberson | Art by Mike Allred

"After just over two years, it’s time to say goodbye to Gwen, Spot, and the rest of the inhabitants of Eugene, Oregon. This issue marks the conclusion to iZombie, and rather surprisingly, Chris Roberson and Mike Allred manage to wrap up the many plot threads and deliver a satisfying, if bittersweet, end. Though the arc has felt somewhat truncated over the course of the last few issues, this installment takes its time to deliver the necessary send-off to the many characters we’ve come to love over the course of 28 issues." -Joey

Final Score: 8.0

Red Lanterns #12 - Written by Peter Milligan | Art by Miguel Sepulveda

"This issue of Red Lanterns looks amazing thanks to Miguel Sepulveda’s incredible artwork along with Rain Beredo and Santi Arcas’s superb coloring, but Peter Milligan’s script is all over the place. He has a compelling story that has the characters in interesting situations -- Atrocitus faces his vengeful first Red Lantern and Bleez is tempted to become a Star Sapphire -- but his overdone dialog makes it an ungraceful affair. If anything, Milligan provides several large plot twists that bring the first year of Red Lantern stories to a mostly solid conclusion." -Joshua

Final Score: 6.0

Stormwatch #12 - Written by Peter Milligan | Art by Will Conrad & Julio Ferreira

"When the New 52 revamp of Stormwatch was revealed, many fans questioned the purpose of including Martian Manhunter. Was this series anything more than a consolation prize for J'onn losing his Justice League founder status? Flash forward a year, and now the thought of J'onn leaving this quirky team is a depressing one. Issue #12 serves as a proper sendoff for the hero even as the book looks forward to the future." -Jesse

Final Score: 7.0

Swamp Thing #12 - Written by Scott Snyder & Jeff Lemire | Art by Marco Rudy

"Forget Avengers vs. X-Men and forget Trinity War. The only crossover I’ve genuinely been looking forward to (post-Omega Effect, that is) is Rotworld. Animal Man #12 kicked off the prologue chapter that continues here in Swamp Thing #12, and the two issues rely on one another pretty heavily. If you’ve been reading both books, I would say Animal Man #12 is less important to the Rotworld story so far, though it does depict the first meeting of Buddy Baker and Alec Holland. Swampy #12, however, holds the fun stuff as we get to see just what kind of desperate scenario these two characters have gotten themselves into." -Joey

Final Score: 8.0



Source : feeds.ign.com

G.I. Combat #4 Review

For better or worse, G.I. Combat #4 offers little change over the previous issues. The series is still you best outlet for man vs. dinosaur mayhem, and its revamped take on Unknown Soldier is becoming comfortably decent, if not spectacular. As far as whether this book has more long-term potential than Men of War, that still remains to be seen.

J.T. Krul's take on The War That Time Forgot is still a fun read, though now a bit depressing now that we're down to one surviving lead. Krul amps up the tragedy by focusing more on flashback material than in previous issues. That's not to say there aren't plenty of panels feature soldiers shooting, stabbing, and wrestling dinosaurs. Krul knows what his audience wants. The scale is even bigger this month, as Krul throws some oversized aquatic creatures into the mix.

The problem is that the art isn't always up to the task of rendering this bloody carnage. Ariel Olivetti's skill with dinosaurs needs no reproach. What doesn't work is his use of digitized, photo-realistic backgrounds. These backgrounds blend terribly with the painted, stylized characters. The aquatic scenes are even worse in terms of this eerie juxtaposition. At some point, no background details at all might be preferable.

Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray continue their look at the new Unknown Soldier. This month's installment shows him in action as he downloads a terrorist's memories and works to infiltrate a gathering. Much like the Sgt. Rock story in Men of War, this segment successfully merges real world conflicts with the larger-than-life qualities of the DCU. New hints as to the character's true origins help spice things up a bit as well. Dan Panosian's art is functional, though a bit lacking in finer details in some panels.

This has been and still is a perfectly enjoyable book, but both segments need a bit of a push forward at this point, particularly The War That Time Forgot.

Source : feeds.ign.com

This Week on the PSN (07.31.12)

Every Tuesday, Sony drops a bunch of new stuff onto the PlayStation Network. Those with a PlayStation 3, Vita or PSP can download these goodies, which include PSN games, movies, themes and more. While the Official PlayStation Blog outlines these updates in full each week, we thought we'd help truncate the good news into something more digestible.

There are only two games going on the Store this week, one retail-to-digital title and another all-new PSN game.

• Ridge Racer Unbounded ($44.99)
• The Expendables 2 ($14.99)

Vita Games

Unfortunately, there aren’t any new Vita games this week.

PSP Games

But there is a new PSP game!

• Growlanser IV: Wayfarer of Time ($29.99)

PlayStation Minis

There aren’t any new Minis.

PlayStation Plus

This is a pretty weak week for PlayStation Plus, though there are some discounts worth noting.

• Mad Riders (PSN, Discount)
• Sound Shapes (PSN, Pre-Order Discount)
• The Expendables 2 (PSN, Discount)

PSone Classics

There are no PSone Classics this week.

PS2 Classics

There is, however, a new PS2 Classic. Keep in mind that Grand Theft Auto III was supposed to come out this week, but was delayed at the last minute.

• War of the Monsters ($9.99)

DLC

As always, let’s examine this week’s new DLC offerings.
First, for PS3 and PSN…

• Bellator MMA Onslaught – Scouting Report ($0.99)
• LittleBigPlanet 2 – Various DLC ($1.99-$5.99)
• Max Payne 3 – Special Edition Pack ($1.99)
• Record of Agarest War 2 – Various DLC (Free-$4.49)
• Risen 2: Dark Waters – Various DLC ($2.99-$9.99)
• Rock Band 3 – Various Tracks ($0.99-$5.49)
• Rock Band Network – Various Tracks ($0.99-$1.99)
• Spec Ops: The Line – FUBAR Pack ($3.99)
• Street Fighter X Tekken – Various DLC (Free-$19.99)
• The Expendables 2 – Various DLC ($0.99-$2.99)

And for Vita...

• Escape Plan – Underground Pack ($1.99)

There’s no new DLC for PSP.

Demos

There’s are a bunch of new demos.

• Pro Evolution Soccer 2013
• The Expendables 2
• Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Discounts

And finally, how about a lone new discount?

• Cuboid (PSN)

Source : feeds.ign.com

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season One Episode Reviews

We've already taken a look at Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season One on Blu-ray (review here). In further anticipation of this awesome release, we decided to break the season down, episode-by-episode, with mini-reviews of all 25 Season One episodes.

Trek fans usually regard Season One to be the show's weakest. But, truth be told, there are some real gems here. And a great many episodes help not only establish the characters and further the mythology of the franchise, but the tone of the entire series.

There are some duds, to be sure, but Season One is better than you remember. If your memory is foggy, we've got reviews of every episode here to refresh you.

Note: The following episodes are available on Blu-ray (restored and remastered) in HD. Original standard definition broadcast versions are available on DVD, Netflix (in the U.S.) and Amazon Instant Video (in the U.S.).

1) Encounter at Farpoint

The new crew of the Enterprise meet up for the first time and immediately encounter a strange alien force on an otherwise routine mission. The crew also finds themselves face-to-face with Q, one of TNG's most popular pseudo-foes. Great start to a terrific series, Farpoint is visually alluring and moody, setting the mature, non-campy tone of the rest of the series.

Rating: 8.5/10

2) The Naked Now

The crew of the Enterprise gets drunk. Not nearly as bad as you remember, especially if you don't watch it as the second episode it was (might I suggest watching it toward the end of the season, ahead of Skin of Evil). The cast is amusing and it plays as a nice sequel to the classic TOS episode, The Naked Time.

Rating: 7/10

3) Code of Honor

Tasha Yar is kidnapped and forced to marry a member of a tribal alien culture, but must fight to the death beforehand. A solid episode that focuses on the female heroes of the show. Makes you wish Yar (Denise Crosby) was around for all seven seasons.

Rating: 7/10

4) The Last Outpost

The Enterprise officially meets the Ferengi, an odd, kinda racist alien race of traders, but the two discover they're not alone on their first encounter. A muddled, but mostly decent intro to these bizarre aliens, with more intrigue than just the introduction.

Rating: 6.5/10

5) Where No One Has Gone Before

The Enterprise accidentally travels to the edge of space and Wesley Crusher has his first meeting with The Traveler. Great effects and a knockout story really make this episode work, especially in HD.

Rating: 9/10

6) Lonely Among Us

Yet another mysterious unseen entity tries to take control of the Enterprise and her crew. It's basically the same episode as Farpoint, with a few minor, mostly dull, twists.

Rating: 5.5/10

7) Justice 

The Enterprise beams down to a planet of nymphs. Starts out quite erotic and fun, but unravels a bit when the Prime Directive side of the narrative kicks in. Regardless, this episode is an interesting contrast to how TOS episodes like this would typically function.

Rating: 7/10

8) Battle

Picard is forced to relive an old mysterious battle that may be connected to the Ferengi. A second, and slightly better, introduction to the Ferengi. The episode also gives us an interesting backstory for Picard, including the history of The Picard Maneuver.

Rating: 8.5/10

9) Hide and Q

Q returns and once again throws the crew of the Enterprise into a fiendish game, giving Riker the power of Q. This episode delightfully displays Q's sense of playful menace, even if his second appearance comes a bit too soon after Farpoint.

Rating: 8/10

10) Haven

Troi's mother (played by Gene Roddenberry's wife, the late Majel Barret) drops by, unfortunately, and arranges her daughter to be married. Meanwhile, a nearby ship, a sort of floating leper colony, threatens to ruin the arrangement. Slow, illogical, silly and contrived beyond reason.

Rating: 4/10

11) The Big Goodbye

The first of many holodeck-centric episodes. This one takes you to the 1940s, a regular stomping ground for TOS as well as holodeck episodes, and has the holodeck malfunctioning (like always). While the vintage style can be fun, this episode largely serves fans of TOS.

Rating: 6.5/10

12) Datalore 

Data discovers he has a twin brother named Lore. Sadly, it turns out his better-half is more than a little devious. A great character mythology episode that feels like classic TNG. Plus Picard screams "Shut up, Wesley." A great line that personifies Season One's "Grumpy Picard" meme!

Rating: 9/10

13) Angel One

The Enterprise travels to a planet ruled by women, a plot borrowed from a He-Man episode. Meanwhile, the crew who remains aboard falls ill due to a mysterious sickness. Clumsy and just goofy and overly melodramatic. Most hilarious scene: the plot twist reveal. The soap opera music, soft focus and dramatic zoom-in are the stuff of classic cheese.

Rating: 5/10

14) 11001001

A team of aliens try to speed up the ship's computer. Half of the episode is pretty awesome, with Data evacuating the Enterprise, but the other half is bogged down by the dry holodeck scenes. It is pretty funny watching Riker macking on a girl, for a second week in a row. He's a regular stud.

Rating: 7/10

15) Too Short a Season 

An old, dying Admiral beams to the Enterprise and starts getting inexplicably younger. The story is terrible, but makeup effects on Admiral Mark Jameson are pretty damn good for the time. Sadly, Clayton Rohner's performance is just embarrassingly awful, dragging absolutely everything down. It's like he's poorly imitating an over-the-top performance. Not good.

Rating: 4/10

16) When the Bough Breaks

The children of the Enterprise are abducted by a mysterious alien culture incapable of having children. Think: Children of Men meets soap opera. Sloppy and boring. Wil Wheaton is pretty good, though.

Rating: 5.5/10

17) Home Soil

"You ugly bag of mostly water!" The crew of the Enterprise land on a terraforming planet and discover another mysterious non-traditional alien. A bit of a retread at times, but a decent return to form after a string of inconsistent episodes.

Rating: 7/10

18) Coming of Age

Picard is investigated and Wesley Crusher is tested for Starfleet Academy. Well balanced episode that adds context to Starfleet as a whole. Some great character moments, too. John Putch as Wesley's test buddy, Mordock, is a particular highlight.

Rating: 8.5/10

19) Heart of Glory

The Enterprise rescues a crew within the Neutral Zone and discovers the survivors are Klingon. A great Worf-centric episode that focuses on Klingons in the 24th Century. Pays homage to the Trek of old, but with a TNG twist. Plus, you get to see Geordi-vision at the beginning of the episode, which is totally trippy.

Rating: 8.5/10

20) Arsenal of Freedom 

An away team, including Picard and Riker, are trapped on a planet ruled by a volatile weapon. Geordi as Captain is just badass. Only problem - the planet stuff isn't nearly as exciting, even though it should be. The scenes between Picard and Crusher are quite good, though.

Rating: 7/10

21) Symbiosis

It's space drug dealers vs. space drug addicts! It's also the first time TNG blatantly reuses an actor from TOS, in this case it's Kirk's son, played by the late Merrit Butrick, who plays a drug-addicted alien here. Enjoyable, if overly obvious with the episode's metaphor.

Rating: 8/10

22) Skin of Evil 

The crew beams down to a planet and encounters a juvenile, bullying pile of black goo. A silly episode, riddled with terrible dialogue, that's only notable because of Tasha Yar's untimely death. The funeral scene is tragically hilarious. How did Yar, seen in a hologram at the end, know how she would die, and who exactly would be at her funeral? Worse, why didn't the show runners opt for a stronger nemesis, like the Romulans, to kill her off -- something that would have carried the sting of her death, as well as her memory, throughout the series? Bad call. Weak episode.

Rating: 5/10

23) We'll Always Have Paris

Picard reunites with an old flame and the crew of the Enterprise gets trapped in a wild distorted time paradox. Great episode that balances character, back story and a hearty dose of heady sci-fi.

Rating: 8.5/10

24) Conspiracy

A follow-up to Coming of Age, this episode dives into the previously mentioned conspiracy to completely infect and potentially dismantle Starfleet. Visually disturbing (see gif above) and creepy as hell, even if the plot is a little derivative of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. A kind of proto-Borg villain, too. The episode is also curiously still relevant, especially in the political arena.

Rating: 9/10

25) The Neutral Zone

The Romulans return! TNG has teased the Romulans all season, and finally we are reintroduced here in this fascinating story that also, frustratingly at times, focuses on a trio of 20th century citizens unfrozen from cryosleep. Picard is extra grumpy in this episode -- more so than he usually is this season. There's quite a bit of story here as well...perhaps too much. Two episodes instead of one might have better served the plot.

Rating: 8/10

That's it for Season One! Check back this fall for Star Trek: TNG - Season Two mini-reviews as well as a look at the Blu-ray.

In the meantime, feel free to sound off in the comments below with your favorite and least favorite episodes from this first season.

Source : feeds.ign.com

How Many Men Want to Play Mass Effect with Obama?

Our friends over at AskMen have announced the results of the 2012 Great Male Survey. The survey took a look at what it means to be a man in 2012, analyzing categories from gaming to dating, and everything in between.

More than 50,000 men were polled worldwide in this year’s survey, and the full results are available over at AskMen. Here’s just a few of the interesting findings from this year’s respondents:

Which presidential nominee do you feel you could beat in a game of Mass Effect 3?

• 65% Mitt Romney
• 35% Barack Obama

Other than for playing video games, what do you use your console for most often?

• 31% To watch tv shows and movies/films on DVD or Blu-ray
• 31% I use my console strictly for gaming
• 22% I do not own a console
• 13% To download or stream TV shows or movies/films
• 3% To surf the web

Who do you play video games with most often?

• 28% No one. I play by myself
• 22% With my friends, in person
• 21% With my friends, online
• 21% I don't play video games
• 8% With strangers, online

What do you play video games on most often?

• 52% on my console
• 21% on my computer
• 20% I don't play video games
• 5% on my mobile device
• 2% on my tablet

What type of smartphone do you have?

• 41% iPhone
• 26% Android
• 17% I don't have a smartphone
• 15% Blackberry
• 1% Windows Phone

That’s just some of the findings of this year’s survey, which also looked at dating, sex, lifestyle and more. Check out all of the Great Male Survey results over at AskMen, and be sure to stop by the AskMen YouTube channel for all kinds of helpful advice, news and entertainment.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Alphas: "Wake Up Call" Review

I admire the fact that we started off Season 2, after Dr. Rosen's brave and bold national announcement regarding Alphas in the Season 1 finale, with all our heroes scattered about and Dr. Rosen locked up in a psych ward. Usually this kind of separation allows for a team to reconnect over a crisis and gives the show a bit of a "reboot" feel. And while I don't think this show needed a full rejiggering, Season 1 felt uneven; with some characters not given enough to do, some threats never fully paying off and some powers not as fleshed out and explored as I would have hoped.

Still, with only 11 episodes under its belt, I might be asking for too much from this very ambitious series, which is attempting to ground and normalize the concept of the X-Men and nestle them within a more accessible reality. That being said, this episode, "Wake Up Call," needed more Gary Bell. Yes, Gary was in it, and he was back to being "our Gary" by the end of the adventure, but Ryan Cartwright's performance was missed throughout (thanks to Birmingham measures of pacification). I suppose I can forgive this gross "lack of Gary" due to the fact that this episode made, at least at the outset, Gary be the emotional goal. And the rescuing of him is really what brings together all the moving parts.

The crisis in "Wake Up Call" is a prison break from Birmingham, where dangerous Alphas are held (including Gary who couldn't deal with non-regimented NSA work) and made docile thanks to an implanted chip. The brains behind this plan is named Scipio, an Alpha with the power to microwave people's faces. The brains behind his brains is Stanton Parish, the seemingly immortal Civil War-era villain who now wants to divide the country into more brother-against-brother turmoil. Parish isn't the greatest arch baddie (I still mourn the loss of Brent Spiner's Dr. Kern from "Blind Spot") and one sometimes hopes that someone more interesting will pop up and be revealed as the guy behind the guy. But perhaps Parish will get more watchable this year.

Even though the outcome of "Wake Up Call" was a bit inevitable (hero team reforms, new evil team established), it was still an exciting episode and a more-than-decent way to start off this Summer run.

Everyone was at a different place when we initially caught up with them; some being better off than others. Dr. Rosen had pretty much resigned to the fact that he was incarcerated for life and it's interesting to note that his daughter Dani, who's with Parish's crew, might have had something to do with creating the big incident that Rosen knew would get him out and working with his team again. And also, because Rachel had regressed so much without Rosen, their fates were interconnected as she wasn't going be able to come out of her room without the promise of his care.

Bill and Cameron were fun to watch as the active NSA-cooperators, working as a clumsy team while trying to stop a group of Alphas from robbing a store. One of the things that's unique about this show, and at times frustrating, is the establishment that not all Alphas are built alike. Some are more powerful than others - and that goes for our heroes too. Bill, the strong man of the gang, is still usually never able to match up to any other Alpha; never being quite strong enough. And Nina, while perhaps being the most dangerously powerful member of the team, has an ability that doesn't naturally lend itself to action-packed missions. In fact, Nina's big moment in this episode was helping Rachel use her power.

The guy who always helps bring this series back around, though, is David Strathairn. His performance as Rosen is always great, and he's always there to tether this show and give it a solid voice. His Alphas team will now probably have a new directive and direction, but he'll be there to rein them all in and make them feel like a family. I'm also looking forward to seeing just how antagonistic Rosen will be against his government handlers now, considering the fact that they just kept him doped up for eight months.

Source : feeds.ign.com

14 Killed at Dark Knight Rises Screening

A gunman, reportedly masked and dressed in body armor, opened fire today at an early morning screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado, killing 14 and wounding roughly 50. Several children were among the victims, including a 9-year-old girl. Police have the suspect in custody. The gunman is said to be in his 20s.

The Denver Post quotes survivors and witnesses as saying the man entered the theater dressed in body armor and carrying a canister that released gas. Initially, not all audience members realized they were under attack as they believed the sounds of gunfire were part of the movie.

Associated Press reports that the gunman "stood at the front of the theater and fired into the crowd about 12:30 a.m. MDT at a multiplex theater in a mall in Aurora. 'Witnesses tell us he released some sort of canister. They heard a hissing sound and some gas emerged and the gunman opened fire,"Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said at a news conference."

The gunman is not believed to have had any accomplices and no motive for the crime has yet been reported. Police also checked a local apartment searching for explosives, reportedly based on comments made by the suspect, whose identity has not been revealed.

10 victims are said to have died at the theater and four at hospitals. The youngest victim is said to be 6-years-old being treated at Children's Hospital Colorado, where 10 victims were taken.

President Obama released the following statement on the shooting: "Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my Administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time. We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded. As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family. All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, and we must stand together with them in the challenging hours and days to come.ople of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors."

Source : feeds.ign.com

Hemsworth May Star in Spielberg's Robopocalypse

Director Steven Spielberg reportedly wants Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth to star in his upcoming sci-fi epic Robopocalypse.

Deadline claims that, "amid much secrecy (including assumed names), Spielberg met and now wants Hemsworth in his next helping effort." The site adds, though, that no official offer has been made yet to Hemsworth, who has had a great summer with two hits under his belt, The Avengers and Snow White and the Huntsman.

Based on Daniel H. Wilson's book, Robopocalypse recently received a rewrite from Drew Goddard, who also directed Hemsworth in The Cabin in the Woods.

Hemsworth next shoots Thor: The Dark World for Marvel Studios and Disney.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Wilfred: "Now" Review

In this week's episode "Now," Ryan and Wilfred came to yet another crossroads in behavioral philosophy. While Ryan prepared to set up a new investment opportunity with a bigwig friend of his co-worker Kevin's (Rob Riggle), Wilfred tried to convince Ryan to slow down and live in the moment. However, a traumatic run-in at gunpoint soon led Wilfred to lose his sense of smell, gradually breaking down his entire way of life.
These last few episodes in Season 2 have been largely focused on Ryan struggling to balance his working life with his personal one. We've seen a lot of Ryan taking initiative and contemplating his own methods of experiencing reality. However, in this episode, it was Wilfred's turn to suffer from an existential crisis. Without the use of his nose, we finally saw what it was like for Wilfred to lose his grip on meaning and purpose.

It's interesting, too, because the episode was initially set up to be another play on Ryan's own misplaced priorities. Wilfred's original plan to convince Ryan that he had a brain tumor offered a pretty good setup to explain his ongoing anxiety, blackouts and hallucinations -- although, to be fair, this was the type of thing we'd seen Wilfred try to do to Ryan in the past. But from the moment Wilfred said, "Gotcha," it was game over for our clueless canine as he was sentenced to a life without scent.

I think one of the most entertaining recurring bits throughout the episode was Wilfred's constant stream of epiphanies, including, "So there’s more than one UPS guy... Of course! It’s all so clear to me now. The uniform changes guys!" His increasingly broadening intellect was a nice touch. This, of course, eventually led to Wilfred's deeply seeded ennui and nihilistic depression. It was a fun process to watch, especially for a character that's usually portrayed as aloof and sage-like.

However, this didn't mean Ryan was left out of the loop completely. While his prospectus storyline wasn't quite as entertaining as Wilfred's, his few scenes with Rob Riggle had their moments, particularly Kevin's diatribe on his son. ("Ah, K.J., what have you done to your beautiful little scrotum?") Also, Ryan's scenes with Wilfred near the end -- the emo ones -- were pretty solid. It also provided a neat little bow for the conclusion.

The overarching narrative for the episode wasn't quite as strong as the others' this season, but it was definitely an interesting way to change things up for Wilfred. If nothing else, it offered a nice breakup from Ryan's usual onslaught of tedium, which can sometimes get become formulaic. However, the general lack of auxiliary characters made this episode feel a bit vacant. That's not to say an episode featuring only Ryan and Wilfred can't be good, but the absence of characters like Jenna, Kristen and Amanda this week left an overall hollow impression for the episode.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Men in Black 4?

In a new interview, Columbia Pictures president Doug Belgrad dropped a lot of bits and pieces about several of the studio's properties, including Dragon Tattoo, Men in Black and Jumanji. Yes, Jumanji.

A New Director for Spidey 2?

While talking to The Hollywood Reporter, Belgrad said that Men in Black is "an ongoing franchise" and "we're going to do [another one], but we don't have clarity yet on how it should be done."

He also revealed that one of the mandates of the company is to get more into family films, including the successful Smurfs franchise that they currently have going (the sequel is now shooting). But the plan is also to "reimagine Jumanji and update it for the present." (No mention, however, of Zathura. Ahem.)

The trade paper also notes that Belgrad is moving ahead with the sequel to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, despite that film's tepid response.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Sonic, Street Fighter Characters Confirmed for Wreck-It Ralph

A press release from Disney today announcing additional voice cast members for their upcoming animated video game homage Wreck-It Ralph confirms that Sonic the Hedgehog and Street Fighter characters M. Bison, Ken Masters and Ryu will all appear in the film. John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman and Jack McBrayer lead the voice cast. The latest cast additions follow after the trailer:

Alan Tudyk (Suburgatory, Firefly) as King Candy, ruler of Sugar Rush, a candy-coated cart racing game

Ed O’Neill (Modern Family) as Mr. Litwak, owner of Litwak’s Family Fun Center & Arcade

Mindy Kaling (The Office) as Taffyta Muttonfudge, an accomplished racer and Vanellope’s nemesis

Adam Carolla  (The Adam Carolla Show) as Wynchel, Sugar Rush security

Horatio Sanz (Saturday Night Live) as Duncan, Sugar Rush security

Dennis Haysbert (The Unit, 24) as General from the first-person shooter game, Hero’s Duty

Edie McClurg (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes) as Mary, a Nicelander who lives within the game Fix-It Felix, Jr.

Roger Craig Smith (Captain Marvel from The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Ezio from Assassin’s Creed) as Sonic the Hedgehog

Gerald C Rivers  (the Street Fighter series) as M. Bison

Rachael Harris (The Hangover) as Deanna, a Nicelander who lives within the game Fix-It Felix, Jr.

Stefanie Scott (A.N.T. Farm) as Moppet Girl, a young arcade enthusiast who visits Litwak’s arcade

Reuben Langdon (multiple Street Fighter games) as Ken from Street Fighter

Kyle Hebert (multiple Street Fighter games, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes) as Ryu from Street Fighter

Source : feeds.ign.com

Six New Things We've Learned About Resident Evil 6

Resident Evil 6 is just over two months away from release. As the latest bio-terror outbreak approaches, Capcom has been unleashing trailers, demos and screenshots left and right. Its latest volley of visuals has been accompanied by a considerable amount of new commentary from RE 6 director Eiichiro Sasaki, which we've gathered here. Also included - three videos showcasing new parts of the Leon, Chris and Jake campaigns.

The Start of Development

We all know Resident Evil 6 has been in development for several years. With Resident Evil 5 arriving more than three years ago, Capcom has had a considerable amount of time to work on its next installment. In fact, much of what we've seen so far was created almost two and a half years ago.

According to Sasaki, early designs of RE 6 focused on technology and general direction, including the Leon sequence just released (see the first video below), Chris's arrival in Lanshiang (which can be seen in several trailers) and the Ustanak's pursuit of Jake Muller (see our E3 and Dragon's Dogma videos for an approximate idea).

"With this [Leon segment] we wanted players to experience the fear of walking through the darkness," Sasaki said. "Light and shadow play a very important part. The initial concept was a scene in a curved tunnel with a large crowd of zombies at the far end, lit so as to be visible only as silhouettes."

A Fear of Lights

That experimentation with lighting resulted in what Sasaki calls "scare lighting," which is mostly a cosmetic effect added by Capcom to enhance the mood and tension in some of these darker, slower sequences.
Sasaki admitted there technically is no light source for this effect, which casts a glow underneath creatures for an eerie visual, but the end result is something scarier, so the concept stayed. "I think it produces a great cinematic effect," noted Sasaki.

Safety (and Fear) in Numbers 

One common observation about Resident Evil 6 so far - some of the sequences with Chris Redfield don't seem like they'll be too scary. As we saw in the E3/Dragon's Dogma video, it appears as though Chris is not only accompanied by Piers Morgan, but an entire squad too. Why would anyone be scared when they're surrounded by agents armed to the teeth?

That feeling might change if those agents are being killed one by one, and you're seemingly powerless to stop it. Worse yet, that force is none other than a giant snake, which bears a striking resemblance to Yawn from the first Resident Evil game. "That's what this part of the game is all about, the escalating fear you feel as your team grows smaller and smaller. It's a kind of terror you can only experience in a group scenario," said Sasaki.

Yawn's Cousin

So you have to fight a giant snake. That's not a big deal, right? If you, your partner and a half dozen other BSAA agents are well-armed, a mere reptile - even a big one - should be target practice.
Unless it has the ability to blend into its surroundings.

Sasaki explained that his team was attempting to capture the fear of the unknown, as an enemy that's invisible suddenly springs upon you and your team. Suddenly it's not about spotting the enemy ahead. It might be in front of you and you'd really have no idea. "You don't even need to have obvious enemies present in a scene in order to feel fear," Sasaki said.

The RE director went on to describe how this extends to sound design, and how "ordinary noises" suddenly might suggest enemy presence. "So when you hear something like the rustle of a rubbish bag being kicked out of the way, even though it might well have been one of your team members, your heart leaps as you wonder whether it's an enemy coming to get you," Sasaki explained.

Crossing Over 

First revealed at E3 2012, the game's three lead storylines, featuring Leon, Chris, Jake and their partners, will cross over as various pairings run across each other while they pursue their goals. From an online perspective, this results in friends suddenly being split apart and being paired with strangers across the world. Again, here you might expect safety in numbers - but Capcom has designed enemies that ensure even a group of four battle-tested heroes won't have it easy.

Enter: The Ustanak.

The Ultimate Garbage Disposal

The Ustanak isn't just a crazed behemoth that charges after you. It has a number of tricks at its command, mostly stemming from its techno-organic capabilities.

"The Ustanak can attach different devices to his right arm," Sasaki revealed. "One of the interesting ones is the apparatus he uses to grab and crush the player. During gameplay he will start taking out the players one by one, so what starts off looking as a four-on-one fight where the players have the advantage can quickly becomes a massacre. With his right and left arms and the cage-like device on his back, Ustanak can hold up to three players at the same time, leaving just one player left to fight him."

Sasaki went on to describe the encounter between the Ustanak, Leon, Helena, Jake and Sherry as one of "cops and robbers," as friends can race to save their partners once captured. The problem? Attempting to do that will place you within reach of the Ustanak - exactly where you don't want to be.
Good luck with that.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Exclusive Clip of John Cena's Return in Fred 3: Camp Fred

Internet sensation turned TV star Fred Figgelhorn is back in Fred 3: Camp Fred, airing on Nickelodeon on Saturday, July 28th at 8pm. The alter ego and creation of Lucas Cruikshank, Fred’s popularity led to what has become a hit TV movie franchise for Nick.

Once again, WWE superstar John Cena has a role in Fred 3, as a skewed version of himself - an imaginary version of Fred’s dad... who apparently lives inside a refrigerator.

John Cena Talks Fred 3

We’ve got your first look at a scene between Cena and Fred from the movie, as Fred – in the midst of a miserable summer camp experience – turns to his “dad” for advise, only to not get the response he hoped for.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Nintendo Downloads of the Week (07.19.12)

It’s Thursday, Koopalings! As many of you probably know, that means it's time for another batch of downloadable goodies care of the the Big N. Whether your platform of choice is 3DS or DSi  (no new console downloads this week, it seems), take a look at this week’s offerings below. And be sure to check back at the end of the month for our thoughts on the best the eShop has to offer.

Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters

Available on: 3DS (Virtual Console)
Price: $3.99
Publisher: Nintendo
Description: Angel Land is up to its halos in woes as mythical monsters are running rampant. Pit, the original Kid Icarus, must save the realm again. Armed with his trusty bow, he’ll zap the bad guys and find the Three Sacred Treasures hidden by Palutena. Only after this grueling training will he be strong enough to take on the dark forces behind Angel Land’s troubles. Pit will encounter old friends and new enemies – from helpful Centurions to the dreaded Eggplant Wizard – as he journeys from the depths of the underworld to the towers of the sky palace.

Tumble Pop

Available on: 3DS (Virtual Console)
Price: $2.99
Publisher: G-Mode
Description: Save the planet by defeating all the monsters in eight spooky worlds. Thanks to pollution and other global calamities, Earth is overflowing with strange creatures. It’s your job to exterminate all the monsters plaguing the planet, but you’ll need some real muscle to accomplish that task. Good thing you have a secret weapon: a turbo-charged vacuum cleaner. Hungry for even more action? Have no fear. You can create your own custom-built stages in Construction Mode.

The Phantom Thief Stina and 30 Jewels

Available on: 3DS
Price: $4.99
Publisher: Agetec
Description: The year is 2120, and humanoid robot helpers are commonplace, even among thieves. The Phantom Thief Stina and her pack of burglar bots are taking on Detective Sara and her robotic security team in a battle of wits! Heist all 30 jewels to complete the game and unlock the detective mode. Play as detective Sara and deploy her robotic security team to protect the jewels against the Phantom Thief.

Masyu by Nikoli

Available on: 3DS
Price: $4.99
Publisher: Hamster Corporation
Description: Masyu is a puzzle in which you draw a line through the spaces according to the rules. Learn the attributes of the black and white circles and you'll be able to play in no time. In Stage Clear mode, you progress by clearing puzzles one by one, and in Random mode, puzzles are generated at random.

Rabi Laby 2

Available on: DSi, 3DS
Price: $1.99
Publisher: Agetec
Description: The player controls both Alice and Rabi and must use their unique skills to escape. They will encounter interesting creatures, strange places and unusual puzzles, fueling their humor and challenging their wits. The goal for each stage is to safely navigate Alice to the exit door with Rabi’s help. Collect medals to unlock additional stages!

Petit Computer

Available on: DSi, 3DS
Price: $7.99
Publisher: Gamebridge
Description: Petit Computer is a programming tool that lets you create everything from music, to images, to your very own original games using an adapted version of the classic BASIC programming language. You can select commands and run programs using the Nintendo DS Touch Screen, and you can even share your creations via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

That wraps it up for this week’s full releases. In other download news, 3DS Virtual Console title Mario's Picross has been selected as the Game of the Weekend, and will be available for the discounted price of $2.99 from now until Sunday, July 22 at 9:00PM (PST). If you haven't played it, don't hesitate - this game is incredibly fun, and a total classic.
Until next time, Koopalings - game on!

Source : feeds.ign.com

Expand the Ni no Kuni Collector’s Edition by Pre-Ordering

Namco Bandai has announced a unique promotion to expand the Wizard’s Edition of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. Through a new program called Ninostarter, Namco will track the number of pre-orders for the game in North America on Club Namco. As more pre-orders are placed, fans will unlock additional items to be added to the package, all for the same price.

“As the Wizard’s Edition pre-order numbers rise, additional Wizard’s Edition items will be unlocked when pre-established levels of pre-orders are reached,” Namco explained in a statement. Pre-orders will be accepted on Club Namco until August 31st, at which point the program will end.

The Ni no Kuni Wizard’s Edition was announced last month and currently includes a 300-page hardcover book called the Wizard’s Companion, a Drippy plush doll and exclusive downloadable content including the Golden Mite and Golden Drongo familiars. It will be available for $99.99 exclusively through Club Namco. Namco hasn’t revealed what kind of additional items might be added via Ninostarter, but it’s a safe bet that the company has something special planned for fans.

Ni no Kuni will be released exclusively for PlayStation 3 in North America on January 22, 2013. The game tells the story of Oliver, a young boy who wants to become a magician in order to bring his mother back from the dead. Ni no Kuni is developed by Level-5 and features art by famed animation company Studio Ghibli.
For a better idea of what you can expect from the unique world of Ni no Kuni, check out our hands-on impressions from E3, and keep an eye on IGN for more updates on Ninostarter as the program progresses.

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