Ben Affleck May Direct, Co-Star in JLA Movie

Oscar winner Ben Affleck has reportedly been approached by Warner Bros. about directing their long-gestating Justice League of America movie and might even play a role in it.

According to Variety, "Affleck is the only candidate who’s been sent Will Beall’s Justice League script, which the Gangster Squad scribe was hired to write last summer. ... Affleck has made it clear that he’s only interested in directing films in which he also stars — The Town and Argo are proof of that — so its likely that if this pairing ever came to fruition, he would don a suit of his own. One possible hesitation on Affleck’s part is that any involvement with Justice League would take him out of circulation as a director for a few years. He could, however, still fit in an acting gig at Warners."

The trade adds that the JLA movie could open summer 2015, which could see it go toe-to-toe against The Avengers 2. Imagine that!



As you know, Ben Affleck is no stranger to superhero fare having starred as Daredevil and playing Superman TV star George Reeves in Hollywoodland. Affleck's name was also bandied about as a Superman contender way back in the day.

What do you think of Affleck possibly directing JLA? And if he does play a role in the film, who should it be?

Source : feeds.ign.com

Batman #12 Review

Batman #12 is the kind of comic that DC should be striving to make 100% of the time. It’s a socially conscious character study that not only gives a glorious (and proper) introduction to Harper Row – the young woman that assisted Batman escape from the sewer in the midst of the Court of Owls story – but also succeeds in bringing Batman back to the streets after spending the last year locking horns with the epitome of a super villain.

Framing this issue from Harper's POV gives us an understanding of her character, but also allows us to see Bruce/Batman from an outsider’s perspective. Harper doesn’t know they’re the same person – though with how clever she is, I’d be shocked if she didn’t figure it out sooner or later – but using her perspective allows the reader to appreciate the full scope of Bruce’s devotion to eliminating crime in Gotham.

What’s even better is that we know that this story takes place during the events of Batman’s hunt for the Court of Owls, and so seeing him tackle a “small” crime in the middle of all the madness only makes him a greater hero. Not only that, but Snyder successfully explores the very nature of crime in the subtext of this story. In the context of Gotham itself, the plight that Harper and her brother are dealing with is indeed a “small” problem, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the most important thing in their own lives, or even in Batman’s. Combine the subtleties of this issue with the fact that you have Batman essentially tackling one of the most important real-world issues – bullying, specifically pertaining to homophobia – and you’ve got one of the best comics of the year, both in terms of characterization and meaningful message.

But the beauty is that this book isn’t preachy about its subject matter, it merely exists as a believable extension of Harper’s character. Despite not knowing much about her going in, Snyder is able to sell us immediately. From page one, we’re devoted to her and her brother with the added fun twists of how their story intertwines with events we’ve already seen. Rest assured, this issue will grip you from cover to cover and you might just have a new favorite Bat-character.

To cap it all off, Becky Cloonan makes her debut on a Batman title with her patented character driven storytelling, giving physical weight to Snyder’s characters with flowing body language and expressive faces. Her lines are smooth and her backgrounds gorgeous; she manages to walk a thin line between keeping her artwork clean while still portraying the grime of Gotham City. In that way, though their styles are quite different, Cloonan’s work fits thematically with what Greg Capullo has been doing on the series to date. And while most of issue #12 is focused on Harper sans Batman, once the Dark Knight does show up, Cloonan handles the action with an equal amount of grace.

The visuals only stumble when artist Andy Clarke takes over in the last few pages – the “back-up” portion of the book, though it’s just an extension of the main story. That’s not to say his art isn’t solid, it’s simply a stark stylistic contrast from Cloonan’s work. Had Clarke’s segment been a separated back-up tale, the transition would’ve been far less jarring.

Though there’s that slight nitpick, Batman #12 is a complete triumph. This is the kind of issue that we get far too few of in superhero comics; the one that reminds us a superhero book can be so much more than just the typical big action we get month-in and month-out. This is a book that exemplifies the true potential of these characters – and Batman hardly shows face.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Animal Crossing 3DS Adds Rooftops, Gardening Store

New details about Animal Crossing 3DS have been revealed by Japanese magazine Famitsu. According to details translated by Nintendo Everything, the new installment adds rooftops as a new area and offers the ability to customize doors, posts and fences. New furniture items have also been added, including a new mermaid-themed set.

Buying items has also changed, and new stores have been introduced including a shoe store run by Lisa the alpaca plus a “miscellaneous goods store.” A new gardening store run by a sloth will offer flower seeds and tree seedlings for sale and the Able sisters will return as the proprietors of the clothing store. Finally, Tom Nook will return, but this time he’ll be running Raccoon Housing. Nook will offer a tent to start, which you’ll be able to gradually build all the way up into a large house, customizing parts to change its appearance.

As previously confirmed, Animal Crossing 3DS has you play as the mayor, and a new shopping mall will be available just beyond the train tracks. The museum will be open 24 hours and offer more fish and fossils, an exhibition room and a museum shop.

Animal Crossing 3DS is known as Animal Crossing: Jump Out in Japan, but a Western title and release date has not yet been announced. We’re expecting more news in the coming months, so keep checking back to IGN for all the Animal Crossing details as they’re revealed.

Source : feeds.ign.com

PlayStation All-Stars: Character Cheat Sheet

The restrictions are lifted and we can finally tell you all about the PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale beta. For weeks now, IGN has been duking it out as the beta's six available characters -- Kratos, PaRappa the Rapper, Fat Princess, Sweet Tooth, Radec and Sly Cooper -- and they've made quite the impression on us. So read on (and check out all the new PlayStation All-Stars videos we've posted) and decide which fighter you'll be taking into All-Star battle.

KRATOS

By far, Kratos is my favorite character in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. And while Colin and Destin might tell you it's because he way overpowered in the beta (and he might be), I think it's because Kratos instantly makes sense as a fighter. Swinging his blades, using Helios' head to blast foes, firing his bow and arrow -- these are things I've done as the character before. Whereas I picked up the controller and wasn’t sure exactly what PaRappa was going to bust out, I expected the God of War combos I got as Kratos. Toss in a Level 3 Super that allows Kratos to grow to gigantic proportions, and Kratos is a combatant that anyone can pick up and get down with.

PARAPPA THE RAPPER

What isn't to love about PaRappa the Rapper? First off, he's got the rad 2D-like art style where he folds like a piece of paper more than he moves. Secondly, he's PaRappa the Rapper. He blocks with his skateboard, he can throw down a boom box for energy, and he has this pinwheel attack that steams across the map like a cracked-out bushwhacker. If there's a downside to the little guy, it's his Level 3 Super. It's an awesome throwback to his game -- complete with rapping and a rapping rating system -- but it clears the screen in one move. That sounds cool, but it limits you to only getting three KOs off that one move. Kratos can get up to six with his Level 3 if the player is fast enough.

FAT PRINCESS

I really want the wonderfully obese Fat Princess to be my favorite character, but alas she falls a little short. She’s more nimble than you may expect, considering her portliness and all, but she seems to lack the oomph in her attacks that some of the other characters in the beta have. She also has a bit of a nebulous Level 3 Super that, like PaRappa the Rapper, makes arduously building her meter just a little less rewarding. With that said, there’s certainly something endearing and charming about Fat Princess, and I’m so happy she’s included in the game. After a strong outing on PSN in its early years, she’s all but disappeared from view (which is strange, ‘cause she’s huge). Hopefully her inclusion means Sony has plans for her in the future… perhaps for PlayStation Vita?

SWEET TOOTH

The thing about Sweet Tooth is how well-balanced he is. He’s strong and packs a lot of power, but he’s also not as slow as you’d think he’d be considering his size. I’m typically more into playing swift characters regardless of the fighting game I’m currently invested in is, but Sweet Tooth, being middling with his speed and more on the powerful side than some of his contemporaries, intrigues me. What disappoints me with Sweet Tooth is the nature of his Level 3 Super. He can do a lot of damage if he’s in a corner and facing the rest of the field, but if you have to turn him around, you’ll need to spend precious time doing so. It makes you wonder how Supers have been vetted by the development team, where someone like Kratos could conceivably kill six characters per Level 3 while everyone else seems to be at a deficit. I hope it’s something that’s addressed in the final game.

COLONEL RADEC

Here's the thing about Radec: I don't like him all that much. Why? He's not my kind of fighter. That means I really respect players who are good with him. Radec stays back and attacks from the distance with his sniper rifle or missile. If you get in close, he's got a flamethrower or he can leap over your head and drop a grenade (a la Samus in Smash Bros.). It takes a special player to be awesome with Radec, but they exist and they are impressive to watch. Plus, the Level 1 Super is a rocket that locks on to foes and the Level 3 jetpack attack is pretty sweet.

SLY COOPER

Everyone’s favorite thieving raccoon (and perhaps the only thieving raccoon in existence) also happens to be my favorite character in the PlayStation All-Stars beta. He’s nimble and swift, and he packs a bit of a punch too. But what I like most about Sly Cooper is his ability to get out of harm’s way in a snap. He’s quick enough to get a few hits in on his opponent and then dodge subsequent attacks, giving him significant leverage over less skilled players that aren’t anticipating a strike-and-flee onslaught. Then again, Sly Cooper’s Level 3 Super leaves much to be desired not so much in terms of substance as in style. You can easily kill the entire field with his super, but it’s still a bit on the corny side. With such a cool character to work with, it would have been awesome to see Sly Cooper utilized in ways that didn’t involve binoculars and a strange turtle named Bentley.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Namco Bandai "in Active Discussions" With Ouya

Namco Bandai is apparently "in active discussions" to become the next major publisher to sign a distribution deal with Ouya.

Namco Bandai Games and Ouya are currently in active discussions to bring some of the world's biggest gaming properties to the exciting new open gaming platform.

Speaking with Develop, the Tekken and Ridge Racer developer revealed it was talking to the console's creators about bringing its franchises to the system.

Namco Marketing VP Carlson Choi explained, "Namco Bandai Games and Ouya are currently in active discussions to bring some of the world's biggest gaming properties to the exciting new open gaming platform.
"Namco Bandai brings with it a rich history of iconic gaming franchises, from classics like Pac-Man and Galaga, to seminal franchises like Tekken and Ridge Racer, and we're excited to explore how we can work with Ouya to bring some great titles to the forthcoming console."

We told you last week that Square Enix had thrown its weight behind the upcoming console, and would be releasing Final Fantasy III as an Ouya launch title. Predictably, it seems this has proved the catalyst for other developers to follow suit. The only question is, which company will be next to pitch its support?
Ouya is currently expected to release in March 2013.

Source : feeds.ign.com