Story and Art by: Sean Murphy

Published by Vertigo

Punk Rock Jesus kicks off when reality TV guru and media mogul Rick Slate uses DNA from the Turin Shroud (apparently)to clone Jesus, and start the biggest reality show in history: J2 –the Second Coming. The show (and comic) follows Jesus from his inception into surrogate mother Gwen, who lives on a specially built island, secure and surrounded by cameras. There her son will be born, and the world can follow his childhood around the clock, hoping he will truly turn out to literally be the second coming of Christ. Of course, as the name implies, not all goes to plan.

While he might be the titular character, Chris, as our saviour in waiting is known, is for most of the book, not the central character. For almost half of the book, Sean Murphy pushes Chris to the sidelines, and devotes his time to the cast of characters surrounding him, and to detailing the impact he has on the world. So as Chris passes time in nappies and at school, there is plenty to engage the reader, including former IRA member, and gun-toting, bike-riding bad-ass Thomas McKael. The oversized security chief is for a large part, the central character of the book, and is a complex protagonist with an interesting backstory who lives with a lot of conflict.

Murphy’s art is rapturous throughout, his pencils echoing several of the greats from Tharg’s school of Pencilling –Gibson and Gibbons in particular –and not just because it is presented unadorned in black and white. His fine detail, angular characters and evocative, heavy inking all bring to mind those great British pencillers, many of whom made it across the waters with the British wave in the ‘80s. And thrown into this mix is a small dash of Manga, seen in his figures and in how he uses lines for action and motion effects.

Punk Rock Jesus champions atheism, but thankfully not in a tiresome manner. In recent years there has emerged a trend of sermonising atheists whose anti-religious rhetoric is worse than any bible-thumping, fundamentalist, moralising devotee of the church could ever manage to be. But Murphy manages to avoid this tone, delivering instead a balanced, reasoned argument that does not ignore the merits of the other side of the debate, even as it shows religion at its damaging, backwards worst.

Although it is a great read that balances well the drama of its main cast and the greater religious themes and settings, it does falter a little at the ending. After spending so long developing his characters and world, we leave rather abruptly. Things are not quite left hanging, more they are not given the time due to them after being developed so well for so long. The main story is wrapped up, but Murphy spends more time on characters than plot throughout, so it would be nice if they got some more time at the end.

This last complaint aside, Punk Rock Jesus is a politically relevant, action-packed and thoughtful drive through the worst of America’s media and religious obsessions. Guiding through this rocky territory is a cast of heartfelt, sympathetic characters that are more than just totems for the various religious and social stances that can be taken in the debate. Overall, it’s another winner from Vertigo, and a triumph for Murphy.

Man Of Steel Trailer

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures comes “Man of Steel,” starring Henry Cavill (“Immortals,” TV’s “The Tudors”) in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, under the direction of Zack Snyder (“300,” “Watchmen”).

A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth.  As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do.  But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.

The film also stars four-time Oscar^® nominee Amy Adams (“The Master”) as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Oscar^® nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”) as her editor-in-chief, Perry White.  Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Oscar^® nominee Diane Lane (“Unfaithful”) and Academy Award^® winner Kevin Costner (“Dances with Wolves”).

Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Oscar^® nominee Michael Shannon (“Revolutionary Road”), and Faora, Zod’s evil partner, played by Antje Traue (upcoming “The Seventh Son”).  Also from Superman’s native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s mother, played by Ayelet Zurer (“Angels and Demons”), and Superman’s father, Jor-El, portrayed by Academy Award^® winner Russell Crowe (“Gladiator”).

Rounding out the cast are Christopher Meloni (“42”) as U.S. military man Colonel Hardy, Harry Lennix (“State of Play”) as General Swanwick, Michael Kelly (“The Adjustment Bureau”) as Steve Lombard, and Richard Schiff (TV’s “The West Wing”) as Dr. Emil Hamilton.

“Man of Steel” is being produced by Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder.  The screenplay was written by David S. Goyer from a story by Goyer & Nolan, based upon Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster and published by DC Entertainment.  Thomas Tull, Lloyd Phillips and Jon Peters are serving as executive producers.

Zack Snyder’s behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Amir Mokri (“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”); production designer Alex McDowell (“Watchmen”); editor David Brenner (“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”); and multiple Academy Award^®-winning costume designer James Acheson (“Restoration,” the “Spider-Man” films) and costume designer Michael Wilkinson (“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and 2,” “Watchmen,” “300”).  The music is by Academy Award^®-winning composer Hans Zimmer (“The Lion King,” “Inception”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Legendary Pictures, a Syncopy Production, a Zack Snyder Film, “Man of Steel.”  The film will be released in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX^®, and is slated for release beginning June 14, 2013.  It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

www.man-of-steel-movie.co.uk

Vince Hernandez ­ Story / Vincenzo Cucca ­ Art / Emilio Lopez – Colors

Be prepared because everything you thought you knew about magic is about to vanish!

The group makes a sober discovery in Los Angeles, as Hank’s agent and best friend Kenny painfully realizes the differences between humans and magical beings could kill him–and put an end to their quest to end Serké’s invasion. However, their problems are much larger in scale than they are aware of, as the dark shaman has summoned his deadliest servant of chaos – Torgan, the magical lion demon of flame and rage!

Featuring a returning cast of Charismagic’s favorite characters along with several new and astonishing faces and creatures of magic, this new volume of CHARISMAGIC is a perfect jumping-on point for all!

CHARISMAGIC #2 is in stores June 5th, 2013!

The Facts

Director: Todd Phillips

Stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong

It’s been two years.  Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) are happily living uneventful lives at home. Tattoos have been lasered off, files purged.  The last they heard from disaster-magnet Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong), he’d been tossed into a Thai prison and, with him out of the way, the guys have very nearly recovered from their nights prowling the seamy side of Las Vegas in a roofie’d haze, and being kidnapped, shot at, and chased by drug-dealing mobsters in Bangkok.

The only member of the Wolfpack who’s not content is Alan (Zach Galifianakis). Still lacking a sense of purpose, the group’s black sheep has ditched his meds and given into his natural impulses in a big way—which, for Alan, means no boundaries, no filters and no judgment—until a personal crisis forces him to finally seek the help he needs.

And who better than his three best friends to make sure he takes the first step.

This time, there’s no bachelor party.  No wedding.  What could possibly go wrong?  But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.

“The Hangover Part III” is the epic conclusion to an incomparable odyssey of mayhem and bad decisions, in which the guys must finish what they started by going back to where it all began: Las Vegas.
One way or another…it all ends here.

THE HANGOVER PART III, Cert 15A is released in Ireland on May 23rd

The Review

I loved the first Hangover movie, made no attempts to hide the fact, and then The Hangover 2 came out and I was shocked about how little I liked the sequel.  It felt rushed and that very little thought went into it.  So I held little hope that the 2nd sequel, or the final part of the trilogy as they want us to call it, would be any better.

Fact is that The Hangover 3 is better than part 2.  Not by much, but it is.  There was thought gone into every part of the story and proper character development.  There is very little else to add here, if you liked the first movie then you’ll like this movie.  If you don’t like the series, sorry trilogy, then you’ll find more happiness in another movie opening this week.

Thankfully we’re told that this is the end of this series, but if you ask me, I can see some form of spin off or TV show based on this in the future.  Maybe not with these actors but with others filling the shoes.

Talk later Chums.

STAR TREK^TM LIMITED-EDITION TO INCLUDE SIGNATURES AND ARTWORK FROM A FEDERATION OF ALL-STAR TALENT

San Diego, CA (May 14th, 2013) – Today, IDW Limited announced one small step for comics and one giant leap for Star Trek fans everywhere with the launch of a new line of limited edition STAR TREK books, under license by CBS Consumer Products. (http://idwlimited.com/series/startrek.html).

Starting with Star Trek: Where No Man Has Gone Before, a deluxe hardcover collecting issues #1 – 4 of IDW’s ongoing series, IDW Limited will begin offering Trek fans a way to celebrate their fandom with a true cornerstone for their collection. The inaugural limited edition will be signed by the creative team of writer Mike Johnson and artists Tim Bradstreet and Joe Phillips. The Black and Blue editions will feature artwork by Bradstreet and Phillips, respectively.

“There is no better fan base than the Trek fans,” Says series artist Joe Phillips. “When we were asked if we’d like to participate in this limited-edition line, the answer was an instant YES. To be able to take the time to do hand-drawn pieces that I knew would end up with happy fans was a thrill. And seeing the new design for the book is just awesome.”

With an exclusive all-new cover and casing, Star Trek: Where no Man Has Gone Before collects more than just the comics, it also collects signatures and artwork from the creative team behind the hit series. Each book is signed by Johnson, Bradstreet and Phillips and the Black Label contains artwork from Bradstreet while Phillips has provided full-color, hand-drawn artwork for the ultra-rare Blue Label.

“It’s a book we’re very proud of,” Says IDW Limited Director Jerry Bennington. “Star Trek is a title with a huge history behind it. There are expectations from the fans when you do something in this storied universe. I believe we’ll blow those expectations away with this book.”

BEAM YOURSELF OVER TO http://idwlimited.com/series/startrek.html and pre-order this book now.

STAR TREK: WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE DELUXE LIMITED EDITION (RED-$125; BLACK-$300; BLUE- $450; Tray Cased Hardcover

ATLANTA – May 22, 2013 - Indie developer Kiz Studios today announced Custom Games and Spectator Mode will be coming to SmashMuck Champions this August.  The new, fan-requested game modes will raise the stakes for competitive play, providing players with the tools to shoutcast, record each game for bragging posterity and set up their own customizable tournaments. As Smashmuck Champions’ community continues to expand following the launch of the Steam closed beta earlier in the year, the studio is closely working with players to give them a say in the game’s design direction. From the new modes announced today to fan-created champions and beyond, Kiz is dedicated to building the game its players truly want.

Kiz will hold contests throughout June and July to give players a chance to playtest the new modes and other in-development content like fan-created Platimus, the half-unicorn, half-platypus, completely awesome Champion. To participate, gamers should follow  the SmashMuck Champions Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Smashmuck) weekly for details on how to win a chance to be part of these epic summer smash sessions, streamed live each Wednesday on Twitch.tv http://www.twitch.tv/smashmuckchampions.

And to kick it all off, today through the end of the month, players will receive a free SmashMuck Champions item each day they log-in and play, and can also purchase Founders Pack upgrades at a 25 percent discount.

For more information about SmashMuck Champions, visit www.smashmuck.com.

Bracknell, UK, 22nd May 2013 – Kalypso Media today announced that a free gameplay update for its gangster-themed simulation game Omerta – City of Gangsters will available on 23rd May for the PC with the console version following soon. The update will download automatically for players when they next launch the game. As well an overhaul of the game interface and cover mechanics, the free update will add a host of new features including new sandbox game modes, new opposing gangs in single-player, rebalanced multiplayer modes and new multiplayer maps. Kalypso has also released a trailer featuring some of the new additions included in this update.

Omerta – City of Gangsters is a simulation game with tactical turn-based combat. Taking the role of a fresh-from-the-boat immigrant, with dreams of the big life, the player will work his way up the criminal hierarchy of 1920’s Atlantic City. Starting with small jobs, his character recruits a gang and expands his empire by taking territory from other gangsters. Eventually he establishes his own crime syndicate and becomes the de facto ruler of Atlantic City.

The player strategically manages his business and his minions in a real-time format, slowly but steadily increasing his influence over the city. The player sends his henchmen out on missions ranging from assassinating an informant, to raiding a warehouse, springing a friend from prison, robbing a bank, or attacking a rival gang’s hideout. Nobody is above the law in Atlantic City, so it always helps to have a little cash handy to bribe a policeman or pay off a politician.

The turn-based combat in Omerta – City of Gangsters focuses on the tactical command of “The Boss” and his henchmen. Cover and stealth are essential parts of any shootout in the game. Finding the best vantage point to gun down an enemy, while taking cover from a hailstorm of bullets, can be just as satisfying as sneaking quietly behind a foe and taking him down.

]]> http://comicbuzz.com/2013/05/gangster-sim-gets-free-gameplay-update-on-pc/feed/ 0 http://comicbuzz.com/2013/05/warner-bros-interactive-entertainment-announces-mortal-kombat-komplete-edition-for-pc/ http://comicbuzz.com/2013/05/warner-bros-interactive-entertainment-announces-mortal-kombat-komplete-edition-for-pc/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 17:07:02 +0000 shabbir http://comicbuzz.com/?p=81476 Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition for PC

LONDON UK. – 22^nd May, 2013 – Experience the legendary adrenaline pumping action as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announces Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition for PC. Windows PC players can now face-off with Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition, named the Fighting Game of the Year by Spike TV at the 2011 Video Game Awards.

Players enter the realm to face the Kombatants in Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition for PC , delivering all of the downloadable content (DLC), including intrepid warriors Skarlet, Kenshi and Rain, as well as the notorious dream stalker Freddy Krueger. Additionally, the game offers 15 Klassic Mortal Kombat Skins and three Klassic Fatalities (Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Reptile).

Originally developed by NetherRealm Studios, led by Mortal Kombat co-creator and creative director Ed Boon and adapted for PC by High Voltage Software, the game will be available for digital distribution on 3^rd July, while the physical edition will release on 2^nd August for Windows PC.

Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition for PC features dynamic gameplay including Tag Team, Challenge Tower and a full feature length story mode. Players choose from an extensive lineup of the game’s iconic warriors and challenge their friends in traditional 1 vs. 1 matches, or gamers can spectate battles and interact directly with Kombatants online during the King of the Hill mode. The game supports the  Mortal Kombat Tournament Edition Fight Stick and delivers full controller capability. Players will also be able to access achievements and leaderboard stats.

For more information about Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition for PC , please visit www.mortalkombat.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mortalkombat or on Twitter @MK_Mortalkombat

This weekend, Valiant is hitting the road for Phoenix Comicon 2013 – the signature pop culture experience of the Southwest!

Following the arrival of Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising to PS3 and PC, Activision wanted to give you an exclusive behind the scenes look at the making of The Replacers Uprising launch trailer with actors Peter Stormare and J.B Smoove.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising is rated PEGI 18 and is available now on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

A new Image/Skybound mini-series in July

Criminal mastermind Jackson T. Winters has spent the last decade languishing in prison after his last heist went horribly wrong. Now, in return for breaking him out, a rich eccentric tasks him with capturing a ghost for the millionaire’s macabre collection in the new Image Comics/Skybound mini-series GHOSTED.

Written by Joshua Williamson and drawn Goran Sdzuka, with Miroslav Mrva on colors and Eisner nominee Sean Phillips (FATALE) providing covers, GHOSTED, set to debut in July, is a dark supernatural mystery crossed with a classic caper. Expert thief Winters must assemble a completely different kind of team than the one he lost ten years before, made up of ghost hunters and paranormal experts. But the haunted house they enter may be more of a match than they’d bargained for.

“For years my obsession has been to do a book that took place in a haunted house; a crime and horror title, one that was fun but went to some dark edgy places,” said writer Williamson.  ”‘Gritty’ has become a sort of pop word to describe a certain kind of book but it really is the best way to illustrate Ghosted.”

Williamson isn’t shy about putting his characters’ dark sides on display, either. “One of my favorite things to write are the bad guys. The underbelly of the crime world. Characters that are tortured, and are kind of jerks. Ghosted has plenty of that and has been a blast.”

The first issue of the five-issue miniseries is set to go on sale on July 10. It can be pre-ordered now (Diamond Code MAY130405) from the May issue of Previews.

]]> http://comicbuzz.com/2013/05/a-criminal-mastermind-gets-ghosted-in-july/feed/ 0 http://comicbuzz.com/2013/05/ubisoft-bringing-major-titles-to-xbox-one/ http://comicbuzz.com/2013/05/ubisoft-bringing-major-titles-to-xbox-one/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 13:25:41 +0000 shabbir http://comicbuzz.com/?p=81442 UBISOFT^® BRINGING ASSASSIN’S CREED IV^® BLACK FLAG^TM, WATCHDOGS^TM AND OTHER TOP TITLES TO XBOX ONE

Publisher Plans to Deliver At Least Six Next-Gen Games for Xbox One During the System’s First 12 Months

Following the announcement of Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Ubisoft has revealed that two of its most highly-anticipated titles – Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag and WatchDogs –will be available on the platform later this year. Ubisoft also announced that these titles will be among at least six next-gen games released for Xbox One in the system’s first year.

“The next generation of consoles will reinvigorate our industry and make it possible for us to deliver incredible new entertainment to gamers,” said Yves Guillemot, co-founder and chief executive officer, Ubisoft. “Our teams are using the innovations in connectivity, immersion and social gaming included in Xbox One to create original and memorable next-gen gaming experiences.”

In addition to Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag and WatchDogs, Ubisoft will deliver a mix of new episodes of existing franchises, new IPs and digital titles for Xbox One within the system’s first 12 months on the market. More information about the lineup of games planned for the new system will be available during Ubisoft’s press conference at E3.

About Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag:

Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag tells the story of Edward Kenway, a young British man with a thirst for danger and adventure, who falls from privateering for the Royal Navy into piracy as the war between the major Empires comes to an end. Set at the dawn of the 18th Century, the game features some of the most infamous pirates in history, such as Blackbeard and Charles Vane, and takes players on a journey throughout the West Indies during a turbulent and violent period of time later to become known as the Golden Age of Pirates. Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag features a vast open world with more than 50 navigable locations. Combat combines the weaponry of the Assassin’s Order with armaments of the era, and rewards both daring and stealth. And the series’ acclaimed multiplayer experience is more varied and ruthless than ever in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag.

About WatchDogs

In WatchDogs, players will be immersed in a living, breathing and fully connected recreation of Chicago. Players will assume the role of Aiden Pearce, a new type of vigilante who, with the help of his smartphone, will use his ability to hack into Chicago’s central operating system (ctOS) and control almost every element of the city. Aiden will be able to tap into the city’s omnipresent security cameras, download personal information to locate a target, control systems such as traffic lights or public transportation to stop a chase, and more. The city of Chicago is now the ultimate weapon. Fans can stay connected to WatchDogs by visiting the official website, Facebook page and Twitter account.

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher, and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified lineup of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 26 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2012-13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2013 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin’s Creed, Black Flag, WatchDogs, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

Highly acclaimed fantasy action RPG makes its way to Sony Playstation 3 for the first time

London, United Kingdom – May 22, 2013: Nordic Games is excited to announce that they are bringing ArcaniA The Complete Tale to the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system from Sony, available on May 31^st.

Initially released for Windows PC and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, ArcaniA The Complete Tale combines ArcaniA Gothic 4 together with the Fall of Setarrif expansion that will provide an additional 10 hours of gameplay to the original story. ArcaniA is a fantasy action RPG set in a rich world that invites players to explore all of its innumerable attractions and details. Both the gameplay and the game world are affected by the weather which is accompanied by wonderfully atmospheric music and top-of-the line sound effects.

The lively and compelling adventure is full of challenges and quests that create a truly immersive world. Players will find themselves in the middle of civil unrest, centred on a mysterious ancient power, when battling through the elements players will finally discover the source of the power.

“Fans of ArcaniA have been calling out for the game to be brought to consoles and we have combined the game with the add-on, Fall of Setariff, to give players some extra bonus content.” Said Reinhard Pollice, Business & Product Development Director at Nordic Games,  “The game will appeal to both Fantasy and RPG fans alike, especially those who enjoy fast-paced combat systems and action elements for an all-round immersive gaming experience.”

When ArcaniA is played back to back with the Fall of Setarrif it provides players with a seamless path from one adventure to the next. Through the add-on, players will face an ominous demonic force which devastates the Eastern lands of Argaan, heading towards the coastal city of Setarrif. Players will need to round-up their strongest allies to defeat King Rhobar III and his military forces.

ArcaniA The Complete Tale will be available on May 31^st for the PlayStation 3 and later this Summer for Xbox 360 priced GBP 24.99.

Thrud: big of muscle, tiny of head, which is fine for Thrud as you only need a big brain if you need to talk your way out of trouble. Instead, he lets his axe speak for him!

In the first collected volume of this hugely popular cult, er, hero, Thrud faces down the necromancer To-Me Ku-Pa (FWAP! THWOK!); protects his beer supplies from fierce Frost Giants (KRISH! KER-THUNK!); faces his arch-nemesis (THUNKTHUNKTHUNK!); assumes the stately role of the king he accidentally killed (GAK! POK!) and gets his pint spilled on a mission into the depths of a primeval jungle (ARRGGLE! SPLUTCH!)!

A hilarious, timeless parody of Conan The Barbarian and his musclebound ilk!

Thrud the Barbarian hits stores on September 24, 2013.  The collection will also be available to read day and date on the iPad, iPhone, Web, Android and Kindle Fire, exclusively through the comiXology app and comiXology.com

Retailers can order Thrud the Barbarian from the June edition of Diamond PREVIEWS (order code: JUN131289)

To keep up-to-date with news from Titan Comics, visit:
http://titan-comics.com

Connect with Titan Comics:
http://twitter.com/comicstitan
http://www.facebook.com/comicstitan

PENDLETON WARD SKETCHED SIGNED AND NUMBERED GRAPHIC NOVEL

Forbidden Planet will be at MCM Expo this weekend – selling ONLY Adventure Time.

We’ll have toys, t-shirts and graphic novels – and we’ll have a limited number of the Adventure Time: Mathematical Edition – each of them signed and numbered, and featuring individual illustration by Pendleton Ward.

The Mathematical Edition is a hardback edition of the first Adventure Time graphic novel with additional ‘behind the scenes’ artwork.

These will retail at £60, and will be limited to one per customer – with half of of that being a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

We will also be launching our range of brand new Adventure Time t-shirts – which you can find here – http://forbiddenplanet.com/picks/adventure-time-launching-mcm-expo/

It’s algebraic!

WWW.FORBIDDENPLANET.COM

 Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, NBA LIVE 14 and EA SPORTS UFC
to Launch Within Next 12 Months

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced today that it has developed EA SPORTS™ IGNITE, a new game engine that will power EA SPORTS games on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation®4.  Fueled by EA SPORTS IGNITE, EA SPORTS games will be alive with players who think, move, and behave like real athletes and dynamic living worlds, transforming the way people play and experience games on next gen consoles. Created with the EA SPORTS IGNITE engine, Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, NBA LIVE 14, and EA SPORTS™ UFC, will each launch within the next 12 months.

EA SPORTS IGNITE blends new technology with the best rendering, run-time physics, animation, intelligence, locomotion, and online systems from across EA into one powerful, new engine. Athletes will possess human-like intelligence for advanced decision-making, players will have the agility required to change speeds and directions with true athletic motion, and living worlds will make the game experience as rich and dynamic as real-world stadiums and arenas. A video showcasing how EA SPORTS games will look and play on Xbox One can be viewed here.

“Through years of investment and innovation, we have built technology across EA SPORTS to create a game engine that will deliver stunning accuracy, realism and experiences that we previously could only dream about,” said Andrew Wilson, Executive Vice President and Head of EA SPORTS. “With EA SPORTS IGNITE and the power of next generation consoles, our games will come alive—with more authenticity, more emotion, more connectivity, and more fun.”

Athletes in EA SPORTS next gen games will be able to make intelligent decisions with human-like reaction times. EA SPORTS IGNITE computes four times more calculations per second than previous consoles, unlocking nearly infinite potential for how players think, and enabling them to make more difficult decisions faster. Players are alive with contextual awareness and instincts—thinking, anticipating, and reacting—just like real athletes, and players are conscious of their environment. In FIFA 14, for example, a player’s sense of urgency increases as the match draws on and a goal is needed, rushing to take a free kick, corner, or goal-kick if time is running down.

EA SPORTS IGNITE will deliver the dynamic movements and biomechanics of the world’s best athletes. With 10 times more animation depth and detail than previous consoles, and thousands of new sport-specific animations to drive new locomotion systems, players now plant, pivot and cut, quickly change speeds, and shift momentum with the agility and explosiveness of superstar athletes.

EA SPORTS games for the next generation will have stunning accuracy and visuals. By creating living worlds, the in-game environment is now as dynamic as real-world stadiums and arenas that change throughout a match. For the first time ever, 3D crowds and dynamic sidelines will impact the experience, and rich sports atmospheres will change organically based on the progress of a match.  Player actions will change depending on the situation, and crowds will have an expectation of how a game is likely to play out, and react accordingly.

Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, EA SPORTS UFC and NBA LIVE 14, will release worldwide within the next 12 months on Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, and will be available for pre-order soon. Madden NFL 25 will release in North America on August 27 and worldwide on August 30 on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. FIFA 14 will also be available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation3, PC and additional platforms. The release date has not yet been announced.

For more information about EA SPORTS IGNITE, watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxE5MaKuCEc, visit www.easports.com/ignite or join the EA SPORTS community at http://www.facebook.com/easports. Follow us on Twitter @easports and use the hash tag #EASPORTSIGNITE.  For information about EA SPORTS games visit www.easports.com.

FIFA 14 and EA SPORTS UFC are in development at EA Canada. Madden NFL 25 and NBA LIVE 14 are developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon.  The games have not yet been rated.

The Next Generation of Battlefield Begins on November 1
 
Pre-order Now to Receive the Battlefield 4 China Rising Digital Expansion Pack

GUILDFORD, U.K. – DICE, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: EA), today announced that the highly-anticipated action blockbuster Battlefield 4™ will be available this holiday for early-adopters of the next-generation hardware systems: Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the PlayStation®4. Powered by the advanced Frostbite™ 3 engine, Battlefield 4 delivers a genre-defining all-out war experience brought to life with unmatched visual and audio fidelity, superior character animations and dynamic destruction that ensures no two matches are alike. Battlefield 4 will be available November 1 for the Xbox 360® game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. Battlefield 4 will also be available for the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4.

Players that pre-order Battlefield 4 will receive the Battlefield 4 China Rising premium digital expansion pack at no additional cost*. In this sprawling expansion, players fight for dominance across the vast and majestic Chinese mainland in four massive multiplayer maps, using all-new vehicles and high-tech military equipment. Separately, players that pre-order the Battlefield 4 Digital Deluxe exclusively on Origin™ will receive the base game, bonus in-game digital items, the Battlefield 4 China Rising digital expansion pack and access to the exclusive Battlefield 4 multiplayer beta*.

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), DICE will be unveiling Battlefield 4 multiplayer with a spectacular live demo at “The Download: EA 2013 Preview” press conference taking place at 9:00 pm GMT on Monday, June 10 on Spike TV and at http://www.ea.com/e3. Fans attending E3 will have the chance to go hands-on with multiplayer in EA’s booth located at #1601 in the South Hall. DICE will also be live streaming their entire E3 booth experience including multiplayer matches complete with commentary. Tune into http://battlefield.com/livestream to catch all the action.

To join the conversation on Battlefield 4, please visit http://www.facebook.com/battlefield, follow us on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/battlefield and #BF4, or sign up for the official Battlefield newsletter at http://www.battlefield.com/uk.

* Conditions and restrictions apply. See http://store.origin.com/promo?promoID=88022500&linkid=BF4_CLP for details.

Eastern Washington University is proud to welcome back to campus Todd McFarlane, an entertainment and business mogul and an international awarding-winning artist, during its Commencement weekend June 14-15.

Todd McFarlane ’84, who will be the keynote speaker at one of two graduation ceremonies that weekend, became a comic book sensation in the 1980s due to his work on Marvel Comics Spider-Man franchise.  In 1992, he launched his own comic title, Spawn, which became one of the 1990s’ most popular heroes and which launched a highly successful and diverse career that includes action figures, film, animation and video games. Spawn became an Emmy Award-winning animated series on HBO and a top grossing live-action feature film from New Line Cinema. McFarlane founded and controls the award-winning McFarlane Toys, a leader in the action figure industry, and produces products based on the some of the hottest entertainment and sports properties.

Open to the public on the night before commencement, Friday, June 14, EWU will present Road Trip to Creative Autonomy, an evening with Todd McFarlane from 7-8 p.m., at the Red Lion Hotel at the Park in Spokane. An autograph session will follow. Admission to this special speaking engagement is $15, and will include a highly limited edition Spawn comic book with a E.W.U. Grad Special cover. The event is free for EWU students with Eagle Card ID. Advanced registration is required and IDs will be scanned at the door. Space is limited, so please RSVP to alumni.ewu.edu/mcfarlane.

McFarlane, who once worked as a janitor while studying and playing baseball at Eastern, will be the keynote speaker during the 2 p.m. Commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 15, for students in the College of Science, Health and Engineering and the College of Arts, Letters and Education.

MORE ABOUT TODD MCFARLANE

About McFarlane Toys: Grammy-and Emmy-winning producer/director Todd McFarlane, creator of Spawn, is the force behind McFarlane Toys, one of America’s top action figure manufacturers.  McFarlane Toys has become a leader and redefined the standards within the action figure industry. 2013 Marquee lines include The Walking Dead TV and Comics, Assassin Creed and HALO video franchisesand  officially licensed teams of the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. McFarlane has won two Emmys, two MTV Video Music Awards, a Grammy and hundreds of international awards for his work in the arts and action figure industry.  Todd McFarlane Entertainment continues to development projects in film, television and video games. For more information on this pop-culture powerhouse, visit: visit www.McFarlane.com; https://www.facebook.com/liketoddmcfarlane;  http://twitter.com/Todd_McFarlane (Todd_McFarlane) and https://www.youtube.com/user/McFarlaneCompany

It all began on a regular Saturday afternoon, not so long ago. I plopped my rump on the family chair and began flickering through channels. I don’t watch TV. I prefer to buy a complete box set and watch it over a number of days. As I navigated through the fountain of channels, I stumbled across Regular Show. The episode airing was “Caffeinated Concert Tickets.” The attraction, for me, was the dark and bizarre humor, and by the time I heard ‘‘Working for the Weekend’’ by Loverboy – I was hooked!

I purchased my comics quite late (Tuesday), so I was one lucky dude to snag the last copy from Forbidden Planet (I got the cover with Skips). The thing that intrigued me most about this adaptation was seeing how it would translate to another medium. Immediately the characters voices played in my head as I read the dialogue – off to a good start. The first issue provides two stories, so I’ll review each one.

The first segment is done in conjunction with the show; Allison Strejlau provides the art, which adds instant familiarity. The plot – like the cartoon – begins with a simple premise, but turns whacky as the story unfolds. In this case, an annual benefit concert is being held in the park. The act is dull and pretentious. Muscle Man expresses his hate for the genre of music (I can relate) and decides the rock things up by starting a mosh pit, which leads to a dark force being unleashed. The story will continue in issue #2.

Next is ‘’Thrill Baby’’ written and illustrated by Brian Butler. Butler’s fondness for the odd blends perfectly with the zany antics from the show. Here, Rigby hesitates to go on a ride called FACE MELTER because every time his photo gets taken on the ride, he gets laughed at. The concept is hilarious, and the solution to Rigby’s insecurity amps the funny up. The art sells everything because Butler includes so much; it really takes time to soak it all in. I specifically loved the coaster panels – the stretched and twisted art is wonderfully splashed across the two pages.

I highly recommend picking this book up if you adore the show. It’s just plain fun. The only drawback is the lack of content. For a first issue, I expected it to be jammed with more pages – oh well!

Rating 9/10

In continuing to tell the live stories of the creators of the most iconic heroes in the comic book world.  In the next two weeks, Bluewater Productions will be telling the life stories of the creators of “Superman” and “Wonder Woman”.

Out on May 22nd, in the Bluewater Productions brand “Orbit” comic books comes “Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster: the Creators of Superman.”

Everyone knows Superman came from Krypton, but he also came from the minds of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. These two artists labored in obscurity for years, and they were eventually rescued by the fandom they inspired. Here’s the story of these Clevelanders who created a world, changing ours forever.

“Siegel & Shuster: the Creators of Superman” is written by Jon Judy with art by Matita Copertina.

“When Bluewater approached me about writing a biography comic of Siegel and Shuster, I just couldn’t pass it up. Superman has been such an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I relished the opportunity to pay my respects in what I hope is an entertaining and informative format. I approached this as a love letter to Jerry and Joe, and I hope that affection shows,” said writer Jon Judy.

“Female Force: William M. Marston the creator of “Wonder Woman” will follow a week later on May 29th, written by Loyd Gant art by Gabriele Valenza. The cover was created by Jon Woodard.

Extraordinary characters spring from extraordinary minds. See the history that inspired comic book’s first major female super-hero in this American tale of truth, bondage, myths and love. The story of  Wonder Woman’s creator, William Moulton Marston, is filled with political intrigue, alternative lifestyles and rooted in the evolution of  freedom.

“Growing up, I’ve always been a fan of comics and the heroes inside their pages, but I’ve always regarded the real stars as the creators behind the comics. They are the people that turned blank paper into stories and characters we all know and love.  It was an honor to celebrate and tell the story of one of those heroes.” said Gant.

“Telling the stories of the creators can be just as interesting as the stories themselves.  When we did the creator of Barbie, we learned that the Barbie doll was inspired by a sex doll in Germany. People will love what we uncovered about this new batch of creators,”  said publisher Darren G. Davis.  ”We also have more iconic creators planned for after the summer too”.

Bluewater has told the biography stories of comic book legends Jack Kirby (also written by Jon Judy) and Stan Lee in comic book form.  Both are still available in print and digital.

You can download these titles on Wowio, Comixology, DriveThru Comics, Google Play, My Digital Comics, Overdrive, Iverse, PanelFly, iTunes, Kindle, Wowio, Nook, Kobo and wherever eBooks are sold.

You can get the print copies at Comic Flea Market by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ZlD5Bs

Director: Chris Wedge

Stars: Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Beyoncé Knowles

The Facts (taken from IMDB.com)

A teenager finds herself transported to a deep forest setting where a battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil is taking place. She bands together with a rag-tag group characters in order to save their world — and ours.

The Review

Epic is one of those children’s movies that bring out the child in you, it’s by no means perfect, but there is enough there to entertain you for the movie.  This is one you take the children to if we ever have rain at the weekends.

A Scientist is searching for an elusive race of small people that are doing battle in the forest near his home, he’s lost his career and marriage to this belief, and with the death of his ex wife he now has to share his passion for his work of finding these creatures with managing his now teenage daughter.  We are taken back and forth from our reality to the fantasy world of the forest creatures.  The small people of the forest, with their near superhero powers, are fighting a battle against an evil bunch of critters that want to poison and destroy all the beauty of the forest.  The Daughter of the Scientist gets shrunk down and has to join the battle.

Now, the animation here goes from the amazingly beautiful to the awful.  It gets so bad that it pulls you out of the story and that’s not why I go to the cinema.  I go to enter a world where reality is left at the door.  The one character that suffers the most from the bad animation is The Queen, it really looks like they took one of Barbie’s friends and moved her about a bit.  Also Colin Farrell’s voice acting is a bit strange as it goes from really Irish to really something else.

The main thing here and the reason you should go see this movie and drag along the kids if you have to is the battle scenes, it is here that this movie shines.  The 3D is a little hit and miss for me, but most movies that have 3D are hit and miss.

All in all this is an average animation movie, the good slightly outweighs the bad, and from the makers of Ice Age that is disappointing in itself.  The movie is left open for an obvious sequel.

That’s all, talk soon Chums.

21st May 2013

After much speculation Microsoft has unveiled its new home console, the Xbox One. The launch date for the new device is yet to be announced, however GAME is pleased to announce that pre-orders are already open for Microsoft’s cutting-edge device.

The Microsoft Xbox One is available to pre order now in stores and online at http://xboxnews.game.co.uk/ for £20.

Judging by the ecstatic response of the gaming community to the PlayStation 4 reveal back in February, demand for the Xbox One from Microsoft devotees is expected to be equally high.

Charlotte Knight, Category Director, GAME Retail Ltd says: “Gamers all around the country have been eagerly waiting to find out what Microsoft will be bringing to the table – today we have our answer: not only is the Xbox One a really powerful piece of gaming hardware, it promises the next level in home entertainment. The UK gaming community is obviously excited by the prospect of this next generation console and we can’t wait to see it in action at E3 next month!

“It is worth reminding everyone who’s interested in the Xbox One that many console launches have seen demand significantly outstrip supply, so we would urge anyone wishing to  get their hands on a Xbox One from launch to place a deposit with our store  teams or online as soon as possible.”

About GAME

GAME Retail Ltd. is the UK’s leading high-street videogames retailer. Formed in April 2012, GAME is committed to delivering for the gaming communities of the UK online, in-store, on mobile and through their app. With a market-leading reward proposition, incredible exclusive content and great deals, GAME is the number one destination for all gaming needs. For more information, please visit www.game.co.uk.

Zenescope Entertainment has announced plans to bring together a cast of its most popular Grimm Universe characters for the upcoming mini-series which will be entitled Realm Knights. The company best known for re-telling classic stories with a unique blend of horror, tongue-in-cheek humor and great action, is bringing out its heavy hitters for this brand new four issue mini-series that teams up its fan-favorite characters such as Robyn Hood, Van Helsing, Red Riding Hood and Sela Mathers. Together the group forms the Realm Knights, a powerful modern day team of heroes that is chosen to help eliminate daunting supernatural threats against our world.

“It’s a great mix of fantasy, action, horror and humor.” says writer Patrick Shand. “It’s a blast to take these characters out of their separate titles and allow them to come together against common threats while also trying to get along with one other. For Grimm Fairy Tales fans, the elements will be familiar but also feel fresh and different.”

The first issue of Realm Knights is available now for pre-order in Diamond’s June 2013 edition of PREVIEWS and will be released both in print and digitally in August. The #1 issue will feature covers by Anthony Spay, Marat Mychaels, Alfredo Reyes and will also include a unique “suiting up” connecting cover by Anthony Spay that will spread across all four issues of the first mini-series. For more information on Realm Knights or any other Zenescope title, visit www.zenescope.com or follow their updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Zenescope Entertainment was founded by Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco in 2005, and has quickly grown into one of the top comic book and graphic novel publishing companies in the world. Zenescope’s Grimm Fairy Tales and subsequent spinoff series such as Wonderland, Neverland and Robyn Hood, which put a dark twist on classic fables, are some of the best-selling and longest-running original independent comic books on shelves today. Zenescope publishes and develops both original and licensed material and has worked with dozens of clients that include Discovery Channel, History Channel, CBS, Lionsgate TV, Mandalay Vision, New Line Cinema, Titmouse Studios and many others.

Call of Duty: Ghosts takes the critically-acclaimed franchise into the next generation. New world. New story. New, next-gen engine

Blockbuster titles, Steven Spielberg-produced Halo TV series, and exclusive agreements with the NFL transform games, TV and entertainment for the 21st century living room.

Dublin, Ireland — May 21, 2013 — A new vision for the future comes to life today as Microsoft Corp. unveils Xbox One, the all-in-one gaming and entertainment system created for today and the decade ahead. At Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash., the company showcased how Xbox One puts you at the center of all your games, TV, movies, music, sports and Skype.

“Xbox One is designed to deliver a whole new generation of blockbuster games, television and entertainment in a powerful, all-in-one device,” said Don Mattrick, president, Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Our unique, modern architecture brings simplicity to the living room and, for the first time ever, the ability to instantly switch across your games and entertainment.”

Introducing Xbox One

With Xbox One, games push the boundaries of realism, and TV obeys your commands.¹ Say “Xbox On” to launch your personalized Xbox One Home screen, discover what is popular on TV or see friends’ latest gaming achievements all using the most natural interface — your voice. The more you interact with Xbox One, the more it gets to know you and learns what you like. Some of the breakthrough Xbox One features that put you at the center of your living room entertainment include the following:

·         TV on Xbox One.¹ Navigate and watch live TV from your cable, telco or satellite set-top box through your Xbox One. Microsoft is committed to bringing live TV through various solutions to all the markets where Xbox One will be available.³

·         Home. Turn on your entertainment system with two powerful words, “Xbox On,” and a custom-tailored Home dashboard welcomes you with your favorite games, TV and entertainment.

·         Snap. Do two things at once on the biggest screen in your home. Use Snap to jump into a multiplayer battle while watching your favorite movie, chat with friends on Skype while watching live TV, or track your fantasy team on TV as you watch the big game and more.

·         Skype for Xbox One. Specially designed for Xbox One, chat with friends on your TV in stunning HD, or for the first time ever, hold group Skype calls on your TV.

·         Trending.¹ Stay on top of what is hot on TV by discovering the entertainment that is popular among your friends, and see what is trending within the Xbox community.

·         OneGuide.^{1, 2} Find your favorite entertainment easily, searching by network, name or time, all with the sound of your voice and presented in a tailored program guide.

To create the most advanced Xbox system ever designed for games, TV and entertainment, Microsoft created a state-of-the-art gaming operating system and fused it with an equally amazing entertainment platform, so you will not have to switch inputs to watch TV or play a game. An eight-core, x86 processor and more than 5 billion transistors helps make lag and load times a thing of the past, so you can instantly jump between a game and your entertainment at lightning speed or run a host of apps right alongside your game with no loss in performance.

Introducing Xbox One titles and exclusives

Gaming on Xbox One immerses gamers in cinematic worlds that look like real life, with characters that feel more human than ever before. AAA blockbuster titles unveiled for Xbox One include the following:

·         “Forza Motorsport 5” from Turn 10 Studios is the latest edition of the highest-rated racing franchise of the past 10 years.³ Built from the ground up to take advantage of Xbox One and the infinite power of the cloud, no game better delivers the sensation of being behind the wheel. “Forza Motorsport 5” sets a new bar for racing games and will be available exclusively for Xbox One at launch.

·         “Call of Duty: Ghosts” is the next generation of “Call of Duty” and a stunning leap forward for the franchise. It delivers an all-new world, an all-new cast of characters and an all-new story, built on a new, next-generation engine. The next-generation technical innovations built to support the incredible gameplay advancements make this the most beautiful and immersive “Call of Duty” experience yet. Activision and Microsoft also announced the renewal of their close partnership that will see both the return of the “Call of Duty^® Championship,” presented by Xbox, as well as all-new downloadable content debuting first and exclusively on the Xbox platform.

·         “FIFA 14,” “Madden NFL 25,” “NBA LIVE 14,” and “EA SPORTS UFC” from EA SPORTS will change the way consumers experience and play sports games. Driven by the new EA SPORTS Ignite engine, these new EA SPORTS games will deliver massive innovations in human intelligence, true player motion and living worlds. Adding to its commitment to Xbox One, EA SPORTS also announced the promise of exclusive content to be revealed in the coming months.

·         “Quantum Break” from Remedy Entertainment is a revolutionary entertainment experience from the creators of “Max Payne” and “Alan Wake” that blurs the line between gaming and TV by integrating drama and gameplay into one seamless, uniquely immersive experience. How you play the game impacts the show, and the show informs how you play the game.

In addition to the amazing lineup of games coming to Xbox One, Microsoft unveiled exclusive content partnerships with some of the top names in TV, sports and entertainment.

·         “Halo” television series. World-renowned director Steven Spielberg will executive-produce an original “Halo” live-action television series with exclusive interactive Xbox One content, created in partnership with 343 Industries and Xbox Entertainment Studios.
·         National Football League (NFL).¹ A multiyear, landmark partnership will deliver the ultimate interactive NFL television experiences for the next-generation Xbox One and leverage Microsoft devices and services to evolve both in-game and on the sideline. The NFL on Xbox will redefine broadcast experiences through innovations around Skype, Xbox SmartGlass and player-worn technology; add an all-new fantasy football solution for the biggest screen in the house; and create a personalized NFL destination only available on Xbox One.

Introducing a new generation of Xbox LIVE

Xbox One is built to amplify an all-new generation of Xbox LIVE that is more powerful, more personal and more intelligent. Unleashing the virtually unlimited power of the cloud makes everything more convenient and accessible, from allowing games to be installed in segments so that gameplay can start quickly to updates downloading in the background. Save and store your personalized profile, games and entertainment in the cloud to access them anytime, from any Xbox One console.⁴ In addition, existing Xbox LIVE Gold Membership for Xbox 360 will seamlessly carry over to Xbox One.⁵ Xbox LIVE takes you deeper into the games you love with all-new features.

·         Smart Match. A new Smart Match matchmaking system virtually eliminates waiting in lobbies by estimating wait times and finding people you want to play with while you are enjoying other activities — reputation fundamentally matters and helps find best matches.

·         Game DVR. A dedicated Game DVR captures and accesses your magic moments, all saved to the cloud. Along with sharing tools, you will have the most amazing bragging rights with Xbox LIVE.

·         Living Games.⁶ Dynamic, living worlds evolve and improve the more you play, and advanced artificial intelligence can learn to play like you, so friends can play against your shadow.

·         Expanded achievements. A new and expanded achievements system captures video of your epic moments, continues to grow a game’s achievements over time and rewards you in new ways, and your Gamerscore carries over from Xbox 360.

·         Xbox SmartGlass.⁶ Xbox SmartGlass is natively part of the Xbox One platform, built in from the beginning with the ability to quickly render content directly onto your device, and now more devices can connect at one time for multiplayer and shared entertainment.

Introducing the Xbox One look and feel

New Xbox One hardware is sleek and modern and complements any décor. The console is shaped in the 16:9 aspect ratio and employs a horizontal orientation optimized for its high-speed Blu-ray^™ disc drive. It is molded in a deep and rich liquid black color and includes a distinctive beveled edge.

The completely redesigned, revolutionary 1080p Kinect sensor is more precise, more responsive and more intuitive. Its unparalleled vision, motion and voice technology let you reach into games and entertainment like never before by dramatically expanding its field of view and fidelity. It works in nearly any lighting condition, recognizes precise motion control from a slight wrist rotation, and distinguishes your voice even in a noisy room using advanced noise isolation.

The class-leading Xbox controller is refreshed with more than 40 technical and design innovations. Updated directional pad, thumb stick and ergonomic fit immerse all gamers in ways that are uniquely Xbox, and precision and control have been dramatically increased with all new vibrating impulse triggers.⁶ The Xbox One controller is designed to work in concert with the new Kinect, allowing the two to be paired automatically to create seamless player syncing.

Xbox One launches this holiday season around the world. Visit the new Xbox Wire blog at http://news.xbox.com for in-depth features on the new system, including photos and videos from the unveiling event and new and rotating content from Xbox. More details about Xbox One and blockbuster games will be explored at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June.

About Xbox

Xbox is Microsoft’s premier entertainment brand for the TV, phone, PC and tablet. In living rooms or on the go, Xbox is home to the best and broadest games, as well as one of the world’s largest libraries of movies, TV, music, and sports. Your favorite games, TV and entertainment come to life in new ways through the power of Kinect, Xbox SmartGlass, and Xbox LIVE, the world’s premier social entertainment network. More information about Xbox can be found online at http://www.xbox.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Features and requirements are under development and may change prior to release. Available features and content may vary by country. Broadband Internet (ISP fees apply) and advanced TV hardware required. Games and media content sold separately. Xbox LIVE Gold Membership, paid subscription and other requirements apply for some Xbox LIVE features.

¹ Live TV with Kinect navigation, Live TV with One Guide, Trending, and NFL on Xbox available in U.S. at launch; anticipating global scale over time.

²Kinect voice functionality only available in supported locales and languages.

³ At launch, Live TV will require a supported receiver device with HDMI output (sold separately).

⁴ Subject to geographical content restrictions.

⁵ Some Xbox Live content and features available on Xbox 360, including avatar content and some apps, are not available with Xbox Live on Xbox One.

⁶ In supported games.

The master thief returns on Microsoft’s new platform

Montréal (May 21, 2013) – Square Enix® and Eidos-Montréal®, the award winning studio behind the critically acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution®, is excited to announce today that THIEF™ is being developed for  Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft.

“The team at Eidos-Montreal is thrilled to confirm that THIEF is coming to Xbox One. The next generation of home consoles allow us to create the best and the most immersive THIEF game ever. The feedback we have received so far is simply amazing and we can’t wait to show more of THIEF at E3 this year” said Stephane D’Astous, General Manager, Eidos-Montréal.

For more details about THIEF – visit the Square Enix booth at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in the South Hall #1647

THIEF will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation®4, and Windows PC in 2014.

 
Official Website: thiefgame.com 
Official Facebook®: facebook.com/thief
Official Twitter®: @Thief
Official Youtube®: http://www.youtube.com/thief

About THIEF
THIEF is a reinvention of a classic franchise that allows players to take on the role of Garrett, THE master thief. When the city that created and defines him is threatened, Garrett must step from the shadows and uncover the truth before his world is torn apart forever.

LEGO  Batman 2: DC Super Heroes will take advantage of the innovative Wii U™ GamePad controller.  Players will navigate through Gotham City using an enhanced interactive map and select their favorite DC Comics characters to assemble a powerful team of heroes, all with the use of the controller’s touchscreen.  They can even enjoy the entire game experience on the GamePad in off-TV mode, or have a second player join in on the TV, so they can fight crime together without having to share a single screen.

The award-winning LEGO  Batman 2: DC Super Heroes  gives players the chance to step into the shoes of the Caped Crusader and fully explore a LEGO version of Gotham City.  Once again under threat from the Joker, Batman must defend Gotham with the help of powerful friends like Superman and Robin, to put a stop to the diabolical plans of his nemesis and his entire team of super villains including Lex Luthor, The Penguin and Harley Quinn.  Encounter all of the Dark Knight’s iconic allies and enemies in a charming, hilarious, family-friendly adventure full of exciting gameplay.

Interested in finding out what’s been happening in the world of FLARE and the LEAGUE OF CHAMPIONS?

From now through the end of Memorial Day, HEROIC PUBLISHING is offering a special online discount of 20% off the regular price of each and every comic book title the company has ever published. That not only includes Heroic’s classic issues of Flare, Champions, and other titles from the mid-1980s, it also includes all the more recently published issues that were never distributed by Diamond!

There are dozens of issues of CHAMPIONS, FLARE, LIBERTY GIRL, THE INFINITES, MURCIELAGA SHE-BAT, and other Heroic titles, including the fifth issues of Roy Thomas’s ANTHEM and ALTER EGO, that many comic book fans have never had the opportunity to see.

Now through Memorial Day, fans have their best opportunity to catch up on the adventures of these classic characters at a special discounted price.

Just visit the Heroic Publishing website at www.heroicmultiverse.com and order all the back issues you need. Find out what’s been happening in the world of FLARE and the LEAGUE OF CHAMPIONS today!

Heroic Publishing’s comic book titles are distributed exclusively by Heroic Distribution’s online web service. Retailers interested in carrying this and other Heroic Publishing titles should register for a free retail account at www.heroicmultiverse.com/heroicdist

Nexx Studio unveils floral chain reaction puzzle game on iOS

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – May 21, 2013 – Nexx Studio, cool and colorful South East Asian indie mobile game developer, today revealed Bloom Box, their Springy upcoming puzzle game for iOS. The game tasks players with setting up chain reactions to shoot flower projectiles across the field to free trapped flowers. It’s a challenging mobile puzzler built around the domino effect. Bloom Box is set to blossom on May 29, 2013 in the App Store for iPhone and iPod touch at $1.99, but will be offered for just $0.99 as part of a launch promotion.

Just in time for spring, Bloom Box is ready to let the flowers bloom across many colorful fields. Players are challenged with placing different types of blocks strategically on the field, without the constraints of a timer. Once lined up, lighting the fuse makes each block shoot flower projectiles in different directions to free flowers and collect stars along the way. Activating chain reactions by lining up boxes in each other’s line of fire, while taking into account different types of boxes, is the key to collecting hard-to-reach stars and advancing to the next level. The more stars the player collects, the more gardens and levels they will unlock.

Bloom Box features:

• Strategically place 5 different block types that shoot flower projectiles in different directions; free flowers from every box and collect stars along the way.
• Complete 120 levels across 4 unique worlds, the 4^th of which is a bonus garden, each featuring different block types and puzzles of varying difficulty.
• Unlock new stages by collecting stars in each level!
• Earn up to 25 different Game Center achievements.
• Stuck? Use Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail to ask friends for help in solving the hardest puzzles. Share puzzle solutions on Facebook and Twitter as well to help stumped friends!

April showers? No, you can thank Nexx Studio for bringing May flowers! Bloom Box sprouts on the App Store for $0.99 for a limited time only on May 29, 2013.

To learn more about Bloom Box, please visit Nexx Studio on:

• Official website: www.nexxstudio.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/nexxstudio
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/nexxstudio