Author: Derek Kraneveldt

Derek Kraneveldt is Geekscape's managing editor. A media, comic, and technology enthusiast, he's happy to call Geekscape home. Looking for more from Derek? Keep up with him on twitter or email him here!

Geekscape Mobile: ‘Robocop: The Official Game’ Gets A Trailer

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Glu Mobile has just released the trailer for the official Robocop tie-in game.

The title is a free-to-play third-person shooter, and aside from some pointy graphics, actually looks like it could be fun. The title is available now for iOS, and is coming soon to Android.

Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be checking it out! Are you looking forward to Robocop’s release next month?

http://youtu.be/ttqqcgDKiHM

Matt Reeves Signs On For Third ‘Planet Of The Apes’ Film

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Months before Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will hit theatres, director Matt Reeves has signed on to helm a third film in the once again relevant Planet of the Apes franchise.

Reeves will also write the sequel, along with Dawn screenwriter Mark Bomback. No other details have been revealed at this time, nor has a release date been set.

Are you looking forward to seeing Dawn of the Planet of the Apes this Summer? Did you catch the film’s first trailer a few weeks back? Sound out below!

LET ME IN

Source: Deadline

Sony Reveals Playstation Now, Its Gaikai Based Streaming Service

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: During Sony’s now-concluded CES presentation, Sony Computer Entertainment President Andrew House took to the stage to reveal some welcomed Playstation news.

First up, Sony has sold a lot of PS4 units.

House then went on to reveal Playstation Now, the official name of their long-awaited Gaikai based streaming service. PS Now is set to deliver a variety of popular PlayStation 3 game titles, first on PlayStation 4 and PS3 systems, followed by the PlayStation Vita.

Pricing for PS Now has not yet been revealed, but users will have the ability to rent specific titles, or pay for a subscription that gives them access to a wide variety of titles.

Take a look at the full press release below, and we’ll be sure to share more Playstation Now news as soon as it’s available.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that “PlayStation™Now” (PS Now), the company’s streaming game service that leverages cloud-based technology, will become officially available in the United States this summer. PS Now will deliver a variety of popular PlayStation®3 (PS3™) game titles*1 first on PlayStation®4 (PS4™) and PS3 systems, followed by the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) system.

In addition to PlayStation platforms, most 2014 U.S. models of Sony’s BRAVIA® TV*2 lineup will support PS Now. Eventually the service will expand beyond PlayStation platforms and Sony devices, allowing users to stream PlayStation games on numerous other Internet-connected devices.

SCE’s vision for PS Now is to enable users to instantly enjoy a wide range of full games on the Internet-connected consumer electronics devices they use every day. The accessibility of PS Now means, for example, that PS4 users in the living room can continue playing a game on a PS3 system in their bedroom. Or PS Vita users can enjoy instant access to a game wherever there’s Wi-Fi connectivity, such as outdoors, then can switch to a supporting BRAVIA® TV’s big screen and play the same game after arriving home.

PS Now will offer choice to gamers with how they want to access content. Gamers can rent by title for specific games they are interested in, or they can choose a subscription that delivers additional value with the ability to explore and play many games available across a wide variety of genres. In addition, the service will support many popular PSNSM features such as online multi-player, Trophies, and messages.

“We are thrilled to deliver entertainment experiences only possible from PlayStation through our new streaming game service,” said Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “PS Now will allow users to engage in the world of PlayStation, whether they’re existing fans or have never owned a PlayStation platform.”

During the 2014 International CES held in Las Vegas from January 7, attendees can visit the Sony booth to have a hands-on experience with the PS Now service for the first time ever. Attendees can enjoy four blockbuster PS3 titles, BEYOND: Two Souls, God of War: Ascension, The Last of Us and Puppeteer from SCE Worldwide Studios, on PS Vita or BRAVIA® TV.

Prior to the official launch, SCE will begin a beta program on PS3 systems in certain regions of the United States from the end of January. Additional information about PS Now will be available at http://us.playstation.com/playstationnow.

SCE will continue to create and expand a new world of entertainment only available on PlayStation through the introduction of innovative technologies and services that deliver amazing experiences.

*1 Details of supported titles will be announced when ready.
*2 Among the 9 U.S. models launching in 2014, 1 model (KDL-R400B) will not support this service.

ps4retailcontents

‘Left 4 Dead’ Creator Turtle Rock Unveils ‘Evolve’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The next game from Left 4 Dead creator Turtle Rock has finally been revealed.

It’s called Evolve, and the game will grace the cover of this month’s Game Informer magazine. GI also has the first info on the project, which will be published by 2K games (who acquired the IP from THQ), and will hit PS4, Xbox One, and PC this Fall.

Like Left 4 Dead before it, Evolve sounds like an absolutely wonderful multiplayer experience. Here’s the low-down from Game Informer:

The sci-fi multiplayer-focused shooter pits a four-player crew of alien hunters against a separate player-controlled monster that grows larger and more powerful over the course of matches. Each hunter features its own unique items and abilities, and while the monster may be outnumbered, its size and an assortment of devastating attacks make it a more than formidable foe. Like Turtle Rock’s previous titles, Evolve is being built with variety and replayabilty in mind; the result is a novel mix of cooperative and competitive multiplayer elements that’s unlike anything we’ve played before. Our exclusive hands-on time with the game’s four-versus-one hunt mode left us with plenty to be excited about, and you can get all the details in this month’s issue.

Sounds like a buy to me. We’ll be sure to share more info on Evolve as soon as it’s available!

GameInformer

Source: Game Informer

First Photo Of Peter Capaldi On The Set Of ‘Doctor Who’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: BBC has just revealed the first photo of Peter Capaldi on the set of Doctor Who.

He’s working with Jenna Coleman, and said “New job, first day, slightly nervous. Just like the Doctor, I’m emerging from the TARDIS into a whole other world.”

Take a look at the photo below, and let us know what you think of the new Doctor! Will he be a decent replacement for Matt Smith?

Capaldi

Source: BBC America

PS4 Sales Surpass 4.2 Million Units

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Just yesterday Microsoft revealed that they had sold over 3 million Xbox One units through the end of 2013.

Today, during their CES presentation, Sony revealed that PS4 sales have surpassed 4.2 million units worldwide.

You can watch Sony’s ongoing presentation below, but be sure to let us know what you think of the news!



Live streaming video by Ustream

New ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ International Posters Put Electro Front And Centre

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: With all of the recent The Amazing Spider-Man 2 marketing (did you catch the Times Square trailer from earlier this week?), it’s been made very apparent that Electro is the main villain in the film. I’d question whether or not Rhino would even make an appearance had we not seen a quick clip of him in the film’s first trailer.

Sony has just debuted three new international posters for the film, and keeping with the trend, Rhino is nowhere to be seen. As usual, Jamie Foxx’s Electro falls front and centre in each image.

Take a look at the posters below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the film (and where the hell you think that Rhino could be). The Amazing Spider-Man 2 hits theatres on May 2nd!

asm1

asm2

asm3

We’ve always known that Spider-Man’s most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.

 

It’s great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.

Source: Twitter, Digital Spy, IGN

Geekscape Mobile: ‘Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project’ Coming To iOS Next Week

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: This is a pretty cool announcement, as I missed out on Manhattan Project for all these years (it originally hit PC in 2002)!

Yep, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project is set to release on iOS sometime next week. The game will feature heavily customizable controls (and also controller support), so I really hope that it fares better than the port of Duke Nukem 3D, which was nearly impossible to play due to its horrendous controls.

There’s little info available on the port at this time (including date or price), but we’ll be sure to share as soon as we learn more. Did you catch this game back in 2002? Or maybe on XBLA more recently? Are you looking forward to an iOS version? Sound out below!

http://youtu.be/VK9WTDrPfLQ

Batman, Superman Get Their Own ‘The Lego Movie’ Posters

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Warner Bros. has just debuted two excellent new character posters for next month’s highly anticipated The Lego Movie.

The latest one-sheets feature Batman, who will be voiced by Will Arnett in the film, and Superman, voiced by Channing Tatum.

If you haven’t seen the film’s trailer yet, I’d highly recommend that you check it out, as this thing looks wonderful. In any case, take a look at the new posters below, and let us know what you think! The Lego Movie hits theatres on February 7th, 2014!

SupermanLegoMovie

BatmanLegoMovie

The original 3D computer animated story follows Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world.

Don’t Look Back: Watch A New Trailer For Zombie Studios’ ‘Daylight’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Could survival horror be making a comeback?

Sure, former kings like Resident Evil and Silent Hill may have lost their way (and I only hope that they can find it again), but with titles like Dying Light, The Evil Within, Daylight and more coming later this year, it certainly feels like the genre has been reinvigorated.

I’m always up for a good scare, and so far, Zombie Studios’ Daylight looks fantastic. The Blacklight: Retribution developer just launched a new trailer for the procedurally generated survival horror game, which is coming very soon to PC and PS4. Take a look at the new trailer below, and let us know what you think!

Xbox One Sales Surpass 3 Million Units

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: All the way back in November, Microsoft revealed that the Xbox One had sold over 1 million units in its first 24 hours of availability.

The company has just announced that, as of the end of 2013, over 3 million consoles have been sold worldwide. Here’s the entire announcement, straight from Xbox Wire:

Thanks to you, 2013 was an incredible year for gamers, entertainment fans, our industry and Xbox. With Xbox One we saw the most epic launch for Xbox by all measures. We are humbled and grateful for your loyalty and delighted by the millions of hours of gameplay and entertainment enjoyed on Xbox.

 

Together, we ushered in a new era of games and entertainment with Xbox One. Over 3 million Xbox One consoles were sold to consumers in 13 countries before the end of 2013. It’s been incredible to see Xbox One selling at a record-setting pace for Xbox, and we were honored to see Xbox One become the fastest-selling console in the U.S. during our launch month in November. Since our launch, demand for Xbox One has been strong, selling out throughout the holidays at most retailers worldwide. We are continuing to work hard to deliver additional consoles to retailers as fast as possible.

 

The reaction from our fans was mind-blowing for our team. As we see your excitement, your energy and your hours of gameplay, we continue to be inspired to do great work – for you. Whether you’re racing through the streets of Prague in “Forza Motorsport 5,” creating crazy weapons for zombie destruction in “Dead Rising 3,” exploring the Colosseum in Gladiator mode in “Ryse: Son of Rome,” helping your children create their own personal zoo in “Zoo Tycoon,” or enjoying epic multiplayer battles, we love that you’re having fun on Xbox One.

 

We also love that you are seeing the promise of an all-in-one entertainment system. Millions of hours of live TV have been watched and millions of hours of app entertainment have been enjoyed. We are proud to have the most passionate, engaged, and simply the best fans in the world. It was fun to share the holidays with so many of you.

 

We’re excited for the year ahead and will be working hard to bring Xbox One to more fans and more markets around the globe. 2014 will be a promising year with many more great games on the way for Xbox One including “Titanfall,” “Watch_Dogs,” “Project Spark,” “Sunset Overdrive,” “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” “Destiny,” “Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare,” and “The Elder Scrolls Online,” among others. More games, more features, more content, more fun – all coming your way this year.

 

Thank you for making 2013 truly epic for Xbox and here’s to 2014!

That’s a pretty amazing stat for just two months of availability. We last heard from Sony in early December, who had sold over 2.1 million consoles at that time. In any case, both consoles should surpass the lifetime sales of Nintendo’s struggling (but awesome) Wii U (which has seen increased sales in the past few months) long before this year is over.

What do you think of the announcement? Have you picked up a next-gen console yet?

Xbox One

‘House Of Cards’ Season Two Gets A New Poster, Full Trailer

by Derek Kraneveldt

Brielfy: With just over one month to go until Netflix releases the entire second season of their critically acclaimed drama, House of Cards, the streaming-service turned production company has just debuted a new trailer for the upcoming episodes.

I still haven’t finished the first season, but will be watching it sooner rather than later as I’ve heard nothing but praise for the drama. Take a look at the new trailer below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the second season!

Netflix also debuted a new poster for the upcoming season:

HouseofCards

In the second season, Francis (Spacey) and Claire (Wright) Underwood continue their ruthless rise to power as threats mount on all fronts. Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara, “American Horror Story”), an up-and-coming reporter and Francis’s former paramour, is inching closer to the truth about his crimes. President Walker’s (Michel Gill, “The Good Wife”) billionaire confidante Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney, “Southland”) demands that Francis reciprocate political favors or face retribution. And Claire must confront the increasing glare of the spotlight as it eats away at her and Francis’s once private existence. The Underwood’s must overcome these dangers — past and present — to avoid losing everything, regardless of collateral damage they leave in their wake.

Watch The First 15 Minutes Of Ron Moore’s ‘Helix’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’re just one week away from the highly anticipated premiere of Battlestar Galactica creator Ron Moore’s Helix, and Syfy has just debuted the first 15 minutes of the pilot for your viewing pleasure.

I haven’t had a chance to watch the sneak peek myself yet (it has been a very busy day), but from everything we’ve seen so far, the show looks (and sounds) very cool.

In any case, take a look at the first 15 minutes of Helix below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the full premiere!

http://youtu.be/CviEeDRBr6w

From Executive Producer Ron Moore (Battlestar Galactica), Helix is an intense thriller about a team of scientists from the Centers for Disease Control who travel to a remote research facility to investigate a possible outbreak. Once there, they find themselves embroiled in a life-and-death struggle that could spell mankind’s salvation – or annihilation.

‘Fast & Furious 7’ To Retire, Not Kill Off The Brian O’Connor Character

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: In the wake of Paul Walker’s tragic death just over a month ago, the seventh chapter in the Fast and the Furious series was put on an indefinite hold, and if rumours can be believed, nearly cancelled completely.

In late December, series star and Paul’s close friend Vin Diesel revealed a new release date for the film (April 10th, 2015). Now, THR has learned that Walker’s character, Bran O’Connor, will be “retired” from the franchise, rather than killed off. According to the article, director James Wan and writers Chris Morgan and Jeffrey Kirschenbaum have decided to “tweak the existing script so that Walker would remain a part of the story but could be written out,” and that he’ll be retired in a way that “will satisfy fans of the franchise and make use of the existing footage of Walker.”

In any case, it won’t be the same without him. It’s certainly going to be bittersweet seeing this one on opening night.

Are you happy with the decision? Are you still looking forward to the film? Fast & Furious 7 hits theatres on April 10th, 2015.

In an attempt to lighten the mood, here’s a hilarious video of Walker on set.

Source: THR

‘Bravely Default’ Demo Available Now Available On The 3DS eShop!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The eShop demo for Square-Enix’s latest highly anticipated 3DS RPG, has just hit the North American store.

The usual demo rules apply here (you can only open the game 30 times), but as was revealed in the last 2014 focussed Nintendo Direct, the demo features all-new content that you won’t find in the main game, and your characters (and their stuff) will transfer to the retail release.

The game looks great, and I can’t wait to take a look at the demo (as soon as I finish A Link Between Worlds, that is). Already play? Let us know how it is, and be sure to let us know if you’ll be grabbing Bravely Default when it hits North American shelves on February 7th!

Title Of Next Marvel One-Shot Revealed, Called ‘Hail To The King’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The special features of Marvel’s upcoming Thor: The Dark World Blu-Ray launch were revealed today. Normally, these reveals aren’t that exciting, but this time around, the reveal also leaked the title of Marvel’s next One-Shot (following Item 47 and Agent Carter).

It’s called Hail to the King, it’s 16 minutes and 14 seconds long, and… that’s all we know at this point.

Excited? Take a look at the rest of the Blu-Ray’s features below, and let us know what you think! Thor: The Dark World hits DVD and Blu-Ray on February 25th!

-ALL HAIL THE KING – A MARVEL ONE-SHOT
-A BROTHERS JOURNEY – THOR & LOKI (PART 1)
-A BROTHERS JOURNEY – THOR & LOKI (PART 2)
-EXCLUSIVE LOOK – CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
-SCORING THOR: THE DARK WORLD WITH BRYAN TYLER
-DELETED & EXTENDED SCENES: EXTENDED CELEBRATION SCENE
-DELETED & EXTENDED SCENES: JANE LEARNS ABOUT THE AETHER
-DELETED & EXTENDED SCENES: LOKI: THE FIRST AVENGER
-DELETED & EXTENDED SCENES: THOR AND FRIGGA DISCUSS LOKI
-DELETED & EXTENDED SCENES: DARK ELVES PREPARE FOR BATTLE
-DELETED & EXTENDED SCENES: EXTENDED VANAHEIM SCENE
-EXTENDED CELEBRATION SCENE COMMENTARY BY ALAN TAYLOR & KRAMER MOREGENTHAU
-JANE LEARNS ABOUT THE AETHER COMMENTARY BY ALAN TAYLOR & KRAMER MOREGENTHAU
-LOKI: THE FIRST AVENGER COMMENTARY BY TOM HIDDLESTON
-THOR AND FRIGGA DISCUSS LOKI COMMENTARY BY KEVIN FEIGE
-DARK ELVES PREPARE FOR BATTLE COMMENTARY BY KEVIN FEIGE
-GAG REEL
-THOR THE DARK WORLD AUDIO COMMENTARY

Source: Bleedingcool

Geekscape Mobile: ‘Sonic And All-Stars Racing Transformed’ Now On iOS And Android!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: One of the best kart racers in recent memory has just hit iOS and Android.

Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed, the excellent sequel to the mediocre Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing, first hit consoles in late 2012 (before hitting Vita and 3DS in early 2013), and has now made the jump to smartphones. I completely ignored the title (and didn’t even realize that there were two Sonic racing games), before it hit Playstation Plus for Vita in late December… and I’ve been playing it non-stop since. It’s the finest racer this side of Mario Kart, and the title is definitely worth a look.

That being said, I haven’t played the new mobile edition, so I can’t exactly vouch for it. The title does feature local and online multiplayer however, so if you’re looking for a (probably) great online racer for your iOS or Android device, why not give this one a shot?

Take a look at the trailer for Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed below, and let us know if you’ll be picking up the title! You can grab the game for iOS here, and Android here.

http://youtu.be/djNRsMQaIqI

Watch The First Trailer For ‘Veronica Mars’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Earlier this year, the Veronica Mars movie hit Kickstarter… and was completely funded in just over 10 hours.

Apparently there are a lot of fans (Marshmallows) that want to see Kristen Bell back in the classic role, and now we know just when you’ll get that wish!

The first trailer for the film, which is titled simply Veronica Mars, has just debuted online. Now, I’ve never seen an episode of Veronica Mars before, but it’s definitely something that I’ll be looking into before the movie hits theatres this March (especially since the trailer is pretty great).

Are you a fan? Are you looking forward to the character’s return? Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think! Veronica Mars hits VOD and theatres on March 14th.

http://youtu.be/kvhgd9T86Gk

First Promo Image For Return Of ‘The Walking Dead’ Now Online!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: AMC today released the first promo image for the February 9th return of The Walking Dead, and readers of The Walking Dead comic book may just know what’s coming up next.

After the fantastic (fantastic) prison arc in the comic book (years and years ago), a critically injured, undeniably heartbroken, one-handed Rick is unable to move and nearly succumbs to his situation. As such, it’s up to Carl to become central character, and find supplies to help his dad.

We last saw Rick pretty beaten up (pretty being within an inch of his life), and clearly distraught about the disappearance (and likely death) of his baby beth. Could the next arc in the television show be closer to the comic book?

Take a look at the promo image below, and let us know what you think! Again, The Walking Dead returns on February 9th!

WalkingDead4B

James Avery, The Original Voice Of Shredder, Has Died At 68

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Actor James Avery, best known for his roles as the original voice of Shredder on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Phillip Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has passed away at 68 due to complications from open heart surgery.

His most prominent role, Phillip Banks, was ranked number 34 on TV Guides list of ‘The 50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time”. Jada Pinkett-Smith (who is married to the Fresh Prince himself), offered the following statement on her official Facebook page:

Happy New Year everyone! I was hoping to start the new year differently but we have lost yet another friend. James Avery who we all lovingly know as Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince has passed.

 

Our condolences to aunt Florence (his mother), Miss Barbara (his wife) and all those who loved him.

 

Rest in peace James.

 

J

Our thoughts go out to James’ family and friends. Were you a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fan back in the day? Let us know your favourite episode (and your favourite Avery role) below.

‘Batman: Arkham Origins’ Story DLC Teased, Mr. Freeze To Make An Appearance?

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The official Batman Arkham twitter account has been teasing a DLC announcement for some time now, and now that the new year is upon us, they appear to have revealed the first details of the upcoming single-player DLC.

Take a look at the two very allusive tweets below:

 

 

We only need to take one look at that statue to realize that this DLC will be Mr. Freeze centric, but does the first tweet mean that it’ll be taking place in Wayne Manor?

We’ll be sure to share more as soon as it’s announced, but for now, feel free to speculate below, and let us know if you’re enjoying Arkham Origins!

‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ Gets A Times Square-Themed Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: During last night’s New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, Sony showed off a cool new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The footage is introduced by Stan Lee himself (who just turned 91), and offers us yet another look at Jamie Foxx as Electro in the film.

Take a look at the footage below, and let us know: what do you think of the Electro design? Does he look bad-ass, or a little too Mr. Freeze (thanks for that one Daniel)?

We’ve always known that Spider-Man’s most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.

 

It’s great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.

Geekscape’s Favorite Things Of 2013: Everything Else!

by Derek Kraneveldt

We’ve already published our favourite video games and movies of 2013. We’ve also got Josh Jackson’s spoiler filled top moments in gaming this year as well as his top 10 gaming news stories.

We’re on a roll here, and we’re not quite finished yet. A few of us also submitted our top comic books, television series, and general moments on 2013, so read on, and let us know your picks!

Shane ‘Rarity’ O’Hare

These are my big geek highlights of 2013!

SDCC 2013 – I love SDCC, and each year is different, but this year was crazy. Getting actual press credentials changes everything, and seeing some of the places and things we got to enjoy was crazy. The best part was seeing the child like wonder in Derek’s eyes, as the little Canuck from a tiny island in Canada was awed by the Geek Mecca. I remember my first SDCC, before I became jaded, and watching Derek experience the same thing was awesome. Oh yeah and getting into a fight with a Twilight fan was cool too.

Equestria Girls Movie – When the My Little Pony rumour mill started dishing out rumors of Hasbro wanting to take our favorite little Ponies, and turn them into Bratz dolls, the community flipped their shit. When a couple of leaks came out of character stills, the community flipped out again. When the trailer came out, they flipped out AGAIN. It appears the MLP fandom likes to flip out a lot, stating every little change to be the end of the world! I tried to stay off the end of the world wagon, but I got caught up in it. So when the movie finally came out and I watched it I was expecting shit. Oh boy was I surprised. It was the same old awesome writing and characters, just bipedal. The music was a blast, and all the songs were charming. I really enjoyed it.

Getting Into Comics Semi Seriously – This was the year I finally decided to become a next level geek. So I made it a goal to start reading comics. Yeah I would get a single issue here or there, or some collectible hard back copy of The Rocketeer books, but I never really got into the serials. So the last few months I have been reading as much as I can get my hands on, mostly review stuff, but I am enjoying every page of it. I have a re-purposed Kindle Fire and a bunch of digital books. I’ve been a huge anti Digital Books guy for years, but finally getting into it I have changed my mind. Being able to have all your books on you at all times is awesome. The My Little Pony comics, and everything from IDW frankly, is amazing to read. I cannot get my hands on enough!

Shane and the Mega64 team.
Shane and the Mega64 team.

S.J. Borger

Favorite/Best TV Series of 2013:

1. Breaking Bad—Really, there’s nothing to say that hasn’t been said. Watch, if you haven’t. rewatch, if you have.

2. Game of Thrones—It just keeps getting better and better. Pretty soon they’re going to run out of books, so George, if you’re reading…write faster!

3. Almost Human—a debut show this Fall on Fox, this is one of the 2013 season stand-outs. A fun buddy-comedy set in the near future, the show may not stretch the confines of its genre but it does what it does really well.

4. The Good Wife—After getting a little lost early in 2012, The Good Wife came back, with style, for the final half of the 2012-2013 season, and continues strong this season.

5. Brooklyn Nine-Nine—It started slow and took a few episodes to really click, but Brooklyn Nine-Nine has found its footing as a solid ensemble comedy. And Andre Braugher is flat-out phenomenal as the openly-gay Captain of the unit.

6. The Bridge—An American remake of a Danish/Swedish series, The Bridge follows an American and a Mexican detective as they try to solve a series of murders which cross into both of their jurisdictions along the Texas-Chihuahua border. Dark, somber, and a little slow, the show still manages to compel with its harsh and uncompromising look into crime, corruption and immigration on both sides of the border.

7. Da Vinci’s Demons—A Starz original, this show was fun, interesting, educational and pretty much not watched. Which is a shame, because it’s 5-parts Indiana Jones to 3-parts Bill Nye the Science Guy to 2-parts The Borgias. What could be better? Starz has renewed for a second season and you can catch up on the first via OnDemand.

8. House of Cards—Netflix’s foray into original programming proved that the traditional television paradigm is no longer the only way to make good TV. With Kevin Spacy leading an all-star cast, House of Cards provided wit, drama, some comedy and a scathing look at American politics—all streamed directly to your device of choice.

9. Supernatural—Supernatural has been on the air for nine years, and while it had a few odd moments (we’re looking at you, Season Seven), the 2012-2013 season picked up momentum and brought the boys back to their killing-bad-guys-saving-the-world-angsty-talking roots. And the 2013 season has just kept getting better. Not bad for a show older than the computer I am typing this on.

10. Community—Ok, the 2013 Winter/Spring season of Community was not its best. It was bad. The showrunners lacked the insane-right-until-its-sane genius of the ‘not-really-fired-but-he-doesn’t-work-here-anymore’ show’s creator, Dan Harmon, and the show felt…different. Like Tofu Turkey when you’re expecting a real bird. Sure, the gravy and trimmings were all there but the texture was off. It made this list, though, because Dan Harmon is back (YAY) and we have high, high hopes for the show when it airs in January.

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Favorite geek memories / moments of 2013:

1. The thesurvivor2299.com website/hoax. Sure it wasn’t real, but the good-natured hoax provided weeks of entertainment, puzzle decoding and rampant speculation. It also showed Bethesda (in case they weren’t aware) exactly how excited fans were about even the whiff of a possibility of a Fallout 4 announcement.

2. Disney buys Star Wars franchise, announces a writer, then a director, then a release date. I mean, sheesh. Princess Leia is now a Disney Princess. Fandoms collide!

3. Game of Thrones is the most pirated thing-ever—and breaks the internet with the infamous Red Wedding.

4. SimCity requires online play; EA forgets to make sure they have enough servers. But hey, we got a free game as an ‘apology’ gift so…

5. KHAAAAAAN. Whether you liked it, hated it, or were confused by the reference, the Star Trek reboot on a favorite villain was certainly a stand-out moment.

6. BlizzCon Roars: When announcing the new expansion, Warlords of Draenor, to their mammoth MMO, World of Warcraft, the fan reaction at BlizzCon was deafening.

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Derek Kraneveldt

Favourite Comics of 2013 (in no particular order aside from #1):

Batman – Scott Snyder’s Batman is arguably the only book in the New 52 lineup that started out great, and has retained its must-read status for its entire run. This is the book that got me back into Batman after many years of ignoring the character at my LCS, and it’s also the first book that I read when I get back from picking up my weekly haul. From the Court of Owls, to Death of the Family, to Year Zero and beyond, Batman is currently DC’s best book by far. You won’t regret reading it if you haven’t already!

The Wake – You can’t go wrong with a Scott Snyder title (probably why two of them are on this list), and The Wake is no exception. The horror/sci-fi/creature feature created by Snyder and Sean Murphy is just halfway through its ten issue run, and it’s already exponentially more memorable than almost any horror film that I’ve seen this year (aside from The Conjuring). The Wake is a tale that will leave you guessing after every issue, page, and panel, and it should not be passed up by any comic reader, regardless of what you typically read.

Trillium – I’m also a sucker for Jeff Lemire (though I still need to read Sweet Tooth… yeah I know), and his epic, time-bending love story (between a World War I veteran and a botanist from the year 3797) is some of the absolute best sci-fi work in recent memory. It’s hard to talk about Trillium without spoiling it in some way, but I was hooked from the opening of its double-sided flipbook of a first issue. Like The Wake, Trillium will span just ten issues, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a better miniseries this year.

The Superior Spider-Man – I was as skeptical as anyone when Marvel announced that they were killing Peter Parker (again). Sure, BKV has done an incredible job with Miles Morales in the Ultimate Universe, but how could we live in a world without any Peter Parker, and especially a world where the evil-as-hell Doc Ock was in his body? As it turns out, Dan Slott putting Ock in Pete’s body has been some pretty damned fresh Spidey. There have been plenty of memorable moments during the series run so far (Ock finding morals, battling with his old pals, fighting with Peter’s mind, etc), and I’m sure that there’ll be plenty more before it’s finished. I’m not sure that I want Superior to go on forever (we do need Peter back one day, and issue #30 is rumoured to be the last), but for now it’s definitely my go-to Spidey book.

#1. Saga – Brian K. Vaughan’s previous book, Y: The Last Man, remains my favourite comic book series ever, but if Saga continues its incessant quality, direction, plot, and style, Y could become number two before long. Every single comic reader on this planet has been telling you to read Saga for over a year now, so freaking do it, because it is bar none the best series currently on the market. Seriously.

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Favourite/Best TV Series of 2013:

1. Breaking Bad – What SJ said. It’s easily the best television series of 2013, and definitely among the best shows of all time. If you haven’t seen this yet, what the hell is wrong with you?

2. Suits – The antics of Mike Ross and Harvey Specter make for some of the best, funniest, and most touching moments on television. Mike Ross knows the law, but never went to law school, so simple things like filing for copyright and noting a subpoena elude him (at least in season one). The actors have great chemistry, the plot is gripping and exciting, and the writing is quirky and hilarious. Suits is definitely my most anticipated returning show in 2014 (except for maybe Community)

3. Bates Motel – Another series that I can’t wait to come back on air. Bates Motel began with Norma and Norman Bates moving into that fateful motel, and ended with plenty of murder, deceit and mystery. Norman’s going a little crazy, and I’d infinitely excited to see where Carlton Cuse and Co. take us next.

4. The Walking Dead – This year’s Scott Gimple led season of The Walking Dead has been the series best year yet. I’ve loved every episode so far, which is something that cannot be said for any other season. My only problem: had season three ended like we all wanted it to (pretty much verbatim to this year’s midseason finale), nothing that has happen thus far in season four would ever have needed to happen. It’s all a little redundant now, isn’t it? In any case, this is the best that the show has ever been, and I can’t wait for its return in February (it’s still not as good as the game though).

5. American Horror Story: Coven – I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each season of American Horror Story (even Asylum when it got weird… though it almost lost me), but Coven is easily the best year yet. The story of Fiona, Cordelia, and the coven of Miss Robichaux’s Academy is gripping, gross, weird, and hilarious, all at the same time. If you haven’t started American Horror Story yet, it’s safe to start with Coven (as the seasons are not connected plot or setting-wise), but you’ll definitely want to go back and watch both Asylum and Murder House as well.

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Favourite Moment: That’s an easy one. This year I had the pleasure of attending my first San Diego Comic Con. There, I incredibly got to meet the real life Jonathan London AND much of the Geekscape crew. Then I had the time of my freaking life.

I can’t wait to do it all again now that I know (a little bit) of what to expect! SDCC 2014 is going to ROCK!

A chubbier me meeting one of my gaming heroes!
A chubbier me meeting one of my gaming heroes!

First ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ Synopsis & Still Debut Online!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It was just last week that Marvel (finally) officially revealed Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot in James Gunn’s upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy, and now the studio has debuted both the first still and synopsis for the anticipated film.

The still was first shown off at this past Summer’s San Diego Comic Con, and features Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel). Take a look at the still and synopsis below, and let us know what you think! Guardians of the Galaxy hits theatres on August 1st, 2014!

Guardians of the Galaxy first official still

From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchise of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team–the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits -Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Peter discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand–with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

Geekscape Games Reviews: ‘The Walking Dead: Season 2, Episode 1 – All That Remains’

by Derek Kraneveldt

First up: I’ve kept my review of All That Remains as spoiler-free as possible. That being said, there are some season one spoilers below, so be warned if you haven’t finished it yet. You have finished it though, right? Season one was almost everyone’s favourite title of 2012 (including ours). Get on it!

Damn you, Telltale.

I can’t count how many times I thought or uttered those words throughout the duration of All That Remains. Right from the opening line, hearing our gone (but certainly not never forgotten) friend Lee Everett recap the happenings of the game’s stellar first season, I knew what I was in for: Telltale is on a mission to break all of our hearts yet again (and again… and again). Mission accomplished.

Lee's not there to save you this time.
Lee’s not there to save you this time.

All That Remains kicks off some 16 months after season one’s conclusion. We do get to catch up with some of season one’s other prominent characters, but this time, of course, Clem is front and centre. She’s a little older, a little taller, and a lot wiser than she was when we last left her, and this time around, instead of acting as her guardian, she doesn’t have one, and it’s up to you to directly control the character and make every tough decision for her.

And what tough decisions they are. Within a few moments of the game’s opening my jaw was on the floor. Then it happened again, and again, then I cried… you get the picture. It’s tough to describe without ruining it (and The Walking Dead is absolutely a game that you shouldn’t have ruined for you), but All That Remains, largely setup as it is, left me an absolute wreck. Just when you think that Telltale couldn’t have any more surprises in store, just when there couldn’t possibly be a harder choice, just when you think they couldn’t possibly rip your heart out again, just when you think they wouldn’t go there, they go there.

Damn you, Telltale.

As always, the game is relentlessly forcing you into situations that you don’t want to be in, and pushing you into impossible decisions that you don’t want to make. This time though, everything feels different. Playing as a child, making these choices from a kid’s point of view, changes everything. You have options that would have never been options with Lee, as his hardened, bleak perspective on the world is one that Clementine hasn’t fully realized yet. It almost feels as though Clementine has hope, which is something that’s arguably even more heartbreaking than any decision we’ve had to make so far, and especially so knowing how the lives of those connected to her tend to turn out. All That Remains is just the beginning, and I have a feeling that we haven’t seen anything yet. Things are only going to get harder, decisions are only going to get worse, and if Clementine dies in the end, I’m going to freaking explode.

Ah, Omid. It's great to see a familiar face, isn't it?
Ah, Omid. It’s great to see a familiar face, isn’t it?

Technically, everything seems vastly improved from last year’s offering. I still experienced that classic Telltale slowdown (again playing on PS3, so I can’t vouch for other platforms), and while annoying, it seemed (mostly) limited to the opening few seconds after every loading screen, a major improvement from season one’s consistent stutter. Character models look much better than last year (and I thought that they looked great before), but the biggest graphical improvements are definitely the game’s environments and backgrounds. Last year’s trees, backdrops, and buildings seemed oddly low resolution at times, with little to no animation even in areas that you would expect to see it. This time around, trees sway in the wind, grass moves when you walk over it, and almost every texture looks substantially higher resolution than those that came before.

All That Remains also boasts a much improved camera system. You still don’t have any control over it (which I’m all for in a title like this), but this year’s version feels much more cinematic. Rather than a largely still shot, with an occasional pan and lots of cuts, the camera in All That Remains seems much more inclined to follow you, tracking smoothly as you move between trees, along porches, or wherever else the game may take you.

Action sequences have taken a note from The Wolf Among Us (which we loved the first episode of) here, and bring a few welcome changes to the table: buttons are larger and easier to see, a very clear radius system lets us know just how close or far away we can be and still activate something, and the action in general seems streamlined, more cinematic, and much more entertaining to be a part of. The developer has also broken up the action with a few simple (essentially fetch quests), but very welcome puzzles that give you just a few moments to catch your breath. Also, the much appreciated faster-walk button from The Wolf Among Us has been included (thank you). There were some painfully slow walking moments in season one, so I’m very happy to see that those moments will not make the jump to season two.

Graphics and animations have both vastly improved from the game's first season.
Graphics and animations have both vastly improved from the game’s first season.

Looking back on the evolution of The Walking Dead, it’s easy to see just how much Telltale has grown since the very first episode (A New Day) all the way back in April of 2012. I doubt that the developer could have known the absolute acclaim and dozens (upon dozens) of awards that were in store for them when that first episode went live last year, but it’s clear by the titles now in the works (both Borderlands AND Game of Thrones) just how infatuated the world has become with this little(ish) studio that could. Essentially all of the criticisms (aside from the few technical stutters) that we had with last year’s iterations have been solved and improved upon, and I’m both insatiably excited and incredibly terrified to see what the next episode, A House Divided brings to the table.

We said it last year, and we’re saying it again. Telltale’s The Walking Dead is the definitive version of the franchise. As much as we love the Image comic series, and as great as the AMC series can be (especially this year), the video game is better. Even if you’re not a gamer, if you’re a fan of narrative entertainment, you owe it to yourself to check this out.

The Walking Dead: Season Two, Episode One – All That Remains scores a tear-jerking 4.5/5.

Thor Gets His Own ‘Lego Marvel Super Heroes’ Trailer!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Lego Marvel Super Heroes has been out for some time now, and along with the game being absolutely excellent (Travellers Tales’ best Lego title by far), it also boasts an extremely epic roster of over 300 Marvel characters.

If 300 characters weren’t quite enough for you, the developer is getting ready to launch a few more. To celebrate, here’s a new, Thor centric trailer for the title, emphasizing some of the new Asgardian characters that are about to join the fight.

Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know how much you’re enjoying the game (even though we already know that it’s a lot).

Take A Look Behind-The-Scenes Of ‘X-Men: Days Of Future Past’ And ‘Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: This month’s Empire magazine is chock-full of great stuff for geeks. First up, that The Winter Soldier cover is pretty damned cool. The issue also featured some great shots from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and the Captain America sequel.

Now, they’ve launched a cool behind-the-scenes still from both X-Men: Days of Future Past and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Take a look at everything below, and let us know what you think! Dawn of the Planet of the Apes hits theatres on July 11, and X-Men: Days of Future Past releases May 23rd!

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Source: Empire

Four New ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ Stills Debut Online!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Following Empire’s debut of the Winter Soldier’s face earlier this week, the magazine has debuted four new stills from the upcoming Captain America sequel.

The feature hits theatres on April 4th, and judging from the excellent marketing so far, The Winter Soldier could be Marvel’s best phase two film yet. Only time will tell, but for now, take a look at the new stills, and let us know what you think!

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After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier finds Steve Rogers – aka Captain America – living quietly in Washington, DC, and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy – the Winter Soldier.

Source: Empire

Two New ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ Stills Debut Online!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The latest issue of Empire Magazine is now on newsstands, and along with a bad-ass cover that reveals a new piece of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the issue also debuted two new stills from The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Take a look at the new shots below, and let us know what you think! Are you looking forward to The Amazing Spider-Man 2? What did you think of the first Amazing Spider-Man?

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That clearly looks like Dane DeHaan’s Harry Osbourne standing below Dillon in that second shot, doesn’t it? Do we smell a team-up (probably)?

We’ve always known that Spider-Man’s most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead.

 

It’s great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.

This Month’s Empire Cover Features ‘The Winter Soldier’ Without His Mask!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: In late October, we showed you the first trailer for April’s highly anticipated Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Empire’s latest issue just hit newsstands, and this month’s cover features something that the film’s excellent first trailer didn’t, the Winter Soldier’s face.

Take a look at the cover below, and let us know what you think of Bucky’s new look. Could the Captain America sequel end up being Phase Two’s best film?

Empire

Captain America: The Winter Soldier hits theatres on April 4th!

After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier finds Steve Rogers – aka Captain America – living quietly in Washington, DC, and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy – the Winter Soldier.