Tag: Space

Blast Off With The Latest Loot Gaming Crate!

by Josh Jackson

While space may still be mostly uncharted territory, that won’t stop us from celebrating it with the latest Loot Gaming crate! Featuring some of the best video games to take us into the great beyond, here’s what we unboxed this time around!

First off, the latest pin captures the wonder of space exploration with its logo showing off a bright launch. Shining bright like the infinite possibilities that the lands beyond the stars offer, it’s a great addition to the growing collection of crate exclusive pins.

Returning with more Destiny love, this scarf will surely keep us warm while we team up with friends to keep the galaxy safe. As one of two potential designs, fans of the game now have a couple of different ways to show off their fandom while staying warm in the process. Not as warm as blaster fire in your face, but warm nonetheless.

That N7 logo can only mean one thing, Mass Effect is back in a big way. Just a few months short of the big release of Mass Effect Andromeda, this new T-Shirt gives us a way to get reacquainted to Bioware’s space epic, with plenty of relationships to form along the way. Now, don’t expect to run into any sexy blue aliens, but then again, with this shirt on, you never know…

As a huge Ratchet and Clank fan, it was easy for me to decide that this Omniwrench replica was my favorite item of the crate. As an awesome miniature display, Ratchet’s trademark weapon serves as a puzzle solving tool when its not bashing bad guys over the head. Then, to my surprise, the wrench top fell off to reveal a pen! I might not have realized it was a pen until this happened, but know that it’s known, it makes the item even cooler. What better way to trudge through those lectures or take those notes then with an intergalactic space weapon? Count me in!

That does it for our space themed Loot Gaming crate! What were your picks for best items for this go around, and what do you want to see in future boxes? As always, when signing up for your own boxes, use the coupon code “Geekscape” for a discount!

Geekscape 432: Andrew Rader Schools Us On Outer Space!

by Jonathan

I first met Andrew Rader a month ago at Stan Lee’s LA Comic Con where he was promoting his new children’s book about space! And as an engineer at SpaceX, he knows exactly what he’s talking about! Beyond talking about his Kickstarter for the second book in his Epic Space Adventure series, which teaches kids all about space, we talk about the reality of a manned mission to Mars, colonization of our solar system and lots and lots more. If you’re a space or science fan, you’ll be as fascinated by this conversation as I was! Also, I give my thoughts on ‘Arrival’ and ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’! Enjoy, Space Cadets!

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‘Gravity’ Spinoff Short Shows The Other Side Of Stone’s Distress Call

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: This is incredible, and definitely worth a watch for Gravity fans (and who isn’t one).

Remember that intense scene in Gravity when Dr. Stone was finally able to make contact with Earth, but only to a man speaking in a foreign language? The conversation was a heartbreaking realization that Stone would never make it back down to Earth, and that this broken conversation would be the last that she would ever have. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

Now, via THR, you can see the other side of the conversation. Alfonso’s son Jonas has directed a seven-minute short entitled Aningaaq, which showcases the opposite end of that haunting conversation. The short has been making festival rounds, will be included on the Gravity DVD/Blu-Ray, and is generating a good amount of Oscar buzz.

Here’s a great explanation of how the short came to be, straight from the original article:

The idea for Aningaaq, which follows an Inuit fisherman stationed on a remote fjord in Greenland, occurred to the Cuarons as they were working out the beats for the Gravity screenplay. “It’s this moment where the audience and the character get this hope that Ryan is finally going to be OK,” Jonas, 31, tells THR. “Then you realize that everything gets lost in translation.” Both Cuarons spent time in the glacial region (Alfonso once toyed with setting a movie there) and fell in love with the barren vastness of its frozen wilderness. During one of those visits, Alfonso met a drunken native who would become the basis for the title character, played by Greenland’s Orto Ignatiussen. But it wasn’t until Jonas, on a two-week trek gathering elements for his film, was inspired by the local inhabitants’ profound attachment to their sled dogs that he decided to incorporate that element into the plot.

 

The short was filmed “guerrilla style” on location on a budget of about $100,000 — most of which went toward the 10-person crew’s travel costs — and Cuaron completed it in time to meld the dialogue into Gravity’s final sound mix. The result is a seamless conversation between Aningaaq and Ryan, stranded 200 miles above him, the twin stories of isolated human survival providing thematic cohesion. Still, Jonas says he was careful “to make it a piece that could stand on its own.” Should both get Oscar noms, an interesting dynamic would emerge: Two films potentially could win for representing different sides of one conversation, to say nothing of having come from father and son.

Now, watch the short below, and let us know what you think! On that note, how much did you love Gravity?

From The Edge Of Space! The Geekscapepod For October 14th, 2012!

by Jonathan

A man just jumped from the edge of space! Is there anything else to talk about than Felix Baumgartner? Yes… but not much! How about some new Spider-Man change ups from NYCC? Is Logan taking on the webslinger’s role? Is “The American Scream” worth scaring up this Halloween? How badly does “Arrow” miss the mark… if at all? What’s the latest on Comics on Comics? What about Doc of the Dead? Oh… AND A MAN JUMPED FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE!!!

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An ‘Iron Sky’ Video Game Launches In November!

by Derek Kraneveldt

You remember Iron Sky right? Never heard of it or need a refresher? Take a look at the trailer below before reading further.

Iron Sky is a film about an invasion of Earth – by nazis from space. The film released in July to much excitement (from many members of the general public anyways, as the film currently holds 39% on Rotten Tomatoes).

Polish developer Reality Pump (Two Worlds series) is in charge of this one. An official website for the game appeared online a few days ago, and had this to say about the title:

“Iron Sky: Invasion” is a space fighter simulator, calling to mind such classics as the legendary… You-Know-Which series – further enhanced with strategy and RPG elements. The core of the gameplay is based on ship-to-ship dogfights, combined with assaults on giant spaceships (such as the Siegfried-Class Zeppelins), as well as tactical thinking and resource management.

The game is set in outer space, where the players must defend the Earth from the invasion of the Moon Nazis. The players control spaceships to freely roam the space and attack Nazi vessels; various weapons and equipment are at their disposal, from laser cannons and missiles to handy drones and satellites which can be launched from certain ships. The vessels are also equipped with military countermeasures, to protect them from enemy fire.

The players can access a tactical map of outer space to spot the positions of Nazi forces or any ongoing battles, and thus instantly know where to fly. The ultimate goal is to destroy the secret Nazi base hidden on the Dark Side of the Moon and to keep the Earth safe from the invading spacecraft.

Being based on the cult movie, the “Iron Sky: Invasion” comes with a touch of politics as well: various nations will offer unique missions, yet to accept or refuse them is up to the player. Some missions tempt the players with special rewards, such as precious upgrades or even brand new ships.

The players can dock at an allied space station to recharge weapons, purchase upgrades or even switch ships. Almost all spaceships that appear in the film can be controlled in game (except for the largest one), including the South-Korean scout ship “Zerg”, the Australian bomber “Dundee”, or the UK fighter “Spitfire”. The availability of some will depend on the completion of certain missions.

The ships’ sub-systems can be further upgrade in the hangar: for example, upgrading the offensive systems will increase the number of weapons and boost their power, while an engine upgrade will improve the ship’s speed and range of interception. Upgrades require special resources, which can be scavenged from destroyed enemy units or found in outer space.

Iron Sky: Invasion is set to launch on November 30th for PC/Mac, PS3, and Xbox 360.

Will you be picking this one up? It’s sure an interesting take on a flight sim! What did you think of the movie?

‘Routine’ Is Like Amnesia – In Space

by Shane O'Hare

What I am about to show you will frighten you. If you have ever played Amnesia or seen any of the hilarious YouTube commentaries, you know how TERRIFYING it can be. Well straight out of GamesCom we get a trailer for Routine, a game that takes place on the moon in a fully fledged moon base. The game features fully randomized puzzles and AI. There is no HUD. No weapons. You run and you hide and die.

No other info about the game is available yet, but it looks fucking scary.