The Change

It's official - electric overdrive is no more. The change is not yet complete, but posting on this blog will cease, and it will remain as a sort of "archive" for the history of the new and improved blog - yuhn. Check it out here.

Disney Buys Marvel For $4 Billion

In an enormous move that is sure to affect the entire entertainment industry, Walt Disney Company has come to an agreement with Marvel Entertainment. For approximately $4 billion, Marvel Entertainment and it's entire stock of characters (+5000) are now part of the Walt Disney Company.

Currently, it seems that Disney will not be interfering with Marvel's game licenses, instead praising their "smart licensing agreements with some of the best videogame manufacturers in the business". Disney also noted the possibility of a team up between Marvel and Pixar, that, unlikely, was being looked in to by both companies.

Now, I don't know about anyone else, but my mind has jumped straight to Kingdom Hearts, the famous Final Fantasy/Disney crossover. Would Marvel be able to make it's way into the series? Sure, it seems crazy now, but so did the entire idea for the game before it was released.

Disney also noted that, while current Marvel movie projects will remain untouched, the company hopes to be the sole distributor of the these films in the long-term. Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Fantastic Four were confirmed to remain untouched by Disney.

Making The Case: An M-Rated "Zelda"

When The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was released, it got massively positive reviews, with critics praising the tried-and-true formula that had worked for so many years. But critics and fans agreed that the new graphics style, which was much more realistic and less-fantasy based than previous games, was absolutely astounding.

In fact, the new graphics brought upon something that, in my eyes, could be seen as a milestone in Nintendo's game development. It was the first Zelda game to receive the "T for Teen" rating, with the ESRB citing "fantasy violence and animated blood" as the reason for the new rating. But why stop there? We already know a new Zelda game is coming (it's been confirmed to include Wii MotionPlus), so why not push it a little farther: a Zelda game rated "M for Mature"?

Nintendo has been repeatedly criticized for not catering to their hardcore audience, and while they have revealed an impressive line-up of games that fit this requirement at this year's E3 (which included the aforementioned Zelda game), this could be a perfect opprotunity for Nintendo to step up to the plate with a truly gory Zelda game.

Link's weapons are famously his Master Sword and bow (the former oddly missing in a recently released image of him), which would easily translate into a game heavy on blood. Sure, there are problems with the idea; potential backlash at Nintendo for straying from being "family-friendly", less of an audience able to buy the game, but could the benefits outweight these risks? Possibly.

Link, seen without his iconic Master Sword

A quick glance at sales figures for the three warring consoles - Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 - will show that the Wii is dominating, hands-down. But a closer look suggests that the Wii isn't winning anything - in fact, it's not even competing. Games like Wii Play and Wii Fit destroy all competition, even first-party Nintendo franchises such as Super Mario Galaxy.

Which is exactly why an M Rated Zelda would work perfectly with the Wii's upcoming strategy to catch the hardcore gamer. Some could call such violence in the classic series "gratuitious", but would it not be more realistic? As graphics increase exponentially each generation, it may be time to re-tool this classic franchise for the upcoming years.

In other Wii news, many fans are pushing for a price cut for the Wii, despite it still being the cheapest console available. With the recent announcement of the PS3 and Xbox 360 dropping their prices to $299, it's the perfect time for Nintendo to do the same, only at a lower price: $199. Coupled with the release of games such as Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M, it could strongly increase sales of the Wii and it's games.

Image credit: computerbild.de (here), GCN (here).

Review: District 9

In a surprising twist, District 9 turned out to be the biggest hit of the summer. While it didn't have an enormous budget, the brilliant marketing campaign crafted by the studio definitely stirred up a lot of interest for the movie. With large posters deeming certain areas in movie theaters and the San Diego Comic-Con "Restricted For Humans Only".

The movie's set-up isn't what you might expect from a story of aliens landing on Earth - it is in a documentary style, with the beginning of the movie having an assortment of people explain the events of

the past 28 years, when the aliens' mothership first landed on Earth. For three months, the ship hovered over Johannesburg, South Africa, until world governments dug into it and found over a million malnourished aliens, which were set up in "District 9" - a camp for the so-called "prawns" run by MNU (Multi-National United) which quickly became a slum.

However, the people of Johannesburg begin riots with the aliens, causing intervention from MNU. A plan to evict all 1.8 million prawns to "District 10", a similar camp 240 kilometres from the original, is set up, with main character Wikus van de Merwe leading the project. Him and a team of MNU agents go door-to-door, having the prawns "sign" an eviction notice.

While I won't divulge all of the plot details, I can tell you that the development team did a great job in making Wikus an interesting character despite being around the prawns - which were very interesting in their own right. It was easy to develop a sense of pity for the aliens, as they were forcefully evicted from their "homes" without an understanding of what was happening.

The treatment of the prawns by the entire human race serves as a metaphor of the treatment of African Americans during the Civil Rights movement, and the treatment of any group targeted by the world. Amazingly, the movie is heart-wrenching, and the humans' cruelty of the aliens exemplifies this.

And despite the somewhat small budget, the graphics were amazing. Closer to the end of the movie, we see plenty of firefights, with lots of interesting alien technology. While this does get rid of the "documentary" feel, it seems almost appropriate. If a sequel were to be made, it would certainly not be in documentary style.

Speaking of the sequel - before entering the movie, I had already heard people talking of a potential sequel. I dismissed it, because it seemed like the premise of the movie could not constitute a series, and also because most fans will ask for a sequel any time a movie is good, regardless of whether it could carry it. But after seeing the movie myself, I can certainly say that a sequel is not only possible, but probable.

SPOILER WARNING - - - At the end of the movie, it is revealed that Christopher Johnson, the MNU-given name of the protagonist alien, will be returning to his home planet for help before rescuing all of the aliens in District 9. This revelation occurs when he sees the horrific experiments MNU has performed on his race - this leads support to the idea the Christopher could return, but with an army of his brethren, and start a war on humanity. Looking at the alien technology seen in the movie, it seems they could easily win.

And where would that leave Wikus? At the end of the movie, he was seen fully transformed into a prawn, and is likely unable to change back to a human. Would he be a major character? Would any human be a protagonist? No matter the case, a "District 10" (a name idea for a sequel) would be much different from the original - the documentary style would have to be ditched to make room for a focus on sci-fi action. - - -

Critics have been raving about this film, specifically saying it is the best movie of the summer. I agree wholeheartedly; rarely do we see a film of this quality. If you haven't seen this yet, make the plans - this is the movie everyone will be talking about. 8.5/10

Image credit: Why So Blu? (here), The Freire Project (here).

What Happened To 'Spider-Man'?

It has been confirmed that the Spider-Man series will be continuing with a Spider-Man 4, Spider-Man 5, and Spider-Man 6. But so far, all we know about the movie is that Sam Raimi is directing, and Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst are returning as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson, respectively.

This is shocking because this is so basic. The "threequel" in the series was released over two years ago, and all the information we have is the most basic of all. No villians have been confirmed, though rumors strongly hint toward The Lizard and/or Carnage, and the rest of the minor characters (such as J. Jonah Jameson) haven't even been confirmed for the film.

Currently, the movie has a set release date of 2011, which is, in my opinion, laughable. Without a script, villain, or even cast beyond two people, there is no way a movie with such a large amount of special effects will be complete by 2011. If progress continues the way it

has been, they won't even start production by then.

I used to be very interested in the development of the fourth Spider-Man movie, enough that I actually started writing a script of my own. I never completed it, though it contains some basic ideas fans are asking for: bring back the entire cast, or at least as much of it as possible, have Dylan Baker (who plays Dr. Connors) transform into The Lizard, and cast someone as Carnage. But who would fit that role?

My opinion: Ryan Reynolds. He's definitely funny enough to play Carnage, and his role as Deadpool proved he could make a foray into the superhero world - in f

act, he has expressed great interest in the genre, and has even been cast in the upcoming Green Lantern as the titular character.

Meanwhile, fans have been picking their own would-be Carnages, and one actor that appears more than most is Robert Knepper, whose film history includes movies such as Transporter 3 and Hitman. While he isn't my first choice, there is no doubt that he could fit the role, and would likely be my second choice.

But enough speculation. Right now, we need some cold, hard facts about the upcoming movie. We need villains confirmed, the cast signed back on, and an actual script. Unfortunately, if these trends continue, Spider-Man 4 might get stuck in development hell - which could mean the end of Spider-Man's film career for some time.

Image credit: SonyPictures (here), Flixster (here).

Big Changes

I've been planning some major changes to electric overdrive for awhile now, and these changes are finally coming to light. Soon, posting here will cease, and all old posts will be moved to a new blog, which will be hosted on Wordpress. I won't be telling you the name of the new blog just yet, but within days, it will be up and running. This blog will remain as an archive to the blog's "earlier days".

Gamescom 2009: PS3 Slim Unveiled

Everybody already knew that the PS3 Slim was coming out - fans were just waiting for Sony to officially reveal the thing. Fortunately, they did just that at this year's Gamescom in Germany, and it looks quite impressive. The price will be set at a meager $299, and will be released September 1, 2009.

The side-by-side comparison of the original and the Slim is astounding. With this new price and new size, the sales of the console could definitely soar - I am even considering getting a PS3 Slim of my own.

In other Sony news, the PSP and PSPgo will be getting a sort of App store. Basically a smaller version of the PlayStation Network (PSN), "PSP Minis" will allow downloads on both models of the PSP, though it will certainly be more useful on the PSPgo, which lacks a UMD Drive. No prices have been released, though it is likely most downloads will be around $10 or less.

Image credit: Kotaku (here and here).

Flipnote Studio Rocks

It's certainly no game, so it won't be getting an "official" review - but that doesn't mean it doesn't deserve the same amount of attention. For the low price of nothing (yes, it's free), you can download one of the most interesting additions for the DSi since it's release.

Although the DSi is selling like crazy, some DS Lite owners aren't ready to make the switch - although the new system has two cameras, the abilty to upload pictures to Facebook, and the ability to download games and other features, the $170 price tag is a little much. While Flipnote Studio

certainly isn't a huge release, it might just be enough to make a few fans make the switch.

The free application allows DSi owners to create the electronic equivalent of flipbooks. There are plenty of tools, such as copy/paste, different paint brushes, and color inverting, the core of the app is drawing with the stylus. Once you finish drawing on a page, you can move to the next

simply by clicking the D-Pad, and you will see a gray version of what you just drew, allowing you to smoothly transition your "flipbook" to the next frame.

These cartoons can be very simple, with stick figures simply moving around, though with a little time and effort, you can create very intricate cartoons with complex drawings, and even sounds. If you're too lazy to make one of these yourself, you can view hundreds of cartoons uploaded by users of the app using Flipnote Hatena - and you can upload them yourself using the same service.

Another useful feature is the ability to share your flipnotes with friends that also have the DSi. Simply be within the correct range of them, and you can wirelessly transfer your creations to them, allowing them to save your flipnotes onto their DSi or SD Card.

While I do think the app itself is fun, the "selling point" (in quotes because it's free) of Flipnote Studio will be the sharing concept. It opens up an entire host of possibilities with the DSi that we are simply not seeing yet - and, knowing Nintendo, we might not for quite awhile.

Note: I'll be uploading a few of my own Flipnotes soon, but be warned - they are not good.

Image credit: play.tm (here), Nintendo Limited (here).

Hello to you and you, and YOU!

Hey there!

I'll be contributing to this blog in Nate's absence (lucky duck, I wish I'm on vacation too!)

Just a quick introduction:- My name's Sakari and I'll be posting the usual stuff, and I'll try not to be biased just because I'm an XBOX360 fan. =) All game consoles rock, btw.

See you later!

Hiatus

If you follow electric overdrive on twitter, you've probably heard that I will be on vacation for about a week. I may be able to post occasionally, but you shouldn't count on it. Until then, check out my twitter profile, which I will continue to update throughout my vacation!

Interview: Joey Betz

electric overdrive has the exclusive interview with one of the top Flash game developers on the web - Joey Betz, of Armor Games. With games like Phage Wars, Demolition City, and Pixel Grower under his belt, he is definitely a developer to watch.

Q. What got you interested in game development?

A. I got interested in game development when I was at a game co

nvention and I saw some colleges offering degrees in game development. I was at a point in my life where I didn't want to work dead end jobs anymore so I chose to visit West

wood College (the one with the horrible commercials) and got enrolled in classes knowing nothing about game development. I found out that it was a lot more complicated than everyone makes it look, but I enjoyed the challenge immensely. I ended up loving every minute of it and glad I made the decision.

Q. When did you become a game developer for Armor Games?

A. I became a full-time game developer at Armor Games on Feb 1st 2009. Before that I actually developed a the original Phage Wars as a sponsor game for Dan (owner of AG). Phage Wars was actually my senior project in college. Before that I worked for company doing client based games and a Flash MMO.

Q. Do you have any plans to create a Phage Wars 3, and, if so, would you like to see a multi-player feature? What other features that didn't make it into Phage Wars 2 would you want in a sequel?

A. I would love to revisit Phage Wars. It's definitely a project that I enjoyed doing. The number one request I get for Phage Wars is multiplayer, hands down. I've gotten so many comments/emails on that request alone, so it's definitely been on my list of things I need to do.

Q. Do you have any other upcoming projects?

A. I always have upcoming projects. We are very close to finishing Crush the Castle: Players Pack, so I'm looking forward to launching that soon. In the mean time I'm focusing on smaller projects (like "Demolition City") that take only a week to build.

Q. Tell us about the process of taking an idea and making it into a full-fledged game.

A. When one of us comes up with and idea in the office we like to gather discuss it together so as to get input from everyone. If everyone agrees on the idea then it boils down to when it will be started. Mostly this is right after your current project, as that is when you need a next one

anyways. Sometimes work loads have to be split, like art and code, but most of the time you're on your own. During development, sometimes issues come up that you didn't think about prior and have to be addressed. If they require major changes, then sometimes we get back together to find a solution. As far as the entire work flow of development, I typically like to get the core gameplay nailed down before I start work on menus and such. This isn't how everyone works, and John (jmtb02) likes to work on UI more. Sound and Music is always last, as you can better judge all the sounds you need when the game is finished.

Q. Where does the music for your games come from (specifically, "Demolition City")?

A. We like to grab music from a few places. The Newgrounds Audio Portal is one of them, another one is imcompetech.com where Kevin MacLeod does some awesome scores. That is where the music for Demolition City came from. In fact, DC was extremely hard to find music for. I listened to so many songs, but nothing fit the game perfectly. Eventually I remembered the Fantasia 2000 movie by Disney and the George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue set in a large city and I figured that would fit perfect. I found the best 1930s sounding music I could, which is also why the explosions are cymbals and the collisions are drums. It ended up better than I expected so I kept it.

Q. What console games do you like to play? Have any of these influenced your game development?

A. I have a soft spot for the Ratchet and Clank series. They are very polished and humorous at times. I also enjoy free roam games more than I should. If I can walk around and do a bunch of cool stuff, I'm sold. As the game industry grows there are more and more highly polished games coming out, and I think if anything I like take some time at the end of the game development and refine features and such to make the game as well rounded as I can. I don't always get this time at the end, but when I do I take full advantage of it.

Q. Of the games you've created, which would you say is your favorite?

A. I think because Phage Wars was a college project that turned out to be cooler than I expected, that I would have to call it my favorite. I spent so much time researching cells and viruses that I probably learned more than I ever did in my high school biology class. It became a quest to make it accurate, but still fun. Crush the Castle was also fun to make, especially when during development I finished implementing the character screams and it became apparent that it way more entertaining than I imagined.

That's it for the exclusive interview with Joey Betz. For more on Betz, go to his website here, or, to play his games, go here.

Image credit: heise.de (here), Flash Anywhere (here).

Rest In Peace, John Hughes

John Hughes, born February 18, 1950, has died today of a heart attack. He was incredibly successful in the American film industry, as a writer, producer and director of such movies as Home Alone, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and many others. Currently, no details of his death have been released other than the fact that he died of a heart attack.

John Hughes was known for his trademarks, which appeared in most of his films. Characters speaking to the audience ("breaking the fourth wall") were seen in several of Hughes' movies. Many of his movies were also set in places where he himself lived.

Thousands of fans are now mourning over the loss of such an amazing movie-maker. Stay tuned for a batch of reviews of John Hughes' most famous movies in the next couple of days.

Image credit: Listal (here).

Why 'Idol' Won't Work

Update: It appears that Fox is trying to fill the void, and not just with Kara DioGuardi - Katy Perry and Victoria Beckham have been lined up as guest judges. Is this enough? In my opinion, having guest judges was never a good idea...

American Idol, despite it's enormous popularity, has seen some changes lately. Last year, the "Judge's Save" was added - a feature that allowed a judge to stop a contestant from being eliminated. Of course, in Season 8, the biggest change was that of the fourth judge - singer/song-write Kara DioGuardi.

She served alongside Idol veterans Simo

n Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson all throughout last season, and it's been confirmed that she will be returning for the upcoming Season 9. While this intially doesn't seem like a 'problem', it has become one, with the news that Paula Abdul will not be returning as a judge for the next season.

Now, I'm not going to be comparing these two - they are entirely different people - but with the situation, that is exactly what fans will be doing. Despite her being around for last season, she will be seen as a "replacement" of Abdul. Why is this a problem? She simply isn't recognizable enough. The three original judges are so well known because they have been with the show for years. And while she may have rose to fame as a fourth judge given enough time, she has to become a veteran judge after one season.

You see, the judges' names should be recognizable by fans and non-fans alike. When a non-fan can tell who is an Idol judge and who isn't, that is a big sign of popularity. Kara DioGuardi simply doesn't have that kind of Idol fame, and most people wouldn't even know her name before she appeared on Idol.

After the announcement that Abdul was leaving, my expectations for the next season sunk dramatically. The balance of judges will be thrown off completely, and I feel quite confident that ratings for Idol will dip severely. We're just going to have to wait and see, however, if Kara can really carry that much weight on her shoulders.

Image credit: USA Today (here), MTV (here).

Making The Case: A 'Bones' Movie

The reason I chose Bones as opposed to any other crime drama is exactly what sets it apart from the others - characterization. The characters in Bones seem very life-like, making it an ideal candidate for a movie. We've seen Booth and Brennan both go into action several times before, and the "Gormogon" story arc proves the series can handle something more epic than a single episode.

Of course, a movie would have to wait until the next season is complete to work into the story (if you've seen the season finale, you'll know why), but that doesn't mean it couldn't work altogether. Booth and Brennan have already travelled to different locales before, which would seem to be the best idea for a movie - but there is no reason not to get the entire team involved.

One story idea is having a terrorist (or terrorist group) begin a series of murders around the D.C. area. The group could then attack the Jeffersonian, and the whole building would go on a lock-down. Booth and Brennan could chase down the terrorists through the Jeffersonian, and perhaps also chase them through the city.

How would the movie fit into the whole story arc of the show? While it would be terrible to see the series end, I think a full-length, theater-released movie would be a great cinematic ending to the series, with Booth and Bones finally "getting together" - though I would love to see the show progress at least two more seasons before it ended permanently.

Image credit: smh.com.au (here).

Paula Abdul Leaves 'American Idol'

Paula Abdul, who has been with American Idol (the highest rated show on television) since the beginning, will not return to her role as judge in the upcoming Season 9.

The shocking announcement was made on Abdul's twitter, where she revealed that while she would miss "nurturing the new talent", she plans in her free time to work on a reunion project with MC Scat Kat.

It seems that Paula's absence could only negatively impact ratings, but how far they will drop remains to be seen. Check back for more information on the upcoming season of Idol.

Image credit: MSNBC (here).

Review: Sony PSP Go Console

So where do I start? Well first of all the new Sony PSP Go has no more UMD Drive, but instead has 16GB of storage and a card slot - a compact Memorystick Micro. Sony is obviously trying to impress and go head-to-head with Apple and their iPhone and iPod Touch. With no more UMD Drive, there will be a lot less hassle for users meaning that there won't be as many as those nasty failures with the moving parts. For those of you who have a large UMD library, it would be in your best interest to wait and see what Sony have to offer as it is rumored they will be making even more changes to satisfy existing PSP users. Hints suggest a release of a software to convert your UMDs for Go play, but Sony could end up with piracy issues with this.

One thing you will notice straight away is the new design of the PSP. The screen size has been shortened to 3.8 inches and the whole screen slides up to reveal D-Pad, Analogue nub and face buttons. Pretty cool if you ask me. Although the screen is now smaller, Sony have kept the same resolution as well as the battery-life. The video quality may have stayed the same, but Sony have made an effort and have increased the sound of the music player as well your tunes becoming clearer. The last change I would mention is the addition of Bluetooth to connectivity to Wi-Fi. To be even more competitive against the iPhone and iPod Touch, Sony have even added in a built-in Skype application thus turning the PSP Go into a free phone so long as you stay in a Wi-Fi area.

The PSP Go is useful multimedia device and so I recommend it to you all if you enjoy gaming, watching movies and listening to music. Not any really major changes however Sony have now become competitors against Apple and it will be interesting to see what they can make out of it. 8/10

Image credit: MidLife Gamer (here).

Review: Wii Sports Resort

I'm going to be perfectly honest here - chances are, if you're an avid gamer, you will not be buying Wii Sports Resort for the twelve sports, but rather the Wii MotionPlus peripheral. And even though you may consider the game itself more of a demo for the new peripheral, you may be pleasantly surprised by the fun it provides.

The game plays much like a fleshed-out version of the original Wii Sports. Instead of having a meager five sports to play, Resort includes more than twice that, coming in with twelve sports for the family to enjoy. Theser sports include: Swordplay, Wakeboarding, Frisbee,

Archery, Basketball, Table Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Power Cruising, Canoeing, Cycling Air Sports.

While you may have seen some of these before, such as Golf, Table Tennis, and Bowling, the experiences are differed in the fact that Wii MotionPlus makes the experiences feel more physical. But the new sports are arguably even more fun - Swordplay in particular. The motions are now 1:1, and the whole time I played this particular sport, I could only think about how it would integrate into the next Zelda game.

Archery is another favorite game of mine, and with good reason. Long be

fore the Wii MotionPlus, I came up with my own theory for how a bow and arrow could work on the Wii - by pressing a button on the Nunchuck, pulling it back, and letting go of the button. While this did not happen in Twilight Princess, it was implented into this Archery game. I also enjoyed how gravity and wind factored into the game.

Wakeboarding makes great use of the Wii MotionPlus peripheral

Still, the games aren't as expansive as they could be. The game comes in at $50, and the Wii MotionPlus peripheral is sold seperately for only $20. So, is the game worth $30? While I personally think so, you might not want to buy such a casual game for that price. More "hardcore" gamers would probably be more willing to buy the game if it had Wi-Fi connection, a feature I sadly realized it did not have.

If you're a casual gamer, without a doubt, pick this game up. But if you're looking for a more meaty experience, there are better games for you - though don't forget to buy the Wii MotionPlus peripheral seperately, because it has been confirmed it will be used in the next Zelda game. 7.5/10

Image credit: Gamer Tell (here), Chewing Pixels (here).

PS3 Slim Rumors Intensify

For months, rumors have been flying over a possible newer version of the PS3, dubbed, "PS3 Slim". But one of the biggest developments came just days ago, when a version of the PS3 Slim appeared on the German version of Amazon, seen below.

The item was taken down once the media picked up the story, though that didn't quell the rumors. While fans were busying themselves with the rumor, Amazon dropped the price of their 160 GB version of the PS3 by $50. No one is totally sure why, though it seems that they are trying to clear their stock of the old PS3 to make room for the slimmer version.

Seeing as the PS3 has sales far below the Wii and Xbox 360, Sony will definitely need to do something to boost their sales, and the PS3 Slim might just help that. If that is the case, we can probably expect to see this new model released to the public by Christmas-time. We will likely hear an announcement about this later this month at Gamescom in Germany.

Image credit: IGN (here).

DSi Connects To Facebook

Just hours ago, a system update for the Nintendo DSi was released world wide. The signifcance? Owners of the DSi can now connect to the Internet and upload photos taken on the DSi directly to Facebook.

While it's not a huge event, it is definitely something that DSi owners will enjoy, and something to entice others into buying the DSi. A Facebook icon has been put in the "Album" section of the camera, making this new feature very convienent.

I have tried out this feature myself, and I can safely say, it works like a breeze. I quickly choose what pictures I wanted to upload, and, within moments, they had been uploaded to my Facebook in a new album called "Photos from Nintendo DSi". I definitely will be using this update in the future.

For more information, read the entire Press Release here.

Image credit: OICF (here).

Digital Versus Physical: The Future of Distribution

Xbox Live. WiiWare. PlayStation Network. Undoubtedly, all of these are changing the way we purchase video games. For over twenty years, gamers had to travel all the way to the video game store to pick up the latest release - but nowadays, we can simply download games onto our systems by using 'Points'. This is obviously more convienent, but does it spell the future for the way all games are distributed?

With a quick look at some forums on the Internet, you'll realize that players have some pretty strong feelings about the topic. Those on the side of Digital Distribution list some of the more obvious benefits of their choice of distribution: more convienence, less trash produced without packaging, and lower cost due to the lack of packaging. Being able to play demoes of the games you are downloading is also a bonus.

Of course, despite the growing prevelance of WiiWare and DSiWare, Nintendo is still sticking to it's old ways. Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario and Zelda series, as well as many others, stated, "Personally, I'm one of those guys who, even if I have all the songs from iTunes, I want the CD as well. It's something that makes me - I feel more reassured with the physical media." Miyamoto is a pretty big name in the video game business, so his support of "traditional" distribution is definitely a big deal.

That "reassured" feeling is not the only benefit of Physical Distribution, however. Without a physical copy of the game, used copies can't be bought, and the game cannot be shared with friends unless you carry around your entire console. And if games went completely digital, game stores would go completely out of business, which would seriously hurt the economy.

The Verdict: We'll never reach such an extreme that all games are released digitally, but that doesn't mean that format will go away. Digital Distribution will likely grow to a comforatable size within the next few years, and find a perfect balance with the Physical Distribution that we have all come to know and love.

Image credit: MSXbox World (here), Second Hand Karl (here).

Futurama Cast Updates

After fans were shocked that the voice cast from Futurama might not return for the new season, some good news has surfaced: the voice cast might just return after all.

Currently, Maurice LaMarche (who plays Kif Kroker) has officially signed on, as well as Katey Sagal (who voices Leela) and Tress MacNeille (who voices Mom, as well as other side characters). Billy West and John DiMaggio (Fry and Bender, respectively) have yet to officially sign, though it has been reported that they are "close".

Stay tuned for updates on the situation, and news of the upcoming season.

Image credit: Tv-serieguiden (here).

Comic-Con: Expansion of Dead Space

The original Dead Space, released in 2008 (along with a full-length animated film) was received with overwhelmingly positive reviews, including IGN's award for "Best New IP". But, this isn't the end of the franchise - a prequel, Dead Space: Extraction has already been announced for the Wii and is set for released later this year.

At Comic-Con, it was announced that two sequels for the original game are being planned, as well as a live-action movie. D.J. Caruso, director of such movies as Disturbia and Eagle Eye, has already been signed on as the director. Interestingly, both of those movies star Shia LaBeouf, and his next film, Y: The Last Man, also features LaBeouf, leading to the the possibility that LaBeouf could be featured in this film adaptation.

In more game-to-movie news, it has been confirmed that a Gears of War movie is being planned - however, it has not passed a "basic stage", and no details have been released. Check back for more updates!

Image credit: Gamepressure (here), SuperVoodoo (here).

'Harry Potter' Impresses Critics, Breaks Records

Despite being the sixth film in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has continued to dazzle audiences. Overall, the critical reception has been positive, with the cast being praised and the visuals praised as well. Among the top complaints was the confusion that newcomers likely felt watching the movie and the film "dragging" during the first half.

In the box office, Half-Blood Prince has been even more successful, breaking opening day records with $22.2 million and 5-day records at an astounding $394 million, beating Spider-Man 3 by $12 million. It is quite possible that the film might break even more box office records, considering the fact that the original movie in the series is the fifth highest grossing film of all time.

Image credit: Reading Cinemas (here).

'Futurama' Cast To Be Replaced

Fanboys may have been excited over the return of Futurama, but perhaps they shouldn't get their hopes up: several news outlets have reported that the entire cast of Futurama is to be replaced.

According to 2oth Century Fox, the reason for this major change is their inablity (or, more likely, reluctance) to meet "their [the Futurama cast] salary demands". Seeing as animated shows usually have low budgets, this isn't a surprise, but considering the overwhelming fan response, Fox would be wise to meet these "demands" to please their fans.

Variety reports that the show, while it is indeed returning, will have the incredibly low budget of $75,000 per episode. Their is a small chance that the original voice actors will return, especially considering the overwhelming fan response, because a similar event occured with the cast of The Simpsons a few years back.

Check back for updates on this astounding development in the return of Futurama.

Image credit: diggin88nine.wordpress.com (here).

Review: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is currently the highest-grossing film of the year, and that's not a surprising fact. An action movie with giant fighting robots and an immediately recognizable license is sure to attract a great deal of fans. But how does the film stack up?

The film revolves around Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and his attempt to live a normal life, free of Bumblebee, an Autobot that has grown attached to him. However, his attempts are futile, as he begins seeing strange symbols whose origins are linked with the Transformers.

However, the plot is certainly not why you will see the movie. In fact, the plot is hardly interesting at all, though the parts of the film that most people will be interested in (namely, giant robot battles and Megan Fox) work for the most part. Nearly every part with the human characters is enormously uninteresting, with the exception of the parts with both humans and Transformers.

Leo Spitz, introduced as Sam's college roommate, is wholly unimportant and bland, though is featured a great deal in the movie. Megan Fox's character was so uninteresting (likely because of her inability to act) that I cannot

even remember her name - and didn't know it when watching the movie either. Mudflap and Skids, two Autobots, are also introduced in the movie, and are possible the most offensive characters in history - they are nothing more than racial stereotypes (one even has a golden tooth).

Overall, the movie is very poor by most standards; however, if you enjoy the license, you will certainly enjoy this movie. As much as I love Transformers, I have to give it a less-than-impressive 4/10.

Image credit: Mania (here), seventeen (here).

Classic Review: TMNT: Hyperstone Heist (Sega Genesis)

With an upcoming, re-release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time that features brand new 3D graphics (a preview of which can be seen here), I thought it only appropriate to review a TMNT arcade game experience of my own with Hyperstone Heist.

Though I never actually played the arcade version, I did own the Genesis version (and still do), and it was one of my all-time favorite games. The "hack 'n slash" action is definitely taken straight from the arcade, and is one of the most memorable parts of the game. But, to be truly fun, you need a partner; having two players really is twice the fun.

The overall experience is greatly improved by the very smooth graphics (for the Genesis days, that is), though it cannot compete with Turtles In Time's superior color palette on the SNES. The sound quality is also very poor, with the voices of the turtle's sounding "raspy" and the background music being very scratchy.

Length is also a big issue in the game; while each of the five levels is very fun, they are not incredibly long, and the game can be played within a very short time frame. The competition in co-op that is created when each player attempts to kill the most enemies to get extra lives also may deter players from going multi-player.

Still, if you stick to the olden days and still own a Sega Genesis (or own an emulator), this is definitely one of the best titles to pick up. 8.5/10

Image credit: Rustaq (here).

"Lost": Stolen?

ABC is getting sued over the TV series Lost, with Anthony Spinner (the producer of multiple TV series, including The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) claiming that it was stolen from him.

Spinner recounts the similarities between the TV series and his idea, also titled Lost, stating that his series also included a plane from Los Angeles crashing into an uncharted island. His series involved both a doctor and a man from the military - which could be the basis for the characters Jack and Sayid, respectively.

Spinner offered the project to ABC multiple times, including 1977, 1991, and 1994, but was rejected everytime. He is now sueing for a cut of royalties, though no other details are known.

Image credit: "The Antitrust Hotch Potch" (here).

Wii Goes To The Movies

The Wii might not be the "media center" of your home yet, but that doesn't mean it isn't on it's way. In addition to the expansive Channels of the Wii, ranging from Weather to the Internet, a new service called "Everyone's Theater Wii" will allow Wii owners to rent movies for a small fee.

Currently, the application is only available in Japan, where Wii owners can download it for 500 Wii Points ($5.00) and rent Warner Bros. movies for 300 Wii Points ($3.00), which they can view for 48 hours. However, it seems that Nintendo will certainly release this same Channel in the U.S.

The service began today in Japan and launched with a total of 54 movies, such as: Batman Begins, Goonies, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Free Willy, and plenty more. That's quite expansive, considering the fact that only Warner Bros. movies are available.

This could be a major stepping stone in the development and the future of the Wii. Right now, only movies previously released are available, but The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will be released on this service on the same day it is released on DVD in Japan. In the future, a similar music service could also become available, and the Wii might become the "media center" of everyone's homes.

In other movie news, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has broken the midnight records set by The Dark Knight. Harry Potter's $22.2 million opening night easily beat out the $18.5 million made by The Dark Knight in it's opening night. According to the trends, it seems that the sequel to this movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (which is to be split into two movies) will likely break this record as well.

Image credit: "Gambit's Blog" (here).

Sony Diches DLC For Gran Turismo PSP

After a shocking 5-year development cycle, Gran Turismo PSP is finally set for release October 1 of this year. And with such a long time for development, gamers will definitely be expecting a big game - and, apparently, this will all be coming right in the box.

It has been confirmed by Sony that no "DLC" (Downloadable Content) will be released for GT PSP. This could be a slightly controversial move; fans often want the most out of their games and devices, and simply because the PSP is capable of downloading extra content, fans will expect that it is available. But there is the other side of fans, who feel that, once they buy a game, they should have the whole game.

The game is to have "800+" cars, so DLC will not be necessary

Personally, I believe DLC should be available in just about all games. Nobody is forced into downloading extra content, and it does provide a more robust gaming experience for those who are willing to play a little extra for it. It's a little unfortunate that not all developers are embracing this concept; Nintendo could easily make thousands by allowing fans to downlad new characters for Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Gran Turismo PSP is slated for release October 1, 2009.

Image credit: IGN (here).

Ryan Reynolds To Play Green Lantern

It looks like the upcoming Deadpool won't be Ryan Reynolds last venture into the world of superheroes. After beating out actors Bradley Cooper, Jared Leto, and Justin Timberlake, Reynolds has officially signed on for the part of Green Lantern in the heroes upcoming film.

But is "the merc with a mouth" up for such a different role? Given Reynolds' usual roles, would it not make more sense for him to play The Flash? Perhaps this is exactly why he has given so much for this particular role. Actors and actresses rarely enjoy being type-cast, so could this be a permanent switch to more serious roles for Reynolds?

There is no doubt that this casting choice will be met with criticism - as most are - but it will be quite interesting to see what Reynolds can do with this role, and what it could mean for the future of DC Comics' films.

Image credit: Answers.com (here).

New Michael Jackson Game

Some rumors have been persisting about an upcoming game based on Michael Jackson - and, apparently, they are true. MJJ Productions, Michael Jackson's personal company, is developing the title. But is it a 'tribute'?

Apparently not. MJJ Productions has been working on the title "for months", and it even includes dialogue from the King of Pop himself. It has been confirmed that Jackson's death has not interfered with the planned release of the game, set for Christmas of 2009.

It will be released for the Xbox 360 and PS3, and is purported to contain a number of hit songs.

Image credit: P.I.D. Radio (here).

Blast From The Past: Spyro The Dragon

Spyro has seen many changes as of late; several games have been released for a multitude of systems, and were often met with less a than positive reaction. However, with The Legend of Spyro being a "reboot" for the series, Spyro has just about reached his former glory - the final stepping stone may be the upcoming movie, The Legend of Spyro.

The first game in the series, plainly named Spyro The Dragon, was over-all well received, with critics citing the colorful graphics and appropriate music as giving a good over-all experience. The gameplay was centered around certain hub worlds, in which many portals allowed the player to enter different Worlds; worlds

which would contain (in the case of the first game) Dragons that have been frozen by Gnasty Gnorc.

The sequel, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage, played on the success of the original game while giving Spyro a whole new world to explore: Avalar. While the gameplay remained largely the same (with Spyro searching for orbs as opposed to dragons), critics praised the expansive new levels, and often humorous story.

Arguably the most popular game in the series, and the final game in the series developed by Insomniac Games (thus ending the first "saga" of Spyro), Spyro: Year of The Dragon, also built on the original idea of hub worlds, but added considerably to the formula. Each world boasted

several mini portals of it's

own, which

would allow the player to play certain mini-games to earn Dragon Eggs (the equivalent of orbs from the second game). Other playable characters were added, such as Sheila the kangaroo and Sgt. Byrd; because of this, the game got overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Although the series has somewhat floundered since Insomniac Games stopped developing the games, the Spyro series will always live on as a popular platformer, and one of the most successful games on the original PlayStation.

Image credit: GameCyte (here), GiantBomb (here).

Flash Game Review: Warfare 1944

When approaching sequels, I am usually very cautious - but when it comes to games, console or Flash, sequels are almost always better, the sole reason being, the gameplay usually remains the same, but with some new additions that change it for the better. That is exactly what happened with Warfare 1944.

The original game, Warfare 1917, was universally well-received, with an average rating of 9.4/10 on Armor Games, and over 13 million plays. It was an original idea, too - a strategy game set during World War I as opposed to World War II. So, with all of this positive attention, it would be foolish to not make a sequel. Enter Warfare 1944.

I'll start off with some of the changes. The two armies playable are the U.S. and Germany - not a noticeable change, but a change none-the-less. Gameplay has changed a decent amount, while still keeping the exciting action of the original. Troops can now be deployed in one of three Deployment zones - this has a major impact on gameplay, because different Deployment Zones have different amounts of Cover (Cover being comparable to the trenches of the original game).

Another major change to gameplay is the addition of Resource Points. While you still have to wait to access a certain type of troop, you can order two different types within moments of each other - assuming you have enough Resource Points. You start off with 800 RP, and steadily gain 200 every few seconds or so. Riflemen cost 200 RP, for example. This makes the game move much faster - a much needed addition, in my opinion.

The Fire Support system has also changed. To order Fire Support, you must have a Office on the field. He can order Fire Support, but at a price - 400 RP for an Air Strike, and 500 RP for an Artillery Strike. With this cost, it is much easier to order Fire Support, which leads to the destruction of tanks much faster. An important feature, for sure, because in the previous games, Tanks were a nearly indestrucible force. Bazooka Teams also make the destruction of Tanks faster.

Warfare 1944 is undoubtedly a great improvement over Warfare 1917. The action is at a faster pace, and Tanks are no longer incredibly powerful. The Defensive/Objective missions makes the game more "fresh", though the Defensive missions are mostly for the German campaign. I can't think of a bad word to say about the game - 10/10.

Image credit: Con Artist Games (here).

News Overview

Next Wii Zelda: According to Shiegru Miyamoto, the creator of the Zelda series (along with many others), the next Wii Zelda game won't be "that radically different". However, he has already stated that the game will certainly use the Wii MotionPlus, and has pointed out that this "older Link" is not wielding his famous Master Sword. While it seems that the art style of Twilight Princess will remain, it still seems that something will change - and not just the controls.

Transformers: The new Transformers movie, Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen, has been raking in over $450 million, only beaten by Angels & Demons, which garnered $469 million. This has all been against poor reviews, with critics claiming that the movie was worse than the original - but fans are still, clearly, excited.

The A-Team: The status of The A-Team movie is about to change, as the cast begins to settle in. With Liam Neeson set to play Hannibal Smith, and Bradely Cooper set to play Templeton Peck, the movie is truly coming along. And now, strong rumors are swirling that rapper "The Game" will play B. A. Baracus - stay tuned as more updates appear for The A-Team, set for realease June 11, 2010.

Bioshock 2: A strange, promotional record has appeared regarding the upcoming Bioshock 2. It seems to hint at a plot, though it is certainly left open to interpretation. Read more about it here. Bioshock 2 is set for release on November 3, 2009, for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Image credit: IGN (here)

Quick Update

A small change has been made to the blog - a "filters" section has been added to the sidebar. This allows you to read posts on a specific subject. Enjoy!

Blog Hiatus

electric overdrive will be taking a breif, four to five day hiatus this week. Once it has ended, I will come back with an "Overview" of all the news I had missed.

June 25: A Day That Will Live In Infamy

Today, the world was stricken with grief as Farrah Fawcett, after a long battle with anal cancer, passed away. But, unfortunately the pain would not end as it has been confirmed that Michael Jackson has also passed away today.

Farrah Fawcett, who was most famous for playing Jill Munroe in the hit TV series Charlie's Angels, was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006, acted as a role model for cancer patients with her aggressive attitude toward her disease. She unfortunately passed away early this morning, at 9:30 PDT. Her documentary, Farrah's Story, aired a little over

a month ago, and documented her time with cancer. Fawcett also acted as a sex symbol of the 1970s.

Jackson's death, while confirmed by TMZ and the LA Times, has been met with both grief and skepticism. Because he is "known for his theatrics", a few believe that this may be a stunt - unlikely, however, has he did suffer a serious heart attack earlier in the day. Jackson was one of the most popular musicians of all time, having been admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. His most popular song, undoubtedly, was Thriller.

Fawcett and Jackson will be greatly missed, and June 25 will surely be a day that no one forgets.

Image credit: HamovHotov (here), ESPN (here).

Rest In Peace, Ed McMahon

Earlier today, it was reported that famous The Tonight Show co-host Ed McMahon had passed away. While no formal cause of death has been released, it has been reported that McMahon was previously suffering from pneumonia. The pneumonia may be an effect of a toxic mold problem he and his family faced several years ago. He was also recently diagnosed with bone cancer.

McMahon worked on a number of TV shows, as well as a few movies, but he is undoubtedly most popular for his role as co-host on The Tonight Show. Alongside host Johnny Carson, he provided plenty of laughs with his booming voice and signature "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!". His role on the show gave him the nickname "Human Laugh Track".

McMahon was also the host of Star Search for it's entire 12-year run, and has appeared in Alf's Hit Talk Show as co-host. He has written two memoirs: Here's Johnny!: My Memories of Johnny Carson, The Tonighty Show, and 46 Years of Friendship, and For Laughing Out Loud. Ed McMahon was 86.

Image credit: msnbc (here).

More Info Released On Sony's Motion Controller

At this year's E3, Sony unveiled a wand-like motion controller that received positive feedback at the show for it's accuracy. And now, a few weeks after the Expo ended, Sony has revealed more details on the accessory, and it's launch date.

Telling developers that the controller will work "with any games across all genres, from casual to core", Sony has seemingly ignored an angry fan reaction. As Sony "fanboys" mocked the Wii for it's "childish, gimmicky" controls, their future games might force them to buy this new controller for themselves.

But Sony remains confident. They are "currently looking into the possibility" of using the motion controller in combination with the DualShock (the regular controller) to play games. The example they used was being able to use "the motion controller as a sword and use DualShock 3 as a shield". The new peripheral is set for release in Spring of 2010.

Teaser Trailer For 'The Last Airbender' Released

Just yesterday, fans were given a treat when the teaser trailer for M. Night Shyamalan's upcomin film, The Last Airbender, based on the Avatar: The Last Airbender TV series. And while I was initally skeptical of the casting choices (and still am, somewhat), I am much more confident about the entire movie's ability to mirror the series.

The Airbending effects look much better than I had expected, and the sight of the fire nation ships bombarding the Air Temple was amazing - even if we still haven't seen Katara and Sokka, I can tell that the movie is shaping up to be amazing. However, it will still be quite a while before we get an actual trailer that will divulge some details.

Top Ten: Final Fantasy VII Songs

Not too long ago, I announced my plans to compile a Top Ten list of the greatest video game songs of all times, despite the fact that I already had with Project Playlist. However, it has come to my attention that this a near impossible feat without smudging my own opinion - why? Because, all the songs belong to Final Fantasy VII.

I do hope to create another Top Ten list of the greatest video game songs in the future, but this list will have to exclude Final Fantasy VII to be fair. For the record, the Mario games, the Zelda games, and the Sonic games would all have gotten at least one song on this least would it not be for Final Fantasy VII. So, I present to you, the Top Ten greatest songs in Final Fantasy VII.

10. Hurry Faster

One of the most appropriately named songs in the game. Most notably played in the "Battle Arena" at the Gold Saucer, the song conveys the thought of "hurrying", and is used in perfect combination with a timer. It's hurrying theme is noticeable in those who have never even heard it before, making it a true masterpiece.

9. Stolen Materia

Because of the fact that I am an avid clarinet player, you may believe that my choice of this song is somewhat biased as it features clarinets heavily. But that is not the reason I choose it - those who have played Final Fantasy VII know that this song ties in with Yuffie, who ends up stealing your materia because of her thieving ways. The song's light-hearted tune reminds me of that entire section of the game, as well as Yuffie's character. This tune's memorability also earned it a spot on the list.

8. Cait Sith's Theme

I couldn't include every character's theme on the list, and quite honestly, I didn't want to. Most do capture the true essence of the character (a very important quality), but they don't have the familiarity of a tune such as Cait Sith's Theme. You'd be hard-pressed to find a fan of the game who couldn't hum Cait Sith's tune, but even for those who haven't played the game can enjoy the jazz like qualities of this theme.

7. Shinra Army Wages A Full-Scale Attack

Again, you may believe that I picked this song with a bias, because of the fact that I am in marching band and this song is designed after a march. But, again, that is not why I picked it. The songs epic feel mirrors the mood of the scenes in which this theme is played very well. For fans of the game, hearing this song can only bring back memories of Shinra from the game. Expertly composed, this song undoubtedly has earned a spot on the list.

6. Highwind Takes To The Skies

Being one of the most epic songs in the game, I knew immediately that this theme would have a place in the Top Ten. While I initally wanted to place it higher in the list, there was just too many songs that beat it out. Regardless of that, this song highlights one of the most exciting points in the game: taking the Highwind and flying across the world for the very first time. Truly an amazing piece.

5. Still More Fighting (Boss Battle Theme)

Most of the songs on this list (and, in fact, in the entire game) are classical, even if some have a faster tune. But the boss battle theme, known as "Still More Fighting" is, undoubtedly a rock song. It may not have lyrics, but those who have not played the game will still find this song great, simply because it's a great deal more modern than the rest. If you played the game, than you remember the first time you heard this song, and the excitement it carried as you battled your first boss.

4. Crazy Motorcycle Theme

Ah, yes, the "Crazy Motorcycle" theme. Fans of the game will immediately remember the amazing in-game movie that pushed the PlayStation's graphics to the extreme as Cloud hopped on a motorcycle, armed only with a sword, and proceeded to destroy all the Shinra soldiers tailing him and his friends. Memorability definitely played a huge role in this theme reaching the number four spot, but no one can doubt that this a great and catchy tune.

3. Tifa's Theme

Quite possibly one of the most beautiful peaces in the game, "Tifa's Theme" is the perfect song to one of the most developed characters in the game. The slow, woodwind-based melody is quite soothing, and the whole song is carried with tons of emotion. For those who have played this game, it's a trip down memory lane - for those who haven't, it is still a beautiful tune.

2. Victory Fanfare

It may seem foolish to such a short tune above some of the greatest songs in the game, like "Tifa's Theme" and "Highwind Takes To The Skies". In fact, I doubted myself at first when I put the song so high on the list. But its length doesn't detract from the fact that this fanfare is, without a doubt, the most recognizable song from the game. Heard more than any other, the short trumpet blast will fill any player's heart with glee.

1. World Crisis

The length of this song is daunting, but that shouldn't stop you from listening to the whole thing. While slow, the beginning is quite beautiful, but the best comes later, when the song "explodes" into a very fast section. Composed perfectly, "World Crisis" is undoubtedly the greatest song from Final Fantasy VII. The slow parts are beautiful, the fast parts exciting, and the entire thing created with amazing precision. If I had to describe this song in just one word, it would be "epic". This song's epicness is truly what brought it to the top spot on the list. Listen, and enjoy.

And that concludes the Top Ten: Final Fantasy VII Songs. I truly hope that you listened through each song, as each earned a spot on this list for a reason.

Thanks to Entertonement for making this list possible!