electric overdrive

The Change

2009-08-31T13:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

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"

2009-08-28T11:44:00.002-07:00

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

2009-08-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

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'?

2009-08-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-16T20:30:00.001-07:00

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!

2009-08-13T19:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-08T21:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-06T01:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

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'

2009-08-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-03T19:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-07-15T20:03:00.001-07:00

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?

2009-07-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

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!

'Scrubs' To Change Drastically

2009-06-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Although Scrubs, the popular hospital-based comedy, has recently aired it's "series finale", it has been confirmed that the show is actually coming back for another season. However, with some of the main cast leaving, the show will be never be the same.

The new show will take place at a med school, as opposed to an actual hospital. However, two familiar faces will be teaching as this school: Dr. Chris Turk (played by Donald Faison) and Dr. Percival Cox (John C. McGinley), who have signed on for full-time roles. The rest of the main cast has agreed to make quick appearances, though these will likely be for around one episode for the season.

The new cast will be comprised of med students, though we have no information on who will be playing them. According to ABC, "One of them will be fairly famous". This has lead to much speculation, but we will just have to wait to get more information on the cast.

Image credit: Burrowowl (here).

Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender - Into The Inferno (Wii)

2009-06-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

Being a big fan of the Avatar series, I was very excited about getting a chance to play Into The Inferno, which follows the third season of the TV show. And, while my excitement continued during the beginning of the game, by the end, I was severely disappointed.

The controls, although slightly "gimmicky", work for the most part. Each character has very similar attacks, however; no matter what element they bend, each character has the same moveset. This is very infuriating, as there is very little variety. The only difference between the characters is when they use their bending out of a battle; but, because Aang can bend all the elements, he is always the best choice.

Another problem I have with the game is the story arc. The basic timeline remains somewhat the same as the show, but there are some major differences made: Sokka does not go along with Aang and Toph when they try to find the Firelord, we never see the end of the invasion, Aang and Zuko never go to the Sun Warrior civilazation (instead going to the "Chamber of the Elements", made specifically for the game), Azula is not seen losing her sanity until the last few seconds, and the fight with Ozai (and with Azula) is changed drastically.

I did enjoy some parts of the game, mostly the combat, but by the end, I was not pleased with the whole package. The game is quite short, and will probably not please those who aren't big fans of the series. As much as I love the series, I have to give the game the less-than-amazing score of 4/10.

Image credit: PALGN (here)

Preview: Warfare 1944

2009-06-19T17:11:00.000-07:00

Does the title of the game sound familiar? It should if you've ever played Warfare 1917, a highly popular World War I strategy game created by the Con Artist, a developer at Armor Games. About a month ago, the Con Artist revealed his latest project: Warfare 1944, a spirtual successor of Warfare 1917. With a planned release between now and June, fans are getting very excited for this new game.

There is a multitude of new features, including new "upgrade trees", missions with objectives and defensive missions, a great deal of voice acting, urban warfare, and much more. In addition to all these new features, there also appears to be interface, one that may make gameplay smoother and easier.

If you really take a look at some of the screens, you can see a few different types of units: Riflemen, Assault Team, Machine Gunners, and Snipers are all returning from the previous game. However, there is the addition of a new unit that wields Bazookas. There are three other spots for units: in the previous game, two would be filled by a General and a Tank unit; this leaves one brand new unit.

Also in the screens is the addition of "Resource Points", that seem to directly interact with units. The Assault team can throw grenades for 50 RP, along with two other actions that seem to be "Move out" and "Fire guns".

Instead of trenches, your troops will be forced to take cover behind whatever is on the field. This may change gameplay to a degree, but it appears the game will still have the same basic controls. I hope that this flash game sequel (of which there have been quite a few recently) will succeed just as well as the original game.

More screens can be found at Con Artist Games.

Image credit: Con Artist Games (here).

Flash Game Review: Phage Wars 2

2009-06-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

It appears that I reviewed Phage Wars (here) a little too late, as I discovered today that Phage Wars 2 has just been released! While I was excited, I was also very nervous to play the game, as Hedgehog Launch 2 had just been released, and I wasn't too pleased (read the review here). However, it's safe to say the Phage Wars 2 is nothing but an improvement.

If you are a fan of the original, than the opening screen might seem a little daunting. The menu is different for one important reason: the game has RPG-like qualities, in that, has you progress through the game, you collect new proteins that you can use to upgrade your virus. As opposed to selecting different viruses from the beginning, you always start with the same virus, and it changes as you decide which proteins to use throughout the game.

For example, the "theF" protein, named after "thief", give +2 Speed, -3 Strength, +2 Agility, and -1 Defense. While that particular protein is very large, there are smaller proteins you can collect in the earlier parts of the game. To be successful, you must use your own combination of proteins, and focus on one of the five skills (Speed, Defense, Agility, Strength, and Reproduction) that best fits your strategy.

There is a total of eight different areas in which to use your virus in battle, each with four "levels". The first two, Culture (light) and Culture (dark) are very similar, only, Culture (dark) has less light (not very noticeable) and each level has a different. These two sections have levels that are identical to the later levels of the original game, but you will see new levels as you progress.

The next two areas are Photophillic and Photophobic; again, Photophobic is the same concept with less light, but each level in each of the areas is unique. These levels are different because they contain cancerous cells. If your virus infects a cancerous cell, then it will have twice the reproduction rate (in that cell only, of course).

Once the previous areas are completed, you move onto Cyanobacteria and Plantae. The added element in each of these is bacteria cells - once these are "conquered" by your virus, it will have twice the strength in that particular cell. This is helpful is you use my personal strategy (see Tips, below), as you will quickly have a very powerful weapon on your hands.

Metazoa (dead) is next, and, once complete, Metazoa (live) is the final step. These two change everything - red blood cells predominate, and each of them grants double speed to your virus. This makes the action fast-paced, and if you're too slow, you'll lose. These sections also contain white blood cells, which grant double defensive powers to your virus. These are great to use if you might be losing, as they act as a sort of "safe haven" for your virus.

While the gameplay remains very much the same (with some new additions), I do appreciate all the other "bonuses" in the game. After each "experiment" (level) is complete, you will recieve a chart showing the success of each virus in the experiment, as well as a comparison of the abilities of each virus involved. You can also see a "heat map", showing where most of the virus was during the level - however, this is quite pointless.

Despite the fact that Phage Wars 2 has just been released, I'm already pondering a third installment. Once you finish the game, you receive an "e-mail" for your success. The e-mail invites you to the "Bonel Prizes" for your success, and includes a nomination. In the e-mail, it says: "There [the Bonel Prizes], you will be up against many individuals, much like yourself, for the honorable Bonel Award." This is a definite hint for a sequel, in which your virus could go up against some of the toughest viruses in the world.

It turns out, my excitement was definitely not in vain. This game is even better than the original. The RPG qualities make it more in-depth than the original, and the changing of levels makes it more intriguing. I truly do hope for a sequel, as this series is one of the best I've ever played. 9/10

Tips:

- Strength is one of the least valuable skills - in the later levels, you are able to take control of bacteria cells that greatly improve your cells. Unless it works with your particular strategy, avoid using proteins that boost strength.

- Agility and Reproduction are two of the best skills in the game. Reproduction especially, as you can use it in combination with the red blood cells in the later levels to build an army with great speed.

- If a level has only a few "special" cells (cancerous, bacteria, red/white blood), use your virus to conquer it as fast as possible; these can provide an upperhand that can mean the difference between losing and winning.

Play Phage Wars 2 here!

Image credit: Armor Games (here). Onlinegamesector (here). (Image from original game).

Activision Wary Of Playstation's Future

2009-06-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

Activision, undoubtedly the biggest independent publisher in the world of video games, may no longer be showing support for the Playstation 3, and perhaps even the PSP. In an interview, Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Activision, said "They have the cut the price, because if they don't, the attach rates are likely to slow. If we are being realistic, we may have to stop supporting Sony."

Since the Playstation 3 launched, thus beginning the console wars for the seventh generation, it has fallen far behind both the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. But despite this, it seemed like it was always a true competitor. Are we going to have to accept that it may "fail", just as the Sega Dreamcast did before it? While Sony has a loyal fanbase, without Activision supporting it, it seems that they have no shot.

Kotick went on to explain when the might stop supporting Sony. "When we look at 2010 and 2011, we might want to consider if we support the console - and the PSP, too." Kotick went on to explain that a "physical interface", such as the Wii, could be good for Sony. But is Activision gaining too much power? Console developers have long since been the most powerful figureheads in the gaming business. Will Activision become just as powerful, bending console developers to fit their needs?

Image credit: That Videogame Blog (here). Quote credit: TimesOnlines (here).

New 'Tingle' Game?

2009-06-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

Nintendo has been teasing fans with the possiblity of a new game based on Tingle. In case you didn't know, Tingle is a strange, elf-like creature from the Zelda series, mainly for comic relief. However, he has become quite popular with fans, and has even had the game Tingle's Balloon Fight DS released exclusively in Japan.

As of late, a teaser site (seen here) has opened, opening the possibility of a new game. While we don't know if this game would be exclusive to Japan, as the previous one was, or released to the world, we can still begin speculation has to what this game is. Chances are, it will be a DS game - though, with all this hype, it is doubtful it would be a DSiWare game.

In the past, Tingle has been quite a controversial character, so it seems strange of Nintendo to bring him back. Of course, Japan is usually quite more accepting of things like these, thus lending more support to the theory that the game will be released exclusively in Japan.

Image credit: wikipedia

New 'Mission: Impossible' Confirmed

2009-06-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

The rumor mill was finally right - after rumors were flying regarding another Mission: Impossible movie, it has been confirmed that a forth movie is underway, and is set for release in 2011. Variety has reported that Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams will be co-producing this sequel.

However, it is currently unknown if Abrams will be directing this latest installment, as he will be directing a sequel to Star Trek. Just like Batman 3 and Transformers, a new director is going to have to be cast soon.

Image credit: Variety (here).

Upcoming: 'Top 10 Video Game Songs'

2009-06-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

Although I have already compiled a list of the top ten video game songs (here), I have decided to come up with a new list. Because I exclusively used Project Playlist, I did not have access to a large amount of video game songs. However, that has changed - with Entertonement, which I previously reviewed, I can now compile the true list.

While I may be able to compile this list by tonight or tomorrow, I do hope to put a lot of thought into it, as opposed to just "throwing it together" very quickly. Stay tuned, and in the meantime, check out Entertonement's wide array of video game music.

Thoughts And Opinions: Indiana Jones V

2009-06-18T13:47:00.001-07:00

Just a few days ago, Shia LaBeouf announced that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg had reached an agreement on the plot of the next Indiana Jones movie. Because LaBeouf announced this, it appears that he may already be casted for the next movie, along with, presumably, Harrison Ford.

Unfortunately, fans might be so pleased at this announcement. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of The Crystal Skull, the latest installment in the franchise, was considered a "bust" by many. Personally, while I did enjoy the movie while watching it, I agree with those who claim the alien plot was outlandish and unfitting.

But does this mean that we shouldn't give Indy another chance? The first three movies are already considered timeless classics. This proves that Ford is capable of carrying a blockbuster movie, as we already know. Personally, I do believe that we need to give Indy another chance.

Ford is aging, and eventually will not be able to make an action movie so easily. That's why I like to look at this upcoming Indiana Jones V as a sort of "goodbye" to Harrison Ford, allowing him to retire from his position as Indiana Jones.

And with the possibility of Ford retiring from the series, where does

that leave fans? The Crystal Skull left the obvious possibility of LaBeouf taking over as Indy. And he even did an amazing job in the movie, not to mention all of his previous undertakings that made him so famous (Eagle Eye, Disturbia, Transformers). I would be glad if LaBeouf took over as Indy, though fans might react differently. Watch out for more information on the next installment in the franchise.

Image credit: TIME (here), Collider.com (here).

Japan Gets Red DSi, Black Wii

2009-06-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Despite already receiving colors of the DSi that have not yet reached America, Japan is getting a new red DSi, due August 1. Unfortunately, there is no planned release date in America. Take a look at the DSi below.

In addition to the red DSi, Japan will also be receiving a black Wii

console - the first colored version of the Wii to be released in the world. The black Wii (coupled with black Wii accessories, such as a Wii Remote and Nunchuk) will also be released August 1. Although this has also not yet been set for an American release, it seems that Nintendo would want to release this to the world, as many fans have beenc clamoring for colored Wiis.

Image credit: examiner.com (here).

Bay As "Had Enough" Of 'Transformers'

2009-06-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

In a big shock to fans, Michael Bay is leaving the Transformers series. "After the three-and-a-half years I've spent making these movies, I feel like I've had enough of the Transformers world," he stated. He went on to explain, "I need to do something totally divergent, something without any explosions."

Seeing that explosions are a common element in Bay's film, this is an enormous surprise. But does this mark the end of the Transformers series? Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox are already signed on for a third movie, due sometime in 2012, but how will the series differ from the original two movies?

A new director is sure to be attached to the "threequel" soon, but what director would want the job? Transformers is a very recognizable series, and fans will be quite upset if Bay's successor cannot live up to his image. And, according to Bay, this won't be easy: "It's easy to go shoot an art movie in a winery in the South of France. But people have no idea how hard it is to create something like Transformers. They [critics] review me before they've even seen the movie." We'll just have to wait and see what happens to the series.

Image credit: MTV (here). Quote Credit: IGN (here).

Flash Game Review: Hedgehog Launch 2

2009-06-17T19:13:00.000-07:00

Being a big fan of Hedgehog Launch, I was very excited when I saw that Hedgehog Launch 2 available for play. In the excitement, I didn't realize something: it's nearly impossible to improve Hedgehog Launch. While the game isn't "amazing", any changes to it would likely be for the worse. I immediately realized this once I began to play the sequel.

The story, involving a mission to the Moon (underground, through Nebraska), is light-hearted and fun, just like the original. The gameplay is incredibly similar - there is no discernible difference. But the background is much different; instead of the "cartoon-y" drawings of the original, the game features photographed backgrounds. This seems quite strange, and simply "out of place".

After experiencing the game, I can safely say that this game is a step down from the original Hedgehog Launch. I'm glad that they gave it another whirl, but if you are an avid fan of the original, you might want to avoid this game. 4.5/10

Play Hedgehog Launch 2 here!

Image credit: arcade.gamedesire.com (*Image from original game)

Preview: Toy Story 3

2009-06-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

The original Toy Story amazed audiences - it was the first movie to use CGI exclusively. And, amazingly, the sequel, Toy Story 2, did just as well. So, it seemed natural that Pixar would begin developing right away. However, that's not what happened...

Pixar remained silent on the potential "threequel" for years, until some information was released that a sequel was underway. The plot, accompanied by the following image, was that the "Buzz Lightyear" toys were to be recalled. As interesting as this plot is, it will not be the plot to the next installment in the series.

Recently, a teaser trailer was released for the movie. As exciting as this is, this "trailer" reveals no information on the actual movie - instead, it simply gives us reassurance that the movie is under production, and that the great voice acting we know and love will be returning. But that doesn't mean we don't know anything. A small bit of information has been released regarding the plot, separate from the teaser trailer. Apparently, Andy (the main human character), will be moving away to college, and Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the toys will be donated to charity. Stay tuned for more information!

Watch the trailer here!

Image credits: Slashfilm (here), Movie-Posters.ws (here).

Website: Entertonement

2009-06-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

Websites such as last.fm, Pandora, and Project Playlist are great for listening to music. Unfortunately, none of them really hold up when it comes to a certain sub-set of music that is very popular: video game music. Series such as Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda, Halo, and
others all have amazing and memorable soundtracks, that are sadly lacking from most websites.

That's where Entertonement comes in. Similar to Youtube, Entertonement allows its members (you can sign up for free) to upload sound bites of widely varying lengths. Although you can listen to quick sound bites, such as jokes from a TV show, many sound bites can have a length of multiple minutes. Because of this, the website has become popular for sharing video game music.

Here is just a few of the "albums" that gamers might find interesting:

- Final Fantasy VII

- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

- Mario

'Batman 3' Updates

2009-06-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

According to some recent rumors, director Christopher Nolan may not be attached to the next installment in the Batman trilogy. Batman-On-Film, the leading source on the latest Batman films, has reported that, despite his already working on a script, Nolan may not return for the end of the trilogy.

Christopher Nolan was apparently hit "hard" by Heath Ledger's death - this is understandable, as the two had been working together on the film for many months (Ledger passed away near the end of the production of the film). But is this enough to keep Nolan from returning to direct the next film?

Right now, no one knows if Nolan will return, though the signs say he will. However, Warner Bros. is preparing, just in case he doesn't come back. Warner Bros. listed Zack Snyder, the director of films Watchmen and 300 as a possible candidate to replace Nolan.

Personally, I could see this happening. While his style is certainly different the epic feel of 300 could easily be transferred to the Batman series, even if it would mean the loss of some of it's "darkness". However, most fans would be very upset at the change of directors - this would mean major changes, and cast members might be wary to return if the director has changed.

Image credit: pickmore.com (here).

Flash Game Review: Phage Wars

2009-06-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

When it comes to flash games, the "Strategy" genre is one of the most popular. With games such as Gemcraft, Bloons Tower Defense, and Warfare 1917, the Internet really knows how to make an amazing strategy game. But sometimes, it's best to get back to the basics. And that's what has been done in Phage Wars.

The premise is quite ingenious, despite its simplicity. You take control of a virus, the color of which is your choice (each color has different abilities; for example, black is heavy on strength while weak on speed and agility, and yellow is the most evenly balanced), and attempt to wipe out all other viruses on screen. This is done by clicking and dragging on any cell that you currently control, then sending out approximately half of your virus (indicated by a number; you usually start with about 100 on a single cell) onto another.

The key to winning the game is to take control of the biggest cells first - the larger the cell, the faster your virus grows on it. But each cell, before it is under the control of a player or the CPU, has a number. For example, if a large cell has the number 7 on it, you could send 40 of your virus to it, and you would end up sacrificing 7 of your virus to control it (leaving you with a cell containing 33 of your virus).

While I do love the execution of this simple concept, there are a few production problems with the game. When you select a multitude of your cells to send out the virus to "conquer" one of the CPU's cells, the game slows down extensively. This is a major problem, because I personally use this "swarm" tactic many times while playing the game (see Tips, below).

However, despite that major problem, I am very pleased at the highly noticeable difference between your virus types. Unlike some other games, your choice of virus actually makes a major difference in your gameplay. And for that, I give the game an 8/10.

Tips:

- When playing as the white (fastest and weakest) virus, or any other of the "weaker" viruses, use my personal "swarm" tactic. Take control of as many cells as possible, even if each one has a weak amount of your virus. Eventually, your virus will quickly grow into a powerful force, and you can select multiple cells to "swarm" onto each of your opponent's cells.

- For the stronger and slower cells (such as black and purple), "waiting it out" may be very risky, especially if your opponent begins to take control of the cells around you. Take over your opponent's cells early - this is made more effective by sending your virus to a cell that has just sent some of its own virus somewhere else.

- You may find a good place in the middle of those two strategies when using a well-rounded cell, such as green and yellow. Use a mixture of the "swarm" tactic and a direct-hit tactic to win with the "medium" cells.

Play Phage Wars here!

Image credits: bigfuntown.com (here), playtowerdefensegames.com (here).

'Super Mario Galaxy 2' To Be "Bright And Fun"

2009-06-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

According to Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy 2 won't be heavy on story-telling, and will simply be a fun and vibrant game.

Miyamoto claimed he would like "as little story as possible" in the recently announced sequel to Super Mario Galaxy.

Personally, I think this is a wise decision - since the origianl Super Mario Bros., the Mario series has never had a big focus on story-telling, unlike the Zelda series. Miyamoto's decision may help the game have a better focus on gameplay and graphics.

In other Wii news, Miyamoto has stated that the next Wii Zelda game will have Wii MotionPlus as a requirement - while this may not seem like a large shock, fans are unhappy at having to spend even more money to enjoy the next installment in the Zelda series.

Quotes credit to IGN. Image credit to MyWii.com.au.

Review: Land Of The Lost

2009-06-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

I've never been a big fan of Will Ferrell - for some reason, his particular brand of comedy just never interested me. But that didn't stop me from going to see the recently released comedy Land Of the Lost, and, while it's certainly no milestone in the history of movies, it is "pretty decent".

A parody of the 1974 television series of the same name, Land Of The Lost takes many elements of the show and puts a humurous spin on them, much like the 2004 movie Starsky & Hutch. The most notable difference is the characters - in the TV series, the three characters who travel to "The Land Of The Lost" were a father and his two children. In the movie, the main character is simply an eccentric scientist who everyone mocks, the "daughter" is the one scientist who believes him (and his love interest), and the "son" is Will Stanton, a tour guide operator who is a reluctant part of the trip.

Will Ferrell takes on the hilarious role of Dr. Rick Marshall, a very arrogant scientist with a supposedly insane theory of traveling "sideways in time", to a place where past, present, and future combine. He is endlessly mocked for his theories, except by fellow scientist Holly Cantrell, who helps him eventually reach "The Land of The Lost".

The movies tries very hard to be funny, and, for the most part, it succeeds. At points in the movie, its humor doesn't go near as far as it should - but that doesn't mean this movie isn't very funny. I give Land Of The Lost a 6.5/10 because I think it's an enjoyable movie, but could have been done better.

First 'Whiplash' Image Released

2009-06-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

The first image of Whiplash from the upcoming Iron Man 2 has been released, and the reaction has been less than positive.

Fans are unhappy with the "strange" appearance of Rourke, and his look has even been compared to 'He-Man'.

While we may not know if this is the final product yet, many are alreasy questioning the quality of the sequel to Iron Man. We will just have to wait until more images are released to see how Mickey Rourke will actually look as Whiplash.

In other movie news, rumors are stating that Afghanistan may be Bond's next location in Bond 23. Specifically, the rumors state that Bond will appear in Helmand, an area in southern Afghanistan where drug-trafficking is very high.

Episode In Review: "Book Of Judges" (Mental)

2009-06-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

Wow.

Any doubts I previously held about Mental's ability to please audiences have been washed away. This episode was amazing, and I truly hope that this represents what the rest of the season will be like.

The episode started off well, with Dr. Jack Gallagher "assaulting" the head-honcho of a medication company, claiming that he doesn't care about the patients, only money. Apart from this, some great character development was seen in Arturo and Carl, with the latter asking the former to "spy" on Jack - beginning with the information on Jack's missing sister.

The strangest part of the episode was the patient - played by the late David Carradine, Gideon Graham is a catatonic patient, who had previously been stricken by lightning. He has been rendered mostly unable to move, and seemingly cannot connect with the real world.

That's where Dr. Gallagher comes in. Cutting off all of the man's emotional attachments to his late wife, whom he feels he "killed", the man is forced into slowly coming into the real world. Jack's use of the man's self-guilt eventually drives him back into reality.

The characterization that occurs in this episode makes it a huge improvement over the previous one - Jack himself even sees some character development as he begins a "relationship" with Gideon's daughter. Easily, this episode deserves a 9/10.

"Futurama" Returns!

2009-06-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

Comedy Central has made dreams come true by confirming that Futurama, the animated series canceled years ago that has seen a resurrection through direct-to-DVD movies, is coming back on TV.

The new episodes are expected to air mid-2010, and may air on Fox before Comedy Central.

Similar to the "uncancelation" of Family Guy, Futurama's come back has been brought on by impressive DVD sales, as well as fans constantly clamoring for more of the series. Check back for more details as 2010 approaches.

Casting Rumors Surround "The A-Team"

2009-06-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

One of the most popular and memorable TV series of the 1980s, The A-Team is going to see a long-anticipated jump to the big screen next year.

Currently, Bradley Cooper (whose recent roles include He's Not That Into You, The Hangover) is the only actor attached to the movie. He is set to play Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck.

But despite only one known cast member, rumors have started to rise regarding who will play the rest of The A-Team. Col. Hannibal Smith is rumored to be played by Bruce Willis, Sgt. Bosco "B.A." Baracus is rumored to be played by Common (of the recent Terminator Salvation), and Woody Harrelson is rumored to play Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock.

The original TV series centered around the four characters listed above, who had been imprisoned for a crime they didn't commit (robbing a bank, which they had done, but under specific orders). They broke out of prison and began working as "heroes for hire". While the original members were veterans of the Vietnam War, it seems that this new movie will translate their story to the war in Iraq.

The A-Team is set for release June 11 of next year.

Sony Getting More Confident?

2009-06-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

According to IGN, Andrew House, President of SCEE (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) is claiming that many Wii owners will eventually upgrade to the PS3.

He claims that Sony has "lots of data" from the days where many bought the N64 and later upgraded to the PlayStation2. However, he failed to note that the Gamecube, Nintendo's console after the N64, was already receiving negative attention.

House also fails to note one of the most important rules of statistics - "correlation does not imply causation". Sony's console is still selling quite poorly in Japan, and unlike Nintendo, they don't have many "secret weapons" to boost the sales.

Updates On "Spider-Man 4"

2009-06-08T19:09:00.000-07:00

Spider-Man 4, announced months ago, has had rumors flying around it for quite awhile now. And while we don't have many new details, we have some quelled rumors.

Todd Black, producer of the next iteration of the Spider-Man series, has shot down the rumor that Morbius The Vampire will be a villain, claiming that the villain of the movie will, "be a big part of New York".

Black denied the rumor that Peter Parker (Tobey MacGuire) will marry his girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), while also confirming that Dunst will reprise her role as "MJ" Watson.

Image credit goes to spiderman.ugo.com.

Happy Birthday, Tetris!

2009-06-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Today celebrates the 25th anniversary of the release of Tetris, undoubtedly the most popular puzzle game in history, as well as one of the most well-known video games in the world.

Created by Alexey Pajitnov during his years working with the Dorodnicyn Computing Center of the Academy of Science of the USSR, this widely-renowned game has been re-released many times, on a variety of different systems. Currently, Nintendo holds the rights to the game.

Fun Facts:

- The name "Tetris" comes from the Greek prefix "tetra", meaning "four" (as all the pieces contain four blocks), and "tennis", creator Pajitnov's favorite sport.

- Each of the four block pieces is called a "Tetromino".

- The "Tetris Effect" is named after the game; it is a symptom of playing puzzle games that actually causes the person to see the puzzle pieces when not playing.

Post E3: Metroid: Other M

2009-06-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

Probably Nintendo's biggest shocker at the event, a new 3D Metroid game can get anyone excited - but will this game be even better than the previous ones?

As seen in the trailer, "Other M" could mean a few different things, though the rumors flying around the internet claim it means "Mother", and that the mysterious female character Samus speaks to in the trailer is her mother.

It appears in the trailer that the player will switch between a third-person and first-person point of view - and that's true. Nintendo has claimed that this transitions will be quick and seamless, and I'm not arguing - if anyone can do it, it's the combined team of Nintendo and Team Ninja.

The game takes place before Metroid Fusion, and promises to be heavy on story-telling and action - a big claim, but one that the Metroid series could definitely accomplish. And with both nintendo and Team Ninja (the developers of the Ninja Gaiden series) backing this game, it seems like it can't possibly fail. Now we'll just have to wait for the Metroid Prime Trilogy to whet our appetites.

A Tribute To: David Carradine

2009-06-05T03:36:00.000-07:00

Born December 8, 1936, actor David Carradine has had roles in over 100 movies throughout his life, though his rise to fame did not truly come until starring in the 1970s TV series, Kung Fu. He would once again be noted for his role in the Kill Bill films.

Just yesterday (June 4), Carradine was found dead in his Bangkok hotel, and appeared to have strangled himself. However, a forensics team has concluded that it was an accidentally death, involving auto-erotic asphyxiation (wikipedia article). He was in Bangkok to film in the movie Stretch.

Post E3: Project Natal

2009-06-05T03:08:00.000-07:00

Reporters around the world have been raving over Microsoft's new "Project Natal", claiming that it's motion sensing really works. But, could something like this "destroy" the Wii?

Although some may disagree, I don't think so. The Wii already has a large fan base, and Nintendo's hardcore followers won't be swayed by something that could be considered "more casual than the Wii". And even if the camera works very well, that doesn't mean that it will be successful: for the hardware to sell, it needs something backing it - software.

Developers were very wary when starting to develop games for the Wii - they were originally gimmicky, and poorly-received, but once they learned what not to do, Nintendo started to gain a third-party developer base that is had needed for years. Will the same happen with Natal? I can't tell for sure, but once games have begun to be made for it, we will see if it will hit such success as to expand the Xbox 360's life span to 2015, as they have claimed.

Post E3: Lack Of Zelda

2009-06-04T16:51:00.000-07:00

Despite some major announcements at Nintendo's E3 Conference, there was a surprising lack of Zelda information. The already announced Spirit Tracks was only briefly mentioned, and we only have a small bit of information regarding a sequel to Twilight Princess - a picture of a grown-up Link (apparently, without his sword) that has not yet been released to the public.

However, some potential good news for the series came out of the Conference. When showing Wii Sports Resort, the first game that will use the new Wii MotionPlus, it was mentioned that we should pay attention to the sword-fighting and archery, as they could be put to use in later games. Although Wii MotionPlus does not allow the use of the Nunchuck controller yet, this shows that they are at least willing to attempt to implement it in future games.

Post E3: Super Mario Galaxy 2

2009-06-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

Nintendo has never released two major Mario platformers one a single system before, so this sequel to smash-hit Super Mario Galaxy came as a big shock to fans. Although it is still set in space, it will be much different from the original, with supposedly, "90% new content".

Undoubtedly the biggest Mario announcement (New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, and Mario VS. Donkey Kong: The Minis March Again were all announced at the same conference), this game has the potential to rock Wii owners' worlds. Every 3D Mario platformer to date has been a smash-hit, and a second for the Wii, in retrospect, seems like an obvious decision.

I'm so glad that they have retained some of the features introduced in Super Mario Galaxy, like the Bee Suit, while still adding new content, such as the ability to ride Yoshi. Although the game has a 2010 release, so we won't get more information for the time being, we can expect that it will be even better than the original.

Episode In Review: A Beautiful Delusion (Mental)

2009-06-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

electric overdrive will no longer post updates on E3, except certain announcements on twitter. However, it will post on all the major announcements of E3 once it has concluded, in a new "Post-E3" series.

I was highly expectant of this episode of Mental, simply because I was amazed at the pilot episode. However, while I cannot say it was not enjoyable, it didn't hit the same level of excitement as the previous episode.

The case, regarding a man who believes that his wife is pregnant (when she is actually not, as revealed by a ultrasound) and has even made his wife believe it, was incredibly interesting. This was clearly the highlight of the episode.

Unfortunately, while Dr. Jack Gallagher has been characterized a great deal already, the rest of the cast still seems unfamiliar. The attempts at developing their characters seem awfully forced and choppy, as if it was just thrown in at the end of the creation of the episode.

I do believe this show has potential, but we'll just have to wait and see if it can live up to it. 7/10

E3 Recap - Day 1

2009-06-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

Nintendo: Wow! Nintendo's Conference was a big one, with many big titles announced that will carry us into 2010. Strangely enough, the one "big" title that many had expected information on, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, was hardly mentioned - fortunately, they made up this is small error with many game announcements.

New Super Mario Bros. (Wii): Rumors were already flying about this, possibly because of a leak on Nintendo's part, but that won't be stopping the hype for this game. Focusing on a multi-player aspect, the game allows players to play as Mario, Luigi, and two different Toads (one blue, one yellow). The game also includes a new "Propellor Hat" - a hat that allows temporary flight for the user. Simply shake the Wii Remote to begin flight.

Metroid: Other M: This is, for all intents and purposes, the "big one". Being developed by Ninja Team (the makers of the Ninja Gaiden series), this promises to be a darker, more mature Metroid game. The images promise that this game will have intense action, just like the previous games in the series. No word on what that title means, though...

Super Mario Galaxy 2: The first time there has been two major Mario platformers on one console, this sequel to Super Mario Galaxy includes some epic boss battles, as well as the ability to ride Yoshi. Little information has been released so far.

Golden Sun DS: Finally! For so long, fans have waited for the sequel to the last Golden Sun game, and it's finally here! We've seen a trailer and multiple images, and we can now expect some serious 3D action! Prepare for what will definitely be one of the greatest role-playing games of this generation.

Reports on other conferences will be posted later today, or possibly tomorrow.

E3 Updates: Live!

2009-06-02T12:34:00.000-07:00

E3 has begun! electric overdrive will be updating it's twitter account with news, with a recap on the actual blog. Stay tuned!

DSi Hands On

2009-06-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

I've finally gotten a hold of the new Nintendo DSi, and I must say - it was worth the wait.

Although at first glance it seems the same as the Nintendo DS Lite, there are multiple differences, both big and small. Instead of a power switch, it now has a Power button on the inside of the DS, that can be pressed quickly to bring you to the new and impr

oved menu. Changing the volume is also easier, as "+" and "-" buttons have been added to the left side of the console.

Aside from these differences, the system now has two cameras - one on the inside, to take pictures of yourself playing, and a camera on the outside to use as a regular camera. The pictures are surprisingly high-resolution, and the Nintendo DSi can hold over 400 pictures without the use of a memory card.

Stay tuned tomorrow when I report on the new Nintendo DSiWare!

E3 Watchlist: Nintendo DS

2009-06-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

Nintendo DS: The Wii might be popular, but the handheld Nintendo DS was Nintendo's big money-maker years before the Wii was even announced. And with the release of the new DSi, it appears they will be making more money than ever before - but how will the software compare?

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days: Sporting a name that many could not pronounce, this action RPG was announced nearly two years ago at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, but since then, we have recieved a great deal of information regarding the game. Similar to the action of past

games, this new iteration of Kingdom Hearts includes a new "Panel System" that allows you to fully customize the abilities, weapons, armor, and accessories of your character.

The game revolves around main protagonist Roxas, who is known as the "Nobody" of Sora, the protagonist of previous games, who has the ability to wield keyblades. There is a wide array of characters in the game ranging from Disney characters to Final Fantasy characters.

Sands of Destruction: Another big role-palying game for the Nintendo DS, Sands of Destruction has already been released in Japan under the moniker World Destru

ction. With a turn-based battle system, this promises to be a more traditional RPG, as opposed to a more action-oriented one such as the new Kingdom Hearts.

Kyrie (the Greek word for "lord") is the center of the game - he is a young man with great knife skills - but holds a mysterious destructive power. Because of this, he is the object of attention for the World Annhilation Front, a group led by the main antagonist, Morte. The game is set for release Winter 2010.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks: Undoubtedly, this will be the biggest hit for the Nintendo DS at E3 - if Nintendo decides to release more information on the title. Announced at this year's Game Developer's Conference, this new installment in the Zelda series has a new twist, similar to the previous game, Phantom Hourglass, but this time, the method of transport is a steam-powered, cannon-wielding train.

Unfortunately, we do not have any information on the story; however, we can assume it will be just as epic as all the previous games in the series.

I apologize for the video-game oriented posts recently - however, this will likely continue until the end of E3. Don't fret - electric overdrive will continue it's daily coverage of TV and movies this Wednesday!

Colbert's Cover Blown

2009-05-30T15:35:00.001-07:00

Next month, comedy sensation Stephen Colbert will be filming his show on the road, but he has not disclosed exactly where. However, Sarah Palin, via Twitter, accidentally blew his cover with the following post:

"Getting ready to tape shout-out for our awesome US troops serving overseas! Will be on ‘Colbert Report’ next month, broadcast from Iraq…"

Stephen Colbert has not yet commented on this.

New PSP Model Confirmed

2009-05-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

E3 has not yet begun, but Sony seems to have released on of it's most anticipated creations already - the "PSP Go".

This new edition of the PSP has a good deal of changes: a sliding screen reveals the D-Pad and other controls, a 3.8-inch screen, lighter weight, no UMD drive, and it contains 16 gigabytes of flash memory, in addition to a few other things.

And while this news is big, the game LittleBigPlanet Portable got some new details, and it was confirmed that a Metal Gear Solid game and a Gran Turismo game will be released for the console.

But with this huge piece of information revealed pre-E3, will Sony have a lack of a big announcment at the Expo? Or does it have something even bigger up it's sleeve?

E3 Watchlist: Xbox 360

2009-05-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

For an explanation on the "E3 Watchlist" series of posts, go here.

Xbox 360: The first of the new generation of consoles, it could be argued that the Xbox 360 is getting dry. And in addition to having nearly all hardcore games and a weak Japanese fan base, this console needs some help - will this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo reveal something to help change this?

Halo 3: ODST: It just wouldn't be E3 without a little bit of Halo. Although not an entirely new game in the series, this standalone expansion will have all the fun and excitement of the original game. Instead of playing as Halo mascot Master Chief, you will assume the identity of an "Orbital Drop Shock Trooper" (thus the title) who is searching for his missing teammates. As you progress through the game, you will find remnants of your lost teammates, thus triggering a flashback and allowing you to play as the missing soldier.

Although the game uses the features from Halo 3, including the multiplayer levels, it is set during the events of Halo 2, in the city of New Mombasa.

Alan Wake: This game was announced many months ago, in the October of 2008, but we haven't heard much of it since then. Fortunately, E3 may be changing that. Called a "psychological action thriller", this game follows title character Alan Wake, a novelist who has not been able to write a book in over two years. To help him with his predicament, his wife Alice brings him to the small town of Bright Falls.

The fact that the game is set in a beautiful rustic town makes the graphics that much more impressive, so the game definitely has visuals on it's side. The light effects will be incredibly important, as the game's enemies are weak against light, thus making Wake's flashlight his most valuable weapon in the game. Illuminating traps can also be used to deter enemies.

Batman: Arkham Asylum: Although this game is set for release on the Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3, that doesn't mean it won't be a highlight for the Xbox 360 in this year's E3. The game follows the Caped Crusader, who must attempt to stop The Joker's uprising in Arkham Asylum. Seeing as this is a truly mature game, it will definitely fit in with the dark theme that we saw in The Dark Knight.

Because Batman has access to all the latest gadgets, the player will have the ability to solve forensic-like puzzles in addition to the combat, which will switch between regular melee fighting to more technology-oriented battles. This is definitely going to be one of the top games at this year's Expo.

Preview: The Book Of Eli

2009-05-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

This January, esteemed actor Denzel Washington is set to star in a post-apocalyptic thriller known as The Book of Eli.

Washington will be playing title character Eli, who holds a mysterious book that may hold the key to the future; however, a man named Carnegie (played by Gary Oldman of the Harry Potter series) and his "gang" plan to steal this book, for reasons unknown.

The Book of Eli is set for release January 15, 2010.

E3 Watchlist (Wii)

2009-05-28T15:45:00.000-07:00

Every year at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), dozens of new games are announced, but that doesn't mean we won't be getting a good deal of information on some of the games that have already been announced. Each day until the start of E3 (June 2), I will be take a look at the games to watch out for on each console.

Wii: This innovative new console is still all the rage among casual gamers, but Nintendo's old school fans have been clamoring for a good hardcore game; unfortunately, Nintendo has cooperated. But although Nintendo might not be giving us the games we want, some other developers have taken it into their hands to solve this problem, and these are likely to be the highlights of this year's Expo.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks: I've already stated my problem with the entire concept of this new cel-shaded Zelda game, but this game is

sure to please fans, just like every other Zelda game in the past. Most players have gotten over their dislike of the (now not-so-new) graphics, so this will likely be just as successful as previous games in the series.

Seeing as this game as only been announced recently, we have very little information on it - so that's why so many people are expecting a good deal of information on this installment at this year's E3. But, if you look at Nintendo's track record, we may not receive much information, and this game might not even be released until 2010 (remember the delays with Super Smash Bros. Brawl?).

Dead Space Extraction: While I've covered this in a previous post, I feel it necessary to stress how important this game is to the Wii. The Grinder (covered in the same post) is similarly gory and mature, but Dead Space: Extraction is a prequel to the original game, which won many awards, and also delivers a great deal of horror with a hardcore shooting experience.

This is sure to be a great game, and we can only hope that Visceral Games will be giving us as much information as possible on this exciting new game.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - The Crystal Bearers: A good RPG is nearly just as rare on the Wii as a good shooting game is. Fortunately, Square Enix (the master of RPGs) will be taking care of this problem as they release Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The

Crystal Bearers. This game will take a major shift from the previous games in the series - the creators have said it is set in a time period when "swords have changed to guns", and that magic will be "forgotten".

The story takes place many years after it's predecessor, and the Lilty race is experiencing a time of prosperity, along with the age of science and reason. Amongst this prosperity exists powerful beings known as "crystal bearers", or are feared and scorned by the public. Keep watch as we get more information on this game, which is likely to be one of the greatest RPGs to hit in the year (though the release date is still TBA).

Microsoft Plans To Trump Google

2009-05-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

Microsoft's old, outdated search engine "Live" is getting dumped, and will be replaced by "bing" - a new search engine from Microsoft that they say will beat Google.

Although not yet available to the public, those invited to the beta testing are giving it positive reviews, but are still skeptical as to whether it can beat the search giant known as Google.

For a review of the new search engine, go here. "Bing" will hopefully launching soon, but for, we can only sit and watch.

Credit goes to Wired for the image.

Rumors of 'Bioshock' Movie

2009-05-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

Wentworth Miller, an actor most famous for his role on the hit television series Prison Break, hinted at the possibility of a movie based on the award-winning Bioshock game.

One of the updates on Miller's twitter account read, "Prison Break may be ending, but I've got things in the works. Hint... one word: Bioshock."

While this certainly doesn't confirm that a Bioshock movie is being made, it offers the possibility of this famous video game hitting the big screen. Stay tuned for more information on this potential blockbuster.

Leno Moves On, O'Brien Takes Place

2009-05-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

This Friday, the final episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno will air. Taking Jay Leno's place is Conan O'Brien, host of Late Night with Conan O'Brien for the past 16 years. The first episode of O'Brien's new show will include guests Will Ferrell and Pearl Jam.

But despite Leno's "passing the torch", he is not retiring from TV talk shows. He will be airing The Jay Leno Show this fall, which will be airing before the new Tonight Show. This has brought on some controversy, however, because fans believe that Jay Leno is simply moving his time back, and O'Brien is still following him.

Wii Preview Pack

2009-05-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

E3 hasn't started yet, but that hasn't stopped the flow of new games being announced. The Wii, which has had some trouble in the past regarding third party games, has some particularly exciting games that have been announced.

Dead Space Extraction: The original Dead Space game, released last year for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, received overwhelming positive reviews for it's dark theme and intense shooting action. But fans were a bit skeptical when a prequel was announced for the Wii - and were particularly harsh towards the fact that it is an on-rails shooter (meaning that you don't control your characters movement, and you move "on-rails"). However, these fans were proved wrong when more information was released, and many gaming news outlets got a hold of the game, and described it as the greatest light-gun game on the Wii!

The game's controls are quite simple - point the Wii remote at enemies to aim, twist the remote to activate your weapons secondary firing mode, and swing the Wii remote to perform a melee attack. The developers have promised that the game will include the darkness and horror of the original, so it will be interesting to see if this game is as successful as well.

Gladiator A.D.: A game that is clearly influenced on the movie 300 has got to be great, but there's more behind this game that makes it exciting. While it may seem like an epic RTS (real-time strategy) game at first glance, it is actually an intricate and violent fighting game. Not much has been revealed on this recently announced fighter, but we do know that the each of the gladiators in the game will have unique fighting styles, and the game will support Wii Motion Plus (a Wii remote extension that enables very accurate motion).

The game includes a large amount of gore, violence, and brutality - with the added bonus of promised finishers that are gorier than the rest of the game, which will hopefully be reminiscent of Mortal Kombat.

The Grinder: While a lot of Wii gamers enjoy the casual games that have flooded the console, many gamers are craving for an intense, dark shooter. That's where The Grinder comes in. Inspired by horror movies, the studio's own Hunter: The Reckoning, and the recent Left4Dead, this game has promised intense shooting battles against some of the most horrific creatures in history: zombies, werewolves, vampires, and more.

The game uses the new Quantum 3 engine, which allows for an incredible amount of characters on-screen at one time. This will hopefully lead to some exciting battles, in which you can co-operate online with friends to win. The game is made even better with the support of Wii Speak and Wii Motion Plus.

And those are just three of the many games that will be released in the upcoming season for Wii. Stay tuned for E3, where we will learn about dozens of new games set for release, and receive more information on these three titles!

Credit goes to IGN for the images.

New 'Modern Warfare 2' Trailer

2009-05-27T12:34:00.001-07:00

Set for release November 10, Modern Warfare 2 (a sequel to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare) has garnered much excitement. This new trailer details some of the intense action and realistic graphics that made the previous game so popular.

IGN Video: Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 Trailer - Reveal 2 Trailer

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Review: Pilot (Mental)

2009-05-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

The highly anticipated TV series Mental turned out to be just as great as expected.

The TV audience was almost immediately immersed in the world of Wharton Memorial Hospital, where we meet the new Director of Mental Health Services, Dr. Jack Gallagher. While he could arguably considered similar to Dr. House (of House), he isn't as rude and sarcastic to patients - his manner to his patients is unusual, and met with mixed reactions from his new colleagues.

I give the pilot episode a 9/10 - a great start, unlike many other pilots that don't reflect how good the season actually is. Stay tuned for the next episode of Mental, "A Beautiful Delusion", airing June 2.

electric overdrive Updates

2009-05-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

electric overdrive will be going through changes to make it even more active - it's twitter account (found here) will be updated much more often, it's website (found here) will have more information, and the actual blog will be updated at least twice a day. Stay tuned!

The Rivalry Continues... Again

2009-05-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

Guitar Hero and Rock Band are still in deep competition with each other - but the release of Rock Band: Unplugged for the PSP might give the latter an advantage.

Already released to mostly positive reviews (find one here), Guitar Hero's hold on the handheld market might be slipping. The handheld version of Rock Band requires no peripherals to play - a major boost over Guitar Hero's "On Tour" games.

Check back for more information on this heated rivalry.

Preview: Mental (TV)

2009-05-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

\When summer hits, there is often a "lull" on TV, as many series have their season/series finales, and viewers are left with little to no new shows to watch. Fortunately, a new series that already seems promising is kicking off right in the beginning: Mental.

The show is centered in Los Angeles (specifically, the Wharton Memorial Hospital), and follows the adventures of Dr. Jack Gallagher, who has just been made the Director of Mental Health Services. His methods of "getting inside a patient's head" are considered unorthodox by the rest of the staff.

Mental airs it's pilot episode tonight at 9:00 PM (EST). For more information on the series, click here.

Thanks goes to IGN for the image.

Interview: Founder of Rock Solid Arcade

2009-05-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

electric overdrive has an exclusive interview with one of the greatest new Flash game developers on the internet - Michael Reitzenstein of Rock Solid Arcade. Read the interview below.

Q. When was Rock Solid Arcade founded?

A. Rock Solid Arcade was founded in late 2007, with the release of Stunt Pilot, followed up quickly by Dogfight, Stunt Pilot Trainer and Planet Cruncher.

Q. Why did you decide to start making games?

A. I always loved playing them, and started tinkering around with making them in high school. Most of the other members of Rock Solid Arcade have more or less the same story.

Q. Are all of your games created with just Flash?

A. Yes! We used to make casual games under the label Rock Solid Games, but we no longer do.

Q. How many projects do you currently have lined up? Do you have any information on these titles that you are ready to release to the public?

A. Unfortunately, I can't comment on future plans, but we've certainly got enough! Rumor has it though that in the future there may be robots and those robots may be meeting an untimely end.

Q. What made you decide to create such polished games, as opposed to creating many "less-than-pleasing" games like some other game studios?

A. Thanks! We did make a conscious decision to, as the world doesn't need more crappy games. Quality is our #1 concern, and that applies most of all to gameplay - we want our games to be a blast to play.

Q. Will we see any other games with a cost to unlock, like Robokill?

A. Yes, but also more free games, such as the recently released Stunt Pilot 2.

Q. Is there any chance that there will be downloadable features for games with a smaller cost, like in the Xbox Arcade?

A. I don't think so, unless we do projects that are completely different to what we do now. We want to overdeliver on value, not try to leach every last dollar out of our players.

Q. Will you ever expand into different genres, such as strategy or puzzle games?

A. Definitely strategy at some point, and definitely not puzzle games.

Q. Did you ever expect the kind of success achieved?

A. Yes. Haha! Just kidding. We never really thought about it - we just wanted to make some cool games.

Q. What are your future plans for Rock Solid Arcade?

A. More, bigger and better games. Onwards and upwards, and all that.

Q. Where do you get the music for your games? Is it composed on Garageband?

A. All the music comes from freelancers, I can't really comment on how it's written as I haven't got a clue.

And that's all for electric overdrive's first interview! More will be coming soon. In the meantime, check out Rock Solid Arcade - the hottest new game site on the web!

Upcoming TV Season - Who Made The Cut?

2009-05-24T18:14:00.000-07:00

Each year, many TV shows are released - unfortunately, many fail to take off, and are promptly canceled. Multiple shows that have garnered many fans are being canceled - take a look at whose coming band, and who isn't.

Some of my personal favorite shows have been renewed already. Family Guy, Bones, all of the CSI shows, Burn Notice, Chuck, and How I Met Your Mother have all been renewed.

According To Jim, Cupid, and King of the Hill have all been officially canceled, and for various reasons. Go here to get a complete list of shows that have been canceled and renewed.

Live Action 'Avatar' Under Development

2009-05-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

I apologize at the lack of pictures; they seem to have been removed. I am working to solve this as soon as possible.

A live-action version of the popular TV series Avatar: The Last Airbender is under development, being directed by famous director M. Night Shyamalan.

Two photos of the movie have been released, but don't offer a true glimpse into what the movie will be like. Noah Ringer, who will be playing Aang (see below) seems like a good fit, though his signature arrow tatoo looks unfitting, and the Airbender costume he is wearing does not bear many similarities to it's TV counterpart.

Dev Patel will be playing Zuko, the exiled Prince of the Fire Nation who plays the antagonist of the beginning of the series. I don't believe that Shyamalan did a good job in the casting choice for this role, so this leaves me feeling less confident about the production.

We'll just have to wait and see if this movie will be a success, but given M. Night Shyamalan's recent track record, there's a good chance that this movie will crash and burn.

Flash Game Review: Shift 4

2009-05-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

As I previously reported, the Shift series is continuing - first with the original Shift game releasing for iPhone, and continuing with the release of the flash game Shift 4.

The game starts off strong, with an odd and humorous plot leading you into the first level. You'll quickly realize that your "Shift" ability is obviously a main focus of the game, and will be necessary to help you solve the increasingly difficult puzzles.

The new ability to control ("CTRL") other characters adds an extra level of depth to the regular "Shift" puzzles, and this will be necessary in solving the truly difficult puzzles (in case you're wondering, you must keep all of the characters alive at all times).

I'll admit - I haven't finished the game yet! The game is quite new, and you will find yourself getting stumped quite often in the more difficult levels. The learning curve is a bit steep, but the game is still intriguing and the basic concept is still just as fresh as the original game (which is now available for iPhone, with bonus levels!). 8.5/10

Metroid Prime Trilogy To Release This August

2009-05-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Nintendo is finally making a great business move - releasing all three of the Metroid Prime games on one disc... for only $49.99!

For those who haven't had the chance to pick up Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, one of the most popular shooting games for the Wii (even after 2 years), they can pick up this game for the price of a regular Wii game, with the addition of the first two games for Gamecube packed in.

Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes will both be included on the disc - releasing August 24 - and will include full Wii controller functionality. The first two games will also include the full widescreen and 480p support that made the most recent release so popular.

Even if you've never been a fan of the Metroid games, this is still a great deal - three games for the price of one. The trilogy comes out August 24.

Midway Goes Bankrupt, Sells "Mortal Kombat"

2009-05-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

Game developer Midway has finally succumbed to the recession, and has filed for bankruptcy.

In order to pay off their massive debt, they've had to sell their assets; namely, "Mortal Kombat" - one of the most popular and controversial fighting games in history.

The fate of this classic franchise is currently up in the air

Warner Bros. is the first to make a bid at the infamous franchise, offering $33 million on the Mortal Kombat franchise and the rights to the recently released "Wheelman".

It will be interesting to see how this turns out - Warner Bros. may simply attempt to sell the rights to Mortal Kombat to another game company, such as Capcom, or EA.

'Thor' Updates

2009-05-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

Still over 2 years away, updates for the movie Thor seem to be flying in. Earlier, rumors told us that Chris Hemsworth had been cast as Thor, and now it seems that Tom Hiddleston (a relatively unknown actor) will be playing Loki.

However, these are not rumors. It appears that Chris Hemsworth's role as Thor has been confirmed (by Variety), and Marvel will be releasing a press release tonight regarding this. It also seems that Marvel will confirm Tom Hiddleston's position as Loki, the Norse God of mischief.

Preview: Sherlock Holmes

2009-05-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

With a trailer (see below) just recently released, the upcoming Sherlock Holmes (due for release December 25 of this year) movie is gaining a lot of attention.

The movie has an experienced cast, with Robert Downey, Jr. playing Holmes, and Jude Law playing Watson. Although it seems the movie is quite action-oriented, as opposed to Holmes' sleuth, fans must realize that this is only a trailer, and may not depict the general theme of the movie.

The trailer shows us some good comedy moments, and promises us some hilarious banter between Holmes and Watson throughout the movie. Watch the trailer below.

Recent Review: "Waiting..."

2009-05-17T18:53:00.000-07:00

This humorous, American Pie-esque independent film scored much better than expected at the box office, and for one simple fact: it's great!

Ryan Reynold delivers constant humorous quips, and the rest of the cast also gives great performances. The plot is completly insane, but that doesn't stop the humor from getting through.

I don't have much else to say about the movie. Either you like it or you don't - the humor is a little vulgar, but if you can enjoy that type of humor, you will love this movie. 9/10

'Green Day' Rises To Top Of UK Charts

2009-05-17T17:31:00.000-07:00

With their new album, "21st Century Breakdown", Green Day has knocked Bob Dylan off the top of the top ten albums in the UK, down to number 8. The Top Ten are as following:

1. Green Day – '21st Century Breakdown'
2. Lily Allen – 'It's Not Me It's You'
3. Lady GaGa – 'The Fame'
4. Prodigy – 'Invaders Must Die'
5. Pink – 'Funhouse'
6. Maximo Park – 'Quicken The Heart'
7. Beyonce – 'I Am Sasha Fierce'
8. Bob Dylan – 'Together Through Life'
9. Jim Reeves – 'The Very Best Of'
10. Kings Of Leon – 'Only By The Night'