Monthly Archives: June 2011

E3: Everything You Want to Know About Wii U

by Robin Parrish
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E3: Everything You Want to Know About Wii U

E3 isn’t even halfway over yet, but many are saying that Nintendo has already stolen the show with the announcement of its next home console, dubbed “Wii U.” (I wouldn’t have thought it possible for Nintendo to come up with an even worse name than “Wii.”) Yes, it’s a successor to the Wii, using the same basic aesthetic and overall thematic elements, so Miis aren’t going away anytime soon. And yes, it incorporates motion control. But the big innovation is the controller: a large device with a built-in 6-inch touchscreen right in the center. Here’s our exhaustive report, including Wii U’s graphics capabilities and how that new controller will change Read more »

E3: Sony Shows Off “PSVita” & 3D TV

by Robin Parrish
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E3: Sony Shows Off “PSVita” & 3D TV

PSVita. That’s the name Sony has given to its PlayStation Portable successor. And let’s just say that the name has been met with less enthusiasm than the device itself — which looks pretty darn great. Sony also showed off footage and demos from their hottest upcoming titles. But will 2011 always be Sony’s year of the PSN meltdown? Or did their showing at this year’s E3 help that image fade? Read more »

Elements 114 and 116 Added to the Periodic Table

by Noemi Twigg
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Elements 114 and 116 Added to the Periodic Table

I think it’s time for periodic table enthusiasts to go back to the drawing board and update their creations. After three years of review, two new elements have finally been added to the periodic table. The elements, 114 and 116, remain to be formally named. However, they are currently being called ununquadium and ununhexium, respectively. The two elements have been observed for many years now, and apparently, they have been produced in the lab as early as 1999. However, the committee that governs chemistry and physics have taken their time to make sure that everything’s in order before formally proclaiming the two elements. Elements 114 and 166 are currently the Read more »

50 Girls 50: A Refreshing Surprise

by Darren Burr
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50 Girls 50: A Refreshing Surprise

Now, when I first saw 50 Girls 50, my expectations were actually quite low; although flicking through the issue after picking it up, I confess I was very attracted to the art. Nikos Koutsis’ colours with Axel Medellin’s art combine to form a visual treat, certainly reminiscent of those old pulp sci-fi novel covers of yesteryear. Taking the issue home, the actual story was a pleasure, and more importantly, fun. We have the backdrop of an Earth depleted of its resources but that’s all it is, backdrop. No focussing on a depressing dying planet, but concentrating on the pioneer spirit of an expedition returning home with new supplies for the Read more »

E3: Ubisoft Brings Assassin’s Creed & Ghost Recon

by Robin Parrish
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E3: Ubisoft Brings Assassin’s Creed & Ghost Recon

Oh, Ubisoft. You make such fantastic games. Why must you always have the cheesiest E3 media event? At least the last few years with Joel McHale hosting had some genuinely funny moments. But this year’s event, hosted by Aaron Priceman, aka Ubisoft’s “Caffiene Man,” was just painful to watch. It should be used in classrooms as a textbook example of “how to get an audience to turn on you.” At least they showed some great games. Read more »

DIY Solution vs SONY’s new 3D innovation

by Jayvee Fernandez
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DIY Solution vs SONY’s new 3D innovation

At E3 SONY announced an innovation in their new line of Bravias: you will be able to play 2 player games on the same TV without having to use a split screen. This will only work for 3D TV’s of course. The tech is quite simple: the TV plays both player’s screens on top of the other with each making use of one part of the 3D lens. OK it’s tough to explain, but here’s a guy who hacked his way into making his own version for much less on a much bigger set. All you really need are the 3D glasses, with the same lens on each one. Read more »

Cinemart: Brilliant Mashups of Art and Cinema

by Noemi Twigg
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Cinemart: Brilliant Mashups of Art and Cinema

I think that the need to mix two different things has always been part of human nature. The innate curiosity that is within all of us – this is what has led to the popularity of mashups. Whether you think about cartoon characters being placed in another setting or two different movies being put together – the concept behind mashups will always be something interesting. The execution, however, is a totally different story. Sometimes, you have brilliant mashup ideas that don’t exactly impress when put into paper (or digital screen). In the case of artist Fernando Degrossi, both idea and execution are definitely impressive. He uses the term “cinemart” to Read more »

E3: EA’s Battlefield 3, Mass Effect 3, & Old Republic

by Robin Parrish
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E3: EA’s Battlefield 3, Mass Effect 3, & Old Republic

EA Games didn’t go out of its way to wow E3 attendees with announcements of new titles during its media briefing today, but it showed off plenty of footage and demos that gamers have been salivating to get better glimpses of. Games like Battlefield 3, Mass Effect 3, FIFA 12, Star Wars: The Old Republic, SSX, Need for Speed: The Run, and more. Read more »

E3: Xbox Unveils Halo 4, Kinect Fable, Live TV

by Robin Parrish
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E3: Xbox Unveils Halo 4, Kinect Fable, Live TV

This morning in Los Angeles, Microsoft promised to show off “the future of gaming,” and their vision of the future clearly looks an awful lot like Kinect. Let’s go over the highlights — and loads of screens & vids… Xbox always has a lively show, keeping things moving fast from one game to the next, never spending too much time on any one thing. For my money, they typically put on the funnest, showiest, and overall best media event at E3. Sure, it’s Microsoft and they’re nerdy, but at least they have lots of money to throw around. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t6XegJtlns Halo 4 was announced as the start of a new trilogy starring Read more »