Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts. Er, I mean Kinect.

If you’ve ever longed for the ability to live Harry Potter’s 7-year, 8-film journey, then have I got a game for you.

Sometime this Fall, Warner Bros. Interactive and Eurocom are releasing Harry Potter for Kinect, a retelling of the iconic character’s life story, where you get to wear those circle-y glasses. Or, if you prefer, you can have your Kinect sensor scan your face, and then put your likeness right into the game. (I hope this gets tweaked before the final release; in the trailer above, the girl who scans herself into the game gets an avatar that looks like it’s had about five facelifts.)

Something else you may notice, via the screenshot above: scenes from the first two films featuring Professor Dumbledore have been retconned. The likeness of actor Richard Harris, who portrayed Dumbledore in the first two movies, is gone. Instead, the likeness of actor Michael Gambon, who took over the role after Harris passed away, is apparently used for the entire game. Purists will hate this departure from film canon, but it’s understandable from a technical perspective. On the other hand, if the game uses audio clips of the actors’ dialogue from the movies, it’ll be awfully weird to hear Harris’ voice come out of Gambon’s mouth.

In the game, you’ll play along to all of the biggest and most memorable moments from all eight Harry Potter films, using nothing but gesture controls. While Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II – The Video Game offered Kinect-ability, it didn’t exactly garner loads of accolades. WBIE hopes to get the formula right this time, by using a combination of motion and voice controls to let players cast spells via gestures and speaking the Latin spell word, fly broomsticks, duel other wizards, and more.

WBIE hopes that this kid-targeted title will appeal to family members of all ages, since you’ll be able to play through the entire Harry Potter story, from his visit at Ollivanders to purchase his wand, all the way to his final showdown against Voldemort. The game will also allow players to team up in co-op and participate in minigames.

Here’s hoping the whole title isn’t just one big string of minigames. (Did the Wii teach us nothing, people?)

Towel Day 2012

May 25 is Towel Day, that geeky holiday created to celebrate the life and work of Douglas Adams. The English writer and dramatist is best known for his work, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. By the way, did you know that he also wrote several episodes for Doctor Who?

In any case, today is the day that has been marked as Towel Day, wherein fans around the world simply have to carry around a towel to participate. Of course, you can also tweet about it, post on Facebook, and so on.

Here’s something even more fun: all around the world, events are being held today in honor of Towel Day. You can find out if there is something going on near you via the Towel Day page.

In other news, it is also Geek Pride Day. The button below is the perfect symbol for this day, and you can get it from ThinkGeek. It’s probably too late to order one in time, but hey, you can always use it next year!

Geek Pride Day

Star Wars fans, you probably are waiting for this: May 25 is significant as well because of the release of Episode IV: A New Hope in May 25, 1977.

So what are you doing to mark this uber geeky day?

Towel Day Image via markbult

Camp Myth Cover

Hence my backing up this Kickstarter project: Camp Myth.

Camp Myth is a children’s book project by Chris Lewis Carter from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The project is set up to launch a series of Camp Myth books which revolve around the idea of a summer camp.

We’ve all been to at least one summer camp, I suppose, but I bet none comes close to Camp Myth. In this fantasy summer camp, the kids learn about minotaurs, dryads, merfolk, centaurs, and so on. Of course, the participants in the camp also have their own unique characteristics, shape shifting one of the more interesting ones.

Here’s a short video explaining more about Camp Myth.

So, moving on to the practical stuff. Chris needs the help of the community to be able to make Camp Myth a reality. He is working together with Jay Camay and Anne Ballaran to provide cool illustrations.

As with any Kickstarter project, they have a goal to reach. In this case, it’s $4,000 by June 18. They have not reached half of the required amount, so if you like the idea, why don’t you pitch in? Even if you do not have much money to spare, remember that every single dollar counts! Donate to Camp Myth!

With summer coming up, wouldn’t you rather have the kids reading this kind of material instead of the crap that is to be found out there?

Bringing the popular comic book (and TV show) to the world of gaming for the first time, The Walking Dead: The Video Game might be one of the best games of the year.

You are Lee Everett, murder convict, on your way to prison for a crime of passion. But that punishment is commuted when the zombie apocalypse happens, and society as we know it collapses. Suddenly, it no longer matters who you were pre-apocalypse. All that matters now is survival. Welcome to the end of the world.

Set some time before Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Grimes awoke from his fateful coma, The Walking Dead: The Video Game introduces a host of new characters to Robert Kirkman’s sprawling narrative, while maintaining the qualities that made the book (and subsequent TV show) such a hit to begin with. The truth about Everett’s murder conviction, his final fate, and that of the young girl he quickly finds himself caring for, are just a few of the mysteries you’ll encounter along the way, and none of them are in a hurry to give up their secrets.

I’m kind of in awe of how Telltale managed to capture the visual look of the comic books, and turn it into a functioning aesthetic for a video game that really works. Readers of the comic book know that it’s a black & white publication; only the cover art is ever colored. Telltale somehow translated the look and feel of that static, monochrome world into a living, technicolor nightmare (the good kind). I played the Xbox Live Arcade version of the game, and it was controlled through a simple, elegant scheme of thumbstick movement and A-B-X-Y button use. There was no learning curve, but neither was it too simplified to hold the interest of this veteran gamer. I was so drawn in by the story that I never really thought about the controls as the game unfolded. Which is exactly how good design should work.

Perfectly capturing the spirit of the comic book, every character in the game is three-dimensional, quirky, and we meet them when they’re at the worst moment of their lives, pushed to extremes. The brilliant opening sequence encapsulates the entire experience: Lee is in the back of a police car, being driven to his new prison home, when other police cars keep passing him on the other side of the road, sirens blaring as they respond to some kind of huge emergency in Atlanta. A clever conversation takes place between Lee and the cop assigned to escort him to prison, and we learn that Lee is definitely guilty of his crime, but there were “circumstances,” and he’s not really a bad guy. Soon the police radio blares out that there’s some kind of outbreak in Atlanta and the police need all hands on deck. That’s when the car slams into a Walker in the middle of the road, and crashes. We’ve just witnessed one man’s perspective on the zombie outbreak as it happens, and as he scrambles to unlock his cuffs in the wrecked car and escape the Walkers closing in on all sides, the tension is extreme. I held my breath as I helped Lee get his hands on the keys to the cuffs, find something to hit his attacker with, and make his escape while favoring a bleeding wound.

The Walking Dead isn’t a first-person or even a third-person style game. Telltale is known for building adventure games using their own 3D game engine, and this one is no different. But the graphic novel art style makes the well-worn engine feel fresh. In most scenes, you’re free to wander around the immediate area and explore. But the thrills never slow down for long, and before you know it, you’ll be on the run again with Walkers just inches away. Objectives play out much as they do in most adventure games or the non-action-y parts of standard RPGs like Mass Effect or Fallout; interact with in-game characters, learn what they want or need, decide whether or not to help them, look for something that will help them, and then reap the rewards (or feel the burn) from your actions.

But this being a survivalist adventure, every choice has potential life-and-death consequences. For example, a scene about half an hour into the game presents you with both a small boy who’s being attacked by Walkers, and a young man who’s important to the survival of the group you’re in. You only have time to save one, and the choice is yours. Save the boy and his parents will remember your actions throughout the rest of the game, and treat you accordingly, while the dead guy’s father will blame you for his son’s death and refuse to help you ever again. Most of these scenes play up the moral ambiguity and breakdown of civil law that a zombie apocalypse lends itself to. So every choice is a hard one, every decision has lasting consequences, and there’s never a “right” or “wrong” way to go.

These game parameters create an atmosphere where the stakes are always as high as they can possibly be. There’s plenty of the franchise’s trademark interpersonal human drama as well, and all of it is extremely well executed. Major kudos to Telltale for working hard to bring the comic book to life in a new medium — in a way that feels completely organic. Robert Kirkman himself served as a consultant on the game, so its authenticity may owe something to his involvement. But I can’t heap enough praise on the team at Telltale for getting every aspect of this game so right.

This being a Telltale game, it’s planned for staggered release in episodic installments. At the time of this review, only Episode One – A New Day has been released, but I expect the remaining four episodes to be equally terrific since the bar of quality is set this high. It should go without saying that this is not a family-friendly title. As a faithful offshoot of the comic book, it pours on blood, gore, extreme violence, and frequent f-bombs. (If you’ve got kids, make darn sure they’re in bed for this one.)

Telltale’s record has been hit and miss with franchise licenses. Back to the Future: The Video Game was a fun adventure that stayed true to the spirit of the films, but Jurassic Park: The Video Game — despite a good story and dazzling graphics — wasn’t much more than a movie with a teensy bit of interaction. With The Walking Dead, somehow every piece of the puzzle comes together flawlessly. One gets the sense that this was a labor of love on Telltale’s part, or maybe even that this is the truly great game that they’ve always been destined to make. Maybe the fact that those earlier franchises were nostalgic exercises, while The Walking Dead is in the midst of its heyday right now, has some subtle psychological effect on the player. Or maybe it’s just a brilliant video game.

Whatever the magic formula that brought it into being… The Walking Dead: the Video Game soars. With a smart storyline, fascinating characters, and brilliant technical execution, it’s everything that fans want it to be. And then some.

Traditional, non-controversial bland fun!

When you mention the Fantastic Foursome, every one smiles, developing that look of respect and total fandom in their eyes.

Reduce that number by one, and you are met with embarrassed expressions, eyes averting as the once-lamented Comics’ Code goes flying out of the window, narrowly missing the spectre of Dr Fredric Wertham.

Thankfully, John Byrne called his new title ‘Trio’, rather than any of the more salacious options to hand.

Now, love him or hate him, (and I find it difficult to do the latter), Mr Byrne has a very distinctive style; with which he has contributed a great deal to the history of comics. His revamp of Superman after the Crisis On Infinite Earths met with critical acclaim and set the tone for the following two decades for the Man Of Steel. His treatment of Wonder Woman was far more controversial, yet he had the courage to tackle the pesky continuity issues that bedevilled the character after successive revamps of the DC Universe, and with one (well, maybe a dozen) sweep of the pen, managed to make everything count.

No mean feat in a world that shifts reality in response to fashion.

In Trio, released last week, we seen John Byrne’s beautiful art and a standard set up issue. I have to say, although there was nothing wrong with the issue at all, there was very little so far to distinguish it from a Fantastic Four rip-off, but I am hoping that that is the point. Lots of plots were hinted at though not really set into motion.

If you like Mr Byrne’s style, and like me felt that the recent Next Men lost a little something from the immense gap between this series and the last, then you will love this. If not, then pass this by for the time being. After all, if the series has a fantastic twist on it, there is always the trade paperback.

Now to the proper news.

One month today, we are told that we will see the first gay marriage in comics, in the pages of the Astonishing X-Men. Now, aside from the fact that Marvel seem to be jumping on the President’s (or more correctly the Vice-President’s) coat tails, who really gives the couple a chance?

Now don’t take this wrong. As welcome as this gesture is, a part of me feels it is too little, too late. I mean, just how many years did it take Northstar to come out? Twenty?

And he started his career as a terrorist? Just wait until the Concerned Mothers of America or their modern-day equivalent get a hold of that one.

And in comics’ terms? Kyle has already been transformed into a brainwashed Plodex hybrid and tried to kill his lover and all of Alpha Flight. Is he really ready for the big leagues? Plus what if there is a super-villain attack on the big day? Will he cope?

Even worse, what if there isn’t? Would that be considered a snub by the super-human crime community? Or the diverse range of mutant political factions (who have sort of died a death recently anyway)?

In the real world however, to me this feels cheap. If this had happened a year or more ago, considering that Canada was the fourth country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage back in 2005, yes, seven years ago, and both Jean-Paul and Kyle are Canadian citizens; then that would have been groundbreaking.

As it stands, really? This deserves a headline? Don’t make me laugh.

Darth Vader and Son

I just discovered Jeffrey Brown’s Darth Vader and Son (Star Wars (Chronicle)), and I think that any self-respecting Star Wars fan will want to get his hands on this. Whether or not you have kids, you will find an excuse to get a copy.¹

The premise is simple: What would Luke Skywalker’s childhood have been like if Darth Vader actually raised him?

That makes way for a question from the other side: What kind of father would Darth Vader have been?

It’s a very new book, only released last month. You can get it on Amazon for only about $10, and it’s hardbound. Here are more snapshots from the book.

Luke on Vader's Shoulder

Trick or Treat

I honestly think that certain people do not need any more convincing to get Darth Vader and Son. Still, in case you want a little more of a sneak peek, here’s the trailer for the book.

Convinced yet? Go for it!

1. Click on that link to buy!

I enjoy all of the LEGO video games, but I’m genuinely excited about LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes for an entirely different reason. For the first time ever, a LEGO game will feature an open world that you can explore and play through however you like.

Gotham City has never been so gloriously blocky as in LEGO Batman 2, but I can’t help wondering if the designers over at TT Games saw all the fun that Rocksteady Games was having crafting a huge, open world for Arkham City, and thought, “Hey, why can’t we do that?” From this brand new trailer and screenshots, it sure looks like a marriage of Arkham City and LEGO — with a cast of playable superheroes ripped out of DC Comics’ most popular titles.

You and a co-op Robin will be able to explore Gotham on foot or using the ever-reliable Batmobile, and other Bat-themed vehicles. You can also switch costumes at will, giving your character different gadgets and therefore, different abilities. There will be loads of collectibles, areas only accessible to characters with specific abilities (sometimes two heroes will have to use their abilities in tandem to gain access), and plenty of fighting and LEGO building.

But here’s the real shocker: in another major first for a LEGO video game, the characters in LEGO Batman 2 will speak! That’s right, TT Games employed voice actors and writers to allow the heroes and villains of Gotham City to talk.

I have mixed feelings about this. The no-talking rule has been a staple of LEGO video games since the very first one — the original LEGO Star Wars. It was a stylistic choice, but I remember reading about how it always proved challenging for the game designers when it came to conveying things like Darth Vader telling Luke Skywalker he’s his father. Understandable, but this little quirk gave the LEGO Minifigure characters most of their charm.

But maybe it’s time to push the LEGO games to the next level. Most of the games we’ve gotten so far have been variations on a familiar theme, using the same basic structure and mechanics. It’s still fun, but I know there are a lot of fans who want more out of the experience, who want TT Games to push the envelope and try new things. Looks like they’re going to get their wish.

An open world with characters who talk might be just what this brand needs to stay relevant.

Enjoy the trailer above and screenshots below. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes doesn’t have a release date yet, but is expected to be in stores this Summer.

Stan Lee's World of Heroes

Now and then, though, it is nice to watch a video that actually catches your attention and satisfies that geek in you. Whether or not you proclaim your geekiness to the rest of the world.

Enter Stan Lee‘s World of Heroes.

Did I get your attention now?

There’s this new YouTube channel which might very well become the go-to channel for many of you. If you think you live a hero lifestyle, or you simply are a hero enthusiast, then this channel will get you going. It actually has a wider coverage and geeks of all kinds will find something to be happy about. Sci-fi, fantasy, pop culture, comedy – Stan Lee’s World of Heroes has something for everyone. Oh, and if you like cocktails (who doesn’t?), the guys have treats for you as well.

Yes, Stan Lee is really involved in the shows.

Here’s a sampling of Stan Lee’s World of Heroes.

You know what I find surprising? The number of views on the existing videos. I would have thought that the name alone would have drawn a bigger audience.

In any case, if you like the concept, follow them: World of Heroes on YouTube.

Activision and Beenox today released the latest trailer for the Amazing Spider-Man video game. This one focuses on something called “Web Rush,” and how it’ll come in handy zipping across New York and stickin’ it to the bad guys (so to speak).

The new game based on this summer’s Amazing Spider-Man movie has a major new game mechanic. Web Rush effectively works like bullet time for Spider-Man, slowing down time. But it’s about more than just performing cool take-downs. Web Rush also enhances Peter Parker’s spider-sense, presenting him with new and different options so he can make more tactical decisions about how to handle a given situation.

Now if only they’d release a trailer explaining the sneaker soles affixed to the new Spider-Man’s suit…

I do not know too many kids these days, but it seems to me that they generally are not into dinosaurs as we were back then. Maybe it’s time to change that.

If there’s anything that might contribute to a positive change in this regard, I think it’s Brian Russell’s upcoming Kickstarter project: What I Remember About Dinosaurs.

Brian is an author and illustrator, the brains behind the web comic The Underfold. I discovered him via Twitter and when I got wind of his book project about dinosaurs, I knew that I was on to something.

Recently, Brian completed the illustrations for What I Remember About Dinosaurs. He kindly sent a review copy my way, and all I can say is I can’t wait for his Kickstarter launch. This is one book I would love my nephews to have and look back on with fondness.

Here’s a little background on how the project came to be.

What I Remember About Dinosaurs is a humorous children’s book about what I learned about the prehistoric creatures 20+ years ago. Infused with opinions and my personal-brand of humor, the book highlights how certain things have changed over the years including how the Brontosaurus went from one of my favorite dinosaurs, to non-existent; Velociraptors turning from fearsome and intelligent, to debate-ably feathered; and more.

Here’s what’s in store for us once the project kicks off.

Now do you understand why I am totally backing this up?

On top of the illustrations, the accompanying explanations and descriptions are totally catchy. They are so simple that very young children can latch on to the concepts, and yet still have enough allure to attract older children.

There is no set date for the Kickstarter launch yet, but stay tuned and monitor the page Dinosaurs. Once the project is live, this URL will redirect to where you can help Brian out and get yourself your kids/nephews/nieces a neat dinosaur book.

You can also follow Brian on Twitter: @Brian_Russell.

Ano Natsu de Matteru (a.k.a. Waiting in the Summer) is a 12 episode anime produced by J.C. Staff and aired during the Winter 2012 season. It was directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai (Ano Hana, Toradora), with script by Yousuke Kuroda (Onegai Teacher, Onegai Twins) and original character designs by Taraku Uon (Onegai Teacher, Onegai Twins). With three heavyweights in the romantic comedy genre running the show, Ano Natsu de Matteru was expected to be a hit with romantic comedy anime fans, so did it live up to its expectations?

During summer vacation, high school friends Kaito, Tetsurou, Kanna, Mio, Ichika, and Remon decide to film a movie using Kaito’s old film recorder. While filming, tensions between them start to grow as secret crushes are revealed and each of the characters are torn between seeking love or friendship. Things are made even more complicated with Ichika trying to hide the fact that she’s actually an alien that flew to Earth to find something.

The series hit the ground running, with several major revelations made during the first episode, such as who like whom and Ichika being “caught in the act” during a hilarious ending scene. The first episode gives a good first impression of the series and shows what you should expect. Unlike a lot of romantic comedies where the characters question whether or not they love someone, Ano Natsu is clear-cut from the beginning. The complexity doesn’t come from wishy-washy characters, but from desires that conflict with morals and friendship. Would it be better to pursue the one you love, or to keep everyone happy? That is perhaps one of the greatest questions that is answered in this anime.

Like with the Onegai series, Ano Natsu comes with its own alien mascot in the form of a pudgy hamster-like being called Rinon. Moments with Rinon and the mystery surrounding Remon’s true identity and her ability to seemingly appear out of nowhere add a great deal to the humour in the series. The scenes delving into Kaito and Ichika’s imaginations are funny too, with Ichika constantly fearful that she’ll be found out and taken away by the Men in Black (yes, you read that right) for questioning. Of course, if you mention Men in Black in Japan, you always have to include Tommy Lee Jones, who makes several cameos in the anime.

Perhaps the greatest parts of Ano Natsu are the heartbreaks, and how they’re dealt with. Not everyone can be happy when interests don’t line up, and Ano Natsu tries to stay as realistic as possible. Just because the one you like is going out with someone else doesn’t mean that you’re going to stop liking them or end up with a new person, like many romance stories. The comedy tends to mask the sadness that some of the characters experience, but you would have to be pretty emotionless to not feel anything after seeing what happens.

I wouldn’t call Ano Natsu de Matteru a masterpiece, but a good balance of romance, comedy, and believable emotions make it a strong series. It doesn’t quite compare to Toradora, however, I found it an improvement over the Onegai series and definitely worth the time to watch.

Fortunately, technology has come to the rescue. Because of advances in security and the science of making locks, we can largely throw away those archaic keys and go totally keyless. The modern locks of today do not need keys (or the traditional concept of keys we know) to unlock them.

Keyless door locks offer an extremely high level of security that is miles away better than traditional door locks that are opened with keys and yet it doesn’t sacrifice ease of use. All you need is to punch in your security code and voila, an unlocked door! More modern technologies are even being used for the next generation of keyless door locks like fingerprint recognition and biometrics — we’re truly entering science fiction territory!

Here are some of the benefits of using keyless door locks.

Increased level of security

Obviously, keyless door locks do not rely on traditional keys to open it. Therefore, there are no tumblers that can be manipulated with tools. There is no way to tamper it, short of breaking the whole thing open, which thieves won’t do at the risk of being discovered.

Easy process to change codes

A keyless door lock’s code can also be changed without a lot of difficulty if you think the current code is already compromised. This is hard to do with common locks because the whole cylinder will need to be retooled, which is a tedious process. It will be easier to just install a new lock, which presents its own unique challenges.

No need to carry keys

Carrying keys is a big hassle. It’s one of those things that is usually misplaced or lost. Anyone who has lost a key and had to look for it knows how frustrating it can get. Keys can also scratch your mobile phones and other mobile devices if it’s stored together – which usually happens if you have a tendency to stuff your things in your pocket. With a keyless lock, you only need to memorize your security code to gain access.

Installation is a breeze

Keyless locks can be installed just like regular locks. You don’t need special doors or frames to install it or to make it work. You can just replace your standard lock with the keyless lock with just minimal modifications, if at all.  Additionally, you don’t need any kind of wiring to make keyless locks work. You can either choose to get mechanical locks that do not require any kind of power, or electronic locks that only need standard batteries to work.

Crysis 3 screenshot

Crytek released some new screenshots and concept art from Crysis 3 today, and they are predictably gorgeous, showing off an incredible urban sprawl that’s been reclaimed by nature.

Crysis 3 finds Prophet returning to New York City on a mission of revenge. He finds that the city has been encased in a nanodome and transformed into an “urban rainforest.” He’ll have to traverse seven different natural environments, known as the Liberty Dome’s Seven Wonders, each filled with Ceph aliens and human enemies alike. It’s a dangerous new world that calls for the world’s deadliest hunter.

Crytek intends to deliver Crysis 3 in 2013. Enjoy the new screenshots and concept art below.

Crysis 3 screenshot

Crysis 3 screenshot

Crysis 3 screenshot

Crysis 3 screenshot

Crysis 3 screenshot

Crysis 3 screenshot

Crysis 3 screenshot

Crysis 3 concept art

Crysis 3 concept art

Crysis 3 concept art

Crysis 3 concept art

Crysis 3 concept art

Crysis 3 composite bow design

The much awaited Diablo 3.

For someone who is not a hardcore gamer but can spend days on end playing a game (albeit very sporadically), I am actually surprised that I have not caved in to the Diablo 3 fever. Yet.

I had some spare time today, so I guess it was but natural to think about why I am one of the few people I know who has remained immune to the game. You can think whatever you want of it, but here are the reasons I am not playing Diablo 3. For now.

Error 37

Okay, it is a lame a reason as any. Gamers have been waiting for Diablo 3 for eternity it seems, what do another several hours matter?

I know that it can be utterly frustrating to encounter server errors while you’re caught up in the heat of the moment, but heck, it won’t kill you. Maybe.

Then again, if I have been able to survive without the game for so long, I am sure I will survive the next weeks or months till the issues get resolved. In any case, I do not feel like being likened to this poor guy.

Anti-bandwagon tendencies

I probably am just being difficult, but with practically everyone I know putting their lives on hold for Diablo 3, I feel like swimming upstream. There really is no going around it. Stubbornness can be a tricky thing.

Oh, and there is the issue of having to deal with actually purchasing the game. I don’t know where you are, but if you have not pre-ordered the game (as I obviously did not), then good luck. Sure, shopping can be as easy as clicking buttons or swiping cards – retail POS software for the win! – but either you bang elbows with other almost desperate gamers or you simply will have to wait for more copies to arrive. Guess what I have chosen to do?

The issue of EQ

I have always gone out of my way to prove that I have a high emotional quotient. Whether or not that is an indication of my lack thereof, I don’t really know.

I shall end this with a question: if I don’t start playing Diablo 3 for as long as I can hold out, does that mean I have high EQ?

After watching this 3.5 minute video about the making of Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, I have just one question. How does Oswald the Lucky Rabbit get his ears to spin like helicopter blades? ‘Cause that’s a handy skill to have.

In this video, Warren Spector and his team at Junction Point tell you about the changes and improvements being made to the franchise with this second game. Among them: two-player co-op, an upgraded camera system, next-generation graphics (for Xbox 360 and PS3), voice actors, and more.

Sadly, there’s no mention of the original songs that the on-screen characters will periodically break into during the game. Perhaps they’re reserving that feature for a behind-the-scenes video of its own; it’s certainly worthy of one. I just can’t imagine how they’re going to make that work.

The Hit Squad - First Pixellated Feature Movie

If you are always on Twitter, and you have people in your circles who love the 80s and everything that goes with it – especially 8-bit stuff, then you might have gotten wind of the world’s first pixellated feature film. That is The Hit Squad.

Here’s a quick look at what the film is all about.

The film follows Roddy Stones and his washed-up 80′s band as they try and get one last hit record to save their recession-hit studio from falling into the hands of their infinitely more successful rivals. The band embark on a journey of sex, skulduggery and synthesized music in order to face the demons of their past, and battle the nefarious ‘The Boss’ in order to get back their fame, fortune and cocaine stash.

The film has a strong ironic take on friendship, love, loss and the use of class A drugs.

I don’t know about you, but that is more than enough to get one interested in seeing the animation come to life. Oh, and did I already mention that it is the world’s first pixellated feature film?

Here’s a little bit of eye candy to tease you.

The Hit Squad Sophia Frank

And to give you a little bit more, check out this video.

More videos to be found on their YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/superpixelbrothers.

Now here’s the fun part. You can become part of this momentous endeavor. Head over to indeogogo and support The Hit Squad. They are targeting $25,000 so that actual production can start, and boy, Chris Blundell – the writer and director – will love you for it. This guy works so hard to promote the project, and rightly so.

Even if you do not have much money (like me!), the minimum contribution of $5 will not hurt you, and you will sleep at night with the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping someone’s dream come true.

Oh, and did I already it’s for a pixellated feature film?

The dynamically geeky duo known as Corridor Digital have unleashed their latest video upon the world, and it is the definition of awesome. It’s called “Art of the Instakill,” and it features eight lethal showdowns, quick-cut style, between many of your favorite video game protagonists.

Be warned: if you’re opposed to realistic depictions of blood and gore, this video is not for you.

Master Chief. James Bond. Commander Shepard. If you consider yourself a serious gamer, then you should recognize every character in this two-minute video. All of these parts are played by Niko and Sam of Corridor Digital, in what seems to be a game of quick-fire one-upmanship. You’ll never guess who wins.

I don’t know much about these two guys, but I can tell you they have mad film skills. Their editing and visual effects are particularly impressive. Whatever they come up with next, I’ll be watching.

Well, Free Comic Book Day has been and gone again, but it’s taken me a while to read through my stash from the day. As ever, the greatest treat I had left buried at the bottom of the pile.

Of course, I have always come to expect good things from Boom!, and as regular readers of this column know that it seems the team of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, commonly known (among geeks) as DnA, rarely if ever fail to deliver excellent product.

So it goes with the teaser issue of The Hypernaturals. Establishing the framework of this new world, we are introduced to a super-team that has lasted for a hundred years, replaced periodically with a whole new crop of members; while humanity has spread across the stars and formed a galactic civilisation.

The newest team have departed on their first mission, and as one can imagine, it does not go well. In a media-oriented society, as the Hypernatural veterans gather they barely get a chance to determine what has happened to the recent recruits.

To tell you more than this would be to spoil the story, but can I just note that the personality of many of the characters show through immediately (although I also hope that they each contain some surprises), and despite the heavy presence of obvious back-story, the reader is drowned in it, but merely given enough to understand what is going on and invited to imagine the remainder. As like all great writers, Dan and Andy give us enough to kick-start our imaginations, and leave the rest of the work to us.

The art of Brad Walker and Tom Derrenick is crisp and clear, presently a beautifully sanitised vision of the future yet making it all seem so very normal. (Well, as normal as skin-tight clad metahumans in a sci-fi environment can be!) What really struck me was the continuation of cable news and annoying phones, even if both are now composed of holograms.

This is a series I eagerly await, and what better way to introduce it to the world than the FCBD?

Looking towards today, I am forced by cosmic law beyond my control to point out that it’s Fantastic Four day again!

ROBOTS

It’s called the Robots t-shirt, and it is designed by Dov Torbin of Comic Strip Tees. The site is Dov’s baby, where he posts a new t-shirt featuring a design by a cartoonist every week. The t-shirts are sold for 7 days and are limited edition. That means your chances of running into someone wearing the same shirt are slim!

More than selling t-shirts, Comic Strip Tees is all about giving back to the comic community. Actually, every time a t-shirt is sold, part of the proceeds go straight to the cartoonist.

If you can’t get enough of your comics, why don’t you support the guys? And to get things going, we have teamed up with Dov himself to spread the word about Comic Strip Tees. One of you guys will receive a free Comic Strip Tees t-shirt of your choice if you join our contest for this week. All you need to do is follow the steps below.

Before that though, you might want to visit Comic Strip Tees on Facebook and like their page. For other designs, check out the main web site – Comic Strip Tees.

Step 1: Copy & paste the following, and then tweet it:

I want to win a free t-shirt from @geekforever and @comicstriptees! Enter here: http://spla.us/KNB4nQ

Step 2: Leave us a comment on this page (below) to let us know you tweeted, and paste the link to your Tweet in your comment. (Note that our comments are moderated, so your comment may not show up immediately after you click the “Post Comment” button.)

You can enter the contest once a day between now and Friday!

The winner will be selected at random from the commenters on or around 10:00 pm EST on Friday, May 18. The winner will be notified via Twitter, after which we’ll give you the contact e-mail for Dov so he can send you your t-shirt. Don’t forget to thank him if you win!

When J.J. Abrams launches a new TV show, we are there. Because we’re geeks, and Abrams is a major player in the geek pantheon. This Fall, he’s bringing Revolution to NBC, and this four-minute trailer is your first look at it.

I’ve grown disillusioned with network TV lately. Sure, you’ve got brilliant pieces of genre storytelling like Fringe, always taking chances and pushing its characters into new, unexplored territory, while telling a much larger story over the course of a season. But they’re few and far between. Most genre shows on broadcast networks fizzle out, their audiences losing interest fast, because network execs or even the showrunners themselves simply refuse to believe that modern audiences want to engage their brains enough to follow a serialized story week after week. Or, just as bad, the weekly episodes meander about, telling little one-off stories, until the season finale hits and the big, game-changing story happens. That’s not good storytelling — it’s just leading the viewer on. Why must we wait all season long for the good stuff? (See: Terra Nova, Alcatraz, The River, and on and on.)

No, cable TV is where it’s at. On cable, you’ve got The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, American Horror Story, Homeland, Spartacus… Shows that aren’t afraid to take chances, shows that assume their audience is actually (gasp!) paying attention. But I digress.

On broadcast TV, J.J. Abrams is one of the few media moguls whose shows are actually worth watching. He’s got hits like Alias, Lost, Fringe, and Person of Interest under his belt. His record’s not exactly spotless — he also has failures like Undercovers and Alcatraz on his resume. But we know he’s capable of greatness, so we always tune in to see what he’s got up his sleeve.

This time, he’s producing a show created by Eric Kripke, the creator of Supernatural, with a pilot directed by Jon Favreau, the director of Iron Man. The premise is one of those compellingly simple ideas: what happens if every form of power in the world suddenly stopped working? From electricity to car engines, everything goes off in an instant, its effects lasting (seemingly) forever. Planes fall out of the sky, hospitals have to close up shop, and perhaps most impactful of all: no more communication. No phones, no computers, no Internet, no radio, no TV, no… nothing.

Revolution begins by depicting the moment when everything goes off, and then jumps forward 15 years, to show us the dramatic effects this change has had. Sunlight and fire are the only sources of illumination. Cities have been reclaimed by nature. Governments have fallen. Life in general has slowed waaaaay down. Which might not necessarily be a bad thing.

No sooner do we find out that the most anticipated game of the year — BioShock Infinite — has been delayed to 2013, than we get hit with another blow. Go ahead and scratch Tomb Raider off the 2012 release list, too.

Crystal Dynamics studio head Darrell Gallagher announced on the Eidos forums that the hotly-anticipated reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise, originally targeted for this Fall’s (admittedly crowded) release calendar, has been delayed. Now, fans who can’t wait to guide Lara through her dark, survivalist adventure will have to wait until Q1 2013.

Gallagher’s stated reasons for delaying echo those of BioShock‘s Ken Levine: “We truly believe we have something very special on our hands… Our priority is to make sure we fully deliver the very highest quality game.” In other words, they’re adding some additional coats of polish, shaping and honing the game to perfection. Unlike BioShock Infinite, Crystal Dynamics and its publisher Square Enix are still planning to show Tomb Raider at E3 next month.

As I said last week, I’m sure this extra bit of effort will result in a superior game. And it’s not that I’m not willing to wait for a better game. I’d much rather play a game that’s the best it can possibly be, than play a game right now that could have been better. In the end, I’m sure this is the smart move for Tomb Raider.

But the excruciatingly long wait for a game that looks this amazing… just bites.

Chocolate Brain

This guy, Andy Mills, made a pretty cool brain using, of all things, chocolate! Then again, if you think about it, chocolate has been molded into practically all sorts of stuff, so a chocolate brain isn’t all that novel.

What makes this chocolate brain a tad cooler is that it is actually modeled from an MRI scan. So yes, it is an accurate representation of what controls the human body. Andy Mills had his brain MRI scanned, and the guys at Inition decided to use the copy of the scan to make a chocolate brain. According to their post, the steps are pretty straightforward.

• Converting sliced DICOM data into the STL file format (a 3D geometry format widely used for 3D printing)
• Editing that model to clean up
• 3D printing a solid model
• Producing a latex mould
• Finally casting the chocolate and eating

And in case you are not sure how to eat brains, albeit made of chocolate, here is a video that will how you how.

Although I am a rather squeamish person, I do not think I would mind biting into my own brain if I had the chance to make a chocolate model! What about you? Cool or not?

I knew it! Traveler’s Tales, Warner Bros., and LEGO are teaming up once again to produce another LEGO video game based on a major Hollywood property. They’ve done Star Wars, they’ve done Harry Potter, they’ve done Indiana Jones, and even Pirates of the Caribbean. There’s just no way they weren’t going to do LEGO Lord of the Rings.

We’ve been following LEGO’s development of Lord of the Rings building sets since the popular building-block manufacturer acquired the Tolkien license sometime last year (in anticipation of Peter Jackson’s forthcoming The Hobbit movies). And all that time, absolutely everybody thought it was a total no-brainer that LEGO would ask their partner company Traveler’s Tales to work their magic on the Lord of the Rings movies.

So the news may not be surprising, but man is it exciting!

The scoop comes from TheOneRing.net, where one of their writers was recently prepping for an early review of the “Shelob Attacks” playset, in advance of the new toy line’s release (still a few weeks away, but you can find them in some stores already if you look hard enough). The writer opened the set and found a teaser image for the LEGO The Lord of the Rings video game in the back of the instruction book, confirming what everyone suspected. Above is a photo of the teaser graphic (I retooled it a bit with my mad Photoshop skills).

Over the weekend, there was also a leaked product listing page found at European retailer ShopTo.net, which lists the game as having an October 26th release date. Although this may merely be a guess on ShopTo’s part. The image found by TheOneRing reveals that the game is, unsurprisingly, being made for nearly all the major consoles: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and 3DS. Conspicuously missing is PS Vita.

E3 is just a few weeks away, so it’s likely that Warner Bros. Interactive is waiting to officially announce the game there — where we should get our first look at screenshots, a trailer, and the first details about the game. If Traveler’s Tales holds true to form, then the game’s levels should be split into three chapters — one for each movie in the trilogy — with about six levels in each chapter. Traveler’s Tales loves to throw in extras, too, like special hidden levels, so there should be plenty of that as well. Then, about a year later (to coincide with the release of the second The Hobbit film), we’ll probably see a LEGO Hobbit game, too.

It’s a good time to be a LEGO fan!

Most people know that anime has an uncanny ability to make just about anything cute. This is most apparent with female characters, where just about any girl can turned into a beauty once she’s animefied or mangafied. There are some other things that anime can make cute though, and the series airing this season make that more than obvious.

Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos

Nyarlathotep is a deity from H.P. Lovecraft’s fictional universe, Cthulhu Mythos. It has thousands of different forms, but commonly appears as a tall man who resembles an Egyptian Pharaoh. Its other forms are supposedly terrifying. As Nyarlathotep’s nickname suggests, it likes to cause chaos and relishes in torturing people using deception and manipulation. The anime Haiyore! Nyaruko-san has turned Nyarlathotep into a silver-haired teenage girl with a screw loose in her head.

Drooling

When you see someone drooling, you normally wouldn’t think that they look cute. Nazo no Kanojo X (Mysterious Girlfriend X) is about Mikoto, a girl that produces unsightly amounts of drool, and her drool-loving boyfriend, Akira. I thought I had seen it all, but I never would have thought anyone would make an anime about drool.

Zombies

Recently, zombies have become relatively common in popular media, and I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t know what they are. The characteristics of the undead are pretty much set in stone – they are mindless, rotting corpses that are out for human flesh and brains. Sankarea turns the definition of a zombie upside-down. Who would ever imagine having a teenage zombie that is the very definition of beauty end up living with a boy and asking him to show her what it’s like to be a regular girl. Well, I guess that’s not too much of a stretch for anime.

Japanese Heroes

The legends of Japan’s Warring States era were battle-hardened murderers that wouldn’t even flinch at slicing a man or two in half. Oda Nobunaga is probably the most famous warrior in Japanese history, having helped unify the country after countless battles. In Sengoku Collection, Oda Nobunaga and a slew of other historical figures are cute girls who have been transported to the future.

Firearms

We normally think of guns as killing machines made of cold steel. The creators of Upotte!! had something else in mind, high school girls. In this anime, guns interact with each other just like any human and also have emotions. You wouldn’t want to get on the bad side of a gun though.

Alduin Dragon Cake

Here’s a close look at Alduin the World Eater dragon cake.

Alduin Dragon Cake Up Close and Personal

Look at the detail on those wings.

Alduin Dragon Cake Wings

I started making it using photos I found on the internet. Later, when we purchased the set, I realized that my pretty birdy was getting way too big, almost twice the size of the statue. To make the whole thing proportional, I had to scale up the size of the cake itself. It was made of four 13″x18″ sheets of chocolate cake, soaked in strawberry syrup, and sandwiched with bittersweet strawberry ganache (5 lbs of chocolate). Alduin’s core is made of modeling chocolate. His scales, horns, and spikes are made from gum paste. The double-sided wings are half-and-half (fondant/gum paste). His eyes are Swarovsky crystals.

Swarovsky crystals, no less! I do love how they glow, don’t you? And if you look closely below, you will see an inscription on the stone. That’s dragonspeak for “Happy Birthday Tim”. It really doesn’t get much better than this for a little kid!

Alduin Dragon Cake Front