11 Minutes of Aliens: Colonial Marines

I'm not the biggest player of first person shooters, but a video game sequel to the sci-fi/action cult classic that looks to totally re-immerse you in that world created by James Cameron and Stan Winston, that sounds like fricking tailor made heaven to me. This will have to hold me over for killing Xenomorphs 'till we develop Holodeck technology.

Star Trek: The Next Generation on Blu-Ray!

Source: Startrek.com

The Next Generation Blu-rays Launch in 2012

"You've heard the rumors, and now StarTrek.com can officially confirm it: Star Trek: The Next Generation will be released in high-definition Blu-ray, starting in January with a sampler of several popular episodes, followed by a season-one set to be released later on in 2012, and subsequent seasons beaming down after that. Each of the 178 episodes spanning The Next Generation's seven seasons will be transferred to true high-definition 1080p for release in the Blu-ray format and, eventually, for runs on television and digital platforms in the U.S. and across the world. Star Trek: The Next Generation will, as fans know, be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2012.

“Fans have been clamoring for a high-definition release of Star Trek: The Next Generation," Ken Ross, Executive Vice President and General Manager of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement. “Transferring the series to high-definition presented difficult technical challenges, but our team has come up with a process to create true 1080p HD masters with true HD visual effects. We can’t wait to show fans how pristine the series looks and sounds with our upcoming Blu-ray releases.”

CBS is, in fact, returning to the original film negatives, a mother lode of material encompassing 25,000-plus reels of footage, and editing the episodes together precisely as they were when they originally aired between 1987 and 1994. Visual effects will not be upconverted from videotape, but instead will be recompositioned. The freshly cut film will ultimately be transferred to high definition with 7.1 DTS Master Audio. And all of the work is being done in conjunction with respected, longtime Star Trek figures Denise and Michael Okuda, who are on board as consultants.

As for that sampler, it will be called Star Trek: The Next Generation -- The Next Level. CBS Home Entertainment has set a January 31, 2012, release date for the single disc, which will include the feature-length version of the series pilot, "Encounter at Farpoint," as well the fan-favorite episodes "Sins of the Father" and "The Inner Light," the former from season three and the latter from season five. The Next Level will sell for the suggested retail price of $21.99."

This, ladies and gentlemen is THE highlight of my day. I love Star Trek, I love Star Trek on Blu-ray, this is awesome news. I already currently own 2 out of 3 seasons of The Original Series, and I knew Next Gen would be remastered in Hi-Definition and released on Blu-Ray any day now, and Paramount has finally "Made it so". It's just a few episodes on one Blu-ray but I can't wait to watch it and see the new rendered ships and special effects, and then start getting the season sets.

Some More Marvel Universe Figures

So I have bought more Marvel Universe figures, yes more figures in a scale I don't fully endorse. Why?, well I have come to the conclusion that I love buying, playing with and collecting action figures, and besides the current Transformers Generations and DC Universe Classics I don't actively search for any other toy series, so I decided it was time to look at Marvel Universe since I highly enjoy their renditions of Cable and Apocalypse and as a life long Marvel fan I can't completely ignore the line's existence. Now In my defense I had full right to hate the Marvel Universe line at first because 1.) To me it was a new smaller, less detailed and articulated line that was replacing my beloved and long collected Marvel Legends, and 2.) Come on, you have to agree some of the first figures were fugly, and looked like Hasbro wasn't putting their full effort in to recreating character likeness and going for something cartoony.

I will never own any of these.

Now these guys I can't wait to get

With that out of the way on to the pics and review, first off Iron Man in the current "Bleeding Edge" armor he's currently wearing in the comics is the figure that actually made me start thinking about starting to get more Marvel Universe, he's that greatly detailed, the metallic candy red and shiny gold really visually grab your attention.

The Mighty God of Thunder Thor, was on my short list of possible MU wants not only because I'm a huge fan of he's modern costume, but also because I want to assemble the core trinity of The Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor all in their modern costumes. The Odinson has some wonderful detail, my two favorites are the sculpted squares on he's arms and leg, and that he's cape is actually hanging from the buttons on he's chest.

The Heroic Age Avengers

Now I got The Wrecker because I have interest in perhaps getting all the Marvel Universe Secret Wars Two-Packs which would give me the other three members of The Wrecking Crew, and what's the Wrecking Crew without their leader. Wrecker looks like he walked right out of the comic, he is perfectly represented in he's classic costume, and the snarl on he's face captures the super villain's malice spot on. Wrecker of course comes with he's enchanted crowbar which I think is nearly perfect, it's only missing another pry edge on the bottom, a crowbar, toy accessory or not  it just doesn't look right with a flat squared bottom.

Now you may notice in pics two other figures I haven't posted about before, they are Heroic Age "Bucky" Captain America and U.S. Agent from the Captain America movie line I got a couple of weeks ago cause I really like Bucky-Cap's metallic paint and to start on the path of beginning the Avengers Trinity. U.S. Agent I've always been a fan for being a more brutal Captain America, my only real complaint on him is he could of use better designed arms with proper elbow and wrist articulation, and I really wish he came with he's round black and red shield instead of the eagle shaped one. So that brings me to a total of nine figures in the 3 3/4in. scale, good toy-god what have I gotten myself in to, once you start down the dark path...

A piece of advice: Don't become a toy collector, it's an extremely demanding, unforgiven, and expensive hobby.

Batman: Arkham City Joker Trailer

HOLY SHIT! I thought Batman fricking killed that guy, greatest video game trailer ever. Ah man October 18th is just 4 weeks away. Whoever wrote the script for the game perfectly understands Joker and know how he talks, and of course Mark Hamill as he's voice is just the plop of ice cream on top of the cake.

New The Thing Prequel Trailer

John Carpenter's The Thing is one of my all time favorite sci-fi/horror movies right under Ridley Scott's Alien. No movie then or even now can match The Thing's totally out of this world and disgusting creature effects that are just as haunting and frighting today as they were back in 1982, a true must own essential masterpiece. Can this new prequel live up to that greatness story and creature effect-wise and at the same time perfectly set up and sync details with Carpenter's tale? I for one really hope so, and hopefully at the same time bring some new awareness and appreciation of the legendary beloved original.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 Review

one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.........

When I heard they were making a Dynasty Warriors game with Gundams and it was gonna be released in America I felt like things in the universe must of perfectly aligned to bestow such an awesome game to me and other Gundam Fans. Koei made an awesome game, a perfect fusion of the Dynasty Warriors gameplay with 50 foot robots finally making a Gundam game that actually made you feel like your were actually piloting a mobile suit but with a PS3 or 360 controller. Each mobile suit and their pilots fought just like you've known them to and wanted to, and has become one of the most addicting games to play to unlock absolutely everything.

Oh yeah, they start to explode as I step on to the field

So how does the third entry in DW:G match up against the previous two much loved games, well it has it's pluses and it's minuses. What did I like? I loved the new cel-shaded graphics, a great aesthetic that is perfect for an anime mech combat game, and the new addition of partner strikes and field-types really up the tactical thinking during a mission. I am personally psyched to finally play as the new suits of Deathsycthe Hell, Heavyarms, Tallgesse II, 00, XX, Unicorn, GP01, and GP02, all given their own unique fighting style and anime perfect attacks.

I'll get that Unicorn next time he comes around

Along with the new attractions there also comes some new "bumps" in the design, like my number one complaint the lack of a Lock-On button which was in the previous games, you don't know how infuriating it is to do your special attack towards an enemy Ace just for it to hit the wall beside him instead. Then there's these new fields that are mostly empty unless they have a building or parked ship in the center, and the actual terrain can be difficult to navigate at times and a lot of time you'll get caught on a rock or edge of a wall while trying to get to the next field, even if you flying in a flight mode high above the ground above said rock or wall. 2nd most annoying concerning fields is the removal of actual in space missions instead were restricted to being inside colonies, or on giant asteroids, I see no rational reason for this change, those were always my favorite missions to do, I mean come on where do most Gundam battles take place? IN SPACE! 

Dually Time!

Now DW:G3 makes it simpler but not exactly easier this time around to make friends with the fellow pilots, at which all can become Operators to hear during missions, which to me is mostly worthless because most of them just say the same stuff they spout when their pilots like they're in the battle with you. Speaking of Operators, you can become friends with Rain, Relena, and Dianna but they never appear in missions or become operators, three people that would actually make sense to hear during missions WTH? A thing that was unsettling when first playing the game was some character had new voice actors different from the anime and the previous games namely Master Asia, Kamille, and Full Frontal, I've have grown accustom to Master Asia, and Kamille, but the game's Full Frontal is terrible, nowhere near the devilish calm of the OVA, he acts like a totally different character.

Death by Freedom Gundam is the right of all cannon fodder

Downloadable missions and mobile suit are available which I love, but each mission is a dollar and each suit being $6 bucks which I hate, cause I bought all of the suits, that's an additional $30 buck to the game which I already paid $60 for. What I don't understand is you can play as the downloaded mobile suits and pilots, but they don't appear as enemies, which would of been cool. Also the third game in and we get three more Gundam Wing mobile suits but still no Leos to kill, we get the GINNs for the three SEED suits to fight, but no Leos for the five Wing mobile suits, arg.

Heavyarms says: Missiles to the face!

In closing, this game could of been the best Dynasty Warriors: Gundam to date, but it's list of detractors leave DW:G2 as the king, even with it's hard friend making system. I can only hope for a fourth entry and they listen to these reviews from the fans and put some things back, and perhaps putting more Gundam and badass mobile suits like Gundam Altron and Gundam Sandrock from Wing, Gundam Alex and Kampfer from 0083, Gundam Ez8, and the Gouf Custom from 08th MS Team to name a few, hell I'd like to see suits from side stories like Full Armor Gundam and Gundam Crossbones. I would also like for them to removable a bunch of unwanted pilots and suits, like I don't want to play as Dozel or Fa or pilot a Zaku Tank of GM II, in my opion they just take disc space for more deserving suit and pilots.

Street Fighter X Tekken TGS 2011 Trailer

Damn that is awesome, I now want a Street Fighter X Tekken CGI movie, that was freaking hilarious. 

Marvel Mega Bloks Blind Packs Series 2

Found a box of series 2, and thanks to a certain beneficial advantage I got the complete series series including the ultra rare figure. The advantage, knowing to look at the imprinted code on the back of the package on the right hand border. It's might be hard to see for some but it'll keep you from getting repeats.

For those looking to get the whole series or just a couple favorites here's the codes, remember the code is not printed on the package but pressed into the package on the right of the back of the package:
Captain America: A11071MM (Common)
Ground Assault Drone: A08071MM (Common)
Iron Man Mk.V: A09071MM (Common)
Loki: A05071MM (Rare)
Red Skull: A02071MM (Common)
Thor: A06071MM (Rare)
Whiplash: A07071MM (Common)
Wolverine: A04071MM (Ultra Rare)

This series blows the previous series out of the water, these figures are way more detailed each with their own unique sculpts and accessories. To me Cap and Red Skull are the best two in the series, Cap is just dead-on on every detail, and I love Red Skull's evil smirk. I can't wait to see who is in the next series, bring on Cable, Deadpool, and Punisher Mega Bloks.

Pic of The Day 09/08

Poor Abin Sur

Cool Firefly Thought

You can get the complete series for $20 people, buy it!

So I had this cool random thought about Firefly the other day, beware if you haven't seen it or the movie Serenity I am about to talk about a major spoiler. If your a fan like me you were greatly surprised when Wash, awesomely played by Alan Tudyk, dies towards the end of Serenity. Like all Firefly fans I want Firefly to be revived again either as a tv series again or more movies, but I would like it to continue with Alan Tudyk, sure they could just make the new stories after the TV series but before the movie but I think I like my idea a better.

Have it that before he died Wash created a A.I. auto-pilot with he's memories and personality for the ship and it's now activated and can talk to the crew and be seen on monitors through out the ship. I think it would bring a great new dynamic interacting with Wash's widow Zoe, and Tudyk would just revel in the new kind of extension of he's character. If you come across this Josh Whedon please thinking about applying this, and thnak you for Firefly and Serenity.

Hope to see you again in some way shape or form Wash