Most Recent: Etcetera

Mortal Kombat films upgrading to Blu-ray April 19, bring DLC vouchers to PS3

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

Warner Bros. must be having a good time with the Mortal Kombat name. In addition to its triumphant return to consoles and a series of webisodes helmed by a passionate director with a great cast, the media juggernaut is bringing the original two films to Blu-ray the same day the game launches in the U.S. Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation will release on April 19 in separate retail packages, so you don’t have to waste the extra dough on the mess that was the second film, unless you really want to. Both discs contain theatrical trailers, trailers for the new game, and most importantly, voucher codes on an exclusive costume for Jade in the PS3 version of the game (sorry Xbox 360 owners). Mortal Kombat will also contain the animated film Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins.

All of this media is making me incredibly nostalgic; April’s going to be chock full of content to really bring you back to when MK was in its prime. Not to mention, after playing it at PAX Prime with Senior Editor Nicole Kline, how insanely good the game is going to be.

Posted in Etcetera, News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Daily Scoop: February 8, 2011 – Boring Tuesday

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Nicole Kline

The wind is blowing outside, turning what should be a relatively warm 40 degree day into the same freezing garbage we’ve had for ages. Please, winter! I’ve already surrendered! And the groundhog did a thing! What the hell, man?

Anyway, there’s not too much happening out there today in video game land. Today’s Amazon Deal of the Day in video games is 101 in 1 Sports Party Megamix by Atlus for the Wii. It’s $14.99 down from $19.99. Look, Atlus, unless you want to talk about Radiant Historia, I’m going to go take a nap now. K? Thx bye.

Other than that, the humor on this shirt is not “lost” on me, if you know what I’m saying:

See what I did there?

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

Game Informer celebrates 20 years of print

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Brianne Galli

While many begin to mourn the days when readers turned pages rather than clicked buttons to advance through their publications, monthly gaming magazine Game Informer is celebrating 20 years of industry reporting.

The print publication reported an average paid circulation of 5,073,000 over six months, and saw an increase of 33 percent in circulation since 2009. This was the largest increase out of the top 25 consumer titles in 2010, with only 10 of those titles showing increases in circulation for the year. Given its target audience between the ages of 18 and 34, this is extremely successful, and led to Game Informer’s new seat as the fifth largest consumer magazine in the US.

In addition to the print publication, Game Informer maintains a digital format of its content, which launched in May 2010. As of December 2010, the digital format is being delivered to 127,320 paid subscribers each month. It’s no surprise then that Game Informer’s website itself was named Best Games-Related Site of the year in the Webby People’s Voice Awards in 2010.

The publication plans to continue its print publication, and change its digital strategy as technology evolves, leaving no reader behind.

Posted in Etcetera, News |

Jeri Ryan and Ian Anthony Dale confirmed for Mortal Kombat webisodes

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

If you’ve been following the upcoming webisodes accompanying the new Mortal Kombat, you’ll know part of what made Kevin Tancharoen’s pitch video so great was the awesome cast. You’ll be pleased to know that Jeri Ryan and Ian Anthony Dale from the original pitch will be reprising the roles of Sonya Blade and Scorpion, respectively (we hope). Ryan and Dale both confirmed it via Twitter, and seem to be just as enthusiastic about the project as we are. WB Games had previously confirmed that the awesome Michael Jai White will return as Jackson “Jax” Briggs, who seemed to be the potential protagonist of the trailer. This means that all three main actors from the Mortal Kombat: Rebirth short film have signed on for the upcoming webisodes.

Also, Jeri Ryan was allegedly on her way to the farmer’s market with “the hubs” when she broke the good news.

The first Mortal Kombat film has gone down as one of the great popcorn movies of the 1990’s while the sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation was pretty horrible. Tancharoen’s vision seems to be more adult than either; let’s hope it translates into some great content to go with Mortal Kombat when it launches April 19, 2011 in the U.S. for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (though European gamers get it a day earlier) .

Posted in Etcetera, News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Daily Scoop: February 7, 2011 – No, I will not stop talking about Dead Space 2

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Why should I stop talking about Dead Space 2? I just reviewed it, I’m working on a review of Dead Space: Extraction, I’m about to start Dead Space: Ignition, and my Rig Backpack just got here, with the awesome t-shirt and lithographs that accompany it. Backpack of the year, man.

I also had nightmares last night about Necromorphs. I must not be the only one, because today’s Amazon Deal of the Day in video games is Dead Space 2. The regular edition is on sale today for $39.99 from $59.99, and the collector’s edition is on sale for $59.99 from $79.99. Fans of the game should absolutely get the collector’s edition, especially if you own a PS3, because it comes with Dead Space: Extraction with upgraded HD graphics and Move compatibility.

This is a lot of awesome for a Monday. I think I might just go home, put on this backpack, bust out my Plasma Cutter, and see how sci-fly I can possibly be.

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

Daily Scoop: February 4, 2011 – Ideas for Valentine’s Day edition

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Just a quick note before I talk about Valentine’s Day: today’s Amazon Deal of the Day in video games is Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. It’s $14.99 down from $19.99 for the Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo DS. That’s a lot of Star Wars!

And now for what you really wanted to hear about! Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us. If you’re shopping for that special geek, Thinkgeek’s got you covered. I’m currently kind of smitten by the 8-Bit Flower Bouquet, and I love the Circuit Sweetheart Necklace. For the more intimate gift, I would definitely recommend getting your girl some Geek Panties or, if she’s into web design, the HTTPanties would be a sure hit. And if all else fails, telling your geek you love them with an “I <3 my Geek" t-shirt is a safe bet (and you can get it for men or women). And what’s more, you can get $10 off orders of $40 or more by using the code “PLAYER2.” D’aww!

Penny Arcade is also having a sale, albeit a small one. Their two shirts with hearts on them are on sale for $14 (see what they did there?) – the Heartris and Life tees.

Looking for something a little more unique? The geeks over at The Daily What featured an amazing Valentines For Nerd Love Of The Day with some awesome 8-bit cards for sale at Paper Rock Scisorz’ Etsy Page. This one is totally my favorite:

<3

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

Dark Tower video game in the works

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Nicole Kline

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King is being made into a movie slated for a May 2013 release and, what’s more, there’s also a video game in the works, according to Ain’t It Cool News. They said the game will be “very ambitious” and that it will “further utilize elements from the books.” As a huge fan of the books, I’m nervous and excited about both the movie and the idea of a game, but I have no clue how they’re going to translate any of it to the big screen or my home console. Also, if Javier Bardem really is going to be playing Roland Deschain, I am going to cry, because his performance in No Country for Old Men scared me so efficiently that I can’t even look at pictures of him without thinking he’s going to come to my house with one of those bolt gun things and kill me with it, and/or brutally choke me to death while looking like a crazed lunatic.

NO.

Posted in Etcetera, News |

Daily Scoop: February 3, 2011 – No, really, it’s a trap

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Good morning, dear readers! Welcome to another edition of the Daily Scoop. Today we’ve got an Amazon Deal of the Day in video games, and it’s one that I find to be winter-friendly. It’s Activision’s Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011 with Top Shot Elite for the Wii. Buy this for the gamer who likes to hunt but not when it’s ridiculously frigid outside. It’s $39.99 from $59.99, so grab it while it’s hot.

Remember that addiction I talked about in yesterday’s Scoop? Well, I don’t think I’m going to be able to stop myself this time. I mean…just look at today’s shirt.w00t:

My threshold for temptation is being tested. Will I be able to resist?

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |