Yearly Archives: 2011

GAMING

Call of Duty: Escalation (Starring Trejo, Rooker, George A. Romero, Freddy Kruger, & Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

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Call of Duty – Three words almost universally despised by wives and girlfriends everywhere. Well ladies, things are about to get worse. If it seems your man has been picking the controller up less frequently as of late, I hope you enjoy it while it lasts. Coming May 3rd is the newest expansion for the latest Call of Duty game, Black Ops. This is the second such expansion released for the game, as First Strike is almost 3 months old already. I know a few people I play online with still haven’t bought the First Strike expansion, but personally I’m happy I did, as ‘Discovery’ has become my favorite map in the game. The new add-on is called Escalation.

Here is a quick synopsis:

As indicated by the retailer leak, the DLC will include four multiplayer maps: Hotel, set “on the roof of a Cuban luxury hotel and casino against the vivid backdrop of old Havana”; Convoy, which offers up “intense, close-quarters combat at the scene of an ambushed US military convoy”; Zoo, set in a derelict Soviet-era animal park; and Stockpile, which is set in a small Russian town that contains secret facilities housing weapons of mass destruction.

Also included in the Escalation pack is a new level for Black Ops’ zombie mode. Today’s announcement gave no details on the mode, other than that it will provide a “unique Zombies experience.” However, the previous retailer leak referred to the level as “Call of the Dead.”

Ok, so new maps are always nice, but what’s really grabbing me here is the “Call of the Dead” aspect of the game. Long has the Zombie section of the game been a favorite of mine, and it is in fact the reason I bought both Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty: Black Ops. And while it was fun, it was obviously never a real focus for the designers. That’s about to change. Here is the trailer for the ‘Call of the Dead’ section of the expansion…

As our esteemed Technical Editor likes to say: Holy crap.

Not bad at all. Here are 4 luminaries in the Horror/Sci-Fi genre, brought together to voice characters not for a full game, but just a downloadable expansion to the game. That is throwing your budget around. Just look at this cast:

– Michael Rooker made his name with a lot of geeks in Mallrats, however was already established in the horror community for a decade prior with the title role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. And for the Zombie connection – he was in the first season of AMC’s The Walking Dead.

– Danny Trejo is one Mexican you don’t want to f–k with, or so he told us in Machete. Machete was of course a spin-off of Grindhouse, and Trejo has been in such classics as Maniac Cop 2, the From Dusk Till Dawn trilogy, and Rob Zombie remake of Halloween.

– Sarah Michelle Gellar is of course best known as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but has also appeared in horror movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Grudge and Scream 2.

– Robert Englund has played Freddy Kruger over 50 times between the Nightmare on Elm Street movies and the TV show they inspired. Plus he has been in other movies like Wishmaster, Urban Legend, 2001 Maniacs, and Zombie Strippers! He is a horror icon.

And all of them helmed by the man most synonymous with Zombies – George A. Romero. If you somehow don’t know who Romero is…well, you’re just not a zombie fan. He is responsible for Night of the Living Dead and all of it’s seemingly thousands of sequels.


I’ll admit, on the last map pack download, I didn’t spend a ton of time on the Zombie stage, but this time around…I plan to.

GAMING

DIABLO III: Over a Decade in the Making

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On June 28, 2008, BLIZZARD, creators of such popular games as Starcraft and World of Warcraft, announced the making of the third game in the Diablo series – Diablo III. Diablo was an action RPG, and is strictly made for the PC. Although there has not been a Diablo game released in over a decade, this next one looks promising.

GAMEPLAY: Diablo III is said to play much like Diablo II in a lot of ways. You will see your game from an overhead view via 3D environment.  Just like Diablo II, Battle.net will be used by online co-operative players, who will now be able to drop in and out of sessions. This game is also guaranteed to have replay value! It features a random level generator, a random encounter generator, and class-specific quests to go along with the main storyline quests. Something I read about that I found very interesting is that there will be no more potion bar. Instead, health orbs will fall from enemies, which leaves room for a skill bar where the old potion bar was. PvP combat is implemented to enhance single player and cooperative modes. There are different game modes you can play in, one being ranked games, or “best of”. You will earn a certain amount of points per match based on how many kills you have, achieved objectives, etc. The points will get you multiplayer achievements and titles.

Continue reading DIABLO III: Over a Decade in the Making →

Movie News & Opinions

Terminator is Back… And so is Arnold Schwarzenegger

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I am one of those who actually liked Terminator: Salvation. It was taking us into the territory of the Terminator franchise that so many of us wanted – a whole movie based on  The Resistance war against Skynet and the machines. I thought it was done very well, with all new terminators, a decent grouping of actors and a not too shabby storyline, given the fact that the writer’s strike was happening at the time. I just wanted a movie finally taking place after Judgement Day with the war already in its beginnings and Salvation gave that to me.

Although it didn’t perform as well as the studio had predicted, they were still supposed to go on with making two more sequels, but after money woes and auctioning off the rights to Terminator, chances of that were slim. It was like taking a couple licks off your blue moon ice cream cone and the rest gets knocked out of your hand by a psychotic Easter Bunny.

Now comes news via Deadline that the franchise is not only on track to be revived and continued, but it will involve one of the two men who made Terminator and Terminator 2 such a success: Arnold Schwarzenegger. Yes I know James Cameron’s vision made the first two movies so spectacular, but Arnold was the other major reason for the movies’ success. Here’s a little from the article:

Arnold Schwarzenegger is attached to star in a rights package that CAA is shopping today that will revive The Terminator, one of Hollywood’s most iconic scifi franchises. The agency is dropping the package on studios this afternoon. I’m told that already, Universal, Sony and Lionsgate, and CBS Films are looking hard at the package. There is no screenwriter attached at this point, and Robert Cort is producing. This is the first real activity on The Terminator project since February 2010, when the property emerged from a bankruptcy auction and into the possession of Pacificor.

Not only is this awesome news that the Terminator story will continue, but I’m also glad to see Arnold returning to a project that will put him back in the main spotlight. I’m sorry, but the Governator just ain’t gonna do it for me. I want Terminator! True Lies 2! Jingle All The Way 2! Well, scratch the Jingle All the Way bit… you get the point.

What does everyone think of this? Is Arnold “too old for this shit”, or are you ready to see him back as a T-800 breaking faces? I say hell yeah to the second part of that question. Comment below or Skynet will find you…

COMICS/PRINT, Uncategorized

Judgement on Gotham In-Depth Comic Review

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Judgment on Gotham was a four part story arc that went through two issues of Batman one issue of Gotham Sirens and one issue of Red Robin. I missed the Gotham Sirens issue that the arc featured in, but after reading the other three comics it didn’t seem necessary to read Gotham Sirens. Even Red Robin seemed like it wasn’t necessary if you just read the Batman issues. I will be reviewing the story arc’s three issues that I read as one.

The story worked because it was only three issues (four if you read the Gotham Sirens issue) that were for the most part pretty fast paced and it used religion the right way, in my opinion at least. I’m not the authority on what the right way is. It’s always a gamble when religion is used in any medium. People will either be okay with it or be offended. But in this case it didn’t make a mockery of it and it didn’t push it on anyone. In one issue it even made the story pretty remarkable. I enjoyed the arc as much as the next Bat fan, though it seemed a bit average.

Continue reading Judgement on Gotham In-Depth Comic Review →

SPORTS

WWE DRAFT 2011 – MORE PICKS! 4-26-11

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During the day there were a whole bunch of other draft picks that occurred. Let’s start with who will be going to Smackdown!

Smackdown Drafts

  1. Sheamus (United States Champion)
  2. Alex Riley
  3. Tamina
  4. Tyson Kidd
  5. Ted DiBiase
  6. Jey Uso
  7. Natalya
  8. Yoshi Tatsu
  9. William Regal
  10. Alicia Fox
  11. Jimmy Uso
  12. Great Khali
  13. Daniel Bryan

Raw Drafts

  1. Beth Phoenix
  2. Tyler Reks
  3. Kofi Kingston
  4. Chris Masters
  5. Curt Hawkins
  6. Drew McIntyre
  7. JTG
  8. Kelly Kelly
  9. Jack Swagger

It would seem that Raw definitely got the short end of the stick this year in the quantity section but talent wise it would appear they made out okay. They kept Cena, though the talent part and how he was double picked last night makes him not so great a pick. I’m sure people will disagree with me so go for it. They were however, able to acquire the Big Show, Rey Mysterio and Alberto Del Rio. Besides the gorgeous Kelly Kelly coming back to Raw, we will see Kofi Kingston returning and Drew McIntyre coming in to I’m sure stir up some trouble. Oh and also we have Jack Swagger coming back to Raw, because it wasn’t enough to have him there every week with Michael Cole anyways, making an anus of himself in the process. Other than that, we have jobbers like Chris Masters making the trip over. I thought Chris Masters was already back on Raw…

Smackdown was able to get Randy Orton as their headliner now that Edge is retired. They were also able to count the up and comer Sin Cara as part of their roster last night. One notable pick from today would be the United States champion Sheamus, hopefully they can find something for him to do on Smackdown, because on Raw he was getting a little stagnant. Though a total douche, it will be interesting to see Alex Riley off on his own and not being the little monkey boy to the Miz. The pair of them together was really starting to make me nauseous every Monday night.

So what does everyone else think about the draft picks from this afternoon? How about from last night? Check out my review from last night below! And be sure to voice your opinion in the comment section below!

Monday Night Draft!

Kelly Kelly
Enjoy this gratuitous Kelly Kelly butt shot.

SPORTS

Monday Night Raw Review: 4-25-2011 WWE DRAFT NIGHT!

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Tonight is the night! Draft night! This week’s Raw starts off with quite a bang: a 20 man Battle Royale is already in full swing to determine whether Raw or Smackdown gets the first draft pick.

Mayhem ensues for about 15 minutes as it boils down to Evan Bourne and Mason Ryan vs Big Show and Kofi Kingston as the final four. In the end, Big Show proves to be too much as he eliminates both Raw wrestlers. Smackdown gets the first pick and the selection is…..

John Cena!

I’m so glad that Cena will be off of Raw. Now Miz just has to get drafted to Smackdown and the most boring rivalry in the history of the WWE can finally be out of my sight. At least until Extreme Rules, at which point I’ll then be rooting for Morrison to win. And I’m not even a Morrison fan.

The first of many assholes in the Raw lineup

Since we’re talking about Morrison, the man who attacked him after a match last week comes out for some heel action. Truth goes on about how the fans can suck it and how they failed him. Apparently Truth rapped and danced just to make the fans happy and not himself. He drives the point home by asking an imaginary boy named “Little Jimmy” a whole bunch of rhetorical questions. It was quite hilarious and then Morrison runs out to shut his face.

R Truth talking to an invisible Little Jimmy. Classic.

Right before commercial we are treated to a preview of next week’s show in Miami, which will feature The Rock’s birthday party… don’t know exactly how I feel about that one. I guess as long as the Rock is there it will be entertaining enough.

The next match is a Diva’s competition that will determine the next draft selection, featuring Eve Torres vs Layla.

Get this girl a title shot… such beauty is wasted otherwise

Michelle McCool joins her down at ringside, and as Smackdown has shown us, Laycool has been having some problems. As the match comes to a close, Michelle talks some shit to Layla and Eve takes advantage to pin her, getting Raw the next pick. That pick for Raw iiiiiiisssss…..

Rey Mysterio

The next match is Kofi Kingston vs Sheamus for a pick. I would assume every match is for a pick at this point. The match seemed brief with Sheamus getting laid out by two head kicks from Kofie and pinned for another Smackdown pick. This was really surpising and I have to say so far Smackdown is doing very well…..

Randy Orton to Smackdown.

Once we get back from commercial we are subjected to yet more Michael Cole nonsense as he squares off against Jim Ross. King is of course in JR’s corner, with Swagger in moron’s corner once more.

This guy might as well suck it.

This is a monumental waste of time for the most part. The only satisfying parts being JR beating up on Cole and making him bleed from his lip pretty good. Swagger of course interferes but it’s Lawler to the rescue as he takes out both Swagger and Cole, Cole getting whacked a few times with a belt from the King. Afterwards the Raw GM declares that the tag match between these four at Extreme Rules will be a Country Whipping Match. That is extreme….

Next we get more verbal vomit from that moron The Miz. Instead of describing the useless shit he said I thought I’d feature some stupid Miz expressions.

The next match is between Dolph Zigler and Randy Orton for two draft picks, Orton freshly picked up by Smackdown. The match itself was pretty entertaining but seemed short lived as Randy Orton breaks out of a quick pin by Zigler and RKO’s him to win two more draft picks for Smackdown. This is getting ridiculous for Raw, but it’s definitely shaking things up which is the point. After a short interruption by CM Punk and a commercial break we get to see the two picks for Smackdown:

Mark Henry and Sin Cara

I was pretty shocked by the Sin Cara pickup because he had such a short stint on Raw. Smackdown is really getting the heavy hitters at this point. Raw needs to win this next battle for two more picks, between Wade Barrett and Rey Mysterio. After another quick yet decent match, Rey seals the win with a 619 and a top rope finisher on Barrett. His victory leads to these next two picks:

The Big Show and Alberto Del Rio

It was good to see Raw pick up a couple of heavy hitters, because losing Orton and Cena was pretty huge. But Raw has one more chance to make one more decent acquisition. The final match of the night is a six man tag match to determine the final pick. For Raw we have the team of Miz, Del Rio and CM Punk.

I can’t help but like this team

For Smackdown is Cena, Mark Henry and Christian. I like this mix up because it’s none too often you see Cena and Del Rio in the same match or CM Punk and Christian. They gave a good physical finale for us that ended with not only another heel turn but a completely stupid last “random” draft pick. Mark Henry is the one who turned heel, taking out Cena and Christian both resulting in The Miz giving Cena the Skull Crushing Finale and the winning pin. As we frantically wonder who will be coming to Raw it turns out to be…..

Cena?

Somehow I feel cheated and disgusted. Thanks Raw. I know the whole thing is scripted but how incredibly random the selection must be if Cena gets picked both first and last. Lame. I can only hope Extreme Rules this Sunday doesn’t follow suit with a dog crap ending. Tune back in tomorrow as more draft picks occur during the day, and comment below to tell us what you think of the new picks from this year’s draft!