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Justice League Movie in Peril?

By the fire pits of Apokolips! Rumors are swirling that Warner’s Justice League move is falling apart. With Marvel (Disney) enjoying enormous success with The Avengers, Iron Man, and several other movie franchises, Justice League was supposed to be DC’s mega-team superhero blockbuster. Badass Digest’s Devin Faraci wrote:

I’ve now heard from multiple sources that the Will Beall script for Justice League has been scrapped. The story from each source is the same: it’s terrible. Some sources seem to think the whole movie is going to fall apart and never happen, while some believe that Warner Bros will keep moving forward, unwilling to lose the superhero arms race.

The studio has been unable to get the interest of a quality director, reportedly because of the script. Without a script and without a director, Justice League seems unlikely to meet a 2015 release. The question is will it ever be released at all?

I’m somewhat bummed by the news. While I enjoy all kinds of comics, I’m definitely more of a DC guy than a Marvel guy. It would have been awesome to see the Justice League hit the silver screen in all their glory. That said, I haven’t been satisfied with many DC movie projects. Super Returns was mediocre, Green Lantern was traumatizing, and The Dark Knight series was more of a Chrisopher Nolan franchise than a series of Batman movies (loved parts of it, other parts…not so much).While a Justice League movie has the potential to be awesome, I would prefer no movie at all rather than a Green Lantern-like crap fast.

Any of you bummed by this Justice League development? Do you think the movie will see the light of day? Or will it be totally scrapped?

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North Korean Propaganda Video Features Call of Duty

This North Korean propaganda video is completely awesome. First off, it’s set to an instrumental version of “We Are the World.” Secondly, it uses imagery from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It sends the lovely message of Korean reunification through the destruction of the United State by nuclear weapons. I’m not sure that’s what USA For Africa had in mind for “We Are the World,” but the song is open to interpretation…more

Here’s a translation of the video’s text from the YouTube description:

” Last night, I had such a wonderful dream. I found myself rising high into space riding the “Eunha 9” rocket. In happiness and excitement, the spaceship “Kwangmyungsong 21” separated, and was flying into the grand and endless space. From onboard, I could see beautiful colors and stark contrast [of the outside]. I was about to press the button to take a picture as I was heading toward our perfectly green earth, a shining star in the midst of the darkness. Suddenly, through the camera lens, the image of the unification flag blowing over our one unified country crops up. Even I weep as I hold tightly to that camera, concerns rushing over me. In America, I can see black smoke. It seems like the devil’s nest that habitually caused wars of invasion and persistence are finally burning under the fire that I have caused. The free and peaceful world and the magnificent and awe-striking space seem to be blessing our spaceship “Kwangmyungsong 21.” Dear viewers, think about this. Korea’s spaceship flying through space, to the backdrop of the brightly-lit sun and space. I am certain that my dream will come true. Even the complete ending of the imperialists schemes. Seeing our Bakedu Mountain country prospering strongly under reunification, they will not be able to prevent our people from going forward towards a final victory.” – translation by NKNews

Apparently Activision isn’t pleased about images from its game being used to promote the destruction of its home country. The company has been getting the video pulled from YouTube, so catch it while you can!

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Coffee Talk #565: Your Star Wars Standalone Movie

Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that there will be standalone Star Wars movies along with a new trilogy. The initial rumor was that diminutive Jedi master Yoda would be getting his own film. This was followed by rumors of movies starring a young Han Solo and Boba Fett, respectively. Who would you like to see in a standalone Star Wars movie? Who do you think should get the spotlight?

Han Solo and Boba Fett are obvious choices. They’re both “cool” characters and easy to sell to Star Wars fans. Personally, I’d like to see something…more

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, injuries in LA Laker land, injuries in LA Clipper land, or practicing for your driving exam, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Han Solo and Boba Fett are obvious choices. They’re both “cool” characters and easy to sell to Star Wars fans. Personally, I’d like to see something different and unexpected. It’s probably not going to happen, but how about a movie about lesser-known Jedi like Adi Gallia or Ki Adi Mundi? The latter could star in an action-comedy — dude’s head cracks me up every time and Andy Dick has already played the character. Other ideas (that will never happen) include a subtitled Star Wars art-house film starring Wookiees on their home planet Kashyyyk. This movie would be a thoughtful look at a unique and noble race that’s often dismissed as the savages of the Star Wars universe. I’d call it Lost in Chewbacca…or something.

Anyway, why don’t you guys give it a go? Which character would you like to see have his or her (or its) own Star Wars movie? Kindly pick your character and describe your movie in the comments section.

PlayStation 4 to Cost $400?

Remember when the PlayStation 3 launched for $499 (20GB) and $599 (60GB)? Most pundits agree that those prices won’t fly in 2013. The Asahi Shimbun Digital reports that the PlayStation 4 (or whatever it’ll be called) will debut at 40,000 Yen, which converts to just under 428 USD. With that conversion in mind, it’s conceivable that Sony’s next console will launch in America for $399.

Charging big money for new consoles is old hat, but the consumer electronics market is going through some fascinating changes that could put a ceiling on launch prices. Hardware manufacturers are staying away from bleeding-edge silicon and emphasizing services. Smartphones, tablets, and streaming videogame systems (Ouya for $99!) have made $600 gaming systems an iffy proposition for many consumers.

With Nintendo leading this console generation with $299 and $349 systems, I expect Microsoft and Sony to sell for a little bit higher, but certainly not double. Of course the Wii U uses relatively old chips that are more inline with current consoles than the rumored silicon inside its competitors’ upcoming machines. Still, I would be surprised if a $600 console debuted this year. If it happens, it better wash and fold my laundry after I’m done playing games.

What do you think of the $400 PlayStation 4 rumor? Do you think that’s the right price for a new console in 2013? Or do you think we’ll see another $600 machine? How much would you be willing to pay for a new PlayStation or Xbox system?

Source via The Verge

Stuck in My Head: Hall & Oates

“Rich Girl” by Hall & Oates has been stuck in my head for the last three days. In the shared office space I use, the song has come up a lot. It’s a catchy tune and I actually enjoy Hall & Oates, but I need to get the song out of my system! Hopefully sharing it with you helps. As an added bonus, below is a clip of the wonderful The Bird and the Bee covering “Rich Girl.” Continue reading “Stuck in My Head: Hall & Oates”

Next Xbox Won’t Play Used Games?

Edge has a bunch of rumors on the next Microsoft Xbox. The juiciest of which is that it won’t play used games. Console manufacturers and videogame publishers have been happily working towards this, while retailers and consumers have been fearing and loathing these developments. Here’s a quote from the article:

Microsoft’s next console will require an Internet connection in order to function, ruling out a second-hand game market for the platform.

The article also covers the rumored innards of the next Xbox, which include, “an AMD eight-core x64 1.6GHz CPU, a D3D11.x 800MHz graphics solution and 8GB of DDR3 RAM.” To me, the blocking of used games is much more fascinating than the hardware specs, since it will have massive repercussions and result in record-breaking gamer rage. While I personally don’t care about the used-game issue, I’m totally ready to sit back, munch on some popcorn, and watch the mother of all flame wars ensue (should this come to pass).

How do you feel about the rumor of the next Xbox not playing used games? Do you think it’s bunk? Is it too soon for such a drastic measure? Or is this simple where the gaming business is going? Does a required Internet connection limit the console’s appeal? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section!

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Coffee Talk #564: What Will Win the Next Console War?

The next generation of console wars is nearly here! Nintendo’s Wii U is already available. Sony is expected to announce the next PlayStation later this month. And Microsoft is expected to announce the next Xbox by E3 2013. In the past, hardware and exclusive games shaped the outcome of console wars. More recently, online serves like PlayStation Network and Xbox Live helped determined the outcome. With many people believing that the upcoming batch of hardware will be the end of traditional consoles as we know them, what do you think will…more

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, last night’s return of Linsanity, PETA going after Beyonce for her Super Bowl outfit, or missing Las Vegas during DICE time, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

The next generation of console wars is nearly here! Nintendo’s Wii U is already available. Sony is expected to announce the next PlayStation later this month. And Microsoft is expected to announce the next Xbox by E3 2013. In the past, hardware and exclusive games shaped the outcome of console wars. More recently, online services like PlayStation Network and Xbox Live helped determined the outcome. With many people believing that the upcoming batch of hardware will be the end of traditional consoles as we know them, what do you think will determine the next skirmish. More importantly, what features are most important to you?

Some people believe that games will be an afterthought, or at least exclusive games. They believe that all three platforms will have great games, so it’ll be a wash. I somewhat disagree with this stance. While exclusives aren’t as powerful as they used to be, I believe they still shape a console’s identity.

Most pundits agree that pure horsepower isn’t as relevant as it used to be. This is a trend that extends beyond consoles. Generally speaking, consumer electronics have become more about software and services than powerful hardware. One of the reasons that Xbox 360 was more successful than PlayStation 3 was that Xbox Live was much better than PlayStation Network for years. While Sony’s service has improved greatly, some feel that the improvements didn’t come fast enough.

Continuing on the services tip, the social, non-gaming, and premium features of consoles have become hugely important. Many gamers prefer Xbox 360 because that’s the system most of their friends use online. Playing games with friends is almost always more fun than playing with strangers. Some people spend more time using the non-gaming features of consoles more than playing games. Features like streaming video services and video chat are quite popular. Then there are the premium services. Some people feel that PlayStation Plus trounces Xbox Live Gold.

Some journalists are shouting about developer ease-of-use being paramount. That’s certainly an important issue, but some of the writers that are taking this stance have little idea what goes into making a game. Honestly, I’m not sure where this is coming from. It’s one thing for developers to say or write things like this, but journalists that don’t understand game production? Then again, there are a lot of journalists that write long diatribes about what Company X needs to do to turn things around while having no clue about running a business. Personally, I’m going to leave this issue on the table and let smarter people discuss it. Besides, I’m not sure that most gamers care.

So games, hardware power, and online services…. What else is there? What concerns you the most? What features and factors do you think will be most important in the next generation of console wars? Please shout it out in the comments section!

Fast & Furious 6 Extended Trailer

As many of you know, I’m a total mark for the Fast & Furious series. It’s probably my favorite franchise when it comes to big, dumb fun. Plus, I believe in supporting Hollywood’s only action star that regularly plays Dungeons & Dragons (Vin Diesel) and I’m completely mesmerized by Paul Walker’s crappy acting. Fast Five was the pinnacle of the series for me. It had the best elements of all the previous, plus Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. It’s also one of the only American action movies that has a cool Asian guy that gets the girl.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, this landed:

Wow. Car chases! Sexy girls! A cat fight! Paul Walker’s crappy acting! This is going to be awesome.

Yoda Getting His Own Star Wars Movie?

[Update 4:24PM PT] The initial rumor about the upcoming Disney Stars Wars movies was that they’re being based on an old plot by George Lucas. The latest rumor, courtesy of Ain’t It Cool News, is that Yoda will be getting his own film. Can you imagine a two-hour movie full of a diminutive, back-flipping Jedi spouting English with funky syntax? While you’re thinking about it, here’s a quote from the article:

Well, to start with they’re going to focus on established characters and do solo films. The first Stand Alone film is going to center upon YODA.

Yoda is pretty awesome, but I don’t know about him carrying a whole movie. My initial reactions are that he’s better in a supporting role and that this rumor is bunk. Still…stranger things have happened, especially in a galaxy far, far away.

Do you think Yoda can carry an entire movie? Would you watch it?

Update: Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that there are plans for standalone movies that are separate from the next trilogy. He didn’t confirm that Yoda would be the first subject.

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Vaping Diaries #37: Innokin iClear 30 Clearomizer Preview

Along with the iTaste SVD, Innokin sent me a few iClear 30 clearomizers. These are dual-coil clearos with two unique features. First, the top and bottom of the unit are made from stainless steel; the majority of clearomizers available are mostly plastic and/or use inexpensive metal. Second, the tip swivels, like the popular knucklehead drip tip. This allows vaping devices to be held in a more comfortable position.

The video preview above goes over the iClear 30’s features and includes a breakdown of its parts. While I need to spend more time with the iClear 30 — especially seeing how it handles problematic juices like naturally-extracted tobbacco e-liquids — my first tank of juice with this clearo has been great. I’ll probably produce a comparison video of the iClear 30 and the Kanger T3, my current clearomizer of choice. Stay tuned!