Monthly Archives: April 2015
Our Appreciation for Flash & Shield – And Confusion Over Coach Returning
Hey guys, after another of our famous and beloved multi-week breaks (pretty much all my fault this time), we're back with a new episode!
Whether it be the video above or the audio below, here's the time stamp info on what you'll find on Channel Surfing this week.
1:20-6:20 Coach returning - which leads into some Kimmy Schmidt chat, oddly enough. (If the Full House news had broken when we recorded this, we would have talked about it too! Next time!)6:20-14:25: Luke Cage Showrunner named - and our thoughts on Netflix's all at once release strategy.
14:25-17:25: Bruce Campbell cast as Ronald Reagan on Fargo.
Deadpool, X-Men, Furious 7 & Suicide Squad
Welcome back to Keepin' It Reel! In this week's podcast, Jim Vejvoda and Chris Carle bring you the latest in movie news.
This week's topics include Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Deadpool, Captain America: Civil War, SPECTRE, Suicide Squad, X-Men: Apocalypse, Mad Max: Fury Road, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, Tron 3 and more.
Finally, we talk about how much loot Furious 7 will race off with at this weekend's box office.
Download Keepin' It Reel, Episode 282!
Smite’s Newest Goddess Medusa is Petrifying
Third-person action MOBA Smite has once again bolstered its ranks of playable gods, demi-gods, and monsters with its newest addition, the Gorgon Medusa, in this week's Written in Stone patch update.
Medusa enters Smite in the hunter role, firing ranged basic attacks with a bow, while focusing on high-burst damage with her compliment of poison and acid-based abilities. Of course, the coup de grace is her petrifying ultimate that deals massive damage and turns enemies looking at her to stone.
Additionally, Hi-Rez Studios has introduced a number of changes and updates, an overhauled clan system, and several new skins for existing gods like Thor, Vulcan, and Athena. Check out the complete list of changes included in the Smite Written in Stone patch notes.
Bandai Reveals Avengers: Age of Ultron Figures
Bandai has officially revealed its latest line of S.H. Figuarts action figures for the upcoming Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron movie.
New images posted on the official website shows the new toy line will include detailed, fully poseable Captain America, Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Iron Man Mark 43, as well as an Iron Man Mark 45 variant figures. There does not appear to be a Black Widow or Hawkeye forthcoming. However, a silhouette of the Iron Man Hulk Buster can be seen in the background of an image.
Check out all of the new images below:
Iron Man Mark 43 goes on sale next month, followed by Captain America and the Hulk in July. The Iron Man Mark 45 variant (pictured with the Mark 43) and Thor will be available in August and September, respectively. Each figure will cost roughly $52 USD with the exception of the much larger 9-inch Hulk figure, which will run roughly $80 USD.
Sony Acquires OnLive Technology
Sony Computer Entertainment has acquired the technology patents behind streaming service OnLive.
The terms under which the deal was made have not been shared, but Sony now owns several of OnLive's assets, including its US and International portfolio patents on cloud gaming.
OnLive is a streaming service specializing in cloud-based video game play on multiple devices. Once it begins to cut its services and products, it will downsize and eventually close down.
It will remain active until April 30, and no subscription renewals will be charged as of today, April 2. OnLive adds that those who were charged for their subscription renewal after March 28 will be issued refunds.
Jelly Belly Explains How They Make Gross Flavors
It's easy to imagine where the flavors for cherry, banana, and watermelon might come from, but the origins of Jelly Belly's more...peculiar flavors are a little more complicated.
MentalFloss reports smell plays a large part of our sense of taste, so Jelly Belly's resident flavor scientist starts by finding a source for the scent. Once the source is found, it is then placed in a gas chromatograph, which turns the item into vapor - typically after it's been dissolved, boiled, or heated - and examines its chemical makeup.
After the chemical makeup has been identified, it is then turned into a flavor maker. These flavor makers serve as the starters used by the team to create jelly beans.
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Bringing the Series to 2D
Having played games since the moment I had enough motor skills to hold a controller, I’ve grown used to seeing my franchises make the transition from 2D to 3D. Some did it with grace, such as Mario, Zelda, and Final Fantasy. Others...not so much (looking at you Sonic and Castlevania). However, it’s not every day that we see a series start in 3D, and suddenly make a move to 2D. But that’s exactly what Ubisoft has done with the Assassin’s Creed Chronicles trilogy.
The three games, which are set in China, India, and Russia respectively, take the core ideas that Ubisoft has been building upon since the original Assassin’s Creed back in 2007, and transition them from 3D to 2D. I’m happy to report that in the three hours I spent with China and India, this transition works well for the most part.
Attack on Titan, Evangelion Directors Reviving Godzilla
The upcoming Japanese Godzilla film, Godzilla 2016, will be helmed by Hideaki Anno (Attack on Titan) and Shinji Higuchi (Evangelion). Anno will also pen the screenplay, while Higuchi will oversee special effects.
The film was announced by intellectual property owner Toho last year, following the success of Gareth Edwards' Godzilla, which earned $525 million worldwide.
A statement from Toho (via Variety) reads: "Ever since Hollywood announced that Godzilla was to be resurrected, the expectation for another Japanese Godzilla grew. And if we were to newly produce, we looked into Japanese creators who were the most knowledgeable and who had the most passion for Godzilla."
Konami Re-adding Kojima Branding to Select MGS Games
Hideo Kojima's name has been re-added to a couple of Metal Gear Solid titles.
As discovered by Videogamer, the product listings for both Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection and Metal Gear Solid 3D Snake Eater have been updated to include mention of the series' creator.
There has been a lot of rebranding going on over at Konami as of late, and Hideo Kojima's future at the company is shaky at best, with reports suggesting he will be leaving after development on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is complete.
Netflix in Talks to Bring Back Full House
Even though we've known a Full House revival has been in the works, it's still surprising to hear that - yes - the Tanner Family is returning to our lives via Netflix.
As Variety reports, Netflix is close to ordering a new, ninth season of long-running 80s/90s ABC sitcom Full House.
If the deal goes through, the series will get a 13-episode season - along with the new name 'Fuller House.' Netflix states that this is only a rumor right now, so we suspect we'll hear something more concrete in a day or two when the deal goes through.