Monthly Archives: December 2016
Teens Spend More Time Playing Games Than Seeing Movies
According to a new report by the non-profit Common Sense Media, teenagers are now spending 25 times more free-time playing video games than watching movies.
The report states that teens (ages 13 to 18) spend about an hour and 21 minutes a day playing video games in some form -- be that on a console, computer, or mobile device -- while they only spend three daily minutes going to the movies. Admittedly this is a weird way to quantify time spent at the movies, as movies tend to always run at least over an hour in length, but the study is pointing out that teenagers are simply spending less and less time in theaters. Furthermore, the study claims 15 percent of polled teenagers claim playing video games is their favorite media activity.
Rogue One: Image Released of Star Wars Rebels Cameo
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story features several Easter eggs and cameos from other Star Wars media, including a character from the Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels.
An official photo of the character's appearance in Rogue One has been released, courtesy of StarWars.com.
Warning: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story spoilers below.
In the film, Chopper, the droid from Star Wars Rebels, appears at the rebel base on Yavin 4. You can spot the character on the left side of the photo below.
Thor: Ragnarok Will Journey to Planet Hulk’s Sakaar
Thor: Ragnarok will reportedly include the main setting from Planet Hulk, Sakaar.
While doing an interview with Total Film (via MCUExchange), director Taika Waititi confirmed that the third Thor film will incorporate Sakaar in some fashion, though it's not known just how much the movie will focus on the Planet Hulk storyline. According to the director, Sakaar proved to be a big shift for the movie and its characters because it's "just an insane, far-off, futuristic place."
Thor: Ragnarok will also borrow heavily from Jack Kirby's work, who co-created the Hulk character alongside Stan Lee, in order to nail the look and feel of all the Planet Hulk scenes.
New Alien: Covenant Photo Spotlights Katherine Waterston
A new photo of Alien: Covenant has been released, providing an early glimpse at Katherine Waterston as Daniels in Ridley Scott's upcoming sci-fi horror film.
Check out the photo, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, below.
Katherine Waterston in Alien: Covenant, via EW
Travelers Trailer: Netflix Launches New Sci-Fi Series Friday
Netflix has released a new trailer for its latest sci-fi series, Travelers, which hits the streaming service this Friday.
The series stars Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) and focuses on a group of FBI agents who send their consciousnesses back in time in order to save humanity.
Here's the full synopsis for the new series, courtesy of Netflix:
"Hundreds of years from now, the last surviving humans discover the means of sending consciousness back through time, directly into people in the 21st century. These "travelers" assume the lives of seemingly random people, while secretly working as teams to perform missions in order to save humanity from a terrible future. These travelers are: FBI Special Agent Grant MacLaren (McCormack), the team's leader; Marcy (Mackenzie Porter), a young, intellectually disabled woman in the care of her social worker, David (Patrick Gilmore); Trevor (Jared Paul Abrahamson), a high school quarterback; Carly (Nesta Marlee Cooper), a single mom in an abusive relationship; and Philip (Reilly Dolman), a heroin-addicted college student. Armed only with their knowledge of history and an archive of social media profiles, the travelers discover that 21st century lives and relationships are as much a challenge as their high-stakes missions."
Explaining the Weird Character Choices in Justice League vs. Suicide Squad
Today sees the start of DC’s first big event comic since the launch of Rebirth, Justice League vs. Suicide Squad by writer Joshua Williamson and a host of top-tier artists, starting with Jason Fabok of “The Darkseid War” fame.
Today’s Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1 set up the threat that will bring the two teams to blows -- a group of largely unknown supervillains led by a familiar face from DC lore. We interviewed both Williamson and Fabok on the phone to get the dirty details on why they dug so deep into DC's history to make use of these weird characters.
Warning: this article contains full spoilers for Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1!
Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1 cover by Jason Fabok. (DC Comics)
5 Biggest Things in Superhero Comics in 2016
2016 was another huge, transformative year for superhero comics. The year was marked by major crossover events and relaunches, shocking plot twists and the loss of some beloved creators. From the announcement of DC Rebirth to Spider-Man's Clone Conspiracy, these are the major developments that rocked superhero comics this year.
Warning - this article contains spoilers for recent issues of The Clone Conspiracy!
DC didn't start off 2016 on a particularly strong note. Last year's DC You relaunch might have resulted in some strong, unconventional books (The Omega Men, Prez), but many of DC's core franchises were struggling and the publisher's overall market share was shrinking. DC needed some bold moves to turn things around and win back fans who had grown fed up with the New 52 status quo.
The Secret Origins of Dark Souls
The Best Reviewed Movies of 2016
There were many films that came out in 2016 that IGN reviewed — superheroes fought dangerous enemies, emotional scenes taught us the range of our feelings, and beloved franchises came back, better and more relevant than ever. But of those many movies that hit theaters, these 20 are the ones that we considered the best of the best.
You'll see some overlap with IGN's Best Movie of 2016 nominees, as these films listed below are our 20 best-reviewed movies of the past year:
Free Mafia 3 DLC Adds Races, Car Customization
The latest free update to Mafia III brings unlockable car customization to your in-game vehicles.
Unlocking the customization options involves winning 12 new races across New Bordeaux: "six circuit lap races and six point-to-point races."
Once all the races have been won and the customizations unlocked, you can win the Griffin Marauder. According to the official Mafia III blog, the "only way you can get it is by ruling the race courses."
Unlocked options include "decals, exhausts, spoilers, superchargers and wheels," offering 50 customizations when all is said and done.