Monthly Archives: November 2017
What to Expect from Pandemic Legacy: Season 2
Pandemic is one of the most acclaimed board games of all time. Released in 2008, it casts players as a team of medics fighting deadly diseases around the globe, and its combination of cooperative gameplay and steadily mounting tension made massive hit with fans and critics.
Over the years it has spawned an ever-expanding line of spin-offs, with one recent entry standing out above the rest: 2015's Pandemic Legacy: Season 1. Legacy takes the original game’s blueprint and adds a story-driven campaign mode where your successes and failures permanently alter the game. Cities are lost, scrubbed from the game board. Cards are torn up. Co-created by design partners Matt Leacock and Rob Daviau, its twisting episodic plot sees characters suffer trauma and death. Many players have called it the greatest board game ever made.
Coco Topples Justice League at the Box Office
Disney·Pixar's Coco debuted in first place at the North American box office with an estimated $49 million over the three-day weekend.
The critically acclaimed animated film, which garnered an "A+" CinemaScore from moviegoers, has earned an estimated $71.2 million since its debut this past Wednesday.
Inspired by the Mexican holiday Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Coco follows Miguel, a 12-year-old boy who, after finding himself in the Land of the Dead, seeks the aid of his great-great-grandfather to return to the Land of the Living. The film has earned $53.4 million so far in Mexico, making it the country's highest-grossing movie ever.
Sonic Forces Gets ‘Sanic T-shirt’ as Free Download
Sonic Forces is paying tribute to the much loved Sanic meme via an in-game t-shirt.
According to the official Sonic the Hedgehog Twitter account, the t-shirt (pictured below), is available now and is free to download. The t-shirt is wearable by any custom created character in Sonic Forces.
Sanic T-shirt, image via Twitter.
UK Commission Determines Loot Boxes Aren’t Gambling
Loot boxes whose contents rely on chance don't meet the UK's criteria for unlawful gambling.
According to the UK Gambling Commission, since the prizes unlocked in loot boxes are usable only in the games in which they're won, and can't be cashed-out, they don't fit the bill for "licensable gambling activity."
While loot boxes, like those found in EA's Battlefront II, Blizzard's Overwatch, and more games, don't fall under the umbrella of an illegal gambling operation, the commission still expressed concern over the practice in games.
The commission said while "the line between video gaming and gambling is becoming increasingly blurred," its job is to step in when the practice meets the definition of gambling under UK law.
HBO’s Watchmen Aims to Be a “Dangerous” Show
Lost and The Leftovers co-creator Damon Lindelof recently shared new details about his next project, an adaptation of Watchmen, which received a pilot order from HBO back in September.
During a panel at Vulture Fest (via IndieWire), Lindelof was asked why he opted to tackle a comic book property after finishing The Leftovers. In response, the showrunner highlighted how Watchmen is a "dangerous" graphic novel, which is something he'd like to carry over in the TV adaptation.
Destiny 2 Director Teases December Update
Ahead of next week's Destiny 2 livestream, game director Luke Smith has teased what Bungie will discuss with regards to the forthcoming December update.
"Next week the Destiny 2 team will detail the systems side of the December update," Smith said on Twitter. Bungie will discuss everything from "economy updates (vendors and acquiring their gear, tokens, legendary shards)" to "investment updates (new reward systems for weapons and armor)," and more.
In a subsequent post, Smith confirmed both he and project lead Mark Noseworthy will address community feedback and answer questions during that time as well.
Drama Strikes the Overwatch House in Our New Series
Welcome back to Brick Battles, our new stop-motion animated series that brings your favorite video game worlds to life. Each episode is made in conjunction with the talented folks at Digital Wizard Studios, and for this first season we're focusing on Blizzard's popular hero shooter, Overwatch.
In Episode 2, Widowmaker's dark powers of seduction send D.Va and Winston on an emotional roller coaster. Watch "Heroes Never Cry" in the video player to see the hilarious, action-packed drama unfold.
The 8 Most Frustrating Moons In Super Mario Odyssey
Throughout your quest to collect the nine hundred and ninety nine Power Moons hidden across the vibrant and delightful worlds in Nintendo’s brilliant new platforming game Super Mario Odyssey, your adventure will make you laugh, cheer, and fill you with joy. Super Mario is back and he’s better than ever. But like any video game, if you truly want to 100% it, you’re also going to have to deal with some frustration. Some infuriating, anger inducing, throw your Switch through a plate glass window frustration. These are the 8 most frustrating Moons to collect in Super Mario Odyssey. Get ready to scream.
What Did Picard Do After the Enterprise?
David A. Goodman is, among other things, a Star Trek TV writer and a lifelong fan. He's also written for shows like The Golden Girls, Futurama (he wrote the great Star Trek episode “Where No Fan Has Gone Before”), and Family Guy, where he was also the head writer for years. But now he has a new book out, The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard, which serves as a follow-up to his James T. Kirk "autobiography" from a couple of years ago.
I jumped on the phone to speak to Goodman about the Picard book, and along the way we discussed the parts of Picard's life not depicted in the show and movies, the captain's greatest achievements and biggest regrets, and even the merits of the latest decedents of Trek on TV -- The Orville versus Star Trek: Discovery.
Christmas Comes to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
In order to celebrate the holiday season, Universal Studios Hollywood has transformed the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of the park into a Christmas wonderland. There have been numerous additions to Hogsmeade village in order to give it that holiday flair, and top among them was a dazzling light projection show that transforms Hogwarts castle into something, well, magical.
Hogwarts castle overlooks Hogsmeade village and houses the premiere ride, Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey, but from November 24, 2017 through January 7, 2018, theme park attendees can gather around for a new light show, The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle. Festive music mixed with that ominous/whimsical Harry Potter tune played as the entirety of the castle was repeatedly transformed. At one point it was encased in beautiful blue ice; ghostly carolers sang songs and danced in the air; and a full array of Christmas decorations suddenly appeared. Owls and floating lanterns could be seen flying across the castle walls. Fred and George Weasley even made an appearance to wrap the castle in advertisements for their joke shop.