Monthly Archives: March 2020
Rian Johnson Wishes He Could’ve Test Screened The Last Jedi For an Audience
Rian Johnson wanted to test Star Wars: The Last Jedi while he was making the movie, but the secrecy surrounding the franchise made that impossible.
In the bonus features on the home release for Johnson's latest movie, Knives Out, the filmmaker revealed the test screening for Knives Out went better than he could've imagined, sparking a wish that he could have done the same for The Last Jedi.
"[The Knives Out test] was like a party in the theater, it was really fun. It was like the first time I was like ‘Oh wow, this actually plays. This is good,'" Johnson said, according to Screen Rant. "Which is really nice and that’s something on Star Wars, you can’t test Star Wars movies for a lot of different reasons. I’ve always hated test screening, and when we were making Star Wars, at a certain point in the process you’re like ‘God, I would give my left arm to put this in front of 300 people in Burbank and just see how it plays.’"
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-force-powers-you-probably-didnt-know-about&captions=true"]
As Screen Rant points out, it's anyone's guess what the test audience response might have been, or what changes might have resulted in the final cut. Review aggregator Metacritic indicates a sharp divide between critics (with an average score of 85 out of 100) and general audiences (with an average score of 4.3 out of 10). Johnson also recently heaped praise on The Rise of Skywalker, a sequel that has also divided fans and is currently one of the lowest-scoring Star Wars movies on Rotten Tomatoes.
Johnson is now an Oscar and BAFTA nominee after Knives Out was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at both ceremonies. He lost both awards to Parasite. He is now set to work on a new trilogy of Star Wars movies that will move "beyond the legacy characters" but is planning a sequel to Knives Out first.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/20/rian-johnson-defends-the-last-jedis-luke-skywalker-ign-now"]
For more Star Wars news, find out the revelations contained in the Rise of Skywalker novelization and learn about the new era being explored in The High Republic.
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Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who is more excited for Knives Out 2 than anything Star Wars at this point.
Rian Johnson Wishes He Could’ve Test Screened The Last Jedi For an Audience
Rian Johnson wanted to test Star Wars: The Last Jedi while he was making the movie, but the secrecy surrounding the franchise made that impossible.
In the bonus features on the home release for Johnson's latest movie, Knives Out, the filmmaker revealed the test screening for Knives Out went better than he could've imagined, sparking a wish that he could have done the same for The Last Jedi.
"[The Knives Out test] was like a party in the theater, it was really fun. It was like the first time I was like ‘Oh wow, this actually plays. This is good,'" Johnson said, according to Screen Rant. "Which is really nice and that’s something on Star Wars, you can’t test Star Wars movies for a lot of different reasons. I’ve always hated test screening, and when we were making Star Wars, at a certain point in the process you’re like ‘God, I would give my left arm to put this in front of 300 people in Burbank and just see how it plays.’"
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-force-powers-you-probably-didnt-know-about&captions=true"]
As Screen Rant points out, it's anyone's guess what the test audience response might have been, or what changes might have resulted in the final cut. Review aggregator Metacritic indicates a sharp divide between critics (with an average score of 85 out of 100) and general audiences (with an average score of 4.3 out of 10). Johnson also recently heaped praise on The Rise of Skywalker, a sequel that has also divided fans and is currently one of the lowest-scoring Star Wars movies on Rotten Tomatoes.
Johnson is now an Oscar and BAFTA nominee after Knives Out was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at both ceremonies. He lost both awards to Parasite. He is now set to work on a new trilogy of Star Wars movies that will move "beyond the legacy characters" but is planning a sequel to Knives Out first.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/20/rian-johnson-defends-the-last-jedis-luke-skywalker-ign-now"]
For more Star Wars news, find out the revelations contained in the Rise of Skywalker novelization and learn about the new era being explored in The High Republic.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who is more excited for Knives Out 2 than anything Star Wars at this point.
GDC Announces Summer Dates After Postponing Original Conference
After being canceled earlier this year due to concerns over COVID-19, GDC organizers have announced that the event will now take place this summer. GDC Summer will be held on August 4-6 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.
GDC Summer will "retain the same high level of expert-led talks as the traditional GDC," according to event organizers and will continue to provide an immersive two-day expo show floor experience. Organizers are also promising a "new series of microtalks and fireside chats, as well as a dedicated space for comprehensive career development sessions."
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=games-to-play-while-stuck-at-home&captions=true"]
Registration for GDC Summer is set to begin soon, according to the official event website. Expo and Conference passes can be purchased for a reduced price before July 10 for $99 and $299, respectively. At this time, it is unclear if tickets will be refunded if the event is canceled or postponed once again. IGN has reached out to event organizers for a comment and will update this story accordingly.
GDC officials have stated that they will "continue to monitor the latest information from health officials to ensure a safe and compelling event."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/29/gdc-2020-postponed-over-coronavirus-concerns"]
GDC was originally set to be held in March, but after Kojima Productions and a handful of other developers announced that they would no longer be attending due to COVID-19 concerns, GDC ended up being postponed just weeks before the event. A few weeks later, E3 was canceled for the first time ever.
Despite the slew of events being canceled and postponed, Gamescom, one of the biggest shows in gaming, is still set to take place this August.
Be sure to check out the full list of game events that have been affected by the coronavirus.
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Andrew Smith is a freelance contributor with IGN. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewtsmith.
GDC Announces Summer Dates After Postponing Original Conference
After being canceled earlier this year due to concerns over COVID-19, GDC organizers have announced that the event will now take place this summer. GDC Summer will be held on August 4-6 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.
GDC Summer will "retain the same high level of expert-led talks as the traditional GDC," according to event organizers and will continue to provide an immersive two-day expo show floor experience. Organizers are also promising a "new series of microtalks and fireside chats, as well as a dedicated space for comprehensive career development sessions."
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=games-to-play-while-stuck-at-home&captions=true"]
Registration for GDC Summer is set to begin soon, according to the official event website. Expo and Conference passes can be purchased for a reduced price before July 10 for $99 and $299, respectively. At this time, it is unclear if tickets will be refunded if the event is canceled or postponed once again. IGN has reached out to event organizers for a comment and will update this story accordingly.
GDC officials have stated that they will "continue to monitor the latest information from health officials to ensure a safe and compelling event."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/29/gdc-2020-postponed-over-coronavirus-concerns"]
GDC was originally set to be held in March, but after Kojima Productions and a handful of other developers announced that they would no longer be attending due to COVID-19 concerns, GDC ended up being postponed just weeks before the event. A few weeks later, E3 was canceled for the first time ever.
Despite the slew of events being canceled and postponed, Gamescom, one of the biggest shows in gaming, is still set to take place this August.
Be sure to check out the full list of game events that have been affected by the coronavirus.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Andrew Smith is a freelance contributor with IGN. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewtsmith.
GameStop Keeps Stores Open, Says They Qualify as ‘Essential’ Business
Across the United States, stores deemed non-essential are closing — either voluntarily or by government order — to help keep people safe and limit the spread of the outbreak of COVID-19. But employees at video game retailer GameStop claim managers and corporate executives are failing to comply with these ordinances, and GameStop has confirmed to IGN its intention to keep stores open as “essential” businesses.
A representative for GameStop has since confirmed to IGN via email that the corporation is keeping stores open as an "essential business" during the pandemic, citing a list of items GameStop sells that the company deems to be "essential" products. The list of items provided to IGN includes webcams, microphones, mice, keyboard, monitors, chargers, audio equipment, and more. No specific games or game consoles are listed.
IGN obtained internal memos sent from GameStop corporate informing them that stores should remain open despite the pandemic (as first reported by Kotaku).
“Due to the products we carry that enable and enhance our customers’ experience in working from home, we believe GameStop is classified as essential retail and therefore is able to remain open during this time.”[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=gamestop-in-the-news-timeline&captions=true"] The internal memo provided to IGN also informs employees what to do in case local authorities attempt to close the store. “We have received reports of local authorities visiting stores in an attempt to enforce closure despite our classification. Store managers are approved to provide the document linked below to law enforcement as needed," the notice reads. The memo then links to a simple printout that directs questions about GameStop’s policies to its corporate office phone number. Several employees, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of repercussion, have shared their stories in dealing with GameStop’s corporate office amid the COVID-19 outbreak. “GameStop corporate is putting its employees at risk of COVID-19,” one concerned GameStop employee claimed to IGN. “They aren’t closing stores and they aren’t offering paid time off. They are still pushing their employees to advertise events at their stores that will draw crowds of people.” GameStop has since canceled midnight launches for Doom Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. GameStop also announced it will sell Doom Eternal early to help keep crowds small. Another GameStop employee located in a city that recently ordered non-essential businesses to close also reached out to IGN about their concerns. “We are not getting cleaning supplies. But GameStop is still telling its guests we are getting them and cleaning high traffic surfaces,” the anonymous employee said. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/16/gamestop-to-open-new-locations-dedicated-to-retro-gaming-ign-now"] One of the main complaints from employees is the alleged difficulty in getting clear answers from GameStop’s corporate office. Despite multiple daily correspondences with GameStop corporate, employees reportedly did not receive answers on whether they would have to close their stores or not. Furthermore, it’s been difficult for employees to figure out how they might be affected financially if their stores are closed, according to our sources. One GameStop employee working in a county that declared a “Bunker in place” order, which closed non-essential businesses for several weeks revealed how difficult it was to communicate with GameStop on how to handle the situation. “Our corporate representatives notified us hourly of how GameStop would proceed.” However, they claimed that GameStop told employees of the store to ‘continue business as usual.’” Multiple sources have also told IGN that GameStop corporate is using phone calls so as to not leave a paper trail. One California-based GameStop employee told IGN that GameStop is utilizing a section in a 'Shelter in Place' order that exempts "Essential Infrastructure" to remain open during a lockdown. Some items have been difficult to procure during the COVID-19 emergency. Items like toilet paper and cleaning supplies have been scarce since emergency lockdowns have come in place across the country. As for webcams and keyboards, businesses like IGN do require these for our production needs. As IGN's senior director of video production Dave Toole says,
"We haven’t had any issues finding mic setups using sources like B&H (Photo, Video, and Pro Audio), but quality webcams have been impossible to find. We had to pull webcams from IGN’s conferences, using the Logitech c922 as a minimum benchmark in quality."However, these aren't items that should require people under lockdown or shelter in place orders to leave their social distancing. This is more applicable to items like groceries, pharmacies, and even take-out delivery. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter or at mkim@ign.com
GameStop Keeps Stores Open, Says They Qualify as ‘Essential’ Business
Across the United States, stores deemed non-essential are closing — either voluntarily or by government order — to help keep people safe and limit the spread of the outbreak of COVID-19. But employees at video game retailer GameStop claim managers and corporate executives are failing to comply with these ordinances, and GameStop has confirmed to IGN its intention to keep stores open as “essential” businesses.
A representative for GameStop has since confirmed to IGN via email that the corporation is keeping stores open as an "essential business" during the pandemic, citing a list of items GameStop sells that the company deems to be "essential" products. The list of items provided to IGN includes webcams, microphones, mice, keyboard, monitors, chargers, audio equipment, and more. No specific games or game consoles are listed.
IGN obtained internal memos sent from GameStop corporate informing them that stores should remain open despite the pandemic (as first reported by Kotaku).
“Due to the products we carry that enable and enhance our customers’ experience in working from home, we believe GameStop is classified as essential retail and therefore is able to remain open during this time.”[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=gamestop-in-the-news-timeline&captions=true"] The internal memo provided to IGN also informs employees what to do in case local authorities attempt to close the store. “We have received reports of local authorities visiting stores in an attempt to enforce closure despite our classification. Store managers are approved to provide the document linked below to law enforcement as needed," the notice reads. The memo then links to a simple printout that directs questions about GameStop’s policies to its corporate office phone number. Several employees, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of repercussion, have shared their stories in dealing with GameStop’s corporate office amid the COVID-19 outbreak. “GameStop corporate is putting its employees at risk of COVID-19,” one concerned GameStop employee claimed to IGN. “They aren’t closing stores and they aren’t offering paid time off. They are still pushing their employees to advertise events at their stores that will draw crowds of people.” GameStop has since canceled midnight launches for Doom Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. GameStop also announced it will sell Doom Eternal early to help keep crowds small. Another GameStop employee located in a city that recently ordered non-essential businesses to close also reached out to IGN about their concerns. “We are not getting cleaning supplies. But GameStop is still telling its guests we are getting them and cleaning high traffic surfaces,” the anonymous employee said. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/16/gamestop-to-open-new-locations-dedicated-to-retro-gaming-ign-now"] One of the main complaints from employees is the alleged difficulty in getting clear answers from GameStop’s corporate office. Despite multiple daily correspondences with GameStop corporate, employees reportedly did not receive answers on whether they would have to close their stores or not. Furthermore, it’s been difficult for employees to figure out how they might be affected financially if their stores are closed, according to our sources. One GameStop employee working in a county that declared a “Bunker in place” order, which closed non-essential businesses for several weeks revealed how difficult it was to communicate with GameStop on how to handle the situation. “Our corporate representatives notified us hourly of how GameStop would proceed.” However, they claimed that GameStop told employees of the store to ‘continue business as usual.’” Multiple sources have also told IGN that GameStop corporate is using phone calls so as to not leave a paper trail. One California-based GameStop employee told IGN that GameStop is utilizing a section in a 'Shelter in Place' order that exempts "Essential Infrastructure" to remain open during a lockdown. Some items have been difficult to procure during the COVID-19 emergency. Items like toilet paper and cleaning supplies have been scarce since emergency lockdowns have come in place across the country. As for webcams and keyboards, businesses like IGN do require these for our production needs. As IGN's senior director of video production Dave Toole says,
"We haven’t had any issues finding mic setups using sources like B&H (Photo, Video, and Pro Audio), but quality webcams have been impossible to find. We had to pull webcams from IGN’s conferences, using the Logitech c922 as a minimum benchmark in quality."However, these aren't items that should require people under lockdown or shelter in place orders to leave their social distancing. This is more applicable to items like groceries, pharmacies, and even take-out delivery. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter or at mkim@ign.com
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost Parody Shaun of the Dead for Coronavirus PSA
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost parodied Shaun of the Dead in a new coronavirus PSA.
In a video uploaded to Pegg and Frost's production company's YouTube channel, Pegg and Frost are seen planning what to do during the coronavirus pandemic over the phone. Throughout the video, they repeat lines of dialogue and mimic their characters from the classic British comedy, particularly the scene where the characters are figuring out their first steps in the zombie apocalypse.
"Hey, so what's the plan?," Frost starts in the video. "Right. Call Mom, make sure she's okay. If Philip has been affected, follow the NHS guidelines to the letter," Pegg responds.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-13-most-romantic-horror-movies&captions=true"]
Pegg orders Frost not to go to the Winchester, which is the fictional bar from the movie. "Even if it's shut?," Frost asks. "Especially if it's closed. Remember what happened the last time," Pegg replies.
Shaun of the Dead was Frost and Pegg's first movie collaboration and was directed by Edgar Wright. The three of them would reteam on Hot Fuzz and The World's End. They last acted with each other in the 2018 comedy Slaughterhouse Rulez.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/05/07/7-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-shaun-of-the-dead"]
Shaun of the Dead made IGN's lists of the most romantic horror movies and the 25 best comedies of all time.
While the coronavirus is nowhere near on the scale of the apocalypse from Shaun of the Dead, it's still best to stay safe, have a cup of tea, and wait for all of this to blow over. IGN has rounded up links to various charities and tips on how to stay safe.
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Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who highly recommends Fighting with My Family starring Florence Pugh and Nick Frost. One of the most underrated movies from the last few years. It's streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime in the USA.
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost Parody Shaun of the Dead for Coronavirus PSA
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost parodied Shaun of the Dead in a new coronavirus PSA.
In a video uploaded to Pegg and Frost's production company's YouTube channel, Pegg and Frost are seen planning what to do during the coronavirus pandemic over the phone. Throughout the video, they repeat lines of dialogue and mimic their characters from the classic British comedy, particularly the scene where the characters are figuring out their first steps in the zombie apocalypse.
"Hey, so what's the plan?," Frost starts in the video. "Right. Call Mom, make sure she's okay. If Philip has been affected, follow the NHS guidelines to the letter," Pegg responds.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-13-most-romantic-horror-movies&captions=true"]
Pegg orders Frost not to go to the Winchester, which is the fictional bar from the movie. "Even if it's shut?," Frost asks. "Especially if it's closed. Remember what happened the last time," Pegg replies.
Shaun of the Dead was Frost and Pegg's first movie collaboration and was directed by Edgar Wright. The three of them would reteam on Hot Fuzz and The World's End. They last acted with each other in the 2018 comedy Slaughterhouse Rulez.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/05/07/7-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-shaun-of-the-dead"]
Shaun of the Dead made IGN's lists of the most romantic horror movies and the 25 best comedies of all time.
While the coronavirus is nowhere near on the scale of the apocalypse from Shaun of the Dead, it's still best to stay safe, have a cup of tea, and wait for all of this to blow over. IGN has rounded up links to various charities and tips on how to stay safe.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who highly recommends Fighting with My Family starring Florence Pugh and Nick Frost. One of the most underrated movies from the last few years. It's streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime in the USA.
Call Of Duty Warzone Review – Cash Rules Everything Around Me
The latest Call of Duty from Infinity Ward shipped without an answer to Black Ops 4’s Blackout, but it has since been supplemented by Warzone--a completely standalone battle royale built off of the backbone of Modern Warfare. Not only is it a smarter way to ensure it's not tied to each annual release in the series, but Warzone gives the series its own identity within the competitive genre.
It might not be apparent at first, though, especially when you take into consideration how much Warzone borrows from other popular battle royale games. It incorporates a ping system similar to the one in Apex Legends, letting you tag enemy positions, points of interest, and loot for teammates at the press of a button (albeit mapped to a button that's harder to reach quickly, mitigating some of its convenience). It plays out on a massive map akin to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, where large swathes of open land are ripe for snipers while dense suburbs make for exhilarating and chaotic close-quarters skirmishes. And like the ones in Fortnite, color-coded chests overflowing with loot are easy to hunt down when you are within earshot of their signature emanating jingle.
None of these competitors are defined solely by the elements Warzone borrows from them, and Warzone isn't defined by the sum of their parts. Instead, Warzone uses them to establish a solid foundation for its own distinct elements. It starts with a larger player count than the aforementioned battle royale games, with Warzone currently supporting up to 150 players per match, with modes for three-person squads or solo play. Having so many players active at once keeps you constantly on alert, but also increases the odds that you'll at least have some action (and likely a handful of kills) each match. This makes even some of the least successful drops feel worthwhile--even if your entire match lasts only a handful of minutes, you'll likely get some valuable time in with some weapons, better preparing you for another fight in the next match.
Continue Reading at GameSpotCall Of Duty Warzone Review – Cash Rules Everything Around Me
The latest Call of Duty from Infinity Ward shipped without an answer to Black Ops 4’s Blackout, but it has since been supplemented by Warzone--a completely standalone battle royale built off of the backbone of Modern Warfare. Not only is it a smarter way to ensure it's not tied to each annual release in the series, but Warzone gives the series its own identity within the competitive genre.
It might not be apparent at first, though, especially when you take into consideration how much Warzone borrows from other popular battle royale games. It incorporates a ping system similar to the one in Apex Legends, letting you tag enemy positions, points of interest, and loot for teammates at the press of a button (albeit mapped to a button that's harder to reach quickly, mitigating some of its convenience). It plays out on a massive map akin to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, where large swathes of open land are ripe for snipers while dense suburbs make for exhilarating and chaotic close-quarters skirmishes. And like the ones in Fortnite, color-coded chests overflowing with loot are easy to hunt down when you are within earshot of their signature emanating jingle.
None of these competitors are defined solely by the elements Warzone borrows from them, and Warzone isn't defined by the sum of their parts. Instead, Warzone uses them to establish a solid foundation for its own distinct elements. It starts with a larger player count than the aforementioned battle royale games, with Warzone currently supporting up to 150 players per match, with modes for three-person squads or solo play. Having so many players active at once keeps you constantly on alert, but also increases the odds that you'll at least have some action (and likely a handful of kills) each match. This makes even some of the least successful drops feel worthwhile--even if your entire match lasts only a handful of minutes, you'll likely get some valuable time in with some weapons, better preparing you for another fight in the next match.
Continue Reading at GameSpot