Monthly Archives: April 2015
Comic Book Reviews for April 15, 2015
It was another big week for comics. Depending how you fared on this tax day, you might have bought a giant stack of comics or stuck to a few choice books, but either way the pickings were good.
DC continued their Convergence event with a new chapter of the core mini-series and a wave of tie-ins that focused on Zero Hour-era franchises. Some of the standouts this week included Convergence: Green Lantern/Parallax and Convergence: Superboy. Over at Marvel, we saw new issues of perennial favorites like Ms. Marvel, Thor and Uncanny X-Men.
It was a good week for indie fans as well, what with new Image debuts like RUNLOVEKILL #1 and The Tithe #1, the launch of Valiant's Bloodshot Reborn series, and the bizarre but enjoyable Archie vs. Predator #1. Scroll down for these and many other reviews.
Valve Is Looking for Users to Test a New Mobile Security Measure for Steam
Valve is upping Steam’s security ante with impending beta roll out of Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator on iOS and Android devices.
Steam currently only supports two-factor authentication through email with Steam Guard and Valve plans to offer a more convenient option with a new mobile authenticator. The feature provides two-factor login to Steam via the Steam iOS and Android applications.
The feature is presently only enabled for the recently updated Android app but it will roll out to iOS devices for testing once it updates soon.
New High Res Video Shows SpaceX Rocket Crashing in Slow Motion
After a slight delay due to weather, private space transport company SpaceX launched a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to the International Space Station.
Seeing the Dragon cargo ship well on on its way to delivering a two tonne payload of supplies, research equipment and an espresso maker to the ISS, its reusable booster rockets narrowly missed its secondary goal of landing on a floating barge for the first time. Unfortunately, the craft toppled over after seemingly sticking its landing on the barge, which you can see in the video below.
"Ascent successful. Dragon enroute to Space Station. Rocket landed on droneship, but too hard for survival," SpaceX founder Elon Musk tweeted. "Droneship is fine. No hull breach and repairs are minor. Impact overpressure is closer to a fast fire than an explosion.”
New Project CARS Release Date Confirmed
Bandai Namco UK has confirmed via Twitter what should be the final release date for Project CARS, stating it “can now guarantee” a May 8 release date for the game on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
We can now guarantee a release date for Project CARS for 8th May for PS4, Xbox One and PC! pic.twitter.com/3cxYU1QkSr
— Bandai Namco UK (@BandaiNamcoUK) April 15, 2015
IGN has not confirmed that this release date applies to other territories like the US and Australia/New Zealand but has contacted Bandai Namco for clarification. Previous release dates for Project CARS have been consistent across territories.
2K Australia Closing
Update: Here's the official word on the closure, provided to us by 2K. Our thoughts go out to those affected.
We can confirm we have taken steps to begin the studio closure process for 2K Australia in order to better manage ongoing development costs while improving the working proximity of our creative teams. We are very grateful for the team’s valuable contributions to numerous 2K projects, and are working with affected staff to explore reassignment opportunities where possible.
Original story is below.
2K's Australian studio is reportedly shutting its doors.
Kotaku Australia reports via a source that the Canberra-based developer will be disbanding, leaving all its employees without a job.
J-Stars Victory VS+ Release Date Confirmed
J-Stars Victory VS+ will launch in Western regions for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita on June 30 2015,Bandai Namco Games America announced today.
The Spike Chunsoft-developed fighting game features original manga and anime characters from more than 30 different Shonen Jump franchises including One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Dragon Ball Z and more.
Players can battle with these characters in several game modes with up to four other players online. The J-Adventure Story mode lets players battle in a variety of manga and anime worlds “to determine who is the strongest character.” 2 vs. 2 Team Battle mode allows team combat with a total of four players. Western regions will also have access to an exclusive Arcade mode that provides one-on-one matches, with local multiplayer capability.
Batman v Superman Trailer Tease is Here
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice director Zack Snyder has dropped a chilling little tease for the film's upcoming trailer.
The teaser is very short, but it shows off some nice costume detail and is backed by a soundtrack that'll have the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. Check it out below.
Confirmed 4.20.15 #BatmanvSuperman @IMAX special teaser screening events. Limited space. RSVP http://t.co/TasYGlJGig https://t.co/fnxFIERUlv
— ZackSnyder (@ZackSnyder) April 16, 2015
Don’t Miss Out on BlizzCon 2015 Tickets
UPDATE: The first batch of tickets are gone. Details on when the second set will go on sale below.
At the time of writing, the first batch of tickets are about to go on sale for this year's BlizzCon. They're officially available from 7pm (Pacific), 10pm (Eastern), 3am (BST) and noon in Australia (AEST) and you can buy them here.
This is the ninth BlizzCon, and it will take place on November 6 and 7 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Tickets are priced at $199 USD (plus applicable taxes and fees) and will be released in two batches.
Jessica Jones: Set Photos of Luke Cage and The Purple Man
With all of Marvel's Netflix series shooting on the streets of New York, keeping people from seeing what the characters look like is a virtual impossibility. And so it goes with Marvel's AKA Jessica Jones, the second series of the bunch (after the just-debuted Daredevil). Photos of star Krysten Ritter had already been seen, and more recent set pics have revealed Mike Colter, who has a recurring role as Luke Cage (before he moves to his own series) and David Tennant, as Jessica's enemy Zebediah Killgrave, AKA The Purple Man.
The big takeaway here is that Killgrave, at least in parts of the show, apparently does not have the purple skin his character has in the comics - though he makes up for it with his wardrobe.
Iron Man Hulkbuster Toy Is Big Even by Hulk Standards
Comiccave Studios has announced a quarter-scale Iron Man "Hulkbuster armor" figure, based on the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Gizmodo reports that the figure stands at four feet tall, lights up, and comes with several points of articulation. It also features an animatronic hatch that opens up to reveal Iron Man inside.
Comiccave hasn't announced a price or release date for the figure, which will likely be targeted more at the adult collector than children who would be dwarfed by the toy.
Age of Ultron hits theaters around the world from April 22 onwards (AU and UK on April 23, North America on May 1). The Hulkbuster armor has been prominently featured in some previews, but toys have given away a few other parts, like the new War Machine armor and some notable plot points.