Monthly Archives: October 2015
Why Doctor Who Ditched the Sonic Screwdriver
Steven Moffat isn't stressing over how angry Doctor Who fans have become over the replacement of the iconic sonic screwdriver with sonic sunglasses. The showrunner explained his reasoning for the switch in a new BBC video, which essentially was, "Why not?"
"Sometimes you have to be heretical," Moffat said in the clip. "Sometimes you actually have to embrace the heresy, and I just thought -- really, on a whim -- why would the Doctor feel wedded to a screwdriver?"
Moffat argued that the addition of "sonic shades" goes back to the original joke about the screwdriver, which was that it was just a tool that made noise. "It's fun to be naughty," he said. "Look, I know some people are incredibly irate about it, and I'm sure the screwdriver will show up again someday, but just to show that we can, why not?"
Beyond: Sony Loves Anime, and So Do We
Max and Brian are off doing weird things in weird places, but fear not! Miranda and Kallie join Marty and Andrew to chat about a whole bunch of rad stuff. The lost Final Fantasy XII sequel sounds amazing, Far Cry Primal sounds spooky, and how Sony continues to embrace anime. Also, things get emotional when the gang discusses which type of tree they would be.
Beyond!
Hands on with the Microsoft Surface Book and more
At yesterday's Windows 10 event, Microsoft unveiled a new tablet, three smartphones, and a fitness tracker, all updates to existing products that had been predicted by the press. However, the company was able to keep its biggest announcement under wraps and generate some gasps in the audience: its first laptop, the Surface Book. At first glance, the Surface Book looked like a powerful and flexible laptop with an odd looking, chain-like hinge. However, that funny looking hinge enables the display to be detached from the keyboard, and to stand up on its own without a kickstand.
Batman Just Did WHAT?!
Today DC Comics kicked off their follow-up to Batman Eternal, a new weekly series called Batman and Robin Eternal, and it delivered two big surprises. Batman and Robin Eternal #1 is written by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV with art by Tony Daniel.
Warning: beware of spoilers for Batman and Robin Eternal #1!
The first surprise isn't much of a surprise if you have been paying attention to the information DC has revealed leading up to today's release, but for those who went in cold, we got the post-New 52 debut of Cassandra Cain.
Rick Moranis Turned Down the Ghostbusters Reboot
There is at least one original Ghostbusters actor who won't show up in the reboot: Rick Moranis.
The 62-year-old actor, who portrayed Louis Tully in the original films, told The Hollywood Reporter he turned down a part in the Ghostbusters reboot, which stars Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig.
"I wish them well," Moranis said. "I hope it's terrific. But it just makes no sense to me. Why would I do just one day of shooting on something I did 30 years ago?"
Many believed Moranis wouldn't cameo in Ghostbusters because of his supposed retirement from acting, but he stated that's not the case. "I took a break, which turned into a longer break," Moranis said.
App Store Update: October 7
Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Cloud Spin – (Free, Down from $1.99)
Take flight with Lucky the Sky Rabbit in Cloud Spin, which has gone free for the first time ever after two years in the Store. The free promotion is only good until tomorrow, though, so move fast!
Marvel’s TV Shows Enter Final Round of Dubsmash Wars
The Dubsmash Wars are coming to an end. The friendly battle between the casts of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD and Marvel's Agent Carter to see who can raise the most money for the charity of their choice entered its final round on Wednesday, October 7th. The last two videos have been posted to the Dubsmash Wars website.
At press time, Chloe Bennet, Clark Gregg and the rest of Team SHIELD were in the lead with over $54,000 raised to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, with Hayley Atwell, James D'Arcy and Team Carter close behind with over $46,000 raised to benefit Stomp Out Bullying!
Daily Deals: Free NBA 2K16 With Xbox One, Fallout 4, Battlestar Galactica
Free NBA2K16 With Xbox One Gears of War Bundle
The new NBA2K16 is good! How good? 9 out of 10 good, that's how good, and Amazon is currently giving away copies of it with 500GB Xbox One Gears of War Ultimate bundle. Not a bad freebie, IMHO.
Getting Touchy Again: A Hands-On Report On The New Oculus Games
Despite some impressive technology, it used to seem like the Oculus Rift virtual reality system was turning into gaming's version of Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy: it was taking forever to arrive and looked like it might be disappointing. But after playing some of the newly announced games for both the Rift and its mobile cousin, the Samsung Gear VR at this year's Oculus Connect 2 - a gathering of developers, publishers, and media at Los Angeles' Loews Hotel - the future of VR gaming is looking a lot brighter.
47 Things That Made 1997 Totally Awesome
Welcome back to IGN's History of Awesome - a year-long look back at all the coolest and most influential games, movies, TV shows, comic books, toys, and tech that have shaped pop culture, and shaped the lives of an entire generation. Up this week is 1997 - the year of Final Fantasy VII, GoldenEye 007, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
Catch up on IGN's History of Awesome: