Monthly Archives: January 2020
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s Sith Trooper Mini-Bust Revealed
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker debuted one of the most visually distinctive Stormtrooper designs ever in the form of the Sith Trooper, and now you can bring the might of the Final Order home to your collection. We have an exclusive first look at Diamond Select Toys' upcoming Sith Trooper mini-bust.
The Sith Trooper mini-bust is a 1:6 scale piece measuring six inches tall. It's designed by Joe Allard and sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios. Gentle Giant has a long history of immortalizing the heroes and villains of the Star Wars universe in mini-bust form, but this will be their first Rise of Skywalker release in this format.
Check out the slideshow gallery below for a closer look at the Sith Trooper mini-bust:
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The Sith Trooper mini-bust carries an MSRP of $120 and will be released at some point in Fall 2020. Let us know in the comments below if you plan on adding this to your collection.
In other Star Wars toy news, the long wait continues for licensed Baby Yoda merchandise. We've seen what Funko has in store for 2020, and Hasbro has its own line of adorable Baby Yoda toys in the works. Unfortunately, Disney has begun cracking down on Etsy users selling unlicensed Baby Yoda products.
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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Horizon Developer Seeking Staff With Multiplayer Experience
Horizon Zero Dawn developer Guerrilla is looking for a game programmer to work on an “epic open world game”, who would ideally have multiplayer experience.
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At current, Guerrilla has yet to announce what its current project is, but the open world descriptor in this new senior game programmer job listing (via GamesRadar) points towards a potential Horizon Zero Dawn sequel. The listing also notes that the game features “ranged and melee weapons, combat and traversal mechanics”, which are all characteristics applicable to Horizon, or at least a game with similar traits.
This all makes the 'plus point' of experience in multiplayer interesting, as the original Horizon was a purely single-player game. While it’s impossible to draw concrete conclusions from this posting, it does point to Guerrilla at least considering a multiplayer component for its next open world game. In short: if this is Horizon 2, then it may feature multiplayer.
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Plenty of other Guerrilla job listings have pointed towards a Horizon sequel in development, while other recent reports have pointed to the original Horizon Zero Dawn coming to PC. For a closer look at Sony’s development slate, take a look at every first-party PlayStation developer and what they’re working on.
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Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Launches February On Disney+
Disney has dropped a new trailer for Season 7 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which returns for one final season exclusively on Disney+ this February.
The trailer comes accompanied by a new key art poster, featuring Annakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka Tano, and Darth Maul, as well as a collection of Clone Troopers. The logo predominantly declares that this is the final season, and is accompanied by the February 21 release date.
Like The Mandalorian, the episodes are streaming “beginning Friday, February 21”, indicating a week-by-week rollout rather than a Netflix-style full season drop. The Clone Wars will be made up of twelve new episodes, exploring the events leading up to Revenge of the Sith.
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If you’re looking to catch up on The Clone Wars, check out our correct episode order guide, as well as our look at the connection between the show and The Mandalorian. And if you’re worried about fan-favourite character Ahsoka’s fate, don’t worry: Dave Filoni has a few words for you.
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Monty Python Co-Founder Terry Jones Dies Aged 77 After Dementia Battle
Terry Jones, a founding member of the Monty Python comedy troupe, has died at the age of 77, his agent confirmed to the BBC.
"We are deeply saddened to have to announce the passing of beloved husband and father, Terry Jones," his family said in a statement.
"Terry passed away on the evening of 21 January 2020 at the age of 77 with his wife Anna Soderstrom by his side after a long, extremely brave but always good-humoured battle with a rare form of dementia, FTD.
"Over the past few days his wife, children, extended family and many close friends have been constantly with Terry as he gently slipped away at his home in north London. We have all lost a kind, funny, warm, creative and truly loving man whose uncompromising individuality, relentless intellect and extraordinary humour has given pleasure to countless millions across six decades."
[caption id="attachment_2291067" align="alignnone" width="1197"] John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.[/caption]
"His work with Monty Python, his books, films, television programmes, poems and other work will live on forever, a fitting legacy to a true polymath.
"We, his wife Anna, children Bill, Sally, Siri and extended family would like to thank Terry's wonderful medical professionals and carers for making the past few years not only bearable but often joyful.
"We hope that this disease will one day be eradicated entirely. We ask that our privacy be respected at this sensitive time and give thanks that we lived in the presence of an extraordinarily talented, playful and happy man living a truly authentic life, in his words 'Lovingly frosted with glucose.'"
A Look Back at the Life of Terry Jones
Born in Colwyn Bay, on the north coast of Wales, in 1942, Jones moved to Surrey, England as a child. He went on to study for an English degree at Oxford University, where he met his long-term writing partner and friend, Michael Palin, in the institution's comedy troupe The Oxford Revue. Following graduation, the two went on to write and perform in several TV shows, including Twice a Fortnight, Do Not Adjust Your Set, and The Frost Report, alongside a number of other up-and-coming British comedians.The Monty Python Years
In 1969, Jones formed Monty Python's Flying Circus with Palin, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, and Terry Gilliam, aka "The Pythons." The mould-breaking sketch show, which ran until 1974, helped to revolutionize British comedy and inspire a generation of artists. The troupe's elevated status provided them with the perfect platform to transition onto the big screen. Jones made his directorial debut with Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which he co-directed with Gilliam. He later directed some of the Pythons' best-loved works, including Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. In 2016, Jones received a Lifetime Achievement special award at the BAFTA Cymru Awards for his outstanding contribution to television and film.A Tribute to Terry Jones
Fellow Monty Python founding member, John Cleese, expressed his condolences on social media, tweeting, "Just heard about Terry J. It feels strange that a man of so many talents and such endless enthusiasm, should have faded so gently away... Of his many achievements, for me the greatest gift he gave us all was his direction of 'Life of Brian'. Perfection. "Two down, four to go." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.Xbox Series X Photographs of Alleged Prototype Revealed
A set of photographs uploaded online show off what is purportedly a prototype Xbox Series X. If real, this is the first time we have seen the console in anything other than official marketing materials.
The photos, which were uploaded to NeoGAF and then circulated on Twitter, show the front and back of an Xbox One Series X. The backplate of the console features the text ‘Prototype - Not For Sale’, as well as a serial number and placeholder next for the product name.
It’s unclear how legitimate these images are; in the recent past upcoming consoles have been faked through 3D printing, and so this could be simply a mock up. But, should they be real, the images do give us an insight into the physical capabilities of the Xbox Series X. The ports on the back of the console demonstrate a fairly typical arrangement, including a single HDMI Out (the HDMI In that characterized the Xbox One is notably missing), an Ethernet port, optical port, and two USB Type-A ports. The only odd port on the console is a long, rectangular slot with no description printed on the case. Thurrott reports that this is used diagnostic reports and won't be present on the final console, but we won’t know the validity of this claim until official images of the final console are seen. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/10/xbox-wont-have-series-x-exclusives-for-at-least-a-year-ign-daily-fix"] This isn't the first time we've seen images unofficial images of the Xbox Series X, although those previous images were debunked. Our next major look at the console, and potentially the time these images will be confirmed or debunked, will likely be part of Microsoft's Xbox E3 2020 conference. That conference is also likely to show us the next batch of Xbox exclusive games, which will be available on both Xbox One and Xbox Series X. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter.@IdleSloth1984 @blueisviolet @XcloudTimdog pic.twitter.com/qmVlhTTaqi
— Doug - XBOX SERIES X (@Doug_DragoX) January 22, 2020
Why Parasite Is Getting an HBO Limited Series? Bong Joon-ho Explains
Bong Joon-ho has opened up about the reason why he is turning Parasite into an HBO limited series, explaining there are "so many stories" to be told "in between the sequences" of his breakout Korean-language thriller.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director, who recently landed six Oscar nominations for Parasite, including Best Picture, spoke about his prospective TV adaptation with producer-director Adam McKay, saying they ultimately plan to create "a high-quality, expanded film."
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"With cinema, you're limited to a two-hour running time," he said. "But there were so many stories that I thought of that could happen in between the sequences you see in the film, and some background stories for each character. I really wanted to explore those ideas freely with a five- or six-hour film."
Joon-ho went on to explain how he envisions the project taking shape, making reference to the release of Ingmar Bergman's Fanny and Alexander, he said, "there's a theatrical version and there's a TV version. So with the TV series for Parasite, I think we'll be able to create a high-quality, expanded film."
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Parasite was the 2019 winner of the Palme d'Or, the top prize at Cannes Film Festival. It also recently picked up a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in the Foreign Language category and a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, making history as the first foreign-language film to take home this trophy.
In our review of Parasite, we commended Joon-ho for crafting "a stellar dark comedy about class warfare", saying he is "a virtuoso director at the very top of his game." IGN also named it the best movie of 2019 and one of the best movies of the past decade.
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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Mortal Kombat Kollection Rated for Multiple Platforms by European Ratings Agency
A collection of Mortal Kombat remasters that Warner Bros. reportedly pulled the plug on back in early 2019 appears to have been resurrected, based on a new rating spotted in the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) database. Mortal Kombat Kollection Online, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch, has been rated PEGI 18 due to “frequent strong violence.” The entry can still be found in the PEGI rating database at the time of writing.
The explanatory text provided alongside the new PEGI rating describes Mortal Kombat Kollection Online as “the original Mortal Kombat trilogy that MK fans always wanted” and makes reference to “[u]pgraded art, gameplay, and online features.”
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In April 2019 it was reported that Blind Squirrel Games (BioShock: The Collection, Forklift Simulator 2019) had been preparing to work on a remastered collection of the first three Mortal Kombat games following a successful pitch to Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon, but Warner Bros. quickly opted not to have Blind Squirrel Games continue on the project. WB reportedly claimed it could not “trust development of such an important project to a team without any completed game titles.”
The PEGI scheme covers the bulk of Europe and the UK (and Israel) in a similar fashion to North America’s Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).
There’s certainly plenty going on in the Mortal Kombat realm at the moment, with Joker joining the Mortal Kombat 11 roster next week, production on the upcoming live-action film reboot wrapping last month, and the recent announcement of the new animated movie Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge.
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Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can find him on Twitter every few days @MrLukeReilly.
Justice League Dark Movie and TV Projects Are in the Works
JJ Abrams’ production company Bad Robot is working on potential TV and movie projects based on DC’s supernatural superhero team Justice League Dark.
According to Deadline, things are very much in the ideation phase and there are currently no solid plans. Both Bad Robot’s motion picture and television divisions are separately working on developing adaptations with Warner Bros. They will meet soon to decide which characters will get their own projects, which could mean that we could get solo character projects from the JLD family in addition to (or instead of) an ensemble team-up.
Sources close to the project have confirmed to IGN that this news is legitimate.
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It’s unclear whether Abrams is expected to direct any of these projects. With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker crossing the billion-dollar mark at the global box office, Abrams has moved on to his next project, an epic sci-fi/fantasy drama for HBO called Demimonde. He’s currently searching for a showrunner for the series.
While no specific characters have been named for any of the projects, it’s likely safe to assume that the signature members of the JLD are being considered. The original team that debuted in 2012’s Justice League Dark #1 by writer Peter Milligan and artist Mikel Janin featured Shade the Changing Man, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, Zatanna, Mindwarp and John Constantine.
Other members that joined later down the line include vampire Andrew Bennet, Black Orchid, Doctor Mist, Frankenstein, Nightmare Nurse, Pandora, The Phantom Stranger, Princess Amaya of House Amethyst, magical prodigy Timothy Hunter, and the angel Zauriel.
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A new rendition of the team debuted in the 2019 series relaunch featuring Zatanna, Swamp Thing, Man-Bat and Detective Chimp with new leader Wonder Woman.
The JLD specializes in tackling magical threats and mystical villains that are out of the standard Justice League’s wheelhouse. However, given her mythic origins, Wonder Woman is a natural fit for the JLD. This is purely speculation, but if a JLD adaption gets up and running, an eventual JLD crossover with Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman wouldn’t be out of the question.
In 2017, a Justice League Dark animated film saw Batman team up with the likes of Constantine, Zatanna, Deadman, Jason Blood/Etrigan the Demon, Swamp Thing, and Black Orchid to stop the villainous sorcerer Felix Faust. Does that mean Robert Pattinson’s Batman would be game for a team-up, too?
The JLD has had a notoriously troubled history when it comes to getting a live-action adaptation that spans many years. At one point Guillermo del Toro was working on a movie tentatively titled Dark Universe. After he moved on from the project, Warner Bros. still pursued an adaptation but nothing ever materialized. Perhaps Big Robot will work their magic and finally bring the Justice League Dark to the big or small screen.
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Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.
Untitled Goose Game LEGO Set Could Be Real If You Vote For It
Untitled Goose Game stole gamer hearts when it was released in 2019. But what if the horrible goose became a LEGO set? One user-created LEGO set submission on the Lego Ideas page could make that a reality.
The LEGO Ideas site is an official platform where LEGO creators can submit custom sets that users can then vote on. If enough people support a project, it has a chance to become a real LEGO retail set.
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One user named A Fellow Player created a custom LEGO set based on Untitled Goose Game and it seems to have struck a chord with fans. The Untitled LEGO set was chosen by the LEGO Ideas Team as a staff pick, which doesn’t fast track the project towards reality, but shows that it has editorial support from those who work at LEGO Ideas.
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The project has already reached 1,000 supporters, but it will need 10,000 total to be officially approved for review by LEGO. The toy company reserves the right to reject Idea submissions for a variety of reasons such as if it’s based on existing IP, or if the project requires too many custom brick molds.
The Untitled Goose Game LEGO set still needs 9,000 more supporters on its LEGO Ideas page to even be considered for review. But considering how delightful the set and the game is, it should strike a chord with fans of the horrible goose.
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We reached out to the developer House House for its take on the LEGO set.
IGN reviewed Untitled Goose Game when it was released last year and was delighted by its whimsy. IGN also happened to discover what Untitled Goose Game could have been called, maybe.
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Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN. You can reach him on Twitter.
PSA: Temtem Devs Working on Fixing Long Queues, Lag
The Pokemon-like MMO Temtem launched today in early access, and while fans have been experiencing server issues, lag, and long queue times, developer Crema is actively working on fixes.
The problem plaguing players who can't get into the game was publicly acknowledged on the official Temtem Twitter account, where the developers noted "We're working on improving wait times and lag spikes... We've detected a previously unknown issue and we're currently working on its hotfix." Launch issues are common for MMOs, and it's clear Temtem's servers couldn't quite handle the initial strain of so many new users attempting to jump in.
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Since this morning, hotfixes have come and gone to varying levels of success, though Crema has provided fans with continuous (and amusing) updates to Temtem's short-term fixes.
Zadar is a small village, it's not ready to receive 20k new tamers. Aina can't cope greeting you all!
Hotfix coming soon! — Temtem (@PlayTemtem) January 21, 2020
We're restarting the server but we've detected a issue in the hotfix. Hotfix for the hotfix coming soon! — Temtem (@PlayTemtem) January 21, 2020
We're still working on fixing the problems. We had to rollback the latest hotfix and we're trying to implement it again. — Temtem (@PlayTemtem) January 21, 2020
We also ordered some food so the dev team has their mind focused on the hotfix and not on being hungry.
— Temtem (@PlayTemtem) January 21, 2020
We wanted burritos but the place was closed :(
— Temtem (@PlayTemtem) January 21, 2020
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=temtem-species&captions=true"] For more on Temtem, check out our comprehensive type advantages/disadvantages chart, and read about how Temtem is (and isn't) like Pokemon in our hands-on preview. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Disclosure: Humble Bundle is owned by Ziff Davis, the parent company of IGN. Humble Bundle and IGN operate completely independently, and no special consideration is given to Humble Bundle announcements or promotions for coverage. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Colin Stevens is IGN's video game social coordinator. Follow him on Twitter.We're pushing the hotfix for the hotfix on the hotfix (we need to go deeper).
Server restarted. Let's see how this goes :D — Temtem (@PlayTemtem) January 21, 2020