By Matthew Walden on Apr 15, 2015 05:49 am
1. London Comic Con
Star Wars is celebrated worldwide, and fans of the franchise put together some of the most spirited cosplay you'll see at a con. Boba Fett, Leia's Bounty Hunter disguise, and an Imperial Scout Trooper make for a delightful trio at London Comic Con.
2. In the Shadow of Revan
Darth Revan will attempt to crush the Galactic Republic...after a quick pit stop at the Bristol Comic Expo in South West England.
3. Das Kostümball
A colorful gang of cosplayers from Germany represents the Mandalorian Mercs at the London Film and Comic Con.
4. That Amadala Scowl
This London cosplayer nails the serious stare and regal imperiousness of Padmé Amidala.
5. Aren't You a Little Short For a Stormtrooper?
A Stormtrooper poses with a new recruit at the Dublin International Comic Expo.
6. She'd Just as Soon Kiss a Wookiee
Victoria Gonzalez isn't about to take take any guff from some stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder. At least not while she's at San Diego Comic-Con.
7. Get 'em While They're Young
Stormtroopers continue their political outreach program of winning the hearts and minds of the civilian Dublin population at the MCM Ireland Comic Con.
8. Only in Portland
Leave it to Portland to turn Darth Vader into a kilt-wearing, unicycle-riding master of mirth at the Wizard World Comic Con.
9. ORT-ORT-ORT!
A pair of Tusken Raiders takes a nice break from Tatooine at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo.
10. Rebel Fighters on Parade
The 501st Rebel Legion made a strong showing at last year's DragonCon in Atlanta.
11. It's-a-me, Anakin!
This Darth Vader cosplayer has a commanding presence at the Lucca Comics Festival in Italy.
12. The Tension is Palpable
A spot-on Supreme Chancellor Palpatine leads a rabble of Stormtroopers through Royal Parc for the Balloon's Day Parade in Brussels, Belgium.
13. Han & Leia
Han Solo looks pleased to pose with Slave Leia at Wizard World Comic Con in Illinois. Just don't get cocky, kid.
14. Join Us or Die
The dark side looks awfully bright at the Thailand Comic Con in Bangkok.
15. Friendship is Magic
Who says Bronies and Star Wars fans can't co-exist peacefully? Nicholas Reynolds and Lesmarie Velez welcome the force to the herd at Dragon Con in Atlanta.
16. Follow Me, Friend
When Boba Fett's jet pack breaks down, there's always the Metro station. He still rides the escalator with pride here in De Brouckere, Belgium.
17. Blaster Pistols in Birmingham
That's either the world's tiniest Ewok, or the world's tallest Princess Leia. Either way, Star Wars cosplayers were out in force at MCM Comic Con in the UK.
18. Nooooooooooooo!
Darth Vader definitely does not want a pair of sharks holding him back at Long Beach Comic Con. Looks like the Death Star might not be completed on schedule.
By Matthew Walden on Apr 15, 2015 05:48 am
1. D'Vorah
D'Vorah may be an insect herself, but she squashes her opponents like bugs.
2. Ermac
Looks like someone just lost their lunch. So will everyone who plays the new Mortal Kombat.
3. Erron Black
The mysterious new gunslinger offers a face full of lead for his finishing move.
4. Ferra & Torr
Ferra & Torr are a deadly duo. If you're not careful, they'll rip you in two.
5. Jacqueline Briggs
We're not sure we even want to understand what's happening in this picture.
6. Kenshi
The blind swordsman Kenshi has no interest in letting his opponent's save face.
7. Kotal Kahn
Kotal Kahn's a heartbreaker in the true sense of the word.
8. Quan Chi
Sword swallowing's an ancient yet dangerous skill, particularly if it's forced upon you by Quan Chi.
9. Jax
Hey, put that cigar out! Maybe it's time Jax switched to vaping.
10. Kung Lao
Kung Lao's a Shaolin Monk with a razor-brimmed hat. A deadly combo you want to stay as far away from as possible.
11. Mileena
Finally, someone's trumped Street Figher's Blanka for the most vicious face biting in video game history.
12. Johnny Cage
Here's Johnny! All work and no play make Johnny Cage a dull boy.
13. Cassie Cage
Cassie takes after her father Johnny Cage, with their shared penchant for camera mugging.
By Anonymous on Apr 15, 2015 05:47 am
Spartan Locke
Spartan Locke got his own teaser trailer, just like Master Chief. Locke is a new character that should give us a fresh perspective on John-117.
Locke shows up on Master Chief's radar as an ally
Enemies appear red on the radar in Halo, but in Locke's case, he appears yellow. Yellow indicates a friendly in the Halo series.
Master Chief statue
A statue for John-117 is built in his honor on the battered planet. At one point, Master Chief was clearly lauded in his return.
A scorched world
It appears that the war has come to Master Chief's world. In the ravaged land, the only thing left standing is the statue.
Master Chief's statue is different in each trailer
The Master Chief trailer shows the statue dedicated to him has part of its head missing. Could this be symbolic of John's loss of Cortana?
Dual playable characters
In your hunt for the truth, Halo 5 looks to borrow from its predecessor, Halo 2, with two protagonists.
Spartan Locke blames Master Chief
Spartan Locke's version of the truth is that he attributes the war-torn world to Master Chief's betrayal.
Master Chief's wound is fresh
In Agent Locke's trailer, Master Chief is seen laying on the ground with a huge hole in his left shoulder. Due to the smoking coming from his now non-existent shoulder, the wound must be fresh. Maybe it was from Locke?
Master Chief and Spartan Locke face off
Both trailers build to a conclusion of a showdown between Master Chief and Spartan Locke, but is there a bigger bad guy out there?
"Duty and honor above all"
While Master Chief suffers from an apparent gunshot wound, you can clearly see his statue engraved with the words "duty and honor above all." Fitting for the Halo hero.
The UNSC Infinity has seen better days
The Navy warship that Colonel Lasky was left in charge of at the end of Halo 4 isn't doing so hot. The ship's on fire from whatever attacked the planet.
#HuntTheTruth
There's an old saying, there's two sides to every story--and then there's the truth. With both trailers premiering an hour after each other, is one of the depictions the truth?
Finally, a release date
The long-awaited release of the Xbox One exclusive Halo 5: Guardians was confirmed for an Oct. 27 release at the conclusion of both trailers.
By Matthew Walden on Apr 15, 2015 05:46 am
1. Caddicarus
Caddicarus uploads retro game reviews and ridiculous top ten lists that are peppered liberally with zany accents and one-liners. But the substance beneath his antics sets him apart from the crowd. He's got smarts and silliness in equal measure.
2. PushingUpRoses
This self-described Psychobilly Goth Punk has a major obsession with PC adventure games. Her vast knowledge and clear affection for the classics (I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream!!) have made her channel a must-watch.
3. Kinda Funny Games
Greg Miller and co-host Colin Moriarty made waves early this year when they shifted focus to their independent YouTube projects. With just shy of $500,000 in Patreon pledges already, they've definitely hit the ground running. Congrats!
4. Yamilia Avendano from Twinfinite
Yamilia, the ambitious founder of the gaming website Twinfinite, always has several cool projects running. The highlight of her output is Positive Gamers, a YouTube series that proves it's not impossible to possess razor-sharp wit and infectious happiness at the same time.
5. Game Sack
Joe Redifer and David White are a killer tag team that humbly pay tribute to the vintage games that shaped our world. Their videos are accompanied by a light volley of hokey jokes even dustier than the games they showcase. It's all delightfully charming and sincere.
6. Hot Pepper Gaming
Hot Pepper Gaming is squirm-inducing and furiously funny. It features a rotating cast of reviewers ranging from joycore rocker Andrew W.K. to Borderland 2's Ashly Burch. All of 'em eat a hot pepper and proceed to critique a video game. It's even better than it sounds.
7. OMGitsfirefoxx
This Canadian Minecraft Mianite player has experienced a meteoric rise, with nearly half a million subscribers over her first active year. Her openness about her hardships and her fun attitude have earned her a giant fan base.
8. AngryCentaurGaming
ACG's delivery is typically insightful and droll, nowhere near as ill-humored as his name might suggest. Over the past year, he's been uploading reviews and opinions as honest as they are distinct. Definitely worth subscribing.
9. Jim Sterling
Jim Sterling is another industry stalwart who's recently turned independent with his hit show, The Jimquisition. He comes off as a delightfully camp cross between Elton John and a fascist dictator. You can always count on Jim to speak his mind.
10. VenturianTale
VenturianTale is quite literally a family affair, a gaming channel created by four siblings: Venturian, BethanyFrye, HomelessGoomba, and ImmortalKyodai. Their Fallout, Gmod and Skyrim videos have hit more than 1 billion views. "What in the world" is their secret?
11. Nia The VideoGamHer
Nia's a gigantic Nintendo fan, but she's not afraid to take them to task when necessary. She's also one of the most down-to-earth commentators out there, with keen observations about the game industry.
12. Extra Credits
The Extra Credits team focuses on game design principles and complex historical conflicts. It's all accompanied by cartoons that make the subjects digestible and entertaining. You always feel like you're having fun while you learn on their channel.
13. Erika Szabo
Erika's unending fascination with JRPGs and anime is contagious. Every video is a celebration of the crossover between Japanese culture and console gaming. It's fun to watch someone who so clearly adores this subsection of entertainment.
14. ItsGWC
Nothing can prepare you for the surreal loopiness of Gaming With Character's off-kilter comedy. You just have to let it wash over you. This mysterious master of mirth has become an underground hit. Truly an original voice.
15. Aureylian
Aureylian's YouTube channel is unabashedly silly. She's quickly become the pink princess of Minecraft, headshots and shenanigans, all by fostering a welcoming attitude among her fans.
By Matthew Walden on Apr 15, 2015 05:45 am
The Current State of the Art
Virtual Reality has always been a sci-fi fantasy on the distant horizon. But the past year has seen prominent game and tech hardware companies finally deliver on some of these promises. Take a look with us at the current top-of-the-line VR hardware, the coolest VR games, the biggest obstacles the technology faces, and a sneak peek at the not so distant future of virtual reality!
HARDWARE - Valve and HTC's Vive
Valve, the company behind Half-Life, Portal and Steam, recently announced their foray into VR waters. They've teamed up with Taiwanese manufacturer HTC to create the Vive. Early reports suggest that Valve has nailed the technology, eliminating problems with jitter and offering unprecedented immersion. Vive is scheduled to release in 2015.
HARDWARE - Vive's Tracking System
The key to Valve's VR advancements is its positional tracking system, shown here. It allows for unprecedented accuracy, tracking your precise location as you wander through the physical world and the virtual world simultaneously.
HARDWARE - Vive's SteamVR Controllers
Another key component of Valve's Vive is the system's unique controllers. Somewhat similar to Wii Remotes, these two handheld control inputs also function within Vive's positional tracking array, communicating where your hands are, and what they're doing, instantly within a game.
SOFTWARE - Portal Demo
Valve has repeatedly clarified that the Portal gameplay that debuted with Vive's announcement is strictly for demo purposes. The game was an excellent demonstration of the robust visual effects available in the new Source 2 engine, and a tantalizing promise of the beloved series' potential for virtual reality.
SOFTWARE - The Gallery: Six Elements
The Gallery is a fantasy adventure title that was built from the ground up for virtual reality gameplay. Originally in development for the Oculus Rift, The Gallery was also used to demo Valve's Vive system. It comes across as a cool blend of PC puzzler Myst and motion-control-heavy games like Elebits.
SOFTWARE - Job Simulator
Job Simulator was another title demoed for Valve's Vive. It's from Owlchemy Labs, famous for their terrifying building-leaping game "Aaaaaculus!" for the Oculus Rift. Job Simulator is a silly, futuristic spin on Cooking Mama, offering a surprising amount of pleasure from manipulating simple objects in a virtual world.
HARDWARE - Microsoft HoloLens
Microsoft has recently taken its first steps into the virtual reality marketplace with the HoloLens. The device itself is an intriguing take on augmented reality, projecting virtual objects and tasks over your real life environment, with big promises of seamless integration between the two worlds. It definitely leans more toward augmented than virtual reality, but it shows that Microsoft has strong interest in pursuing this field.
SOFTWARE - Minecraft
Specific info on software titles for Microsoft's HoloLens has been scarce, but Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft Studios, has promised that game applications are on their way. In the reveal video for the HoloLens, we saw a user interacting with Minecraft in his living room, so an eventual release seems highly probable.
HARDWARE - Magic Leap
Magic Leap made a lot of news over the past year when they raised over $540 million in venture funding from companies such as Google. While much remains a secret, we do know they're creating headmounted devices that project images directly onto your retinas (as opposed to viewing them on a screen). Visionary sci-fi writer Neal Stephenson and the special effects house Weta Workshop have already joined up to help.
SOFTWARE - Dr. Grordbort
The first real demo we've seen of a game for Magic Leap has been the short AR game Dr. Grordbort, designed by Weta Workshop. It featured a Magic Leap user firing lasers at robot droids invading his real-life office. Debates have raged over whether the demo was authentic, which illustrates how impressive the tech is...if it can actually deliver.
HARDWARE - Sony's Project Morpheus
You've probably heard about Sony's VR system Project Morpheus (or even seen it in action on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon). But Morpheus got a pretty nice upgrade at this year's Game Developer Conference. It now features OLED screens, enhanced positional tracking, and a doubled refresh rate. It appears that Sony wants to be a serious contender in the VR field.
SOFTWARE - London Heist
So far, the most impressive reports for Project Morpheus have stemmed from the London Heist game demo, which was developed by SCE London Studio. A grimy, first-person cover shooter, it demonstrated that, for all the gee-whiz novelty experiments VR has inspired, it also has enormous potential for tried-and-true game genres.
SOFTWARE - The Deep
Speaking of gee-whiz novelties, Project Morpheus has its share of those, like the shark showdown featured in the demo for The Deep. Now you, too, can emerge vicious from an undersea encounter, looking more frazzled than Richard Dreyfuss in a wetsuit.
SOFTWARE - EVE: Valkyrie
EVE: Valkyrie has been one of the flagship VR titles ever since it made the rounds for the Oculus Rift. The spaceship dogfighting shooter is also scheduled to be released for Sony's Project Morpheus. It's often cited as one of the best examples of VR gameplay; its cockpit viewpoint is ideal for the idiosyncrasies of a virtual reality headset.
SOFTWARE - Crytek's CRYENGINE
Crytek, the developer of the graphical powerhouse Crysis, has already pledged VR support, including plans to work on Project Morpheus. Above is an example of graphic designer Damian Kijowski's environment art built using Crytek's CryEngine - a small glimpse of what we can expect in the future from this toolset.
SOFTWARE - Unreal Engine 4 Paris Virtual Tour
Epic Games is another developer that has pledged support for Project Morpheus. Although Unreal Engine 4 has been out for two years now, designers are still processing the power it provides. Here's a still from an incredible virtual tour of a Paris apartment. Created by Benoît Dereau, it's a great example of what we can expect when Unreal and VR inevitably collide.
HARDWARE - Oculus Rift
Oculus Rift is by now a household name. It's essentially the inaugural piece of gear that sparked the recent VR renaissance. The consumer version arrives this year. Because of its long runway, there's a considerable library of games and tech demos already available for the device.
SOFTWARE - Sightline: The Chair
Tomáš Mariančík's awe-inspiring Oculus Rift tech demo is often recommended as an inaugural experience for new virtual reality users. You simply look around and get swept up by the charming visuals. Whether you're witnessing a rain-splattered street or an asteroid belt, the experience is always transporting.
SOFTWARE - NaissanceE
NaissanceE is an indie title that's recently been updated to support the Oculus Rift. As you explore its beautifully atmospheric underground cities, you may never want to return to your own.
SOFTWARE - Radial-G: Racing Revolved
If you've ever played an F-Zero or Wipeout game, with their drilling electronic music and glittering utopian city backdrops, then you've got a great reference point for this futuristic racer for the Oculus Rift. As your perspective flips and loops, you'll feel the dizzying vertigo that would no doubt accompany the experience in the real world too.
SOFTWARE - Alien: Isolation
While Alien: Isolation didn't receive official Oculus support, a simple mod adds the functionality. GameSpot did its own test on an Oculus Rift kit and the results were horrifying and hilarious. In VR, a xenomorph is a fast track to a heart attack. Next up: When VR goes wrong ...
VR PROBLEMS - Headaches and Facial Pain
Not everything's sunshine and rainbows in the land of VR. One of the most striking problems is something we've been aware of since Nintendo's Virtual Boy: headaches. If you've ever worn a pair of headphones too long, you're already familiar with the sensation of headgear that's worn out its welcome.
VR PROBLEMS - Motion Sickness
So far Valve seems to be the main company tackling motion sickness in VR. Unfortunately, it's a common complaint, one that takes significant technical expertise and improvements in latency to avoid. If too many people associate the experience of VR with feeling sick, the stigma could stop the entire enterprise in its tracks.
VR PROBLEMS - Stable Reference Points
Tied in closely with the motion sickness problem is the concept of fixed visual reference objects. For example, in the real world, when your field of vision is constantly shifting, you always have your nose to look at to center your perspective. Purdue University has experimented with inserting a literal nose into a simulation as shown above. It helps explain why VR is especially suited to spaceship cockpits or racing sims, which have a fixed context for you to view the action through.
VR PROBLEMS - Isolation
Isolation is another problem with VR, and we don't mean it in a condescending "kids in the basement" way. It's just a practical barrier of entry. Disengaging from your surroundings isn't as convenient as flipping on the TV and chatting with some friends. It makes VR more of a scheduled activity, when you have time to be alone.
THE FUTURE OF VR - Haptic Feedback
We've looked at the problems of VR, but where is everything headed in the future? Haptics (feedback involving your sense of touch) is certainly a fruitful avenue for research. You've surrounded your visual and auditory senses in the virtual world. Now it's time for your sense of touch to come along for the ride, too.
THE FUTURE OF VR - Haptics
The field of aaptics largely remains the domain of engineers and astronauts, as seen here. But Valve has already begun implementing touch feedback in its controllers. Imagine encountering a fearsome dragon in a game, and being able to reach out and actually run your fingers along its scales!
THE FUTURE OF VR - Tasteworks
The Royal College of Art and Imperial College London are currently experimenting with software that changes your perception of taste. The idea: You eat a real-world object, while simultaneously, in the VR space, you have audio and visual cues that skew your sensory input. It's like drinking a glass of orange juice when you were expecting milk. Expectation can radically influence our physical senses, and VR is just beginning to explore this.
THE FUTURE OF VR - Direct Neuron Stimulation
In an interview with Geoff Keighley, Valve's director Gabe Newell hinted at a bold direction for the future: "We'll transition fairly quickly into what we think VR is going to turn into… how you can directly stimulate people's optic nerves… your neurons essentially have the equivalent of a MAC address. And then you're just talking into people's brains using some 60 GHz spectrum. So you're driving peoples' brains directly without surgery."
By Matthew Walden on Apr 15, 2015 05:43 am
1. Cassie Cage
Mortal Kombat's about to deliver a fatal knockout to the fighting scene. Which brawler are you gonna main? The first of the confirmed characters in our list is newcomer Cassie, Johnny Cage's own daughter.
2. D'Vorah
D'Vorah's another fighter new to the Mortal Kombat universe. She's got creepy insect like features and is a servant of the Outworld's new emperor Kotal Kahn.
3. Ermac
This red-cloaked ninja's been around since Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. We're glad to see him return for MK X, with some particularly nasty fatalities at his disposal.
4. Erron Black
Erron Black's an ultra-violent gunslinger who was introduced in the Mortal Kombat comic series, but this is the first time he'll be a playable character.
5. Ferra & Torr
This is an exciting combo character. Ferra rides on top of her brute Torr, and together they smash skulls and bisect torsos with ferocious conviction.
6. Goro
Goro was sequestered away in the Challenge Tower in the last major Mortal Kombat release, so we can't wait to get our hands on the infamous sub-boss this time around. Goro is only playable as a pre-order bonus.
7. Jacqueline Briggs
This Mortal Kombat's a family affair, with Jackson Briggs' daughter joining the fray too. Just imagining father-daughter fatalities makes us queasy though.
8. Jason Vorhees
Following in Freddy Krueger's vaudevillian footsteps, Jason's another horror film legend entering the Mortal Kombat universe. Jason is included in the Kombat Pack DLC.
Jackson Briggs
Everyone's favorite arm-ripping cyber-soldier has returned to the ring to inflict massive amounts of pain.
10. Johnny Cage
The only thing bigger than his ego is his string of unstoppable combos. The hollywood hotshot has his whole family in tow this time, including his daughter and his ex-wife.
11. Kano
Kano quite literally stole our hearts when he debuted in the original Mortal Kombat. The Black Dragon clan mercenary has a major chip on his shoulders after Jax disfigured his face.
12. Kenshi
You'd have to be blind to not notice how stylish this sword-wielding warrior looks. His telekinesis skills make him a formidable opponent.
13. Kitana
A literal fan favorite since Mortal Kombat II, Kitana packs 10,000 years of wisdom into her steel fan flavored martial arts.
14. Kotal Kahn
Kotal Kahn's a mysterious new fighter with headgear highly reminiscent of the Aztec Empire. He also has glowing tattoos, which harken back to his days of being awesome.
15. Kung Jin
Kung Jin's another new fighter cloaked in mystery. We do know he appears to be teamed up with Cassie Cage and Jacqueline Briggs. We also know he's way more deadly with is bow and arrow than Katniss or Lara Croft.
16. Kung Lao
Hats off to this Shaolin monk for making a comeback. We'd really love Oddjob from the Bond series to make a DLC appearance so we could have a razor-brimmed showdown.
17. Liu Kang
You knew he was coming. Even though it took a while for him to get announced, Liu Kang's practically the face of the entire franchise. There was no way he wouldn't make an appearance.
18. Mileena
Kitana's evil twin has one of the most gnarly grills we've ever seen in a fighting game, or otherwise. With duel sai, she doesn't even need those vicious fangs to rip you to shreds.
19. Quan Chi
This powerful necromancer has always borne a striking resemblance to his successor in style, God of War's Kratos. This evil fella has remained a prominent villain of the Mortal Kombat franchise.
20. Raiden
It's always big trouble in little China when Raiden arrives. This Elder God has an easy time toying with us mere mortals.
21. Reptile
When Reptile first appeared, he was a secret hidden in the depths of the original Mortal Kombat arcade game. Like any reptile worth his bath salts, he knows how to remain invisible.
22. Scorpion
You'd think by now the ghost of Scorpion would have claimed vengeance for his dead family. But there's always an endless parade of foes to spear and toast, preventing his soul from ever resting.
23. Shinnok
Shinnok might be the most evil character in the Mortal Kombat universe, which is saying something when you take a look at the bloodthirsty crew he accompanies. Shinnok becomes available after you complete the story mode.
24. Sonya
Sonya's another series standby who's been here since the beginning of the franchise. Her biggest mistake might have been marrying that jerk Johnny Cage, but her special forces training helps her stand on her own.
25. Sub-Zero
Technically the man who occupies the Sub-Zero outfit these days is the younger brother of the original Sub-Zero. But he's still got the chilly demeanor and brutal finishing moves of his predecessor.
26. Takashi Takeda
Rounding out our collection of feuding families, Takashi is the son of the blind assassin Kenshi. This will be his first appearance in a Mortal Kombat game.
27. Tremor, Tanya, and Predator
A trio of DLC characters joins Jason in the Kombat Pack. Tremor made a brief appearance in MK on the Vita, Tanya's a cult member hailing from MK 4, and Predator is the third horror movie icon to appear in the franchise!
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