Following its recent announcement, Bungie plans to reveal more about Destiny 2's first DLC expansion, Curse of Osiris, during a livestream today, November 15. You'll be able to watch the stream for yourself through the embed below starting at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 7 PM GMT.
This is just the first of three streams Bungie has planned over the next few weeks, leading up to Curse of Osiris's release date on December 5. As such, today's stream won't cover everything. Dubbed "New Stories to Tell," it will share details about "the places you'll go, the characters you'll meet, and the enemies you'll fight." A stream on November 21 will focus on new activities, and the following week's (on November 29) will showcase new gear and a Crucible map.
Curse of Osiris, as you'd expect, centers around the character Osiris and takes players to a new planet, Mercury. The debut trailer was narrated by Ikora, who reveals that an "ancient gate" has opened on Mercury. "Past and future" machines are coming through it with the intention of remaking "the universe in their image." Ikora says Osiris anticipated this but was banished because of his dangerous ideas, and she notes that he could either serve as an ally or bring further destruction.
The DLC introduces Mercury's Infinite Forest zone to explore, the Lighthouse social space, and new missions, Strikes, "Raid content" (whatever that means exactly), free roam activities, a world quest, and more. Additionally, it increases Destiny 2's level cap. We should have a better idea of what to expect after today's stream.
Marvel Heroes, the free-to-play, Diablo-esque action game, is shutting down. Marvel announced the news today, revealing it has ended its business arrangement with developer Gazillion Entertainment.
In a statement shared with GameSpot, Marvel Entertainment stated, "We regret to inform our Marvel Heroes fans that we have ended our relationship with Gazillion Entertainment, and that the Marvel Heroes games will be shut down. We would like to sincerely thank the players who joined the Marvel Heroes community, and will provide any further updates as they become available." This presumably applies to the PC version of the game (first released in 2013) and the Omega versions fully released on PS4 and Xbox One earlier this year. We've followed up with the company to find out more about the timeline for the game's shutdown.
No further explanation was shared for the decision. Kotaku, which first reported the news, notes that updates and communications from Gazillion have been absent recently. A current and former employee told the site that some people were told to not come into work this week, so it appears this move has been brewing for some time.
As noted above, Marvel Heroes is an action-RPG in the mold of Diablo, but with a free-to-play business model. It features a wide variety of Marvel characters, with players able to obtain everyone from the Avengers to the Guardians of the Galaxy to Inhumans. We'll report back as we learn more about how Marvel is handling the shutdown.
On whichever side of the Great DC Debate you fight, there's no denying that Justice League has a lot to prove. DC diehards who insist there's nothing wrong with the direction and tone of the DC Extended Universe up to this point might worry that the pivotal team-up has been "Disney-fied" or made into a comedy to appease critics and Marvel fans; others that the beloved Wonder Woman was the exception to the rule for the DCEU, rather than a fresh start. Fans on all sides have followed the various controversies surrounding Justice League's production, like Joss Whedon taking over director duties from Zack Snyder at the last minute, and simply wondered how it will all turn out.
Through all the setbacks, uncertainties, reshoots, shake-ups, and drama, it seemed unlikely that Justice League would wind up anything other than a complete mess. And yet, here we are: Justice League is a pretty good movie.
The plot is basic: Batman and Wonder Woman sense an incoming threat, an ancient alien invader named Steppenwolf. They determine their best course of action is to assemble a super-team comprising Cyborg, The Flash, and Aquaman in addition to the two of them. The League comes together in fits and starts, but by the end, every hero--yes, all of them, wink, wink--shows up to do his or her part in a climactic battle.
It's Superhero Movie Plot 101, but crucially, it's more or less coherent from beginning to end. It's also fun, with plenty of huge laughs and some terrific (although CG-heavy) action scenes. Yet overall, it retains that serious, Zack Snyder-ish tone that sets the DCEU apart from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Much of Justice League's thematic focus zeroes in on the hopelessness of a world that's suffered defeat after defeat, of which Superman's death in BvS is only the latest. For a variety of real world reasons, from the current state of politics to the seemingly endless tragic mass shootings, this is going to resonate with audiences right now.
It would be condescending and unfair to simply heap Justice League with praise for these accomplishments, when it actually suffers from many of the same flaws that have plagued both DC and Marvel's movies for years. Like Hela in Thor: Ragnarok, Justice League's Steppenwolf has about as much depth as a shallow pothole. He shows up in search of the "Mother Boxes" with the sole goal of destroying the world, serving as nothing more than the catalyst for the Justice League to form.
Also similarly to Thor, Justice League's CG is occasionally distracting, especially where Steppenwolf is concerned. In close-ups the villain's face can look like a video game character's, and not in a good way. In addition, the movie opens with a cute smartphone video of Superman from before the events of BvS--not unlike the opening of Spider-Man: Homecoming--during which you should try not to stare too hard at Henry Cavill's mouth, given they had to digitally remove his mustache during reshoots.
The mad and the mighty
All that aside, Justice League's real draw is the epic team-up of this handful of super-powered heroes. They all have their time in the spotlight, including a surprising number of smaller, character-to-character moments that help flesh each one out and establish them at concrete points in their personal arcs that can be picked up in later movies.
The Flash, for example, gets a couple of scenes with his dad, imprisoned early in Barry Allen's life for allegedly murdering Barry's mother. We get to see Cyborg wrestle with his newly minted body, struggling with his father's decision to rebuild him--but also interacting with other heroes, including Flash and Wonder Woman, in believable scenes that add layers to all involved. Bringing this many main characters together isn't easy no matter who's in the director's chair, especially when half of them are being introduced here for the first time. Amazingly, Justice League mostly pulls it off, even if a couple of plot points get glossed over too quickly.
Ben Affleck continues to do just fine as an older, more hardened Batman. He lacks the charm of previous Bruce Waynes like Michael Keaton and Christian Bale, but you could also blame that on this Batman's place in the story as an underpowered hero who's been outstripped by god-like colleagues and foes. He's also taken to subtly self-medicating with presumably very fine brown liquors--watch how much whiskey he pours himself in one scene after a tough fight--which is a chewy little detail for those paying attention.
Wonder Woman has the second largest presence of all the heroes, though her role was reportedly not expanded in this year's reshoots, counter to speculation that she'd be made more prominent thanks to her standalone movie's success. Gal Gadot's youthful, idealistic, positive character is a perfect counter to Batman, and it often seems like she's holding the team together--if not leading them outright. She glows, and her presence is much appreciated.
The three we haven't met before--Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg--hold up admirably thanks to some fantastic casting.
Jason Momoa may not be the Aquaman fans recognize from the comics, but he's one you'll want to get to know better. The hard-drinking, no-BS King of Atlantis is relatively early in his personal story arc, but the equal draughts of humorous pessimism and raw badassery Momoa brings to the screen should have everyone excited for his standalone film next year. At one point he rescues a drowning sailor, unloads him unceremoniously in the nearest pub, and downs a full bottle of whiskey on the unconscious man's tab. Yet later, Momoa shows off his comedic chops in a scene that may or may not involve Wonder Woman's confessional lasso.
Cyborg is the most dour of the bunch, which is saying something, for a team that also includes Batman. Granted, Victor Stone is also early in his arc, hooking up with the League shortly after being rebuilt as Cyborg. There's no faulting him for being less fun than the others, given his personal trauma and turmoil; the bigger problem is how his deliberately vaguely-defined powers allow Cyborg to serve as constant deus ex machina, hacking anything and everything that needs to be hacked.
Thankfully Ezra Miller keeps things light as The Flash. Miller has impeccable comedic timing, and although every characters gets a proportionate number of quips throughout Justice League, most of the big laughs come from him.
Hatchet vs. scalpel
Batman v. Superman and Suicide Squad felt like giant compromises marred by meddling, half measures, and band-aids stuck on bleeding wounds. They were hatchet jobs. But while Justice League went through about as much production turmoil as either of those, the changes to it might have been made with a scalpel wielded by a skilled hand, cutting away only what was necessary to make it a stronger movie.
It's not trying to solve all the genre's problems--and it doesn't.
So the villain is uninteresting and the plot occasionally moves too quickly as Justice League juggles a half dozen main characters. These are small prices to pay. Like one of its many taglines, Justice League feels "all in"--a movie driven by a vision shared among its stars and filmmakers, that succeeds at the most important things it sets out to do.
Justice League is everything you want in a modern super team-up movie: a diverse crew of well-developed heroes coming together, butting heads, cracking jokes, and kicking butt. Despite the DCEU's sputtering start, Justice League coalesces in the end, and it works in many more ways than not. It's not trying to solve all the genre's problems--and it doesn't. But as a team-up movie and a fresh jumping-off point for the DCEU, Justice League is a 100-story leap in the right direction.
Considering both the Xbox One X and the Xbox One S have 4K HDR Blu-ray players, we wanted to highlight the best 4K HDR Blu-ray movies. There's not a ton of Ultra HD (UHD) HDR movies at the moment, but we've rounded up the most compelling films that have received high-quality 4K/HDR treatment.
The 28 movies in the following gallery are listed alphabetically. Make sure to check out our 4K/HDR guide for an explanation of the tech.
Alien: Covenant
Ridley Scott's Alien: Covenant is a sequel to the director's 2012-released Prometheus. In addition to sharper visuals, the UHD Blu-ray version of the sci-fi film provides more realistic tones. TechRadar writes, "An emphasis has been placed on HDR's ability to provide deeper, more lifelike contrast."
The original Blade Runner is a sci-fi classic from Ridley Scott and The Final Cut represents the definitive version of the movie. The film noir paints a vision of the future filled with digital signage. Our sister site, CNET, says "the neon-soaked visuals in Blade Runner are perfect for an HDR overhaul with the opening scenes as eye-popping as you could hope for."
CNET suggests that Marvel's raunchy superhero flick Deadpool looks better than ever, stating, "The HDR 4K version is even more eye-popping than what you might have seen in the cinema." In terms of image reproduction, the HDR version doesn't oversaturate colors with the tech site saying that "care has been taken so that it still looks 'realistic.'"
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Deepwater Horizon chronicles a disaster in 2010 that lead to the explosion of a large offshore drilling rig, which created the worst oil spill in American history. TechRadar says that the 4K Blu-ray version "delivers strong detail and impressive dynamics, with its HDR enhanced presentation offering great depth and color reproduction."
Considering Ghost in the Shell takes place in a color-rich futuristic world, its 4K HDR treatment is a perfect fit for the film. TechRadar states that the movie "looks glorious on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, with its neon-drenched cyberpunk setting really popping on the format."
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 looks sharper than ever at 4K. TechRadar says the level of detail is amazing in the UHD version of the superhero flick, stating, "Animated characters like Rocket and Groot looking especially detailed--just look at Rocket's realistic fur and the woodgrain texture that Groot exhibits. Costumes also get a notable boost in texture--it's now possible to see fuzzy fabric and stitching."
Hacksaw Ridge is a film about a medic in World War II who saved 75 men without firing a single bullet. The war movie was wonderfully shot and according to TechRadar, "High-dynamic-range allows the film's cinematography to really shine, showing very realistic color and light reproduction."
The spy thriller movie Jason Bourne features great implementation of high-dynamic range with CNET saying that the film "shows that HDR is moving beyond the 'sticking spears at the camera' phase that 3D went through and is maturing as a cinematic tool."
Action movie John Wick: Chapter 2 is often very colorful, and its HDR implementation makes great use of the higher color gamut and contrast ratio. CNET says the Blu-ray version "punctuates its grimy night scenes with HDR neon signs and taillights, lending the movie an energized noir atmosphere."
Adventure movie Life of Pi is a wonderfully shot film that presents a wide array of vivid colors. CNET says that its "high dynamic range makes what was already a visually stunning movie even more spectacular."
Logan's 4K transfer is as sharp as Wolverine's claws. In addition, CNET says that the film's HDR implementation is "subtle and [as] well-handled as the story-telling."
Starring Scarlett Johansson, Lucy is a film about a woman who become a superhuman warrior. The UHD Blu-ray does a great job implementing high-dynamic range. TechRadar states that the disc displays "vibrant HDR-enhanced colors and terrific contrast."
Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the best action movies of the modern era, and it was a film that was masterfully shot in the deserts of Namibia. According to CNET, the Blu-ray version employs HDR effects that "range from subtle to gaudy (especially when it comes to 'flamethrower guitar guy')."
Predominantly taking place on an abandoned earth set in the future, Oblivion is one of the most gorgeous-looking movies in existence. Its 4K HDR Blu-ray transfer makes it look better than ever with TechRadar stating that "the impressive color gamut and contrast afforded by the film's HDR grading give the film a real sense of depth and vibrancy."
Pacific Rim defines what it means to be a fun, summer blockbuster. While the movie looked fantastic in theaters, TechRadar suggests that its UHD version represents the prime way to watch it: "Thanks to some HDR tinkering, the film's colors and contrast now look even better than they did when the film was in theatres."
While Planet Earth II may not be a movie, the BBC's nature documentary series looks stunning and is vital to any 4K HDR collection. The visuals are sharp and crisp, and it's easy to make out every strand of hair on a sloth and every texture of each tree branch. The color reproduction is equally amazing, and the blues of the ocean and greens of the forest are realistically portrayed.
Starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, and Josh Brolin, Sicario is a movie about the escalating war on drugs between the U.S. and Mexico. The film was shot natively in 4K and doesn't go over-the-top with its high-dynamic range effects, and instead opts to go for a more subdued look. CNET says "its HDR effects are relatively subtle."
J.J. Abram's first Star Trek film was a fun reboot packed with vibrant colors and lens flares. CNET says that its HDR implementation alone makes it "worth a rewatch," adding, "The picture simply bursts from the screen."
Star Trek Into Darkness has received among the best 4K HDR treatment that the medium has to offer. TechRadar says that "when it comes to the visual quality, the Ultra HD Blu-ray for Star Trek Into Darkness is absolutely mind-blowing," before adding, "Star Trek Into Darkness will make an instant believer of any 4K/HDR naysayer."
The latest installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise looks great with high-dynamic range. TechRadar notes that "flesh tones look astonishing on this disc, as do the HDR-enhanced explosions that litter the film."
The LEGO Movie was a surprise hit when it released in 2014. Thanks to high-dynamic range, a colorful movie becomes even more vibrant with CNET saying that "it's perfect for showing off the wide color gamut capabilities of your 4K HDR TV"
Starring Matt Damon, The Martian is about an astronaut who ends up stranded on Mars and has to create a sustainable environment in order to survive. Because it takes place on the red planet, color is an integral part of immersing you into the film. CNET praised both its color reproduction and clarity, stating, "The HDR effects, with the right settings, make this movie pop on your TV, and you'll probably never want to go back to standard HD after watching it."
Inspired by true events, The Revenant stars Leonardo DiCaprio and is a story about surviving a cold winter within the uncharted American wilderness. The movie won the Academy Award for best cinematography when it was released in 2016, and according to CNET, "The picture quality is flawless" on the UHD Blu-ray and the expanded color palette allows the film to "pop."
Wonder Woman is one of the best superhero movies within the DC universe. While the UHD version suffers from some film grain, CNET says that its HDR implementation gives the movie "a real boost."
X-Men: Apocalypse was originally captured in 4K, and according to TechRadar, the comic book movie "comes to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with no loss to visual fidelity whatsoever." The site calls it "a visual effects showcase."
Batman: The Telltale Series Season One is, in theory, a game well-suited to the Nintendo Switch. Its episodic structure allows players to experience its narrative-driven adventure in short bursts, with each episode lasting around three hours, and thanks to the portability of the Switch, players can now dip in and out at their convenience. You can read our review of individual episodes for specifics here, but as a whole Season One of the series starts off really strong. While the following episodes don't quite carry the momentum, it puts some interesting spins on familiar characters, making it worth playing for Batman fans. However, doing so on the Nintendo Switch comes with concessions.
Season One of Batman arrives on Switch with some drops in visual fidelity. While the game by no means looks bad, its rough edges are noticeable. Compared to its counterparts on other platforms, textures are less detailed, colours aren't as vibrant, and the poster edge effect that gave the game its comic book feel is diminished. Lighting also seems to have been scaled back, making for a less atmospheric experience. In handheld mode, the game is letterboxed, which means there are distracting black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. While these bars disappear when playing in docked mode, seeing the game on a big screen shines a spotlight on its other blemishes.
There are also some quirks in the way you interact with the game. The Switch version is playable in handheld and docked mode with controllers and, overall, this feels like the best way to play. However, during quick-time action sequences there were occasions when it felt like button presses were either not being registered or the game wasn't properly signalling that they had been. For some interactions, the on-screen indicator turns yellow to show that it has been properly executed, but this didn't feel consistent. Fortunately, there aren't any major punishments for missing a command, as scenes continue to play out regardless of missed inputs.
In handheld mode, it's also possible to play entirely using the touch screen. The UI changes so that dialogue options are jumbo sized and can be tapped, while pressing and holding points on the screen will move Batman or Bruce Wayne around. This control scheme works well in the exploration and investigation portions of the game, but removes depth from the action sequences, as quick-time commands change from specific button presses to simply tapping parts of the screen. Actions that require the player to tap two parts of the screen simultaneously also register very inconsistently, which can be frustrating.
Overall, the Switch version of Batman: The Telltale Series Season One is a serviceable, but not ideal, way to play. Those that have the option to get the PS4, Xbox One, or PC versions may find that doing so is both more cost-effective than purchasing the Switch version, and makes for a better experience.
GameSpot played through Batman: The Telltale Series Episode 1 on Nintendo Switch. This is our impression of how the game performs technically; for a more detailed analysis of the episodes read our reviews here. GameSpot was provided with a code by Telltale Games.
As the Marvel/Netflix show The Punisher proves this week, you don't need superpowers to be a superhero. While the likes of Superman, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman are famous for their amazing superhuman abilities, there are plenty of heroes who have nothing but incredible training, high-tech gadgetry, and access to alien artifacts and body enhancing serums to help them.
OK, that's quite a lot, but at least they didn't have to be bitten by a radioactive spider to get their abilities. Let's look at some of the best non-superpowered superheroes.
Black Widow
Natasha Romanova is a highly-trained Russian agent who defected to the West and was recruited by Nick Fury and SHIELD to use her abilities for the side of good. She's a superspy and master of disguise with unbelievable fighting skills. Powers not needed.
Blue Beetle
There have been three Blue Beetles over the course of many decades, but none have had their own superpowers. While the second version (Ted Kord) was simply equipped with a superpowered suit, the first and third Beetles (Dan Garret and Jaime Reyes) drew their powers from a piece of mysterious technology known as the Scarab. And although Dan just had to touch it, poor Jamie had it fused his spine.
Green Arrow
Like Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark, Oliver Queen is a super-rich playboy who eventually found that fighting crime is a better use of his resources than drinking and womanising. His prowess as a hunter and martial artist and his skills with a bow are the rival of many more superpowered peers. He also has some super cool arrows, including gas and explosive tipped bolts.
Hawkeye
If DC has Green Arrow, Marvel has Hawkeye. Like Oliver Queen, Clint Barton fires arrows with scary accuracy and incredible speed but, again, it's all through training. He's also one of the only other heroes able to throw Captain America's shield just as well as Cap himself, and he wears purple better than any other superhero.
Batman
Batman is of course, the most famous powerless hero of them all. Of course, it helps when you are a billionaire under the cowl, with an unlimited budget to design and develop some of the coolest crime-fighting gadgets ever. However, the best Batman stories have always shown Bruce Wayne's vulnerabilities too, from the aging hero of The Dark Knight Returns to his bruising, spine-snapping encounters with Bane.
Iron Man
Iron Man is the closest that the Marvel universe gets to Bruce Wayne. But Tony Stark is no shadowy vigilante--his identity isn't even a secret. But his enormous wealth has allowed him to build a super-powered suit that does pretty much everything. Flying, super strength, high-tech weaponry--Stark's got it all.
Silver Sable
Silver Sable is one of the more ambiguous characters in the Marvel universe, and a frequent ally/adversary to Spider-Man. A mercenary also known as, er, Silver Sablinova, she is a highly trained expert in most forms of martial arts. She also wears a Kevlar costume and is armed to the teeth with a variety of guns and bladed weapons. Don't mess.
Captain America
Despite his incredible strength, agility, and endurance, Steve Rogers technically has no superpowers. The Super-Soldier serum that he was given has pushed his body to the outer limits of human potential, and while many of his athletic feats are clearly impossible in our world, within the Marvel universe they are still count as just about achievable by a human. Also, we all love Cap, so he's in.
Katana
It's one thing to be amazingly skilled with a sword--it's another when that sword contains the soul of your dead husband. But that's the fate of poor Tatsu Yamashiro, whose trusty blade, the Soultaker, was used to kill her husband Mateo and was soon possessed by his spirit. Despite this, Katana's weaponry skills and general martial arts prowess ensured that she has been a key part of both the Birds of Prey and The Outsiders.
Nick Fury
SHIELD boss Nick Fury may not have any powers but with some of the world's greatest heroes at his disposal, he doesn't need any. He also has the coolest eyepatch in the history of comic books, and in the MCU gets to be played by Samuel L Jackson. Admittedly, Fury's aging process has been slowed down by the use of the Infinity Formula, but who can blame him for wanting a few less grey hairs?
Batgirl
There have been four Batgirls to date, and while none possess superpowers, all are highly trained and every bit the match for DC's other famous Bat-themed superhero. Barbara Gibson is her most famous alter ego, but Betty Kane, Cassandra Cain, and Stephanie Brown all kicked serious Gotham criminal ass.
Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier
Like his good pal Steve Rogers, Bucky doesn't have any powers. What he does have is years of physical training and intense Soviet brainwashing, plus a supercool bionic arm. As The Winter Soldier, Bucky fought on the side of the Russians, before being brought under the wing of Nick Fury and his old buddy Steve.
Mockingbird
Avenger and SHIELD agent Barbara "Bobbi" Barton is another recipient of the Super Soldier serum, which she was given after sustaining a deadly injury. But even before that she was a highly trained combatant, with bone-crunching abilities with batons and bo-staffs. Plus, she has a PhD in biology!
Robin/Nightwing
Bruce Wayne's legendary partner Dick Grayson might not have any powers, but he learned from the best. After many years as Robin, Dick took to the streets of Gotham as Nightwing when he quit the Batcave to pursue a solo career.
The Punisher
Frank Castle takes the vengeful vigilantism of Batman to the next level. While Bruce Wayne aims just to hurt his enemies and leave them for the cops, the Punisher has no interest in such niceties. If you're deserving of his wrath, you deserve to die. And possibly get tortured first. Castle obviously has an incredible arsenal of weaponry, but he has also trained his body and mind to a degree that he can withstand pain and any psychic or telepathic attacks that his enemies might employ against him.
It's time for the lights to go out. Are You Afraid of the Dark, the horror anthology series aimed at younger audiences, is making a comeback. This time, though, it's heading to the big-screen.
The news comes from Variety, who reports that the adaptation will be produced by Paramount Players, a division of Paramount Pictures. The big screen version of Are You Afraid of the Dark has landed Gary Dauberman, the screenwriter for It and It: Chapter 2, to write the script. Dauberman's horror credentials also include 2014's Annabelle, as well as the sequel Annabelle: Creation. He's also working on The Nun, which is set in the same Conjuring universe as the Annabelle films.
Are You Afraid of the Dark originally ran for five seasons on Nickelodeon between 1992 and 1996. It was later revived on the network for two additional seasons in 1999. The series revolved around a group of teenagers who call themselves the Midnight Society, that meet in the woods to tell scary stories.
Paramount Players is run by AwesomenessTV founder Brian Robbins and is the division of Paramount that is also developing an adaptation of another Nickelodeon series, Dora the Explorer. That project is a co-production with Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes.
By Anonymous on Nov 15, 2017 10:39 pm Don't have time to re-watch Batman v Superman and the rest of the DC Extended Universe? Tamoor is here to give you a quick primer in the lead up to Justice League.
Starting today, you can explore Star Trek Online's newest update on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Season 14 – Emergence. The new season sends players on a mission with legendary Starfleet Captain Geordi La Forge, voiced by LeVar Burton from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
To celebrate the launch of this update, we teamed up with Star Trek Online to give away a PlayStation 4, Xbox One S, Plantronics headsets, and in-game prizes.* In addition, we'll be selecting 1,000 winners per platform (2,000 total) to receive a faction pack of in-game items for Star Trek Online on PS4 or Xbox One.
PLEASE NOTE: There are two entries below! You can enter to win a PS4 or Xbox One S, or both.
*This contest is only open to legal residents of the United States, District of Columbia and Canada.
*No purchase necessary. This promotion is only open to legal residents of the United States, District of Columbia and Canada. Contest ends at 11:59 pm PT on Tuesday, November 21, 2017. Please visit the official contest page for terms and conditions.
Star Trek Online is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online game where players can pioneer their own destiny as Captain of a Federation starship, become a Klingon Warrior and champion the Empire through the far reaches of the galaxy, or rebuild the Romulan legacy as the commander of a Romulan Republic Warbird. In Star Trek Online, players have the opportunity to visit iconic locations from the popular Star Trek universe, reach out to unexplored star systems and make contact with new alien species. Star Trek Online is currently available on PC, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.
Star Trek Online is licensed by CBS Consumer Products.
The renewed focus comes at a cost, with GT Sport offering a meager 160 cars (far less if you discount variants) and 40 courses based on 17 distinct tracks. And because your progress, earnings, and reputation are linked to your competitive profile, GT Sport requires an internet connection for most of its content--single player included. The only exception are one-off races in arcade mode, but your rewards there won't be saved unless you keep the game running until servers are back online. It's one huge caveat, and while maintenance and outage periods have been minimal post-release, losing access to most of GT Sport isn't unheard of.
Despite the relatively small selection of cars, each one is beautifully rendered with an incredible attention to detail. And while GT Sport's tracks lack dynamic lighting and weather effects, each real-world track has been laser scanned to an impressive degree of accuracy. Marry these qualities with the improved tire and suspension models, beefy engine tones and screaming tire sounds, and GT Sport makes a strong impression behind the wheel.
Online races are your ultimate goal, and come in a few different forms. While you can create a private lobby to race with friends, most of the action happens in the organized daily races. Daily races occur at set times--usually every 5 to 10 minutes, though this can change--and come in three options, each with varying rules and regulations. Place well and you'll see your Driver Rating improve, which defines the skill of the drivers you'll be placed into future races with. If you place poorly you'll naturally see your driver rating drop, and be forced race with less capable and confident drivers.
Ranking highly isn't everything, and will mean nothing if you fail to race cleanly along the way. The overarching system monitoring everything you do is called the Sportsmanship Rating, which counts all incidents you're involved in, regardless of fault. Shown as a rank of A through to F, put a wheel wrong by touching another car, leaving the track or, unfortunately, being rammed, and you'll lose some of your sportsmanship rating. Drive a few clean laps and you'll recover what's lost eventually, though it's clear the no-fault system is a sore point, causing needless annoyance at losing SR on top of having a race ruined.
On the same foot, though, it appears to be working. Although turn 1 tends to be a bit of a nightmare, once things are underway races are generally as clean as you'd hope for. Cars recovering from spins or looking like they're going to crash will ghost, letting you drive right through them, though this can be a bit sketchy at times as you can't really tell when a car will solidify. Thankfully there are plenty of assists like ABS and traction control to help racers who might struggle, which can also be turned off for the hardcore or those with wheel and pedal setups. These support systems are a boon beginners who may be intimidated by GT Sport's demanding races but nonetheless want a taste of competition.
Outside of the daily events are the officially sanctioned championship events, which in practice are run similarly to daily races, but with a few core differences. Each round runs five races at pre-scheduled times roughly once a month, and like the daily races there's a small window of time for you to sign up. The main difference is that you can only sign up and compete in a round once, so if you have a bad run in the first of the five scheduled races for that round, you don't get another chance to improve your results. While intimidating, this also adds a palpable sense of tension to the beginning stages of each race.
The number of points you can earn per race is worked out using a few variables, but is mostly down to your driver rating; the higher your rating, the more potential championship points you can earn per race. Your final points tally is accumulated from your three best finishes, ensuring that a bad race or having to miss one because of other commitments won't put you out of contention. In general, the level of competition is extremely cutthroat, making race wins--especially in the official championship races--very difficult to come by.
That said, there is plenty of satisfaction to gain from merely finishing races. Personal achievements aside, every race rewards you with in-game credits, mileage points--another in-game currency used to upgrade cars or purchase paint decals, wheel rims and the like to customize your car with--and experience points that raise your driver level. You're given a new car for each driver level you attain, up to and including level 20, and the Daily Workout bonus also gives you a new car after driving only 40 kilometers (just under 25 miles) in a day, so it doesn't take long to amass a personal car collection.
Where you fall on GT Sport will mirror how you feel about racing games in general. If you're looking for a highly focused console racing sim, GT Sport is excellent, but don't come looking for a robust "Gran Turismo" experience.
Given the focus on online races, the single-player campaign is more an elaborate training tool than any campaign from a prior GT game, geared to prepare you for the jump to racing online. Its three modes--Driving School, Mission Challenge and Circuit Experience--each cover a specific aspect of racing, be that the car handling, knowing the circuits or knowing how to race with other cars without running them off the road. In clear Gran Turismo tradition, hit the bronze target time for the exercise and you can move on. But although this is a good measure of your performance, a more detailed, visual breakdown of your runs would go a long way towards making these lessons more effective at making you a better racer. Accompanying YouTube videos give you an impression of how it's done, but something that gives more feedback would be more welcome. Arcade mode is the closest you'll get to the traditional style of campaign, letting you pick your car and track combo then race offline against the AI, who do a good job of racing cleanly but with a measured sense of aggression too.
Ultimately, where you fall on GT Sport will mirror how you feel about racing games in general. If you're looking for a highly focused console racing sim, GT Sport is excellent, but don't come looking for a robust "Gran Turismo" experience. You won't find it. Casual fans will feel the pinch of the scaled-down offering and the intimidating push towards racing online. But for sim-racers with a competitive spirit, it's easy to look past the smaller car and track roster and appreciate the incredibly detailed and responsive driving model, which is better than anything the series has offered before.
By Anonymous on Nov 15, 2017 10:25 pm The Lobby crew has spent much more time with EA's Star Wars Battlefront 2, and also offers their thoughts on Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Having trouble finding a SNES Classic? Retailer Walmart has announced that the mini console will be in stock this today, Thursday, and Friday, November 15-17. Units will be available starting at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET each day, which means you have three chances.
There is a limit of one per customer, and Walmart says supply is going to be "limited." It appears the units will be available on Walmart's website, though it remains to be seen if there will be units available in-store as well.
It doesn't happen often, but it's always shocking when it does.
There are currently two top prizes in WWE: the WWE Championship and the WWE Universal Championship. These belts seldom change hands, and when they do, it's typically on a massive stage like WrestleMania or SummerSlam. It's a marketing strategy; if a pay-per-view event increases the likelihood of a title change, people are more likely to open their wallets and buy the PPV.
But occasionally, the world title will change hands on a much smaller stage: on Raw or SmackDown, or even on a house show, where no television cameras are rolling. It keeps the storyline unpredictable. And it tells that fans that, yes, the house shows mean something! There is a chance (albeit a minuscule one) that fans who attend a non-PPV can see history happen in front of them. Imagine the thrill of buying cheap tickets to a weekly taping and seeing your favorite wrestler clinch gold.
Here are the most memorable times the WWE world titles changed hands at non-PPVs. Because like good ol' J.R. is fond of saying, "Anything can happen in the WWE."
AJ Styles
Here's the most recent entry. The WWE title never changes hands overseas as a matter of precedent. But AJ Styles is not a performer of precedent. He's the single greatest wrestler who is currently active. And when he pinned Jinder Mahal cleanly in the center of the ring, the Manchester Raw crowd, which couldn't have possibly expected a title change, roared in approval.
Styles' next obstacle is Lesnar in a non-title fight at Survivor Series, although eventually, he'll have to face Mahal again. And then fans will know for sure whether WWE has given up on the Maharaja or if it still thinks he can be the access point to India's market.
Edge Steals Mr. Kennedy's Moment of Glory
It was a 2007 SmackDown moment that befitted the Ultimate Opportunist. The current WWE World Heavyweight champion, The Undertaker, had barely made it out of his match with Mark Henry alive. And then the music hit, and out came Edge, Money in the Bank briefcase in hand, ready to cash in on the wounded champion. He hit his signature spear and pinned the Dead Man for his third world title win.
It was shocking and memorable, but it wasn't even supposed to happen. The original Money in the Bank winner, Mr. Kennedy, was supposed to cash in on The Undertaker instead of Edge. But unfortunately, Kennedy was diagnosed with a possible triceps tear, and he was forced to drop his briefcase to The Rated-R Superstar. To make matters worse, the triceps tear turned out to be nothing more than a hematoma, which meant that Mr. Kennedy gave up his title shot for no reason.
How different would WWE history be if Mr. Kennedy cashed in on The Undertaker that evening instead of Edge? Coulda, woulda, shoulda. But Kennedy never recovered from this early career snag. He later got suspended for Wellness violations and gained a reputation for being injury-prone. The company released him in 2009.
Steve Austin Gives Kane A One-Day WWE Championship Reign
Kane's first year with WWE was impactful, to say the least. He made his debut at Badd Blood during the Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell match by ripping off the cell door and tombstoning The Undertaker. Then, he fought The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Then, in June 1998, Kane defeated "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at King of the Ring to become WWE champion.
Unfortunately, Kane lost the belt back to Austin the following day on Raw, thanks to a well-timed Stone Cold Stunner. But Glenn Jacobs, the man behind Kane, holds no ill feelings about his short reign. He concedes that it was best for business--that Austin was once-in-a-lifetime talent who deserved his push. And Jacobs keeps fond memories of how electric the crowd was during their Monday rematch that evening.
Mankind Kills WCW
When Mankind, aka Mick Foley, won the WWE championship for the first time, WWE was losing the Monday Night war to WCW. But on Monday, January 4, 1998, WCW made a fatal mistake. Because Raw was pre-taped (Mankind actually won the title on December 29), WCW announcer Tony Schiavone spoiled Mankind's win on the live WCW Nitro, hoping that viewers would lose interest in the competitor.
Instead the opposite happened, 600k fans switched over from WCW to WWE. Foley was an overwhelming fan favorite, and knowing the result drew fans to WWE programming rather than away from it. WCW began losing the ratings war and would eventually go out of business three years later.
Don't Cross The Boss
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is often accused of nepotism. His daughter Stephanie and her husband, Triple H, both help run the company he founded. Clearly, McMahon wants to keep WWE in the family.
But one of his most nepotistic scripted acts occurred in September 1999, when he fought Triple H in the main event of SmackDown. Thanks to an assist from Austin, McMahon won the WWE championship, albeit barely; he had blood all over his face, and he staggered to his feet to accept the victory.
Thankfully, McMahon didn't hold onto the title; he vacated it the following Monday on Raw. He, more than most people, understood the championship's importance, and holding onto it for any longer could have compromised its integrity. It was publicity stunt, and thankfully, it didn't become any more than that.
The Miz Cashes In On The Viper
In 2010, Miz had a better reputation as a tag team specialist than a singles competitor, thanks to his fruitful tag partnerships with John Morrison and The Big Show. But then he won Money in the Bank, and on the November 22, 2010 episode of Raw, The Miz cashed in his contract on a tired Randy Orton, who had just successfully defended his WWE Championship against Wade Barrett.
Miz took a long difficult road to the top, from Real World reality star to WWE champion, with a whole lot of locker room hazing mixed in.
This clip, of Miz celebrating backstage after winning the title, is a fascinating peek behind the scenes. Particularly interesting are his interactions with McMahon, who warns him not to "f*** up," and John Cena, who Miz thanks for helping him improve in the ring.
Diesel Pins Bob Backlund In Eight Seconds
Bob Backlund was WWE's All-American hero and champion in the late 70's and early 80's. But he missed the massive wrestling boom that followed, and got none of the glory that his contemporaries, like Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan, would attain.
In the mid-90's, Backlund re-debuted, this time as an unhinged, dangerously violent heel, who insisted that everyone call him Mr. Backlund and was in denial that he ever lost the title to the Iron Sheik. In an unlikely turn of events, Backlund clinched the championship from Bret Hart at Survivor Series, after Owen Hart guilted their mother into throwing in the towel.
Backlund was champion. But a new reign of dominance was not meant to be. At a non-televised house show at Madison Square Garden on November 26, 1994, "Big Daddy Cool" Diesel kicked Backlund in the gut, Jacknifed him, and hooked the leg for a pin. The match only lasted eight seconds.
Diesel would go on to defend the title at WrestleMania XI against Shawn Michaels. And Backlund would persist for some time (including a kayfabe run for President of the United States) before fading into obscurity again. He recently resurfaced as Darren Young's manager and motivational speaker.
Following last week's promotional images for the upcoming Deadpool 2, we have a new teaser. In keeping with the theme of the Thanksgiving poster and magazine cover, this isn't a standard teaser, but it does briefly provide a first look at some footage from the movie.
The bulk of the teaser features Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) perfoming an art class in the style of Bob Ross, the much-loved TV artist who hosted The Joy of Painting on PBSthroughout the '80s and '90. Deadpool's take is, of course, somewhat more foul-mouthed, but keep watching for some blistering action from the movie itself. Check it out above.
An official synopsis has also been released by Sony. This almost certainly isn't actually the plot, but just in case, here it is: "After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Mayberry's hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor--finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World's Best Lover.
Who doesn't want to see that? Deadpool 2 hits theaters on June 1, 2018.
We've reached the midway point of the month, which means we're on the verge of getting our hands on some new Games With Gold titles on Xbox One and Xbox 360. But it also means that this is your last opportunity to claim some of the freebies that are currently available.
On the Xbox One side, today is the last day to claim a holdover from October's Games With Gold: The Turing Test. The puzzle game has been free since mid-October but will return to its regular price after today. On Xbox 360, it's Nights Into Dreams (an HD version of the classic Sega Saturn game) that will soon drop its freebie status. Take note that, as with all Xbox 360 Games With Gold games these days, it's backwards compatible with Xbox One, meaning owners of that system have two games to make sure they grab today.
Tomorrow, November 16, will bring with it the second half of the month's Games With Gold lineup. Tales From the Borderlands, Telltale's episodic spin-off of Gearbox's Borderlands franchise, will be free on Xbox One. Additionally, Indiana Jones-esque action-adventure game Deadfall Adventures will go free on Xbox 360 (and Xbox One). High-octane racing game TrackMania Turbo remains free for the entire month on Xbox One.
You can see November 2017's full Games With Gold lineup below; click any game link to queue up your download from Xbox.com. Meanwhile, Microsoft has launched the next set of weekly deals for Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Don't have time to re-watch Batman v Superman and the rest of the DC Extended Universe? Tamoor is here to give you a quick primer in the lead up to Justice League.
The Lobby crew has spent much more time with EA's Star Wars Battlefront 2, and also offers their thoughts on Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
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