Xbox One's steadily expanding library of backwards compatible games continues to grow. Major Nelson announced on Twitter that three more Xbox 360 titles are now playable on Microsoft's current-gen console, including two more installments from the Saints Row series.
Both the original Saints Row and the 360 version of Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell are now backwards compatible with Xbox One. That makes three Saints Row games to receive backwards compatibility support this month, following the addition of Saints Row II at the beginning of May. Rounding out the new BC games is the tabletop racer Toybox Turbos.
As always, if you own a physical copy of any of the aforementioned games, you can now pop it into your Xbox One to initiate a download and begin playing. Alternately, if you own any of the games digitally, you'll find them waiting automatically in the Ready to Download section of the My Games and Apps menu.
If you're interested in playing any of the new BC games but don't happen to own the 360 versions, you can also purchase them digitally from the Xbox Store. Saints Row and Toybox Turbos are available for $10 / £9 each, while Gat Out of Hell runs for $15 / £12.
Since it was first implemented back in 2015, backwards compatibility has been a very popular feature among Xbox One owners. Microsoft recently revealed that players have collectively logged nearly 1 billion hours playing backwards compatible games on Xbox One. You can see a full list of all the backwards compatibility games here.
Though it was previously renewed for a second season, the Roseanne revival has officially been canceled. The move to end the show comes after star and co-creator Roseanne Barr tweeted comments that compared former President Barack Obama aide Valerie Jarrett to an ape. "Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj," she wrote.
Though Barr apologized for the racist outburst, it was too late. In a short statement, ABC President Channing Dungey announced, "Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show." Robert Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney company, echoed Dungey's statement in a tweet. "There was only one thing to do here, and that was the right thing," he wrote.
The cancellation came after fallout from within the show's creative team over Barr's tweet. Comedian Wanda Sykes, who served as a consulting producer during Season 1, announced she would not return to the series. Meanwhile, executive producer and co-star Sara Gilbert condemned her TV mom's comments.
"Roseanne's recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. I am disappointed in her actions to say the least," she wrote on Twitter. "This is incredibly sad and difficult for all of us, as we've created a show that we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love--one that is separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member."
Roseanne's recent comments about Valerie Jarrett, and so much more, are abhorrent and do not reflect the beliefs of our cast and crew or anyone associated with our show. I am disappointed in her actions to say the least.
This is incredibly sad and difficult for all of us, as we've created a show that we believe in, are proud of, and that audiences love— one that is separate and apart from the opinions and words of one cast member.
Previously, co-showrunner Whitney Cummings announced she was leaving the show due to her stand-up comedy touring schedule and work commitments. Barr has yet to respond to the show's cancellation. The second season of the series was originally scheduled to return in the fall for 13 episodes. The first season was a smash hit for ABC in the ratings, where it ended the season as the number one scripted series on broadcast TV--topping NBC's This Is Us and The Big Bang Theory on CBS.
By Anonymous on May 30, 2018 12:09 am PUBG Corp is suing Fortnite developer Epic Games for aping its battle royale style on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile, while Battlefield 5 confirms it'll have zero lootboxes.
After suggesting it might take action, the developer of PUBG has filed a lawsuit against the creator of Fortnite on the ground of copyright infringement. PUBG Corp., which is based in Korea, filed its lawsuit against US-based Epic Games with the aim of getting the courts to decide if Fortnite represents some kind of copy of PUBG. A PUBG Corp. representative told Korea Times that its lawsuit against Epic was actually filed back in January in the Seoul Central District Court. Epic Games Korea, a division of Epic Games, is the defendant.
The report does not mention any specific claims in lawsuit, but PUBG Corp. said previously that it had "concerns" about Fortnite's UI, gameplay, and "structural replication" as it relates to the similarities between the gameplay and systems in both PUBG and Fortnite.
Adding to the drama, PUBG Corp. apparently had a business relationship with Epic, as the Korea studio licensed Epic's Unreal Engine for PUBG.
For more on PUBG vs. Fortnite, check out GameSpot's video above where we explore the legal side of the issue and speak to talk to video game attorney Ryan Morrison. Bear in mind that the video dates back to October 2017, and there have been some notable developments since.
In March, PUBG creator Brendan Greene--the Playerunknown from the game's title--said Fortnite is good for the battle royale genre overall. "It's great that the battle royale space is expanding and Fortnite is getting battle royale game mode in the hands of a lot more people," he said, as reported by The Verge.
This time last year, PUBG was seen as the No. 1 battle royale game, but a lot of attention and awareness currently is around Fortnite. Epic's game has exploded in popularity, and is reportedly a money-making juggernaut. A recent report said the free game brought in almost $300 million in revenue during April alone from its various microtransactions.
PUBG Corp.'s lawsuit against Epic is apparently limited to Korea. We searched the United States courts database and found no results for a lawsuit against Epic from PUBG Corp. That being said, whatever happens in the Korean lawsuit could impact other parts of the world. This will be an ongoing story, so keep checking back for more.
An Epic Games representative told GameSpot, "We don't comment on ongoing litigation."
It looks like some kind of new content is coming to Grand Theft Auto V's multiplayer mode. Developer Rockstar Games today published a cryptic tweet that lists off four electronic music artists: Solomun, Tale of Us, Dixon, and The Black Madonna.
Right off the bat, this looks like a reference to new music coming to GTA Online, either in an existing radio station or potentially a new one. Back in December 2017, Rockstar added a Frank Ocean radio station, so there is precedent for new music coming to GTA Online.
— THE BLACK MADONNA (@blackmadonnachi) May 25, 2018
Another rumour is that Rockstar is planning a "Nightclub" update for GTA Online that would allow you to own and operate a nightclub to bring in extra money. This is an unsubstantiated rumour for now, tracing back apparently to Twitter user Yan2295.
It would be no surprise at all to see Rockstar add even more content to GTA Online, as the developer has released substantial updates for the game on a regular basis. That's part of the reason why the game has been so enduringly successful.
During a recent earnings call, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said Rockstar has "much more" content to bring to GTA Online in the future. While GTA Online continues to make lots and lots of money from microtransactions, Zelnick added that Take-Two believes the game's performance will "moderate" this year. This is no big surprise, as Rockstar's new game, Red Dead Redemption 2, launches in October and it is expected to drive a lot of interest.
What more would you like to see from GTA Online in the future? Let us know in the comments below!
With a fourth Predator movie--sixth if you count the two Alien crossovers--coming out this September, fans of the franchise are wondering if it will in fact reboot the series. According to one of the stars of The Predator, it is a standalone film that doesn't undo anything within the Predator Universe.
Keegan-Michael Key, who plays ex-Marine Coyle in The Predator, recently discussed the plot and how the movie fits in to the rest of the franchise's universe. Many have been under the assumption that the film is a reboot of the entire franchise, wiping away previous installments, but this is not the case.
"What we're doing is a chapter of a larger story that we could call The Predator Universe," Key told CNET. "There are five movies in the Predator canon, and this will be the sixth. You could watch them in any order you want because they all exist in their own right."
Every Predator film brings something new to the table, reinventing itself for a new audience, so it doesn't necessarily need a reboot. Each story is about the hunter and the hunted, and that can be told numerous ways. Unlike the original film, The Predator will not take place in the jungle. As you can see in the trailer above, it seems to take place in North America; however, there are still people hiding from the Predator in the forest.
Not only will this movie stand on its own, but the two AvP movies, according to Key, exist within this canon. The first Predator movie was released in 1987 and followed a team of commandos in Central America who were being hunted by an alien. Since then, it has spawned numerous sequels, a toy line, and a few video games, including the 1994 arcade game Alien Vs. Predator.
Additionally, Key stated that in the movie he and Thomas Jane play ex-Marines who team up with a scientist--played by Olivia Munn--and she's developing technology to find alien life. "We become a kind of dirty half dozen of burned-out soldiers suffering from PTSD," explained Key. "[Director] Shane Black sent us a memo that was quite poetically written prior to shooting, and the gist of the memo was, 'I want a bunch of knights--a bunch of knights who were rejects from the Round Table--knocking the rust off their armor and going back into battle.' It's not about a bunch of heroes that are at the top of the game. It's about people who have been through life and are at the end of their careers. And for them to pick up their mantle again is part of the excitement of the film."
This isn't director Shane Black's first time dealing with this alien race; he appeared as Hawkins in the original Predator in '87. Black spoke to SlashFilm about expanding the franchise through the new movie: "[W]e just tried to take the existing mythology and take it a step further," explained Black. "Ask some questions about why? Why Predators do what they do? What would be the next step for them? How do we up the stakes so that there's not just a single Predator hunting a group of soldiers?"
If you follow these sorts of things, you'll know Sony is always happy to put on a sale. This year, between June 8-18, Sony is bringing back the Days of Play sale, a promotion that, according to a blog post, "celebrates the passionate PlayStation community and your endless support by offering epic deals at participating retailers across the US and Canada, while supplies last." You can find details about the European version of the sale here.
What kind of deals are we talking about? On the hardware side, you can get a PS4 Pro for $350--which is $50 off its normal price. PlayStation VR bundles will be available starting at $200. All colors of DualShock 4 wireless controllers will be $40 instead of $60.
As for which retailers will be participating, that has yet to be announced. You can probably expect Sony to get major video game retailers like Best Buy and GameStop on board, but we'll keep you informed as any new information arises.
Additionally, Sony is also introducing a limited-time Days of Play model of the PS4. It's blue and gold, and it comes with a 1TB hard drive and a blue controller. You can pre-order it now from GameStop.
Darth Maul only has three lines in all of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. He appears on screen for a mere six minutes. He doesn't do much more than ambush the Jedi in the desert, duel with them in the Theed Royal Palace, and die. That's it. Heck, even Boba Fett got his own animated cameo and a hard-to-get action figure to build the mystique before he was sacrificed to the sarlacc.
And yet, with his distinctive facial tattoos and signature double-bladed lightsaber, Darth Maul was simply too cool--and too popular--to get rid of so easily, and die-hard Star Wars fans know that Maul's story didn't begin or end on Naboo in 1999. These days, Maul is much more than the Emperor's former right-hand man. He's a major Star Wars villain in his own right. Here's how he got that way.
Be warned, though--spoilers for various Star Wars spin-offs, including a few recent ones, follow.
1. Darth Maul's fall from grace
Just in case you need a refresher: Darth Maul is Darth Sidious's apprentice in The Phantom Menace. You know the quiet fellow, a member of the horned Zabrak race, who fights against Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi in one of the series' all-time best lightsaber duels? Yeah, that guy. Unfortunately, in Episode I, Darth Maul doesn't last long. He manages to kill Qui-Gon, but before the movie ends Obi-Wan slices him in half, and the last time that we see Maul on the big screen he's careening down a reactor shaft in two separate pieces. By all indications, he looked dead, but we'd soon learn, that wasn't exactly the case.
2. A not-so-happy childhood
In order to fully understand Maul's story, you need to know how it began. Before Darth Maul served Sidious, he lived on the planet Dathomir, where he was raised by his mother, a powerful Force user named Talzin. While Talzin was originally slated to be Sidious's apprentice, the future Emperor reneged on the deal when he saw Maul's potential. Talzin never forgave him. Sidious kidnapped Maul and began to train him, while Talzin became Mother of the Nightsisters, an order of Force-wielding witches (and a big part of The Clone Wars animated series) and had two more sons, Feral and Savage Opress.
3. From Sith lord to junk lord
If Anakin Skywalker can survive a fall into molten lava, a minor injury like getting cut in half shouldn't be a problem for a Sith like Maul. It wasn't. The compendium Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know tells us that, as he fell, Maul used the Force to grab onto an air shaft, made his way to a dumpster, and ended up on a trash planet called Lotho Minor. He lived there for ten years, scuttling around on mechanical spider legs and preying on the local citizenry.
4. Mommy makes it all better
As the Clone Wars raged on, Savage Opress went looking for his brother. In the Clone Wars episode "Brothers," Savage finds him. By the time that Savage shows up, however, Maul is half-crazed and doesn't know his own name (Obi-Wan's, of course, he remembers just fine). Opress takes Maul back to Dathomir, and in the episode "Revenge," Mother Talzin restores Maul's mind, gives him some new robot legs, and sends him out to find Obi-Wan and exact his revenge.
5. The (other) revenge of the Sith
After naming Savage his apprentice, Maul embarks on an interstellar road trip, causing mayhem around the galaxy in an attempt to get Obi-Wan's attention. Along the way, Maul also puts together a small army of pirates, creating his own cartel. By the time that the Clone Wars episode "Revival" ends, however, things aren't looking quite so rosy for the Zabrak siblings: During a fight against Obi-Wan, Savage loses his arm and Maul loses a leg, their pirate allies betray them (because, duh, they're pirates), and both brothers end up stranded on an escape pod with dangerously little oxygen.
6. Some unexpected allies
In the Clone Wars episode "Eminence," help arrives in the form of some disgraced Mandalorians (i.e. the people who made Boba Fett's cool-looking armor) who call themselves the Death Watch. After the Death Watch heals him and his brother, Maul offers to help the Mandalorians retake their home planet. If common enemies like Obi-Wan, Count Dooku, and Darth Sidious die along the way? All the better.
7. A criminal enterprise, take two
Conquering a planet requires more than just a couple Mandalorians, however. Maul needs an army. Thankfully, he knows just where to find one. Using his natural charm and a wee bit of violence, Maul combines the Black Sun, Pyke, and Hutt cartels into a single syndicate and calls it the Shadow Collective. After liberating Mandalore, Maul says, he'll lord over a new criminal empire with help from both his gangsters and his Death Watch allies.
8. How to conquer a planet, the Darth Maul way
In "Shades of Reason," Maul and his army of thugs attack Mandalore, undermining the current ruler's authority. It works, and soon the Death Watch leader Pre Vizsla rules the planet. That's when things get messy. Vizsla betrays Maul and sends him to prison, but Maul escapes and kills Vizsla with the Darksaber, an energy blade that traditionally belongs to the Death Watch's head honcho. Maul claims the Darksaber for his own and installs a puppet government on Mandalore, establishing a home base that the Shadow Collective can use as it grows and conquers.
Obi-Wan Kenobi heads to Mandalore to save the planet's rightful ruler (and his would-be girlfriend), Duchess Satine Kryze, in "Lawless." As far as rescue missions go, it's a bust. Maul makes Obi-Wan watch as he uses the Darksaber to kill Satine, then sentences the Jedi to life in prison. Rogue members of the Death Watch help Obi-Wan escape, however, while Maul's continued reign of terror ends up attracting the attention of his old master, Darth Sidious. The Darth travels to Mandalore and murders Savage Opress but doesn't kill Maul; as Sidious explains, he has other plans for his former apprentice.
10. Maul vs. Dooku, round one
The Clone Wars didn't get a chance to finish its Maul arc, so the show's producers decided to fill in the blanks with a comic book series. In Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir, Darth Sidious reveals that he plans to use Maul to lure Mother Talzin out of the shadows, while Sidious' new apprentice, Count Dooku, wants to take over the Shadow Collective. Over the course of the miniseries, Maul escapes captivity and defeats Dooku, but before Maul can convince the count to abandon Sidious and join him, the Republic attacks. Dooku and Maul team up to beat their common foe, but must flee after they're outmatched by a Jedi strike team.
11. The end of the Shadow Collective
In Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir #4, Maul takes Dooku to Dathomir to meet Talzin, just like Darth Sidious planned. As Separatist forces bombard the Nightsisters' homeworld, Maul faces off against Sidious. It doesn't end well. During the conflict, Mother Talzin dies and the Shadow Collective suffers heavy losses. Unwilling to make more sacrifices to support Maul's personal vendettas, the heads of the galaxy's crime families terminate their alliance. With the Shadow Collective in shambles and Dathomir in the hands of the Separatists, Maul retreats to Mandalore.
12. Mandalore lost
Maul remains ruler of Mandalore until the very last day of the Clone Wars, when he's beaten by Anakin Skywalker's former apprentice, Ahsoka Tano. In the novel Ahsoka, the fan-favorite character reflects on the battle: during the siege of Mandalore, the Republic forces have Maul dead-to-rights, but Ahsoka must decide between rescuing her friend, the clone trooper Rex, and finishing Darth Maul off for good. She chooses Rex, and in the confusion, Maul escapes.
Warning: If you want to avoid Solo: A Star Wars Story spoilers, skip the next slide!
13. Third time's the charm?
The loss of Mandalore and the rise of the Empire doesn't end Maul's unlawful ambitions. While most of the story has yet to be told, by the time that Solo happens (around ten years before Episode IV: A New Hope), Maul is running his third criminal enterprise, the mysterious Crimson Dawn. Using his previous experience as head of the Shadow Collective, Maul runs Crimson Dawn from his hideout on Dathomir, while the gangster Dryden Vos serves as the syndicate's public face.
14. You know what they say about "all good things…"
We don't know how Maul's time with Crimson Dawn comes to a close, but we know that it does eventually. In Star Wars Rebels' second season, the Ghost's crew finds Maul on Malachor, where he's searching for an ancient Sith superweapon. In season 3, Maul uses Rebels' Jedi-in-training Ezra Bridger to track Obi-Wan Kenobi to Tatooine. There, Maul confronts Kenobi one final time, giving Obi-Wan the chance to finish the job that he started 30 years earlier. He takes it, and Maul's story comes to an end.
Sony is bringing back Days of Play this year, offering tons of deals on games and hardware. Alongside the great offers, the company is also releasing a new limited-edition PlayStation 4. The console and controller are blue, featuring iconic PlayStation details in gold in several places.
The Days of Play Limited Edition PS4 has a 1TB hard drive in the US and Canada, with a big gold PlayStation symbol on the top of the console. It comes with one matching DualShock 4 wireless controller, which also features gold PlayStation symbols on the touchpad. In Europe and Australia, the console is 500GB and includes two controllers. The blue and gold PS4 will be available starting on June 8, but Sony says it will only be around for a "limited time." It will cost US $300 / £250.
The special edition PS4 comes alongside a host of hardware deals for Days of Play. From June 8-18, you can get yourself a Jet Black PS4 Pro for $350 and a PSVR bundle for $200. There are also deals on controllers, including all colors of DualShock 4 controllers going for $40.
Of course, there are also deals on some big PS4 games too. God of War is the standout; you'll be able to purchase it for $50 during Days of Play. Gran Turismo Sport, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Shadow of the Colossus will all be on sale for $20, while MLB The Show 18 will be available at the sale price of $40. There are also deals on PlayStation Plus and other subscriptions, and you can see all the details on PlayStation's site.
Capcom's Mega Man series is ready for its comeback with the release of the newest installment for the classic series. Coming October 2 to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, Mega Man 11 brings back the old-school incarnation of the Blue-Bomber as he takes on another set of Robot Masters--all of whom have some new tricks up their sleeves for the leading man to inevitably take for himself. While the fairly recent Mega Man 9 and 10 kept the traditional 8-bit style, 11 shows off brand-new 2.5D visuals that gives a more unique presentation--while still channeling that same retro charm. We recently had the chance to go hands-on, and fans of classic Mega Man will finally have a worthy follow-up for the legendary series after such a long wait.
Mega Man 11 brings back a number of developers and artists who worked on the original games for the series' return, which aims to balance that classic style with some more modern mechanics. Much like its predecessors, Mega Man and his allies Roll, Dr. Light, and Rush do battle with the persistently nefarious Dr. Wily as he plots to take over the world--again. This time around, the Mad Scientist has stolen experimental robot upgrades from the Robot University to power up his cyborg lieutenants, making them more dangerous than past villains. However, Mega Man has got some new skills of his own, boosting his trademark shoot and jump abilities as he takes out each of the Robot Masters one by one.
Based on our hands-on time with the game, playing through the Block Man and Fuse Man stages, it all felt like a familiar, yet still fresh revisit to the old-school series. Though the game's new visuals are a departure from that 8-bit look---which may draw the ire of purists--Mega Man 11's new 2.5D aesthetic not only retains that same structure and feel of the classics, but the upgraded graphics also present a far more detailed and vivid look. Showing off a number of in-jokes and nods to current bosses, such as Block Man's stage showing off hieroglyphics dedicated to his accomplishments, there's a much stronger sense of personality and tone throughout each level.
As is tradition with Mega Man games, you'll work your way through several levels shooting robots and jumping over tough obstacles to face-off against the stage's unique boss. During these battles, you'll have to use their weaknesses against them to defeat them and gain their powers--which also earns Mega Man a new costume that matches the style of the power-up. Moreover, Mega Man can call upon his allies, such as the cyborg hound Rush, to make use of gadgets to reach secret areas and hard-to-reach spots.
While that classic formula is intact, Mega Man 11 also includes four unique difficulty levels--Newcomer, Causal, Normal, and Superhero--to ease in fresh players and vets alike. As the name implies, Newcomer mode lets players not accustomed to the series play through the game with some light challenges. This setting also allows players to overcome deadly pitfalls with the help of Mega Man's flying-ally Beat, preventing death from those hazards entirely. The hardest difficulty, Superhero, offers the game's toughest challenge, with Mega Man only able to sustain a few number of hits before dying.
The biggest change to the gameplay is the Double Gear system. At any time, Mega Man can activate two special power-ups that can amplify his attack strength or his overall speed. The Power Gear will increase the effectiveness of his blast attacks--offering faster energy shots and even a double charge shot--while the Speed Gear slows down time, allowing the Blue Bomber to evade projectiles and make challenging jumps with ease. When you're low on health, you'll be able to activate both gears at once to enter a powered up state that restores some of Mega Man's health. Overuse of these skills however will cause Mega Man to overheat, preventing him from using any of these buffs for a short time. This can be especially bad during boss battles or some tricky platforming sections that require some extra precision, leaving you at a loss.
This added mechanic may seem a bit unnecessary, especially when paired with the time-tested formula of the Mega Man series, but it surprisingly adds a new layer of strategy to many of the smaller engagements, along with the bigger set-piece platforming and boss battle scenarios. During one section during Block Man's stage, the speed buff came in handy trying to maneuver past his many traps. As more of a risk-reward system, it's usually most effective when used sparingly. With that said, purists can rest easy knowing that the developers made a point of allowing players to finish the game without having to use any of the special buffs. But they do help when things get tough.
Mega Man 11 looks to have its heart in the right place when it comes revisiting the old-school series. It feels more like a natural evolution of the classic, side-scrolling action of the original games, while still showing off what some modern flair can do for the series. With its release coming October 2, fans of the franchise--which seemed like it couldn't catch a break for a long time--will finally be able to play through the next installment that's focused on bringing Mega Man back to its roots, while still showing that it's still got the moves to keep up.
With E3 just around the corner, Bethesda is currently teasing something Fallout related. The company first tweeted a gif of a TV test card displaying words long associated with the Fallout series--"Please stand by"--and now it is livestreaming a similar picture on its Twitch channel.
The stream shows a television showing the same test card as was seen in the tweet, with a figure of Vault Boy standing in the foreground. Additionally, a man walked on set drinking an unidentified beverage, before walking off. Your guess is as good as ours. Take a look at the stream below.
It's not yet clear exactly what the company is teasing, nor when we will find out more. Bethesda's E3 2018 press conference is set for Sunday, June 10 at 6:30 PM PT / 9:30 PM ET (2:30 AM BST / 11:30 AM AET on June 11), so we should find out more then at the very latest. For more, check out the full E3 2018 press conference schedule.
The most recent game in the post-apocalyptic series is 2015's Fallout 4, which later came to VR as an HTC Vive exclusive in 2017. October 2018 also marks the 10-year anniversary of Fallout 3's original launch. What do you think Bethesda is teasing, and where would you like to see the series go next? Let us know in the comments below.
The 1990s were a period of change for WWE; it included the fall of the Golden Age, the rise and fall of the New Generation Era, and the rise of the Attitude Era. In the space of a decade, WWE drew both its biggest and its lowest television ratings.
For ten years, WWE went through several rosters worth of talent in search of the next big star. And though the company eventually hit paydirt with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, it wasn't for lack of trying, as this gallery attests.
Here are 7 WWE wrestlers from the '90s who never made it big. They may have had a respectable career before or after their tenures "up north." But they never received their proper due in professional wrestling's biggest promotion.
In today's WWE, Hakushi would have been a top midcarder. The White Angel possessed hard-hitting moves, a high flying style, and a serene countenance, which juxtaposed him with every loudmouth on the roster. Hakushi also decorated his body with rows of "tattoos" running up and down his face, chest, and body. It was eye-popping, and it must have taken eons to apply backstage.
Hakushi debuted as a heel, and during his one major feud--against Bret Hart--he accused the Hitman of making racist remarks about the Japanese. When he turned babyface shortly afterward, WWE didn't know how to utilize Hakushi's quiet menace, so they paired him with Barry Horowitz as a comedic duo.
After being "branded" by Bradshaw, Hakushi "quit" WWE out of shame. He didn't win a single WWE title during his run, though he would subsequently have a long career in various Japanese promotions.
Adam Bomb
Adam Bomb was a nuclear meltdown survivor from 3-Mile Island. He was a 6'9", 300 pounder who could hustle. He was a believable asskicker with great fundamentals; what he lacked in artistry he made up for with intensity. He also had a memorable entrance; the lights went out, and a green, mushroom-shaped cloud would explode over the ring.
For years, he bounced around the midcard; he was popular with fans, even though he never won a WWE title. But then, according to Adam Bomb, he was lied to by Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco, who told him that he would get a run with the Intercontinental Championship after King of the Ring (1995). When the opportunity never materialized, he headed for WCW.
Waylon Mercy
This character was subversive and ahead of its time. Ring veteran Dan Spivey played Waylon Mercy, a genteel, polite man who liked to shake his opponent's hand before the match. When the bell rang, however, Mercy became an unhinged, bug-eyed psychopath, who cinched in life-threatening sleeper holds for way too long. Spivey loosely based the Mercy character on Max Cady, the deadly villain from Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear.
Unfortunately, Spivey was at the end of a long career. He only wrestled in WWE for several months before he was forced to retire due to injuries. Bonus trivia: Spivey inspired Bray Wyatt to create his backwoods cult character. If you compare Mercy and Wyatt's promos side-by-side, the similarities become even more obvious.
Duke Droese
This is an example of how gimmicks can go horribly wrong. Duke Droese was a big man with great tools, a showy finisher (tilt-a-whirl power slam), and a ton of charisma. The only problem was his gimmick; he was a garbage man who entered the ring to the sounds of a truck's warning signals.
He never held a WWE title, but Droese made the most out of his lower card spot. He was a mainstay on WWE Superstars, where he got a consistent, positive response from WWE audiences. He even had a catchphrase; he hollered, "Time to take out the trash" right before delivering his finisher, which he dubbed the Trash Compactor. His most significant moment was actually a loss, he put over Triple H at In Your House 6 (1996) before leaving WWE that same year--the result of mounting physical injuries.
Tatanka
Tatanka was a natural babyface. He was a "proud Native American" (for real; he was a member of the Lumbee tribe) and he remained undefeated for close to two years. He sold a ton of merchandise; kids bought those foam tomahawks by the boatload.
But that entire time, Tatanka never won a WWE title. It's been rumored that he was supposed to win the Intercontinental Championship from Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania, but Tatanka won by countout, which meant that the title didn't change hands.
Tatanka would later turn heel and join the Million Dollar Corporation, which prevented him from doing his war dance, his air chop, and all the other signature moves that fans loved. He left WWE in 1996, and unlike many of his contemporaries, he declined an offer to join WCW, citing family issues.
Lex Luger
Prior to his stint in WWE, Luger was a decorated multi-time champion in WCW. He debuted in WWE in 1993 as the Narcissist, who posed in front of a full-length mirror before taking on his opponents. But he soon transitioned into being an All-American good guy, complete with red, white, and blue gear. The way Luger was booked and featured, most onlookers assumed he was WWE's new main eventer. Fans considered it a foregone conclusion that he would defeat Yokozuna at SummerSlam (1993) to win the WWE title.
And although Luger did beat Yokozuna at the big event, it was by countout, so the title never switched hands. The "win" killed Luger's momentum. He later tagged with the British Bulldog as The Allied Powers, and though he was a fan favorite, his world title contention days were behind him. Luger returned to WCW in 1995. For the two years he spent "up north," he never won a single WWE title.
Doink The Clown (Matt Borne)
Most casual WWE fans know about the "good guy" version of Doink the Clown. For the majority of his existence, the Doink character has been a silly diversion--a good-natured entertainer who, along with partner-in-crime Dink, played good-natured pranks on his opponents.
The original Doink was portrayed by wrestler Matt Borne, who played the character as an evil, angry clown. His entrance music was filled with creepy, off-kilter laughter. Borne's Doink was more Joker than Bozo; the WWE cameramen always panned to the little kids in the audience, who were invariably terrified.
Evil Doink didn't last very long. WWE turned Doink face after less than a year, and shortly afterward, the company fired Matt Borne for drug abuse. Ray Apollo then took over the role, and Doink became the kid-friendly mischief-maker he's now known as. Multiple people have portrayed Doink over the decades, but never with the sinister undertones that Borne brought to the role.
We're now nearly halfway through 2018, and the year has already seen some great TV shows, including Westworld, Altered Carbon, The End of the F***ing World, Black Lightning, Everything Sucks, and the return of Jessica Jones. But there's loads more to come. While fans will have to wait until 2019 before we get more Stranger Things and Game of Thrones, there are still a ton of small screen goodies worth getting excited about. There's the return of some of 2017's best shows (Mindhunter, Ozark, Black Mirror), more offerings from Marvel and DC, some lavish reworkings of classic sci-fi and horror properties, and a handful of intriguing new titles. So here's the biggest TV shows to watch over the rest of the year...
Cloak and Dagger
Freeform, June 7
On the fact of it, the upcoming Marvel show Cloak and Dagger seems similar to Hulu's own Marvel series Runaways--runaway teens coming to terms with their emerging superpowers. But Cloak and Dagger, based on the popular '80s comic book, should make for a more darker and emotional ride. Aubrey Joseph and Olivia Holt play two kids who are living on the streets of New York, using their control over darkness and light to fight a drug epidemic sweeping the city.
Glow Season 2
Netflix, June 19
The comedy drama centered around an '80s all-female wrestling cable show was one of Netflix's most acclaimed new series last year, and it's back for a second season in June. Like Season 1, Glow will consist of ten 30-minutes episodes. All the main cast return, including Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Sydelle Noel, Kate Nash, and Britney Young, with comedian Marc Maron playing their grumpy manager Sam. The first teaser was a glorious '80s music video pastiche, and it sets the tone for what should be another wildly entertaining season.
Marvel's Luke Cage/Daredevil
Netflix, June 22 (Luke Cage)
Iron Fist and The Defenders may have cracked the impeccable partnership Netflix cemented with Marvel but that doesn't mean all hope is lost with the comic book giant's street level heroes. While Frank Castle came in to disrupt Marvel's small screen universe, it's clear that Daredevil and Luke Cage still have more work to do.
Preacher season 3
AMC, June 24
This adaptation of Garth Ennis's cult comic book has proved something of a mixed bag over the past two season; as Gamespot's reviewer Michael Rougeau said back in September, the show is "flashes of brilliance dragged down by hours of plodding distraction." But it's proved popular enough for AMC to greenlight a third season, and when Preacher is good, it's very good indeed. This season will see the show's trio of misfits--preacher-turned-criminal Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), outlaw Tulpi (Ruth Negga), and vampire Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun)--on the trail of God, who has gone missing from heaven. Their quest leads Jesse back to the a place he has spent his whole life avoiding: the Louisiana Plantation where he was raised.
Heathers
Paramount, July 25
Heathers is the classic 1989 high school satire; it established Winona Ryder and Christian Slater as two of the biggest young stars of that era, and they went on to influence many high school movies in the following years. Three decades later, there's a TV adaptation of the '89 film on the way, in which "good girl" Veronica Sawyer attempts to navigate school life and deal with a vicious group of girls, all named Heather. The show features 10 hour-long episodes, and the cast includes Shannen Doherty, who played the lead Heather in the original movie.
Castle Rock
Hulu, July 25
The Stephen King renaissance has shown no sign of slowing down and with Castle Rock, Hulu's aiming to bring the author's story universe to the small-screen. The program's cast features names like Sissy Spacek, Bill Skarsgard, and Melanie Lynskey. But what makes Castle Rock so special is the connected nature of the anthology series itself. Fans should expect to see familiar stories, characters, and themes that originated in the author's previous works. There may be a decent wait before Pennywise the Dancing Clown returns to the big-screen, but that's okay. We're about to head back into Shawshank Prison, and that's pretty dang cool.
Sharp Objects
June, HBO
The HBO drama is inspired by Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name. The series stars Amy Adams as a journalist who heads home after a stint in a psychiatric facility, only to find herself investigating the murder of two girls. If you take the tone and subject matter of Flynn's previous work (Gone Girl) and add Jean-Marc Vallee's (Big Little Lies) directorial skills into the mix, it's easy to see Sharp Objects' edgy allure.
Jack Ryan
Amazon, August 31
Tom Clancy's CIA analyst Jack Ryan has been portrayed by almost as many actors as James Bond, in a much shorter space of time; John Krasinski will be the fifth star to play the character since 1990. According to director Daniel Sackheim, this new 10-part TV adaptation of Clancy's best-selling spy novels will take Harrison Ford's more down-to-earth interpretation as the basis for the character, rather than the more heroic version played by Ben Affleck and Chris Pine. And of course, Krasinski is now the director and star of one of the year's biggest movies--A Quiet Place--ensuring that Jack Ryan will get plenty of attention when it premieres in August.
Doctor Who Season 11
BBC, October
It's always exciting when a new actor takes on the role as the iconic Timelord, but the debut of the thirteenth doctor this October is a really big deal. Jodie Whittaker replaces Peter Capaldi and is the first woman to play the Doctor. Whittaker had a brief appearance at the end of the recent Christmas Special, but fans will have to wait until October to see how her portrayal differs from previous incarnations. There's a new showrunner too, as Broadchurch's Chris Chibnall succeeds Steven Moffat. Finally, the Doctor's assistant is to be played by comedian Bradley Walsh.
The Walking Dead Season 9
AMC, Fall
While much has been written about The Walking Dead's falling ratings, it remains a hugely popular show, so don't expect it to go anywhere any time soon. The zombie drama returns later this year for its ninth season under new showrunner Angela Kang. Her predecessor Scott Gimple remains involved as AMC's chief content officer, and last month, he told Variety that Season 9 would see the show "evolve in a huge way." Could this mean the two-year time jump that occurred at the same point in the comic books? We'll find out in the fall.
Nightflyers
Syfy
Long before he created the world of Game of Thrones, author George RR Martin wrote the short novel Nightflyers, a sci-fi horror story about a group of scientists who embark on a mission into deepest space to make contact with alien life. The story was adapted into a movie in 1987 and has now been turned into a new TV show by SyFy. This is one of the network's biggest productions to date, and the first trailer suggests that it will be as much a horror story as a space adventure. Boardwalk Empire's Gretchen Mol stars.
The Purge
Syfy
The Purge is one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years--the three movies to date have made more than $319 million worldwide on modest budgets, and the fourth movie is set to hit theatres in July. But if that weren't enough, there's also a 10-episode TV show on the way. It's being produced for Syfy and will be overseen by franchise creator James DeMonaco, who also wrote and directed the first three films. It's set once more in a dystopian future where the annual Purge allows citizens to get all their violent, criminal impulses out, and according to early reports, will focus on a Marine who returns home to protect his sister on Purge Night. There's no premiere date yet, but it was recently announced The People v. O. J. Simpson director Anthony Hemingway will helm the first episode, so there's a good chance we might see it before the year is out.
Maniac
Netflix
Maniac will probably be one of the weirder series of the year. Given the names attached, though, the show comes with huge buzz. Cary Fukunaga helms the dark comedy, which stars Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, and Justin Theroux. The story centers on a patient living in a psychiatric hospital who escapes reality by living his life inside a fantasy world maintained solely inside his own mind. It sounds bonkers, but if Fukunaga brings the same sensibilities he brought to True Detective, the network may have a winner on its hands.
Titans
DC Universe
While the quality of DC's movie output has been variable (to say the least), its roster of TV shows remains remarkably consistent. Titans is the latest addition. A live-action version of the Teen Titans, it's been in development since 2014, but shifting channels and cancelled pilots has meant very slow progress to the screen. But it is finally set to premiere in 2018, on DC's new digital service. Australian actor Brenton Thwaites (Gods of Egypt, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) plays Dick Grayson/Robin, leading a team of young superheroes that includes Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Netflix
The Coen Brothers are coming to TV. That sentence alone should get people excited. The duo--who brought classics like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and No Country for Old Men to the big screen--will both write and direct a new western anthology series for Netflix. The six episode program will star Tim Blake Nelson, with each episode following a different character and story. Not much else has been announced regarding the series, but that's fine. The Coen Brothers are coming to TV and that's pretty awesome.
The Umbrella Academy
Netflix
A comic book property outside of Marvel's purview is on its way to Netflix. The Umbrella Academy comes from the mind of My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way. The series tells the story of some not-pregnant women who suddenly give birth to a bunch of superpowered babies. Taking place in an alternate timeline--one where JFK is still very much alive--the story follows seven kids as they undergo training to save the world. Ellen Page has been tapped to star in the program, and Way will serve as producer.
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Amazon
The classic 1975 movie Picnic at Hanging Rock is one of the most distinctive movies of that decade; it's a haunting, dreamlike drama about the mysterious disappearance of a group of Australian schoolgirls while on a trip to the Outback in 1900. Amazon is bringing a new version to the small screen later this year, and the first trailer suggests it will expand on the story of the original while keeping its super-creepy vibe. It stars Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell from Game of Thrones) as the school's headmistress, and the cast also features Orange is the New Black's Yael Stone and Samara Weaving, who starred in last year's Netflix horror comedy The Babysitter.
The Twilight Zone
CBS: All Access
Since anthology TV shows are all the rage now, it seems only right that the granddaddy that started it all come out of retirement. Jordan Peele (Get Out, Key and Peele) and Simon Kinberg (Deadpool, Logan) have teamed up to bring a new Twilight Zone to the masses. Sure, multiple versions of The Twilight Zone have graced the big and small screen over the past 60 years--some better than others--but now seems like the perfect time for the series to return.
Ozark, Season 2
Netflix
When Ozark premiered last year, many compared it to Breaking Bad, both in terms of its plot (an ordinary family man who chooses a life of crime) and its mix of violent thrills and dark humor. But the show quickly grew into its own thing and emerged as one of 2017's most enjoyable original series. Season 2 already has a teaser and has been shooting since last fall, so there's a good chance of it arriving in 2018. Jason Bateman returns as money-laundering dad Marty Byrde, with Laura Linney as his estranged but equally duplicitous wife Wendy. As Bateman says: "It's a good escalation of everything as far: danger, the business challenges, and--domestically--our relationship."
Better Call Saul, Season 4
AMC
Better Call Saul began life as a spin-off prequel of Breaking Bad but has become a great show in its own right. The series is slowly heading to the point at which we first meet Jimmy McGill in Breaking Bad--he's now using the name Saul Goodman, and an increasing number of characters from the original show have made appearance over the past two seasons. But ultimately, Better Call Saul is about the bitter rivalry between two brothers, namely Jimmy, played by Bob Odenkirk, and Michael McKeen's Chuck. There's no premiere date yet, but production started in January, so expect it before the end of the year.
The Haunting of Hill House
Netflix
Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Gerald's Game) is one of the best horror directors working today, and 2018 will see him turn his talents to TV. Produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin TV, this is an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel, which was also turned into the classic 1963 movie The Haunting (the less said about the 1999 remake the better). Annabeth Gish (Sons of Anarchy, The West Wing) stars as Mrs. Dudley, the caretaker of a haunted estate, with roles for Timothy Hutton (All the Money in the World) and Gerald's Game's Carla Gugino. Flanagan has written and directed the whole 10-part series, and this could be one of the year's great horror shows.
Luther, Series 5
BBC
Fans of Luther were both excited and dismayed when the series returned for a two-episode fourth season in 2015. With a busy actor like Idris Elba playing the title role, sometimes schedules can be tight. That said, it looks like Elba has donned his signature tweed coat for another go-round as brilliant detective John Luther. We don't know what sort of gruesome crimes he will be investigating, but one thing is for certain: Idris Elba is at his best when the world is at its worst. Right now, John Luther is the hero we need and deserve.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Netflix
Channeling the success of Riverdale, another Archie Comics story was in the works at The CW. But due to their concern of having too many witch shows--the network's Charmed reboot is still on the horizon--the untitled Sabrina the Teenage Witch series was handed over to Netflix. The series will explore the origins of the half-witch, half-mortal as she battles the evil forces that threaten her friends and family. Tonally, Deadline describes the series as being "in the vein of Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist."
Mindhunter Season 2
Netflix
This is another Netflix show without a confirmed release date, but star Jonathan Groff has said that the second season of the period crime thriller is to start shooting early this year, so a late 2018 premiere is possible. The first season of Mindhunter showed that producer David Fincher was just at home with small-screen serial killer thrills as he is in movies such as Zodiac and Seven. The balance between a seriously dark crime procedural and a beautifully performed, character-driven drama was exceptional, so hopes are extremely high for Season 2.
Black Mirror, Season 5
Netflix
Netflix has confirmed that Charlie Brooker's hugely acclaimed sci-fi anthology series will return for a fifth season. While the streaming giant is yet to announce a release date, the previous two seasons arrived a year apart, so there's good chance we might see Black Mirror Season 5 before the end of the year. Season 4 was the strongest season to date, so expect the next one to deliver more disturbing but darkly funny predictions about the way technology continues to shape our lives. Can't wait.
If you're in the market for digital Xbox One games, you've come to the right place. We have the full rundown on all the best video game sales live on the Xbox Store this week. You can save money on everything from newer games like Fe to classics like Red Dead Redemption.
The current sale isn't as extensive as some other recent weeks, but a good number of genres are represented. If you're into shooters, you might want to take a look back at one of the most iconic series from the previous generation with BioShock: The Collection, on sale for $20 / £15. Racing fans can get Need for Speed: Ultimate Bundle for $33 / £30. It comes with the core game from 2015, plus all the DLC and expansions. And fans of futuristic sports can rev their engines on the field in Rocket League for $11 / £9. All of Rocket League's DLC packs are on sale as well.
Looking back a little further, the Xbox 360 still has a massive catalog of great games, many of which are backwards compatible on Xbox One. A handful of those games are on sale now, including Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Braid (both half off at $5 / £3). Or, if you want to brush up on Red Dead Redemption before its much-anticipated sequel launches later this year, you can for $10 / £25.
Here are the rest of our picks for the best games on sale at the Xbox Store.
June is right around the corner, which means a new selection of free Games with Gold will soon be available for Xbox Live Gold members. That makes this week your last opportunity to grab May's free titles for Xbox One and Xbox 360 before they return to their regular prices.
On Xbox One, Gold members can still download two free games: Super Mega Baseball 2 and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The former will only be available until May 31, while the latter will be up for grabs through the first half of June, giving you a bit of time to download the critically acclaimed stealth game if you haven't yet.
On the 360 side, Platinum Games' cult favorite shooter, Vanquish, is free to download until May 31. Like other 360 titles offered through the Games with Gold program, Vanquish is also backwards compatible with Microsoft's newer console, giving Xbox One owners three potential freebies to grab right now.
You can see the full list of May's free Games with Gold below. They'll be replaced by a new lineup of freebies for Gold members on June 1. On the Xbox One side, the Assassin's Creed spin-off, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia, will be free to download for the entire month, while Sega's Xbox 360 racer, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, will be available until June 15.
Two more freebies will follow partway through the month. Beginning June 16, Xbox One owners will be able to grab the Smite Gold Bundle, which includes gods, skins, and other extra content for the free-to-play game. 360 owners, meanwhile, will be able to download Lego Indiana Jones 2: The New Adventures, which will also be backwards compatible with Xbox One. You can see June's free Games with Gold here.
May 2018 Games With Gold
Xbox One
Super Mega Baseball 2 (May 1-31)
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (May 16-June 15)
Xbox 360 (playable on Xbox One)
Streets of Rage (May 1-15)
Vanquish (May 16-31)
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