Even though it's mid-May and the days are growing warmer, you can pretend it's still winter and conquer snowy mountains in Steep, an extreme sports game that's 100% free to claim from the Ubisoft Store right now. The game normally sells for $30, but you can grab it for $0 and it'll be yours to keep as long as you claim the title before 6 PM (your local time) on Tuesday, May 21.
To claim the free game, just click the green text that says "Get it for free before 5/21," and you'll be prompted to either launch Uplay (Ubisoft's PC games platform) or download it for free if you don't have it already. Once in Uplay, you'll be able to claim the deal, and Steep will automatically be added to your Ubisoft account so you can play immediately.
In Steep, you'll take to the snowy Alps to ride, perform stunts, and compete with other players. There are four unique ways to travel around: skis, wingsuit, snowboard, and paraglider. You can create your own tricks and challenge friends to beat your records, or just ride around exploring the snowy mountain terrain, discovering secret spots and enjoying the spectacular view.
"Steep's reflective moments and the sheer joy of its exploration can outweigh some of its rougher points, and some of the most fun it offers comes from simply traveling to undiscovered locations--just you against the mountain," wrote critic Leif Johnson in GameSpot's Steep review.
Gotham City can't seem to catch a break from the villainy. That's the case once again for the CW's latest superhero series, Batwoman, which just launched its first full trailer and an extended clip from the pilot.
The female Caped Crusader is joining the Arrow-verse full time, and she has her sights set on cleaning up the streets along the way. In the three-minute trailer, Kate Kane (Ruby Rose) is introduced as coming home to Gotham and picking up where her cousin Bruce Wayne left off. She quickly integrates herself into the city, before suiting up and donning a cowl.
According to a synopsis for the show, what brings Kate back to Gotham is the Alice in Wonderland gang targeting her father. The crew is headed by Alice (Rachel Skarsten), who is one of Batwoman's biggest comic book villains, and maybe the nearest thing she's ever had to her own version of The Joker.
The synopsis continues, "With the help of her compassionate stepsister, Mary (Nicole Kang), and the crafty Luke Fox (Camrus Johnson), the son of Wayne Enterprises' tech guru Lucius Fox, Kate Kane continues the legacy of her missing cousin, Bruce Wayne, as Batwoman. Still holding a flame for her ex-girlfriend, Sophie, Kate uses everything in her power to combat the dark machinations of the psychotic Alice, who's always somewhere slipping between sane and insane. Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, Kate soars through the shadowed streets of Gotham as Batwoman. But don't call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, she must first overcome her own demons before embracing the call to be Gotham's symbol of hope."
While a premiere date has not been announced for the series, The CW has revealed it will air Sundays at 8 PM. Additionally, though it hasn't been confirmed, it's likely that the show will be featured in the upcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover.
Microsoft and Sony have announced plans for a strategic partnership that will include technology and information sharing, as well as shared infrastuctures for some of their initiatives. While the announcement doesn't mention the Xbox or PlayStation brands specifically, it does suggest the partnership will focus on consumer entertainment platforms including gaming.
Specifically the agreement says that the two will jointly develop future cloud solutions within Microsoft Azure. It also says that Sony will use Microsoft Azure for its own game and content-streaming services, including a push to build better tools for content creators. The two are also committing to work together on semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
"PlayStation itself came about through the integration of creativity and technology," Sony president Kenichiro Yoshida said in the announcement. "Our mission is to seamlessly evolve this platform as one that continues to deliver the best and most immersive entertainment experiences, together with a cloud environment that ensures the best possible experience, anytime, anywhere. For many years, Microsoft has been a key business partner for us, though of course the two companies have also been competing in some areas. I believe that our joint development of future cloud solutions will contribute greatly to the advancement of interactive content."
"Sony has always been a leader in both entertainment and technology, and the collaboration we announced today builds on this history of innovation," added Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. "Our partnership brings the power of Azure and Azure AI to Sony to deliver new gaming and entertainment experiences for customers."
Xbox head Phil Spencer and Nadella also followed up with tweets that stressed the entertainment and gaming aspect of the partnership.
Excited about the opportunities ahead with @Sony for us to pursue our mutual gaming ambitions and delight players around the world. https://t.co/3vBuQiruiR
The partnership has only just been announced, so any results from it could take a while to manifest. The mention of Microsoft's cloud solutions in gaming comes just as Microsoft is planning its own streaming platform, xCloud., which will compete directly with Google Stadia. It's unclear how this could impact PlayStation's streaming platform, PlayStation Now.
Season 9 of Fortnite rolls on with a new set of challenges to complete across PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. Most of Week 2's challenges are fairly straightforward and should be easy enough to clear with a little persistence, but one that you may have trouble with--especially if you aren't very familiar with Fortnite's island--is to visit an oversized phone, big piano, and a dancing fish trophy. If none of that made sense to you, don't worry, we're here to show you exactly where you need to go.
As the challenge name says, all you need to do to complete this mission is to visit the three aforementioned landmarks. The tricky part is actually finding them, but to make this easier, we've marked their locations on the map below. There are two oversized phones around the island, either of which will suffice to complete the first step of the challenge: one in the forest to the east of The Block, and the other on the edge of the snow biome west of Fatal Fields.
The big piano--which is more accurately a big keyboard, but that's neither here nor there--can be found east of Lonely Lodge. Once you've visited those two landmarks, all that's left is the dancing fish trophy; that's located just southwest of the new Mega Mall area. Stop by all three objects and you'll net five Battle Stars for your troubles. If you still need more help finding them, we walk you through the whole challenge in the video at the top of this guide.
Oversized Phone, Big Piano, and Dancing Fish Trophy Locations
Oversized Phone 1 -- East of The Block
Oversized Phone 2 -- West of Fatal Fields
Big Piano -- East of Lonely Lodge
Dancing Fish Trophy -- Southwest of Mega Mall
On top of the standard weekly challenges, Epic has kicked off a special John Wick crossover event in Fortnite this week in honor of the movie's premiere in the US. Not only are there John Wick-themed cosmetics to buy from the Fortnite store, there's a new Wick's Bounty limited-time mode, which comes with its own challenges to complete and rewards to unlock. These won't be around for long, however, so if you're hoping to snag them, you'll need to act quickly.
Fortnite's Week 2 challenges arrive hot on the heels of the game's 9.01 update, which added a new weapon to the game: the tactical assault rifle, a fully automatic gun with a 30-round magazine. To make room for it, however, Epic has vaulted the combat SMG. You can see everything else that's new in the full patch notes on Epic's website. And if you need help completing any other challenges, you can find tips in our full Season 9 challenges guide.
The Epic Games Store launched its first storewide sale today, and to mark the occasion, Epic is converting its biweekly game giveaways to weekly now through June 13, the duration of the Mega Sale. Starting today, Stories Untold is the newest free game you can claim from the Epic Store, and while you'll still have two weeks to claim it as usual, another freebie will be available starting next Thursday, May 30. To claim Epic's game giveaways, all you need is a free Epic account.
Stories Untold is a genre-mixing anthology of four stories that bring in elements of psychological horror, sci-fi, suspense, and 80s retro nostalgia set to a synthwave soundtrack. Released in 2017, the game incorporates classic text adventure, point-and-click puzzle-solving, and other types of gameplay in each episode, which come together in a mysterious, yet cohesive package. Its unsettling commentary on technology is very Black Mirror-esque, if you're into that type of thing.
"This is a unique package with a strong sense of identity, one that finds a new, exciting way to weaponize nostalgia," wrote critic James O'Connor in GameSpot's Stories Untold review. "Just know that you might not look at the old Spectrum or Commodore 64 you've got packed away in the attic quite the same way again after playing."
Rime, a puzzle-adventure set on a mysterious island, is the next free game on Epic's docket and will become available to download and keep starting next Thursday, May 23. In the meantime, be sure to check out the rest of the deals going on in the Epic Store right now. Not only are many PC games discounted, but Epic is also offering an additional $10 off any game over $15, including pre-orders on games like Borderlands 3. If you've purchased from the Epic Store in the past two weeks, you'll receive a refund for the difference between what you paid and the sale price, and if you've pre-ordered a game from them over $15, you'll be refunded $10 sometime in the next two weeks.
During a video stream, Ubisoft explained why it hadn't used matchmaking for this raid, and said that it is still working on a solution--though it didn't go into detail about what exactly it is. Asked if there will eventually be a way for players who don't want to find a group outside the game to participate in the raid, associate creative director Chadi El Zibaoiui said "yes, we are working on it," but then pivoted to explaining the decision not to use a traditional matchmaking feature.
"You need to be sure that the team you are going to work with has microphones, speaks the same language, has the proper gear to support the team," he said. "It's not about a simple matchmaking as we do for the missions. A mission or any other content, you can eventually do with randoms, and you will manage to beat that content."
Previously in a statement, Ubisoft explained the communication required for a successful raid led to the decision. It also stressed that it was still working out a solution, and that there was no way for the company to simply "turn on" 8-player matchmaking. While Ubisoft stressed that all of the launch content had matchmaking as promised, some players have complained of feeling misled by the distinction.
The Saw series is one of the most successful horror franchises of all time, so it's not surprising that a reboot is in the works. What is more surprisingly is that the story for the new Saw movie has been developed by Chris Rock, who is better known for his stand-up and comedy films than for gory horror movies.
As reported by Deadline, Rock has written a new Saw storyline that is being adapted into a screenplay by Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg. Goldfinger and Stolberg wrote the last movie in the series, 2017's Jigsaw, as well as movies such as Piranha 3D and Sorority Row. The Saw reboot will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, who previously helmed Saw 2, 3, and 4.
In turns out that Rock is a big fan of the franchise, which kicked off in 2004 with James Wan's classic Saw. In a statement he said: "I've been a fan of Saw since the first film in 2004. I am excited by the opportunity to take this to a really intense and twisted new place."
Long-time Saw producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules gave a few more details about the movie. "Chris wants to put his own spin on the Saw franchise in the way Eddie Murphy put a completely fresh perspective on buddy-cop films with 48 Hours," they said. "This new Saw is going to be an event film in the making for horror fans. It will have all of the twists and turns and hardcore layers that our fans expect directed by one of the masters of the craft, Darren Lynn Bousman. We can't wait to get started."
This isn't the first time a high-profile horror movie has been co-written by an actor best known for comedy roles. Eastbound and Down star Danny McBride worked on last year's Halloween reboot, which grossed more than $254 million worldwide.
Although Jigsaw wasn't as successful as some of the other entries, it still made $102 million worldwide, from an estimated production budget of $10 million. For more Saw coverage on GameSpot, check out the Saw movie series ranked from worst to best.
The grudge match between Miz and Shane McMahon, which we originally thought escalated at Wrestlemania, continues at Money in the Bank on Sunday, May 19. This time around, the two will meet in a steel cage, so the continuing trend of McMahon messing with Miz's father at ringside, may be off the table.
However, a recent stipulation from the May 14 episode of Smackdown may have changed things up. McMahon stated during the Tuesday night program that if the Miz interferes in the final match of the evening, their match was off. And, of course, the Miz interfered. However, the match is still listed as happening, so we do not know at this point as to whether or not that will come into play at the PPV.
McMahon has also been surrounding himself by other WWE superstars as protection, almost like a Mean Street Posse 2.0. From Elias to Eric Young to Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel, The Miz always has an army of superstars to get through in order to get to McMahon, but will this factor into the match? "They are more like the B Street Posse," Miz told GameSpot while promoting his reality show Miz And Mrs. on the USA Network. "So, with a steel cage match, hopefully I will be able to contain everything inside the steel cage. That's the idea of a steel cage. To make sure that nobody can get in, and basically only one guy gets out."
One constant in the war between the two men is Miz's father who has been at ringside for many moments and harassed and assaulted by McMahon. At this time, Miz isn't sure if his father will be there to cheer him on. "I haven't figured that out yet, actually," explained Miz. "I know Shane put out a tweet saying, 'I got your dad a front row seat.' I don't know if I want my dad there. The reason why I wanted a steel cage is because I didn't want Shane to have to run from me. I watched what he does to Roman Reigns, puts him in situations where he's got three or four people that he has to fight off. Shane is going to be stuck in a cage with me, and that is it. And if you watched our match at Wrestlemania, you saw what I did there. Just wait to see what I do at Money in the Bank in the steel cage."
Find out if Miz can come out on top on Sunday, May 19 at Money in the Bank, which GameSpot will cover and review live. Maryse and Miz's reality show, Miz And Mrs airs on Tuesdays at 10 PM ET on the USA Network. Season 1's mid-season finale airs on May 21.
The Xbox One May 2019 update is rolling out, bringing a variety of improvements mostly centered around organization. Your Friends List, Messages, and Games and Apps will all be a little easier to navigate after you download the update.
The Friends List update adds icons that will let you know at a glance what platform your friends are playing on--one for Xbox One, PC, or mobile. As Xbox eyes expanding its Live service to other platforms, this is likely to become increasingly important going forward. For the time being, it's nice to have a little more information about what your friends are up to.
Messages are getting tidier too. The Message Requests feature will more intelligently sort messages, prioritizing ones from your friends or anyone else you've communicated with, and sorting others from unknown contacts into a secondary tab. As part of the update, Microsoft warns, all previous group messages will be lost and will need to be manually archived through Xbox.com. You can review your messages here.
Finally, your Games and Apps are getting a little cleaner by cutting articles like "a," "an," and "the" from the alphabetical sorting. For example, that means The Witcher 3 will be sorted under "W" instead of "T." Microsoft notes that this change was prioritized by a community vote, and that you can participate in future similar votes through the Xbox Idea Hub.
Dubbed the Epic Mega Sale, the store is offering markdowns up to 75% off on some PC games. In addition, $10 is slashed off the price of any game over $15, including already discounted games and pre-orders, at no cost to the publisher or developer. That encompasses upcoming games like Borderlands 3, one of its biggest exclusives, which you can now pre-order for $50, and the recently announced John Wick game, John Wick Hex, which you can pre-order for $8 instead of $20.
Just purchased something from Epic and wish you'd waited? If you bought a game between May 2 and May 15 in the Epic Store, you'll be refunded the difference between what you paid and the sale price. And if you've pre-ordered a game from the Epic Store that cost more than $15, you'll receive a $10 refund within the next couple of weeks. The only exceptions to the $10 off deal are DLC, game add-ons, season passes, and in-game purchases, such as V-bucks in Fortnite.
In addition to all the store-wide discounts, Epic announced its free biweekly game deal is expanding during the Mega Sale, which runs now through June 13. In that time period, a free game will be given away every week, starting with today's offering, genre-bending anthology Stories Untold.
Dates for Steam's 2019 Summer Sale leaked (once again) yesterday--it'll start June 25 and last two weeks--so Epic's Mega Sale seems strategically timed to precede that one. While Steam's sale will no doubt have the greater volume of games, Epic's deals (particularly the $10 off one) are nothing to sneeze at, and it's a good chance to grab cheaper pre-orders on upcoming games and some free PC titles. Either way, June is gearing up to be a great month for PC gamers on a budget.
Join GameSpot as we celebrate gaming history and give recognition to the most influential games of the 21st century. These aren't the best games, and they aren't necessarily games that you need to rush out and play today, but there's no question that they left an indelible impact on game developers, players, and in some cases, society at large.
In 2000, PC gaming was largely a "serious" scene. Counter-Strike, Diablo II, and Deus Ex all launched that year, Valve's Half-Life had launched two years prior, and id Software's Quake still had legs four years after its release. They were joined by one very odd duck: The Sims. It was the evolution of developer Maxis' previous success in SimCity, but on a more personal scale. It was freeform, goofy, and much more "casual" than its contemporaries, and it was clearly something special.
The Sims blended the best of what simulation games could offer with lessons learned from none other than Quake, which laid the foundation for modern game modding and the communities that surround it. With accessible modding tools and a built-in sharing platform, The Sims brought community-made content to a broader audience. Through this platform, it fostered a space to explore games as a passionate and social experience. That had a greater impact on players than it did the development of other games, but it was an important one all the same. The Sims resonated especially with girls and women--for many of them, it was a gateway into a world that was otherwise incredibly hard to reach.
When The Sims arrived, there wasn't really anything like it. There were Maxis' own Sim games, the highlight of which was SimCity, and 3D home-design software was popular. But a virtual dollhouse, one in which you controlled the narrative, the relationships, the look and personality of a person and their home--that was novel. The Sims took simulation and scaled it down, not in complexity, but in scope. Rather than managing an entire city, you managed a life. And, unlike most other games at the time, there was no real way to fail. Whether something was a win or a loss was entirely up to you.
As it turns out, that appealed to a vast audience. The Sims was a near-instant best-seller, and critics adored it, too. Common praise included the game's infectious personality and charm, its great sound effects, and its hard-to-define "addictive" quality. It was even GameSpot's Game of the Year in 2000, and what we wrote then captures what made it stand out so much:
"Despite the game's basic strategic elements, one of the reasons The Sims is such a remarkable game is because its central conflict is essentially life itself. Most any other game gives you a concrete objective: You're pitted against powerful enemy armies, arch-rivals, deadly aliens, or fantasy creatures. The Sims offers a similar challenge, but in the unlikely form of your having to manage the mundane details of an average suburban life. This witty, ambitious premise actually turned out to be a truly impressive game as well."
In 2002, the Sims surpassed Myst to become the best-selling PC game of all time. More than half the players were female, which surprised people--including Maxis co-founder and Sims creator Will Wright, who had thought of The Sims as a game with broad appeal rather than a game specifically geared toward women. Even more so than in recent years, this was a time when gaming was very much considered a male hobby. But it was women that treated The Sims more like a hobby, and a popular hypothesis was that they gravitated toward its domesticity, lack of violence, and emphasis on interpersonal relationships. However, while the exact demographics were unexpected, the passion with which these women approached the game was, indeed, by design.
The Sims was built from the ground up to be a community-led experience. Maxis released modding tools months before the game itself came out, and player-made content was brought together by an official website called The Sims Exchange. There, players could upload buildings and Sims they'd created and download others' creations--and these sharing features were accessible right from the game's menu. That meant even a casual player would have no trouble finding, participating in, and becoming more and more involved in The Sims and its community.
The entire purpose of The Sims Exchange was to enable creativity and storytelling. Custom content uploaded there wouldn't fundamentally alter and/or build upon what The Sims was, as was the case with some popular mods for other games around that time (and to this day). Instead, you found carefully handcrafted parks and buildings that you could easily fit into your game as it already was. You followed that kind of customization as far as was possible and used your imagination to fill in the rest, and that, too, tied in with the community; The Sims Exchange was home to vast libraries of annotated screenshots that comprised player-created stories.
Even a casual player would have no trouble finding, participating in, and becoming more and more involved in The Sims and its community.
Even outside the proper channels, it was easy to connect with others through The Sims. Sims did a lot of crazy things, not the least of which was setting themselves on fire while trying to cook, and exchanging those stories was good for a laugh. We also can't overlook the importance of The Sims as an inclusive experience. It was one of the only games at the time to include homosexual relationships (though that part did and still does get overlooked), and you could, of course, make your Sims look how you wanted. Critically, and likely because of its broad appeal and comparatively normal themes, The Sims didn't carry as much of the stigma that other games did. For adults and especially for female players, playing and talking about The Sims wasn't met with the same kind of derision that playing something violent or "nerdier" often incited. If you felt isolated from or unwelcome in gaming before, The Sims was your ticket to freely explore it.
In 2003, one big competitor emerged: Second Life. The MMO-like life simulator allowed you to create and customize an avatar as well as virtual property, and much of the content was user-generated. Because of its online nature, however, Second Life was also at the center of a number of controversies, including gambling and pornography worries. It also suffered from technical problems and security concerns. Compared to the disappointing and short-lived Sims Online--which didn't have custom content, a key part of The Sims' popularity--Second Life was a far greater success. But Second Life emphasized role-playing with others over creativity or management aspects, which ultimately made it and The Sims very different games.
For the most part, The Sims cornered the market on itself. Maxis released seven expansion packs between the game's launch and the end of 2003, keeping interest high. And, of course, the community also gave it legs. The Sims stayed popular and active through the release of The Sims 2 in late 2004. Now, after four main installments, The Sims is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time, ranking among series like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty.
There are other life-sim games out there, some of which most likely took inspiration from The Sims, but the full extent of The Sims' influence is seen in its players rather than in other games. The Sims 4 has an incredibly dedicated YouTube community, and custom content is still thriving. The Sims doesn't have many direct progeny in games, but it's a household name; it's still the game that even the gaming-averse can pick up and become absorbed in.
Season 9 of Fortnite kicked off on May 9, bringing a new Battle Pass and a bunch of fresh cosmetics to unlock with it, and resetting the weekly challenge rotation. By now it should all be second nature to you, but on the off chance you're new to the game, here's the skinny: To unlock the rewards that are part of the Battle Pass, you'll need to do the weekly challenges. These award you Battle Stars, which level up the pass and grant access to items attached to the various tiers.
What makes it slightly more complicated is that there are two kinds of passes. The first is a free version available to everyone. The second is a special one you need to pay V-Bucks to get. If you cough up the cash, you'll get more challenges on a weekly basis, which naturally means more Battle Stars and unlocks.
Week 2's challenges are now available and, in large part, are pretty easy to complete. The one that may give you a bit of trouble is exclusive to the premium pass and asks players to "visit an oversized Phone, a big Piano, and a giant Dancing Fish trophy." If that's confusing, don't worry about it, we'll have a guide for it up shortly. You can see the remaining challenges below.
Free
Launch off of Air Vents in different matches (5) -- 5 Battle Stars
Stage 1: Land at Snobby Shores (1) -- 1 Battle Star
Eliminate opponents in Sunny Steps or Shifty Shafts -- 10 Battle Stars
Premium
Deal damage with Pistols to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Visit an oversized Phone, a big Piano, and a giant Dancing Fishy trophy (1) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search a chest in different named locations in a single match (3) -- 10 Battle Stars
Stage 1: Eliminate an opponent from at least 50m away (1) -- 3 Battle Stars
Fortnite's v9.01 patch arrived on May 15 and added the tactical assault rifle to the game, which is handy because John Wick has made an appearance in the game, and we all know he loves a good assault rifle. Make sure to check out all the new skins and other unlocks to see what you could earn for keeping up with weekly tasks. If you need a hand with Week 1's challenges, head over to our Fortnite Season 9 full challenge guide.
This week also marks the arrival of a John Wick limited-time mode. You can unlock some cool rewards that have been plucked straight out of the movies, but you'll have to work for them by completing the Wick's Bounty LTM challenges.
Sega has announced 10 more games for the lineup for its Genesis Mini, bringing the grand total of revealed games up to 30 out of a total 40. The latest round includes some notable franchises and hard-to-find gems.
Leading the list this week is Mega Man: The Wily Wars. The compilation of the first three Mega Man games was an exclusive to the Sega Channel, so many fans may not have gotten a chance to play the ports. Capcom also gets representation with the addition of Street Fighter 2: Special Championship Edition. Other additions include Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Phantasy Star IV, Sonic Spinball, and more.
As part of the announcement, Sega also revealed that the 6-button controller will be available as well. It will release in late August at a price of $20. That means you'll actually be able to grab a controller or two ahead of the Genesis Mini worldwide launch on September 19. The mini-console will cost $79.99 US/£69.99/€79.99/AUD$139.95
Check out the full list of revealed games so far, with the newly announced additions in bold.
To coincide with the release of John Wick 3, Epic Games has launched an event that brings the stoic assassin to Fortnite, allowing players to unlock a number of cool customization options that will proudly show off their love of the film series. The Wick's Bounty LTM is live now on all platforms, as are the challenges that will get you the rewards.
Said rewards include Back Bling styled after the Gold Coin the assassins in the world of John Wick use as currency, the one Shot Glider, and the Boogeyman Wrap. Those are all free, but if you spend some V-Bucks in the in-game shop, you can also get the John Wick outfit and the Simple Sledge Pickaxe.
The LTM involves taking out enemies for coins. However, the more enemies you kill, the more obvious you become to remaining players, which means the bigger the target on your back. This fits nicely with the overall plot of John Wick 3, which sees the character fighting for his life thanks to a bounty that has been placed on his head. You can see the details for the LTM below, as well as the challenges and the rewards.
Wick's Bounty LTM Details
Solo/Duo/Squads
Eliminating a player awards one gold coin for every elimination they have + however many bounty points the target had.
Top three coin leaders are displayed on a HUD scoreboard (Bounty Leaders).
250 coins
Coin leaders have a gold/silver/bronze #1/2/3 icon over their heads
400 coins
Coin leaders can be seen on the map/compass when they are nearby and moving or shooting.
600 coins
Coin leaders can be seen by everyone on map/compass when they are moving or shooting.
Coin leaders will have a gold/silver/bronze glow around them
Once a player crosses the last point threshold, they will remain on the map and have the alt Wick skin for the rest of the match, even if they lose the point lead. First to 1000 tokens wins the match.
Wick's Bounty Challenges
Complete Any 5 Challenges (below) to earn the reward item (5) -- Gold Token
Win a match of Wick's Bounty (1) -- One Shot Glider
Play matches of Wick's Bounty (5) -- Boogeyman Wrap
Collect Gold Tokens (120) -- 500 XP
Collect Gold Tokens in a single match (20) -- 500 XP
Deal damage with the Combat Shotgun (500) -- 500 XP
Deal damage with the Tactical Assault Rifle (500) -- 500 XP
While it was controversial with series fans from the moment it was announced, DmC: Devil May Cry was largely well-received by critics. Positive review scores aren't the only beacon of good fortune for the divisive entry in the hack 'n' slash franchise, however, as Hideaki Itsuno, the director of multiple Devil May Cry titles, would love a sequel.
According to a report from USGamer, Itsuno--who's worked also worked on multiple other Capcom games including Power Stone, Capcom Vs. SNK 2, and Dragon's Dogma--would have no problem with a DmC 2. But there's a catch: for Itsuno, British developer Ninja Theory has to be on the project again. Otherwise, as Capcom producer Matt Walker added, "It wouldn't be DmC without Ninja Theory."
"On the dev side we certainly wanted to and thought we would work with Ninja Theory again to create a sequel to DmC, but that unfortunately didn't get off the ground," said Itsuno, who expressed interest in a sequel.
Walker agreed with the sentiment, saying, "We'd still love to see a sequel, but we think it absolutely has to be made by Ninja Theory--so much of the amazing style and substance in that game was only possible because they have such a knack for what's cool."
Apart from DmC, Ninja Theory is most known for developing action games such as Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Heavenly Sword, and the critically-acclaimed Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (which recently made the jump to Nintendo Switch). Ninja Theory was acquired by Microsoft and folded into the company's Xbox Game Studios in 2018, meaning if a DmC sequel were to happen, it'd require Microsoft's blessing to be multiplatform or end up an Xbox and PC exclusive.
In our DmC: Definitive Edition review, we said that the "numerous tweaks and upgrades of DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition have made a game that isn't just a better version of DmC, but a bonafide hack 'n' slash classic."
While a DmC 2 may not be in the works any time soon, fans of the action franchise recently got Devil May Cry 5 to tide them over, which we awarded a 9/10.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the latest round of layoffs came this week. The job cuts are described as "widespread" and affecting Disney's studios. There is no word on how many staffers were affected by the cuts, which reportedly affected Disney and Fox studios.
Officially, Disney has not commented.
The new round of cuts come alongside the news that Disney is likely to pay around $9 billion to buy Comcast's stake in video streaming site Hulu. Disney already owned two-thirds of Hulu, and Disney is now buying the remaining share to assume total ownership of it.
THR points out that Disney has a number of financial expenditures ahead of it, including further investments into content and programming for its Netflix rival Disney+. Not only that, but Disney is reportedly spending around $24 billion over the next five years to upgrade its theme parks and cruise lines.
As of September 30, The Walt Disney Company reportedly had more than 201,000 employees, and this was before the Fox deal closed.
As part of Disney's acquisition of the majority of Fox's assets, it gets Deadpool, X-Men, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and numerous others, as well as a series of TV networks and film studios. It is one of the biggest mergers in the history of the entertainment business.
Just after Disney's deal to buy Fox closed, the company shut down Fox 2000. The film studio produced movies like The Devil Wears Prada, The Fault in Our Stars, Man on Fire, and the Oscar nominated Hidden Figures.
Fox will live on in a limited capacity, with a new company--Fox Corporation--operating units such as the Fox News Channel, Fox Sports, and other TV networks.
The Nintendo Switch has now surpassed the lifetime sales of Sony's PlayStation 4 in Japan. New numbers from Famitsu (via GI.biz) show that the Switch has now sold 8.13 million consoles in Japan, which is slightly ahead of the 8.07 million PS4s sold in Japan.
It's a particularly impressive achievement for the Switch in Japan, as it's only been on sale for two years compared to the PS4 which has been sold in Japan for five years already.
On a global basis, however, Sony's PS4 is miles ahead of the Switch. Sony has sold 96.8 million PS4 consoles worldwide, which compares to 34.74 million Switch systems sold globally. Still that latter figure means Switch has already outsold previous Nintendo hardware such as the GameCube and N64.
Portable systems tend to perform better in Japan than other parts of the world, which may explain in part why the Switch has done so well there. The potential for multiple systems to be bought for a single household provides an advantage for handhelds. Nintendo has previously said it wants every person to own a Switch, rather than one per family.
The Golf Club 2019, which is the third entry in the series and the first with the official PGA Tour license, is free on Xbox Live right now. It's free on Xbox One for Xbox Live Gold members through the Games with Gold program. The game is available for subscribers at no extra cost until June 15, and as long as you're Gold subscription remains active, you can keep playing.
The game was released in 2018 and has been marked down to $30 USD, but free is an even better deal if you're a Gold member and you like golf. The previous release, The Golf Club 2, is included with Xbox Game Pass.
GameSpot's review of The Golf Club 2019 scored it an 8/10. Other reviews were mostly positive as well, but you should know that this is a challenging golf sim, not an arcade game.
The Golf Club 2019 features the PGA Tour license which brings a number of real-world Tour courses to the game, including TPC Boston, while the game has a course-editor, too. There are no player likenesses, however, so you can't tee it up as Tiger Woods.
The game goes free on Xbox Live at a time when golf is surging into a new level of prominence and attention, as the PGA Championship--one of golf's four Majors--takes place in New York starting Thursday.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige held a Reddit AMA on Wednesday, in which he answered lots of questions about Avengers: Endgame and the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. You can wade through the entire AMA here, while we've compiled a rundown of notable comments here.
He didn't give anything away about the much-anticipated MCU Phase 4--although that didn't stop fans from asking about things like characters he wants to see--but he did offer some intriguing granular updates on the history and future of the MCU.
Feige stated that the upcoming Disney+ MCU shows, including WandaVision and the one about Loki, will feature stories that are "totally and completely" woven in the main MCU movies coming up. The executive also confirmed that Marvel Studios generally has a five-year plan for the MCU, though the team does less specific planning on a much longer timeline. What's more, he suggested that other people at Marvel did not want Robert Downey Jr. to play Iron Man and that he personally had to fight to get him cast in the role.
You can check out some of the AMA highlights below, but be sure to check out the full Reddit AMA here to see everything Feige had to say.
The next big superhero movie that Marvel is connected to is July's Spider-Man: Far From Home, which was made by Sony in conjunction with Marvel. Although we had gotten a trailer for it prior to Endgame's release, a more revealing trailer debuted recently and showed how the new movie picks up from Endgame. Far From Home may be introducing some major elements into the MCU, including the concept of the multiverse. Far From Home caps off Phase 3 of the MCU, and after Endgame concluded without an after-credits scene, it might be Spidey's next outing that sets up where Phase 4 will go.
Some of the other upcoming MCU projects include a standalone Black Widow movie, Shang-Chi (which could film in Sydney), The Eternals, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (with James Gunn now back in charge), as well as sequels to Doctor Strange and Black Panther.
Kevin Feige Reddit AMA Highlights:
The Disney+ MCU shows will be woven "totally and completely" into the new movies. [Full quote]
They planned to adapt the Infinity Gauntlet comic not long after the release of the first Avengers in 2012. [Full quote]
Stan Lee did not get to see the final cut of Endgame before he passed away but Marvel briefed him on the story points. [Full quote]
Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo pitched numerous ideas for The Hulk, some of which led to what was seen in Thor: Ragnarok, Infinity War, and Endgame. [Full quote]
Feige doesn't like being filmed, but he can be seen as a Weapon X technician covered in blood in the first X-Men. [Full quote]
He knows the truth about Captain America and if he is the father of Peggy's kids in Winter Soldier. But he won't tell you. [Full quote]
His team usually has a five-year plan for the MCU, but there is a general, less specific plan that extends "much, much further." [Full quote]
Of all MCU actors, Feige had to fight the hardest to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. [Full quote]
Feige loved Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse [Full quote]
Valve announced today that the Steam Link app, which brings streaming games to your mobile device, is now available as a free download for iOS and Apple TV. This is notable because it was just 11 months ago that Apple rejected the app because it violated a number of Apple's guidelines.
At the time, Apple said it planned to continue to communicate and worth with Valve to bring Steam Link to iOS and Apple TV, and that's now happened. However, there is no word on how the two sides came to terms.
The Steam Link app promises to bring "desktop gaming to your iPhone or iPad." Users can pair a Steam controller or any MFI (Made-for-iPhone/iPad) controller to play games over a network connection provided they are on the same local network.
Here are the requirements and specifications for "best performance," according to Valve.
Requirements:
iPhone or iPad using iOS 10 or higher
Computer running Steam - Windows, Mac, or Linux
iOS device must be on the same local network as the computer running Steam
Best Performance:
Connect your computer using Ethernet to your 5Ghz WiFi router
Connect your iOS device to the 5GHz band of your WiFi network
Keep your iOS device within a reasonable range of your router
The Steam Link app is effectively a replacement for the physical Steam Link device that Valve discontinued in 2018. Steam Link is already available on Android.
HBO's Game of Thrones wraps up its eighth and final season this Sunday, but what will the show's creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff do next? Apart from a new trilogy of Star Wars films for Disney, Weiss and Benioff are reportedly currently visiting studios looking for big "overall" deals.
According to Deadline, Weiss and Benioff have met with as many as six "big media companies" for new "overall" deals that would cover TV, film, and streaming projects that they could write, direct, and produce. Those said to be in the mix are HBO, Disney, Comcast, Netflix, Amazon, and Apple, according to Deadline.
Of course, Weiss and Benioff are already partnered with HBO and Disney for Game of Thrones and Star Wars, respectively, so that could impact negotiations. According to Deadline, the duo are not looking to "rush into a decision." Given the massive success of Game of Thrones, it certainly seems like Weiss and Benioff certainly have bargaining power.
During its May 2019 Direct, Nintendo announced several bundle deals for pre-ordering Super Mario Maker 2. One, a brand-new game voucher-based deal, was announced as a promotion for pre-ordering Super Mario Maker 2, but it can be used to buy any Switch game. Unfortunately, it's not very good.
If you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, then for $100 USD you can now buy two Switch Game Vouchers from the Nintendo eShop. With these two vouchers, you can download any two Switch games. For example, you could pre-order Super Mario Maker 2 and buy Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and save $20 USD on the two games' combined retail price. But considering a Switch Online subscription already costs $20 USD, you don't actually save money unless you already own a subscription.
This offer is limited-time and ends July 31, so if you want to take advantage of it, don't wait too long. In a press release, Nintendo revealed vouchers "are redeemable for one year from the date of purchase and don't have to be used at the same time." Nintendo hasn't announced if future games will become eligible for use with the vouchers, such as Pokemon Sword / Shield or Animal Crossing.
There's also a Super Mario Maker 2 and Nintendo Switch Online Bundle, which goes live in the Nintendo Eshop on June 28. You get both the game and a 12-month individual subscription for $70 USD, which is a $10 USD saving on the typical combined retail price of both. Considering you need an online subscription to play most of Super Mario Maker 2's modes, it's not a bad deal for those who have yet to buy a membership and want the upcoming game.
During E3 2019, Nintendo is hosting several esports tournaments: the Super Mario Maker 2 Invitational 2019, the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate World Championship 2019 3v3, and the Splatoon 2 World Championship 2019. All three will be held on June 8. The Super Mario Maker 2 Invitational is the newest of the bunch, and it will pit four members of the Super Mario Maker community against each other in a variety of courses designed by Nintendo's Treehouse team.
Nintendo also has a pre-recorded E3 2019 Nintendo Direct scheduled for Tuesday, June 11 at 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM BST. Nintendo hasn't announced which games the Direct will focus on, other than Switch titles scheduled for 2019. Most likely that means Pokemon Sword / Shield or Animal Crossing (or both).
The original John Wick was fairly self-contained; although it hinted at a deeper universe of secret societies and god-like assassins, John Wick 1 was ultimately about a dude getting revenge for his dog. But John Wick 2 delved far deeper into the assassin's world, elaborating on the lore of the Continental Hotels, the High Table, and additional wrinkles like blood markers that symbolize a debt. John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum continues to build on the series' mythology, and some of the movie's actors have theories about why fans always want to know more about the world of John Wick.
"The notion of a secret society of assassins that literally has its own hotel chain is fascinating," Lance Reddick, who plays the New York Continental concierge Charon, told GameSpot. "It's a story we haven't seen before."
Reddick also attributed the series' success at drawing in hardcore fans to star Keanu Reeves. "I just feel like people identify with Keanu so readily," Reddick said. "The way his character's set up and the way that he plays it, it has such a vulnerability to it. And at the same time, you identify with his pain and you want to cheer for him. But by the same token, seeing him being able to do all those fantastical, badass things fulfills people's fantasies."
Asia Kate Dillon, who plays a new character called the Adjudicator in John Wick 3, agreed. "You have this man who has gone through a series of devastating losses, and then because he was an assassin, we get to see the way in which he uniquely seeks revenge because of that loss," Dillon said. "I think as human beings, we can all relate to having lost something or someone that we love."
But revenge fantasies writ large on the silver screen are nothing new, and John Wick might have simply come and gone if it was set against a simple, real-life backdrop of an assassin working for the mob. But by marrying the tried-and-true emotional experience of watching a relatable character get vengeance with an intriguing criminal underworld unlike anything seen before, John Wick left a lasting mark.
"The exciting thing about the second film and [John Wick 3] is that we just get to go deeper and deeper into the John Wick world," Dillon said. "It really feels like it's something that had to have been a graphic novel first, or had to have come from somewhere, but it didn't. It is all the vision of [director Chad Stahelski] and Keanu."
Mark Dacascos plays another new character in John Wick 3--Zero, an assassin who looks up to John Wick. Dacascos said he's just as big a fan of Reeves as Zero is of Wick.
"That was what was so much fun to play. I had even told Keanu while we were shooting...I said to Keanu, 'It felt so simple, because the way that Zero feels about John Wick is sort of the way that Mark feels about Keanu--I've been a fan since Bill & Ted's,'" Dacascos recalled. "So it was kind of fun just to transfer that energy to the character, you know? Because you see how humble and gracious and grounded [Keanu] is. He's a pleasure to work with."
Dacascos also cited the series' action, which is widely considered to be head and shoulders above most of its contemporaries in the genre. "The hardest part was trying to keep up with Chad and Keanu and 87eleven Action Design," the actor said. "They set the bar for me for action on-screen, and I have to say it was an honor and a thrill to try to keep up with them. I was challenged, because whatever I could do, Chad and team wanted us to push it--for good reason, I mean, it's John Wick 3."
Dacascos and Dillon each cited the series' diversity--of characters, cultures, genders, action, visual styles, you name it. Dillon, a non-binary actor in real life, was excited to play a non-binary character--the Adjudicator--but that's just one of the many details that serve to flesh out the series' many side characters.
"One of the things that was exciting for me as an actor, but also was exciting for me as a fan, is that I know that everything in the movie had a deeper meaning," Dillon said. For example, the Adjudicator stays in room 217 at the Continental, a number Dillon said is linked to the Achilles myth in Greek mythology.
"Every little detail, whether it's the coins, or the statues in the Continental lobby, or whatever the drink is at the bar--it's all symbolic and all has a deeper meaning," Dillon continued. "And that, to me, is super exciting, because it clearly means someone thought about every little detail, which means I can get fully absorbed into the world."
Dacascos agreed. "It's a very sexy world they live in," he said. "Everything is like this fantasy that you want to be in, in spite of the fact that there's a lot of violence going on."
The actor said John Wick's incredible level of detail comes straight from the series' director, Stahelski. "He's so specific," Dacascos said. "I mean, Chad told me that for every gun, there's a different sound. He goes that deep and specific with everything. I think that's why the movies have garnered such a huge fan base--because it's crossed the line. It's not just an action movie...philosophically, the story goes as deep as you're willing to dive."
But even with all the layers of sensational action and minute world-building, John Wick 3 remains an emotional, human story at its core.
"There are so many elements of this movie that we as fans and people can relate to, because everybody's lost something," Dacascos said.
"I'm just continually stunned and impressed by how groundbreaking these films are," Dillon added.
John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum hits theaters May 17. Read our John Wick 3 review to find out what we thought.
Nintendo revealed a wealth of new details about Super Mario Maker 2 during Wednesday's Nintendo Direct presentation. Like the original Wii U/3DS game, Mario Maker 2 allows players to create and share their own Super Mario levels, but this time, they'll have access to a load of new options and other features, including something that has never been available in a 2D Mario game before: online multiplayer.
Unlike the original Super Mario Maker, the upcoming Switch iteration boasts several different online multiplayer modes. In Multiplayer Versus, up to four players--playing as either Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Toadette--will compete to race through a randomly selected level. The first player to make it to the end of the stage will be the winner and raise their Versus Rating.
Those who prefer cooperative play can jump into Multiplayer Co-op, where the object is to work together to clear the course. If one player manages to make it to the end of the level, the whole team wins. There's also a Nearby Play option; if four players gather together locally, each with their own Switch console and copy of Mario Maker 2, they can set up a play session. However, the host player will need to have a persistent internet connection for this.
While the original Mario Maker included a loose collection of pre-made levels to play though, Mario Maker 2 features a more fleshed out single-player story mode. Here, Mario is charged with helping rebuild Princess Peach's castle, but to do so, he'll need to amass coins by accepting "jobs" from a bulletin board. Each job takes the form of a different course, and you'll need to clear it in order to earn the coins. Nintendo says there will be more than 100 levels to play through in story mode.
On top of that, Nintendo showcased some of the new tools and customization options coming in Mario Maker 2. As previously revealed, this time players will be able to build levels using assets from Super Mario 3D World. There are also a handful of new course themes for every Mario style, including desert, snow, forest, and sky, each of which is accompanied by a new tune by renowned Mario composer Koji Kondo.
Moreover, if you tap on the Angry Sun from Super Mario Bros. 3 while in the course editor, you'll be able to turn it into a moon, which will give the course a nighttime makeover. Not only will the backdrop be starry, but some elements of the level will change as well; underground areas will be upside down, and there will be reduced gravity in sky levels.
You'll be able to share your levels online and try out other players' creations in the Course World hub. This time, you'll be able to search for levels by popularity or using tags to filter the kind of levels you'd like to play, such as "puzzle-solving" or "autoscroll." You can also download other players' stages and play them offline.
Super Mario Maker 2 launches for Nintendo Switch on June 28. The game requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for online play, but if you don't have one, Nintendo is bundling an individual 12-month membership along with the title for $70--a $10 savings. If you do already have an individual membership and decide to spring for this option, the extra 12 months will be stacked on top of your current subscription. Nintendo has also announced a new voucher program that allows NSO subscribers to purchase two select Switch games for $100.
Ahead of Super Mario Maker 2's release, Nintendo will host a tournament for the game on June 8--the same day as its pre-E3 Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competitions. Meanwhile, the company's E3 2019 Nintendo Direct presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, at 9 AM PT and will reveal more information about the company's 2019 lineup.
The Division 2 changed things up in terms of its release this year when it bypassed PC giant Steam in favor of launching on Ubisoft's own Uplay store and the Epic Games Store. Ubisoft has now spoken about that transition and how it impacted sales overall.
Sales of The Division 2's PC edition were "in line" with those of The Division 1, chief financial boss Frederick Dugue said on an earnings call. The Uplay edition, meanwhile, enjoyed a ten-fold increase in sales compared to the original game; this uptick was no doubt driven by the game not being available on Steam.
This probably makes the PC edition of The Division 2 even more profitable, as Ubisoft owns the Uplay store and doesn't have to pay a merchant fee. The Epic Games Store, meanwhile, pays publishers 88 percent of revenue, compared to 70 percent on Steam.
PC overall is doing very well for Ubisoft lately. The company announced today that PC game sales are up 79 percent and currently represent 27 percent of Ubisoft's overall revenue. This compares to 18 percent of total revenue for the prior year. Uplay specifically saw its sales rise by 150 percent for the latest reporting period, due in part to the launch of The Division 2 on Uplay instead of Steam.
Ubisoft's latest big release, The Division 2, did not meet Ubisoft's commercial expectations on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The French publisher confirmed on an earnings call today that the console edition failed to meet sales targets, but sales of the PC edition were in line with Division 1.
"The Division 2 ended up short of our ambitious expectations on console. We believe this was due in large part to a more competitive market than expected," chief financial boss Frederick Dugue said, though he did not name any specific competitor titles.
Dugue added that he expects The Division 2 to "grow and gain traction" over time with new content releases such as the game's first big raid coming this week. He also noted that while The Division 2 did not meet sales expectations, the game was received very positively by fans.
For the PC edition specifically, sales on Ubisoft's own Uplay store surged 10 times compared to the original The Division. This was no doubt in part attributable to how The Division 2 was not released on Steam, in favor of coming to Uplay and the Epic Games Store.
Though The Division 2 did not reach Ubisoft's commercial expectations on console, the game did hit "records highs for engagement per player," while Season Pass sales were also strong.
Ubisoft never said what its sales expectations for The Division 2 were in the first place. Like most other major publishers, Ubisoft no longer typically releases sales expectations or results on a unit basis. That being said, Ubisoft did say that Far Cry 5 remains Ubisoft's best-selling game on the current generation of consoles.
Well, it looks like playing Mario is an esport now. At the end of Nintendo's Super Mario Maker 2 Direct, the company announced a tournament will be held on June 8.
The 2019 Super Mario Maker 2 Invitational falls on the same day of some of Nintendo's other E3 2019 plans. Already, Nintendo is hosting the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate World Championship 2019 3v3 tournament and the Splatoon 2 World Championship 2019 tournament on June 8. In a press release, Nintendo said the Super Mario Maker 2 Invitation will have "four members of the Super Mario Maker community [compete] in a variety of wild and unpredictable Super Mario Maker 2 courses designed by Nintendo's Treehouse team."
Super Mario Maker 2 launches as a Nintendo Switch exclusive on June 28. Though the game plays similarly to its predecessor, its inclusion of new modes and items makes for a much more varied experience.
The rest of Nintendo's E3 2019 plans are more traditional. The company plans on airing a pre-recorded Nintendo Direct on Tuesday, June 11 at 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM BST. Nintendo hasn't announced what exactly will be discussed during the Direct, only that it will cover some of the Switch games coming out in 2019. After the Direct, Nintendo will also air its traditional Treehouse livestream, which will most likely reveal a few more announcements. Nintendo plans on continuing with Treehouse livestreams throughout E3 week.
The '80s were a strange time for superhero comics. The era of the "extreme" exploded onto the scene and brought with it no shortage of immediately recognizable trends and tropes--holofoil variant covers, grimacing gun-toting anti-heroes, way too many utility pouches--you name it. For better or worse, '80s comics had it all.
By and large, the weirdness and the turmoil of the '80s is something modern comics now deal with at arm's length. In Marvel, this is accomplished by the use of the sliding timeline. How it works is pretty simple: At any given point, it's understood that the stories themselves to only have existed for 10 years or so--which means the stories of the '80s are now readily cherry-picked for only the most pertinent details, rather than looked at as real-time artifacts. Those details are then reworked so that they fit into whatever modern setting they're needed, or stripped of major contextual clues to make him stick out a little less obviously. The stories may have happened, but they happened differently, in a different era, or a different universe altogether.
Unless, of course, confronting the history of a character in real-time is the goal--which just so happens to be the case with Chip Zdarksy and Mark Bagley's Spider-Man: Life Story, a limited series which tackles the decade-by-decade publication history of everyone's favorite webhead one issue at a time. Starting with the '60s, Life Story has taken Peter Parker in ten-year chunks through this week's issue #3, which lands squarely in--you guessed it--the '80s, allowing him not only to age but to progress through his own history in as close to "real time" as possible.
Spider-Man: Life Story #3
For Peter Parker, the '80s were a time of (somewhat literal) transformation. It sent him to fight on Battleworld during the first iteration of Secret Wars, it introduced the black alien suit that would go on to become Venom, and it pitted him against a near brush with death as he faced off against Kraven the Hunter in what would ultimately become one of his most iconic stories, Kraven's Last Hunt. These things still impact modern day Peter Parker in one way or another, but as the timeline slides away, so does their potency.
Life Story gives us a chance to revisit these moments with fresh eyes and a completely new context. Set outside of the main Marvel universe, the sliding timeline doesn't hold sway here. In issue #1, Peter was a teenager in the '60s, with #2 he was in his twenties in the '70s; now, here in the '80s, he's rounding out his thirties. He's facing off against the wild, pulp fiction weirdness of Battleworld and Secret Wars as he exits his prime and deals with his aging aunt and pregnant wife. He discovers the truth of the symbiotic black suit not because of a lucky accident but because he's a scientist who deduced the truth almost right away--and chose not to worry about it because it gave him an opportunity to perform the way he had back in his youth. His confrontation with Kraven is now colored with the trappings of the last days of the Cold War, merged elegantly into the burgeoning symbiote storyline--which was published nearly four years prior.
Spider-Man: Life Story #3
By conducting a total remix of Spider-Man history and applying Life Story's new set of rules, Zdarsky and Bagley figured out a new, even more devious origin story for one of Marvel's fan-favorite anti-heroes. In this version of events, Eddie Brock's weirdly contrived photography beef with Peter no longer exists. Instead, it piggybacks directly onto Kraven's Last Hunt.
Kraven impersonates the black-suit wearing Spider-Man himself and "kills" Peter--but instead of tranquilizing him and burying him alive as he did in the original version of the story, Kraven both shoots and stabs him, literally murdering him until the symbiote finds and revives Peter from his grave. In full Venom mode, Peter attacks and defeats Kraven who readily accepts the loss, believing that his "Venomized" form is exactly what Peter always meant to be.
Then, in a revisit of what might be one of the darkest moments in Spider-Man history, the defeated Kraven prepares to commit suicide--something he successfully accomplished back in the original story (it was extremely bleak, trust me.) Only this time, he's ambiguously interrupted by the oozing tendril of a symbiote, implying that in this version, it's a suicidal Kraven who ends up being Venom's first host outside of Peter himself.
The potential here for new twists and turns in Peter's story is massive. Not only is Kraven a trained killer and relentless psychopath; he's also one of Spider-Man's greatest enemies just on his own--without the help of an alien symbiote's enhancement. Add to that the fact that both Kraven and Venom are notoriously obsessed with Spider-Man and you have all the ingredients for an explosive catastrophe just around the corner.
Spider-Man: Life Story continues with issue #4 next month, tackling the 90s and, with any luck, all the fall out of this massive revelation.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is partnering with the University of Tokyo to launch Gunpla models into space for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Yes, during the 2020 Olympic Games, Gundam models are going to be watching over the athletes, transmitting supportive messages to the competitors as they orbit Earth.
"One small step for man, one giant leap for [the Tokyo 2020 Olympics]!" the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games tweeted. "We've partnered with the [University of Tokyo] and JAXA to launch the 'G-SATELLITE Go to Space' project. Carrying Gundam, this is the first time a satellite commissioned for the [Olympic Games] will orbit the earth!"
According to Anime News Network, the satellite is scheduled to launch between March and April 2020 from the International Space Station's Japanese Experiment Module, and it will transmit messages back to Earth. The satellite will hold two models--an RX-78-2 Gundam and MS-06S Char's Zaku II. Both will be painted and made with special materials designed to withstand space, and their eyes will change between the five colors used in the rings symbolizing the Olympic Games. Cameras in the satellite will showcase the models' journey into orbit and continue to capture the two's space adventures.
Gundam is one of the most recognizable parts of Japanese culture, as the franchise includes multiple TV series, movies, manga, novels, and video games, the earliest of which date back to April 1979. The franchise's impact is so large, it's influenced science fiction across the globe.
In collaboration with Sunrise--the animation studio responsible for the Gundam anime--Legendary Pictures is creating a live-action Gundam movie. Brian K. Vaughan, who penned several Lost episodes and numerous Marvel and DC comic books and graphic novels, is both writing the movie's screenplay and serving as executive producer. A release date for the movie has not been announced yet.
While you're still probably trying to get through all of Hulu's releases for May, the streaming service has already revealed it's upcoming offerings for June. So it's time to plan out your viewing schedule for next month, and by the looks of June's offerings, there is plenty of content to keep track of.
Kicking off the first of June is a landslide of excellent movies to watch. Did you know there was a Legends of the Hidden Temple movie? Neither did I. Nickelodeon--the network that originally produced the game show--goes the Jumanji route for the latest adventure, and while it's very apparent this movie is geared towards children--ones that weren't even born when the show aired--it looks like a lot of fun.
All of the original Friday the 13th movies hit the service that day--minus Jason X and Jason Goes To Hell. And if you're looking for more horror movies to check out, American Psycho hits Hulu that day, along with the 1989 Tom Hanks film The Burbs--which isn't a horror movie per se, but roll with me. If you can't find a movie to watch or rewatch on June 1, then you hate movies.
Looking later in the month, the dystopian Hulu original Handmaid's Tale returns for a third season on June 5. The latest trailer, which you can see above, leans towards a growing rebellion within the country, and it's intense. Additionally, Syfy's 12 Monkeys sees the Hulu release of Season 4 on June 15. Below, you'll find everything coming to Hulu in June and below that, everything leaving the service on June 30.
No comments:
Post a Comment