One of the things that Mass Effect was praised for was streamlining the traditional RPG conversation options by condensing full sentences down to a short phrase in its dialogue wheel. However, what was on the wheel didn’t always marry up with what Shepard said. That’s been the case on games that have borrowed the dialogue wheel concept for their dialogue.
So what would happen if you had your own dialogue wheel? Chances are it wouldn’t end well.
You knew that there was going to be another game added to the Batman: Arkham series. It was just a matter of what it was called. The May issue of Game Informer reveals that the next Arkham game will be a prequel called Batman: Arkham Origins.
Normally, I would say that a new Arkham game is cause for celebration. However, I have some serious reservations about this one beyond the fact that it’s a prequel (which can often be an indicator of struggling with ideas for a sequel which I’m certain they are after the conclusion of Arkham City).
This is our third go at the weekly comic book release list and I think I’m starting to get the hang of picking cool comics for the week.
This week, my must buy is Star Wars #4 which continues to fill in the blank between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. It’s a pretty good series so far and I’m looking forward to this week’s issue. If you like loving genre parodies like Galaxy Quest and Shaun of the Dead, you should pick up Aliens vs. Parker #2. And in this week’s Superboy #19, we learn more about his secret origin. I’d probably get Action Comics #19, myself, before this because I’m a Superman sort of guy but this would be interesting if you’re into superhero lore.
It seems exceedingly rare that a developer or publisher releases a demo of an anticipated upcoming game. Fortunately, we got one for NetherRealms upcoming DC Comics fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us. The game has been hyping the debate between comic book fans as to whether Superman or Batman would win in a fight but is there more to this game than that?
If at first you don’t succeed, offer free digital comics again. When Marvel last tried to offer free digital downloads of the #1 issues of over 700 comics, they were so overwhelmed with demand that they had to shut it down because the servers couldn’t handle the number of people looking for the most epic free stuff ever (until DC does the same thing).
A few weeks later, Marvel and Comixology are back with their Marvel #1 giveaway. You have until 11:59 PM Eastern Time tonight to sign up for your 700+ free #1 issues of Marvel comics.
You can sign up for the promo through Marvel or Comixology.
Last week, Conan took his show to TBS’s home town of Atlanta, Georgia. Not only is Atlanta home to the Turner media empire, including TBS, TNT and the former WCW, but several TV shows are filmed in Atlanta. One paid a visit to Conan’s set and it just happened to be the most popular show on cable.
In what I would imagine is a very good sign for the future of the series, ABC has officially released a new name and description for Joss Whedon’s planned S.H.I.E.L.D. series based on The Avengers. From now on, it will officially be named Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
This week, we got our fourth Clara adventure. Well, it’s technically only her second as a proper companion. As such, she gets her first trip in the TARDIS and gets to see what life with the Doctor is really like and how he operates. Not only does changing companions allow for a change alongside the Doctor but it gives the opportunity for him to tweak some habits too. But the one thing that really didn’t change was what the format of the first off-world adventure for a new companion.
What immediately grabbed my eye was how the first adventures with both Donna and Amy seemed to have a similar visual palette and style to “The Rings of Akhaten.” Both “The Fires of Pompeii” and “The Beast Below” had a lot of red and browns dominating the sets and costumes. The sets all looked a little dirty and dusty rather than clean, futuristic sci-fi. And each had a scene in something that looked like a market.
Nintendo is in a rough spot right now. Sales just aren’t what was expected. The blame for that sits at the feet of their CEO Satoru Iwata who just refuses to learn from history and see the writing on the wall. [Not Enough Shaders]
Facebook announced their new Home app for Android devices yesterday. I don’t care enough about Facebook to write an article about it so it’s a link today. [Engadget]
Over on the sister site, I wonder if Geoff Keighley’s involvement in Kojima’s “viral marketing” of MGS5 means that we can’t trust the gaming press any more. [The Lowdown Blog]
WWE star A.J. Lee talks about her top ten video games of all-time. I’m including this mostly because we played the same Metal Gear Solid demo. The difference is that she bought the game and I didn’t. [With Leather]
So SimCity is fixed right? Not even close based on this user’s experience in civic planning. [Imgur]
No, I’m not going to stop giving The Walking Dead shit over an utterly confusing and dissatisfying finale to the third season. It’s all well and good that you do something different from the comic but it has to be a quality product put on screen. Being different doesn’t make a show good. Being good makes a show good.
And that brings me to this week’s reminder to watch Game of Thrones. It’s my favourite show on TV right now. It should be yours too.
et geekera 