Here we go! With the end of “Battle of the Atom”, the coin has flipped and the original X-Men have deflected from Wolverine’s side to join with Cyclops. How will this change the status quo? It’ll be nice to see the team back with Angel and from the cover and description writer Brian Michael Bendis has found a clever way to bring Wolverine into the mix through his younger female clone, X-23. Pairing her with young Cyclops is intriguing also, although covers have known to be very deceiving in the past. I love the promise of more Kitty and Illyana interactions and would LOVE to see Colossus added to the book.

All New X-Men #20
Official Description: The fallout of X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM continues! X-23 is back and kissing… WHO IS THE MYSTERY MAN??!

The issue hit stands this past Wednesday, December 18th, 2013. What do you think about the addition of X-23 to the original X-Men? Would you like to see any other characters join the team?

This post is brought to you by Arcy Darty.

It is very common knowledge that I love games- even more so when they are free. Arcy Darty is a game site with over 120 categories of games and a countless amount of actual games to play through for free online. Different categories include Puzzle Games, Batman Games, Fighting Games, Zombie Games, Toy Story Games, Racing Games, and so many more. My favorite games in the mix are the ones that remind me of classic NES and Sega Genesis games.

Turbo Tanks.
I can play this game for hours. It is a side scrolling adventure racing game where you take control of a tank and have to charge forward going around obstacles and battling “evil” tanks. I didn’t know a tank could jump so high or go so fast. There are 15 levels of the game, and each gets harder than the last one. So it is sure to keep your attention for as long as it has kept mine! Click this link to play turbo tanks.

Megaman vs Ghosts N Goblins.
This game is one of the reasons I love the Internet so much. Never could I have imagined a crossover of two of my favorite games growing up – Megaman and Ghosts N Goblins – but here it is! Due to the power of fans and the accessibility of technology. The game is exactly what you’d expect from the title; you are Megaman and you have to fight through leagues of the undead. ’nuff said! Click this link to check out all of their megaman themed games!

Coconut Run.
This game is a little different than Turbo Tank and Megaman vs Ghosts N Goblins, as it is a puzzle game. You have to design a cart that can carry coconuts to a destination through a tricky course. It is very much a thinking game and don’t expect your first designs to work, I know mine didn’t! Click here to play coconut run!

If you take the time to play any of these games, I want to hear about it in the comments! Which was your favorite? Did you find any other awesome games at Arcy Darty?

In Part 1 we discussed such video game related patents as Crossings on Gamepad, Directional Arrows, Dialog Wheels, Running in Spiral, and the Gaming Console of EA. We are back with a few more Patented Game Inventions That Might Amaze You!

Passage Quests with Friends

Invention of: Zynga
Excerpt from the patent: “A team of friends is sent a request to join a team and participate in the performance of tasks. Each team member who answered the query derives his task.”
Significance: The patent of sometime a successful company Zynga describes the sinister social mechanism: “Invite your friends, so they gave you two boards and watered the beds, then you can pass the quest”. Despite the fact that the sent automatically requests from playing friends at least once enraged any Facebook user, Zynga today is suffering terrible losses. As they say, – ‘karma is a bitch’.

Protection from Second-Hand Games

Invention of: Sony
Excerpt from the patent: “The patent application provides that when a game is purchased, the medium itself (game disk) would contain a unique identification tag which would be read by the reproduction device of the gaming system (Playstation 3 for example). The first time the disk is inserted into the gaming system; the reproduction device would record the disk ID and player ID, and use an authentication process to confirm that the combination satisfies Sony’s terms of use. If the combination of IDs does not meet the terms of use on any subsequent use of the game, the game will not start. The effect of the technology would be similar to having a single license for the game and will not require internet access to work. This process nullifies any resale value of the game. ”
Significance: Among the gamers the Sony Corporation fixed a reputation of goodwill because it produces good games, supports independent developers, regularly lowers prices and releases the consoles without regional security. Notwithstanding, this fact does not stop Sony to invent technologies that will hit the players like a method of protection from second-hand console games. Obviously, that in the case of a mismatch of the disc identity and the player a mysterious handle rights usage will not allow you to run the game.

Episodic Content Delivery

Invention of: Electronic Arts
Excerpt from the patent: “The application module contains an initial episode of the game and a technology shell to allow future episodes to be downloaded over the Internet and executed. As new technology is developed, the new technology can be incorporated into the technology shell, independent of the content development. While the patent describes a lot of these features, the (single) claim is a little elusive. It’s interesting, though, that with Xbox Live we are seeing more games providing episodic content delivery after the game’s initial launch.”
Significance: The title of the patent speaks for itself. In 2001 Electronic Arts has already come up with that what in the age of Xbox 360 would be called downloadable content (DLC). However, in the 2000s company thought that the new episodes will include different technical innovations, but in fact it was much more boring as the current games only get new versions of the endings, characters and levels. Despite the presence of the patent, EA did not sue other companies that produce their games downloadable add-on.

Balls of Junk

Invention of: Namco
Excerpt from the patent: “A game performing method for executing a game by arranging a plurality of objects comprising a plurality of objects to be stuck and an operation object, in a virtual space, controlling rolling and movement of the operation object according to a player’s input, and rolling and moving the operation object while sticking the objects which the operation object comes in contact with, comprises: setting a plurality of first displacement points capable of displacing only in predetermined radial directions different from each other, from a reference point respectively; displacing the first displacement point adjacent to a contact position, in the predetermined radial direction when the operation object comes in contact with the object to be stuck; setting a second displacement point in a position which meets a predetermined distance condition; and controlling the rolling of the operation object based on rolling surface reference points comprising the first and second displacement points.. ”
Significance: Another incredible formulation, behind which hides one of the most successful game mechanism of the last decade. The text of the patent describes how the ball out of Katamari Damacy sticks to all kinds of things, growing in volume, but always remaining relatively round . The truth is, for a seemingly simple system there is a huge number of calculations. That is why Namco has decided that this invention will be for it.

It is dollars to doughnuts, that it is not a complete list of interesting patents that gaming companies own. Sometimes lawyers of publishers patent any small invention for simply “just in case” and then do not even remember it. The matter is that the progress cannot be stopped by patents. The most likely they spur other publishers and developers to come up with alternative solutions that are even more successful than patented ones by competitors.

Imagine a world with no rules where the human instincts seem to be more animal than human, a world of crime and reckless people. That is the world we get to see in the new movie called The Counsellor. It is written by Cormac McCarthy, well known for his masterpiece No Country for Old Men and directed by one of the legends of the filmmaking, Ridley Scott, famous for taking our breaths in movies like “Gladiator”, Prometheus and American Gangster.

The story centers on a lawyer, whose name is not given, he can only be addressed as the Counsellor. His plans and goals of entering the underground world, in order to make some quick money, destroy the life he has, involving his fiancée, who he just asked to marry. The Counsellor is an arrogant man, who despite all the warnings he gets, keeps going further and further into the dirty world of crime and drugs. The lawyer character is played by the very talented Michael Fassbender. The handsome actor acts super natural and does its best to get under the skin of the main character. Also, we get to see some real divas of Hollywood, like Cameron Diaz who is the femme fatale of the movie and Penelope Cruz, who is the angelic cherry of The Counsellor.

It is not a typical thriller about drugs. The director and the writer are delivering special messages using baleful circumstances and no compunctions. This movie does not enter the confines of a traditional thriller, because of its star power and the excellent execution, which result in a tale of the crime world. It is a movie of virtuous and perfidious contrasts; it will surely make you feel the good and the evil of the modern life. The Counsellor is considered to be one of the most awaited drama thrillers of this year.

An ordinary story that evolves with a different and captivating twist that ends up not the way you expected will make you feel the spicy gangsta vibe. With metaphorical dialogues and fearless acts, this movie lights a superb mood. The Counsellor teaches us a serious morality tale. Decisions we make today can result terrifying consequences tomorrow.

First, lets check out the official descriptions for these upcoming Action Comics issues, then lets chat about them…

Action Comics #26
Official Description: All hell breaks loose as Superman is caught between an alien menace and the super-powered soldier the U.S. Army has sent to kill it!

Action Comics #27
Official Description: Superman takes on the brutal Beast Lord as startling revelations are made about our Earth’s underground world! Plus: more on the mysterious Ghost Soldier!

Alien menace? Super-powered soldier? Beast Lord? Ghost soldier? For better or worse these two issues look like they are filled with stuff out of the 90s era Action Comics. I sorta dig it, but is that what the “New 52” relaunch was about? I thought they were trying to make things edgy and dark? An unmarried Clack Kent, Superman dating Wonder Woman, a new suit (minus the red briefs of course), etc- the list goes on. I still don’t see a good reason for the relaunch and I’m hopeful that someday I’ll see “my” Superman again, but in the meantime, I miss following the adventures of the Man of Steel and I’ve been warming up to jumping back in and collecting Man of Steel and/or Superman.

Have you been following Action Comics? Is it worth picking up? Issues #26 comes out on Wednesday December 4th, and issues #27 comes out Wednesday January 8th.

Check out these Superman related trades…

With Hollywood the Game approaching its ten year anniversary, we thought it might be fun to talk to a player and get their perspective on the game and playing it. Built around a community of movie fans and writers, Hollywood the Game blurs the line between a simulation game with a full interactive city and a writer’s workshop where people get feedback on their scripts and see how they play to an audience of their peers.

Here is with Golithus had to say about being apart of Hollywood the Game (aka HTG):

One of the few reasons I enjoy games immensely is because of its ability to bring me to another world, to experience something that’s unlikely to happen to me in real life. One day, I stumbled upon Hollywood The Game (HTG) and curiosity draws me deeper into exploration. At first glance, it’s huge, it truly is a virtual Hollywood, with its own map, studios and other movie business stuff. I was impressed, so I joined.

Some consider HTG a platform of writing, a place where they can put their creativity and writing skill to use; some consider HTG a gaming experience, a mix of simulation and tycoon. While those are very true, I consider HTG to be more than that. HTG is a community of like-minded persons from all around the world, shaping a little Hollywood of themselves. In a way, it is kind of like a mix of Second Life or The Sims that focuses solely on the movie industry.

Players can truly shape the world here, be it writing the next big hit, create an impressive movie franchise of your own, or even push your favorite underrated star into the A-list. While the game is mainly about making movies, it’s not the only thing to do in the game. One of my favorite aspect of the game is the variety of careers, I can be a journalist that follows the life of people in the virtual Hollywood, or perhaps a grumpy critic that is hard to satisfy. If you want to express more than word, be a graphic artist and design posters. Heck, you might even find inspirations in the game for your real life project.

Hollywood The Game is not without flaws; it has a fairly steep learning curve and progression can be slow. With patience though and you might find HTG to be a fun place to stay.

You can check out Hollywood the Game for yourself here and join in for free.

There are many people, who believe that there is more than only one reality. There are at least two of them for every human, the one he lives in and the one he is dreaming about.

On 25^th of December, a new movie about different realities premieres. It is called The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Does it seem familiar? It should be! This movie is another brilliant remake of one of the greatest short stories of America, named the same.

The film stands out of the crowd because of its really talented cast, including the funny Ben Stiller, who is also directing the movie, the nice Kristen Wiig, the real man Sean Penn and many others.

It is a story about Walter Mitty, a passionate day dreamer, whose dreams were cut because of his work in The Life Magazine and the daily routine of his life. The life was captivating only in his second reality, the one he was dreaming in. In The Secret Life of Walter Mitty trailer we see how in real life he was sitting in the train station on the 125^th street, in his mind he was jumping into a window of a burning building.  In the real life he was in the office, looking at his crush, in his dreaming he was getting out of the poster with mountains and he started flirting to his crush. Isn’t the dreaming better?

As George Carlin said “Some people see things that are and ask, Why?  Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don’t have time for all that.” Walter is somewhere between the last two kinds of people, who has to work but somehow manages to dream, because his dreams are just another reality, that makes him happy. The fate gives Walter, an adventure that is even way crazier than his dreams are. He wished for it, never expected but he got it.

While reading this article you should turn on a song from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty trailer, called Bohemian Rhapsody, which, by the way was perfectly assigned to the story.

Watch this moony adventure and learn to choose your reality.