Tron Legacy

Preview | Due: 2010 | Disney

Good things always come from Comic Con and Tron Legacy is a VERY good thing.

Tron was the film from the early 80's that even though CGI was in its infancy, with a little florescent paint and a lot of vision, made you believe in an artificially created world. One that wouldn't be surpassed until the Matrix upgrade it 17-years later.

Here Legacy takes all the CGI leaps and bounds of the last two decades to upgrade Tron to version 2.0; retaining its unique look and adding a dark edge. With the original Kevin Flynn returning and Bruce Boxleitner rumoured to be following suit, I have high hopes for this.

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Buy Tron @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com

Halo 3: ODST

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Preview | Price: £34.99 | Due: 22/09/09 | Xbox 360 | Bungie/Microsoft

I'm a big fan of Halo 3 now even though I wasn't interested at all at first. I've never been a big fan of FPS games, as I prefer story over shooting, so my first experience was playing four-screen multiplayer on a friends version during our regular Tuesday Geek-night. A couple of games in and I was hooked.

Even then it was only the social play I was interested in. When I bought my own Xbox and copy of the game it was just to play Rocket Ball with my mates. At a loose end one night, I decided to try the single player mission. The next thing I know, I had finished without really understanding half of what had happened.

It's because of that I very glad to hear about Nathan Fillion appearing as Sgt Buck in Halo 3's sequel ODST. Not that I wouldn't be glad to see the Firefly star in anything, but I think this is a sign that narrative in ODST will go above and beyond what we saw in its predecessor. Another good sign is the games broken storyline, with play split between the main, starting character and playable flashbacks as other members of you squad.

Still not sold? What about the news that the game ships with a second disc featuring all the multiplayer maps from Halo 3, including those released as DLCs, plus three brand new ones as well as a standalone version of the multiplayer game.

Get ready to dance in Sep 09.

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Buy Halo @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com

The Keyhole Nebula

Preview | $18 | Sizes: XS-3XL | Threadless


WOW! Now this isn't my usual kind of Tee, it's too bold and reminds me of those cheesy fantasy posters Athena sold in the '80s, but look at the detail! It's like the opening credits of the Twilight Zone. Probably more suited to feminine host but still, WOW!

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Zombies Only Want You For Your Brain

Preview | Price: $15 | Sizes: XS-3X | Threadless

I know I posted a zombie Tee last week but how can I pass this up?

The clever thing about Threadless's TypeTees t-shirts is that by limiting the design and just focusing on the humorous slogans they create a very clean and bold Tee.

ZOWYFYBs is a good example of that; a simple Geek joke in a perfect blood-on-the-wall font. Something that wouldn't have looked out of place on a 70's movie trailer.

Cross-posted @ http://www.threadless.com/profile/127374/duke1974/blog/476957/BRAINS_AGAIN

Torchwood: Children of Men

Preview | On: BBC1 06/07 9pm | BBC

I know. I know. Torch-meh!

Like every other Whovian, while I genuinely enjoy the new generation of family oriented Doctor Who, I miss the darker edge of some of the older episodes. Who can forget Peter Davison hacking Adric's gold badge in to the heart of the Cyber Leader.

So when the BBC announced they would creating a spin-off series targeting an adult audience and featuring Captain Jack Harkness I couldn't wait. Of course, what I got was stories with a cast of character who's emotions and libidos were set to random.

Now we are on the eve on the new episodes the question is as always: Is it worth another chance? The trailer looks like it adds some new characters, replacing those killed off last season, and has a vague Children of the Damned feel. Jack dying. Gwen looking miserable. A lot of Spooks-esque running around. I'm not overly impressed.

The main change is in the format however. Instead of the usual 13-episode series of individual tales we are now presented with a five-part story. This could make the difference, Torchwood like The Bill has struggled between two genres. The Bill drifting between soap and drama, changed to a two-part story structure to reinforce the drama aspects.

Hopefully the change in Torchwood format will save it from the adolescent action-soap it was make it into the sci-fi for adults we are all waiting for.

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Buy Torchwood @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com | Forbidden Planet

Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers

Preview/Demo | Price: 800 MSPs | Xbox Live / Wizards of the Coast

Tap this!

I was never one of the Magic crowd. Sure I tried the game with every other geek when it was first released; I bought a couple of decks and boosters but was put off my the exponential increasing complexity of the rules and the sheer number of cards. But the final nail in my M:TG coffin was the killer decks that the uber-players could construct; essentially turning was should be an entertaining card game into 60-seconds of ass-whupping.

This demo I like though. Well laid out and attractively designed, with a nifty card zoom so you can see every detail, it feel like playing a proper card and table game. No need to collect and construct your killer deck here either, the demo features two-decks, a red fire deck or a green creatures deck, and two AI opponents to play them against, Chandra Nalaarand her (playable) red fire deck or Elspeth Tirel and her white flying deck.

With the Y button to confirm actions and the X button to freeze time you get a good control over the flow of the game. The full game will include 16-opponents, 8-decks, bonus cards, Xbox Live play and the obligatory achievements. Plus there's a two-player co-op game I haven't had chance to try. Sure the sound effects get a little grating after a couple of games but this is definitely tempting me to spend the 800 MSPs to unlock the full version.

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Buy Magic: The Gathering @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com

Bag of Cthulhu

Preview | Price: $14.95 | Due: Soon | Fantasy Flight Games | 3 Gs

Cute. Not a word you should associate with The Great Old One but sill. A little bag of 30 Cthulhu figs is one of those thing that I have no real use for ¹ but still really want. The sign of true geek OCD (Obsessive Collective Disorder).

¹ Maybe as replacement markers in the Arkham Horror board game?

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Buy Call of Cthulhu @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com

Fighting Crime Doesn't Pay

Preview | Price: $18 | Size: S-3XL | Threadless | 4 Gs

Super-Tramp!

Down on their luck heroes DO make cool tees. Who would have thought. IMHO Batman seems to have gotten the roughest deal here, at least everyone else has both their shoes. Plus, I am pretty sure if Dianna did go on the Game, she would be more of a high-end, got her own webpage type of hooker.

Nice colours. Nice layout; the lamp-post brakes this out of the usual t-shirt image box. Of course, like all self-enlightened geeks, I stay clear of the dreaded black t-shirt cliche but this asphalt grey colour is a pleasant compromise.

Cross-posted @ http://www.threadless.com/profile/127374/duke1974/blogs

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Buy Superheroes @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com | Forbidden Planet

Fallout 3: Point Lookout DLC

Preview | Price: 800 MSPs / $9.99 | Format: Xbox 360 / PC | Due: 23rd June | Fallout 3 | 4 Gs

Welcome to the Swampland!

So far I've not bought any of the DLCs for Fallout 3. Despite now spending over 150 hours walking the Wastes there's still things to do and discover in the basic game and I am determined to deal with those before moving onto the next chapter.

The first two DLCs, Operation Anchorage and The Pitt, were criticised for being too linear and too brief. The 3rd, Broken Steel, is a must so I can finally get past Lv 20 but the next expansion, Lookout Point, is the one I am really looking forward to.

It's the visual and story depth that sold the game to me; being able to look across that harsh yet gorgeous landscape and explore that strange building in the distance is what made the game for me. Although it is not set in the Capital Wastes, this interview from Go! Gaming Giant makes it sound like Bethesda have made this next DLC just for a Waste Wanderer like me.

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Buy Fallout 3 @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com

Recycling. It's not just for Jawas.

Preview
Price: $25.65
Sizes: S-3X
Zazzle
3 Gs

UTINNI!

Star Wars Jawas and an environmentally friendly message; that's two-Geek points in just one Tee! This simple and clearly laid-out image works very well, but despite the eco-benefits of the organic shirt, they always look thin and miss-shapen to me. Fortunately you can change to a different style. Unfortunately, this can add another $10+ to the cost.

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Buy Star Wars @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com| Forbidden Planet

Captain America Reborn #1

Preview
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Bryan Hitch
Released: 01/07/2009
Marvel
4 Gs

All true Geeks know the film rule; if you don't see the body then the character is not dead. In comics, even if you see the body no-one stays dead forever.

Today Marvel announced that this July's Reborn limited series will feature the return of the first and true Captain America; Steve Rogers. Are we surprised? Not at all, we have been waiting for this day since issue #25.

Brubaker and Hitch have both rejuvenated the character in their own ways. Brubaker showing that Rogers could be a believable soldier and hero in a post-9/11 world when he started the current series and Hitch added a level of reality to the other-world version of Cap, and fellow Avengers, during his Ultimates series that is on par with the movie re-styling of Blade.

Cap will always have a special place in my Geek heart. The first real comics I remember buying were tatty, old second-hand issues of The Invaders from a local market stall, so I will be counting the days until this issue hits the shelves.

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Buy Captain America @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com| Forbidden Planet

Can of Whoop Ass

Preview
Price: £20.58
Sizes: S-XL
Fair Weather Friends
3 Gs

Any self-respecting wrestling fan should recognise this term. Why? Beacuse Stone Cold said so!

A simple and bold design but I can't decide if the image is too large, too bright or both. Plus, should the can be open? The cost is a little high too, I would rarely pay over £15 for a Tee, but I suppose it is because these are limited editions.

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Buy WWE @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2

Preview
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, Nintendo DS
Due: Fall 2009
Official web site: marvelultimatealliance.marvel.com
4 Gs



The story is a re-working of the Civil War major event from 2006. When a super-related tragedy shakes the nation the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe are forced to take side between Captain America and Iron Man over the new Superhuman Registration Act.

I've played a couple of the previous Marvel action/adventure games so I am fully prepared for that frustration point when my button-bashing fighting skills fail to get me past the end of level confrontation for the um-teenth time. But the graphics on this new version look great and re-working the excellent Civil War story gives the game a very strong narrative base, so I am very much looking forward to a playable demo of this one.

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Buy Ultimate Alliance @ Amazon.co.uk| Amazon.com