Author: Karl Cramer

‘Voltron’ Episodes Go Online

‘Voltron’ Episodes Go Online

  • News
  • April 16, 2008

Maybe it was the recent interview with Voltron: A Legend Forged writer Josh Blaylock here on ComicMix that got them psyched-up to do it, but Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace has added the first two seasons of Voltron: Defender of the Universe to its list of downloadable videos.

If you already have an Xbox 360, then don’t hesitate to get the very first episode, "Space Explorers Captured," because it’s free. Other episodes will cost 160 MS Points (roughly $2 in the U.S.).

Travel to Planet Arus and uncover the secret of a weapon from ancient times — Voltron! Keith, Lance, Sven, Hunk and Pidge arrive too late, the planet has already been completely devastated by the evil forces of King Zarkon. They engage in battle with Zarkon’s general, Yurak, only to be captured and thrown into the dungeons on Planet Doom.

Like all cartoons from your childhood, they might not hold up to your memories. (Space mice? Really?) But the nostalgia’s worth the initial price. After that, you’re hooked. Darn animation pushers.

Images of New ‘Iron Man’ Game Armor Revealed

Images of New ‘Iron Man’ Game Armor Revealed

  • News
  • April 11, 2008

One of the staple of comic book videogames is that players can unlock alternate costumes that the characters have had at one time or another. (My favorite is still the Spider-Man costume featuring a paper-bag head, Fantastic Four uniform and "Kick Me" sign pulled from Amazing Spider-Man #258 and available in the Spider-Man videogame that was released with the first film.)

Since Iron Man rarely settled on a suit for very long, it’s no surprise that Sega decided to include a variety of unlockable costumes in the upcoming Iron Man movie-based game in addition to the three models seen in the film.

To add a dash of "Armor Wars" to the eternal war over which console is the best, there will be exclusive armors for different systems: PlayStation 3 gets Ultimate Iron Man from The Ultimates. Xbox 360 gets the Silver Centurion Iron Man from Iron Man #200.

A gallery of 360-degree visuals of all the armor is posted after the jump:

(more…)

Final Episode of ‘Sam & Max: Season Two’ Wraps

Final Episode of ‘Sam & Max: Season Two’ Wraps

  • News
  • April 10, 2008

That’s a wrap. Steve Purcell’s Sam & Max have just finished the second season of their episodic computer game series with the latest chapter, "What’s New, Beelzebub?" scheduled for release on Friday, April 11. Not only is it remarkable in its own right as one of the few successful examples of episodic content in videogames, but that Sam & Max has discretely become one of the best quality franchises in the realm of multimedia.

Originally a comic book released under various publishers, the dog and rabbit detectives took on hilarious cases with a unique outlook: Sam used wry observations, Max used psychotic threats of violence. Before long, they became a hit computer game in the DOS days of  computers, a television series and an Eisner-nominated webcomic.

The latest bit of multimedia stardom for the franchise has arrived via critically acclaimed episodic content videogames. In this format, smaller chunks of games are sold online and released on a shortened schedule as opposed to a single, standalone game release every few years. In the end, it’s like watching a television program season-by-season instead getting the boxed-set DVD. And just like television, episodic videogames have annual seasons that continue the adventures as long as the public wants them. And with storylines that involve assasinating the Lincoln memorial after it comes to life and decides to run for office, how could the public not ask for more?

You can download one of the episodes from the first season of Sam & Max absolutely free. (Psst… There’s a wickedly funny Superman joke contained within the game, comics fans.) If the first episode gives you the game bug, you can purchase more episodes or the Season One Collected Edition.

On a related note, Sam & Max producer Telltale Games recently announced that Season One would be coming to the Nintendo Wii system. However, in a little bit of ComicMix exclusive news, Marketing Coordinator Emily Morganti revealed that the rumored Xbox Live Arcade version of the episodic content would not be coming anytime soon, saying, "We’d like to bring Sam & Max to XBLA some day, but right now it’s not something we’re working on. We had a huge fan response to the idea of Sam and Max on the Wii, so it felt like the right place to start."

Since even the PC version is basically just pointing and clicking, we can hardly disagree that the Nintendo Wiimote is ideal for this kind of game. Just make sure the strap is on your wrist, because you might laugh enough to drop the controller.

New Footage From ‘Iron Man’ Now Online

New Footage From ‘Iron Man’ Now Online

  • News
  • April 8, 2008

 

Dear Paramount,

Please stop teasing us with Iron Man movie stuff. It’s getting to the point where the anticipation is actually causing physical pain. You’ve sold us. We’re there on opening day.

Thanks.

Apple.com’s movie trailer section scored an exclusive clip of Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, taking flight for the first time in his Iron Man armor. Check out the site to see the clip in more formats than you ever knew were possible.

‘Legend of Zelda’ Manga Coming to America

‘Legend of Zelda’ Manga Coming to America

  • News
  • April 4, 2008

Put down your Wiimotes, folks. A variety of online retailers, including Amazon and RightStuf, have started accepting orders for The Legend of Zelda manga.

This is great news for fans of the popular Nintendo character. For several years, the series has only been in Japan and acclaimed for keeping faithful to the games while explaining some of the back story of the fantasy franchise’s universe.

Link, the elf boy from Hyrule, is perhaps Nintendo’s second biggest character, only eclipsed by Mario. There is no indication which storyline the series will start with, but it’s presumed to be published in the same order as Japan, so that means it would chronicle the events from the The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time game for the Nintendo 64. The Legend of Zelda will be brought to the U.S. by Viz Media, the publisher of bestselling manga such as Naruto and Dragonball Z.

Finally, the good news: Volume One will have 200 pages by Akira Himekawa and retail for just $7.99. And the bad news: It doesn’t come out until October 7th.

Don’t be sad. It could be worse. They could’ve revived the old Zelda comic published by Valiant.

 

‘The Dark Knight’ Viral Marketing Prizes Revealed

‘The Dark Knight’ Viral Marketing Prizes Revealed

  • News
  • April 2, 2008

Yesterday’s news about the latest viral marketing campaign for The Dark Knight had fans running to mysterious locations. For what? Money? A party? Adam West trying to fit in the Batsuit?

We guessed it had something to do with bowling from the clues in the message, and it turns out we were right. We should get a cookie… or a batsuit. Nevertheless, the lucky people who figured that out first and arrived at the locations teased in the campaign received something even better: a bowling bag. Inside the bag was a Joker-themed bowling ball with a number on it, and an evidence bag with a cell phone inside it. When winners called the number, a creepy voice let them know "we know who you are now." *shiver*

G4TV’s Attack of the Show managed to get one of the prizes and made a video about it. See for yourself what you would’ve gotten if you had pressed "turbo" on the Batmobile a little earlier.

 

Oh, and ComicMix reader Russ Rodgers alerted us to another viral marketing website for The Dark Knight, Acme Security Systems. Sure, it looks pretty legit — but they protect against Fear Toxin?

‘The Dark Knight’ Viral Marketing Strikes Again!

‘The Dark Knight’ Viral Marketing Strikes Again!

  • News
  • April 1, 2008

 

Alternate Reality Games are the "it" thing in web marketing, especially for the upcoming The Dark Knight movie. Take, for instance, all of the activity we’ve reported on in the past surrounding the Harvey Dent campaign site. Well, they’re at it again.

For April Fool’s Day, a website launched for the Clown Travel Agency. A click on the envelope reveals a list of international locations and the message:

READY TO HAVE A BALL?

A SPECIAL BAG OF FUN AWAITS THE FIRST TO CLAIM IT, BUT YOU’D BETTER STRIKE FAST, THERE’S NO TIME TO SPARE!

Sounds like there’s a bowling theme at play here. If any Dark Knight detectives track the prize down, let us know!

‘Ctrl-Alt-Del’ Webcomic Goes ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’

‘Ctrl-Alt-Del’ Webcomic Goes ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’

  • News
  • March 31, 2008

Ctrl+Alt+Del webcomic creator Tim Buckley recently dropped two pieces of news of interest to readers on his website.

The first is that Season Two of the Ctrl+Alt+Del Animated Series begins today. Like the property it was based on, animated CAD will premiere online first. Fans can buy individual episodes, the first of which will cost an introductory $0.99, or they can subscribe for the entire season in advance. This gives you access to the entirety of Season One, Season Two episodes as they become available and a discount on the DVDs. Subscribers get the whole package for $24.95 if they sign up today.

The second piece of news concerns the webcomic. Buckley admits that he was a fan of the Choose Your Own Adventure book series growing up. Before the webcomic gets too tied up with a wedding/pregnancy storyline, he wants to experiment with "Ethan MacManus: Space Archaeologist," a storyline where the CAD characters are reimagined in a cross between Star Wars and Indiana Jones. But here’s the best part: readers will be able to vote on the choices the pop-culture obsessed Ethan must make.

So if it’s not funny, you only have yourself to blame.

Trailer For ‘Incredible Hulk’ Videogame Debuts

Trailer For ‘Incredible Hulk’ Videogame Debuts

  • News
  • March 30, 2008

Sega has released the first trailer for the videogame based on the upcoming Incredible Hulk film. The footage gives us a good indication of what we can expect.

The Hulk jumping great distances? Check. Hulk wrecking New York City? Check. The army and robots, Hulk’s favorite fodder, getting smashed? Check and check.

Also the "Coming Soon" message on the game’s official website has been replaced with all-new info, images and what may be the music from the movie. The Incredible Hulk game will be released in June 2008 for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 and Windows PCs.

 

Which Comic is Getting a New 4-Player Arcade Game?

Which Comic is Getting a New 4-Player Arcade Game?

  • News
  • March 27, 2008

Who says comic book fans are antisocial? I grew up hanging out at pizza parlors and movie theaters with my friends, playing arcade games like Captain America and the Avengers, Spider-Man, TMNT and X-Men.

Well, cue a flashback to the ’90s, because arcade developer Signature Devices announced in a press release that they’ve finished work on a four-player arcade game that featuring "several well known comic book and television superheroes."

The game will feature a four-player arcade style co-operative play. Players can play solo or as a team against the plot, which takes place in three separate locations on earth and other planets. Signature Devices has developed the game to allow players to control the powers and abilities of
earth’s mightiest heroes [Ed. Note: emphasis ours] in an action packed fight for justice against some of the greatest comic book villains. The Company has developed the game to truly come to life using the co-operative methods best utilized with two to four players at a time.

But they didn’t say which comic book heroes, probably because that’s the responsibility of the arcade game publisher. Meanwhile we’re left to speculate which superheroes it could be. It helps that they say they’ve been on television. Candidates include Justice League, X-Men, Spider-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or maybe even NBC’s Heroes, among others. One interesting phrase we highlighted in the quote is "earth’s mightiest heroes," a term commonly used by The Avengers, who had a brief cartoon run.

We’ll admit we’d be excited to grab a few beers and play this with friends at Dave & Buster’s. ComicMix readers, any ideas what you think this might be… or, of course, which characters you want this to be?

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