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Pokemon Movie Detective Pikachu Will Star Ryan Reynolds...As Pikachu

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Ryan Reynolds will star in the Detective Pikachu Pokemon movie as...Pikachu?

NewsNick Harley
Dec 6, 2017

The long anticipated Pokémon live-action picture, Detective Pikachu, continues to move forward, and it has found its Pikachu in Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), who has signed on for the motion capture role, according to THR. It's unclear if Reynolds will also lend his voice to the character, which could prove to be a bit controversial considering how fans reacted to the first time Pikachu spoke in a movie.

Reynolds joins Justice Smith (Get Down), who co-stars as a kid who needs to find his missing father, and Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies), who is described as a "sassy journalist" who helps Smith's character and Detective Pikachu on the case.

Detective Pikachu is being helmed by Rob Letterman, who is best known for adapting R.L. Stine's '90s kid nostalgia pic, Goosebumps, for Sony. Turning that into an all-ages comedy did wonders for the studio, and a sequel is expected to be on the way. Alex Hirsch and Nicole Perlman penned the script for Detective Pikachu.

Legendary bought the international Pokémon movie rights in summer 2016 and has slowly been putting this movie together. It will also be produced through Universal Pictures, who will distribute the film in the U.S. and most international markets. Toho Co, Ltd., the movie studio behind all the animated Pokémon movies, will maintain the Japanese rights to the brand.


Moral Interpretations of Mario Kart

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There's plenty going on under the surface of a good game of Mario Kart. We're not defending Rainbow Road, though...

FeatureAndrew Blair
Dec 7, 2017

This article contains spoilers for The Prestige.

For people born in the mid-80s, Mario Kart is one of the key life skills it’s okay to be lousy at, along with pool and Dance Dance Revolution. Mario Kart, though, is the one that’s stayed with us the longest.

You can play it at home more easily than the others. It’s sociable, pretty easy to pick up, relies less on button mashing than Super Smash Bros, and doesn’t make anyone picture a statue of Luke Goss made out of instant mashed potato. It’s been around since 1992, but unlike Push Pops it’s been a constant in our lives. Even if, like me, your major achievement was that one time you managed second at Moo Moo Meadows because your wife drove into a cow, Mario Karthas been a regular feature of Christmases, post-pub all-nighters, and sleepovers for most of our lives.

Socrates once said "The unexamined life is not worth living." I don’t think I have to explain why Mario Kart is a worthy addition to your life, even if you’re as mediocre at it as I am, but if you examine it then it appears to be a borderline Dadaist venture eschewing logic and reason. The original Dadaist movement was in response to the society that led to World War One, and the Mushroom Kingdom is also in a state of erratic government (Peach keeps getting kidnapped), political upheaval (Peach keeps getting kidnapped), and teetering on the edge of warfare (Peach keeps getting kidnapped).

The original tournament was apparently organised by the competitors just to see who’s the best racer ever in the Mushroom Kingdom (Mario has a time machine, as fans of the 1993 educational game Mario’s Time Machine will attest to, so can definitely check this). However, it’s tricky to see this as a reaction to the constant political upheaval as the racers in the game are all the key players in said constant political upheaval: Princess Peach is taking time out from being kidnapped by Bowser in order to race him in a series of increasingly whimsical go-karts.

Realistically though, it’s hard to see who else but the authority of the realm could organise such an event. Consider the logistics. It must cost an absolute fortune in money and labor, and there are cheering audiences in attendance for some races. Are they genuinely excited or is something more sinister going on? Why is everyone so cool with the Princess racing against the guy who keeps trying to kidnap her and take over the Kingdom?

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A student of Socrates, who you may remember from a previous paragraph, developed Ethical Hedonism, a theory concerning the pursuit of pleasure - the highest good - stating that everyone should experience more pleasure than pain. Some philosophers have probably cited Mario Kart as emblematic of a Hedonistic philosophy. Shortly after the advent of writing, Sumerian epic poetry offered pleasure in the simple things as an alternative to questing for immortality, and so it is in accordance with these teachings we find ourselves playing a game where we race Italian plumbers against the amoral childhood rivals of Italian plumbers (who are also Italian plumbers) and a toadstool, and a turtle, and a sort of dragon-dinosaur-turtle hybrid. Simple. However, if the entire Mushroom Kingdom was given over to Hedonism as a governing morality it would explain a lot.

If everyone understands, and agrees with, the idea that pleasure is the greatest good, then an exciting racing tournament for the masses to watch (probably a public holiday thrown in as well) would explain why everyone’s so chill about Bowser driving around Peach’s castle and being provided with weapons. The audience get pleasure from watching the thrilling competition, made all the more thrilling by the prospect that the Princess could get kidnapped at any second (though presumably everyone’s sort of used to that by now), while the competitors get to compete for the pleasure of being crowned the best racer ever in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Alternatively, you could read Mario Kart as reflecting the struggle between the rational and chaotic. Superficially, it seems to be quite a simple racing game that is designed for entertainment and nothing more, but the most cursory examination reveals a warped and confused logic. In this respect it could be seen as a Nietzschean, descriptive response to the more normative ethics of the Super Mario series, where it is quite clearly acceptable to punch Bowser in the face. In this respect, it seems that it is Mario Kart rather than Grand Theft Auto or Doom that is deserving of controversy, in that under this reading it subtly condones a tyrannical regime, legitimizing it through the tournament platform.

Hopefully everyone reading this has taken this deeply weighty and important article incredibly seriously. Philosophy is very important, and deserves to be treated with respect. While there are multiple interpretations offered here, I hope that there is one absolute truth about Mario Kart that we can all agree on, and that is: Rainbow Road is a dick.

Rainbow Road is a great big floating whimsy that perpetually spurts the unwary into an infinite abyss, decked out in the colors of pride while simultaneously sapping it from your very living being; a kaleidoscopic Sisyphean flibbertigibbet of a racetrack surely designed to bring existential terror to the cosiest of living rooms. As you tumble repeatedly into the void it begs the questions: who built this abomination? Who maintains it? Is it the same person who arrives back on the track who left it? Is there a Prestige-esque dimension full of O-mouthed Luigi’s, floating in seemingly endless vats? Why is it so frequently the final track? Are Nintendo commenting on their role in the transience of all things, offering bright colours and the prospect of a podium finish as a distraction to the beckoning emptiness? Probably not, but still, screw you Rainbow Road.

Screw. You.

10 Remarkable Things About the Super Mario Bros. Movie

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As news of a new movie hits, we look at the remarkable things to spot in the infamous Super Mario Bros movie...

The ListsRyan Lambie
Dec 7, 2017

This article comes from Den of Geek UK. 

Adapting any art form into a movie presents a tricky proposition. It is, after all, easy to fall into the trap of being too reverential to the source material. Whether it happens to be a play, novel, or old television show you're making into a feature film, there has to be an element of invention, of reworking the source material into something that stands on its own as a piece of entertainment and - dare we say it - art.

This would go some way to explaining why the 1993 feature-length adaptation of Nintendo's hit video game series only vaguely resembles the property on which it was meant to be based. Released in a busy summer season - one dominated by another flick with dinosaurs in it, Jurassic Park- Super Mario Bros. was a critical and financial flop.

Made for a lavish $48 million (just $15 million less than Jurassic Parkcost to make), its $20-or-so million returns were surely grim reading for its investors. And given the talent involved, from its actors (Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper) to its filmmakers, exactly why it all went wrong is something of a mystery.

Join us, then, as we dig into this frequently maligned film, to see if we can find a few remarkable things to report about it...

It's Surprisingly Murky

For the army of kids who played Super Mario Bros. through the 80s and 90s, setting eyes on the movie adaptation must have been a bizarre childhood moment. The blue skies, cartoon landscape, and bouncy effervescence of the game are nowhere to be seen. Instead, there are animatronic dinosaurs, long shadows, and strange hints of sexual menace.

As in the game, Mario and Luigi are a pair of Italian American plumbers based in Brooklyn. They're played, respectively, by Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo. Unlike The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, a late-80s/early 90s attempt to turn the video game into a sitcom, the movie makes no attempt to replicate the colors of the game or its suggestions of cartoon humor. Instead, Mario's a sullen, somewhat cynical middle-aged man, while Luigi is in his 20s, idealistic and oddly fascinated with pseudo-scientific TV shows.

The plot sees Mario and Luigi drawn into an alternate universe created by the meteorite that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. This meteor, we learn, formed a parallel Earth where a few dinosaurs survived and evolved into cold-blooded humanoids. Princess Daisy (Samantha Mathis) is one of their reptilian number, and she's been kidnapped by Iggy and Spike (Fisher Stevens and Richard Edson respectively), the underlings of the evil King Koopa (Dennis Hopper).

Koopa, who rules over the dystopian city of Dinohattan, hopes to use Princess Daisy and her meteorite fragment necklace to fuse the two parallel dimensions together, and conquer the realm of humans. Needless to say, it's up to Mario and Luigi to head into the lizard dimension to stop him.

The story's actually a bit more complicated than this, and there's all sorts of stuff in here about fungus and reptiles and resources. Really, though, the movie's more about spectacle than story, with directors Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel (previously of Max Headroom and D.O.A fame) seemingly more interested in exploring the gigantic dark sets they had constructed in a disused cement factory in North Carolina.

Here, lizard women push their eggs down the street in pushchairs, street vendors sell fried salamanders in bread rolls, and neon King Koopa propaganda posters glower down from skyscrapers. It looks less Mushroom Kingdom and more Blade Runner noir.

Bob Hoskins Didn't Know He Was Making a Video Game Movie

There's a lot to be said for researching a role before you sign up to play it. Legend has it that Bob Hoskins had no idea that Super Mario Bros. was based on a video game when he agreed to take the lead - it was only later, when his son happened to ask what he was working on, that the truth was revealed.

The late Hoskins, who later admitted that he took the part for the money, would soon have his hopes of an easy pay check thwarted. In a rather tight-lipped interview on Entertainment Tonight in 1993, Hoskins said, "If you're going to survive this film, you're going to have to be very, very careful [...] I got stabbed four times. Electrocuted. Broke a finger. Nearly got drowned. And that's just what happened to me..."

These Rasputin-like brushes with death were only a small part of the grim things going on behind the scenes. The directors' desire to make a dark fantasy clashed with what investors' had in mind - namely, a cute family movie. A creative tug-of-war ensued, in which the script was repeatedly rewritten, often while scenes were actually being shot.

In the nightmare of sets being built and torn down, accidents happened. It was John Leguizamo who reportedly broke Hoskins' finger when a van driving sequence went wrong. Hoskins was forced to wear a flesh-colored plaster cast for the rest of the shoot - look carefully, and you'll spot Hoskins' frozen, plastered-up hand in some scenes.

Leguizamo and Hoskins apparently found the production so depressing, they'd frequently drink between takes to relieve the tension. Years later, memories of Super Mario Bros. are still emotionally charged - even after almost two decades, the late Hoskins still counted the movie as his worst professional experience.

Mario's Last Name Is Mario

Not long after Mario and Luigi arrive in Dinohattan, they're arrested by the Police, who drive squad cars that look like something out of Mad Max. It's when they're hauled down to the precinct that we learn Mario's last name, which is, imaginatively, Mario. Exactly why the screenwriters bothered adding this detail in isn't clear - it's not even written in as a gag, like that episode of The Simpsons, where Homer goes on a quest to find out what the 'J' in his middle name stands for.

It's one symptom, perhaps, of Super Mario Bros.' nightmarish pre-production, where different writers were brought in to have a go at sculpting the script. The first, which imagined Super Mario as a straight fairytale fantasy movie along the lines of The Wizard of Oz or Shrek, was abandoned when original director Greg Beeman was replaced by Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel.

Two other drafts were written by Dick Clement and Ian la Frenais - the writing duo famed for TV shows such as Porridge, and movies including The Commitmentsand Flushed Away. Their drafts were darker and more action-packed, and one even included a cameo from Bruce Willis, who would have been glimpsed in John McClane mode, crawling around a duct in Koopa's lair.

It was Clement and la Frenais' script which attracted much of the acting talent - particularly Hopper, Hoskins, and Fiona Shaw, who plays Koopa's evil muse. Unfortunately for them, Clement and la Frenais were soon replaced by a new writing duo, and the script gradually mutated out of all recognition as the production went on. Willis had a lucky escape.

An Old Lady Is Thrown Off a Balcony

Whether you approve of the direction Super Mario Bros.' makers took with the Nintendo property or not, it has to be said that some of the ideas in the resulting movie are quite interesting. Taken on its own terms rather than a video game adaptation, it's a weird, often surprising jumble of bickering humor and grungy action, complete with car chases and outlandish shootouts.

It has to be said, though, that nobody involved seems particularly interested in the property's origins. It's even said that the directors had the desire to make a parallel universe fantasy movie before they took Super Mario Bros. on, and simply adapted the property's characters to fit their pre-existing ideas. This might explain why the characters bear no resemblance to the (immediately sketchy) ones in the video game, with King Koopa (otherwise known as Bowser) now a half-human, half lizard instead of a monstrous turtle with a shock of red hair.

Similarly, the game's cheerful mushroom fellow Toad is a busker played by Mojo Dixon in the movie, and later turned into a Goomba (here imagined as a breed of shrunken-headed reptiles). Yoshi, the adorable dinosaur sidekick who first appeared in 1990's Super Mario World, makes an appearance here as a realistic yet still quite cute animatronic lizard who could have wandered in off the set of Jurassic Park. Even Mario and Luigi spend much of the film in a selection of hooded tops and baggy trousers - it's not until well past the half-way point that they finally get to don their more familiar red and green overalls.

Bertha is perhaps the most outlandish character adaptation in the whole movie. In Super Mario Bros. 3, Big Berthas are giant red fish. In the movie, Bertha's a large-framed woman who possesses uncanny physical strength. In one of the film's more surprising moments, she picks up an old lady who threatens Mario and Luigi, and throws her over a balcony like a rag doll.

By this point, one begins to wonder what would have happened if the directors had adapted Alice in Wonderland as a dark dystopia instead. The Mad Hatter probably would have been a crack dealer played by Harvey Keitel or something.

Koopa Tries to Seduce Princess Daisy

Following his astonishingly unfettered performance in Blue Velvet, we struggled to watch a subsequent movie starring Dennis Hopper in quite the same way. So when Hopper shows up in a movie with a family rating in a low-lit room with Princess Daisy, we're nervously wondering when he's going to start yelling, "Mommeee," or "Don't look at me!"

Actually, what happens is only slightly less disturbing. With Princess Daisy holed up in Koopa's lair (which appears to be a parallel universe version of the Twin Towers, if we're not mistaken), Hopper drinks a few shots of alcohol and starts making all sorts of discomforting comments. "You're so fresh, so clean," he hisses. "...you know what they say about little girls, don't you? They never forget their first kiss from a lizard..."

Just when we thought the scene couldn't possibly get any creepier, Koopa lolls his long, lizard tongue around suggestively, while the princess looks on in horror. It's likely that Samantha Mathis didn't have to pretend to be frightened in this scene.

Yoshi Is Stabbed

As if Dennis Hopper's CG-assisted seduction of Princess Daisy wasn't enough to freak out the under-10s in the audience, a late scene in which the princess is attacked by a knife-wielding Lina (Fiona Shaw) would probably have had them weeping into their popcorn. As Yoshi helps Princess Daisy escape by tripping up Lina with his massive tongue, the latter stabs the poor little creature in the back.

It's a surprisingly cruel moment, even leaving aside the fact that, in one of the weirder collisions of pop culture, it's Harry Potter's Petunia Dursley sticking a knife into one of video gaming's most adorable characters. It's a bit like seeing Jon Pertwee setting fire to Bagpuss, or Sean Bean throttling E.T.

Mario and Luigi Go to a Nightclub

It used to be an unwritten rule in the 80s and early-90s that all films had to contain a scene set in a strip joint or seedy nightclub. True to form, Mario and Luigi put on a pair of gaudy suits and head to a dingy night spot, where scantily-clad dancers cavort to the Divinyl's cover of "Love Is the Drug."

As if all the leather and tights weren't incongruous enough in a family movie, we're then treated to the edifying sight of Mario doing the bump n' grind with Bertha, as he attempts to seduce her into giving up the meteorite fragment/necklace thing she stole earlier.

If the scene has a decidedly kinky, 90s vibe as it stands, an earlier cut of the nightclub sequence would have seen Iggy and Spike clamber on stage to perform a rap song. A production photograph shows actors Richard Edson and Fisher Stevens joined on stage by a dancer in a decidedly PG-13-unfriendly outfit - which is possibly why the scene was cut. In case you were wondering what the rap was like, here's a sample of the lyrics, courtesy of SMB Movie:

Well, we just met two plumbers who had an idea.
They showed us the light and new frontier.
Mario and Luigi - they know what's right.
We gotta take a stand and put up a fight!

Bob-omb Is Actually Quite Cute

In a film in which we've already seen Yoshi stabbed and Princess Daisy menaced by Dennis Hopper, we were beginning to wonder whether any of the video game series' childlike whimsy had survived the transition. And then, somewhere around the 80 minute mark, a Bob-omb shows up - and for once, it looks almost exactly like its counterpart in the game. It's simply a little wind-up bomb with eyes, and looks adorably hand-made - like something from a Michel Gondry film.

For a brief moment, as the little device trundles along the ground causing panic (its destructive power being far greater than its diminutive size implies), the sense of cruelty and cynicism lurking in the rest of the film briefly disappears. But then you happen to notice that the Bob-omb's wearing Reebok trainers...

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There's a Cameo from the Super Scope

TheSuper Mario Bros. movie may have made only passing references to its video game source, but one particular Nintendo product did make a brief yet prominent cameo appearance. The Nintendo Super Scope was the company's next-gen replacement for its NES Zapper lightgun. Because of Nintendo's sensitivity over guns and violence, it decided to make the Super Scope look less like a pistol, and more like some sort of shoulder-mounted mid-point between a bazooka and a periscope.

This ungainly yet immediately recognizable peripheral appears in Super Mario Bros. as a devolution gun - a device which is used to turn a member of the Mafia into a chimpanzee in one scene, and Koopa into a puddle of primordial goo in another. Oddly, no one in the film mentions how annoying it is to have to fill the Super Scope (sorry, devolution gun) with six AA batteries, nor how sore their shoulder gets after wielding the thing for more than half an hour or so.

Okay, so this isn't the most remarkable point you could make about Super Mario Bros., but bear this in mind: the movie marks the first and only time Academy Award-nominated actor Dennis Hopper was spotted holding a Nintendo product. The scene illustrated above is also noteworthy for the repetition of one of the film's few potential catchphrases: "Trust the fungus!"

Lance Henriksen Shows up for Approximately Three Seconds

Super Mario Bros. opens with a bizarre computer-animated sequence that set the tone for the whole movie. With a voiceover by Dan Castellaneta, it simultaneously introduced the notion of an alternate universe full of dinosaur/human hybrids, and also left audiences wondering if they'd showed up for the wrong picture. (Legend has it that this opening scene was added at the last minute after executives worried that the film's premise didn't make sense.)

Fittingly, the movie ends in an equally bizarre manner. Throughout the last act, Princess Daisy has been pointing at a huge pile of fungus and goo, and insisting that it's her father. On our first viewing, we simply assumed she'd been drinking, but in the final scenes, we discover that Daisy's been telling the truth all along: as the now dead Koopa's spell is lifted, the pile of goo morphs back into the King, played by none other than Lance Henriksen.

Incredibly, this brilliant actor is given little more than one line of dialogue: "[Cough]. I'm back. I love those plumbers." Exactly why such a great actor was brought in for such a brief scene isn't clear - like the opening, the sequence was shot way after principle photography was finished - but it's possible that Super Mario Bros. filmmakers thought Henriksen might make a bigger contribution to the sequel.

With the movie's producers clearly expecting lots of money to be made, Super Mario Bros. ends on a cliffhanger; Princess Daisy comes bursting into Mario and Luigi's apartment dressed like Ripley, triggering the start of another adventure. Needless to say, that next adventure was never filmed - which is probably just as well. With the production of Super Mario Bros. proving to be such a nightmare, Bob Hoskins may have been difficult to coax back into the role. It's perhaps fair, then, to give him the last word about the whole ordeal.

"The worst thing I ever did? Super Mario Brothers." Hoskins said in a 2007 Guardian interview. "It was a fuckin' nightmare."

Far Cry 5 Release Date, Trailer, Story, & Everything Else We Know

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Everything we know about Far Cry 5, including latest news, release date, trailers, and much more!

NewsMatthew Byrd
Dec 7, 2017

The latest entry into the Far Cry franchise figures to include all of the mini-missions, base destruction, and open-world exploration that we've come to expect from the game's most recent titles, but this Far Cry breaks the mold just a bit by moving players from a harsh jungle setting to the heart of rural America. 

In Far Cry 5, you will be tasked with liberating a small town from the opression of a cult that has coerced the populace through fear and intimidation. Doing so will require you to seek the help of a small band of local rebels who share your goal. 

Here's the latest from Far Cry 5:

Far Cry 5 Release Date

Far Cry 5 has been delayed to March 27, 2018 from an original release date of Feb. 27. The game is coming for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. PlayStation 4 users will receive a free in-game skin pack upon purchase. 

Far Cry 5 Trailer

This Far Cry 5 trailer focuses on the game's co-op options by detailing the many ways you and your friends will be able to destroy the game's small-town cultists. Hint: many of them involve rather large guns.

E3 2017 didn't bring us quite as much information about Far Cry 5 as we thought it might, but these two new trailers for the game do expand upon the game's unique look at the modern world. We also get a brief look at a cinematic mock-up of the title's gameplay which seems to suggest that the latest Far Cry may place a greater emphasis on squad-based objective completion and combat. 

Along with Far Cry's first official trailer, Ubisoft is releasing a few character trailers that highlight some of the prominent members of the game's resistance movement. Get to know bar owner Mary May, Pastor Jerome Jeffries, and pilot Nick Rye courtesy of these new previews:

The official trailer for Far Cry 5 seemingly confirms many things we already new about the game. It takes place somewhere in the Montana countryside, it sees you combat a radical religious leader and his congregation, and it will feature plenty of open-world action. It also serves to get us very, very excited about the next installment in the Far Cry series.

Far Cry 5 Story

Far Cry 5 will cast players into the role of a junior deputy in Hope County, Montana. Somewhere along the way, this young deputy will cross paths with the local doomsday religious cult known as Project at Eden's Gate. It seems that it will be up to you to bring together local members of the growing resistance movement and fight back with the help of various vehicles and weapons. 

You'll also be able to hire special activist groups in order to help you along the way. It's not entirely clear how these groups will affect the overall gameplay beyond assisting you in combat, but we do know that Far Cry 5 will feature a co-op option and will revive Far Cry 3's map editor program. 

Far Cry 5 Details

The latest artwork for Far Cry 5 continues the series recent tradition of enigmatic villains by introducing us to the leader of a Montana cult and his followers. 

The imagery here implies that the group has some kind of Christian orientation, but what we do know is that there certainly seems to be some religious aspect to these new villains.

Look beyond the social commentary, however, and you may find that the most interesting thing about this image is that it features what appears to be multiple villains rather than just a lone evil figure. Could it be possible that Ubisoft will implement some kind of lieutenant structure by divvying up their new open world into controlled regions?

Specifics aside, Far Cry 5's design continues to intrigue with its mix of modern ideas and old worlds.

Dying Light is Getting a Battle Royale Mode

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The zombie action title is getting in on the Battle Royale action.

NewsMatthew Byrd
Dec 7, 2017

Zombie game Dying Light will be the next title to incorporate a Battle Royale mode. 

Next year, developer Techland will release a Dying Light expansion called Bad Blood that will add a brand-new PvP mode to the game. The studio stated that this mode was designed to address numerous requests they received from fans regarding a new way to enjoy Dying Light's PvP elements. 

Their response will come in the form of what they describe as a nod to the "recent popularity of the Battle Royale genre among the survival horror fans." Unlike other popular PvP modes, this one will only allow six players to do battle. Actually, describing it as a "Battle Royale" mode really only tells half the story. Much like the upcoming title Hunt: Showdown, this mode will combine PvP and PvE elements. 

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In Bad Blood, you and five other players will occupy an area filled with zombies. In order to escape, you'll need to scavenge for weapons, resources, and use the blood samples of the infected in order to unlock more seats on the escape helicopter. That means that you will ideally be working with your fellow survivors in order to ensure that everyone makes it to the end. However, it is entirely possible that not everyone will find enough resources to ensure that there are enough seats for the entire party. Someone might also decide to just go into business for themselves. 

Regardless, it seems that everyone will need to pay for their individual seat meaning that teamwork will likely only get you so far. 

There's no release date available for the Bad Blood expansion, but the studio has posted a sign-up page for the game's upcoming global playtest. The page states that a Techland account is required to participate, and we assume that you'll also need a copy of Dying Light in order to get in on the action. 

This actually sounds like a pretty interesting use of the basic Battle Royale system. It fits within Dying Light's design space, but it incorporates aspects of popular games within this genre. 

Square Enix Announces New Tomb Raider Game

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Lara Croft will return...eventually.

NewsMatthew Byrd
Dec 7, 2017

Square Enix has confirmed they are developing the next game in the Tomb Raider franchise. 

"A new Tomb Raider game is coming," reads a brief statement on the Tomb Raider account. "Driven by our goal of putting our fans first, we want you to know that it won't be long between the official reveal and when you can play. Our journey will begin with a major event in 2018. We simply can't wait to take you on Lara Croft's defining adventure."

That message seems to indicate the next Tomb Raider title might not be quite that far off. While we don't think this counts as the game's "official reveal," the studio's general message suggests that they are not interested in dragging these things out quite so long in terms of the reveal process. That means that if they're ready to announce that they're working on this game, they may soon be ready for the full reveal. 

Until then, there is no news regarding the game's plot, which systems it will be on, or its general release window. 

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That said, it's been rumored for quite some time that the name of the next Tomb Raider game will be Shadow of the Tomb Raider. There's also some mystery concerning who is actually working on the game. Cyrstal Dynamics - developers of the Tomb Raider franchise since its beginning - appear to have their hands full at the moment with other projects. It would be surprising if they didn't work on this game, but it's also not inconceivable that they might pass the reins to someone else.

Whoever ends up working on the game, it probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise that there is a new Tomb Raider in the works. After all, Square Enix's reboot of the franchise has been tremendously successful in terms of critical acclaim and market success. The recent Tomb Raider games have been praised for their strong narratives and clever reimaginings of classic Tomb Raider tropes. 

It's not going to be easy to replicate the accomplishments of those titles, but at a time when the Uncharted series is likely taking a break for the foreseeable future, Lara Croft's return will be a welcome one indeed. 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - The Champions' Ballad DLC Available Now

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The next The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild DLC is out now! Here's everything you need to know about the new DLC...

NewsDen of Geek Staff
Dec 7, 2017

At The Game Awards 2017, it was announced that the second story DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Champions' Ballad, is out now!

This story DLC has remained a bit of a mystery. Recently, Reggie Fils-Aime spoke to Kotaku and did confirm that Breath of the Wild's next piece of DLC will expand the base game's story and will focus on the mythical champions who played a key role in Breath of the Wild.  

We also know that the DLC will still allow you to play as Link even though Zelda and the champions will be the primary focus of the narrative. The DLC will include a new dungeon and gear. The Champions' Ballad is only available through the game's expansion pass, which will set you back $20, but that also includes the first DLC pack, The Master Trials.

Here's the new trailer for The Champion's Ballad that was released at The Game Awards 2017:

And here's the trailer that Nintendo released at E3 2017 to announce the second story DLC: 

When Nintendo announced that Breath of the Wild would be the first major The Legend of Zelda game to receive DLC content, the reaction was far from overwhelmingly positive. There were a few #NotMyZeldas being bandied about. 

Of course, that was before we knew that Breath of the Wild was going to be one of the greatest Zelda games ever made. Even the game's DLC has been shockingly good thus far. We don't expect The Champions' Ballad to disappoint. 

Star Wars Battlefront 2: The Last Jedi Season DLC Trailer, Release Date, & Details

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The Last Jedi is coming to Star Wars Battlefront 2! Here is the trailer...

NewsDen of Geek Staff
Dec 7, 2017

The first DLC pack for Star Wars Battlefront 2 will be focused on The Last Jedi. Packaged as "The Last Jedi Season" of the game, the updates will mostly be for the multiplayer.

Check out the trailer for the DLC below:

On Dec. 5, players will be asked to choose a side: the First Order or the New Republic. Players will be tasked with completing special faction quests for faction-specific rewards. 

On Dec. 13, players will get new heroes and maps. The new heroes are Captain Phasma and Finn, while the new maps are Crait for Galactic Assault mode and D'Qar for Starfighter Assault. There will be new quests and challenges as well. 

Here's a full rundown of the season:

Last but definitely not least, "The Last Jedi Season" will include a new single-player mission starring Iden Versio. The mission, which is called "Resurrection," will take place during the rise of the First Order. It will also arrive on Dec. 13. 


A Way Out Release Date, Trailer, & Details

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A Way Out arrives in March 2018. Here's everything else we know...

NewsMatthew Byrd
Dec 7, 2017

A Way Out comes to us from Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons creator Josef Fares and his new venture Hazelight Studios. It follows two inmates who are trying to escape a high-security prison for their own reasons. Should they manage to do so, they will then need to find a way to escape the law and perhaps even find a bit of peace.

Here's what you need to know about the game:

A Way Out Release Date

A Way Out arrives on March 23, 2018. It's coming to PS4, XBO, and PC.

A Way Out Trailer

Here's the new trailer:

One of the most pleasant surprises of E3 2017 was certainly this first trailer for A Way Out.

A Way Out Details

Much like BrothersA Way Out will emphasize multiple character gameplay. Unlike BrothersA Way Out will be an entirely co-op experience. What that means is that you will need to play the game with someone else and will not be able to play as both characters with one controller as you could in Brothers. 

This emphasis on co-op gameplay makes sense when you dive into the gameplay specifics. Josef Fares stated that A Way Out will focus on the ability to operate inherently from your partner in many situations. So, while you'll participate in standard co-op fare such as shooting from a vehicle while your partner drives, you'll also be asked to perform more complicated tasks that require each of you to handle a specific assignment.

Interestingly, one character will never have to complete a specific assignment meaning it is up to the players to determine who does what. Furthermore, if one player is caught up in a cutscene or otherwise indisposed, the other player will still be able to control their character independently. 

Sea of Thieves Release Date, Trailer, & Everything Else We Know

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What we know about Sea of Thieves, including latest news, release date, trailers, and more!

NewsDen of Geek Staff
Dec 7, 2017

Sea of Thieves is legendary developer Rare's first game since its ill-fated Kinect era. Surprisingly, Rare's not returning to the 3D platformer genre it helped usher in during the Nintendo 64 era. Nor is Sea of Thieves anywhere close to Rare's shooter titles. Instead, the studio's new game is a pirate adventure game where players command a ship, fight enemies, and look for treasure. 

Here's everything we know about the game:

Sea of Thieves Release Date

Sea of Thieves will arrive on March 20, 2018. Microsoft confirmed that it will be part of their new Play Anywhere program, which features crossplay on both Xbox One and PC.

Sea of Thieves Trailer

A new trailer premiered at The Game Awards 2017! Check it out below:

Here's the E3 2017 gameplay trailer for Sea of Thieves!

It's been all quiet on the stormy shores as it relates to Sea of Thieves updates in recent weeks, but this developer gameplay video offers us a fresh look at Rare's most exciting game in years. 

The focus of this video is on the game's cooperative elements and the way that players will need to work together in order to effectively run their pirate ship. It's clear from the video that an incredible amount of cooperation is necessary for players to make it far in the game, especially as it relates to ship-to-ship battles which seem to demand that crew members play multiple roles at once. 

Rare released another dev diary all about the co-op mechanics of Sea of Thieves. There's a great discussion between the two designers regarding how the players will have to work together to navigate their ship through the world map. Check it out below:

Check out 14 minutes of gameplay footage below:

Rare took the stage at Microsoft’s E3 2016 presentation to unveil the debut gameplay footage of their upcoming swashbuckling adventure, Sea of Thieves. The trailer is comprised of real gameplay taken from three teams of fans who were invited to Rare’s studio to play the multiplayer first-person game for the first time.

The gameplay trailer showcases sailing pirate ships across colorful seas, jumping off the plank and exploring uncharted islands, and engaging in high-octane battles with enemy pirates on the open water.

Check out the trailer below:

Here is the announcement trailer:

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Metro Exodus Release Date, Trailer, & Everything Else We Know

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Everything we know about Metro Exodus, including latest news, release date, trailers, and much more!

NewsMatthew Byrd
Dec 7, 2017

4A Games returns with Metro Exodus! Much like the previous Metro games, this one appears to contain a mix of subterranean and overworld exploration gameplay spiced up a bit by the inclusion of challenging combat. As for the timeline, this appears to be a sequel to the previous titles, but that is largely based on the degenerative nature of the universe rather than any specific plot points. 

Otherwise, this title appears to share many of the gameplay and environmental aspects that make the Metro franchise so unique. If anything, there may be a slightly stronger emphasis on creature combat over human encounters (if the footage shown is any indication, at least) but we'll wait until more of the game is revealed before making too many assumptions. 

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Metro Exodus Trailer

A new trailer premiered at The Game Awards 2017. Check it out below:

And here's the reveal trailer for Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus Release Date

Metro Exodus arrives in Fall 2018. It is XBO, PS4, and PC.

SoulCalibur VI Trailer, Release Date, & Details

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It's been five years since we last saw the cursed Soul Edge, but in 2018, the fire still burns.

NewsGavin Jasper
Dec 8, 2017

Considering how the fighting game genre has been able to make a comeback these last few years, one question that’s been brought up quite a bit is, “Where’s SoulCalibur?” Bandai Namco’s second fighting game cash cow used to be a huge deal, but it’s been years since the last installment kind of crapped the bed. Luckily, last night's Game Awards announced the return of the franchise!

Get your blind gimp cosplay ready because SoulCalibur VI is a go. The game will arrive in 2018 for PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One. Coincidentally, the series will celebrate its 20th-anniversary next year.

Here's the first trailer:

We obviously can’t parse too much from a one-minute video that shows off two mainstays, an incomplete glimpse at a new character, and flashbacks to the Soul Edge doing stuff. In terms of gameplay, the studio seems to be playing up some kind of buff/trait system by the way Sophitia and Mitsurugi power up and slice at each other in the end.

One thing that does stick out is the continuity. SoulCalibur IV ended with Sophitia dying and SoulCalibur V jumped ahead about 15 years to focus on her children. Not only is Sophitia alive and well here, but amidst all the random visions shown, the narrator mentions how “history hides away more than one truth.” In other words, there might be an in-story retcon of SoulCalibur V in the works, setting up VI as the beginning of a new timeline.

Hey, it worked like gangbusters for Mortal Kombat.

The Soulseries began back in 1995 with the exceptional Soul Edge, renamed Soul Blade on consoles. The game’s story takes place in 1584 and centers around armed warriors from around the world fighting over the rights to a cursed sword known as Soul Edge, then wielded by a possessed pirate. This would lead to the sequel SoulCalibur, which would hold onto the branding for all the later installments. The series has continued to focus on the quest for the evil sword ever since.

The last real installment was SoulCalibur Vin 2012, which didn’t exactly set the world on fire due to how little the game had to offer, especially compared to its predecessors. Hopefully, SoulCalibur VIwill return to the glory days of the Dreamcast era.

SoulCalibur VI will be released sometime in 2018.

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Death Stranding Trailer, Release Date, & Latest News

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The new Death Stranding trailer features a lot of Norman Reedus and is absolutely haunting. Check it out here!

NewsDen Of Geek Staff
Dec 8, 2017

Hideo Kojima, the famed creator of the Metal Gear series, returns after a brief hiatus after his highly publicized exit from Konami with his strangest concept yet: Death Stranding, a game that's all about connections, according to the developer. Kojima's goal is to create a game where players interact with each other beyond just trying to kill each other. 

The game stars Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen. It also features some collaboration with beloved director Guillermo del Toro, who previously worked with Kojima on the ill-fated Silent Hills project.

Here's everything else we know:

Death Stranding News

A new Death Stranding trailer premiered at The Game Awards 2017 and it's our best look at this haunting game yet! Check out the trailer below:

Death Stranding Release Date

Death Stranding doesn't have a release date at the moment. The game will arrive exclusively to PS4.

“It will be out before the Olympics,” said Kojima at TGS 2016, referring to the Tokyo 2020 Games. He then went on, “To go a little further, there is a movie called Akira, and it will be out before the year in which Akira is set.” (Akira was set in 2019.)

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Death Stranding Trailer

The second trailer for Hideo Kojima's next game was revealed at the 2016 Game Awards. The big story here is the appearance of everone's (at least second) favorite Hannibal Lecter, Mads Mikkelsen. Check it out:

We all wondered what Hideo Kojima had in store for the gaming world next, and our questions were answered when the first trailer for Death Stranding hit the PS4 press conference screen. What is the game about or what are we even watching in the announcement trailer? The simple answer is "Naked Norman Reedus crying over an invisible ink baby on a beach covered in dead fish and crabs," but as you may already know, nothing is simple when it comes to a Kojima creation.

Take a look for yourself:

Death Stranding Gameplay

Hideo Kojima continues to leak out Death Stranding information a trickle at a time. The game auteur took the stage at a Tokyo game conference today and provided the briefest of glimpses regarding Death Stranding's design intent.

Death Stranding will be an action game with open world elements, but, according to Kojima, it will be a different kind of action game that emphasizes player interactions beyond just trying to kill each other. While players will fight both computer and human-controlled enemies via the game's single-player and online modes, Kojima is also working on ways in which they can experience the game together that emphasizes non-action based cooperation. 

Kojima didn't go into further details regarding how, exactly, this will work, but there were trace elements of the Dark Souls' school of multiplayer design in his speech. 

Speaking at the Develop: Brighton conference, Hideo Kojima expressed his belief that Death Stranding represents his greatest work. 

"I'm very confident that we're working towards something completely new and that no-one has seen so far,” said Kojima. “This will be my best work so far, I'm very confident about that." 

At this same event, Kojima also spoke of how excited he is about the ability of virtual reality to convey a new range of human emotions in video games. At this time, however, there is no word on whether or not Death Stranding will have VR features. Kojima also noted that he could never stop making video games because, as technology progresses, he comes closer to being able to make the type of games he dreams of. 

In a YouTube upload by Hideo Kojima, the legendary developer also shared some information regarding the secrecy that surrounded Death Stranding's unveiling. According to Kojima, only about five people knew that the game was going to be revealed at E3 2016. In order to avoid any potential leaks, Kojima himself also avoided social media, refrained from taking photos and even stayed at an out of the way hotel during E3 just to avoid being spotted. 

Death Stranding Story

Mads Mikkelsen recently caught up with Birth.Movies.Death. to talk about Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding and what exactly the actor is doing in the game's second trailer. It seems that Mikkelsen, who plays the game's villain, is as confused as the rest of us are, even though he's sat down to talk about the enigmatic game with the auteur. 

While he can't talk about the plot of Death Stranding, Mikkelsen did say that "it's very intricate. I mean, you know [Kojima]. He's a very brilliant man. I mean, the stuff he told me? I only understood some of it. There was a lot of, 'What?' I have to see it before I understand. Because with Death Stranding, he's creating something completely new." 

As Kojima described to Red BullDeath Stranding's story "is all about connections, that are called 'strands' in psychology." That's not much to go on at all, but then again, Kojima likes to keep story details very close to the chest. Kojima continued, "It's too early to talk about the broader details of the story or to reveal the female lead, but we have a core structure already."

With the likes of director Guillermo del Toro and actors Mikkelsen and Norman Reedus joining Kojima on this project, we're sure to be in for something very special - if only slightly confusing as well.

Death Stranding Details

In a new interview with Glixel, video game auteur Hideo Kojima confirmed that his latest helping of interactive weird, Death Stranding, "is not a horror game." Despite the dark tone of the first two trailers and his recent work on P.T., Death Stranding will not be the creator's first full foray into horror after all. 

"I don’t have a dark mindset in particular," Kojima told Glixel. "Death Stranding is not a horror game. I just wanted to make something that looks very unique, something you haven’t seen before, something with a more artistic slant to it. I’m not pursuing a dark aspect to the game."

It definitely looks unique, especially in the "using creepy babies to promote your game" department. Kojima also reassured fans that the game will still have a sense of humor - a staple of his past games, which have included running gags and breaking the fourth wall.

"Humor is a very important aspect for games. You play a game for a very long time – Death Stranding is a big game, too – and you put stress on the player and you lead them through peaks and valleys. Humor is an important aspect to make sure the player can enjoy playing across these peaks and valleys. So we’ll have humor in this game too, but to a degree that it doesn't ruin the world setting. It will be at an appropriate level."

Kojima also caught up with the BBC to talk about Death Stranding and how it's unlike anything he's created before. 

"We want this game to be something that people can get into easily but after an hour or two they'll start to notice something a little different," Kojima said. "It's not like anything they've played before."

Kojima, who's never been shy about introducing very weird new elements to his games, says he's not too worried about how the risks he's taking with Death Stranding might drive some players away.

"Bands that everyone remembers take risks," he said. "They constantly change their music from previous albums, adapting and evolving through the ages. ... They might lose some fans along the way, but they bring in new ones. That's the kind of approach I want to take with my new game."

Kojima fans are undoubtedly expecting something new and strange from Death Stranding. So far, the trailers indicate that Kojima will indeed deliver the goods.

In other news, director Guillermo del Toro, who appeared in the second trailer for the game, has confirmed that he's not involved with Death Stranding in a creative role. He's simply an actor in the game, according to an interview with IGN.

"I’m involved as a character. Kojima-san called me and said, 'I want you to be a character in the game,' and I said, 'Gladly.' He’s discussed his ideas so I could understand the character, but other than that I’m not involved, creatively, at all."

Del Toro continued, "This is entirely Kojima-san’s game. I think it’s gonna be a fantastic game, 100%. But this is him and his ideas. I’m just a puppet in his hands. My contribution is limited to being a cheerleader for his ideas and being scanned for long hours at a time. That’s about it."

Death Stranding Poster

Kojima tweeted this promotional image for Death Stranding around the time of E3 2017. The image's use of the word Bridges is particularly interesting because, as IGN points out, that word was also seen in the game's second trailer.

Holiday Gift Guide Deals 2017: Video Games

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If you're looking for the perfect video game gift to give to a loved one or yourself, here are the best deals for the holidays!

The ListsDen of Geek Commerce
Dec 9, 2017

The holidays are here, which means that it's time to stock up on the latest and greatest in the gaming world, including current gen consoles, the best games of the year, and tons of accessories. There were so many great games this year that you'll undoubtedly find a whole bunch of deals you won't be able to turn down!

Den of Geek has compiled a list of the best gaming holiday deals of 2017. On top of deals, there are also quite a few must-haves on this list. 

Here we go:

Holiday Gift Guide Deals 2017

Logitech G903 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse - $149.99

If you game on PC, you know that you need an excellent mouse that fits all your needs: versatility, accuracy, a lightweight design, and it has to be comfortable for the hours you're going to spend schooling noobs in Counter-Strike, Overwatch, Dota, or League of Legends. That mouse is the all-new Logitech G903 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse, which comes stacked with the latest in gaming technology, including the best mouse sensor on the market, 11 fully programmable buttons so that you can set all of your in-game commands, RGB lighting, and wireless capability with 1-millisecond report rate. This mouse is a no-brainer for any pro or casual gamer.

And if you need more, Logitech has a whole series of Lightspeed gaming mice, keyboards, and even a wireless charging station! Check all the Lightspeed products out here.

Buy the Logitech G903 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus - $34.99 ($25 off)

This deal is insane! This Game of the Year contender that just arrived last month is already more than 50% off. If you love shooters, insane twists, and punching Nazis, pick this one up!

Buy Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Destiny 2 - $34.46 ($25.53 off)

If you want more of Bungie's signature blend of fast-paced action and military science fiction, then Destiny 2 is the shooter for you. 

Buy Destiny 2

Call of Duty: WWII - $39.99 ($20 off)

Return to the days of WWII shooters with the latest installment in the Call of Duty franchise.

Buy Call of Duty: WWII 

Prey - $24.99 ($35 off)

At a time when single-player adventures seem to be dying off, Bethesda is still doing the good work of providing gamers with intimate story-driven experiences. Prey, which takes a lot of influence from System Shock and BioShock, is well-worth your time if you're looking to get lost in a single-player story this holiday.

Buy Prey

Final Fantasy XV - $19.99 ($40 off)

Play the latest installment in Square Enix's classic JRPG series for a new low price!

Buy Final Fantasy XV

Mass Effect: Andromeda - $15.99 ($4 off)

While not quite perfect - in fact, flawed in many cases - Mass Effect: Andromeda gives you what few current titles can: an RPG space adventure that mixes combat, exploration, and expansive lore into one worthwhile package. If you feel burned by the lack of Star Wars games on the market at the moment, this might be the next best thing.

Buy Mass Effect: Andromeda

Friday the 13th: The Game - $29.99 ($10 off)

Looking for a great family-friendly multiplayer game to play with your loved ones this holiday? This...isn't the game. But if you like tons of gore and chasing your friends around as a mass murdering maniac, Friday the 13th is the game for you!

Buy Friday the 13th: The Game

Nintendo Switch Super Mario Odyssey Bundle

The must-have console of 2017 combined with one of the best games of the year. This bundle also comes with a carrying case! What else do you need to know?

Buy the Nintendo Switch Super Mario Odyssey Bundle

Coolbaby Mini Console

Since Nintendo has seemingly gone out of its way to make their HDMI-ready NES and Super NES Classic consoles available to consumers, some people are taking matters into their own hands. Meet the Coolbaby Mini Console. It looks and plays like the NES Classic, but is actually easier to get. And, oh yeah, it also features 600 different games. (Mainly modded variations of a few different titles though like the Super Mario Brothers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games). We don't know if any of this is legal, but we can say that these things are up on Amazon, so yeah, there you go.

Buy the Coolbaby Mini Console

Star Wars Battlefront II

Microtransaction controversies aside, Star Wars Battlefront II is still the hottest video game of the holiday season. You want it. Your friends want it. This is all very understandable. So we don't need to take up valuable Internet real estate telling you why its rad. Instead, here's what we want to know: How come nobody ever made a Star Wars mod of the classic arcade game Tapper? Think about it, it could have Wuher the bartender racing around the Creature Cantina trying to serve drinks to the likes of Hammerhead (Nagamaroo!) and Walrus Man. In the background, Han could be seen shooting Greedo. This sounds like bliss. I mean, Battlefront II is clearly great, but 8-bit glasses of blue milk sliding down a bar? Where do we sign up?

Buy Star Wars Battlefront II

Super Mario Odyssey

In the interest of fairness here's a non-dubious Nintendo-related offering: Super Mario Odyssey! The latest breakout game for the Switch gives Mario's iconic hat a name (Cappy) and magical abilities (possession!), and is an enthralling universe of its own that is bold enough to have its cake and occasionally transform it into an 8-bit retro party too. The only problem is after a game this much fun - check out our review here - how can Mario possibly top himself? That's a problem for another holiday season, because you'll be too busy having fun playing to wonder.

Buy Super Mario Odyssey

Doom for Switch

Doom was one of the best shooters of 2015, bringing back classic run and gun gameplay with a gory upgrade. If you want to take your demon hunting on the go, you NEED to get this Switch port, which runs wonderfully and even features the online multiplayer mode!

Buy Doom for Switch

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for Switch

Think your Switch experience needs more sword and sorcery? Look no further than Bethesda's classic fantasy RPG, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which has now arrived for Nintendo hybrid handheld console. Take your adventure through the snow-covered land of Skyrim on the go today!

Buy The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for Switch

PlayStation VR Bundle

If you've been waiting to jump into the VR scene, this might be your best chance yet - and you get Gran Turismo Sport out of the deal, too! The price tag has never been better.

Buy the PlayStation 4 VR Bundle

Outlast: Trinity 

If you want something that will scare the crap out of you this holiday, this collection of Outlast games is the deal for you. 

Buy Outlast: Trinity

South Park: The Fractured but Whole - $44.99 ($15 off)

The South Park gang is back for an all-new RPG adventure. This time it's all about the Coon and Friends. Cartman wants to build a movie universe, which causes a rift between two separate factions of ridiculous superheroes. It's outrageous. 

Buy South Park: The Fractured but Whole

Overwatch Game of the Year Edition - $29.99 ($30 off)

Overwatch is one of the best first-person shooters currently on the market. Blizzard has made a shooter that stands out from your annual Call of Duty installments, with an emphasis on teamwork, color, and tons of cool characters to choose from. For $30 off the retail price, it's the perfect time to nab this one!

Buy Overwatch Game of the Year Edition

Grand Theft Auto V

If for some reason you missed one of the best games ever made, here's your chance to pick it up for a major discount. The catch is that the reduced price is only for the PC version of the game. 

Buy Grand Theft Auto V

Netflix Begins Production of a Series Based on The Witcher Novels

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In search of its own Game of Thrones, Netflix is bringing on a Daredevil producer to adapt and run video game adaptation The Witcher.

NewsMatthew Byrd
Dec 9, 2017

Netflix has begun production of a series based on author Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books.

To clarify that statement a bit more, the upcoming Netflix series will be based on the original Witcher novels and is not directly related to the CD Projekt Red video game franchise aside from the similarities that the two naturally share. 

That fact adds a slightly humorous twist to this announcement when you consider that Sapkowski recently spoke out against the artistic merit of the Witcher game saga by calling into question the medium's ability to properly tell such a grand story. Before that, Sapkowski also admitted that he chose not to take a percentage for the adaptation rights which he later came to regret when the series went on to gross over a billion dollars. 

Apparently, the author has worked out a much better deal for the Netflix series as he spoke quite fondly about the upcoming adaptation in the official press release

"I'm thrilled that Netflix will be doing an adaptation of my stories," said Sapkowski. "...staying true to the source material and themes that I have spent over 30 years writing. I'm excited about our efforts together as well as the team assembled to shepherd these characters to life."

To lead the series, Netflix has brought on Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, writer and executive producer for other successful Netflix properties Daredevil and The Defenders. Hissrich joins the previously announced producing team of Sean Daniel (The Mummy) and Jason Brown (The Expanse). Tomek Baginski, the man who directed the cinematics for the Witcher games, will also be involved with the project. 

While The Witcher games do take some liberties with the source material, this series should feature quite a few familiar faces and storylines. We should know much more once the cast is in place.


Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection out in 2018

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Capcom's classic Street Fighter series is getting a special bundle for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Switch next year!

NewsRyan Lambie
Dec 11, 2017

Readers of a certain age may remember when the world went crazy for Street Fighter II in the early 1990s. The arcade machines were seemingly ubiquitous. Some Super Nintendo owners were so keen to get their hands on the game, they were willing to pay extraordinary prices for a Japanese import. 

In all the hoopla, most gamers barely stopped to ask what on earth happened to the original Street Fighter - Capcom's okay-ish brawler released in 1988 to relatively little fanfare. These days, Street Fighter, which in its early arcade incarnation came with big punchable rubber buttons, is best regarded as the dry-run for what would become an iconic series - one that celebrates its 30th anniversary next year.

To mark the occasion, Capcom's releasing the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, which puts the first 12 games together in one handy bundle. This means you'll get the originalStreet Fighter from 1988 (worth a play just to see where it all started), the vanilla Street Fighter 2, plus no fewer than three updates - Champion Edition, Hyper Fighting, Super Street Fighter 2, and Super Street Fighter 2: Turbo.

The collection continues the lineage with Street Fighter Alpha 1, 2, and 3; Street Fighter 3 and its updates, 2nd Impact and finally 1999's Third Strike.

Other features will include online play and a Museum mode where you can look through old concept art and other info. The collection's due for release in May 2018 for the PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. To get you in the mood, here's the trailer...

Street Fighter 5: Arcade Edition - Six DLC Characters Confirmed

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Street Fighter is adding six new characters to its rosters, including Sakura and Blanka!

NewsMatthew Byrd
Dec 11, 2017

Capcom has announced that six new DLC characters will arrive in 2018, just in time for Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition, an update for the 2016 fighting game sequel. The confirmed characters are Sakura, Blanka, Falke, Cody, G, and Sagat. 

Here's a trailer showing off Sakura, who will arrive on Jan. 16: 

There's also a new cinematic opening introducing the latest additions to the roster:

You'll be able to buy each character individualy or you can just purchase the season 3 character pass and get them all for the price of one.

Arcade Edition will also feature over 200 arcade endings. The extent of this feature is detailed in this new blog post, but the gist of it is that this Arcade Edition will feature story paths from multiple Street Fighter games (Street Fighter, Street Fighter II, Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter III, Street Fighter IV, and Street Fighter V). As such, players will only be able to choose fighters who were in the original Street Fighter titles each story path adheres to. As each of those characters will get to enjoy a unique ending to every story path...well, you can understand why there are so many of them. 

Furthermore, players will have the opportunity to complete a variety of gameplay challenges that unlock new art and custom character titles. There will also be bonus stages included with every story path. 

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Alongside the new arcade mode, this new edition of the game adds several special edition nicities (including a gallery of illustrations and slightly improved user interface) as well as some more substantial additions. The addition that will probably have the biggest impact on the game is the reported inclusion of extra character v-triggers. Based on the information in the listing, each character will now have two v-triggers. Those moves are on full display in this new trailer that showcases how devastating they are. 

With the release of that preview, Capcom has also teased some holiday costumes set to release soon for the base game. Along with some Christmas-themed costumes, this DLC will add some classic outfits to the game that will allow you to dress some of Street Fighter's veteran combatants in their original duds. There's also mention of an Extra Battle mode which will allow players to "complete timed challenges to obtain exclusive costumes through 2018."

This new edition of the game will be free for all current Street Fighter V players and will release on January 16, 2018. When it does release, it is expected to ship with cross-play support for PS4 and PC players. 

This sounds like an improvement over vanilla Street Fighter V, but it remains to be seen whether or not the riled Street Fighter fanbase will welcome this update with open arms give that some stiff competition in the fighting genre that is on shelves and in the works. 

Holiday Shopping Guide 2017: Best Video Game Deals

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For the best gaming deals this holiday season, look no further than the Den of Geek Holiday Gift Guide!

The ListsJohn SaavedraChris Cummins
Dec 11, 2017

The holidays are here, which means that it's time to stock up on the latest and greatest in the gaming world, including current gen consoles, the best games of the year, and tons of accessories. There were so many great games this year that you'll undoubtedly find a whole bunch of deals you won't be able to turn down!

Den of Geek has compiled a list of the best gaming holiday deals of 2017, starting with insane holiday deals this December. On top of deals, there are also quite a few must-haves on this list. 

Here we go:

Holiday Gaming Deals 2017

Logitech G903 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse - $149.99

If you game on PC, you know that you need an excellent mouse that fits all your needs: versatility, accuracy, a lightweight design, and it has to be comfortable for the hours you're going to spend schooling noobs in Counter-Strike, Overwatch, Dota, or League of Legends. That mouse is the all-new Logitech G903 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse, which comes stacked with the latest in gaming technology, including the best mouse sensor on the market, 11 fully programmable buttons so that you can set all of your in-game commands, RGB lighting, and wireless capability with 1-millisecond report rate. This mouse is a no-brainer for any pro or casual gamer.

And if you need more, Logitech has a whole series of Lightspeed gaming mice, keyboards, and even a wireless charging station! Check all the Lightspeed products out here.

Buy the Logitech G903 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse

PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB Console - $299.99

The PlayStation 4 Slim is a great choice for the holidays! Keep in mind that this version doesn't come with games, however.

Buy the PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB Console

PlayStation VR Bundle - $299.99

If you've been waiting to jump into the VR scene, this might be your best chance yet - and you get Gran Turismo Sport out of the deal, too! The price tag has never been better.

Buy the PlayStation 4 VR Bundle

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Experience the final chapter of Nathan Drake's treasure-hunting saga for the lowest price ever. This is perfect for anyone looking to play a single-player game with a great story over the holiday break!

Buy Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Final Fantasy XV

Play the highly anticipated next chapter in the classic JRPG for a crazy discounted price. This will probably be the best price you'll see for a while. If you've been waiting to jump on Final Fantasy XV, now's the time.

Buy Final Fantasy XV

Friday the 13th: The Game - $29.99 ($10 off)

Looking for a great family-friendly multiplayer game to play with your loved ones this holiday? This...isn't the game. But if you like tons of gore and chasing your friends around as a mass murdering maniac, Friday the 13th is the game for you!

Buy Friday the 13th: The Game

Holiday Guide 2017

Coolbaby Mini Console

Since Nintendo has seemingly gone out of its way to make their HDMI-ready NES and Super NES Classic consoles available to consumers, some people are taking matters into their own hands. Meet the Coolbaby Mini Console. It looks and plays like the NES Classic, but is actually easier to get. And, oh yeah, it also features 600 different games. (Mainly modded variations of a few different titles though like the Super Mario Brothers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games). We don't know if any of this is legal, but we can say that these things are up on Amazon, so yeah, there you go.

Buy the Coolbaby Mini Console

Star Wars Battlefront II

Microtransaction controversies aside, Star Wars Battlefront II is still the hottest video game of the holiday season. You want it. Your friends want it. This is all very understandable. So we don't need to take up valuable Internet real estate telling you why its rad. Instead, here's what we want to know: How come nobody ever made a Star Wars mod of the classic arcade game Tapper? Think about it, it could have Wuher the bartender racing around the Creature Cantina trying to serve drinks to the likes of Hammerhead (Nagamaroo!) and Walrus Man. In the background, Han could be seen shooting Greedo. This sounds like bliss. I mean, Battlefront II is clearly great, but 8-bit glasses of blue milk sliding down a bar? Where do we sign up?

Buy Star Wars Battlefront II

Super Mario Odyssey

In the interest of fairness here's a non-dubious Nintendo-related offering: Super Mario Odyssey! The latest breakout game for the Switch gives Mario's iconic hat a name (Cappy) and magical abilities (possession!), and is an enthralling universe of its own that is bold enough to have its cake and occasionally transform it into an 8-bit retro party too. The only problem is after a game this much fun - check out our review here - how can Mario possibly top himself? That's a problem for another holiday season, because you'll be too busy having fun playing to wonder.

Buy Super Mario Odyssey

Doom for Switch

Doom was one of the best shooters of 2015, bringing back classic run and gun gameplay with a gory upgrade. If you want to take your demon hunting on the go, you NEED to get this Switch port, which runs wonderfully and even features the online multiplayer mode!

Buy Doom for Switch

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for Switch

Think your Switch experience needs more sword and sorcery? Look no further than Bethesda's classic fantasy RPG, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which has now arrived for Nintendo hybrid handheld console. Take your adventure through the snow-covered land of Skyrim on the go today!

Buy The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for Switch

Overwatch Game of the Year Edition

Overwatch is one of the best first-person shooters currently on the market. Blizzard has made a shooter that stands out from your annual Call of Duty installments, with an emphasis on teamwork, color, and tons of cool characters to choose from. The holidays are the perfect time to nab this one!

Buy Overwatch Game of the Year Edition

Overkill's The Walking Dead: New Trailer

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A new cinematic trailer for Overkill's The Walking Dead has arrived. Check it out here!

NewsMatthew ByrdJohn Saavedra
Dec 11, 2017

Starbreeze has announced that Overkill's The Walking Dead has been delayed until sometime in the second half of 2018. In the meantime, here's a new trailer introducing Aidan, one of the four playable characters in the game:

We also have a synopsis of the game:

Inspired by the rich story universe of Robert Kirkman’s original graphic novels, Overkill’s The Walking Dead is a four-player co-op multiplayer FPS action game set in Washington, D.C., as an outbreak brings the dead back to life. In this test of strategy and endurance, players will band together with up to three friends on a variety of missions and raids, securing supplies and survivors to strengthen their base camp against the threat of both the dead and the living - by any means necessary.

Each playable character has their own special abilities, skill trees, squad roles, play styles and background stories. Now they all share a common objective where survival and teamwork is paramount. The action is close-up and intense: take out enemies carefully with silent melee attacks or go in guns blazing. You need to be able to improvise, as nothing is certain, and a horde of walkers is always around the corner.

And if you want more, here's the original announcement trailer:

The publisher confirmed the 2018 delay via their Sweedish website. Oddly, the delay announcement itself is not translatable into English directly through the Starbreeze website. According to third-party translations, however, Starbreeze's decision to delay the game stems from their desire to ensure that the game reaches its full potential. 

If you're suddenly wondering what that full potential amounts to, there is very good reason for your confusion given that Overkill's The Walking Dead was first revealed in 2014. Starbreeze promised that the game would be an inventive adaptation of the original Walking Dead comics that emphasizes co-op gameplay, storytelling, and robust level design that will supposedly heighten the game's replay value. 

Remarkably, the only real updates we've been treated to since the game was first revealed involve its many delays. The Walking Dead was originally delayed until 2016, was then delayed until 2017, and now is delayed until 2018. In that time, developer Overkill has never really revealed much about the game beyond the vague details which accompanied its release. Even the game's title still sounds like an internal reference. 

Meanwhile, Overkill has continued to update PayDay 2 and have reportedly begun preliminary work on PayDay 3. While the release of the latter game is supposedly still some time away, it's fair to say that they are not solely devoted to completing The Walking Dead.

While there is still some cause for hope as it concerns the game's eventual release - Starbreeze has promised to show footage from the project via their Twitch channel on May 10 - it's beginning to look more and more like Overkill's The Walking Dead has a slightly better chance of being released than the dead have of walking the Earth once more. 

Perhaps, though, Overkill can surprise us all by delivering a Walking Dead game that manages to surpass the show's declining popularity by reviving the thrill of the source material. Until we learn more concrete information about the game, you'll have to judge these concept art shots that Starbreeze released during a livestream back in May 2017 in order to get an idea of how the game is shaping up:

Star Wars Powerbot Vacuums are Droids That Clean Your House

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These ARE the droids you're looking for...if you want clean floors.

NewsDen of Geek Commerce
Dec 11, 2017

Out of all the Star Warsmerchandise available this holiday season, there's one item whose midi-chlorian count is just a bit higher than all the rest. We introduce you to Samsung Powerbot Star Wars Limited Edition vacuums, which brings the Force to your house cleaning!

These robotic vacuums pay a unique homage to the galaxy far, far away and its beloved cast of characters, including Darth Vader and an Imperial Stormtrooper. In fact, these Star Wars Powerbot vaccums pack so much power that you might think they're the work of the dark side. 

Check out the video below to see how they work:

The Powerbot is a smart device capable of steering itself past any obstacles in your home, thanks to its FullViewSensor 2.0. In this case, there's no need for a targeting computer!

Or if you prefer, you can remotely control your vacuum with your smartphone. You can even use voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and will the vacuum will respond back to you with some of the most iconic sounds and lines from the film saga. 

These vacuums are fully operational, too. With 20x the suction power, the POWERbot eliminates dirt and debris from even the most hard-to-reach places. Plus, it gives every surface a deep clean — from hardwood to Hoth.

Best of all, you can get your very own Samsung Powerbot Star Wars Edition vacuum at a reduced price, thanks to these incredible holiday deals:

Purchase the NEW POWERbot Star Wars Limited Edition – Stormtrooper, for the discounted holiday price of $599.99! (orig. $699.99) Plus free shipping! 11/19-11/27 only.


Purchase the NEW POWERbot Star Wars Limited Edition – Darth Vader, for $799.99! Plus free shipping!


Next time you're faced with a dirty floor, use the power of the Force to clean it with Samsung's Powerbot Star Wars Limited Edition robotic vacuums!

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