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May 10, 2016

CHOOSE YOUR PARTNER— BRAND-NEW POKÉMON REVEALED!

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon coming to Nintendo 3DS family of systems on November 23

London, UK– May 10, 2016 – The Pokémon Company International has unveiled the first details of the highly anticipated titles Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, starting with a first look at three new first-partner Pokémon and the packaging. Pokémon Sunand Pokémon Moon will launch in Europe on November 23, exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.

Following in the tradition of previous games in the Pokémon series, players choose one of three special Pokémon to be their first partner. These are among the first Pokémon players will encounter in the game. In Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, players will be able to choose between the newly discovered Grass- and Flying-type Pokémon Rowlet, Fire-type Litten, and Water-type Popplio.

For a Pokémon Trainer, knowing the Pokémon types and how they match up against one another in battle is vital. Grass-type Pokémon are strong against Water types, but weak against Fire types. Fire-type Pokémon are strong against Grass types and weak against Water types. And Water-type Pokémon are strong against Fire types, but weak against Grass types.

Meet the three new first-partner Pokémon that will join Trainers on their adventures in the upcoming Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon games!

Name: Rowlet
Category: Grass Quill Pokémon
Height: 1 ’00 “
Weight: 3.3 lbs.
Type: Grass/Flying
Starting Move: Leafage

The first of the potential partners is the highly adaptable Grass Quill Pokémon, Rowlet. This Pokémon can fly silently through the skies, sneaking up on its opponent without being noticed. It can attack its opponents using powerful kicks, and it can also attack from a distance using the razor-sharp leaves that form part of its feathers. Rowlet can survey its environment and turn its neck nearly 180 degrees from front to back, so it can see directly behind itself. When in battle, Rowlet turns its head to face its Trainer when waiting for instructions.

Name: Litten
Category: Fire Cat Pokémon
Height: 1 ’04 “
Weight: 9.5 lbs.
Type: Fire
Starting Move: Ember

The cool-headed Fire Cat Pokémon, Litten, is the next choice for a first-partner Pokémon. Litten’s fur is rich in oils and is immensely flammable. It constantly grooms itself by licking its coat, collecting loose fur into balls. It then ignites these hairballs to create fireball attacks. When the time comes for Litten to molt, it burns off all of its fur in one glorious blaze.

Name: Popplio
Category: Sea Lion Pokémon
Height: 1 ’04 “
Weight: 16.5 lbs.
Type: Water
Starting Move: Water Gun

The third possibility is the acrobatic Sea Lion Pokémon, Popplio. Popplio can create balloons made of water from its nose and utilize them to create a variety of different strategies and attacks in battle. This Pokémon is better at moving in the water than on land, and can swim at speeds over 25 mph. On land, it uses the elasticity of the balloons it creates to perform jumps and acrobatic stunts.

A brand-new trailer that showcases these three new partner Pokémon, brand new game play in action and the package art can be found here: http://bit.ly/1VRCJ25

More information and details about Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon will be unveiled throughout the course of 2016.

For more information, please visit Pokemon.co.uk/SunMoon.

About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.co.uk.

About Nintendo
The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.1 billion video games and more than 654 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi™ XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance™, Super NES™, Nintendo® 64 and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in Europe. www.nintendo.co.uk

TWO BELOVED VIDEO GAME FRANCHISES COLLIDE IN THE SUPER MARIO MASH-UP PACK FOR MINECRAFT: Wii U EDITION

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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May 10, 2016

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TWO BELOVED VIDEO GAME FRANCHISES COLLIDE IN THE SUPER MARIO MASH-UP PACK FOR MINECRAFT: Wii U EDITION

Free Super Mario-Themed Game Update Available only on Minecraft: Wii U Edition on May 18

10^th May, 2016 – In a match made in block-shaped heaven, Nintendo is partnering with Mojang and Microsoft to bring the imaginative worlds of the Super Mario and Minecraft series together. On May 18 in Australia and New Zealand, the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack comes exclusively to Minecraft: Wii U Edition as a free game update. For the first time ever, players will be able to fend off blocky Hammer Bros. and Dry Bones the same way they do Creepers and Zombies.

After downloading the update, players who own the Minecraft: Wii U Edition digital game which launched last December will have immediate access to new skins, a Super Mario-themed pre-made world, and a set of Super Mario-themed music and item textures, all inspired by games in the iconic Super Mario series such as Super Mario World, Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. Minecraft fans can take a closer look at the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack in action in this trailer.

The Wii U version of Minecraft features the full game, as well as many of the most popular previously released content packs. Downloading the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack gives players 40 new Super Mario-themed skins, which transform the game’s characters into familiar heroes like Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach, and even troublemakers like Bowser, Wario and all seven of Bowser’s minions. All the world and item textures in the game will also be redone, providing players the opportunity to create their own Super Mario-themed locations within the world of Minecraft. While building, players will even enjoy listening to the smooth sounds of 15 pieces of music from Super Mario 64. Builders of all ages will love crafting massive new worlds using building blocks inspired by a series as accessible and recognisable as Super Mario.

Since launching in 2011, Minecraft has become a global phenomenon, selling more than 70 million games worldwide. The game places players in a massive randomly generated world and lets them explore, harvest resources and craft anything their imaginations can conjure. The Wii U version of Minecraft features Off-TV Play, touch screen functionality and online multiplayer.

Minecraft: Wii U Edition can currently be downloaded in Nintendo eShop for Wii U.

Get ready to explore the world of Minecraft like never before when the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack comes exclusively to Minecraft: Wii U Edition on May 18.
Additional Links:
Nintendo Australia website: http://www.nintendo.com.au
Nintendo Australia Twitter: https://twitter.com/NintendoAUNZ
Nintendo Australia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NintendoAUNZ
Nintendo AU on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/nintendoau

Future Trunks Returns in New Dragon Ball Super Arc

Nathan Farrugia

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May 10, 2016

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Future Trunks Returns in New Dragon Ball Super Arc

When Dragon Ball Super was first announced no one knew how long it would be running for but now we have some confirmation the anime will be here to stay for quite a while longer with Toei announcing the Future Trunks arc. Toriyama teased in a recent interview that a “popular character from the future” would be making an appearance and looks like our guess of Trunks was correct.

The official statement from the Dragon Ball Super Twitter page states that the future should be at peace after Trunks defeated Cell, however a strong new enemy has appeared that Trunks can’t take on alone. This causes him to jump back in the time machine and visit the past (the main timeline we all know) in hope of enlisting help from Goku and the others.

Toriyama released two new illustrations of what the now older Trunks will look like in this new arc and also had some comments of his own to add that expand on the plot synopsis. Like with the entirety of Super, Toriyama has provided a plot outline but then leaves it up to the script writers to break that down into episodes and expand on his story from there.

Toriyama states the foe that has forced him to return to the past is ‘Black Goku’. He leaves up in the air what this means so we don’t know if he means this Goku will be more of an evil incarnation or if it will be a Goku with dark skin or a Goku with a shadow appearance. He does give the hint that you can probably guess what type of guy he is from his name but that still doesn’t help much.

He then continues to write that this is only the start of a battle that will surpass time and space which will include God of Destruction, Kai and even the newly introduced Omni-King, the king of everything including the 12 universes. Due to Japanese translation and how the language does plurals, it is unclear if the above titles refer to multiple Gods of Destruction or just one (most likely Beerus), so we’re left guessing on that too but with Omni-King teasing a tournament between all 12 universes in recent episodes I am leaning towards the former.

So in conclusion Future Trunks is back with a new design, Evil Goku could be happening and a massive battle will be taking place most likely involving multiple Kais, Gods of Destruction and the Omni-King himself. This is going to be a wild ride! The new arc will start airing in Japan on June 12th. Until then, the remaining episodes appear to be more light hearted in nature, involving antics with baby Pan, Goten and young Trunks.

Are you excited to see Trunks return? Personally I love the sound of this arc, I’m really hoping Trunks mentions something about Buu as I always wondered if he ever appeared in that timeline. Trunks has appeared in many games now as a member of the Time Patrol, so it will be interesting to see if they tie that in at all. Some keen eyed fans have spotted the collar on Trunks newly designed green sweater matches that of his Time Patrol outfit, but it’s too early to say if that’s just coincidence. Keep checking back with Capsule Computers for all the latest Dragon Ball news and expect our review of theUniverse 6 vs Universe 7 Tournament Arc of Dragon Ball Super in the coming days.

Indie Gala Every Monday Bundle #110 Now Available

Jamie Laike Tsui

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May 10, 2016

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Indie Gala Every Monday Bundle #110 Now Available

It’s back to work everyone, but don’t be sad! Indie Gala’s Every Monday Bundle is here to cheer you up with seven great indie games for an incredibly low price.

Dashy Square – A rhythm based arcade platformer that will have players moving along with the beat of some of the best indie electronic artists.

Mindless Running – A challenging runner with a randomly generated world.

Hauntsters – A ghoulish 2D battler designed for couch-based multiplayer/co-op.

Notrium – You’ve crashed on the planet Notrium and all you have are a few rocks, can you survive in the planet’s hostile world?

Magma Chamber – A puzzle-action game that will have players rescuing slimes and escaping the lab before it wills with lava.

Curse of the Crescent Isle DX – A retro style game about a kingdom that has been transformed into helpful objects and monsters, players will need to bring their best platforming skills to save their people.

Rot Gut – A retro styled film noir platformer set in the 1920’s during a bloody gang war.

For the first 24 hours of the sale, the entire bundle is only $1.49. Grab your bundle at Indie Gala before the price goes up!

Watch the Slaughter of the Undead 18-bit Style In A New Trailer For The Side-Scroller, Dead Island Retro Revenge

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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May 10, 2016

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Watch the Slaughter of the Undead 18-bit Style In A New Trailer For The Side-Scroller, Dead Island Retro Revenge

Larkspur, Calif., May 9, 2016 – Deep Silver released today the first trailer for the all-new 16-bit side-scrolling action game, Dead Island Retro Revenge.

Hell-bent on saving his cat, Max must carve a bloody path through a zombie-infested California, tearing his way through hordes of the undead, battalions of corrupt soldiers, and a slew of evil-minded ex-cons. Pull off crazy combos, collect power-ups, wield super weapons, and unleash insane magic attacks as you fight to become the amazing 16-bit side-scrolling hero you’ve always believed yourself to be!

Features:
• Retro look meets melee-based combat
• Featuring leader boards, achievements and a level of depth beyond the genre
• Game mechanics include power-ups, super attacks and a cool combo system

Dead Island Definitive Collection is a compilation containing Dead Island Definitive Edition, Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition and also includes for free Dead Island Retro Revenge. It will be available at retail and digital for a suggested price of $39.99.

The digital pre-order on Steam will start later today and make sure to check the Steam community hub for some fabulous discounts!

Available at the same time, Dead Island Definitive Edition, and Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition will each be available separately and as a digital download for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PC at suggested a price of $19.99.

All three titles, Dead Island Definitive Edition, Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition, plus the compilation Dead Island Definitive Collection are scheduled for release May 31, 2016 on Xbox One, PlayStation®4, and Windows PC.

Product Details
Release: May 31, 2016
Publisher: Deep Silver
Platforms: PS4™, Xbox One, PC
Price: $39.99 (Collection)
$19.99 (Editions)
Age Rating: ESRB M
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About Deep Silver
Deep Silver develops and publishes interactive games for all platforms, seeking to deliver top-quality products that provide immersive game experiences driven by the desires of the gaming community. The company has published more than 200 games worldwide since 2003, including the best-selling zombie action Dead Island(TM) franchise, the critically-acclaimed Metro(TM): Last Light and the smash hit action adventure Saints Row IV(TM). Deep Silver is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Media, GmbH, and also owns the development studios Deep Silver Fishlabs in Hamburg, Germany, Deep Silver Volition based in Champaign, IL, USA, and Deep Silver Dambuster Studios in Nottingham, UK. For more information, please visit www.deepsilver.com.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Trademarks are property of their respective owners.

TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX® SIEGE OPERATION DUST LINE FREE UPDATE AVAILABLE MAY 11

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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May 10, 2016

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TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX^® SIEGE OPERATION DUST LINE FREE UPDATE AVAILABLE MAY 11

OPERATION DUST LINE TRAILER: YOUTUBE LINK

London, UK – May 9, 2016 – Today, Ubisoft^® announced that Operation Dust Line, the free update for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six^® Siege, will be available on May 11 on Xbox One, the Playstation^®4 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC. Continuing the commitment to provide new post-launch content for the game, this second major update introduces two new Operators, a new map, improvements to gameplay, and more.

Two New US Navy SEAL Operators & The Border Map

In Operation Dust Line, two US Navy SEAL operators have been called to assist Team Rainbow to secure the Border, the new free map introducing a mix of old and new construction with open air pathways – making it the most destructible and open map to date:

Valkyrie: Equipped with the “Black Eye” Gyro Cam Mk2, a quick deployment sticky camera that gives her team a new eye in the sky.
Blackbeard: Carries the TARS Mk 0, Transparent Armored Rifle Shield with him to battle, increasing his mobile protection without diminishing his field of vision.
Operator reworks: Q.’s unique gadget now has enhanced visual feedback, Montagne’s shield now adds side protection, and Tachanka’s LMG is now easier to place and use. Additional Operator, weapon and secondary gadget tweaks have also been made.

Introduction of gadget placement cancellation controls: By turning this feature ON in the Options menu, players can now cancel the placement of a gadget at any time. This feature will not only allow players to be more reactive, but will also allow for another layer of gameplay and tactics.

Winning Team Showcase: After the final round, the winning team’s Operators will be displayed to both the winning and losing teams, and an MVP for the match will be crowned for the ultimate bragging rights.

Season Pass holders will instantly receive the new Navy SEAL Operators and non-Season Pass owners will be able to unlock them using earned Renown currency or R6 Credits starting on May 18.

To learn more about Dust Line visit http://www.rainbow6.com/DustLine

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is currently available worldwide for Xbox One, the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. For more information about Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, please visit rainbow6.com and to learn more about other Ubisoft games, please visit ubiblog.com.

About Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Inspired by real-world counter-terrorist organizations, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege puts players in the middle of lethal close-quarter confrontations. For the first time in a Rainbow Six game, players will engage in sieges, a new style of assault where enemies have the means to transform their environments into modern strongholds while Rainbow Six teams lead the assault to breach the enemy’s position. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege gives players unprecedented control over their ability to fortify their position by reinforcing walls and floors, using barbed wire and deployable shields, laying mines and more, or to breach the enemies’ position using observation drones, setting charges, rappelling and more. The fast pace and uniqueness of each siege sets a new bar for intense firefights, strategic gameplay and competitive gaming.

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2014-15 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,464 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2016 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Tom Clancy’s, Rainbow Six, the Soldier Icon, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Catch All the Action! Official Live Streams Confirmed for the 2016 Pokémon European National Championships

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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May 9, 2016

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Catch All the Action! Official Live Streams Confirmed for the 2016 Pokémon European National Championships

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire hit a combined total of 3 million units sold across Europe

London, United Kingdom, 9 May 2016— One of the Pokémon community’s most-wanted additions for the Pokémon National Championships is now officially confirmed, as three brand-new Pokémon channels will be streaming all the action live from the tournament floor throughout the events.

Fans around the world will be able to tune in from the comfort of their homes to watch the two-day Pokémon National Championships as they happen. Three separate streams with English commentary will be available from each of the main events: one showcasing the Pokémon Trading Card Game National Championships, one for the Pokémon Video Game National Championships, and one for the Pokkén TournamentChampionship Series. These streams will be available to view from the following events:

·         14–15 May: Liverpool, UK (Exhibition Centre Liverpool)
·         21–22 May: Kassel, Germany (Kongress Palais Kassel)
·         11–12 June: Milan, Italy (Mediolanum Forum, Assago MI)

The live streams will be available on the following channels:
Pokémon TCG National Championships: www.twitch.tv/pokemonTCG_EU
Pokémon VG National Championships: www.twitch.tv/pokemonVGC_EU
Pokkén Tournament Championship Series: www.twitch.tv/PokkenTournamentEU

Hot on the heels of last week’s reveal that Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version and Pokémon Yellow Version have now reached over 1.5 million units sold worldwide, another milestone has been reached with Nintendo 3DS games Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire having sold a combined total of more than 3 million units across Europe since their launch in November 2014*.

To celebrate this news, fans who attend the European Nationals events in person can grab a Shiny Machamp for their copies of the game**. This special Machamp is similar to the one used by last year’s Senior Division Video Game World Champion and is a great addition to any Trainer’s Pokédex.

For more information on the Pokémon National Championships or this year’s World Championships, which will take place from 19–21 August in San Francisco, California, please visit: http://www.pokemon.com/uk/play-pokemon/nationals/2016/about/

*Source: Nintendo, May 2016

**Consumers wanting to receive Shiny Machamp must have a copy of Pokémon Omega Ruby , Pokémon Alpha Sapphire , Pokémon X or Pokémon Y and a Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo 2DS console. Limited to one per person and obtainable by attendees at the UK, Italy and Germany National Championships.

The Big Lebowski Review

Mateja Simovic

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May 9, 2016

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The Big Lebowski
Studio: Working Title Films; PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Publisher: Gramercy Pictures
Format: Cinema
Release Date: Out Now

Overview

The Coen brothers are a Hollywood duo known for screwball comedies such as Burn After Reading, Fargo, and (of course) The Big Lebowski. Their body of work includes a wide breadth of genre bending films but when it comes to recognising their style, their comedies are considered the best examples of their work. I watched The Big Lebowski years ago in my uni bar and was blown away by the almost surreal experience of the film. After donning my sunglasses and best bathrobe, I strolled on down to George st cinemas to see the In the House screening of the film.

We were back to our regular MCs this week, David ‘Quinny’ Quinn and Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis, who warmed up the audience in their own fashions. The two hosts ran an impromptu game of bowling with some pretty awesome DVDs as prizes before Quinny ordained us into the ‘Church of the Latter-Day Dude’… a joke religion formed upon the ideals of the film’s protagonist. They spoke about some of the film’s trivia as well, such as the fact that Julianne Moore refused to do a nude scene and that she actually wears a prosthetic during the relevant scene in the film. After those tidbits of knowledge and quasi-enlightment, the screening began.

Story

The film follows the story of Jeff ‘the dude’ Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) as two thugs break into his house after mistaking him for another man of the same name and pee on his rug. The dude finds the millionaire he was mistaken for, another Jeff Lubowski (David Huddleston), and attempts to gain some manner of compensation but instead he somehow gets involved in investigating the kidnapping of the millionaire’s wastrel wife (Tara Reid). The mystery takes him down many twists and turns as he attempts to unravel the truth. He does all this while still ensuring that he fulfils his commitments to his friends on his bowling team.

The narrative is pretty much a parody of the stories in film noir crime fiction but instead of a hardboiled private eye as the protagonist, we get a stoner slacker who is way out of his depth. The action moves along with a fairly hefty pace as just when things start to slow down; that’s when something new and strange gets added to move the story along. This effectively means that new characters and motivations are constantly being introduced along with new plot points. It’s the type of movie where anything could and does happen with every twist and turn following the film’s own internal logic. In true tribute to the works of Raymond Chandler, the overly convoluted mystery is revealed to be actually quite simplistic at the end. Pretty much everything and the kitchen sink gets thrown into this film and so if you’re looking for something lean and mean to keep you keen; then this film isn’t for you.

This might be disappointing to some of you but the draw of the Big Lebowski has never really been the mystery or the story. In fact, they largely serve as a vehicle for the Coen’s to bring in their diverse and eclectic cast of characters. To describe the ensemble cast as simply ‘eccentric’ is to understate the breadth and range of strange personas that are in this film. Pretty much everyone the Dude meets has some unusual quality or trait about them which gives the film a very surreal tone. The dialogue is particularly strong in the way that it creates an almost awkward humour between the dude and whomever he’s talking. What’s particularly awesome about this ensemble is the fact that the Coen’s don’t resort to stereotyping as shortcut… or at least not without adding some major subversive elements to them.

In particular Julianne Moore as Maude Lebowski, avant-garde artist and ostensibly the film’s femme fatale, is absolutely hilarious. In pretty much every scene we see, she steals the show with some of the most memorable lines (delivered in an overly precise way) or just by laughing hysterically for a couple of minutes. John Goodman as Walter Sobchak is similarly hilarious as a hapless veteran who is obsessed with Vietnam. I found his character to be cringe worthy at times when his idiocy got to be a bit too much but largely he succeeded in tickling my funny bone more often than not. Jesus Quintana, played by John Turturro, is similarly over-the-top but there was a child sex offender joke in regards to his character which upset my companion for the screening a bit. For me, the joke was far enough removed from its subject matter so I could laugh and my companion enjoyed the rest of the regardless… nonetheless, it’s an aspect you may want to be made aware of before you watch it.

Visuals & Audio

The direction is absolutely beautiful in the visuals that the Coen’s compose with each sequence. The Coens play with light, framing, and motion to create some absolutely stunning visuals… which when combined with the subject of the actual shot can at times be almost decadent. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the act of bowling portrayed as beautifully as it was shown in this film. A lot of care and effort went into making the visuals of this film something special and this gives every shot a sort of surreal beauty to it.

This surreal beauty gets turned up to eleven when the film does actual dream sequences. The shots in these sequences are like something out of a Beatles movie or a Pink Floyd music video. They’re well shot and edited with some pretty groovy music to accompany them too. They’re pretty to look at and give you a roundabout way of figuring out exactly what is going through The Dude’s mind.

The film’s soundtrack features a lot of work from the 60s and 70s to reflect the character of the Dude. It’s a pleasant and eclectic collection of music which fans of classic rock will definitely enjoy. A couple of songs that stuck out for me include the Gypsy King’s cover of ‘Hotel California’ and ‘Just Dropped In’. These largely stuck out to me for the way that they were paired up with some very memorable visuals. The Coen’s show us a masterclass in how to pair scenes with audio in order to make something quite unique and memorable.

Overall

I very much enjoyed this film and the eccentricities that is all too common to the style of the Coen brothers. The absurd story is wonderfully convoluted and populated with all manner of interesting individuals who each have their motivations and quirks. The direction and visual style is absolutely beautiful and matches the strange story with some surreal beauty. The music perfectly accompanies the visuals and there are some moments that will be quite memorable, thanks in no small part due to the track which played to it. A lot of love and care went into making this film and it certainly shows with every shot and line of dialogue. So overall, I quite enjoyed this film and have no problem recommending it to pretty much everyone… but that’s just like, my opinion, man. Kudos to the In The House for screening this cult classic!

For other films which In The House is screening, feel free to check out their schedule here.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

King’s Quest: Once Upon a Climb Review

Jamie Laike Tsui

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May 9, 2016

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King’s Quest: “Once Upon a Climb”
Developer: The Odd Gentlemen
Publisher: Sierra
Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: 27 April, 2016
Price: $9.99 USD – Available Here

Video Review

Overview

Chapter three of the King’s Quest reboot is a romantic comedy about King Graham and Queen Valanice’s first meeting. “Once Upon a Climb” takes King Graham into the old witch Hagatha’s tower, where she keeps Valanice locked up and waiting for her one true love to rescue her. Graham’s goal of finding his queen quickly goes off the rails when he discovers not one, but two princesses waiting for their one true love.

Story

Warning, possible spoilers ahead.

The old King Graham has selected a story perfect for the young Gwendolyn as she struggles to find a birthday gift fitting for Queen Valanice. The tale is set several years after the events of chapter two. King Graham is no longer the scrawny teenager and has now grown into a strapping young man. He is a seasoned adventurer and has turned the aging kingdom of Daventry into a thriving realm, just as Graham’s predecessor had hoped. Graham is feeling the pressure to find a partner and get married like many people his age. The magic mirror directs Graham to his next adventure, an old tower where Graham is convinced his true love will be. In the tower, Graham finds two princesses who could be more different from each other. Vee is logical, focused, and absolutely in love with puns, while her best friend Neese is energetic, happy go lucky, and constantly on the move. Graham’s adventure not only requires him to free the princesses from the witch Hagatha’s tower, but also court one of the girls.

I think “Once Upon a Climb” is without a doubt the best written chapter in the game so far. It feels like an incredibly kid-friendly tale that is light hearted and teaches all the right morals. Although the story sounds like every classic fairy tale, it is incredibly modern at the same time. Both Princess Vee and Princess Neese are very clear about Graham needing to take the time to develop a relationship with them and both are independent and strong female characters. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments and the ending gives players the warm and fuzzies. Many old faces from the first two chapters make a return and we finally see the Manny story arc moving. The story is a definite improvement over chapter two, which feels like an isolated side story in comparison.

Gameplay

The puzzles in chapter three are excellent. There is a good variety of puzzles and they hit the right balance in difficulty. The puzzles are a serious improvement over the previous chapter, which was filled with boring fetch puzzles, and are more in line with the creativity found in “A Knight to Remember.” I am really impressed with the game’s first puzzle, where the puzzle is used as the vehicle for storytelling and as a brain teaser. It is without a doubt the best King’s Quest has offered so far and set the bar for the rest chapter. Throughout the chapter, Graham’s must woo the princess of his choice. The process is dragged out throughout the whole chapter, which I think does a great job of conveying the theme that love needs time and effort to bloom. While Graham has multiple opportunities to choose between Vee and Neese, players who have already fallen in love with one of the princesses can easily figure out which options they need to select to get the ending of their choice.

Visuals

“Once Upon a Climb” is the first chapter to feature an older King Graham. The new design is a strapping and confident figure that still looks very much like the young bumbling knight we first fell in love with in chapter one. Although trapped in the tower, The Odd Gentlemen manage to send players off to several new places that are bright and cheerful, a sharp contrast to dreariness of Hagatha’s tower. The game’s animations and textures continue to be excellent, though I did notice a slight texture pop when sections were reloaded.

Audio

“Once Upon a Climb” delivers a solid audio performance. The soundtrack fits wonderfully with the chapter’s romantic comedy direction and cheerier mood. The voice actors continue to provide a fantastic performance.

Overall

Without a doubt, “Once Upon a Climb” is the best chapter yet in the King’s Quest reboot. The writing is absolutely flawless and feels like it is moving game’s overall plot forward. The more upbeat and positive storytelling is a much better fit to for the game’s theme as set out by chapter one. The puzzles are varied and interesting, a marked improvement over chapter two’s repetitive fetch puzzles. The audio visual continues to be top notch. Chapter two’s repetitive experience left me a little concerned that the future of King’s Quest would be a slow slide into mediocrity. Thankfully, “Once Upon a Climb” has proven it is possible to leap well over the high bar “A Knight to Remember” set.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Sailor Moon Crystal Set 1 Arrives in North America on August 16

Travis Bruno

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May 7, 2016

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Sailor Moon Crystal Set 1 Arrives in North America on August 16

Viz Media has revealed that they will begin releasing Sailor Moon Crystal in North America starting on August 16th with Set 1 of the series. Those looking forward to picking it up will be able to purchase either the $79.99 special Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack as well as a multi-disc $39.99 Standard Edition DVD Set. The first set will contain fourteen episodes of the reboot of the classic series and will feature an uncut English dub as well as the original Japanese voice track.

The Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack contains a deluxe, 4-disc collection (2 DVDs & 2 Blu-rays), packaged with an exclusive chipboard box with specialty printing. The Combo Pack also contains 7 full-color collectible art cards and a premium full-color art booklet featuring episode summaries and you can see roughly how they will look above. The digital offerings will be series trailers, a digital art gallery, and a “Introduction to Sailor Moon Crystal” featurette with the English voice actors for the series. The DVD set will only feature a variant “O-Card” packaging and specialty foil printing.