While it has been known for quite a while now that Sony would be bringing Freedom Wars over to North America and Europe, exactly when they would has been a question that has gone unanswered for just as long.
Well today Sony announced that they will be bringing Freedom Wars to North America on October 28th while Europe will be getting it on October 31st and best of all, the game will be available at retail in both regions. It has also been confirmed that those who pre-order Freedom Wars through various retailers will be given special costumes and starter equipment.
Gamescom has come and gone and while many people were able to attend the event and see some special gameplay footage, the majority of gamers have simply had to read about what was shown. Well for fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt they now have over a half hour long video of gameplay footage to check out.
CD Projekt RED has released a thirty seven minute long extended look at the game showing us a large amount of Witcher 3 gameplay. It is worth noting that there might be a few spoilers in the trailer but this is also a great opportunity to take a look at how Wild Hunt will look once it is released on February 24th.
The mockumentary style is a favourite amongst smaller film productions with a limited budget. Films like ‘This is Spinaltap‘ and ‘The Blair Witch Project‘ both showed that this style could be used effectively to evoke laughter and horror. Jemaine Clement’s and Taika Waititi’s What we do in the Shadows follows this esteemed style by taking Gothic Vampire horror and framing it within the setting of a share house in modern day New Zealand. There isn’t all that much more to say, it’s a film which parodies the traditional narrative tropes of vampires in popular fiction and by Dracula’s fangs it does do it well…
Story
The film starts off simply enough the audience being introduced to Viago (Taika Waititi) as he engages in his early evening routine of waking his housemates and organising a flat meeting. His housemates include the sexually deviant Vladislav (Jemaine Clement), the lazy Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and the monstrous Petyr (Ben Fransham). We get a good sense of each of each character in just the first five minutes of the film with their introductions as Deacon is found sleeping upside down in a cupboard, Vlad is caught in the middle of a Vampiric orgy, and Peter’s initial reaction upon being woken is to glare at Viago as he feebly announces that he will be holding a flat meeting in 15 minutes. Viago himself is a polite, adorable, fussy dandy who complains to the other vampires about them leaving bloodstains on his (formerly) green couch when they feed on their victims. His suggestion to the other vampires that they put down newspaper or a towel when they feed perfectly encapsulates the irreverent humour of the film. Take the supernatural elements of the vampire mythos, put it into the context of a modern day sharehouse in suburban New Zealand and hilarity ensues.
The narrative largely sticks to following these characters as they go about their daily (un)lives. We see them at home and when they go out on the town. The routine of their lives is upset however, when Peter decides to create a new vampire out of Nick, one of their victims, rather than just killing him. The newly minted vampire and his best friend, Stu (Stuart Rutherford), then set about bringing his fellows into the contemporary world by introducing them to modern technology and getting them invites into trendy nightclubs (since vampires can’t enter a building without an invitation). However, an individual who has accustomed to using twitter may not exactly be the best at keeping their vampiric nature a secret. Complications arise and hilarity ensues.
The subversion of the traditional tropes of the Vampire Genre are where the movie gets most of its laughs as we see the supernatural characters wash bloody dishes, vacuum their house, and argue over chore wheels. The simple juxtaposition of awesome, supernatural Vampiric abilities being used to achieve mundane goals like cleaning a house is a stroke of comedic genius.
The actors themselves are great in their parts with all of them finding a their niche for their colourful character. Viago is adorable and charming which lets the audience get on his side even as he accidentally bites into the main artery of a victim (which in turn covers him in blood). Nick is played in a wonderful turn as someone who is coming to terms with the transition into immortality and in turn we see him take a certain glee at being able to fly alongside dismay at not being able to eat chips anymore. Of the main characters, Deacon I felt was the least interesting out of the main characters as the narrative gives him little to do besides conflict with the other leads but nonetheless he is played well by Brugh. Honourable mention should also go to Karen O’Leary and Mike Minogue for playing two very polite officers who come to investigate disturbances at the home of the vampires in one of the films best sequences.
Visuals & Audio
Each character is visually distinct in their style of dress with Vlad’s and Viago’s eccentricities being contrasted by Nik’s more casual, contemporary street clothes. A New Zealand vampire in a flannel shirt and jeans amuses me more than it probably should but after seeing the same old tropes in a lot of vampire fiction, it becomes refreshingly subversive to give the traditional suave creature of the night a kiwi accent.
What we do in the Shadows largely fulfils its titular promise with a large number of scenes that are largely shot in the dark of the night with limited lighting. This does mean that the colour palette in the film is somewhat subdued, but it also ensures that the make-up and fake prosthetics on the film’s colourful characters does not stand out too much.
The shots are also largely well composed with the lion’s share of the action occurring in the sharehouse of the vampires which is wonderfully decorated with equal parts dilapidation and antique furniture. The camera work itself works well as well and avoids the common mockumentary trope of shaky camera movements except in several chase and high energy sequences.
Just a heads up, this film is a black comedy and since it deals with the subject of vampires there is copious amounts of gore and guts at various points. It’s largely played for laughs, but those who are easily upset by such things should take care.
The audio itself was sparing in non-diegetic music but for a few instances where horror cliche violin chords were used to elevate tense moments before defusing them in a comedic manner. The music was a lively mix of contemporary pop and Eastern European party music (also known as ‘turbofolk’) which were certainly fitting tunes with some of the characters.
Overall
There is a lot of heart in this film and a lot of laughs to be had. The actors are all great in their performances and the scenes are well directed to allow them to showcase their talent. The humour is definitely more subdued than your average slapstick comedy fair, but if you’re willing to go along with the ridiculous juxtaposition of supernatural monsters engaging in household in activities; then you’ll certainly love this film. Overall, it’s a solid black comedy film which deserves to be enjoyed.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Have you been playing Magic 2015 – Duels of the Planeswalkers and think you are ready for the big leagues? Well you are in luck! This weekend, Sydney will play host to a Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix. For those who aren’t quite sure what that is all about, let me share the good word!
The Grand Prix is an event that anyone can participate in, and is a way for players to experience Magic on a whole other level. This isn’t just sitting around the kitchen table with your buddies, it is time for some serious strategy. In addition to the cash prizes available (totalling $35,000) there are also side-events running over all three days, as well as artists as well as just about every vendor in the country setting up shop to sell their wares. For a full run-down of the tournament schedule, click here. Also, if you aren’t that confident in your abilities, then the event will also have a dedicated “Learn to Play” area so you don’t need to feel daunted.
The Grand Prix really is THE place to be if you are a Magic: The Gathering fan, and I know I’ll be there slinging spells with the best of them (and getting beat more often than not, I assure you). Will you be heading there? Let us know in the comments below and remember to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Magic: The Gathering news as it becomes available.
Starting on September 5 through to December 12, Event Cinemas George St. will be screening cult film classics as part of their special ‘In The House’ cinema series. Landmark titles from some of film’s greatest directors will be played, from Steven Spielberg’s Jaws(1975) to James Cameron’s The Terminator (1984) and Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994).
Channel 7’s Jason “Jabba” Davis, along with Quinny from Supanova, will be hosting the festival. Special activities will also be available for attendees to participate in, promising rewards such as a ‘In the House Loyalty Program’ and entry into the draw to win 3 months worth of free movies! You can revisit these iconic masterpieces, and many more (full list below) by clicking through to the official webpage, and buying a ticket online for only $10 ($9 for Cine Buzz members), or going to the box office at Event Cinemas George Street and making your purchase there.
Here is the complete list of films and their screening times:
Friday, September 5, 7 pm – Terminator
Friday, September 19, 7 pm – Jaws
Friday, October 3, 7 pm – Labyrinth
Friday, October 17, 7 pm – The Crow
Friday, October 30, 9 pm – An American Werewolf in London
Friday, November 14, 7 pm – Blues Brothers
Friday, November 28, 7 pm – Spaceballs
Friday, December 12, 7 pm – Pulp Fiction
Look for the San Andreas Flight School Update available for GTA Online tonight, as it could be the starting point of your new career as a man in uniform, who showers with other men…Rockstar swears women love that!
The considerable update introduces a plethora of new vehicles, both on land and in air (adds another meaning to the term “the High Life”), solo aerial challenges and much, much more, including a bunch of gameplay tweaks. Some of these tweaks are an increased payout for harder missions and GTA$ bonuses for playing missions with others (be social!). For now, watch this hilarious informational video below for the ‘State of San Andreas Flight School’!
Get ready to role them dice and face off against fearsome monsters and terrifying dragons, as Wizards of the Coast have announced the official launch of the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Player’s Handbook. From today, players will be able to purchase the handbook , which details rules for character creation and advancement, backgrounds and skills, exploration and combat, equipment, spells, and much more.
Players who started with the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set have been waiting for this book to finally give them access to all new races, classes and abilities and it is finally here. For a RRP of $49.95, the book gives players everything they need to know to compleyely engross themselves in the world’s oldest RPG.
Curve Digital have formed an alliance with Square Enix to bring a console conversion of their stealth platform game, Stealth Inc., to Japan on Playstation 4.
Jason Perkins, Curve Digital Managing Director, stated “We’ve been interested in bringing Stealth Inc to Japan ever since E3 last year, when we had a really positive response from the Japanese press. As a publisher ourselves, we know how important understanding local markets can be, and working together with SQUARE ENIX allows us to take advantage of their years of expertise in Japan.”
Stealth Inc. is set to be released in Japan by the end of August, with both the original edition on PS3 and PS Vita and the ‘Ultimate Edition’ on PS4; including the DLC packs, The Teleporter Chambers and The Lost Clones.
Check out the awesome screenshots from Stealth Inc. Ultimate Edition below and stay tuned with Capsule Computers for more news regarding Curve Digital and Square Enix.
Back a few weeks ago, american-based retailer Walmart leaked a few new figures and Play Sets for Disney’s upcoming Disney Infinity 2.0. Since then, many of these have been confirmed as being real, with the exception of a mysterious pack that was titled “Disney Infinity 2.0: Disney Originals.” Well we now have official word that the Disney Originals pack is indeed real, and gives players a little bit of choice. The set is Toy Box-centric and instead of the Avengers figurines and Play Set Piece, those who grab this set will get:
The Disney Infinity 2.0 video game (this is the same game that comes with the Marvel Super Heroes Starter Set)
Disney Infinity 2.0 base
2x Disney Originals Figures: Merida and Stitch
2x Disney Originals “Toy Box Game Discs” – Stitch’s Tropical Rescue and Brave Forest Siege
1x poster
The boxart for the Disney Originals Set (which you can see above) also gives away a little secret: Sitting above Aladdin are Hiro and Baymax, the stars of Disney’s upcoming animated feature: Big Hero 6. It wasn’t a very well kept secret that the pair would be included in the game (there was even a giant statue of Baymax’s Infinity figure at this year’s Comic-Con) but their inclusion on the box along with the rest of the Disney Originals basically confirms it.
So while there is one fewer figurine and no Play Set piece, players get a guaranteed two Toy Box Game Discs, which create incredible full-fledged gaming experiences right there inside the Toy Box. Not only that but it is a fair bit cheaper with an RRP of $79.95, but at the same time the set releases a month later on November 6th. So since there are now two VERY different starter sets for Disney Infinity 2.0, which one will you be picking up? Let us know in the comments below and remember to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Disney news as it becomes available.
Kazue Kato might be best known for his best selling Blue Exorcist manga series but he has also been releasing some smaller things on the side and it looks like Viz Media is putting these little shorts into one standalone volume. Today the company announced that they will be collecting these shorts into a single volume called Time Killers that will be released on September 2nd.
This release will be available at retailers for the price of $14.99 where it will be published under the Shonen Jump label and come with thirteen pages of full-color artwork and a fold-out, full-color gatefold poster as well as digitally where it will only be priced at $10.99 and can be purchased not only through Viz’s manga app on iOS and Android but through numerous digital outlets such as comiXology, Kindle, and more.
It is worth noting that this is a short story collection so there is no running theme in the release but it does feature Kazue Kato’s first work, Boku to Usagi (Me and the Rabbit), as well as stories and designs that would eventually be worked into the Blue Exorcist manga.
