Remember Age of Conan, anyone? Well The Secret World is funcom’s next big MMO and it’s coming out either sometime this year or next, the release date is rather broad and unconfirmed, but it is an MMO. The games been in development for quite a few years now, it’s a big project and will get a release on the 360 as well. The Secret World is attempting to give players “Freedom of progression” to play the game their own way, including taking away the standard class and level system. However factions still exist – Illuminati, Dragons and the Templars, it should be interesting once it’s finally released, the industry needs something fresh in the MMO market. Check out the screens!
The first piece of Two-Face’s official artwork for Batman: Arkhum City has today been released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Rocksteady Studios. ‘Good guy turned bad’ Two-Face aka Harvey Dent is one of Batman’s most infamous villain. Batman Arkham City, the sequel to 2009’s Batman: Arkham Asylum, is set in a part of Gotham City that has been transformed in to a new maximum security prison. Two-Face will take on a much larger villainous role in this game, which might explain his absents from Arkham Asylum where he was given no more than a brief cameo.
TWO-FACE
Real Name: Harvey Dent
Alias: TWO-FACE
Occupation: Professional Criminal
Base: Gotham City
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown/Grey
Height: 6 ft
Weight: 182 lb
First Appearance:Detective Comics #66 (August 1942)
Attribute 01: Hideously scarred on the left half of his face, which he plays up with clothing that’s differently styled on one side
Attribute 02: Extremely skilled with his weapons of choice: twin .45 automatics
Attribute 03: Psychotic obsession with duality, designing crimes around the number two
Attribute 04: Defers to his half-scarred coin in choices of life or death
Background Story: District Attorney Harvey Dent was one of Batman’s strongest allies in Gotham City, until a criminal threw acid in Dent’s face, hideously scarring him. The wounds fractured his psyche, and he was reborn Two-Face, a schizoid criminal mastermind obsessed with duality. His former good-luck charm, a “two-headed” trick silver dollar, was damaged on one side in the attack, and Dent has seized on it as a reflection of his half-scarred visage. He flips it to decide the fates of his victims. Two-Face is thriving in Arkham City, rallying inmates to join his gang using tried and true campaign tactics.
Batman: Arkham City is set to be released on October 19th and 18th in North American and Australia respectively for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC and Wii U.
SMASH! 2011 was INSANE this year! After last year’s venue selling out and reaching maximum capacity, you can tell the organisers knew they were going to have to step things up, and oh man, these guys brought their A game! They put together an outstanding atmosphere for anime and manga lovers alike. It was organised nicely and everything seemed to go to plan. Here’s a quick recap of my experience for all those suckers who missed out, and for anyone who may of caught amnesia somehow since yesterday and may of forgotten the epic time they had on Saturday!
I can’t help but wonder why Pedobear has not been arrested for molesting children…and me. 🙁
From my experience the staff was both friendly and helpful, and it wasn’t hard to find a crew member to ask a question. The special guests were also friendly and super passionate and eager to answer any questions fired their way, and the attendees…oh man! Filled with otaku, hyper fanboys and fangirls, rushing back and forth for photographs and socialising. Everybody shined in their own particular way, and it was filled with excitement and things to do. One of the greatest things I enjoyed about SMASH! 2011 was the attention to detail and how they knew what to deliver to the audience they had.
I’veheard this guy is really good at boxing!
Although pop culture is clearly getting more popular in recent years, everything at SMASH! seemed to be targeted at the hardcore audience and not the wannabes who just came there because they saw an episode of Pokemon or Dragonball Z that one time. I mean, just look at the special guests! First we had Shinichi ‘Nabeshin’ Watanabe known for Excel Saga and Puni Puni Poemy, who did a live dub in Japanese! Then we had Kenji Ito and Hiroki Kikuta, two Japanese composers known for their Square Enix works who mostly spoke of composing in Midi for the Super Nintendo, and then we had Little Kuriboh, who is known for just re-dubbing and editing episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh in his works, Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series. The night came to a close with Eminence and Mari Yoshida preforming their Memories of Fantasia concert, preforming compositions from various film, animation and video games. The entire convention held NOTHING about Twilight or Harry Potter was seen at all. Perfect!
This was my personal favourite. This was made from scratch. WOW!
After greeting some cosplayers with my epic pink microphone (which wasn’t plugged into anything!) I quickly ran to grab a seat for Kenji Ito and Hiroki Kikuta where Hiroaki Yura, the founder of Eminence Symphony Orchestra, talked to us about his experience as a composer, and showed us some music he did in Midi for Ace Combatt for PSP, and also spoke about his works on various other titles, including Diablo 3. Next up was Kenji Ito and Hiroki Kikuta, who really gave us a nice look into the world of video game music composition. One particular fact that caught my attention was when Kikuta told us about working with the limitations of the Super Nintendo when he did the classic soundtrack of Secret of Mana. Apparently for a particular whale noise, he recorded a real life whale and used pre-rendered sounds to emulate it.
Akuma cosplayers are often like most rappers: they’re usually white guys wishing they were black.
I didn’t even bother leaving my seat because next up was the Shinichi ‘Nabeshin’ Watanabe Panel. He took the stage in his awesome Nabeshin outfit, and sporting an equally-awesome afro. He did a live dub and showed us footage of his most famous work, Excel Saga. He also informed us that the reason he always dresses like the character Nabeshin, is because it’s not clothes but rather his skin, and he loves to walk around naked. Also, he said his doctor told him to not let boys touch him. The entire panel was more focused on his love for women’s panties and gay jokes rather than his life as an anime director/voice talent, and the laughs were plenty! He also gave some advice to aspiring anime directors: get an afro!
This is what awesome looks like.
Next on the list I checked out the create-a-cast panel. One of the artists pointed to me and said “You with the sunglasses! Pick a word!” First thing I thought was “oh crap! I forgot to take them off since I was outside!” and the second thing was “Turtle!” He then got two other people to say words, which were “Spartan” and “Armadillo”. A Spartan Turtle-Armadillo was then drawn, and it was amazing. I can’t believe I didn’t take a picture! I can’t recall the other two, but one of them was some form of evil cupcake. I also caught a couple of minuets of the Little Kuriboh Panel, and I was blown away! It felt like I was at some sort of rock concert with everybody screaming, and I swear the line to the microphone to ask him questions reminded me of a mosh pit! But I couldn’t stick around for long, I had to go check out the Street Fighter 2 tournament!
There are people who get paid to wear costumes like this and hug people, but at SMASH! people like this guy pay to dress like this and give people hugs.
I caught the first few matches of Street Fighter 2, and it was easy to pick the experienced players from the noobs. I didn’t watch all 64 people duke it out though, I left to check out a little bit of the Madman panel with my fellow editor Luke, and then we had to quickly run to meet the rest of the Capsule Computers crew to make our a scheduled booking at the SMASH! Photo booth. We were one of the many attenedees who grabbed a FREE professional studio photo shoot that looked epic. Well, everyone except MasterAbott of coarse, who couldn’t be found because he was covering the Mario Kart competition which you can see here. The photos turned out pretty awesome though, we even got a shot of me jumping in mid-air, just saying!
I was scared at first to talk to an assasin, but then I figured, when in Rome…
I spent the rest of my day checking back in every now-and-then for the Street Fighter Tournament and checking out the floor and it’s various booths. One in particular that interested me was Parranoia, which is a small Parramatta-based organisation spreading awareness of anime, founded by some students at the University of Western Sydney. Nice! I then checked out the cosplay competition and was blown away by the amount of people that packed out the place. It was huge! There were heaps of creative costumes and hilarious acts, one of which was a dance based on The Idol M@ster 2. The judges were what made the night for me though, they were hilarious and great at hosting the event, and began the night with a parady of aussie hip-hop group Hilltop Hoods’ hit song ‘The Nosebleed Section’. Somebody somewhere was smarter than me and recorded it for youtube, you can see that here.
I don’t know who this girl is, but she can have the key(blade) to my heart.
I didn’t get the chance to catch the winners of the cosplay contest, but I did get the chance to see the final round and meet the winner of the Street Fighter 2 Tournament. Her name was Chyna and cosplayed as Chun Li, even though she played as Guile! You can check out that interview here. I then had a few minuets to leave before the place shut down, so I quickly spoke to a few more cosplayers and got the chance to even meet the winner of the ‘Judge’s pick’ award for the cosplay competition. Her name was Reggie and she cosplayed as Card Captor Sakarua, and she and her costume both looked outstanding!
LinkageAX and I both agree: the judge’s pick of the cosplay competition, Reggie, looks like an angel.
Overall the day was amazing, I hate myself for not being able to stay for the Eminence concert! I did hear however that it was amazing. Overall SMASH 2011 was definitely the most fun I’ve had at a convention in a long time. The atmosphere was great, the staff were nice, the guests were passionate and there was always something to do. The team on the most part well organised and everybody was more than pleased with the venue. Looking VERY forward to next year, where we plan to have more editors and more cameras storming the floor for an even more extensive coverage of SMASH!, so make sure you stick by us, ok? Hope you enjoyed this recap, don’t forget to comment on all our SMASH! articles and tell us about your experiences, and by adding us on Facebook and Twitter! We also have more articles and videos of this year’s convention coming within the next few days so keep an eye out for them! 🙂
On behalf of the entire crew of Capsule Computers, I’d like to thank the entire crew at SMASH! for having us. Can’t wait to see you next year!
Now Im not 100% sure, but Im pretty sure this dude is dude is cosplaying as Jesus from Passion of the Christ. I think.
While the 3DS has caused a little bit of trouble lately for Nintendo, causing a law suit against the company, Nintendo could be in a little bit more strife with this announcement from mobile gaming giants Gameloft. Owners of Android devices with 3D capabilities are in luck, with Gameloft announcing that they will be releasing 17 3D titles in total for Android devices. Currently there are 6 games out with 3D capabilities: N.O.V.A 3D, Let’s Golf 2 3D, Asphalt 6 3D, Assassins Creed- Altairs Chronicles 3D, Avatar 3D and GT Racing 3D. Like the Nintendo 3DS, these titles work without the use of 3D glasses, and unlike a lot of titles that are released for mobile gaming devices, some of these games are pretty big titles. At the moment these games are starting at $4.99, which isn’t too bad for 3D Assassins Creed if you ask me. Obviously we will have to wait and see what sort of impact this has on the portable 3D gaming market, but I am sad to say it doesn’t sound like great news for Nintendo. The former mentioned titles are currently available at the Gameloft Store.
I have to say that my experience with SMASH! this year was much better than my experience with SMASH! last year. I don’t mean that negatively either, last years Sydney Manga and Anime SHow (intentional caps) was easily my favorite convention of my entire convention going life (since 2004! missing only 2009).
There was something about this year, and I’m not too sure of what it was, that made this easily the best event I’ve been to. Perhaps it was rediculously good venue? Maybe it was all the awesome attendees? The rediculously good cosplayers? The interesting, yet entertaining, panels? Surely, it could not have been just one of these factors. No, it must have been them all combined with a few others that I couldn’t have realised, but were surely in practice at the convention.
Out Ninjaed by an Android.
The staff at the event were all incredibly professional and the event was handled beautifully. I quite like how they handled the guest speakers especially; giving media a chance to interview them before the event, rather than try and disrupt their timetables within the convention itself.
The way the queues were handled that morning was incredibly well done and efficient, and from my convention going experience, queues can be one of the biggest time-sinks if they’re handled inappropriately. I’m fairly certain they died out pretty early into the conventions lifespan.
Our own Matty Vella with a Code Geass group.
And of course, the cosplay contest was amazingly popular and it was well anchored by the guys hosting it. They had some amazing moments and did their best to make all the cosplayers feel comfortable, as well as trying to push them into causing a little more mayhem than usual, all in the name of fun of course.
Though the one thing that I *really* loved, was the nice passes that were given out to (not only us from the media, or the organisers) everyone who attended the event. These weren’t just cheap wristbands or anything like that, we’re talking tassles and tags. Amazing!
It’s Dante! Bloody Amazing job!
Overall, I’d say that SMASH! 2011 was one of the best conventions within Australia for not only the year, but since 2004 at the very least.
Little Kuriboh, one of the biggest names in not only the Yu-Gi-Oh! fandom but also the Anime fandom at large, was a guest speaker at SMASH! 2011. His panel was largely entertaining and was filled with all kinds of interesting tid-bits.
Not only was the panel informative, but it also had a special advanced screening of the newest episode of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series, which was incredibly entertaining! Everyone in the audience was ecstatic and incredibly greatful for the opportunity to see this special episode!
I’m sure that I speak for a lot of fans when I say this – ThankYou Little Kuriboh, the wonderful host Jamaica Dela Cruz (Thanks to Smashy for the correction!) and of course, all the personnel at SMASH! who got the panel to go forward smoothly.
Be sure to check out the video embedded below for our coverage of the panel (56mins).
Cosplayers! They’re easily one of the most exciting things about any convention, and SMASH! was no different. While most cosplayers are happy enough to just to walk around the convention centre getting photos and being in general attendance, some of them opt for the more fun and amazing cosplay contest.
The cosplay contest was amazing to observe from the superior seating, but the shots in this photo were taken from a better location by our own Editor-In-Chief. The Competition was amazing! There were so many cosplayers in attendance of the competition and all the entrants did so amazingly well! Props to everyone that won in that contest! Also, special shout out to the friend of mine cosplaying Card Captor Sakura with the massive wings!
Congrats to everyone who entered, the photo’s were great!
SMASH! Con may be over but the aftermath is not. For the Capsule Computers crew the job would not be done without bringing you all the news, interviews and pictures of the event.
Us crazy folk who make up the Capsule Computers crew made our presence felt in the event and managed to snap a truck-load of pictures of our exploits and of all the awesome cosplayers we met along the way.
Whether you couldn’t make it to the convention or were in attendance, check out the huge Capsule Computers SMASH! 2011 gallery. If you were cosplaying, you may even be in here. View the gallery below.
Little Kuriboh, creator of Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series and of other parody spoofs (like the one with Naruto), was nice enough to give us guys at Capsule Computers an opportunity to interview with him during the SMASH! Convention this past weekend. In this interview we discuss various aspects of Little Kurbohs gaming habits as well as the show that he is famous for.
As anyone in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Fandom can attest, Little Kuriboh is a large driving factor behind the fandom itself nowadays. I mean sure, there are people who liked the show before the abridged series, but said series did open the flood gates to a larger community by making the show accessible by the general viewer, and this of course has helped generate one of the largest and most diverse fandoms to date.
SMASH organized two great tournaments this year, one was the Street Fighter 2 tournament (check here for full details) and yes I’m very sad I wasn’t able to take part in it (I would of totally beat China with Ryu – even if she used Dhalsim or not) as I was a little busy covering and taking a lot of cool pics of the Cosplay Competition, which was also very cool. But this is not why we’re here, today we’re here to discuss the Mario Kart 64 Tournament.
The Mario Kart tournament kicked off first with quite a lot of preliminary races taking places. Some were classic matches with come backs from behind that brought back some good ole memories. I still can’t believe how much video games have changed, looking at Mario Kart 64 for the first time in ages I turned to Linkage who was standing next to me and looking a little confused then we both agreed that the frame rate was a little on the low side. But after watching a few more matches we put that aside and let the fun take over. Unfortunately we can’t give you a full recap on all the early matches as there were a truck load of them, but we managed cover the Mario 64 Final race (video below) and also grabbed a quick interview with Andrew, the winner of the SMASH 2011 Mario Kart 64 Tournament. Watch the final race as the three contestants battle it out on the legendary rainbow road, the longest and also one of the hardest to master! Andrew the tournament winner ran a near perfect race and was never overtaken at all. Something that doesn’t happen in Mario Kart games as everyone normally gets a chance to catch up. But wasn’t the case and the two other competitors using Toad and Princes Peach were totally out-raced by the great Kart racing skills of Andrew and his little friend Yoshi.
We also catch up quickly with Andrew after the tournament and ask him a few Mario Kart questions.
Enjoy the video.
Check out our coverage of the entire SMASH 2011 here
