Call of Duty: Ghosts Unveils Multiplayer and Adds a Dash of Eminem

Just when you think that Call of Duty couldn’t get any bigger, you’re reminded that it happens to be one of the most recognizable brands in gaming. So much so that the marketing is out in full force four months before the game is actually released. You know the game is big time when we get an hour-long live stream revealing the multiplayer elements of the game. Not only that, but one of the biggest rappers in the world, Eminem, has graced your game with a never before released song for its trailer. With Call of Duty: Ghosts due out in November, we are starting to get some more details about some new aspects of the game and from the looks of things, smiles are about to materialize on many a gamer’s face.

As you can see from the trailer above for the multiplayer elements, there’s a lot of brand new stuff to dissect. First off, Eminem is providing the music with his new song “Survivor” to pump you up and take down your enemy. It reminds me of his song “Won’t Back Down” with Pink and I’m sure it will be played non-stop once people find the means to download it. One of the big things is seeing the dynamic maps, where you can destroy parts of the map or take out structures to distract someone, or even take out a whole squad. This will add a fun element to the destruction of environments and another thing to account for as you run around on all the maps. Another big part is seeing the fluid movements of your soldier as he (or she, we’ll get to that in a minute) can slide or hop over obstacles while still being able to aim and shoot. Being able to slide and jump back up to avoid a shot and take someone out then hop over a barrier to stab the next enemy in your sights will deliver a lot of multi-kills and satisfying killstreaks.

call of duty ghosts female soldier

There is also a ton more customization when it comes to this new game, probably the most prominently marketed will be the inclusion of female soldiers. Yes, despite the last series that developer Infinity Ward did being subtitled Modern Warfare, Ghosts will mark the first time that female soldiers will be stepping into the Call of Duty multiplayer arena. You’ll also be able to modify more characteristics such as race and body type, plus the standbys like gear, clothing and of course, weapons, in order to make your multiplayer avatar your own. As many as 30 new weapons will enter this iteration of the game so expect to see a lot of new guns lying around waiting to be tried. A new class will accompanying this game called the Marksman Rifle, which is an intended hybrid of the Sniper and Assault Rifle class. This will allow those gamers with the option of using the scope or getting in closer for a semi-auto or one shot kill. There’s also another new, and potentially awesome, game mode is called Cranked. This mode borrows from the Statham movie and gives you 30 seconds to find and kill someone before you die. It’s effectively a game of tag where the clock resets when you take out an enemy. You’ll also get your typical multiplayer modes that have been featured in all the previous games but this one will be something to get excited about.

There’s a lot of stuff to get excited for an that’s just a small bit of what to expect from the new game when it comes to challenging and fighting friends online. The trailer above is from the one hour live stream that they did on Wednesday so check it out, there’s a lot of other great info about the game. Again, Call of Duty: Ghosts comes out on November 5th, 2013 on Xbox One, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 4 and the Wii U. Also below is a fun trailer for the new collector’s edition. If anything, it’ll make you yell, “BREACH!” every time you walk through a doorway.

Tina Fey and Robert Carlock To Return To Our TV’s!

Apparently all those hours spent in front of my Tina Fey shrine offering gifts to various deities while burning incense have paid off. That’s right folks, Tina Fey is returning to NBC with partner Robert Carlock, and they are bringing a new sitcom with them!

After the end of 30 Rock, which I and many others mourned like it was a family member, there was a lot of question as to what Tina Fey would do next. She has a four-year deal with Universal Television, but what would that end up looking like? Well, now we know the first thing to come out of that deal will be a comedy from former 30 Rock writer-producer Colleen McGuinness.

While the two men on the left are fine gentlemen, ignore them for now. On the right, Colleen McGuinness, Tina Fey, and Robert Carlock
While the two men on the left are fine gentlemen, ignore them for now.
On the right, Colleen McGuinness, Tina Fey, and Robert Carlock

Not much is known about the new comedy except that it will be a workplace comedy where a young woman in search of reconnecting with her father finds a new home and family on Fire Island.” and Tina Fey and Robert Carlock will be executive producers. The sitcom will be the first project for Tina Fey’s new production company, Little Stranger.

Even though the show is in its earliest stages, just knowing that Tina Fey and company are in some capacity returning to NBC comedy gives us hope for the future. Please don’t let this be another 1600 Penn situation.

The League: Season 5 Promos Showcase Football Dudes and the Move to FXX

I know nothing about football. Seriously. I’ve picked up a couple athlete names over the years, and I can name a bunch of teams (both NFL and CFL) but really, I know nothing about football. Which says a lot about The League, as it has become one of my favorite shows on TV despite my lack of knowledge regarding their favorite sport. Funny is funny, and that’s what makes these following teasers amusing to a guy who barely understands them.

Do I know who these football players are? No. I do know they play football, and are known by the characters of The League, and damn it, that’s good enough for me. So while a lot of my fellow fans mention the appearance of this foozball star here or that foozball star there, I am more than happy to sit back and watch Taco be Taco.

Continue reading The League: Season 5 Promos Showcase Football Dudes and the Move to FXX

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: New Teasers for Season 9 Move to FXX

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s 9th season is set to premiere September 4th, or about 3 weeks from today. To make people aware of this date, as well as the shows move to new channel FXX (the comedy half of FX’s recent split) they have released some new trailers, and unlike last time, now they are actually showing some footage from the season.

Here are the 3 longest of the trailers…

Continue reading It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: New Teasers for Season 9 Move to FXX

The Star Wars: Dark Horse brings George Lucas’ Original Script To Life

Since Star Wars: Episode VII was announced a few months ago, their has been a number of new Star Wars projects announced, such as the Star Wars: Rebels animated TV series. None of these have been quite as left field as the announcement back in April that Dark Horse will be releasing an 8-issue comic series titled The Star Wars‘, based on George Lucas’ original draft scripts written back in 1974.

The original screenplay had many differences from the final draft that eventually became Star Wars. ‘The Star Warstells the story of Jedi General Luke Skywalker, who seems to be the only person concerned that The Empire is poised for an attack on the peaceful world of Aquilae. When King Kayos is killed, Jedi in training Annikin Starkiller is ordered to find Princess Leia, while Skywalker sends his only squadron against the Empire’s powerful new battle station! O,h and Han Solo is a massive green alien who artist Mike Mayhew described to the USA Today as a “worldly” and exotic gunslinger who is already a rebel agent and “a very mysterious pirate that lurks in the shadows”. Also, gone are the legendary Lightsabers, instead the Jedi wield lazer-swords which are not too different to the swords that we are used to.

Artwork to 'The Star Wars #1' Doug Wheatley Ultravariant cover
Artwork to ‘The Star Wars #1’ Doug Wheatley Ultravariant cover

You may be forgiven for thinking that Dark Horse is cashing in on the renewed interest in the series, however this project really excites me. Marvel and DC have been producing parallel world storylines for years with their ‘What if…?and ‘Elseworldscomics respectively, and for the most part they give us a great alternative vision of classic characters. I don’t see this as being any different. At the very least it will give Star Wars fans an insight into what George Lucas originally intended. Dark Horse also doesn’t tend to churn out any old stuff just for the sake of cashing in. For the most part their continuation of the Buffy, Firefly, and Angel series’ have been nothing less than superb.

The comics creators are also of high pedigree. The 8 issue series will be written by J. W. Rinzler, executive editor at Lucas books with Lucas’ full blessing on the project.

Writer J.W.Rinzler says on the Dark Horse website:

[box_dark]“While researching in the Lucasfilm Archives I’ve found many treasures—but one which truly astounded me was George’s rough draft for The Star Wars. His first complete imaginings were hallucinating to read—mind blowing,” “While working with George on another book project, I once asked if we could adapt his rough draft. He was hesitant. Years later, with Dark Horse’s invaluable help, we showed him a few drawn and colored pages of what it might look like. He gave us the okay.”[/box_dark]

Artwork will be provided by Mike Mayhew, who has drawn for plenty of well known properties such as Green Arrow, Bionic Man, The Avengers and X-Men.

The first issue will be published on the 4th of September. Dark Horse will have a number of variant covers including one by legendary concept artist Ralph McQuarrie.

Artwork to 'The Star Wars #2' Ralph McQuarrie variant cover
Artwork to ‘The Star Wars #2’ Ralph McQuarrie variant cover

Nevermore: An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe – One Man Show to Make Leap from Stage to Screen

Edgar Allan Poe’s work has attracted and amazed people since it was introduced to the masses in 1827, and has continued to be a big part of popular culture ever since. Nevermore: An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe is a one man show loosely based on the life of Poe. It uses his own letters and essays as well as incorporating reviews of his appearances at the time to help create an engaging experience. The show is set in 1848 and stars Jeffrey Combs. The audience follows Poe’s descent into madness while out on a cross-country speaking tour. Do not worry if you missed it,  because below is a 5 minute compilation of Combs in fine form.

For those of you unfamiliar with the name Jeffrey Combs, you have no doubt have seen him whether you remember the name or not. He is a superb character actor who has appeared in various television roles throughout the years. When not appearing in Star Trek or voicing numerous characters for DC animated series, he is mostly plying his trade in the film industry. What most people will recognize him from is his portrayal of H.P.Lovecraft’s Frankenstein style creator Herbert West in the hugely popular 80’s splatter flick Re-Animator.

nevermore re animator

Dread Central has reported (via Twitter) that the show is now to become a feature film.  Can you guess who the director is going to be? Yes it is none other than Jeffrey Combs old pal Stuart Gordon, the director of the original stage show.

nevermore tweet

A successful horror director in his own right, the two of them have made some superb low-budget horror movies together including the above mentioned movie and films like From Beyond, Castle Freak, The Pit and the Pendulum and Fortress. They do make a great team, and with Stuart on board you know that Jeffrey’s performance will be given the center stage it deserves. How they are planning on pulling this one stage production off is yet to be seen, but if it keeps any of the magic of the original stage performance then we should all be in for a treat.

nevermore edgar allen poe

Combs has a talent of breathing new life into well established historical figures and this reviewer is looking forward to seeing how this film progresses (watch his performance in the movie Necronomicon where he plays H.P.Lovecraft and you will see how successful he is at portraying that established writer). No official date on release yet, but there is a poster already out for this (which can be seen below) which really brings home the struggle this mentally tortured writer was under. This will be one film that all Poe fans should rush to see.

nevermore poster