The VGA's Oh excuse me the VGX's are once again upon us!!!!

So the VGX fka the VGA's is having its 10th annual award show. Now usually I don't give two Sh$#@ about this award show due to its campiness and terrible host's (besides Sam Jackson). I feel that I am among the many who watch this garbage award show just for the exclusive reveals (its like a mini E3) and hold my vomit until the end just to see a glimpse of what the future of gaming will bring. This year is said to be the biggest year in reveals according to all the rumors flying around the interwebs(I feel this is due to the next gen of gaming being here now). So without further delay. My top 5 wishes for the VGX awards.

1.Next Gen Tomb Raider

For those of you who passed on the reboot of The latest installment of the Tomb Raider franchise do yourself a favor go get the game...Which is probably 20 bucks used currently and play through it. The story telling in this game was captivating the gameplay amazing and the new tomb raider well I think I like a real to life Lara Croft over a fake big breasted bimbo and on the PS4/Xbox1 the game will hopefully blow our minds.

2. Ni No Kuni Pt. 2

This is game reminded you what JRPGs are all about. We all remember our first JRPG. (Mine was FF7 Unless you count Super Mario RPG but we will get to that later) Ni No Kuni had everything. Monster hunting/training ala Pokemon style, Great Story, Amazing Imagery challenging puzzles and extras galore. I haven't felt this good playing a JRPG since Xenogears...The game sold over 1.2 million copies which is unheard of for this genre nowadays...Blame that on the FPS genre taking over (mindless gaming) So a sequel could be in the cards. Fingers Crossed. 

3. Super Mario RPG 2

Which brings me to my next hopeful reveal. For those of you that are old enough to remember this game it was out of the box for Nintendo at the time and was a breath of fresh air next to all the super mario worlds/Yoshi games and Donkey Kong Countrys. Nintendo teamed up with Square-Soft (now Square-Enix) to make something that for those who played it cannot forget. Ever since this game came out I have been dreaming of a sequel and before you all open your mouth. Super Paper Mario does not count and spit on the memory of Super Mario RPG that Nintendo even said they were related. the Mario & Luigi games  on the DS are close but not enough to quench my thirst for a real RPG extravaganza. Now it is public knowledge that Reggie Fil Aime himself will be at the VGX awards to announce a new game for the WiiU. I am reaching but I hope Nintendo teams up with Square again to make magic. This would make me drop 250 on a WiiU immediately. If they announce WiiU music II or something else that is stupid and not needed (Nintendo is known for consistent shovelware now) consider me done with my first game console love Nintendo....

4. Fallout 4

War....War never changes, however the Fallout 4 rumors do change.  A few weeks ago a teaser site went up that everyone assumed was fallout related. Bethesda has since stated said that site is not theirs and that they have no upcoming fallout news or reveals in store for its fans. Yeah sure you and every other company who has fed us the same lines just to reveal the game like your some kinda smooth criminal. Your fans want it, Your fans need it and most importantly Bethesda your fans will pay for it...Me being one of them...So bring me more of that bobblehead hunting, snowglobe grabbing vault survivor awesomeness....

5.Star Wars 1313 (Re-Titled and using Frostbite engine)

Star wars 1313 was shown off at E3 2012 to much applause and fan excitement. A short time after that Disney acquired lucasfilm and all properties that belong to that banner. When this acquisition went down. Disney decided to be major dicks and cancel the title along with any other projects lucasarts team was working on. The gaming community that was anxious for this game as well as star wars enthusiast were enraged and showed there hatred on the wonderful interwebs...As they should have... but months later a glimmer of hope...in the form of everyone's most hated gaming studio EA announced that they would be taking over all star wars titles/projects for the foreseeable future. 
They then went on to say that they had  a few projects in development scattered across their various in house studios..I.E. Visceral, Dice, ETC. At E3 2013 we were treated to a teaser for a new star wars battlefront game. (not being released until 2015 though..SAD FACE)...Now that's all fine and dandy but shortly after that we started to see concept art every other month for a game that we were all told was cancelled! Now why waste your time telling us a game was cancelled but show us the most tantalizing screenshots of said game that people wanted but now cannot have???? My theory is that the assets for this game were and are still alive...The graphics engine, early stage work and storyboards/concept art are sitting on the desk of a Visceral employee's desk who is hard at work tweaking 1313 to be re-branded and shown off in all its next gen glory at this years VGX's. My lightsabers stay crossed to see a re-emergence of this title and yours should be crossed too. 


Feel free to leave your comments below and let us know what you would like to see this year at the VGX awards...

-Shawn Michael

LeMar G's Game of the Year Picks

Oh it's that time of year peeps. It's been an amazing year for gaming and as usual we saw some of the best software of all time come as swan songs to our favorite consoles. Although I have moved on to the PS4, my PS3 is in my bedroom and still gets ton of attention thanks to PS+. But wow this has been one of my favorite generations of gaming ever and I am sad to see it go. Here are my picks for GOTY: 

The views below to do not necessarily reflect everyone elses opinion on this Blog. 
Reader discretion is advised.

GAME OF THE YEAR - The Last of Us

This is story telling at its finest. This game singlehandedly transcended gaming story telling and achieved emotions only books, films and art convey. It makes since because this game is art (Don't tell Kojima). If you haven't played this game, please do yourself a favor and make an attempt to. You will not be disappointed. 

STUDIO OF THE YEAR - Rockstar

BEST SHOOTER – Bioshock Infinite

BEST ACTION ADVENTURE GAME – GTA V

BEST SPORTS GAME – NBA2K14

BEST INDEPENDENT GAME – Guacamelee

BEST RPG – Ni No Kuni

BEST DRIVING GAME – Forza 5

BEST DLC – Far Cry: Blood Dragon

BEST HANDHELD GAME - Tearaway

BEST VOICE ACTOR – Steven Ogg as Trevor Philips from GTAV

BEST VOICE ACTRESS - Ashley Johnson as Ellie from The Last of Us

BEST SOUNDTRACK – The Last of Us

- LeMar G.

UFC Fight Night 33...why you should care

Tomorrow night, 12/6/2013, Fox Sports1 will air UFC Fight Night 33. And I'm to tell you why you should watch.

Both men up to this have been recent contenders until they were stopped short by previous opponents. This however, will truly be a meeting of titans. Marc "Super Samoan" Hunt has been on a tear as of late until he was stopped by Junior dos Santos...a fight that Hunt took on short notice, against a man who seemingly is a perpetual contender within the heavyweight division. So losing here although might hurt, doesn't take much away from Hunts swagger or the fans love of him. For those that don't know, Hunt was a leftover from when UFC purchased the legendary Japanese promotion, Pride. Hunt was offered his wins purses on his remaining contract and was told that he was free to leave the organization if he wanted to. To that, Hunt said "No". He instead chose to fight and earn his place instead. Since then his initial fight in the UFC was a bust...but he has been knocking grown men unconscious, seemingly by accident almost. Basically, he hits hard...like, really hard. For proof of this, PLEASE watch this...

http://sports.yahoo.com/video/ufc-brisbane-free-fight-hunt-223200874.html

And for further proof, here is the X-ray of the "other guy" when it was all done...

Yeah...that giant gap in the jawline...like whoa.

Basically, Hunt is a textbook striker, heavy handed and he has a style that can lead you into a false sense of security only to put your state of being into another zip code. To which, more than one fighter has fallen.

Which leads us to, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva. As the name would imply...the man is large and in charge. Silva was also a left over prospect from yet another promotion absorbed by UFC's parent company, Zuffa......Strikeforce. Here is where his name really started to gain steam, and once brought into the UFC fold he has really blossomed, holding wins of Fedor (yes, he was one of the first to beat him), Travis Browne, and his most recent win was over the insanely touted, Alistair Overeem.
For a quick highlight of this, check out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNXqz736aVI

Silva is huge...like hulk huge. I believe he actually has to have special XXXL gloves made for him if my memory serves correct. His most recent fight however was a loss, for the second time, to the current champ of the division, Cain Velasquez.But again, having the only loss in your most recent string of fights being against the current champ, doesn't take too much away. Although only Silva can say for sure.

So this is just the main event ladies and gentlemen. Other notables would include Rua vs Te Huna, which probably wont go the distance (understatement of the day) and perennial fan favorite, Pat Barry, who can leg kick you into a ambulance.

And last but not least...if there was one and only reason to catch all of these amazing fights, its FREE! Check you local listings for UFC Fight Night 33 on Fox Sports 1. With prelims airing on Fox Sports 2.

Catch ya later fight fans...don't hurt anyone and be safe.

Jay Z's personal ranking of his own Albums

 

1. Reasonable Doubt (Classic)
2. The Blueprint (Classic)
3. The Black Album (Classic)
4. Vol. 2 (Classic)
5. American Gangster (4 1/2, cohesive)
6. Magna Carta (F***wit, Tom Ford, Oceans, Beach, On the Run, Grail)
7. Vol. 1 (Sunshine kills this album... f***... Streets, Where I'm from, You Must Love Me...)
8. BP3 (Sorry critics, it's good. Empire (Gave Frank a run for his money))
9. Dynasty (Intro alone...)
10. Vol. 3 (Pimp C verse alone... oh, So Ghetto)
11. BP2 (Too many songs. F***ing Guru and Hip Hop, ha)
12. Kingdom Come (First game back, don't shoot me)

 

I know I'm a day late (but never a dollar short) with my 2 cents on this. Sue me.  :) Anywho, for those of you who didn't know or didn't care, Shawn Carter celebrated his 44th birthday yesterday (December 4th).  He took to his blog, Life+Times, to personally rank each of his solo projects.  Being a fellow Hip Hopper and Huge Jay Z fan myself, I found the listing and brief snippets of introspection on each one a nice added touch.  In my opinion I would rank it a little differently.  The Black album to me is like my blueprint.  The track order, the intro, the outro... man it's glorious.  That being said, the first blueprint is right behind it.  Reasonable Doubt would come in at number three (blasphemy, whatever).  I know I will be hated for this BP3 is 4th for me.  I love the production and the conciseness of it.  Magna Carta would be my number 5 and American Gangster is slotted 6th. Everything else is in it's proper place after that haha.  The only way Kingdom Come isn't ranked last is if we include all his projects in which case Best of Both Worlds (yeuch) is dead effing last.  K, I'm done rambling. 

 

PS.. I had the honor of attending the Magna Carter (the tour changed it to "Carter") on November 30th.  Spectacular.  The man puts on such a great show.  Also I had great seats by virtue of a good friend (here's lookin' at you Lindsay).  If you can catch this show, please do.  Until next time, IT'S THE ROC!



The Nike Kobe 9 Has Been Revealed + My Thoughts

Press Release:

Nike, the world’s leading basketball brand, today unveiled the much-anticipated KOBE 9 Elite shoe at an event held at The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles. The KOBE 9 Elite redefines the aesthetics and performance of a basketball shoe and was designed using Nike Flyknit according to Nike’s “Nature Amplified” design ethos, an approach focused on designing for the body in motion and fueled by scientific data and athlete insights.

“We are just scratching the surface of the potential of Nike Flyknit to transform the way we design shoes to meet athletes’ needs," said Mark Parker, President & CEO of NIKE, Inc. "The Kobe 9 redefines the basketball shoe by combining power, strength, and flexibility with lightweight materials and a whole new method of manufacturing.”

THE MASTERPIECE:

Designed with Kobe’s tech insights and design inspirations, the KOBE 9 Elite features three key technologies: Nike Flyknit, Flywire and Lunarlon, giving the shoe superior lightweight performance. The innovative design enhances the foot’s natural movements while providing Kobe with strength, durability and speed, plus all the benefits of natural motion where he needs it most.

"I draw inspiration from where I am as a player, as a person, and where my career is at this moment. I'm trying to do something that the majority of people think is impossible to do," Kobe reflected when asked about the inspiration for his latest shoes and about getting back into the game. "I let my emotions out when I step on the basketball floor, it’s always been my escape, and these shoes will touch a nerve on the court in the same way I do."

Nike Flyknit – which was first used in Nike Running shoes in 2012 – defies conventional shoe manufacturing processes by creating a one-piece engineered upper made from single strands of yarns. Lightweight yet incredibly strong, it has redefined sports shoe technology and comes to basketball for the first time in the KOBE 9 Elite.

“Nike Flyknit acts as a second skin for Kobe, giving him engineered strength similar to the design of a spider web – tension and strength just where it’s needed,” said Eric Avar, Nike Creative Director and VP of Innovation, who has worked closely with Kobe on his shoe designs for a decade."

Reverting back to a higher cut for the first time since his third signature shoe in 2007, Kobe’s ninth signature shoe features a knit collar for the proprioceptive feel of a low-top with the support of a mid-top. With the lead colorway dubbed ‘Masterpiece,’ the KOBE 9 Elite uses the intriguing visual patterns allowed by Nike Flyknit to create a piece of art on the upper, nine red embroidered details on the heel give a nod to Kobe’s Achilles sutures. The design on the outsole is based on the pressure mapping of Kobe’s own foot, creating a beautiful pattern while providing traction on court.

DYNAMIC FIT:

Nike Flyknit and Flywire technologies are a one-two punch, leading to a dynamic fit for Kobe’s intricate footwork.

-The single layer Nike Flyknit creates a seamless engineered upper that is the ultimate in superior lightweight performance integrating areas of high breathability, stretch and support where it’s needed most.

-Nike Flywire technology is strong yet dynamic for lockdown through the midfoot; its cables loosen and tighten with the natural motion of the foot.

-The carbon fiber heel counter provides strong and lightweight lateral stability when moving from side to side, while the heel remains stable.

RESPONSIVE RIDE:

Eliminating bulk and distraction was a focus for Avar. The idea of ‘simplifying without compromise’ helped shape the design of the KOBE 9 Elite.

-Nike Lunarlon cushioning insert provides responsive cushioning that keeps the foot connected to the court.

-The pressure mapping designed, minimal rubber outsole delivers durable traction and mimics the natural contours of the foot.

DESIGN WITH A PURPOSE:

Nike Flyknit technology introduces a new way to construct a shoe upper by knitting strands of yarn. Nike Flyknit is better for the planet because it drastically reduces waste and materials from typical upper construction. The KOBE 9 Elite upper reduces waste by nearly 50% compared to traditional high-top basketball shoes that use multiple segments and cuts of material in the construction process.

My Thoughts:

They look like boxing shoes....and I am OK with that, While this is by far the most outrageous design of any "Nike" Kobe sneaker, it seemingly transitions the shape of his past signatures while creating its own path in the process. In fact they are releasing ALL of his old Nike sneakers in a limited addition "Pack" (I'll post that later) leading up to the release of the 9. From what I understand the high ankle support was not due to his injury which makes sense as these are typically designed years in advance. It does however seem pretty convenient that its there after such a major accident involving his torn Achilles. I would also like to note that these are being branded as an elite model. This explains the higher price point as there will probably be a low cut inexpensive model releasing sometime later in the season. Stay tuned for more news on this as I will be going over the themes this year in a later post. 

The KOBE 9 Elite releases globally on Feb. 8, 2014, at Nike.com and select global retail locations.

- LeMar

"What You Gettin'?"

So I'm going to start a weekly post w/in the blog here on Tuesdays called (see above haha) where I go over a few books I'm looking forward to.  Feel free to comment w/ what you are drooling over or yell at me for my picks. :) This week is the trial period so to speak.  That being the case, I will keep it kinda short and Marvel centric. SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW!!!

1. Amazing X-Men #2

Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness

If you can't tell by the cover art, NIGHTCRAWLER IS BACK.  Well, kinda.  He's still technically dead.  However Wolverine and Northstar have gotten sucked into "Heaven"?  The story so far is centering on Kurt's (Nightcrawler's given name) Dad Azazel, yes the guy from X-Men First Class, charging headfirst into paradise to wreak havoc.   This book is awesome for a couple of reasons.   One, Nightcrawler.  Nuff' said right?  Two, the return of Firestar.  If you're a child of the 80's/90's VHS Marvel cartoons, you'll know how special it is to see her and Ice-man reunited.  And don't get me wrong, there are other reasons to get amped for this book but those two specifically are cause for confetti.  Jason Aaron has worked wonders on his other ensemble X title so I expect he'll keep the momentum going with this one.  Ed McGuinness is always a treat as well.  Dude knows how to pace a page.  Any who, on to the next one...

2. Inhumanity #1

Matt Kindt, Paul Davidson

 

So not too many casual comic fans know a lot about the Inhumans.  Most people know about Medusa; lady with big hair, Lockjaw; giant teleporting dog and Blackbolt; King of Inhumans/guy who always has to use his six inch voice.  Well, Matt Fraction, the man responsible for turning Hawkeye (Hawkguy if ya nasty) into a MUST BUY and Paul Davidson (He draws Nova reeeeealy well) are out to change the level of awareness. Just in case you're unaware, during the latest Marvel wide event, Invasion, Blackbolt and Maximus the Mad set off a bomb on earth that unlocked the hidden ability in certain people to be an Inhuman.  It's kind of like being a mutant but has the added bonus of a hierarchy.  Plus, any book I can read with Karnak is a plus.  His ability is to see the weak point in any person or structure. AND HE KNOWS MARTIAL ARTS. Haha.  Just me? Whatevs. NEXT!...

 

3. Uncanny Avengers #15

Rick Remender, Steve McNiven

Uncanny Avengers is supposed to be the attempt of Humans (Avengers((discounting Thor)) and Mutants coming together to show unity in the public eye.  So far they've already gotten Pwned by a Xavier powered Red Skull, dealt with team issues (Rogue and Scarlett Witch are totes tiffing) and had to deal with the "Apocalypse Twins"; the spawn of Archangel.  This book has already had beautiful panels done by John Cassaday, Daniel Acuna and Salvador Larroca.  Now Steve McNiven?! Shut up. Take my money. And spend it unwisely.  Not to mention that Rick Remender is carrying on the seeds he planted years ago in his X-force story lines.  The big ticket for this issue is that last week, in #14, it appears that Rogue, Scarlett Witch and Wonder Man all bit the dust.  Being that this current story is heavily rooted in time travel, I don't know how much of this will stick.  Either way, hold on to your butts.



 

Welp! That does it for me ranting your eyes off this week.  Come back often and leave your two cents with us!

 

Spidey 2 Poster Leaked in Las Vegas

So apparently this poster for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was just hanging out in a casino/theater bathroom in Las Vegas.

1st off Sony if you don't want this stuff to leak before your trailer reveal on Dec 5th don't distribute goodies like this to your theater promoters before your huge reveal. 

2nd: It looks as though Sony is going the Ultimate comic route with there Rhino design. Is this because Sony feels that the actual Rhino suit from the 616 Universe/90's spider-man cartoon is to campy for film or is this another case of we are going to mess with the formula you are used to because we can and you will see the film anyway? 

When Amazing Spidey 2 was revealed to the masses I was excited (being a huge spidey fan myself) but then the strange announcements started coming in. Jamie Foxx as Electro, Paul Giamatti as Rhino and some no name as Norman Osborne (lets also not forget the potential of Mary J Watson being gender swapped). I was uneasy with these decisions as a fan. Not to say that these gentleman cannot handle the acting chops (its a comic book movie acting usually isn't a factor but nice when good acting actually happens: See The Avengers for proof.) but I just found them to be odd choices. Why Jamie Foxx an Oscar winner as Electro who is 3rd tier Villain at best. Wouldn't he better suited in a larger role (shoot I would have settled for him as Kraven the Hunter)? Maybe I am looking into this too deeply but I can't help it I am a fanboy when it comes to these films and the venom portrayal in spidey 3 still has a piece of my soul and not in a good way. 

In Closing I guess my biggest fear is the spider-man 3 syndrome. To many villains on screen at one time and a story that is all over the place because of it. I hope I am wrong in my feelings because what I have seen so far has me intrigued. Especially since there has been talk of this leading to the Sinister Six teaming up against Mr. Parker in the next film...May 2nd will be the judge of this rebooted franchises potential. Until then my spidey sense is tingling.

Sound off let us/me know how you feel....

-Shawn Michael