Forget what you've heard before about the next Playstation not being in current development, Sony's VP and CFO Masaru Kato has stated otherwise. When speaking to investors today, a question came to light regarding an increase in research and development costs that was prominent in Sony's most recent financial report. Kato responded by saying, “For the home equipment the PS3 still has a product life, but this is a platform business, so for the future platform – when we’ll be introducing what product I cannot discuss that – but our development work is already under way, so the costs are incurred there.”
There are a handful of films released a given year that share similar traits and remotely follow the same premise as I Am Number Four. It’s put together like a collage of various bits and pieces blatantly ripped off from other stories to create a movie everyone has witnessed already. A far judgment would be putting the blame on the book I Am Number Four was based on but that’s too easy. Instead the culprit responsible for making such a hacked attempt at originality is none other than the film’s director, D.J. Caruso. Once a promising director who helmed well-made films resembling The Salton Sea, and Disturbia; Caruso has gone way off course when it comes to sticking with a story and letting it flow naturally. Eagle Eye was a prime example of a director out of control and I Am Number Four is another addition to that superfluous category.
As inevitable as it is having a bunch of new television shows debut in a given year is expecting that more than three quarters of them will be canceled before the season comes to an end. It's the natural order of things, with only a handful of shows surviving and an even smaller percentage with healthy growing ratings. This year a ton of shows got axed, more than usual, with an equal amount of new and old programs getting booted off the air. Today, all the networks announced the full lineup of the television shows that will not be returning for another season on their respective channels. The list includes an assortment of shows, some lucky enough to get this far (Brothers and Sisters/ Smallville), unlucky time slot victims, (Perfect Couples), critic darlings (The Chicago Code) and the over budgeted (Law and Order: LA). Take a look below and see if there are any genuine surprises or feelings of sadness for the cut programs that will be joining the ever popular television dumping ground of former canceled shows. Any specific favorites?
It's odd how rare and unexpected female comedies are nowadays, with Judd Apatow's R-rated stamp on every joke, and bro-mance films like The Hangover raking in millions, women are usually never the prominent lead in anything remotely funny. Sure Tina Fey is around, but her style of humor is more sensible and playfully witty compared to resorting to utter swear words in an uncontrollable manner.
The only actress now with the talent to step foot in R-rated territory and come out looking good would have to be SNL alumni Kristen Wiig. Her solid track record of cameos and small roles in films for the last two years has always generated laughter and her time on television has made her a prominent force in comedy. Truth be told, without Wiig, SNL would lose its momentum and suffer a crippling lose that's only happened in the past when the likes of Will Ferrell or Jimmy Fallon left the show
Development for a video game always leads to complications and unexpected delays, usually for the better of the overall product. In the case of Brink, high expectations were initially announced in 2010 by developers at Splash Damage, about crafting a first person shooter that would stand apart from the generic mold crowding the shelves at retail stores. Early screenshots and details revolving around Brink were scant, but two things stood out above anything else: the distinctive visuals and the well touted S.M.A.R.T movement system. This, along with the fact that the game was being made from talented multiplayer driven developers, made Brink a hot and mysterious commodity. That however all took place last year, and before multiple delays that forced it into the 2011 schedule. This year more and more footage from the game was released, showcasing everything it originally promised and apparently, nothing more.
Surely, there was more to the game than just running around maps in parkour fashion, shooting enemies while completing mundane objectives, right? Well, it’s the summer of 2011 and Brink has finally been released, so it’s time to find out if those delays were worth something or if it was just a waste of time for an inevitably doomed game.
Crysis 2 proved to be a hit for both its single and multiplayer components. The online chaos standing out amongst the shooter crowd, not for being unique but more of a polished and well-groomed experience overall. EA plans on keeping things fresh for fans by unleashing a new map pack for download called Retaliation, on May 17th for the 360, PC and Ps3 (when the online is fixed that is). A new video was released showing rampant action across the levels, which paints a pretty picture of what to expect once gamers are set loose upon the battlefield. Each map (Park Avenue, Transit, Shipyard and Compound)looks the part visually and fits perfectly with the Nanosuit's various abilities, especially the effective jump stomp for vertical attempts at killing opponents. The Retaliation Pack maps will be available for each game mode and judging from the video below, it looks like DLC that's worthwhile, until the price is discovered.
Square Enix has just made all Hitman fans extremely happy with the announcement of a new game in the series being released sometime next year on the PC, PS3 and 360. Hitman Absolution is the suitably chosen title, with developers IO Interactive bringing back Agent 47 and his trusty fiber wire after a long video-game absence. A new teaser trailer is also included for 47's new unveiling, appearing as sinister as previous Hitman trailers did.
Duke Nukem Forever just got sillier, which is saying a lot for a game that gives you the ability to piss in a urinal for no apparent reason. A new video has been released, demonstrating the importance of how bigger isn't always better. It appears to be footage from the campaign, with Duke stepping on portals that minimize his size and has him kicking ass in various ways. The level itself looks like a museum of some sorts, including comical acts of violence in a kitchen. The enemies throwing ketchup containers across the room fits the hysteria and mayhem of the game perfectly. Duke himself also wields a weapon that shrinks his enemies, allowing him to finish them off in killing blow by stomping on their miniature body. The weapon has been confirmed for use in the multiplayer as well, which can only lead to amusing opportunities for you to crush opponent's spirits, literally. Even if the game looks a little rough around the edges, it's hard to deny the appeal of nostalgia in Duke Nukem Forever, keeping its outrageous humor and old-fashioned gameplay fully intact. We'll have to wait and see if it's been worth the wait when it arrives on the PS3, 360, and PC next month.
At 63, Arnold Schwarzenegger is still a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood, even after his absence from the big screen due to his years as the Governator. He's in a negotiations for a huge financial deal to star in Cry Macho, an adaptation of the 1975 novel by N. Richard Nash. Apparently Schwarzenegger will be paid $10 million upfront as well as 25% first dollar gross to top it off. Filmmaker Al Ruddy has bought the screenplay and director Brad Furman is at the helm, he describes Cry Macho as "The Ransom Of Red Chief meets Ruthless People with the heartbreak of Paper Moon."
Gamespot has released two new videos for Red Faction: Armageddon, showing off the pre-order goodies in the game that certainly pack a punch or two. The first is the Commando Pack, it's available via Gamestop and features an armored suit along with two guns: the laser pistol and plasma thrower. The next video is Bestbuy's pre-order content, the Recon pack, which also includes a new uniform that resembles a Sith Lord from the Star Wars series, kind of creepy. The two guns the Recon Pack contains are the XNG-5000 and the arc welder, with the former looking especially devastating. Armageddon releases on June 7 in the US and June 10 in Europe for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
