Category: Home Entertainment

Evaluating The Yoda Chronicles Trilogy, DVD Review & More

lego-star-wars-yoda-chronicles-dvdWhen news of Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles (TYC) was first announced, some fans of this licensed property were particularly excited. Details were scant about whether or not this will become a TV series or a series of original video animations. After the release of “The Phantom Clone,” its direction has become all too clear. Only a handful of episodes will get made.

Sadly, after the airing of “Menace of the Sith,” the studios dispassionately released the DVDYoda Chronicles on October 15 and did not take into account when the final episode would get aired. Only two of the three videos are included and that can leave fans disappointed, hoping for a compilation release. The third episode, “Attack of the Jedi” aired on October 7th on Cartoon Network. Hopefully the next video release will include “The Padawan Menace” (TPM) and “The Empire Strikes Out” (TESO) to restore fans’ faith in the Force (i.e. studio planning). These shorts were far more brilliant and witty than TYC. Even the cut scenes from TT Games products had a beautiful tongue in cheek attitude that more or less started this craze.

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YouTube: The Ultima-te Video

My role in Ultima Online was what can best be described as an addict.

Ultima Online LOGOSomewhere around the year of 1997 or 1998 I discovered a massive online game called Ultima Online. It was a huge hit at the time but I’m hard pressed today to find anyone of the new gaming generation who knows what I’m talking about.

Based off the Ultima series of PC games, Ultima Online was the creation of an eccentric nerd by the name of Richard Garriott, Lord British to his friends. Garriott went on to bigger and better things after the creation of Ultima but we’re not here to give his life story.

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Akihabara Featured in PS3 Release

akiba3If you can’t afford to go to Akihabara in real life then I guess the next best thing is being there digitally. And that is what is possible with an upcoming PS3 release.

Akiba’s Trip 2 is an adventure game sequel from the original Playstation Portable (PSP) release of 2011. In this sequel, much as the original, the protagonist has to save Tokyo from blood sucking demons. The demons appear as normal people but only the player’s special cell phone, called Mirror Snap, can let you tell the evil beings from the innocents.akiba2

Once revealed the player will have to engage in close combat until the demon in question is weakened. And the only way to truly kill a blood sucking demon is by stripping them of their clothes, exposing them to sunlight and killing them.

We learn from recent reports that real Akihabara stores such as Karaoke Adores, Tsukumo, Dear Stage, Sutadonya and Go Go Curry are featured in the game.

Akiba’s Trip 2 will be released in Japan on November 7, 2013 for the PS Vita and PS3.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuOoojciZGA&w=420&h=315]

Source(s): YouTube user AcquireVideoOfficial, GadgetFreak, Giant Bomb and Gematsu.

A Dragon Fan’s Commentary: Finding more than a Human in a Race to Fireworm Island

But the key defining detail in Race to Fireworm Island is in further showing what Snotlout’s relationship is like with his dad, Spitelout.

Hiccup & SnotloutNot since “Thawfest” has there been another episode that looks at the home life of Snotlout Jorgenson, Berk’s most egotistical dragon rider. In “Race to Fireworm Island,” his demeanor is explored. His rivalry and hostility towards Hiccup came to a head in the episode “Defiant One” and there were times where he tried to prove himself to be better than the boy who will one day be king. Snotlout’s candor is less than noble. Quite often, he just wants recognition for his achievements but what he gets is not quite what he’s hoping for.

For the most part, maybe his attitude is simply a show. Interestingly, he does have affection for his dragon companion. When Hookfang shows signs of being worn out, everyone immediately takes notice but him. But when he finally shows that he has a kind heart, perhaps the surprise is in what kind of sacrifices he’s willing to make to keep his comrade alive.

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Too Much Rovio? Angry Birds goes Grand Theft Auto?

Eventually there will come to be a time where the Angry Birds will no longer be popular.

AngryBirdsGOThe Angry Birds is to Rovio much like the Mario Brothers are to Nintendo. Without a flagship product, neither company can be widely successful. Nintendo can survive because it has a huge product line which is not limited to Mario, Zelda or Donkey Kong. They have many other video games and products to carry this company forward but what about Rovio?

With no surprise, Rovio is copying Nintendo. They are taking these flightless birds and making them mobile with Angry Birds Go! (due out on December 11). Last month had this company release a new iteration of Angry Birds Star Wars II which hardly looked all that exciting.

In what looks like a Mario Cart clone, the next iteration will get these pigs and birds racing. In this case, it’s a downhill racing game and a few unique features will keep this concept fresh. Hasbro’s Telepods toys will allow players to “teleport” new karts into the game. But not everyone will be waving the flag in the end.

Some fans want to see Rovio develop new ideas than to see rehashes of old ideas. They should let the birds take flight and develop a brand new idea.

This company does have other properties that they created games for, but those titles may be one hit wonders. The Croods and Amazing Alex are the only two licensed items featured on Rovio’s website, and there is no sign of any other ideas being offered or listed as in development. To have a company bank on only one property to continue its success is dangerous. Eventually there will come to be a time where the Angry Birds will no longer be popular.

Even the Dead Have Rhythm

There’s a very funny commercial that aired recently and it’s promoting the Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival. The film festival takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia between the dates of October 25 – 27, 2013. It presents every year a collection of recent feature, short, documentary and animated films from the South Asian family of nations: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives.

The commercial is influenced by Michael Jackson’s 1983 Thriller music video directed by John Landis.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGW_NtaatBE&w=560&h=315]

Starring: Arvind Johal, Arsha Tahir, Kaitlyn Adair and Daniel Joseph.

Director: Raj Aheer
Assistant Director: Daniel Joseph
Video Producer: Raj Aheer
Audio Producer: Score Sound
Written by: Daniel Joseph and Raj Aheer
Executive Producers: Daniel Joseph and Raj Aheer

Source(s): YouTube account visaff filmfest