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Fallout Online Beta Registration is Up and Active.

Written by: Corey Scanlan

Interplay's much anticipated Fallout MMO has recently set up it's website to allow people to register for the beta. Despite the fact this beta might not start for a few years, it's never too early to show Interplay just how much the community supports them. This news along with the ever approaching release of Star Wars Old Republic has been preparing me to lose my social life I've built post-WoW. If you want to sign-up for the beta, head on over to www.fallout-on-line.com and join the masses of the post-apocalyptic.

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Batman and Tom Cruise Teaming Up?

Written By: Jeffrey Giorgi

Not exactly, but the rumor is that when MI4: Ghost Protocol hits IMAX theaters this december an 8 minute prologue to The Dark Knight Rises will be attached.  I’m sure everyone remembers that the first 6 minutes of The Dark Knight, a.k.a the bank heist, were attached to I am Legend.

I had planned on seeing the Mission Impossible movie regardless if for no other reason than that impressive stunt in Dubai.  Now though, that this is added to the IMAX presentation I may have to pony up and pay the extra cash for the IMAX version.  Sigh, the life of a fan.

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I'm Batman

`

Written By: Jeffrey Giorgi

I picked up my copy of Arkham City last night at midnight, came home, popped it in my Xbox 360 and proceeded to be completely awestruck.  I'm serious, the opening of this game is just superb.  Once that awesome set piece is finished with and you finally step foot into Arkham City, prepare to just be completely overwhelmed.  This game is huge.

Anyone following the game in the months leading up to it's release no doubt knows that the world size is roughly five times as big as Arkham Asylum.  That's all good and dandy, but this is a world not just five times bigger than the original, but packed with more side quests and Riddler challenges than I know what to do with.  

There be no spoilers here, but let's just say within the first hour of the game I've met multiple villains not even mentioned in all the previews, and their stories aren't even part of the overall quest.  I'm sitting in a class right now, dedicated to comic books, and the sole discussion is Arkham City... why am I not home playing right now?

I did have to sleep a little bit last night, but i've already put in well over seven hours into the game.  When I went to save it before heading to class, I checked my overall progress—four percent.  Dear sweet baby Jesus this game is gonna be amazing.

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Happy Arkham City Day :)

The Geeks Geeking Out team!

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Quick Snippits about cool things!

I don’t even know where to begin.  I haven’t written in so long because I’ve been so  busy, and worst of all soooooooo many things have come to pass that just need to be at least mentioned. 

 I think I’m just gonna go off the top of my head because otherwise I’ll build lists and things will be all organized and stuff and I’d rather this just come across more natural and all that jazz and now I’m just rambling.

  For starters, holy crap, CW programming is coming to Netflix, which also dropped that stupid Qwikster thing.  I mean I already own every season of Smallville and Supernatural, which are some of my favorite all time shows.  But the CW also has come out with new programs that have peaked my interest, namely Nakita, and thanks to a friend The Vampire Diaries.  Now I’ll be able to watch em all.  Also, Idk if you guys have noticed but AMC programming has made its way to the streaming giant, so get your walking dead and Breaking Bad on.

  Oh man, how bout that Avengers trailer huh?  I’ll be honest though, until the very end I wasn’t satisfied.  If they had once again teased footage of that movie and not given me a shot of the Hulk I would have cried foul and torn the Hollywood studios down.  And I mean come on… what do you guys think that alien menace is gonna be?  Can you say SKRULLS!!!!!

  Speaking of Menace they released the poster for the 3D re-release of Star Wars The Phantom Menace, and Darth Maul gets all the attention.  You know who doesn’t… Jar Jar Binks, thank jeebus.

  I’m forgetting so many things I just know it, but I’ll just have to do better to make sure I post regularly and always the freshest things. 

Geek Out People!

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Disney Keeps the 3D Classics Coming!

Written by: Allison Nemcosky

Thank you, Simba. Following "The Lion King 3D"’s $80 million success, Disney announced they will also release fan favorites, “Beauty and the Beast,” “Finding Nemo,” “Monsters Inc.” and “The Little Mermaid” in 3D on the big screen. 

  These fan favorites will released throughout the next two years, starting with “Beauty and the Beast” in January. “Finding Nemo” will be released in September 2012, “Monsters Inc.” in January 2013, and finally, “The Little Mermaid” in September 2013. 

  Alan Bergman, president of Walt Disney Studios, said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D –- and in the case of younger generations, for the first time on the big screen.”

Can I get an amen? 

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"We made the buttons on the screen look so good you'll want to lick them."

When Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO of Apple I think that the last thing people were thinking was that he would be parting this world just a short time later.

 "We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.  Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts." 

The above statement is from a statement from Apples board of directors.  You can read more about it here.

What I remember most about Mr. Jobs is that he created Pixar, the company responsible for a film I still love with every ounce of my being, "Toy Story."

I feel kind of bad in retrospect about making jokes about the iphone 4s.  Say what you will for the war between mac and p.c., the world lost an innovator today.  

Rest Easy Mr. Jobs

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"Arrested Development" returns!

Written by: Allison Nemcosky 

""Arrested Development" creator Mitch Hurwitz announced today that the show will be coming back to television -- five years after it was cancelled. 

Hurwitz said the show will do a "limited" season which will show us what the characters have been up to since the show last aired ... which will then lead right into the planned movie."

The plans are for a 10'ish episode spinoff series featuring each character. No word yet on when the show will air. Frozen banana, anyone? 

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Webcam Soars to New Heights

Written by: Allison Nemcosky 

I’ll keep this short and sweet: The world's highest webcam has just been turned on at 29,029 feet in the air, revealing the western side of Mount freaking Everest. The camera geek in me has a new reason to climb this mountain... I gotta see this epic camera. It has be pretty tough to withstand that harsh environment/occasional abominable snowman. 

Check it out HERE!

Keep in mind, "The webcam is only active during the daylight hours of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Nepalese time, with images updated every five minutes to allow the researchers to track the movement of the clouds around the mountain summit." 

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Just because it's still that AWESOME

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Why the "Mortal Kombat" reboot matters.

Written By: Jeffrey Giorgi

Kombatants rejoice!!!  Today it was officially announced that New Line Cinema is officially rebooting the Mortal Kombat franchise with director Kevin Tancharoen at the helm. 

 Anyone who saw the short film “Mortal Kombat: Rebirth” knows that this guy is fully prepared to take the franchise in the direction it needs to head.  The short had over ten million views on Youtube and while that wasn’t enough to get the green light for a full length release, it did yield the Mortal Kombat web series that received over 50 million unique viewers. 

 Ok, now that all of that “news worthy” stuff is done with, I want to talk about why this franchise not only still matters, but how it alos has the ability to revitalize the action genre.

 In 1995, a then relatively unknown director named Paul W. S. Anderson made his feature length debut with “Mortal Kombat.”  The film was a huge financial success, raking in over 70 million in box office sales.  The film was fantastic.  Wonderfully choreographed fight scenes, characters who matched their video game counterparts, and a pretty decent cast, including a scene chewing Christopher Lambert as Lord Raiden, all made for one hell of a movie.  The only drawback is that the film was PG-13. 

Still Pretty Badass To Me

 This new film aims to have a heavy R rating, which gets me all kinds of tingly with excitement.  I must’ve watched that Rebirth short about 5 times.  It was gritty, it was real, it was violent.  It was all the things I want from a great action film, but it wasn’t Mortal Kombat.  Yeah sure the characters were there by name, but that was about it.  So when the “Legacy” web series was released, and I saw that Tancharoen also had a grasp on the mythology and lore of the “Mortal Kombat” universe, I knew that this man had to make the movie. 

 More importantly than all of that though is the potential this film has in general.  The action movie of yesteryear is gone.  With wallet busting budgets, and everyone screaming or more explosives, gone are the films that relied heavily on fight scenes and personal combat.  Now it’s all stylized with glitz and quick camera cuts.  While I’m not saying it’s impossible for the studio to just completely miss the ball with MK, I am saying that it would be hard to make a movie about a fighting tournament without a massive amount of fighting. 

 With “Resident Evil” and “Silent Hill” being the few exceptions, Mortal Kombat should also undoubtedly be the most violent movie we’ve seen based off of a video game.  This is another one of those, this matters because moments.  There aren’t a lot of top tier video games out there anymore that fit the Teen rating anymore.  Games like “Gears of War” and “God of War” are both overly violent video games that are just begging Hollywood to option them out to the silver screen.  If “Mortal Kombat” goes as hard into the R rating territory as I think it’s going to, and turns a profit, I can almost guarantee studios will give the go ahead for any projects that they may have trepidations about.

So Many Possible Fatalaties

 More than any of this though, I think that the reason this matters so much is because it happened because of us, the fans.  The “Rebirth” short wasn’t even intended to be viewed by audiences.  But it was, and we made it a huge deal.  We showed support and studios listened.  Then we got “Legacy.”  We kept watching, begging for more, and again the studio listened.  It’s so rare that you hear a story where success has been based off of word of mouth, and the declaration of approval from it’s biggest fans. 

 Make no mistake though friends, the battle isn’t over yet.  We cannot simply quit now and say, my job is over.  Now more than ever our role as fans matters.  We have to continue to support the projects we love.  We have to continue to show that our voices matter.  And we have to continue whippin’ our friends butts in “Mortal Kombat” till the movie comes out.  Man, I so cannot wait... FINISH HIM!!!!!

BTW you can check out the first episode of MK: Legacy by clicking the image below.

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“We don’t see ourselves as a PC developer – we see ourselves as a game developer. It’s just that the games that we wanted to make suit the PC platform,”

Jay Wilson, Game Director

Blizzard

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The "Diablo III" Controller Experiment

Written By: Alex Keleher

Recently confirmation came from Blizzard that they’re currently experimenting with console versions of their newest installment in the popular action RPG series Diablo.

Diablo III will no doubt be one of the biggest hits of next year. After years of waiting for the third installment of a series that helped define the genre, the day fans have been waiting for is almost upon us.  But will an Xbox for example, be a worthy portal to take you to Tristram?

For me the answer lies with the developer. Blizzard has been making near perfect games for years, they have such an incredible attention to detail I would be surprised if it allowed for a slip up.  The transition to or from a console is a dangerous undertaking for any company, especially one known for its PC only masterpieces. To help make this transition a possible reality Blizzard has chosen the right franchise to lead the charge, selecting Diablo over Starcraft and Warcraft.

An action RPG is more suited to consoles than say the incredibly competitive Starcraft II, where the ability to have many key bindings and the precision of a mouse is important.

If this console version works out maybe we’ll hear more as we approach the glorious launch date, otherwise expect Blizzard to keep very quiet… as usual. 

To read the article in full click here.

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you are getting a follow just for that Office post. fantastic writing.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read it and for the compliment!  Hopefully you'll enjoy our future blogs as well :)

Allison

Geeks Geeking Out

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After 10 Years, Who Wouldn't Change?

Written By: Jeffrey Giorgi

Blink 182's new album dropped today.  I typically don't feel the desire to review albums.  What is there really to say?  

"Oh man, this songs really good."  Or perhaps, "Welp, this sure does suck."  

The language in describing a persons feelings in regard to a specific records sound is extremely difficult to convey in a way that will appeal to others.  I get movie reviews.  I get television reviews.  I'll never understand album reviews though.

What I will say is this...

Blink 182 was one of those bands that helped pave the way for where my musical interests would go.  They opened the flood gates for me and bands like New Found Glory, NOFX, AFI and countless others came rushing at me.  When I pushed play on Blink’s new album “Neighborhoods,” I knew the band that helped shape me was no more—but that doesn’t mean that the one who showed up in their place is terrible.

 When the band parted ways in 2004 my heart sank.  You could literally hear the melancholy on their last single “Not Now.”  Since that time we’ve had two albums from the Tom Delonge lead Angels & Airwaves, as well as one album from Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker’s +44.  I’m a fan of both bands for separate reasons, which is probably why I don’t hate what they’ve put out since teaming back up. 

I miss the old you, but I don't hate the new!

This isn’t Blink 182 anymore, this is +44 with A&A doing a collaboration c.d.  Tom’s voice is still ghostly and carries the echo that has become synonymous with A&A.  The music is edgier and more erratic which was all over +44’s album.  Just listen to the first single, “Up All Night.”  You’ll hear exactly what I’m talking about and that’s pretty much how it goes for the rest of the record.

 You’re not going to find any “All The Small Things” or “Dammit’s” here.  But I get.  These aren’t the same guys they were ten years ago when I was an angst-riddled teen jamming out to them.  Likewise, I’m also not that same kid anymore.  People change, they grow up.  But as fans we’re so reluctant to change.  I feel like if you just put those 16-year-old-self expectations away and just listen to the album you’re going to realize that Blink isn’t making music for kids anymore.  They’re making it for the kids that grew up with them; they’re making music for everyone who’s just as lost, late in life, as they themselves are.

 As I scroll through my Itunes, I realize that out of all the bands I grew up with, only about five still make music, and only two of them still make good music.  I was so nervous and excited when Blink finally announced their new album, and as I listen to it for the fourth time, my nerves have all but dissipated.  All I’m left with now is excitement.  I hope this is just the first in a line of new albums from my very first punk rock heroes.  Long live Blink 182!

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The Office: Fallen from Grace?

Written By: Allison Nemcosky

You will have difficulty finding a bigger fan of The Office than myself. I have been there from the beginning. Since the US premiere in 2005, I have enjoyed Michael Scott’s awkwardness, Jim and Pam’s predating roller coaster, Dwight’s intense wackiness, Andy’s dance moves, Creed’s creepiness, Kevin’s charming lack of common sense, Oscar's common sense, Stanley’s crossword puzzles and unexpected outbursts, Meredith’s drunkenness, Phyllis’ motherly sweetness, Angela’s short temper, Ryan’s “temp”-ness, Kelly’s endless knowledge of popular culture, and Toby... poor Toby. From the characters up in corporate, down to the warehouse workers, and everyone in-between, The Office has one of the most lovable and relatable casts to ever grace our television screens. There has, however, been a dramatic shift in the show during these recent seasons. For better or worse... unfortunately, I’m thinking worse. This is a very bitter pill to swallow, but swallow it I shall do.

    If you’ve kept reading this far into my blog, you are most likely a fan of the show, or at least aware of its existence. We all loved those early seasons where it felt like, literally, anything ridiculous could happen at any moment. I know I’m not the only fan who has felt the recent seasons, The Office has become stale, less funny, forced, and less organic. Let’s try to figure out why:

   First off, the characters have evolved almost too much for my taste. In the beginning, everybody hated Michael for his borderline raciest and rude remarks to his employees. Remember how hard Jim tried to keep Michael out of the loop when he had his party? (Email Surveillance, season 2, episode 9). In recent seasons, Jim and Michael are working and thriving together. A far cry from Jim’s early laziness, which a lot of people could relate to. 

  One of the biggest changes for me happened right when Jim and Pam said, “I do.” (but their wedding episode was one of my favorites ^_^). Before Jim and Pam started dating in season 4, their friendship and crush were so relatable. We could all relate with Pam, the shy girl who likes the guy, but is too afraid to make the first move. And we could relate to Jim, the caring guy who was secretly in love with someone he couldn’t have (yet). The tap-dancing around their blossoming relationship kept a LOT of fans watching. 

   This was one of my favorite story arcs. The two seemed to take one step forward, and then two steps back. We all wanted, nay, NEEDED these two to get together. Once they finally did, Office fans rejoiced. But.... where did we go from there? The victory was won. The battle was difficult, but PB&J came out victorious. Usually, when two popular characters finally get together, their fandom excitement quickly diminishes. Just look at Ron and Hermione... they finally kiss, bam. Series is over. Or even Lilly and Oliver from Hannah Montana (yeah, I went there). Michael left with his true love, Holly; their story arcs end. Once romance is achieved, it’s usually downhill. The Office did a great job at keeping the Jim and Pam story going though. Their wedding was a hit, their child being born was great, but now... *spoiler alert* they have a second bun in the oven. (Partially because Jenna Fischer is preggos in real life). There is nowhere else for these characters to go. And how many episodes do they need revolving around their baby? And because their life is so great right now, it just makes me and other fans feel more pathetic toward our own romantic lives. 

                                    I could go on and on about character development. Ryan went from being the semi-slacker temp, to the mega hipster. I didn’t really see this one coming. 

 Kelly went from a quiet, underwritten character in the first few seasons, to a blossoming social butterfly. These changes aren’t necessarily bad things, but it shows that producers have to explore other options to keep the show fresh. Sometimes it doesn't work, but sometimes it does.

   Another thing: in the early seasons, most of the dramas and conflicts started in the office setting and we saw the implications reflected when corporate got involved, i.e. Michael does something stupid and a pissed Jan Levinson-Gould comes in to fix the situation. In recent episodes, most of the office dramas and conflicts are a direct result from something going on in corporate, i.e. Sabre comes into the picture. We went from problems starting inside and going out, to problems starting outside and coming into the office. With the Michael verses Jan conflict out of the picture, I have no real sense of, “Ohhh they shouldn’t be doing that. They are going to get in so much trouble.” We identified with Michael when he got in trouble for having fun. But having fun and pulling pranks in the office appears to be getting more difficult. 

   Another problem I’m noticing, the fourth wall (aka the TV screen between the characters and the audience) is getting less and less transparent. Before, it felt like I was right there in the office with these people, laughing at something hilarious that just went down. Characters would even look at the camera with a smirk or worried expression, almost acknowledging the fans existence. But now, instead of being inside the office laughing with these characters, I feel like they locked me outside the room and I’m peeking inside through a little window, offering a unenthusiastic chuckle every now and then. 

  My Office Rant: This show has gone off the deep end. It took me seasons and years of buildup to finally see and appreciate Jim and Pam together, get married and have a child. During the season premiere last week, *spoil alert* we learned that Pam is pregnant again, Angela is pregnant, the CEO is replaced by a wiseass, and Andy is now in charge of the Scranton branch... ALL within the first five minutes. Ummmm. Why are producers developing this story so fast? In early seasons, there was honesty in their episodes about boring, day to day stuff, like diversity day, safety awareness day, picking out healthcare plans, and office parties. But then Dwight bought the office building and put a corn maze in the parking lot? And they sell printers now too? And Jim and Michael were both co-regional managers? And Darrell has his own office upstairs? Isn’t that the nerfy life he made fun of a few seasons before? Very rapidly, the show lost a ton of realism for me. I think Steve left the show right before it exploded into flames. 

 But hey, I'll still watch it, just because I'm a shameless Office geek. Who knows where the show will end up or how long it will last. If the worst does happen and this downward spiral continues, at least fans can re-watch the classic episodes on DVD. 

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I’m all about viral marketing, especially for the found footage sub-genre of horror.  With “Paranormal Activity” taking over as reigning horror champ around Halloween you knew it would just a matter of time before their ad campaign kicked in.  

The clip comes via bloody-disgusting.com.  The site reports that the clip was received in the mail via vhs tape and a vcr.  Anyone familiar with the “Paranomal Activity” series knows that this one goes back in time so the vhs thing not only makes sense,but it’s freaking genius and has me… geeking out.