Posted by
Mike Paden
- Friday, February 14, 2014
It's a very special edition of Geek Speak, as we welcome guest Ciji Thornton onto the show. She joins us to discuss her time competing in various video game tournaments including Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Street Fighter. We learn about her roles as a star on series such as WCG: Ultimate Gamer, The Tester, and Robot Combat League. We also ask about her role in breaking gender boundaries in gaming, her tattoos, and how much she likes cats. Check it out in this packed episode of Geek Speak!
"Ciji Thornton: Pro-Gamer & Reality TV Star"
Catch Geek Speak LIVE
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Thursday, February 13, 2014
The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world-renown. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2014 Internet Goddess. This time around we take a look at Round One of the tournament and highlight the contestants. In Bracket 3, we see the vlogger from down under Natalie Tran take on Angie Griffin, and Anna Brisbin tangoing with Jenna Smith. You have until February 28th to vote for Round 1!
Round 1 (B3)
Natalie Tran (YouTube Personality, Writer)
With 335 videos on her YouTube, Natalie has taken the world of vlogging by storm. She debuted on the popular internet site in September of 2006, and is one of the originals with 1.46 million subscribers…yeah, let that number sink in. She has been recognized several times for her creativity and writing ability. One of the most popular individuals in Australia, Tran has been an interview corespondent for many programs as well as tapped for the official launch of YouTube Australia less than a year after her original YouTube video. Natalie Tran has definitely earned her way into the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament.
Angie Griffin (YouTube Personality)
Yours truly was first introduced to Angie in the Screen Team musical parody involving Sesame Street and Katy Perry. Angie has been actively involved with shooting YouTube videos and cosplaying outfits because of the topics they cover. Taking vlogging and parody to a hot nerdy level, Angie Griffin makes her way into the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament.
So my fellow nerds, who's taking this victory? Australian Vlogger Tran or Nerd Princess Griffin?
polls
Round 1 (B2)
BrizzyVoices (YouTube Personality, Voice Actress)
Brizzy your average New York girl, but is better known to the world as BrizzyVoices. This beautiful young YouTuber has over 360,000 subscribers and well over 25 million views for her videos. Her videos span from impressions of The Simpsons to South Park, and to my personal favorite, Pokémon. On top of her fantastic impressions, she has a quirky vlog where she expresses her opinions and shows off some of the neat stuff she owns and does in her spare time. She also goes live every Monday and interacts with her fans, answering questions and occasionally taking voice request from those that watch. There is no doubt in anyone's mind here at Fanboys Anonymous that BrizzyVoices has made her way into the 2014 Internet Goddess Award!
Jeana Smith (YouTube Personality)
Imagine having a significant other where all you did with that person was pull pranks on them and place them on the internet. Jeana Smith gets to live that life. She is the female half of the infamous PrankvsPrank videos that took YouTube by storm. PvP debuted in 2007, and since then Smith and her boyfriend have scored 610,555,000 video views and 4,538,000 subscribers by pranking and embarrassing the hell out of each other in public. The Queen of Pranks has landed herself into the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament!
So Geeks who's advancing? Will the Voice Actress from NY, or will the OG Prankster?
survey software
Check back for more brackets and, as always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and ,of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case an Internet browser—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Posted by
Fellonius Munch
Welcome, fanboys, to another slice of Marvel movie development goodness filled with all the fun facts, intrigue, and Dan Ashley-brand silliness you could possibly want. So, only last night was I scrolling through Tumblr for something to catch my interest (or was I tumbling, hmmm?) when I came across this beautiful little/huge argument about why Black Widow should/should not have her own movie. Naturally, I joined in. Then this morning, I read something else. What's that, Dan? Developments on the possibility of an actual Black Widow movie? Something like that, yes!
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| "All this alien invasion business…I could murder a SodaStream!" |
Despite ex-Russian killer spy lady Natasha Romanoff having appeared in the majority of Marvel Studios' superhero movies since Iron Man, this particular set of developments has only been brought to light since the production of Captain America: The Winter Soldier began. Black Widow has had plenty of opportunities to shine, but fans are still waiting for her to take a big bite out of the Marvel cinematic universe for all it has to offer. It seems that Marvel has been listening.
You see, in The Avengers, she had her moments, but how could her skills as a spy compare to the presence and brute strength of the mighty Thor or the tortured genius and epic rage-quitting tantrums of Dr. Banner/Hulk? Well, we kind of accepted that The Avengers was not her time to shine, and with Joss Whedon's flair for confidently taking his sweet-ass time getting a job done right, we knew that it would only be a matter of time before Black Widow would indeed bite.
We'd have thought that time would be during the events of The Winter Soldier, because that is one sweet couple right there…
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| Next: Gunsmoke by Dolce & Gabbana |
Then again, we haven't even seen the movie yet; and then Cap himself, Mr. Chris Evans, goes and publicly says something like, "Black Widow's whole arc in The Winter Soldier is coming to terms with her history—that she's been a spy, and that spies aren't necessarily trustworthy." Oooh, Cap, you tease!
Well Marvel Studios' production boss, Kevin Feige, went on to say more about when Johansson will really get the opportunity to define her character, and it turns out that our flame-haired Avenger is gradually building towards a big part in Avengers: Age of Ultron. This is what Feige had to say:
We start filming the next Avengers film at the end of March. Widow's part in that is very big. We learn more about her past and more about where she came from and how she became in that film.
Then, throwing the whole damn loaf out there as opposed to just feeding us pond dwellers a few crumbs at a time, Feige said relating to a Black Widow movie:
The notion of exploring that even further in her own film would be great, and we have some development work with that…
Relating to The Winter Soldier also, while on the subject, Feige pointed out that they wanted to change the dynamic of Marvel's cinematic universe with that one film. As I've pointed out before, The Winter Soldier's goal seems to be exchanging some of the past campiness and simplicity of the superhero genre for a darker, more political sort of thriller, which would allow greater space for dramatic growth and character building. Think about how Thor 2 also ended. It's becoming like a sort of Empire Strikes Back phase for Marvel. That makes me wonder what drastic end Age of Ultron will come to.
However, Black Widow isn't Obi Wan (Fury), or Luke Skywalker (Cap). She definitely isn't Solo (Thor), let alone the Wookie (Hulk), and she most certainly is no Leia (short straw, sorry Stark). So where does that leave her? Black Widow could, in truth, have more longevity than any of the other existing Avengers. How?
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| "Coulson, quick question, do penises ever have elbows?" |
One thing that is certain of all current Avengers, they have a stronger bond than that one main-event movie might suggest. Their individual dynamics make each of them a linchpin for the whole group. If one were to leave, it wouldn't destroy the Avengers (maybe more so than in-fighting); however, the overall dynamic would be irreplaceable. When you separate them, though, which characters are bound to intrigue you the most?
"We start filming the next Avengers film at the end of March," said Feige in the latest issue of
Total Film mag'.
"[Black]
Widow's part in that is very big. We learn more about her past and
learn more about where she came from and how she became in that film.
The notion of exploring that even further in her own film would be
great, and we have some development work with that."
Read more at
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/MarvelFreshman/news/?a=94458#usEzOB6ZhbMdS8rT.99
"We start filming the next Avengers film at the end of March," said Feige in the latest issue of
Total Film mag'.
"[Black]
Widow's part in that is very big. We learn more about her past and
learn more about where she came from and how she became in that film.
The notion of exploring that even further in her own film would be
great, and we have some development work with that."
Read more at
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/MarvelFreshman/news/?a=94458#usEzOB6ZhbMdS8rT.9
From what we know (from movies and comic books) Black Widow has more guilt and anger to hide than Hawkeye, and even Banner. As a relative sidekick to either Fury or Cap, she endangers herself more without having a shield to protect her, or superpowers to boost her, and she gets a lot more actual work done. Without her, S.H.I.E.L.D. would probably implode and Steve Rogers would be training up to work at McDonald's. More significantly, as the show's leading lady—and a highly determined one at that—she has yet to break emotionally, or prove just how cold-blooded she really can be, or both.
So what would be the pros of a solo outing for Natasha? For a start, you might want to catch up with Nathan Edmondson's latest comic book take on the character. Black Widow is enjoying some mighty fine success lately, and she deserves it. When she's not following the orders of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Captain America, she stands alone very well.
She's one of few Marvel characters proving that you don't need a healing factor or the ability to shoot fire out of your butt hole to stay on top. In fact, Widow's story is best protrayed as a conflict between light and dark; one where redemption may not be attainable, but where to die trying is sadly the next best thing. Superheroes always get to win in the end and they rarely give up hope, because a guy with superpowers who gives up is a total gimp. Human characters prone to darkness and suffering, though, are capable of greater glory. Put that in your solo movie, if you're really going to make one. An espionage thriller in a world of superheroes and supervillains may be the way forward in a few years' time. The lead of that movie deserves to be a woman and a familiar one at that.
What are the cons of a Black Widow movie after Age of Ultron (or maybe even Avengers 3)? It seems that a lot of Marvel fans want to see other female characters of the Marvel Universe get a chance, while Widow is already set up for life with all her eggs in one basket. I can relate, but Marvel and Disney have plenty room for both. If she does get a solo movie, that's not going to immediately stop there being a Valkyrie, Spider-Girl, or Silver Sable movie, for instance. Some characters are better off in a team effort, and maybe even Black Widow might make that happen, leading to a team-up with Misty Knight in a Heroes for Hire movie!
Yet, mentioning that we have to see her relationship develop with Bucky Barnes (to the point where they were an inseparable duo after Marvel's Fear Itself), if we don't get to see that—and the fact that Winter Soldier was a huge step in her journey towards redemption—the character could have been a huge waste of time altogether. This leads me to the question: will Black Widow also appear in a Winter Soldier movie?
Questions, questions, questions! Sound off, fanboys, and tell me if you'd want to see a standalone Black Widow movie. I personally think Johansson deserves the opportunity for her loyalty over the years. I also think they owe it to Black Widow herself. Comment below and thanks for reading.
Posted by
Eric Minton
- Wednesday, February 12, 2014
From the Vault is an annual series of limited print run card sets, released in late August of each year, that reprint powerful cards from across the 20-year run of Magic: The Gathering trading card expansions. Wizards of the Coast has put out a press release describing this year's From the Vault set. It's called Annihilation, and the theme matches the name:
Harness the savage power of fifteen of the most brutal Magic cards ever unleashed. These limited-edition, black-bordered superweapons are legal in many tournament formats. Sweep the battlefield clean with this powerful arsenal and blast the opposition into oblivion.
Many of these cards are very expensive on the secondary market. While each From the Vault set has had a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $39.95, the combination of extremely small print runs and high demand—generated by the reprinting of glossy foil versions of hard-to-find cards with new art—means that these sets sell out really quickly, even when retailers jack up the price. If you want a copy, your best bet is to arrange a preorder with a reliable retailer.
As to which cards will be in the set, that info has yet to be spoiled. All we have is the brief description above and a dramatic illustration of some sort of magical cyclone. Naturally, the Magic community is theorizing madly as to what cards you'll find in the set. Discussion tends to center around the idea that every card in the set will be a board-sweeper. Others theorize that specific word choices in the set description hint at card names, such as inferring that the phrase "blast the opposition into oblivion" refers to the powerful spells Opposition and Oblivion Stone.
As for my own theories, I figure that while From the Vault: Annihilation will focus on spells with a destructive theme, it'll cover the gamut of detrimental effects, such as targeted removal, global sweepers, and direct damage. I also wouldn't expect it to include any cards reprinted in the last year or two in compilation sets such as Modern Masters or Commander 2013. Here's my list of 15 cards that I'm guessing we'll find here:
All is Dust: The Rise of the Eldrazi set held a number of powerful colorless spells that haunt Magic games to this day. While not as brutal as the three legendary Eldrazi boss monsters, All is Dust is nothing to sneeze at, as it has the potential for a one-sided blowout that destroys all of your opponent's non-land permanents while leaving your key board elements intact.
Armageddon: Wrath of God's badass land-destroying cousin hasn't seen print since Sixth Edition due to a move away from land destruction as a generally un-fun play style. Nonetheless, it's an iconic powerhouse that still sees play, which makes it a perfect fit for a From the Vault set.
Black Sun's Zenith: This standard-defining sorcery from Scars of Mirrodin block can be absolutely brutal, sweeping away even indestructible creatures and then returning to your library to be cast again. It's not as pricey on the secondary market as it was in its heyday, but it's still scary when it hits the table.
Blasphemous Act: Not every card in Annihilation is going to be from really old sets or super expensive on the secondary market. Blasphemous Act is a quirky damage-based sweeper, which makes it more likely to show up than yet another Wrath of God variant.
Child of Alara: This ridiculous multicolored bomb has the potential for lots of recursion or indestructibility shenanigans. It's also a legendary creature, and thus a boon to Commander players looking to try a five-color deck.
Damnation: A powerful black sweeper that's only been printed once so far in 2007's Planar Chaos. Speculation about a Damnation reprint has been rife for years, and the community raged at its absence from the recent Modern Masters set. A set based around big destructive spells seems like its natural home.
Magus of the Disk: Normally I'd expect to find the classic destructive artifact Nevinyrral's Disk in here, but it was reprinted just a few months ago in Commander 2013. However, its cousin, the Magus, is fair game, especially as the set could use a few creatures to break the monotony of sorcery after destructive sorcery.
Merciless Eviction: This spell's flexibility gives it an important place in any collection of sweepers, while the ability to exile rather than destroy makes it all the more dangerous. And then there's its precision. Most notably, Merciless Eviction is the only modal sweeper that can be tuned to hit nothing but planeswalkers.
Mind Twist: An oldie-but-goodie discard spell, Mind Twist can be absolutely backbreaking early- to mid-game. While its dominance has been usurped by narrower spells such as Hymn to Tourach and Thoughtseize, and discard in general isn't quite as effective as it used to be due to graveyard recursion, Mind Twist is still a spell to be reckoned with.
Nemesis of Reason: Okay, I admit that this one is a stretch; but I anticipate that there'll be at least one mill card in the set, and this unholy monstrosity is both fun to play and has a drastic impact on the board. Placing your opponent on a five-turn clock that can't be stopped by chump blockers or Fog effect can put a damper on all sorts of game plans.
Pernicious Deed: A powerful, flexible sweeper that's most effective in the hands of a mana-heavy ramp deck. A similar effect appears in the more recent Gaze of Granite, but the Deed is far more flexible; you can cast it in the early game and leave it hanging around until you need it, and, unlike Gaze, you can activate it at any time, including in the middle of combat or on your opponent's turn. Appearing only in the Apocalypse set, it's ripe for a reprint.
Rolling Earthquake: An absolutely ridiculous Earthquake variant from the obscure Portal Three Kingdoms set, which was printed primarily in Chinese and has very few English copies. As the Horsemanship mechanic on the card doesn't appear in any other set, the spell basically reads, “Deal X damage to each creature and each player,” which is dynamite in a red burn deck. And with Wizards reprinting a few creatures with horsemanship in Commander 2013, the door is open for other spells that reference the ability!
Supreme Verdict: A key player in the Return to Ravnica block, Supreme Verdict has a name flashy enough to fit the Annihilation theme as well as the power to back it up. An uncounterable Wrath can be absolutely devastating, even if it does allow regeneration, and the eternal formats love it because it can be pitched to pay the alternate cost of Force of Will.
Terminus: Tucking creatures onto the bottom of the library is far more devastating than death in a game rife with reanimation spells. Terminus is slightly harder to cast than its predecessor Hallowed Burial, but it's more likely to appear here due to its more violent flavor.
Vindicate: Among the most valuable and effective spot removal spells in the game. The ability to destroy any one permanent is incredibly useful, especially for only three mana. As it's never been reprinted, it currently averages over $20 on the secondary market, which should draw players and speculators alike in droves.
What crazy-powerful spells do you think will be included in Annihilation? Is it worth sinking $40 or more into the set for fifteen cards, even if they are as devastating as advertised? Share your comments with the community below!
Posted by
Fellonius Munch
In recent news, the long-awaited movie adaptation of Stephen King's universally loved The Dark Tower series looks as though it may not be happening…again!
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| "Battles that last five minutes spawn legends that live a thousand years!" - The Dark Tower |
For quite some years now, fans of the hefty eight-novel pseudo-sci-fi-fantasy-horror series, and fans of the comic book series released by Marvel, have been clamoring for news of a movie (and the saga of sequels that would very likely follow). I've been one of them ever since what seemed like a massive hint appeared in Frank Darabont's spectacular adaptation of The Mist nearly seven years ago.
I'm not sure if any of you fans out there agree with me—I appreciate and therefore encourage originality in other peoples' opinions—but I was already taken aback when it turned out that Darabont himself, one of the greatest contributors to King's film credits (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile also included), wouldn't be tasked with the mighty opportunity to produce and direct The Dark Tower.
Over the years, I followed this elusive trail of breadcrumbs, only to find that Ron Howard would be directing instead.
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| This wasn't the newest photo I could find but, Porn 'Tache! |
Not a bad choice. Howard has directed an encyclopedia's worth of movies over the years, and many of them have been decent if not very good. He's big on drama for the most part, and he's also big on spectacle when the moment calls for it. BUT! The Dark Tower is not a family friendly series and therefore should not be a family friendly movie. This is Stephen King we're talking about, not JRR Tolkien, although Dark Tower could be the biggest and most spectacular thing since Lord of the Rings. The closest thing I could credit Howard with, in that respect, is 1988's sword and sorcery adventure Willow. Still a different kind of fantasy.
Who put Howard at the helm anyway? None other than Akiva Goldsman; the guy who wrote I Am Legend, the guy who wrote I, Robot, the guy who wrote Batman & Robin, the guy who wrote Batman Forever. By now you're remembering these films for either being poor adaptations or for being ridiculous. He's also the guy who is making I Am Legend 2 and the guy who wants to make that Patrick Swayze movie Ghost into a television series. By now you're as pissed as I originally was and should resemble this:
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| P.I.S.S.E.D. |
Goldsman, who wrote for Howard on The DaVinci Code and its sequel Angels & Demons recently had this to say about The Dark Tower's progress:
Funny then that if you type The Dark Tower into IMDb's search bar, the name Russell Crowe appears! So does this mean the movie was in development and is now cancelled? Hollywood is a fickle town full of people very much afraid of being seen falling at the first hurdle, despite their existing achievements. So if it is cancelled, you'll hear about it in about five years' time when they pass the buck onto somebody else.
Seriously, what is it with these people? You spend how much buying the rights to a novel because you're creaming yourself over how awesome it would be if you could make a mega-successful bunch of movies, and then you sit there and do absolutely fuck all with it, because suddenly you realize that you're just not good enough? Is it that, or did you have better things to do? Oh, Ghost: The Series and I Am Legend 2: The Prequel To The Shit We Irreversibly Screwed Up Already? My bad, carry on smoking crack in the boardroom and don't mind the fans whose hopes and dreams you're wiping your arses with!
Sound off, Fanboys! Makes you wonder if they've read the damn thing. If they ever got this show off the ground, who would you want to see bringing it to life? Comments below and thanks again for reading.
