Fanboys Anonymous

The exciting aspect of Batman vs. Superman is definitely the aesthetics surrounding the costumes and general "look" of the movie, however, don't forget about Batman's wonderful toys.

"Turbines to speed!"

Not only will the Batmobile feature heavily in Batman's next video game outing in Batman: Gotham Knight, it will also be featured in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel. According to a WB source, the build for the vehicle is "finished, but no one has seen it." That sounds like hyperbole, considering a project like that would never go forward without being overseen day and night.

Cassandra Salapatas-Metz, Warner Bros. assistant director of transportation, said Tuesday that plans for the vehicle (and its role in the film) are "all under wraps, as they say." A reporter then asked if the vehicle may make its premiere at this year's San Diego Comic-Con. She seemed a bit flustered, as if this was an ace up her sleeve she didn't think anyone would consider. She responded, "Well, I'm not at liberty to say, but I think you might have a point there. But I think…let's put it this way, it's been spoken of…so always possible. We're at the ready, us teamsters…we're ready to roll if need be."

The Batmobile is iconic and helps set the tone of any Batman movie. Personally, I was not expecting the design for the Tumbler from the Christopher Nolan-directed Batman Begins, but once I saw it, I just knew it was perfect. It showed me the realism they were going for and a car that looked like a tank, from Wayne Enterprises R&D, made perfect sense.

We can most likely expect them to stick with the classics: black on black, some kind of rocket in the back, some kind of "bat" design, overall. The Tumbler was the least bat-themed version in history so it might be nice to get back to the style without sacrificing the realism. Can we have it both ways? With high expectations for this film overall, what features do you hope this Batmobile includes, and more importantly, excludes? Tell us below!

Transformers: Age of Extinction is the one movie none of us should be looking forward to, but which seems to be on all of our "must see" lists for this summer.

A new promotional image specifically for IMAX has been released, showing an epic screen grab from the trailer. It features everyone's favorite Cybertronian watch dog, Shockwave. The image of of him walking away from his ship is ominous, foreboding, and several other words that make your spine shiver. It definitely sets the mood for an all-out rock 'em, sock 'em robot movie, which this damn well better be. Have a look at the image here:


It isn't Michael Bay's amazing track record that has us wetting our lips for this film, nor is it Mark Wahlberg signing on. It's our genuine love of the Transformers. Plus, we have the Dinobots this time around. The amount of forgiveness Bay has been given after the original bomb of a trilogy is astounding. However, if he pulls this one off, I'm open to even more. Yes, I said that sentence. No, I can't believe it, either.

This blockbuster (or clusterf#$&!) of a movie opens in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D on June 27, 2014.

Are you excited to see this specifically in IMAX?

A new featurette from Sony Pictures, "Becoming Peter Parker," covers Andrew Garfield's taking on the role of the Amazing Spider-Man. As fun as it sounds from any one of us, accepting this much power and responsibility (see what I did there?) must weigh heavily on any actor making these decisions.

The featurette below is another in a series of Amazing Spider-Man 2 videos. This one focuses not just on Peter Parker but on Garfield's competence and his love for the role. Though I have a soft spot for Tobey Maguire, I think Andrew's passion for the series can still shine through. I think they missed the mark in the first film regarding Peter's personality and I hope they fix it with this outing.


Am I the only one who likes Andrew Garfield as an actor, but doesn't like his version of Peter Parker?

Fox's upcoming series, Gotham—focusing on a young James Gordon and an even younger Bruce Wayne—has released its first official promotional image.

The show will begin with the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, a major event in the city's history as far as canon is concerned, and use that a story arc throughout season one (I assume) and maybe beyond.

Check out the official details from Fox's new web page for the series:

Everyone knows the name Commissioner Gordon. He is one of the crime world's greatest foes, a man whose reputation is synonymous with law and order. But what is known of Gordon's story and his rise from rookie detective to Police Commissioner? What did it take to navigate the multiple layers of corruption that secretly ruled Gotham City, the spawning ground of the world's most iconic villains? And what circumstances created them – the larger-than-life personas who would become Catwoman, The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face and The Joker?

GOTHAM is an origin story of the great DC Comics super villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. From executive producer/writer Bruno Heller ("The Mentalist," "Rome"), GOTHAM follows one cop's rise through a dangerously corrupt city teetering on the edge of evil and chronicles the birth of one of the most popular super heroes of our time.

Growing up in Gotham City's surrounding suburbs, JAMES GORDON (Ben McKenzie, "Southland," "The O.C.") romanticized the city as a glamorous and exciting metropolis where his late father once served as a successful district attorney. Now, two weeks into his new job as a Gotham City detective and engaged to his beloved fiancée, BARBARA KEAN (Erin Richards, "Open Grave," "Breaking In"), Gordon is living his dream – even as he hopes to restore the city back to the pure version he remembers it was as a kid.

Brave, honest and ready to prove himself, the newly-minted detective is partnered with the brash, but shrewd police legend HARVEY BULLOCK (Donal Logue, "Sons of Anarchy," "Terriers," "Vikings," "Copper"), as the two stumble upon the city's highest-profile case ever: the murder of local billionaires Thomas and Martha Wayne. At the scene of the crime, Gordon meets the sole survivor: the Waynes' hauntingly intense 12-year-old son, BRUCE (David Mazouz, "Touch"), toward whom the young detective feels an inexplicable kinship. Moved by the boy's profound loss, Gordon vows to catch the killer.

As he navigates the often-underhanded politics of Gotham's criminal justice system, Gordon will confront imposing gang boss FISH MOONEY (Jada Pinkett Smith, "The Matrix" films, "HawthoRNe," "Collateral"), and many of the characters who will become some of fiction's most renowned, enduring villains, including a teenaged SELINA KYLE/the future CATWOMAN (acting newcomer Camren Bicondova) and OSWALD COBBLEPOT/THE PENGUIN (Robin Lord Taylor, "The Walking Dead," "Another Earth").

Although the crime drama will follow Gordon's turbulent and singular rise through the Gotham City police department, led by Police Captain SARAH ESSEN (Zabryna Guevara, "Burn Notice"), it also will focus on the unlikely friendship Gordon forms with the young heir to the Wayne fortune, who is being raised by his unflappable butler, ALFRED (Sean Pertwee, "Camelot," "Elementary"). It is a friendship that will last them all of their lives, playing a crucial role in helping the young boy eventually become the crusader he's destined to be.

GOTHAM is based upon characters published by DC Comics and is produced by Warner Bros. Television. Executive producer Bruno Heller ("The Mentalist") wrote the pilot, which will be directed and executive-produced by Emmy Award nominee Danny Cannon (the "CSI" series, "Nikita")."

With the show adding characters like Edward Nigma, Oswald Cobblepot, and the Joker himself, is the cast getting too big already? Would you prefer to see a GCPD-type series over the freak-of-the-week stories?

In a promo image for The Flash this week, Grant Gustin was revealed wearing the official costume for the first time. Now, just days later, he's gone full frontal Flash!

The Flash (a spin-off of Arrow) hopes to be picked up for a 2014-2015 season. The least we can all do is support the pilot and get this off the ground. I would love to view at least one season to see what they can do with it, as well as watch a crossover event. Check out these on-set images of Gustin as the Scarlet Speedster filming the pilot for The CW.

Opinions are going to be all over the map on this one. On the one hand, it's a very nice-looking design and much better than I was expecting. On the other hand, I would expect something a bit more friction-resistant for a runner.

As a comic book fan, I appreciate an artist who draws characters to their strengths. I like Michael Turner's style, for example, but would Superman and the Flash have the exact same body style? Or would Flash be sleeker, as befits a runner, while Supes' design would call for broader shoulders? I know it's hard to follow this policy in a live action show, but I had assumed they selected Gustin for his slim build and I don't feel this suit takes advantage of that.

Thoughts on the design? Overall, I think they got the color, cowl, and modern style correct.

Recently announced by the industry leader who brought us the Mega Man, Resident Evil, and Devil May Cry franchises, the Capcom Pro Tour will celebrate the popularity of the Street Fighter franchise by forming the first-ever fighting game league for its series.

Over the remainder of 2014, various tournaments and premier events will take place to provide organizers, sponsors, and the fighting game community an opportunity to gather and allow the best players to reach the finals of the Capcom Cup.

The beginning of the Street Fighter IV-focused tour will highlight Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition. Then, after its release in June, Ultra Street Fight IV will be phased in until the conclusion of the tour in December.

The Capcom Cup finals will offer 16 total spots for fighting game hopefuls, and there are two ways to qualify for their occupancy. Attend and win a premier event, and you’re instantly greenlit. The rest of the spots will be awarded though a new point structure that tracks the ranking of players as they compete.

Here are the dates and cities of seven of the premier events:

• Final Round (March 14~16 – Atlanta, GA, USA)
• NorCal Regionals (April 18~20 – Sacramento, CA, USA)
• Southeast Asia Majors (June 20~22 – Singapore)
• Community Effort Orlando (June 27~29 – Orlando, FL, USA)
• Evolution Championship Series (July 11~13 – Las Vegas, NV, USA)
• The Fall Classic (October 10~12 – Raleigh, NC, USA)
• DreamHack Winter (November 27~30 – Jönköping, Sweden)

Details about three more premier events are to come. The last six of the Capcom Cup spots will be determined using the aforementioned point structure after a preliminary group of ten premier events takes place. Twitch’s contribution to this partnership is in utilizing its widely known streaming capabilities to broadcast each faceoff on the Capcom Fighters Twitch channel. Subscribing to this stream will cost viewers $4.99.

Points will not only be awarded to the 16 spots at premier events, but also ranking tournaments (which are managed and streamed separate from the Capcom Pro Tour).

The current line-up of these ranking events is as follows:

• SoCal Regionals (February 28~March 2, Los Angeles, CA, USA)
• PAX East (April 11~13 – Boston, MA, USA)
• E3 (June 10~12 – Los Angeles, CA, USA)
• San Diego Comic Con (July 24~27 – San Diego, CA, USA)

For regional spots in southern California, points will be given retroactively. There is also more info regarding forthcoming ranking events to be announced at a later time.

Participants and spectators alike can follow the Capcom Pro Tour action via its official website. Is there an event taking place near you? Let us know how you’d fare in a Street Fighter tournament in the Comments below.

Kristian Nairn, who plays the slow-witted giant Hodor on HBO's Game of Thrones, interviewed with WinterIsComing.net on March 11. While the actor discussed a number of things—his taste in music, his interest in World of Warcraft, his work on the TV drama Ripper Street, and the LARP documentary Treasure Trapped—his most noteworthy statement was that he's gay.

I have some friends in the gay community, "bears" as they're wont to call themselves, who hold you on a pretty high pedestal. One good friend of mine (I’ve known since we were in the 5th grade together) says your bear following is "extensive." Is this something you’re aware of?

Kristian: Well, in all honesty, when you talk about "the gay community," you are talking about MY community, haha. I AM aware of it yeah, and I think it's really lovely. There’s not a day that I don’t get a few messages, but 99% or more are super sweet and nothing smutty at all! Again, it’s a privilege, and I really mean that. I've never hidden my sexuality from anyone, my whole life in fact, and I’ve been waiting for someone to ask about it in an interview, cos it's not something you just blurt out. I’ve tried to lead the questions a few times, to no avail!

Well I think most people are respectful enough these days not to ask that sort of stuff directly, especially in print media interviews. But I am curious, seeing as how some people might react negatively to it, did most of the cast and crew have an understanding of it? Or was it just never really brought up?

Kristian: I had an upbringing to respect other people's privacy, and their right to be and choose what they want, and I expect, no, demand no less for myself. It’s a very small part of who I am on the whole, but nonetheless, in this day and age, it's important to stand up and be counted. I have and always will stand my ground. So, yeah, people have been great, on the show, but I don’t see why it would be an issue.

Surprised? Enthused? Interested in discussing the finer distinctions between bears and wargs? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Do you like After Reset, the post-apocalyptic RPG? Here's a useful tidbit of information for those of you who enjoy this old school sci-fi post-apocalyptic role playing game sensation: the writers have launched an interesting comic campaign for you. Those of you that are invested in the title can now literally invest in it.

This graphic novel will be a prequel that focuses on the backstory of the game's starting location and follows one of the main character's major companions. It promises to deliver a compelling sci-fi narrative that helps explain the crises which have befallen the planet Earth.

The story begins 132 years after the Reset—the thermonuclear apocalypse that nearly ended human civilization, burying both the living and the dead in ash. Deep within the Earth's crust, as the unlucky, unprivileged, and unwealthy burn and suffer up above, the upper class have taken to the bunkers. They've devised a makeshift economy, built an underground metropolis that they continuously expand, and have constructed districts into which they stuff those they deem undesirable. Here, in the outpost named Gyes, a young intern of the United Government's military has just finished his training. Everything seemed to be going swimmingly until the arrival of the surface people, who never should have survived.


For more information, visit After Reset: The Fall of Gyes

Indie?

The Guardians of the Galaxy has been generating buzz for months, and the recently released trailer almost made the Internet explode.

The trailer has had almost 15 million views, although many of those may be from multiple viewings. The humor, tone, and music are infectious! Even "Hooked on a Feeling" started topping the music charts again, seeing sales increase of 700%. The film, however, features characters, a setting, and a plotline that the majority of moviegoers are unfamiliar with. It is being touted as Marvel's first big risk, but success seems almost inevitable. However, that didn't stop Chris Pratt ("Star Lord"…you know…"Star Lord"? Ah, forget it), director James Gunn, and producer Kevin Feige from chatting with AMC about the project.

The interview goes for about a half hour while they discuss the intentions and expectations of the film.


Some interesting tidbits from the interview:

"The Marvel flavor with an air of old-school space opera" - James Gunn

 "99% of this movie takes place on the other side of the galaxy" - Kevin Feige

 "Fans of Cosmo will have to wait and see…" (long pause) - Kevin Feige

Pratt also gives some details on his Star Lord helmet that got me excited; it sounds really cool, and I love that he actually wore it for filming.

If you are on the fence about this movie, I can't recommend the books by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning enough. The series crosses over with Nova and their major events, Annihilation and Annihilation: Conquest, which is icing on the cake.

Did you watch the above footage? Did it give too much insight or not enough? Are you on board with this (I hope) franchise yet? Post comments below!

As a writer/video producer/podcaster for Fanboys Anonymous, I have another aspect of my life which I hold very close to me: collecting video games. This is something I have been doing for as long as I can remember. Some games I have had to sell in order to make ends meet and some I still hold on to to this day. At one point in my life, my collection consisted of around ten video game consoles and hundreds of games. Sadly, it has dwindled because our economy has made it very difficult to keep that number up.

I am an avid video game collector because, as you have guessed, I love playing video games. I am sure for those of you who have frequented this website, you most likely know by now that I have been playing video games ever since I was old enough to hold a controller.

So, when it comes to video games, I know a lot about them because I have grown up with them around me. From the Atari 2600 to the Nintendo Wii U, and the industry crash in 1983 to the explosive release of South Park: The Stick of Truth, I have been there during the times when the industry has had its ups and downs.

But my progress of collecting video games has slowed down recently, and there is one factor which has prohibited me from collecting games on a more frequent basis: the outrageous prices charged for some of these classics.

Here's what I mean: as you have read from my previous article for this site (read The Art of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Book Review), I am a major Castlevania fan. So much so that I have had a big desire to own a copy of Castlevania: Dracula X for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. I have been wanting a copy of this game since its release. I would love to get a used copy of the game and add it to my collection.

But, I have a small problem. If I were to get a copy of the game with no box or instructions, then I would have to shell out an average of $250. This is an approximate average based on eBay and retro video games website prices. Let us keep in mind this game sold for $50 when it was released in September 1995.

Castlevania: Dracula X is EXPENSIVE!

While I do understand that Castlevania: Rondo of Blood was released in the United States under the title Castlevania X Chronicles for the Sony PSP and the Japanese original is available on the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console (which I have downloaded), I still want to get a copy of Dracula X for the SNES. Furthermore, I know this is not a straight port of the original game. According to Forbidden Library, the Castlevania Wiki:

"When Dracula X was first announced, Castlevania fans were excited to see the popular Japanese PC Engine game make it to Super NES. However, many gamers were disappointed upon discovering the game is very different from Rondo of Blood. This turned out to be what many feel is one of the biggest disappointments in the entire series. Rather than a direct port, it was meant to be more of a remixed version of Rondo of Blood."

If this game was such a disappointment for Castlevania fans, then why does it have an insanely high price? Perhaps, it did not sell very well and some of the unsold copies were shipped back to Konami. If this were the case, then it could validate the argument for which the game is considered rare. It would be a strong consideration as to why the price of this game has been inflated for online auctions. Some online retro video game websites do list this game for a huge price as well (if you can find a copy, that is).

Strider 2 for Sony PlayStation

What gets to me is how some of these people call these games "rare." To me, this is the kind of word which gets easily tossed around and has lost a lot of its meaning. According to Webster's dictionary, rare is defined as "seldom occurring or found." Granted, these games are no longer printed and are hard to find. But, these games are not uncommon. However, one could argue that the game is so awesome that selling it would not be a wise decision. This might also be the reason why a particular title would be hard to come by.

It is not just this particular game where significant price gouging runs rampant. Some popular video games have the same thing happening to them, too. For example, I have found Strider 2 for the Sony PlayStation was found on eBay for around $100.

Earthbound for SNES

Additionally, I have seen Earthbound, complete with game, instructions, Player's Guide, and scratch-n-sniff cards for an asking price of almost $700.

Perhaps you would look at this editorial as me just whining and complaining. But, I speak for countless numbers of other collectors who have faced this issue of unnecessary price inflation time and time again.

There are some who sell these games online or in their "mom and pop" shops where they set these prices based on how much these games are going for on sites like eBay, for instance. For the most part, these people have very little knowledge about the game and resort to looking up prices on the Internet and then selling it for around the prices they find. This is about the same equivalent of a person doing a research paper for school and getting their research information from Wikipedia. They rely on this information as the true source.

Once this information is gathered, they come up with an average price and slap it on the game. Plus, they would tell you this is a rare game and that's why it's priced at "X" amount of dollars without doing any true research beforehand. They look at it as a fast buck and figure people who are that demanding (and stupid)  would pay any price to own a copy of the game.

This kind of "business" is not an old one. The same has been done toward many other types of medium, including comic books, music, and sports trading cards. Without getting the right education from the exact information, buyers end up emptying their wallets and bank accounts just for the coveted item they desire.

Of course, there are some who would suggest to the person looking for the game that if it is too expensive to obtain, why not download the ROM from the Internet and play it on an emulator? In my opinion, this is considered theft. I am against downloading a game or product without legally owning an actual copy of the game. This harkens back to the time when downloading music from Napster or Morpheus brought users into legal trouble. Although downloading free video games from the Internet is not as strict as downloading illegally obtained MP3s, it is still considered theft.

I will not go on my soapbox any further because that would totally derail this editorial. So, let's move on.

What I would love to see is an official guide to what these retro video games should cost. This would be kind of like how some used cars are valued according to bluebook prices. It would be based on how old the game is, the relevancy to the franchise, current economy and how strong the demand is for said game. Plus, it would not hurt for the seller to do some actual research on the game and not have its price based on what some other ignorant schmucks are selling the game for in these online auction sites. Even though we have websites such as pricecharting.com, more research really should be done before placing a game in an online sale.

What are your feelings on the subject? Do you find these prices to be fair? If so, why? Please leave your comments down below.

Everyone's favorite science fiction/postapocalyptic drama, Falling Skies, is returning to TNT on Sunday June 22nd at 10/9c! You guys had better save the date, because judging by the brand-new trailer, it looks like it's set to be as action packed as ever.

We see a range of new and old well-loved faces in the trailer, including what appears to be a human-like alien girl. Could she be the new leader they were warned about? Is she the one leading the skitters now that Karen is dead? Also, what is going on with Anne? In the trailer she seems to be unhinged to say the least; is the pressure of having an alien cross human hybrid child proving all too much for her?

Fortunately we don't have too long to wait, in just three short months all our questions will be answered. (Hopefully!) Watch the trailer below!


Are you looking forward to Season 4 of Falling Skies? Let us know below!

The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. 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.

Fanboys we have come to the Elegant Eight! In the Heavenly Sixteen, we saw Taylor Davis beat out Christina Grimmie. Also in that round we saw Catie Wayne dominate Lindsey Stirling. This week as we enter the Elegant Eight, we see the elegant musician take on the legend known as Boxxy! Check out the tale of the tape and vote for the Elegant Eight!


Taylor Davis (Musician)

YouTube is a forum to showcase the world's true talents. That is definitely the case when it comes to Taylor Davis. The beautiful American composer has shown the world just how talented she is on the violin, not to mention shown her geekier side by playing our favorite video game and nerdy music. Releasing several albums, including one with fellow tournament mate Lara De Wit, Taylor has shown that her skills and music to soothe the soul are enjoyed by all. With a well-balanced love for geek culture, as well as cosplay from time to time, she has stolen the hearts of many a geek. Taylor's spot on the Internet Goddess Tournament is well deserved!

Catie Wayne (YouTube Personality, Vlogger)

In late 2008 Catie Wayne burst onto the Internet scene with an energetic vlog under the character of Boxxy. With high energy and talking about everyday life, Boxxy took the Internet by storm, including the infamous site 4chan. Hers was a character that was so unique it hooked the attention of the Internet audience. Boxxy was one of the original Internet phenomenons and generated a lot of attention both positive and negative. Without a doubt she has secured a spot on the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament.

feedback surveys

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!

The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. 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.

Fanboys we have come to the Elegant Eight! In the Heavenly Sixteen, we saw Melonie Mac dominate Amber Lee Ettinger. Also in that round we saw Colleen Ballinger oust Internet sensation Jenna Marbles. This week as we enter the Elegant Eight, we see the gamer we all fall in love with take on the singing sensation! Check out the tale of the tape and vote for the Elegant Eight!


Melonie Mac (Gamer, Artist, YouTube Personality

Who doesn't love the adorable Melonie Mac? This cutie partnered up with YouTube and showed us that gaming isn't just for the overweight nerds hanging in the basement talking their raids and zerg rushes. (Wow, I just said that!). She helps make gaming cool again and reviews several nerdy things we geeks have come to love. You can catch her playing League of Legends in the YouTube world live as well as in archive sessions!! The Mac Attack has definitely earned herself a spot on the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament.


Colleen Ballinger (YouTube Personality, Singer)

Created solely in jest with the rest of the world of YouTube, Miranda Sings was given birth by the beautiful Colleen Ballinger. Pumping out videos every Tuesday and Friday since 2008, Colleen still goes hard when it comes to the YouTube world. She was even able to take the act on the road; Miranda Sings has performed her act at sold-out cabaret spaces and theaters in major U.S. cities as well as London, Dublin, and many major cities across the globe. Cashing in on the satire of the everyday, singer Colleen still goes strong. Colleen has sung her way right into the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament.

surveys & polls

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!

The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. 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.

Fanboys, we have come to the Elegant Eight! In the Heavenly Sixteen we saw Natalie Tran take a last-minute win over the talented Brizzy Voices. Also in that round we saw iJustine get a huge upset over Cosplay Queen Jess Nigri. This week as we enter the Elegant Eight, we see the Vlogger from down under take on the Vlogger of the land of the free! Check out the tale of the tape and vote for the Elegant Eight!

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 correspondent 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.

Justine Ezarik (Life Caster)

On May 29, 2007, live on Justin.tv, a new Internet queen was born. Justine took to the airwaves in a nonprofit stream that followed her everyday life known as iJustine. Since then she has had five YouTube channels with more than 2,500 videos. She has made the transition over the years from the Internet to television and had guest roles on shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Minds, and Vampire Diaries. Still going strong on YouTube today, she has more than 1.5 million subscribers and still pumps out fresh new content even as she dabbles in Hollywood. She was one of the first broadcasters to hit the airwaves on Justin.tv and for that we welcome Justine to the 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament!

survey tools

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!

The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. 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.

Fanboys, we have come to the Elegant Eight! In the Heavenly Sixteen we saw Jessi Smiles narrowly escape the round with a win over Ciji Thornton. Also in that round we saw the lovely Lara De Wit take a commanding win over Liana Morris. This week as we enter the Elegant Eight, we see the voice of Vine take on the Australian music machine! Check out the tale of the tape and vote for the Elegant Eight!

Jessi Smiles (Vine & YouTube Personality)


Ever heard of a thing called Vine? If you have, then you most likely know Jessi Smiles. Also known as Jessica Vazquez, Jessi  has blown up our Vines with several 30-second clips that will make you giggle each time. She has since broadened her horizons to a YouTube channel as well as appearing in an Epic Rap Battles of History video as Joan of Arc. Recently, Jessi has been caught up in some controversy with fellow Vine-er and ex-boyfriend Curtis Lepore. Although these days most people are focused on the controversy and have effectively taken sides in the war between the two parties, we here at Fanboys Anonymous remain neutral and choose to recognize Vazquez for her Internet accomplishments. Besides, this is a tournament of the nerds, so you guys decide. Is Jessi Smiles worthy of the 2014 Internet Goddess Award?


Lara De Wit (Musician, YouTube Personality)

Not only is she gorgeous, but she is also one of the most talented musicians on YouTube and Tour today. Lara broke onto the scene from the great continent of Australia, bringing us many renditions of our favorite video game music. Yours truly had the pleasure of interviewing Lara on The Dace Man Show to find out she is your typical down-to-Earth girl next door. Lara has successfully released a music album with fellow Internet Goddess contestant Taylor Davis as well as toured with her and many others to conventions and symphonies. Add to her brilliant musical talent her ability to throw together a costume to coincide with the music she is playing, and you now have a video that captures the hearts of nerds across the world. Lara has landed herself a spot on the Fanboys Anonymous 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament!

survey tools

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!

It's that time of week again! Yours truly, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace, is back with another review and synopsis of AMC's horror drama, The Walking Dead!

Last week we were treated to an episode that was centered around Beth and Daryl. With the second half of season 4 well under way, we've been exposed to more character-driven episodes. The episodes have jumped in headfirst with all of the remaining characters and their ability to handle the circumstances and mass trauma that stemmed from the war with the Governor. All this while they ultimately try to find a new home and a way to continue on with life and we the viewers eagerly await for them to reunite. For those of us who know the comic background, when it comes to the subject manner, we know many more hardships are on the horizon for our favorite postapocalyptic survivors. Last week left with the questions we've asked every week: When will they reunite? What is the mind-blowing finale Norman Reedus was referring to on Talking Dead? Seeing as we haven't seen Maggie's or Carol's group in a few episodes, where are they? All that and more on this week's Walking Dead.


This week's episode kicks off with Bob wandering solo through the woods, looking beaten down. The music along with his facial expressions show a man that has seen some serious stuff. Most of the clips show him walking a great distance and resting when he can. When he finally pauses and turns he meets Daryl and Glen for the first time. Daryl gives Bob the three-question method Rick showed at the beginning of the season. He passes and catches a ride with Glen, and so we see Bob's inclusion into the group and roll on into the opening credits.


We return to a densely fogged scene with Maggie, Sasha, and Bob standing back to back. We hear walkers in the distance but can't see them until they are arms-length away. The trio gets overrun, except Sasha, who shows off how she's a bad ass. We assume Bob is bit by the awesome camera angle only to find out it was only the bandage. We cut over to Daryl and Beth tracking in the woods as they walk up onto a walker. As she approaches it, she gets her foot caught in a trap, and Daryl comes to her rescue. These two are getting awfully close if you ask me. A quick flash back to Maggie's group and they discuss plans to keep on moving. Then we're back to Daryl and Beth again where Daryl starts to carry Beth toward a plantation they've found. Halfway to the house they pause and stop to stare at a grave. Daryl sets flowers on top of the grave, which reads "Beloved Father." They hold hands, further implying something is gonna happen with those two, and we cut back to Maggie's group. They find the same sign Rick's and Carol's groups saw for a sanctuary. After convincing Sasha, they decide to press forward to the town. The biggest question this half of the season has to be, what is this sanctuary? Does it still exist, and will it be another Woodbury? With these questions we head into our second commercial break.

Daryl and Beth make it into the house when we return. They start to do their usual sweep and note how the house is still so clean. They find that it's a funeral parlor with dead bodies still laying around the house. Beth tries to explain to Daryl it's beautiful that even through all the craziness of the world someone still tried to tend to the dead and remember them as people. Daryl, in Daryl fashion, tends to Beth's ankle rather than answer the question. We cut back over to Sasha and Bob talking about the decision they made prior to the commercial. Sasha has become quite the pessimist, or some would say realist, when it comes to their travels and current situation. She's all for stopping at the first town and hunkering down.

Back with the hottest couple in the crazy post world. They find some food in a cabinet but notice it's all clean and neatly organized. They decide to take only some in case the person returns. They hunker down for the night. Beth is playing the piano as Daryl lays in a coffin, claiming its the comfiest bed he's had in years. Please, please do not let that be foreshadowing. We see Sasha and Bob at the camp, and they see a message from Maggie indicating she has taken off without them and urging them not to follow. Bob insists on following her, but Sasha shows some resistance. We cut to Maggie on the tracks. She comes to a crossroads and takes out a walker. She guts the walker and dips some of its clothing into the opening, to collect what one can only assume is for "ink" so she can write her message for Glen.

Back on the tracks with Sasha and Bob, Sasha is questioning Bob's drive to continue pushing forward with Maggie. Bob explains to her that he's smiling because this time, when a group was overrun, he made it out with others. They find Maggie's blood-written message, and then we cut back to the love birds. At the funeral home their security is tripped by a dog that then runs away. This leads me to believe there is someone who's going to return to the house by the end of this episode.

Now it's nighttime, and Bob and Sasha are talking about how the nights are never quiet anymore. We can hear the walkers in the distance. Bob questions Sasha as to why she thinks her brother is dead. She avoids the question, and Bob lays on the flirting harder than yours truly. Back at the funeral parlor, Daryl and Beth discuss leaving a thank-you note to the person who gathered the food. Daryl proposes they stay and live in the funeral home regardless of how the people are. Beth then asks Daryl why he has had a change of heart, but Daryl is saved from answering by a herd of walkers at the front door and shit gets crazy. He gets cornered down in the morgue and manages to stack up a huge kill count. He escapes the house only to find Beth's bag laying on the ground and a car with a cross on the rear window hauling ass. We end this segment with Daryl chasing after the car. Early guess, and I'm most likely wrong, but I think these might be the cannibals we read about in the comics.

We return to Sasha and Bob gaining on Maggie, and Daryl still chasing after the car. Daryl finally makes it to the train tracks, where there is a fork in the road. He collapses to the ground out of breath and looks defeated. Again we revisit Sasha and Bob arguing over if they should continue on after Maggie or stop. After a heated debate, Bob plants a big kiss on to Sasha, which effectively wins the argument; although she may not continue with him, I'm certain she'll have a change of heart. She ventures into the building we saw in the background and settles down, alone. At this point she breaks down in tears and then immediately tries to fight them back. While glancing out a window she spots Maggie and accidentally knocks the window out, causing the dead to stir around Maggie. She hauls ass down to Maggie, but it looks like Maggie has taken off as we cut to another commercial.

Aaaaaaand we're back. Sasha and Maggie are competing for kill count (pretty sure Sasha won). Maggie reveals to Sasha that she heard everything she said at the camp. She also reveals to Sasha she was waiting for her and that's why she stopped. She makes her case to Sasha and finally admits that she is afraid. The two take off down the road to find Bob. Back to Daryl. He encounters a group of men. After a 2-minute stand off. Joe introduces himself to Daryl, and the group of men withdraw their guns. Maggie and Sasha catch back up with Bob, and they continue on the path to Terminus. The final scene of this week's episode shows Glen finding the map. As always, they leave us with more questions than answers. Who is the group Daryl has encountered? Who kidnapped Beth? Will Glen catch up with Maggie? Where the hell are Rick's and Carol's groups? How the hell have none of them crossed paths yet?


So see ya next week, walkers! 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 then, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and, in this case, riot gear—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

We are living in interesting times. Back in the '70s, names like Larry Flynt, Linda Lovelace, and John Holmes were as popular as swear words. Everyone knew them, but no one would openly say those names out loud;after all, there was a lot of morality at stake. There appeared to be a rift of social opinions back then—government, God, and righteousness versus rebellion, peace, and sexual freedom. It seems like things haven't changed, and if they have, the name of political correctness is still used, but as a preemptive strike to quickly dismiss the fact that everyone wants some porn.

Duke University, March 2014. A freshman with a secret career as an upcoming porn star was outed by a fellow student at the same school. The news spread, her name made the headlines, and Belle Knox, the 18-year-old vixen, became a top search on Google. After appearing in 12 scenes, she was found out by Thomas Bagley, a fellow Duke student who, like practically 90% of teenagers and adults of all generations, watches porn. He discovered Knox and immediately took the opportunity to spread the news of his sensational discovery to his frat house—which then made it hot gossip on campus.

What is disturbing about this depends heavily on the reader. Duke University is reputed to be one of the best schools in the United States, and traditional as well. The fact that a porn starlet is currently studying in the renowned institution can be a scandalous affair. After all, porn is a dirty business, and sex, even after all the freedom of speech allowed, is still a bad thing for the average American psyche. A majority of conservative viewpoints still frown upon anything that goes beyond missionary in the bedroom.

Belle Knox on Piers Morgan Live

The other side of the coin sees Knox as one of millions of young girls (and even guys) who use sex as a way to make ends meet. Belle Knox didn't want to burden her family with debt and took to the porn industry as opposed to earning a meager $400 a week as a waitress.

There is nothing to scoff at with these Starbucks jobs. They help out, the pay is fair (well, almost), and the workers, almost always students, get some real-world experience. Unfortunately, the salary won't pay for even 5% of college fees. It is well known that in the United States, the only way to get a good education is to have parents who can afford it or take out a massive loan that will probably take half your life to repay in addition to other loans such as for a car, house, etc.

Belle Knox knows this. Her case is a bit out of the ordinary though, as she found her way to the A-class of online porn in sites such as…well, I don't want to lose this gig, but they are pretty big and she was accepted pretty much right away. She is making more than the average sex worker.

Unnecessarily mean tweets from Duke students

Others resort to using all sorts of back pages, dating sites, and other casual hookup methods on the Internet. The wave of prostitution (a word that's been avoided, but is the reality) is higher than ever given that there is a fear of not succeeding professionally if you don't have a degree. Yes, there is a growing number of sex workers, due largely to the questionable system in place. It isn't just the United States, though; the numbers have risen around the world as well—in percentage, which is a more alarming statistic.

Mean tweets, part deux

Now there is another issue at hand: what will become of Belle Knox? She claims that she is extremely happy doing what she is doing to pursue her goals—which is to become a women's civil rights spokesperson for women in porn—and enjoys the sexual freedom she has experienced. All of this is great from my point of view, but 10 out of 10 times women in the porn industry have faced all sorts of serious emotional guilt trips in their later years in the business. I fear Knox is a bit naive in her youth. That she has experienced sexual liberation and is a defender of sex is the good side. Now she has to balance out the media attention, which is a very dangerous game, probably the most dangerous social mind-war one can play. Fame, at the end of the day, is not a good thing.

Bagley was wrong, but not necessarily the bad guy

Someone else has also been dealing with the fame from this story: Thomas Bagley, the guy who raised Belle Knox's fame to Google-heights. He has since regretted his actions, but probably more for the criticizing he has been enduring than for the frat-boy prank he pulled. His actions are typical and not to be judged; the race to be accepted as "one of the guys" is a very cruel one, and bullying of all sorts can occur when one fails. Bagley was just trying to win points. The only crime is that he hypocritically pointed the finger at a girl he—and probably most of Knox's haters—enjoy in the comfort of their rooms. Mike Kulich, CEO of Monarchy Distribution, saw this and wrote a comical and sarcastic open letter to Thomas Bagley offering him $10,000 and an extra $1,000 for every inch above 4 of his manhood appears in a movie with the porn star of his choosing. How picturesque would it be if he chose Belle Knox?

Look on the bright side, Duke: a porn scandal is better than a school shooting.

I mentioned preemptive strike in the beginning paragraph—who smelled it dealt it. Some of the hate the porn actress has received is definitely cruel and hypocritical, especially because other porn stars have gotten education from the money they earned making skin flicks. Can't the order be reversed?

Although the "80% of the Internet is porn" figure given by Belle Knox herself in Piers Morgan Live on CNN is likely incorrect, every healthy person enjoys sex, porn or no porn. In the country that birthed that very industry, however, there is still some sort of ghost of history past, whence Quakers and witch hunts were a part of the landscape. As time passes, nothing changes. The game remains the same, only the players and settings change. Is there something to learn from all this? Perhaps. Collective hypes are a disease that will keep martyring those who don't deserve it, just because people go with the norm and throw stones to feel better. Neither Belle Knox nor Thomas Bagley deserve the bad vibes. I wonder who else feels this is an issue? Comment.

Something really cool happens a few minutes after this still...

I can assure you that your eyes did not deceive you, this is genuinely happening, The Last of Us is coming to the big screen! It was only a matter of time before the brilliant story got picked up, and there's actually a chance of it being a thoroughly good film, with the creative director for the game Neil Druckmann writing the script for the movie adaptation and Screen Gems distributing it. Naughty Dog's co-presidents Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra will be producing the action-packed movie, with Bruce Straley and Neil Druckmann coming in for the creative side of things.

Here's Screen Gem's president Clint Culpepper on why he trusts Neil Druckmann to pen the movie:

"Screen Gems' Brian Dukes and Eric Ling brought this game to my attention, insisting we go after it. When I saw the quality of the storytelling, I knew the audience for this project was far greater than just the gaming community and that Neil Druckmann must write the screenplay. I am thrilled that Sony Computer Entertainment America's Riley Russell was able to get me in front of Neil and Evan Wells to plead my case. And Sam and his team at Ghost House round out the perfect team to help realize Neil's vision."

The Last of Us is an action-adventure survival horror game. It follows the story of two survivors, Joel and Ellie, as they try and make their way through a postapocalyptic world. They must fight to survive in a world infected by the horrific cordeyceps virus, which has turned people into zombie-like beings. Those aren't the only threat; players also encounter hostile humans, bandits, and cannibals.

Watch the trailer for the game here:


What are your opinions on the game becoming a movie? Let us know below!

If you've ever played the party game Apples to Apples, you'll find Cards Against Humanity familiar. The rules are basically the same. Each player takes a turn as a judge; he or she draws and reads a black "question" card for which each other player selects a white "answer" card from his or her hand. The judge then assigns a point to whichever player gave the funniest or most apropos answer.

The two games are dramatically different in actual play, however. Whereas Apples to Apples has family-friendly content, Cards Against Humanity is chock full of crude, raunchy, and politically incorrect material—not surprising for a game designed by a team of high schoolers who gave it the subtitle "A party game for horrible people." Here are a few examples of cards in the "Answer" deck:

• Dead babies
• Dwarf tossing
• German dungeon porn
• Glenn Beck catching his scrotum on a curtain hook
• Jew-fros
• Jerking off into a pool of children's tears
• Mr. Clean, right behind you
• Not giving a shit about the Third World
• Pac-Man uncontrollably guzzling cum
• Praying the gay away
• Racially-biased SAT questions
• Smallpox blankets
• White privilege

Play moves quickly. At last night's open game night, rounds only took a couple of minutes apiece, even with 11 players. Furthermore, the transgressive humor left most of the players in stitches, with constant efforts to one-up the others with grosser and more shocking responses. There are even strategic elements to play; some answer cards are more specific or amusing than others, making it a hard choice as to which one to pick for any specific question. Knowing whether a given player is more entertained by the absurd or the grotesque can help you select which answer cards he or she might favor.

However, the game's strengths may also cause trouble. The level of gross-out humor can make some players uncomfortable. More importantly, specific cards touch on hot-button issues such as classism, racism, sexism, rape, and abortion that some players may find profoundly offensive. One of my fellow players, whom I like and respect, was so affronted by my enthusiastic hooting and hollering about some of my more socially inappropriate card choices that he wouldn't even speak to me after the game.

So although Cards Against Humanity is very well put together, I can't recommend it as a party game. Casual games shouldn't anger or distress their players! Moreover, players who might feel comfortable saying they don't want to play a game because they think the rules are boring or badly designed might not want to be seen as the wet blanket who's not up for a little bawdy humor. Better to leave it on the shelf.

If you've already played Cards Against Humanity, what do you think—is it offensive or hilarious? Post your comments below.