As INHUMANS VS. X-MEN Reaches Its Climax, SOULE Talks About The End of His INHUMANS Run

And talking about his mutant death toll of Wolverine, Cyclops, Multiple Man, and Alchemy.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/33105-as-inhumans-vs-x-men-reaches-its-climax-soule-talks-about-the-end-of-his-inhumans-run.html

The Power of Nostalgia

By Eric Ashley (@flapjackashley)
 
Is there a bigger, more powerful emotion than that of nostalgia? Whether it be watching some old TV show that we used to love when we were younger (in my case, it’s “Saved by the Bell”) or hearing an old song that takes you “back to the day”, nostalgia is so powerful that it can forgive the fact that some of what we used to like then we would not be able to stand now – the show I mentioned being a good case in point.
 
But Nostalgia is especially powerful in the video game genre. Whenever I watch a YouTube gameplay video of some old NES game that I used to play, I can recognize it as being horrible today – but I still love it because it represents memories from a day gone by. Why else would I still find reasons to defend a few putrid games by publisher LJN (the masterminds behind “Friday the 13th”, “Jaws” and others) who seemingly turned every movie license into a crappy game experience. Just look at “Back to the Future” for a prime example of how to take a beloved movie and turn it into one of the worst NES games ever made.
 
Are there any downsides to nostalgia? Nintendo milks the nostalgic hearts of gamers all the way to the bank repeatedly. There were hints of this happening even back when “Super Mario All-Stars”, a 16-bit upgrade to four classic NES Mario titles debuted on the Super Nintendo within the first year of that console’s existence.
 
But Nintendo really tapped into something with “Animal Crossing” on the GameCube about a decade later. Within the game, there were objectives to collect multiple “NES” systems for your animal house, and each represented a working unit and would allow the gamer to play a classic NES game, full screen from the GameCube game itself. Among the most common titles were Pinball, Excitebike and Donkey Kong – and among the more rare were Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, which were never officially made available domestically and required a Game Genie to unlock and play. This feature was so popular that I personally feel it is responsible for making the Animal Crossing franchise as successful as it is today. Even those the NES games were taken out of later installments, it was those that drew many a gamer into the world of Animal Crossing and got them hooked.
 
Nintendo struck gold again in what I believe was a true test of what would become the Virtual Console feature on the Wii. The Game Boy Advance SP was issued in a Limited Edition NES design (which fetch quite the pretty penny on eBay these days), and along with it came ten classic games from the NES era – for $20 a pop. Millions were sold and a couple years later, the Virtual Console service for the Wii was announced at E3 to wild applause and fanfare. Releasing what were basically ROMs of old NES, Super NES and Nintendo 64 games (at the cost of $5, $8, and $10 respectively) to be played on the Wii was a brilliant move… because it played on that nostalgia of gamers everywhere.
 
However, Nintendo is finding out the hard way that the power of nostalgia can turn on you if you try to run it into the ground. Virtual Console services are also present in their current systems, the Wii U and 3DS platforms, but because of the non-transferrable nature of Nintendo and the ununified account systems, one cannot buy a Virtual Console game on the Wii U and share with and play it on their 3DS… they would have to buy both, separate versions.
 
A company can also ride on the coattails of nostalgia too long. A common criticism against Nintendo these days is that instead of creating new IPs and fresh experiences, they recycle the same franchises and characters from the last twenty years. What were the biggest Wii U titles last year? Super Mario 3D Land and an HD remake of a GameCube Zelda game. Those games are no doubt fun, but are they fresh enough to help carry a struggling console? Sales numbers would suggest not.
 
Nostalgia can also come back and bite gamers and developers in other areas. Long running franchises can feel the sting of the power of nostalgia. Whenever there is a new Resident Evil game announced, Capcom has to decide what kind of game to make it. For me, nostalgia dictates that I want it to be the classic, survival horror feel of the original trilogy, but does that make me an old stick in the mud for not progressing to enjoy Resident Evil 4 or 5 which ambitiously brought a new look and feel to the series? And if they did ever fully return to its roots, would I complain of it being too similar to the first three and just rehashing a much better game?
 
The power of nostalgia cannot be denied. Those Game Boy iPhone covers are extremely popular for a reason. When I look back at my gaming history, I tend to look more fondly at games I played as a kid than I do at games I play now. I am more forgiving to them and more harsh on the new generation. But in that same token, does nostalgia hurt me and hold me back from enjoying new games or new ideas in classic franchises just because they aren’t like how they used to be? Will I become jaded at Nintendo for rereleasing the same old NES games over and over with every new Virtual Console in every new system they put out? How much Mario can I take?
 

Gaming is a Big Business. And that is why nostalgia is probably the biggest double-edged sword of them all.

admin
via The Nerd Machine

http://www.nerdhq.com/the-power-of-nostalgia/

Report: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Test Screening Scores Marvel Studios’ Highest Rating Ever

But it comes with a caveat.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/33120-report-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2-test-screening-scores-marvel-studios-highest-rating-ever.html

JUSTICE LEAGUE 2nd Unit Director Says It's 'Rebirth of Hope,' Compares Film to STAR WARS

"It was always the rebirth of hope and the rise."

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/33119-justice-league-2nd-unit-director-says-its-rebirth-of-hope-compares-film-to-star-wars.html

The Walking Dead #5 - Robert Kirkman & Tony Moore

The Walking Dead #5 Robert Kirkman & Tony Moore Genre: Graphic Novels Price: $1.99 Publish Date: February 1, 2004 Publisher: Image Comics Seller: Image Comics, Inc.

It was only a matter of time before their camp was attacked...and that time has come. Rick Grimes and company find themselves surrounded by zombies. Who will die, who - if anyone - will survive? Who will be the next to join the walking dead?

get it now at https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-walking-dead-5/id878444778?mt=11&uo=2&partnerId=11&at=1010ldoE

The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War Part 1 - Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn & Stefano Gaudiano

The Walking Dead, Vol. 20: All Out War Part 1 Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn & Stefano Gaudiano Genre: Graphic Novels Price: $11.99 Publish Date: March 11, 2014 Publisher: Image Comics Seller: Image Comics, Inc.

The biggest storyline in Walking Dead history starts here! It's Rick versus Negan with a little help from everyone else! Collects issues #115-120. The world we knew is gone. The world of commerce and frivolous necessity has been replaced by a world of survival and responsibility. An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months society has crumbled: no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, the survivors are forced to finally start living.

get it now at https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/walking-dead-vol.-20-all-out/id877574888?mt=11&uo=2&partnerId=11&at=1010ldoE

Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1 - Gene Luen Yang & Various Artists

Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Part 1 Gene Luen Yang & Various Artists Genre: Graphic Novels Price: $7.99 Publish Date: January 24, 2012 Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Seller: Penguin Random House LLC

The wait is over! Ever since the conclusion of Avatar: The Last Airbender , its millions of fans have been hungry for more—and it's finally here! This series of digests rejoins Aang and friends for exciting new adventures, beginning with a faceoff against the Fire Nation that threatens to throw the world into another war, testing all of Aang's powers and ingenuity! * The continuation of Airbender and the link to its upcoming sequel, Legend of Korra ! * Written by Gene Luen Yang, author of the National Book Award-nominated American Born Chinese .

get it now at https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/avatar-last-airbender-promise/id885960930?mt=11&uo=2&partnerId=11&at=1010ldoE