Another WonderCon has come and gone, and we are left with nothing but fond memories of the San Diego Comic-Con’s little brother. Each year, we watch WonderCon grow, and this year saw some great expansions to the event – it has even more panels as well as a huge amount of vendor space for those of you seeking to purchase your geekly desires. While we were there, we saw a multitude of cosplayers showcasing their costuming abilities – my favorite being the rebel trooper who gets ran through with Darth Vader’s lightsaber at Rogue One’s conclusion. We also got the chance to take in the Geek & Sundry “Talks Machina” panel, featuring the cast of their loved Critical Role web series. Overall, WonderCon is an amazing convention that Orange County geeks should make it a point to visit. You will not regret it!
Author - Jerry Paxton
April 7, 2017 – After the global success of 2014’s Godzilla and sending the mighty King Kong roaring back into theaters around the world in Kong: Skull Island, Warner Bros. and Legendary have officially unveiled the MonsterVerse, an interconnected entertainment universe that unites some of the most iconic monsters in pop culture.
In 2019, the epic cinematic adventure continues with the next chapter in the Godzilla saga, as Japan’s greatest monster returns to face a rogue’s gallery of classic beasts beloved by monster fans across the world. And then in 2020, cinematic icons will collide with the long-awaited battle royale Godzilla vs. Kong.
But for fans who cannot wait that long, the MonsterVerse continues in comic book form. Today Legendary revealed the trailer for Skull Island: Birth of Kong, a new monthly series that delves deeper into the mysteries of Skull Island and the mythic origins of Kong.
Both a sequel and a prequel to the film, the story tells of a secret team of Monarch operatives returning to Skull Island to discover the truth behind Kong and the island he was born to protect. In doing so, they unlock an ancient history of monster conflict, witness the primal war between Kong and an otherworldly ecosystem of deadly new creatures, and finally reveal how this lonely god became the last of his kind. Featuring new monsters and previously unseen Skull Island locations, the book gives fans a chance to see how Kong has evolved since the events of the film.
With a dramatic narrative that paves the way for what is to come, fans will discover new revelations that point to the future of the MonsterVerse.
About Skull Island: Birth of Kong
Skull Island: The Birth of Kong, is a 4-part saga that delves deeper into the mysteries of Skull Island and the mythic origins of Kong. Written by Arvid Nelson, the first issue will be available in print and on Comixology on April 12, 2017.
Both a sequel and a prequel to the film, the series is a father/son story set against the epic backdrop of Skull Island. The story stars Houston Brooks (played by Corey Hawkins in the film) and his son Aaron Brooks — both Monarch operatives, who disagree over the threat Skull Island represents to humanity. Aaron leads a secret team of Monarch operatives back to Skull Island to discover the truth behind Kong and the island he is born to protect. In doing so, they unlock an ancient history of monster conflict, witness the primal war between Kong and an otherworldly ecosystem of deadly new creatures, and finally reveal how this lonely god became the last of his kind.
With a dramatic new narrative that paves the way for what is to come, fans will discover new revelations that point to the future of the MonsterVerse.
Skull Island: The Birth of Kong
24 pages
$3.99
Issue #1 on-sale in print and Comixology: 4/12
Writer: Arvid Nelson
Artist: Zid
Swindon, UK – 7th April, 2017: Award winning indie team ‘Evil Twin Artworks’ are proud to announce today that Early Access favourite ’Man O’ War: Corsair’ is ready to set sail on the wider seas, as the Warhammer-themed title moves to full launch, 19th April, 2017. Man O’ War Corsair will be available for PC on Steam for £22.99 / €27.99 / $29.99.
“When we first launched our alpha back in April 2016, we rather optimistically said that we had about four months work left to do,” commented James Carroll, Director at Evil Twin Artworks. “We suspected we might end up doing more than that but our fantastic community has been so passionate and supportive, that we now have a much deeper and more engaging game than we ever envisaged.”
Man O’ War: Corsair now features explorable ports, new races and factions, additional gameplay modes, horrifying sea monsters and more epic battles than ever before! It’s a shining example of how a title should come through Early Access and blossom into a full gaming experience. James explains further: “When developers approach Early Access the right way, it can prove a wonderful collaboration that involves your most passionate fans without having to compromise your original development vision. We’re really glad we trusted our guts (and our community!) and took that route.”
True to form, through final launch and beyond, Evil Twin Artworks will still be asking for even more community feedback and suggestions as they continue to keep expanding Man O’ War: Corsair into the future, with a number of updates already in the works.
To celebrate the launch and to show how far the game has come, please check out the brand new Man O’ War: Corsair trailer.
BURBANK, Calif. (April 7, 2017) – Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Stan Lee, Julie Taymor, and other remarkable contributors to the Disney legacy will be honored as official Disney Legends during D23 Expo 2017. Hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, the Disney Legends Award ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 14, in Hall D23 of the Anaheim Convention Center.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Disney Legends Awards. The first Disney Legend was Fred MacMurray (The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Happiest Millionaire), who was honored in 1987.
“The Disney Legends Award is the highest honor our company can bestow on an individual, reserved for those few who have truly made an indelible mark on the history of The Walt Disney Company,” said Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger. “It’s a celebration of talent, a recognition of achievement, and an expression of gratitude to the men and women whose work has significantly contributed to Disney’s enduring reputation for creative excellence.”
The awards ceremony is just one of the dozens of spectacular events that Disney fans can enjoy during the three-day D23 Expo.
The 2017 Disney Legends Award honorees (listed alphabetically) are:
- CARRIE FISHER became an overnight sensation in 1977 with her iconic performance as Princess Leia in Star Wars. But throughout her career, Carrie took on many roles—as an actress, author, playwright, screenwriter, and outspoken advocate for mental health awareness. For Disney, Carrie appeared in Scream 3 (2000) and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) for Dimension Films, and, in 2015, she returned to the role that made her famous, starring as General Leia Organa in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. She reprised the role for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which will be released in December.
- CLYDE “GERRY” GERONIMI joined the Disney Studio in 1931. His first assignments as an animator were for several memorable Mickey Mouse, Silly Symphony, and Pluto cartoons, and he eventually contributed to more than 50 of the Studio’s shorts. Gerry made the leap to sequence director with 1943’s Victory Through Air Power, and he subsequently contributed to The Three Caballeros, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. He also directed segments for television’s Mickey Mouse Club and contributed to episodes of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. The apex of his Disney career came when he served as supervising director for the 1959 masterpiece Sleeping Beauty.
- MANUEL GONZALES was one of 33 artists selected from thousands of applicants to join Disney in 1936. In 1938, he took over penciling duties on the Sunday Mickey Mouse comic strip from Disney Legend Floyd Gottfredson. He brought Mickey Mouse to newspapers nationwide for nearly 40 years. At its peak, his Mickey-starring comic strip appeared in 120 newspapers around the world with a collective circulation of more than 20 million readers each week. Manuel was presented a “Mousecar” award by Walt Disney in 1966.
- MARK HAMILL began his career in 1970, appearing in numerous television series guest-roles and several TV movies, including a recurring role on ABC’s General Hospital and starring in MTM’s acclaimed The Texas Wheelers. He achieved worldwide attention as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy, which included The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He returned as Luke in The Force Awakensand will appear in the upcoming The Last Jedi. His stage career includes Broadway shows and the first national tour of Amadeus directed by Sir Peter Hall. A prolific voice-over actor, he has performed in countless animated television shows, feature films, documentaries, and video games. He appears on Disney’s Miles from Tomorrowland and Milo Murphy’s Law, and has also provided the voice of The Joker in the Batmananimated series, a role that recently earned him a BAFTA Award.
- WAYNE JACKSON began his career as a Walt Disney Imagineer in October 1965, and in the decades that followed he would put his technical skills and know-how to great use in the development and installation of Disney attractions around the world. Originally trained in aircraft tooling, he began as a technician and machinist assigned to rebuild the shows from the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair that were slated for installation at Disneyland. Instrumental in the early development of Audio-Animatronics® technology, Wayne would go on to help bring Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion to Disneyland. He went on to work on the construction and installation of attractions and show systems at Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Disneyland Paris.
- STAN LEE got a job as an office assistant at a comic publisher in 1939 called Timely Comics—forerunner of the powerhouse we all know as Marvel. Stan made his debut with a Captain America story in 1941, and by the next year, at the age of just 18, he was promoted to editor. In 1961, Stan teamed up with Jack “King” Kirby to create the Fantastic Four and ushered in a spectacular new age of comics. Stan co-created an enormous roster of Marvel characters, including Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, the X-Men, Daredevil, and Falcon. He became Marvel’s editorial director and publisher in 1972, and eventually was named chairman emeritus. His well-known cameos in Marvel films began with 1989’s telefilm The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, and since the release of X-Men in 2000 he has appeared in nearly every Marvel film project. Outside the super-hero realm, he has even popped up as a wedding guest in Disney’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.
- GARRY MARSHALL began his career in Los Angeles writing for a number of hit shows, including The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show. But his big break came in 1970, when he produced The Odd Couple for ABC, the first of many big hits he created for the network. Beginning with Happy Days in 1974, he developed a shared universe of spinoffs including Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, and Joanie Loves Chachi. His other ABC sitcoms during these years included Angie, The New Odd Couple, and Blansky’s Beauties. Garry was also a successful movie director, with 18 films to his credit. At Disney, he made stars of two young actresses: Julia Roberts, in Pretty Woman, and Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries. He directed Bette Midler in Beaches, as well as in The Lottery, a short film that for years was a fixture of the Backstage Tour at the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. Garry was known for his acting, as well, and he appeared in Disney’s Race to Witch Mountain, Chicken Little, and as the Devil in Hocus Pocus.
- JULIE TAYMOR is a Tony®-, Emmy®-, and Grammy®-winning and Oscar®-nominated filmmaker who has changed the face of Broadway with her innovative direction. Her adaptation of The Lion King debuted in 1997, becoming the most successful stage musical of all time; 24 global productions have been seen by more than 90 million people. The show has played in more than 100 cities in 19 countries. It received 11 Tony Award nominations, earning Julie Best Director, Costume Designer, and Best Musical for the show. Her production of The Magic Flute is currently in repertory at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Her films include A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Titus, The Tempest, the Golden Globe-nominated Across the Universe, and the Oscar-winning Frida. Taymor is a recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship and an inductee into the Theater Hall of Fame for Lifetime Achievement. She is currently directing M. Butterfly on Broadway, opening Fall 2017.
- OPRAH WINFREY is a renowned award-winning producer, actress, talk show host, and philanthropist. For 25 years she was the host of the award-winning talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which ran for 25 seasons on hundreds of stations domestically and in more than 100 countries around the world. Oprah is also an Academy Award®-nominated actress for her role in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 hit The Color Purple. In 1998, she starred in Beloved for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, a film that she also produced. Oprah also produced and starred in ABC’s 1989 limited series The Women of Brewster Place, and would go on to produce many films for ABC, including Tuesdays with Morrie, Before Women Had Wings, and Their Eyes Were Watching God under the “Oprah Winfrey Presents” banner. She performed as Eudora in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog in 2009 and will co-star as Mrs. Which in Disney’s 2018 film A Wrinkle in Time.
Honorees receive a two-foot-tall bronze Disney Legends sculpture that signifies the imagination, creativity, and magic they have brought to the Company. Disney Legends Award recipients will also participate in a handprint ceremony at the end of the event, and their bronzed prints will be displayed in the Disney Legends Plaza at the Company’s Burbank headquarters.
Admission to the ceremony will be on a first-come, first-served basis and is included in the price of a ticket to D23 Expo 2017.
Including this year’s honorees, a total of 276 Disney Legends have been named. Past Disney Legends include Tim Allen, Julie Andrews, Beatrice Arthur, Howard Ashman, Regis Philbin, Annette Funicello, Peter Jennings, Johnny Depp, Estelle Getty, George Lucas, Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin, Rue McClanahan, Alan Menken, Hayley Mills, Fess Parker, Sir Tim Rice, Dick Van Dyke, Barbara Walters, Betty White, and Robin Williams. Beginning with the inaugural D23 Expo in 2009, thousands of Disney fans have been able to enjoy the Legends Awards ceremony live.
Ticketsfor D23 Expo 2017 are available for $81 for one-day adult admission and $59 for children 3–9. Membersof D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $72 for a one-day adult admission and $53 for children 3–9. Multi-day tickets are also available. For more information on tickets and D23 Expo 2017, visit D23Expo.com.
Berlin, Germany – April 7th, 2017 – Berlin indie studio Point Blank Games are proud to announce that Shock Tactics will be released on PC, April 11th, 2017. The game combines fast-paced tactical combat with exploration elements and intricate squad management. Shock Tactics comes with a complex cover system, where it is crucial to use the terrain to your advantage. Position yourself above the enemy and strike both swiftly and decisively in action-packed strategic battles.
You are the leader of a small vanguard of space pioneers, on a mission to scout a newly discovered planet. On Hephæst, you must try to harness unexplored alien technology to withstand the relentless attacks of the powerful Imperial Consortium, pirates and aliens. A thrilling race against time unfolds, as players have to quickly secure excavations on the procedurally generated world map and ensure their technological edge in the war over Hephæst.
Shock Tactics will be available for 19.95€ on Windows PC as digital download on Steam, and physically in stores worldwide in cooperation with EuroVideo.
For additional information, please visit http://www.shock-tactics-game.
Follow Shock Tactics on Twitter: www.twitter.com/
April 6, 2017 – Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III is just a few short weeks from release, and the time has come for players to dive into the intense combat of multiplayer with the upcoming open beta. Running from April 21-24th, players will be able to pit powerful heroes and devastating abilities against each other as they vie for battlefield supremacy. To help players get ready for the challenge, SEGA Europe Ltd. and Relic Entertainment have revealed two videos showcasing the strategy and spectacle of multiplayer.
- Dawn of War III: Assemble Your Troops gives a taste of what it’s like to form fragile alliances and bitter rivalries with fellow players as you go head to head in battle! With live audio recorded from players during one particularly suspenseful 3v3 match, Assemble Your Troops captures the chaos, strategy, and excitement of Dawn of War III multiplayer.
- Fog of War: Multiplayer Showcase is for those players who might be new to the Dawn of War franchise or the RTS genre, or want a refresher before heading out into battle. Covering the entire multiplayer experience, players will learn the strategy that goes into selecting Elite units and Doctrines to enhance your play style, accomplishing multiplayer objectives, and achieving victory. After watching this, you’ll surely be ready for WAAAAGH!
The Assemble Your Troops multiplayer trailer and Fog of War: Multiplayer Showcase are only the tip of the iceberg in showcasing the rich depth that Dawn of War III brings to players. Players can sign up to experience it for themselves in the Open Beta by registering at www.dawnofwar.com/beta.
Dawn of War III releases on April 27, 2017 for PC. To learn more about the worlds and characters in Dawn of War III, and to keep up with future updates, be sure to head to DawnOfWar.com, and follow Dawn of War on social media.
April 6, 2016 – Deck13’s upcoming hardcore action-RPG The Surge comes to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on May 16, 2017. Today, the “Target, Loot and Equip” trailer highlights the game’s limb-slicing loot system in all its bloody, brutal glory.
The Surge empowers players by giving them control over what they loot from defeated enemies. Target specific body parts before damaging them with a combination of vertical and horizontal attacks; the dismembered part then determines which piece of equipment is looted―the schematic corresponding to the sliced armor part, salvaged materials for crafting the corresponding piece, or even the weapon wielded by the enemy. This means that when approaching an enemy, players face a difficult decision: do they target an unarmored body part for a shorter fight, or risk a lengthier, more damaging battle for a chance at slicing off a shiny new piece of equipment?
Balancing risk and reward is core to succeeding in The Surge, and bold players can walk away from a fight with amazing rewards. The toughest enemies drop the most powerful weapons and armor, so if you see a piece of equipment you like, you’ll need to fight hard for it―or die trying.
The Surge arrives May 16 and is available to pre-order now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Visit the official website for more info.
April 6, 2017 – We’re excited to announce that The Fall of the Dark Brotherhood, the first major new content addition for The Elder Scrolls: Legends, is now available worldwide for PC and iPad. This new story content brings tons of additional missions and cards to the game and returns Elder Scrolls fans to one of their favorite guilds from the franchise – the lethal Dark Brotherhood.
About The Fall of the Dark Brotherhood
The Fall of The Dark Brotherhood is a new PvE Story that tosses players into the role of a double agent hired to infiltrate the ranks of the fabled Dark Brotherhood. Recruited by a sinister group to bring down the infamous Elder Scrolls guild of lethal assassins, players will need to make key choices that both impact which missions they will play and determine how the story unfolds.
This massive new adventure takes place prior to the events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and is broken into three sections, or maps, introducing more than 25 missions and 40 new cards to the game. By completing missions within the new Story, players will unlock new cards available only via The Fall of the Dark Brotherhood, including three new Legendary cards. Players will face a variety of new challenges, lane conditions, and scenarios as they play through the new Story. There’s a pig you have to keep alive, a fight that takes place during a ball where things keep moving around, a prison fight, a skooma den battle, and much more.
The Fall of the Dark Brotherhood is purchasable in-game as three individual maps or as a bundle for a special price of $19.99 and can also be bought with in-game gold. Those who pick up The Fall of the Dark Brotherhood will also receive the ‘Doom Wolf’ mount for use in the award-winning online RPG, The Elder Scrolls Online (PC/Mac only). For more details about on The Fall of the Dark Brotherhood, including a look at the exclusive cards, please read more online.
The Elder Scrolls: Legends is currently available to download for free on PC via the Bethesda.net launcher, on iPad via the App Store.
London, April 5, 2017 – Relic Entertainment and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced the official Open Beta weekend for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III. The Open Beta will take place from 10AM PST Friday, April 21st until 10AM PST Monday, April 24th. Register now at www.dawnofwar.com/beta.
The Open Beta will pit players against each other in Dawn of War III’s tense, chaotic multiplayer. This game mode highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each faction as players put powerful heroes and devastating abilities to use, while countering those of their foes. Players will have access to all three of the game’s factions – Space Marines, Eldar, and Orks – and a selection of powerful elite heroes for each, allowing them to experiment with different playstyles and strategies.
The Open Beta weekend also gives players their first chance to see and experience the intimidating Masters of War skins in action. The Dark Queen skin for Lady Solaria (Imperial Knight), the Ghost Seer skin for Farseer Taldeer (Wraithknight) and the Big Kustom skin for Beauty (Morkanaut) will all be available for use. The Masters of War Skin Pack is included free with all pre-orders.
Dawn of War III immerses players in the escalating brutality of galactic warfare, where they will lead elite hero units and colossal armies to victory, or oblivion. Powerful super walkers will tower over the front lines as screen-shaking assaults blister the battlefield in an all-out, over-the-top spectacle worthy of the iconic Games Workshop® Warhammer 40,000 universe.
The long-awaited third instalment of the critically acclaimed real-time strategy franchise will be released on April 27th, 2017, and is available to pre-order now at www.dawnofwar.com.
Los Angeles, CA – April 5, 2017 – Rising Star Games today announced that Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop is confirmed for retail box release on May 16 in North America, with a digital release set for May 18 on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. In partnership with Japanese development studio Office Create, gamers will create a myriad of sweet treats and dazzling desserts in the fun and adorable style of the beloved Cooking Mama series.
With over 60 different recipes to create, spread throughout 160 different mini-games, players use the stylus to slice, stir, bake and decorate their creations – you can even use the microphone to blow and cool your delicacies! Create a wide assortment of delicious looking sweets and puddings, and serve customers in the shop to keep them happy. The more sweets you create and complete, the more your shop expands. You may even trigger a special event! Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop also features a competitive multiplayer mode for two to four players – challenge your friends and see who can make the tastiest treats. And just like always, don’t worry if you make a mistake – Mama will fix it for you!
Developed by Office Create and published by Rising Star Games, Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop will release at physical retail and digitally in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS in May 2017. The retail packaged version of Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop will be exclusively distributed in North America by Crescent Marketing Inc. For more information follow Rising Star Games on Twitter and visit the official Rising Star Games website.