ÜberSciFiGeek – Page 27

Nintendo 3DS Price Drops to $169.99 for Great Value with New 3D Games

Nintendo of America today announced plans to drop the suggested retail price of its portable Nintendo 3DS system to $169.99 in North America, as new games based on some of the world’s most beloved video game franchises head to the system. The new price, down from the suggested launch price of $249.99 and effective August 12, makes an outstanding value even better and sets up a strong holiday season for the system.

“For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now,” said Nintendo of America President, Reggie Fils-Aime. “We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games.”

Nintendo 3DS has the strongest software lineup of any video game system this holiday season and the new price now opens up the glasses-free 3D experience to many more consumers. Building on the popularity of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, which launched June 19, the upcoming game calendar is a Who’s Who of iconic video game franchises. Star Fox 64 3D arrives on September 9, followed by Super Mario 3D Land in November, Mario Kart 7 in December and Kid Icarus: Uprising during the holiday season.

In addition to great games, Nintendo 3DS has a host of attractive features* that make it the must-have video game system this season:

* The new Nintendo Video service automatically delivers short 3D videos from the worlds of music, comedy, animation and Hollywood.
* A free application allows Netflix members with unlimited streaming plans to instantly watch TV episodes and movies streaming from Netflix.
* The Nintendo eShop is a digital store for Nintendo 3DS owners that provides access to a wide variety of downloadable content, such as original 3D software, classic games that have been re-mastered in 3D called 3D Classics, Game Boy and Game Boy Color “Virtual Console” games in their original 2D glory, and more than 350 Nintendo DSiWare games. Visitors can also view video game trailers, screen shots and product information for games, including those available at retail locations.

Since Nintendo 3DS launched in North America on March 27, nearly 900,000 people in North America have purchased one to enjoy 3D visuals without the need for special glasses. These Nintendo 3DS owners represent some of Nintendo’s most loyal customers, and Nintendo is rewarding them for getting in on the action early with 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop.

These free games are available to anyone who owns a Nintendo 3DS system and uses a wireless broadband Internet signal to connect to the Nintendo eShop at least once before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on August 11. These users will automatically be registered in the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program. The program contains two elements:

1. Starting September 1, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES Virtual Console games at no charge and before they are available in the Nintendo eShop to the general public. These games, including Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber and The Legend of Zelda, are slated to become paid downloadable games, but Ambassadors get them early for free. Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost.
2. By the end of 2011, Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. These include games like Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! and Mario vs. Donkey Kong. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors, and Nintendo currently has no plans to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3DS in the future.

More details about this program will be announced in the future.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit nintendo.com/3ds.

*Some features require a broadband Internet connection.

ThinkGeek Hails the Mighty BOFH!

from ThinkGeek:

All hail the Sysadmin!

We hope you didn’t get so distracted by SDCC that you forgot to get your SysAdmin an offering a gift for SysAdmin Day! After all, they can read your email. And prevent you from updating your Facebook or watching funny videos on YouTube. That’s real ultimate power. If you forgot to snag them something, you should enter our contest and pray to Fortuna that they win. It’s an amazing prize package worthy of a SysKing or SysQueen.

P.S. We <3 you, Kodermike. You will always be our SysKing. Love, all your monkeys.

Since you asked so nicely…

You: ThinkGeek, give me a coupon code!
Us: What’s the magic word?
You: Sudo give me a coupon code.
Us: Okay.

Use code SUDO to embrace the power of a superuser and save $5 off orders of $30+ and $10 off $60+, good through through 11:59pm ET 7/29/11.

Last chance to enter to win the 2011 Sysadmin Pageant
It doesn’t matter what time it is, where you are, or what you’re doing online. Somewhere a Sysadmin is working behind the scenes to keep you plugged in. That’s why we celebrate Sysadmin Day every July 29. Thursday, July 28th is the last day to nominate your favorite Sysadmin to be SysQueen or SysKing. Our Queen & King will each win a package of amazing ThinkGeek goodies, and you could win a $500 gift certificate. All entries must be received by Thursday, 7/28/11 at 11:59 pm ET.

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!

J!NX: Raiding Beverage of Choice

from J!NX:

It’s 9pm. You just wiped for the 17th time on Marl’brolo the Defibrillator because the wizards forgot to spellshield the raid healers — again. There are three hours left in the raid, the main tank just ninja-logged because his prepaid card expired, and his backup is wearing DPS gear. Time to reach for a lukewarm Dungeon Ale: because at this point, you just want the hurting to stop.

Raider’s Dungeon Ale Premium Tee
Raider’s Dungeon Ale T-Shirt

Save 10% when you spend $40+

Use Promotion Code: RAIDERS
This offer expires Monday, August 01, 2011 at 11:59PM PDT, so don’t wait!
*can’t be combined with any other offers, sale prices, or discounts

J!NX: Super-Colossal Sale Extended

from J!NX:

More Super-Colossal Savings
Just when you thought you missed out on the most intense sale prices to ever grace the face of the interwebs, the cosmic demigods that govern the inner-workings of website offers have seen fit to extend the Super-Colossal hullabaloo another 3 days! From now through 11:59 PM Pacific on Monday night, you can get $7 off tees, $15 off hoodies, and 30% off accessories. That’s pretty much everything we offer on the site, so get in while you can.

MST3K vs. Gamera: Mystery Science Theater 3000, Vol. XXI (Deluxe Edition) 5-DVD Set to Be Released from Shout! Factory

from Shout! Factory:

IN STORES AUGUST 2

Shout! Factory, in association with Best Brains, Inc., is proud to announce MST3K vs. Gamera: Mystery Science Theater 3000, Vol. XXI (Deluxe Edition), will be released on August 2, 2011. The 5-DVD set is housed in a limited-edition tin, with 5 mini-posters, and includes the titles Gamera, Gamera Vs. Barugon, Gamera Vs. Gaos, Gamera Vs. Guiron and Gamera Vs. Zigra. SRP $64.99. Through a special offer only from Shout! Factory, fans who order the set at the Shout! Factory Store will receive a free Gamera postcard pack and MST3K Stress Ball.

What could possibly be better suited to the always-quotable wisecracks of beloved SoL captive Joel Robinson and his faithful robot sidekicks, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot, than a monster movie about a giant flying turtle? The answer is — four other movies about same flying turtle! Behold the first-ever themed collection of Mystery Science Theater 3000 classics: all five Gamera episodes from the particularly fertile third season of the long-running cult comedy television series… in their own shell!

In Gamera, East-West tensions literally ignite an atomic explosion in the Arctic, and scientists must find a way to stop one very unexpected fallout: the rampage of a giant, flying turtle unearthed from its glacial tomb in the lost city of Atlantis. If ever there was an argument for world peace, this would be it. On the Satellite of Love, a much more familiar version of the reptile is celebrated in the now-legendary torch song tribute to Servo’s pet turtle, “Tibby, Oh Tibby!” Bonus features include the MST Hour host segments, original Japanese trailer, and So Happy Together: A Look Back At MST3K & Gamera.

In Gamera Vs. Barugon, Gamera is back, only this time he’s playing for our team. In color! When a private expedition to retrieve a mysterious opal unwittingly unleashes a monster lizard, Gamera returns to Earth for the ultimate reptilian rumble. Climate change meets Theatre of the Absurd as our favorite fire-spewing turtle takes on a larger-than-life lizard with freezing breath. On the SoL, the jokes fly faster than an airborne turtle, and Crow and Tom fan the flames of another battle of the ages: PC vs. Mac. Like it’s even a question. Bonus features include the original Japanese trailer and Gamera Vs. The Chiodo Brothers, in which the acclaimed special effects team (Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Elf) waxes nostalgic about Gamera, Japanese monster movies and men in rubber suits.

Gamera solidifies his new status as protector of humanity in Gamera Vs. Gaos, when he’s called upon to defeat Gaos, an enormous bat with deadly spit-lasers. What Gaos is prepared to do with those lasers to survive, you’ll have to watch and see — but feel free to make your own “I Kept My Eyes Open For 92 Minutes” T-shirt. Much like Gaos, the riffs are relentless, strange and funny. And so is the SoL’s extremely short-lived production of Gameradamerung. Bonus features include Gamera Obscura: A Brief History by August Ragone (author of Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters), and the original Japanese trailer.

Gamera comes to the rescue of two young boys abducted by alien women with a taste for growing brains in Gamera Vs. Guiron. As if that doesn’t keep the heroic turtle busy enough, there’s Guiron (part monster, part cutlery) to contend with. Yes, it’s another heaping portion of giant monsters going at it and not “using their words” — fortified with essential messages about trust and kindness. Also, live from Deep 13 and the SoL: a very special evening of tributes to the Gamera theme song. The MST Hour host segments and the original Japanese trailer of the film are included as bonus features.

The final installment of the original Gamera series, Gamera Vs. Zigra, was completed shortly before Daiei Studios went bankrupt, and it’s not hard to see why. Gamera returns to save Earth from yet another alien with Earth envy. But lest you worry that it’s another portion of more of the same, this time the monster can talk, and this time it looks like a fish. Zigra (it’s a ship and a monster and a planet) blames our “Earth science” for rendering his home planet’s oceans uninhabitable. Needless to say, we are all punished for it. Invention exchanges, dioramas and two more wildly different takes on Gamera’s theme song… the wait is over. The original Japanese trailer is included as a bonus feature.

MST3K vs. Gamera Bonus Features:
So Happy Together: A Look Back At MST3K & Gamera
Gamera Obscura: A History by August Ragone (author of Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters)
Gamera Vs. The Chiodo Brothers
MST Hour host segments
Original Japanese Trailers
5 Exclusive Mini-Posters By Artist Steve Vance

VIZ Media Launches VIZManga.com

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in the North America, announced the launch of VIZManga.com at their 25th Anniversary Party last night in San Diego during the annual Comic-Con International convention. The website joins VIZ Media’s existing digital manga platform and launched with 40 series currently available on the VIZ Manga App for iOS devices, including the wildly popular titles Naruto, Bleach, Blue Exorcist, Ouran High School Host Club and Vampire Knight. With this expansion of the platform, fans can browse and access their digital manga from VIZManga.com and through the VIZ Manga Apps for the iPad and iPhone/ iPod touch. With one account, registered users will be able to view their purchases across even more devices than ever.

“Our digital publishing team wants manga to be available to as many fans as possible, no matter what device or digital experience people prefer,” said Brian Piech, Vice President, Digital Publishing. “Making our extensive library of the best titles direct from Japan available on VIZManga.com is a natural extension of our current VIZ Manga apps available on all iOS devices. One purchase can now be read across multiple devices.”

VIZ Media’s digital manga platform allows for universal access for fans from their iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or now, VIZManga.com. Pricing for manga titles on the web will be identical to the VIZ Manga app. The first chapter of all manga titles will be available as a free preview. Through July 31st, all Volume 1 manga titles will be 40% off.

The VIZ Media digital platform now has an online destination for reading manga on desktop/laptop computers and on Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. The VIZ Manga App continues to be the top app for reading manga on iOS devices and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world, currently offering 40 series and over 300 volumes, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.

For more information, visit VIZManga.com or VIZ.com/apps.

New Mimoco Releases at SDCC’11! “Star Wars” Series 7 + Hello Kitty BLOTz!

from Mimoco:

NEW! 32GB & 64GB CAPACITIES! Now Announcing from San Diego Comic Con 2011 New Product Releases

Star Wars MIMOBOT Series 7 — Featuring Boba Fett (ROTJ Edition), Leia as Boushh, Lando Calrissian, Bossk, and Han Solo with Carbonite Carrying Case

Hello Kitty Loves Animals BLOTz — Free Hello Kitty x MIMOBOT t-shirt with purchase of 9-pack case of HK Loves Animals BLOTz MIMOBOTs! 11 DIFFERENT DESIGNS!

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT — Check out our latest video featuring Hello Kitty Loves Animals BLOTz & Supercute! WATCH NOW

Signings & Exclusives at SDCC’11 — LEARN MORE

REMINDER ABOUT SDCC — Can’t Make it to SDCC to grab our exclusives? We are compiling a waiting list for fans that can’t make it to the show. Any unsold inventory will be offered on a first come first served basis to those who register for the waiting list. Just email SDCC@mimoco.com and reference the design you’d like to reserve in the subject of your email. There is a limit of one exclusive per wait list request. There is also a limit of one unit per customer per exclusive design. After SDCC is over, and if any inventory remains, a member of the Teamoco will be in touch with instructions to secure your waitlisted item(s). You will have 48 hours from receipt of emailed instructions to confirm your waitlisted item(s) before they will be released.

Check out the press release!

Shout! Factory at San Diego Comic-Con

from Shout! Factory:

We are all set to embark on our eighth SDCC adventure. Our booth has moved, so you can now find Shout! at #4248, near the back wall and the food concessions and right across the row from G4. Lots of goings-ons, but the highlights: “The Evolution of Transformers” panel on Friday at 5:30pm in Room 8; Trailers From Hell signing with director Joe Dante and Elizabeth Stanley (Thursday, 3:00); and Battle Beyond the Stars signing with film legends Sybil Danning and John Saxon (Saturday, 2:30).

More details can be found here. Be sure to bookmark the page, as we’ll be posting regular updates from the convention center floor, giving you the full Comic-Con experience!

J!NX: Super-Colossal Sales Strikes Back

from J!NX:

Super-Colossal Savings All Up In Yo’ Face
When the planets align in the configuration of the third phase of the Ouroboros Trilogy, cosmic artificial intelligences conspire to reign destruction on the latest iteration of Homo sapiens sapiens. Fortunatey, the brilliant minds at J!NX were able to channel this destructive energy, and direct it toward our prices. The mathematical/astronomical convergence resulted in all tees being $7 off. The ricochet forces managed to bring hoodies down $15, and accessory prices have a lingering -30% modifier.

Alas, with all entropic forces, these prices are fleeting; status quo will be restored on 22 July, 2011, 11:59 PM as reckoned by the California coast. Basically, get in on it now before it’s gone!

Arcana Comics is Excited to announce a couple of special appearances at the Arcana Comics Panel on Thursday evening!

From Arcana Comics:

San Diego Comic Con is a mecca for talent across the entertainment industry. It’s no different this year with the news that Alexa Vega, talented actress from the Spy Kids franchise and many other roles, and Jesse McCartney, platinum selling recording artist, actor, and voice talent will both make a special appearance during the Arcana Comics Panel from 6:00 – 7:00 PM, Thursday, July 21st in room 23ABC.

Alexa Vega and Jesse McCartney are two of the stars in the upcoming 3-D luximation animated film, THE CLOCKWORK GIRL, based on the Arcana Comics graphic novel by Sean Patrick O’Reilly and Kevin Hanna.

In the timeless land of Haraway, a robot girl, Tesla (ALEXA VEGA), is given the gift of life from her creator, Wilhelm the Tinkerer. Tesla meets Huxley (JESSE MCCARTNEY), the monster boy, who happens to be the son of her creator’s chief rival. Together the two break into – and out of – ancient fortresses, fight robots, and travel from the depths of the ocean to the skies above as they attempt to solve the mystery of the plague that has stricken their town.

The 3-D luximation animated film also features the voice talents of Carrie-Anne Moss (THE MATRIX), Jeffrey Tambor (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT), Brad Garrett (EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND), and Adrian Hough (MORTAL KOMBAT: LEGACY) amongst others.

THE CLOCKWORK GIRL (ISBN:9780062080394) was recently re-released by Harper Collins with a new forward by creators Sean Patrick O’Reilly and Kevin Hanna, along with playful, full-page pin-ups of the characters.

Clockwork Girl, Arcana’s slate of interactive apps, and more. See how independent publishers make their mark in the comic book industry and blur the lines between mediums, Arcana style. Attendees will get free comics and the first in a series of Arcana Universe posters.

While you’re on hand for the convention, be sure to stop by the Arcana Comics booth, 2415, to see some of our amazing exclusives, debut books, posters, shirts, and signings. We are also sharing the booth with Platinum Studios’ COWBOYS AND ALIENS, so don’t miss it!

Our exclusives this year, which are featured on the SDCC Exclusives list on the OFFICIAL SDCC WEB SITE, are the KADE ART BOOK and the SIDESHOWS LAUNCH EDITION.

The KADE ART BOOK features original work from some of the most talented artists in the industry! Tim Bradstreet’s unique style sets the tone with an original cover, while Tim Seeley, Brent Schoonover, Greg Horn, Kevin Mellon, Ashley Wood, Liam Sharp, Ben Templesmith, Greg Titus, and Whilce Portacio provide contributions to this amazing art book.

The SIDESHOWS LAUNCH EDITION features extras not available in the retail version of the book. It’s 1950’s Las Vegas & the mob enlisted former circus attractions as their aces in the hole. These SideShows had a little secret — they really did have the abilities they pretended to. High rollers, lounge singers, cigarettes, alcohol, and superpowers. Welcome to Las Vegas. Don’t miss the book Mark Waid (DAREDEVIL, IRREDEEMABLE) describes as “Energetic, dynamic art and a great story.”

Each exclusive is extremely limited and is sure to sell out, so get one before they’re gone!

We are also debuting the first ARCANA UNIVERSE POSTER and several new titles, which haven’t hit the stands yet.

Season Five of Felicia Day’s The Guild Debuts July 26

From The Guild:

Season five of The Guild will return to Xbox LIVE on the Zune video Marketplace and MSN Video on Tuesday, July 26, sponsored by Microsoft and Sprint. Picking up where season four left off, season five takes the Guild members out from behind their computers and throws them into the real world like the show has never seen before, with new locations, guest stars, celebrity cameos and more!The Guild stars writer/creator Felicia Day (Eureka, Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog) as Codex, a lovable geek gamer addicted to an online role-playing game. Season five follows the characters of The Guild as they travel to a gaming convention called MEGAGAME-O-RAMACON. “Conventions like San Diego Comic-Con and Penny Arcade Expo have been a part of our experience promoting The Guild and connecting with fans,” says Felicia Day. “I wanted to bring that unique experience of a going to a con to the screen.” In addition to regular cast members Vincent Caso, Jeff Lewis, Amy Okuda, Sandeep Parikh and Robin Thorsen, season five will feature recognizable guest stars from the science fiction and genre community as well as over 200 extras.The Guild will appear for the fourth consecutive year at San Diego Comic-Con with daily signings at booth 4201 and a panel at 4pm Saturday, July 23 in the Hilton Bayfront Indigo Ballroom, Comicon’s second-largest venue. The panel will include a preview of season five and Q&A with the cast.

About The Guild

The Guild is an award-winning independent comedy web series about a group of online gamers created by and starring Felicia Day, now with over 100 million views. The show is available for free on Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE, MSN, Zune.net and The Guild website. Launched in 2007 and funded initially by the show’s fans, The Guild has since been sponsored by Microsoft and Sprint. Previous seasons of the show are also available on YouTube, DVD, iTunes, Netflix and Hulu.

New from BOOM! Studios

From Boom!:

FARSCAPE #21
The War for the Uncharted Territories continues! Tensions rise as the alliance against the Kkore might have a greater enemy…in themselves! But as things seem their darkest, the key to defeating the Kkore may soon be discovered. What is the secret of a peaceful, ancient race only found on a remote planet? From FARSCAPE creator Rockne S. O’Bannon and fan-favorite novelist Keith R.A. DeCandido!

HELLRAISER #3 (A)
HELLRAISER #3 (B)
One of the greatest horror franchises of all time returns, now under the control of its original creator! Clive Barker has touched HELLRAISER only twice: once to write THE HELLBOUND HEART, and once more to write and direct the original HELLRAISER film. Now witness Barker’s long-awaited return to tell a new chapter in the series’ official continuity—a trajectory that will forever change the Cenobites…and Pinhead! In this issue, the machinations of Pinhead’s plans become more intense, and the horror they will unleash is getting closer to Kirsty! She thought she had a new life with friends and a fiancé but…the past is never buried for long!

SPACE WARPED #2
Far away, in a land long ago…there was an orphaned farm kid with daddy issues trying to rescue an orphaned princess unaware of her daddy issues! In the tradition of ROBOT CHICKEN: STAR WARS and SPACEBALLS, SPACE WARPED continues, with a loving, affectionate parody of the greatest science fiction franchise of all time! The second of a six-issue mini-series, this is a fan-pleasing romp that is sure to deliver!

STAN LEE’S STARBORN #8 (A)
STAN LEE’S STARBORN #8 (B)
The crossover fans have been clamoring for continues! It’s Starborn and Soldier Zero fighting the vanguard of the Pride and the survival of the galaxy hangs in the balance! SUPERMAN’s Chris Roberson and SPIDER-MAN’s Khary Randolph bring you a Stan Lee superhero clash of the titans like no other! Worlds collide in this epic conclusion to the second story arc from Stan “The Man” Lee!

DON’T FORGET BOOM! STUDIOS COMICS
ARE ALSO AVAILABLE THROUGH THE
BOOM! STUDIOS COMICS APP!

BOOM! Studios Digital Comics can also be found
through any of these fine digital vendors!