Month: June 2011

“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D” Brings a New Dimension to a Timeless Classic on Nintendo 3DS

from Nintendo of Canada:

The 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda video game series goes into high gear with the June 19 launch of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D game. Available exclusively for the portable Nintendo 3DS system, the new game introduces a fully re-mastered version of one of the most acclaimed installments in Nintendo’s fan-favorite The Legend of Zelda game series. Combining adventurous game play and classic story elements with enhanced graphics and previously unavailable challenges, this new edition also highlights the deep, engaging experiences made possible by Nintendo 3DS with intuitive hand-held motion controls and the ability to play in 3D without the need for special glasses.

Experienced fans and newcomers alike will have plenty to discover in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D as they guide the heroic Link on an adventure through Hyrule, where they will encounter vividly enhanced characters and environments. The new touch-screen interface makes it simple to navigate menus and switch between items, while new motion controls allow players to swiftly and accurately aim their weapons when targeting in first-person view. After completing the main game, players will also have access to the additional Master Quest that provides even more challenges with redesigned dungeons, more challenging enemies and environments that are experienced in reverse.

“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is the definitive version of a game that is an indelible part of entertainment history,” said Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada’s vice-president and general manager. “This is a game for every fan of the series, from those who grew up on Link’s adventures to the new generation of players who are just starting to create their own magical memories in the mythical land of Hyrule.”

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D introduces new content that is exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS version of the game. After players have defeated a boss, they can replay the battle again in Boss Challenge mode and try to improve their completion time. When they have defeated all eight of the game’s bosses, they can face them all in succession under an action-packed timed run. At select access points in the game, players can also watch special hint movies that provide clues to help solve tricky puzzles and defeat challenging enemies.

The original The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launched for the Nintendo 64 system in 1998. Earning widespread praise from fans and critics alike, it currently holds a Metacritic.com score of 99. Since 1986, The Legend of Zelda game series has sold more than 62 million units worldwide.

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.

For more information about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, visit zelda.com/ocarina3d.

Shout! Factory: San Diego or Bust

from Shout! Factory:

The 2011 San Diego Comic-Con is next month! Seems like only yesterday that we were at the 2010 SDCC with Max Headroom and the 2009 event with Middleman. Time does fly… This year we’ll be in a new booth (4248, for those keeping early track) and hosting signings for Battle Beyond the Stars and Trailers from Hell! Vol. 2. Additionally, we’ll have daily Grand Prize giveaways, lots of product for sale and even a few exclusive gifts with purchase. We invite you to bring a spare suitcase for the trip home. More details to come — but know that it’s going to be tweetbookblog-worthy for sure.

VIZ Media Brings the Animated Animal Kids Adventure of “Hero: 108” to Multiple Leading Online Content Outlets

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media has just announced the release of their newest action adventure animation, Hero: 108, on iTunes (iTunes.com), PlayStation Network, Amazon Instant Video, and the Zune Marketplace on Xbox Live. The first half of Season 1 (episodes 1-13) will be available for purchase starting today. To celebrate the launch of this popular series, which aired on Cartoon Network, fans can download the first full episode for FREE through July 4th on all platforms. Subsequent episodes are available for only $1.99 each.

Long ago in The Hidden Kingdom, animals and humans lived together in peace… until the evil HighRoller tricked the animals into believing that the humans were their enemies. HighRoller convinced his animal armies to attack the humans and drive them from their homes. Most humans were so downtrodden that they gave up all hope for better days.

That is until Commander ApeTrully created a base of strategic operations in a giant abandoned turtle shell, submerged in a seemingly quiet lake. He called upon rebel humans and animals to fight the villainous HighRoller and dubbed his rebel force “Big Green.” Their mission? Restore peace to the land. Big Green’s most elite team of warriors is called First Squad and consists of Lin Chung, Mighty Ray, Mystique Sonia and Jumpy GhostFace. Together they face off against all manner of fierce creatures, like fire-breathing Ligers and magic lantern-wielding Zebras.

For more information on Hero: 108 or other VIZ Kids properties, please visit VIZKids.com.

J!NX: “Portal 2” Tees and Destructo Sale Extended

from J!NX:

Introducing the Portal 2 Debut Collection
Over the past few months, J!NX and Valve have been meeting behind closed doors to come up with the coolest tees to ever meet your eyeholes inspired by the award-winning game. This is just the first taste, though, as we already have more designs in the works, ready to spring upon the world in the coming months.

Destructo-Sale Now Extended to 6/13
Shop by Size — Men’s:
Small | Medium | Large | X-Large | 2X-Large | 3X-Large | 4X-Large

Shop by Size — Women’s:
Small | Medium | Large | X-Large | 2X-Large

Shop by Price:
$15 Tees | $10 Tees | $5 Tees

ThinkGeek Pwns Root (Beer)

from ThinkGeek:

Our dads are sad.

Know why our dads are sad? They’re sad because they are not eligible to win the ThinkGeek (Even More) Ultimate GeekDad Giveaway. We’re hoping to cheer them up with bacon-wrapped cheeseburgers and home-brewed root beer. The good news is that you and your dad could win.

The bad news? If you win, you’ll never be able to top that Father’s Day gift. Better start saving up for a Death Star retirement home.

Root Beer Brewing Kit
Brewing regular beer at work could get you into big trouble (unless you work at a brewery, of course). But there is one type of beer that’s safe for work: root beer! Now you can brew it yourself, and have deliciously creamy root beer in as little as 3 days. It’s easy and fun, and there’s nothing like drinking down all your hard (not really) work. While you’re at it, brew some at home, too. It’s a great way to get the whole family involved in making something you want to drink!

Take $5 off $30+ or $10 off $60+ orders — Pop is tops!
ThinkGeek’s GeekDads have selected their top picks for Father’s Day gifts. And whether your Dad is a sci-fi geek, a gadget geek, or an outdoors geek, we’ve got the gift that will make him declare you to be his favorite offspring. Of course, you can always pick out a few things for yourself… y’know, while you’re here. Use code DADNME for $5 off $30 or $10 off $60, good through 11:59 pm Eastern on 6/11/11.

(Even More) Ultimate GeekDad Giveaway — We really outdid ourselves
Sure, you could honor your father with a lightsaber duel, but you might need that hand one day. How about gifting him with our biggest prize pack ever? At stake is our iCade (complete with 16GB wifi iPad), a full-size arcade cabinet with custom ThinkGeek art, a $1,000 ThinkGeek shopping spree, a subscription to WIRED, a LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0, GeekDad shirts and books for the family, Munchkin goodies from John Kovalic, and a pair of GUNNAR gaming glasses. Don’t be a bad kid — enter by noon ET on June 17th!

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!

VIZ Media Announces the U.S. License for Hatsune Miku

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced that it holds the U.S. product licensing rights for Hatsune Miku, the popular Vocaloid virtual pop singer that has become a massive pop culture phenomenon in Japan. VIZ Media will showcase Hatsune Miku among its other properties available for product license at the 2011 Licensing International Expo, held in Las Vegas, June 14th-16th, 2011. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #2481.

The Licensing International Expo is held at Mandalay Bay Convention Center and is the preeminent marketplace for the hottest international brands and properties. It features a show floor of more than 7,000 properties from all of Hollywood’s major film studios, global entertainment companies, Fortune 500 consumer brands, sporting teams, interactive properties, fashion labels, and cutting-edge artists and designers. The annual event celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2010.

Hatsune Miku is a striking, blue-haired digital female avatar and the most popular of the Vocaloid Character Series software originally created by Crypton Future Media and using Yamaha’s Vocaloid 2 engine. The innovative software enables users to create synthesized vocal tracks using Hatsune Miku’s vocals by simply typing in lyrics or inputting a melody. Crypton’s Vocaloid program uses vocals that are derived from pre-programmed samples of the voices of many popular actors/singers.

In Japan, the popularity of Hatsune Miku has become a national phenomenon. She has appeared in several video games and music videos and has also performed several sellout “concerts,” where she appeared on stage as a 3D hologram, backed by a live band. Most recently she appears in a new commercial for the U.S. market for the 2011 Toyota Corolla. The spot is also available on YouTube, and since its debut on May 4th, the segment has received more than 950,000 hits. The Japanese pop group Supercell also features Hatsune Miku as its vocalist and released their first single in the U.S on May 10th. The track, “The World Is Mine,” from their forthcoming full-length album, placed as high as #4 on the iTunes World Music charts.

“Hatsune Miku is the world’s first true digital pop star and her notoriety is spreading fast across North America,” says Tracy Hanchett, Director, Consumer Products. “Her development explores a whole new hybrid of digital technology and organic creativity. The Hatsune Miku brand is richly developed in Japan, where she stars in several video games by Sega, as well as CDs, books, arcade games, collectible figures, apparel and other accessories. We’re very excited to showcase this new property at the 2011 Licensing International Expo and welcome the opportunity to work with innovative product partners to further cultivate the Hatsune Miku brand for a new U.S. market.”

For more information on Hatsune Miku and other titles from VIZ Media please visit VIZ.com.

Save 15% for Father’s Day! Plus, Announcing a SDCC ’11 MIMOBOT Exclusive!

from Mimoco:

Celebrate Father’s Day with MIMOBOT! 20% off all Star Wars & DC Comics MIMOBOTs now until Saturday June 18th! Shop Now!

Announcing a MIMOBOT SDCC ’11 exclusive! HARLEY QUINN! See Sneak Peek!

FREE Shipping on ALL Orders Over $50! (Excludes Hawaii, Alaska)

Innovative Multimedia Group Blends Technology and Pop Sensibilities for New Album Featuring Vocals by Virtual Pop Culture Star Hatsune Miku

from VIZ Media:

Sony Music Direct (Japan), Inc., a division of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Inc., has announced the U.S. release of the full-length major label debut from the Japanese pop group, Supercell, on Tuesday, June 21st. Supercell blends catchy pop melodies and technology-inspired vocals with captivating anime-influenced imagery and notably features the world’s first virtual pop star, Hatsune Miku. The new record will be available exclusively on iTunes and Amazon.

The album for Sony Music Direct is titled Supercell Featuring Hatsune Miku and features a striking cover illustration of the singer by renowned manga artist Shiro Miwa. The record’s first single, “The World is Mine,” was released in North America on May 10th on iTunes and Amazon and placed as high as Number 4 on the iTunes World Music charts.

Supercell is a group of multimedia creators and artists led by composer/lyricist Ryo. Hatsune Miku, whose name means, “first sound of the future,” is a digital female avatar and the most popular of the Vocaloid Character Series software originally created by Crypton Future Media using Yamaha’s Vocaloid 2 engine to create synthesized vocal tracks.

Supercell Featuring Hatsune Miku features 12 upbeat tracks that are driven by the singer’s bright vocals supported by lush electronic, pop and rock-inspired melodies. “Because Hatsune Miku is portrayed as a 16 year-old girl, I wanted to compose love songs that would be believable for a teen like her to sing,” says Ryo.

He adds, “I’m very intrigued with the new possibilities for creativity that vocaloid technology and virtual personalities like that of Hatsune Miku present. This is the ultimate hybrid of organic human creativity combined with the latest technological innovation to produce a whole new kind of pop group. I’m very excited at the prospect of U.S. audiences discovering Supercell!”

In Japan, Hatsune Miku is a major national phenomenon appearing in many popular video games and music videos. She’s also played several sellout “concerts,” where she performed on stage as a 3D hologram backed by a live band. Her international notoriety is spreading to North America, where she’s currently featured in a new commercial for the 2011 Toyota Corolla. Hatsune Miku is also scheduled to perform her first U.S. concert with an event called “MIKUNOPOLIS in LOS ANGELES,” at the 2011 Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CA July 1-4. Information on the concert is available at: mikunopolis.com.

More information on Supercell is available at: facebook.com/supercell.JPN.

J!NX: Destructo Sale – Tees as low as $5

from J!NX:

The Destructo-Sale Returns
Shop by Size — Men’s:
Small | Medium | Large | X-Large | 2X-Large | 3X-Large | 4X-Large

Shop by Size — Women’s:
Small | Medium | Large | X-Large | 2X-Large

Shop by Price:
$15 Tees | $10 Tees | $5 Tees

Don’t Stand in the Fire T-Shirt
There exists a rule which provides safety for all manner of adventurer, from the novice stable-boy to the most ferocious Khal. Amongst wise elders it has been said that all matter of unneeded damage might be avoided but by simply moving away from the fire. While you must certainly stand strong beside your brethren, and stand strong for your noble cause, be sure you stand not in the fire.