New Design Arcade Winner: Gamer’s Thumb
It’s an affliction that no gamer can avoid: Gamer’s Thumb. You’ve been button-mashing for who-knows-how-long, and your thumbs are now purple, deformed, and throbbing. It’s a good hurt, a deep burn, and it signifies that you have pwned until you are physically incapable of pwning — which is the only time you should stop, anyway. Game on and may your thumb-callouses grow strong and mighty! Grats to LindsayLB for a schweet design!
PAX Prime 2010 Recap… With Video!
Catch up on your PAX 2010 goodness in our post-PAX recap! Browse the pics from our photoshoot and Super Ultra Mega Party, have a look at the epic video and relish in the good times had at the J!NX booth. Read all about it nao!
In honour of the 30th anniversary of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Hasbro has released two versions of the movie’s most iconic vehicle: the AT-AT.
As Hasbro says in their press release for the Star Wars Imperial AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport), “in space, size does matter”. Everyone who sees the deluxe AT-AT for the first time is struck by the sheer enormity of it. While it isn’t fully to scale with the 3.75” action figures that man it, it does currently hold the title of largest AT-AT toy ever made, fitting a crew of 20 action figures, six of those in the head’s command cockpit alone. The yellow starburst on the packaging, proclaiming the 2010 AT-AT to be “Over 2 Feet Tall!”, doesn’t really manage to convey just how big this behemoth is out of the box. It has to be seen in person to be truly appreciated. Unpacked and assembled, the deluxe AT-AT stands approximately 24 inches tall, 28 inches long, and 12 inches wide, about the size of a medium-sized dog, and, loaded to full capacity with action figures and a speederbike, weighs nearly as much as one, too. It’s instantly the focal point of a room, even if, in the absence of a sizable enough table or display case, it’s relegated to the floor.
Despite dominating the average Star Wars collection, bigness isn’t the deluxe AT-AT’s only selling point. A gorgeously crafted toy, it quite faithfully recreates the stop-motion models used in The Empire Strikes Back, putting it closer to being a studio scale model than simply a plaything. The attention to detail is impressive, particularly in the interiors. Also contributing to the high-end air of the piece is Hasbro’s meticulous paint job. Applied with model maker precision, the paintwork capably matches the appearance of metal, with dark, rusty stains weathering the vehicle, and panels painted in mismatched shades giving it the realistic look of a patched-up war machine. As an optional bonus, a sheet of battle damage stickers is provided to further age the AT-AT’s armor. (These stickers are permanent ones, rather than the reusable peel-and-stick kind, so choose carefully how you place them.) Seven more stickers fill in the AT-AT’s viewscreens, and there are three Imperial markings to apply to the included speeder bike.
Most importantly, the deluxe AT-AT is huge fun to play with, as it’s loaded with features. It emits vehicle, walking, and laser firing sounds, accompanied by 27 random-play Darth Vader, General Veers, Imperial Officer, and Clone Trooper sound clips from The Empire Strikes Back (three 1.5VAA/R6 batteries required; the American version speaks phrases in English, but the mainline product in Canada is sound-effects-only to accommodate the French market). More than one sound can be active at once, permitting Imperial commanders to bark orders while the AT-AT is in motion. LEDs light up the cockpit viewscreen and forward laser guns, which move by means of slider buttons under the chin, and the guns on the cheeks shoot projectiles quite a distance when buttons are pressed on them. A pull-up handle behind the head pops up hidden laser cannons, and enables you to lift and swivel the head. The deluxe AT-AT has a multitude of hatches to explore, as well. The top of the head opens to access the cockpit, where the included AT-AT driver action figure sits, and double hatches open on both sides of the body. A zip-line pulls through the trapdoor in the floor of the main compartment, then winds back up with the press of a button on the upper deck. At the rear of the AT-AT, a large hatch drops down to reveal the speeder bike bay. A speeder bike is included, and snaps onto a launch/landing pad that extends when a button is pressed (there are a lot of buttons on this AT-AT). There are even a couple of tiny hatches on the sides of the docking bay that let you peek in at the parked bike when the hanger is closed. Inside the two-level main compartment are a pair of repelling platforms that swing out, each capable of holding two figures. They’re lowered by pressing a button, and retracted by turning a thumbwheel. The AT-AT’s articulated legs have ratcheting joints at the hip and knees that securely lock poses into place with a loud, satisfying click, providing extra stability. Adjustable at the ankle, the feet are bigger than those on the original Kenner AT-AT, raising the Imperials’ chances of stomping a Rebel snowspeeder.
The instruction sheet warns against knocking the AT-AT over, but after watching it tip over numerous times, it didn’t seem to be any the worse for wear. The thick plastic is sturdy enough to take a pretty heavy beating, and the doors are designed to release when too much pressure is put on them, then snap right back on. As long as kids don’t lean their weight on the head or try to use the AT-AT as a riding pony, it should hold up to many years of enthusiastic play.
Need another reason to want Hasbro’s Star Wars Imperial AT-AT? Fans of the nostalgic short film AT-AT Day Afternoon, who missed out on getting the vintage Kenner AT-AT, now have the opportunity to adopt their very own robotic dog from a galaxy far, far away!
For children (ages 3 and up) who aren’t old enough yet to play with a Super Deluxe AT-AT, Hasbro offers the Star Wars Galactic Heroes: AT-AT Walker. This junior edition AT-AT is a little over knee-high to the deluxe AT-AT, and looks absolutely adorable when displayed next to its towering big brother. Like the rest of the toys in the Galactic Heroes line, it has a chunky, stylized look that will appeal to kids and/or fans of the Japanese “chibi” style made popular in anime and manga.
The Galactic Heroes: AT-AT Walker is basically a “training wheels” for the deluxe AT-AT. It has the same features, but in a more stripped-down form. Electronic lights, weapons, and walking sounds (two 1.5VAA/R6 batteries required) are activated by a single button on the head, but don’t play concurrently, and sound bytes aren’t part of the package, so children are free to do their own movie quoting. There are two hatches, one for the cockpit and another on the left side of the body. The AT-AT Walker is completely in scale with other Galactic Heroes toys, though the bulky blaster wielded by the included AT-AT driver necessitates a bit of wiggling to fit him into the driver’s seat in such a way that the cockpit will close. A speeder bike, also included, clips onto the main compartment’s hatch, and inside the compartment is a trapdoor and simple zip-line that’s manually operated by pulling a plastic tab in the roof that the cord is tied to. The legs and hips are labeled with numbers for quick, easy assembly, and articulation is limited to the hips and ankles. This small AT-AT won’t be achieving any deep knee bends, but its range of movement still allows for multiple action poses.
Both of the AT-ATs have screw-on battery compartment covers, with the screw safely attached to prevent loss or a choking hazard. (Note: These toys are not recommended for lolcats!)
The Star Wars Imperial AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport) and Star Wars Galactic Heroes: AT-AT Walker are distributed by Hasbro and Hasbro Canada. For more Star Wars information, please visit the official Star Wars website.
This week we’re very excited to announce the pre-order date for the Beatles Yellow Submarine Studio Scale Model. Halloween is just around the corner and we believe the best way to celebrate this year would be by pre-ordering a prized possession from the “King” of vampires. Act fast, our stock is being drained rapidly! Also, our agents have obtained some key intel on a super villain’s “powerful weapon.” Check out the detailed video below. More surprises to come!
The Beatles Yellow Submarine Studio Scale Model
“Groovy! How do you start this thing?”
Factory Entertainment is proud to present its studio scale model of the Yellow Submarine. The culmination of detailed research into the submarine featured in the 1968 animated classic, this museum quality model is the most detailed and accurate 3-D representation of the Yellow Submarine ever produced. Details:
Pre-Ordering Begins September 23rd, 2010 — 9 AM PST — $599
Edition size will be strictly limited to pre-orders received during the limited pre-order period. A deposit of $200 will be required to secure each pre-order.
The Ring of Dracula — Elite Edition Prop Replica
A high quality, officially licensed replica of The Ring of Dracula, bearing the Count’s crest. Cast from an original prop ring with exacting attention to detail, this stunning Elite Edition replica is crafted from sterling silver and inset with a genuine semi-precious Carnelian ‘blood’ stone. The mark of ‘THE’ vampire, The Ring of Dracula Elite Edition will be a valuable addition to any collection. Limited edition of just 600 pieces worldwide. Pre-order today to secure yours and avoid missing this opportunity.
James Bond 007 — Golden Gun Video
‘He has a powerful weapon…’ and now you can see it for yourself! Check out our detailed video which instructs the viewer how to assemble Scaramanga’s prized possession and highlights each separate component. After watching the video, be sure to take advantage of our, “Extra Bullets” limited time offer by purchasing a Signature or Limited Edition Golden Gun directly from our online store, factoryentstore.com.
The Beatles on Facebook
“Love” The Beatles? Are you a Facebook user? Well, you’re in luck! You can join their 7 million members strong Facebook group and get updates on all things Beatles. “All Together Now.”
Follow us on Twitter, we proudly add to the mostly inane babble but we also throw in more than the occasional gem!
View the shocking video The Empire doesn’t want you to see…
Once, Nerd Rage could bubble over in a Kirk Vs. Picard debate or a Ditko Vs. Lee message board discussion. In the past, such anger manifested itself as an overturned Mountain Dew glass or a ridiculous internet flame war. These days, though, you’d best watch your back around the nerd herd.
Time was that the nastiest thing you’d see happening at a comic convention was Trekkers making sarcastic remarks towards Twi-Hards. No more. At this year’s Comic-Con, an argument over Hall H seating resulted in a now-infamous eye-gouge.
And physical violence isn’t the only danger. At an Arizona comic convention, a puppet troup tried to stage a skit involving a Stormtrooper and a Na’vi. Suddenly, an over-zealous sci-fi fan came down on them like a fetid rain of curdled blue milk (fun starts at :45).
More norms are coming over to the geekside every day, friends. It’s getting crowded. Has it really gotten to where nerds need to pack heat for protection? No way. Here’s why: firearms can accidentally discharge and shoot fellow Avatar fans. In real life, there are no extra lives. Say No to Nerd Rage!
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3 Starts Tonight!!
Tune in to Cartoon Network tonight at 9:00 PM PT/ET to catch the first two episodes of the transformative third season of The Clone Wars, “Clone Cadets” and “ARC Troopers” (get a sneak peek at the episodes here and here)!
Still need more Clone Wars? Here’s just a small sampling of all the recent Clone Wars goodness:
Clone Wars Adventures is Now Live! Clone Wars Adventures, a free-to-play, action packed virtual world for fans of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated television series, is now live and ready to play!
The Clone Wars Season 3 Premiere Event at Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm and Cartoon Network held a red carpet Season 3 premiere screening at the Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco, inviting Boys and Girls Club kids to mingle with George Lucas and The Clone Wars cast.
Clone Wars Character Soundboards
A fresh batch of Clone Wars characters have been added to the Official Star Wars Soundboards, with more to come! Hear your favorite characters on demand with the following links:
This October, we see an all-new Marvel crossover event in which reality itself hangs in the balance. Hercules, Thor, the Hulks, Silver Surfer and a cadre of other superheroes star in Chaos War. Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente are planning an epic unlike any you’ve ever seen in the Marvel Universe:
“I don’t care how big you think Chaos War is, it’s actually bigger,” says Van Lente. “This is a cosmic big-budget disaster movie set in the Marvel Universe with all the major players playing major roles. Greg and I are trying to redefine epic storytelling in the super hero genre and every time I look at the scripts I get both intimidated and excited in equal measure.”
We’ve made it easy for you to check out all the issues on our Chaos War page. The event starts in October and includes the five-issue Chaos War miniseries, a host of one-shots as well as crossover issues in Incredible Hulks through January. Be sure to check back at the beginning of each month, as we’ll be adding all the latest Chaos War issues!
1) The Legend of Neil has a brand new minisode starring Alex Albrecht (Diggnation, Totally Rad Show). If you ever remember getting your shield eaten in the original Zelda and how frustrating that was, you’ll probably enjoy the cathartic release of watching this. Check it here.
2) Our store is getting fully stocked with T-shirts. We brought back the popular “You Deserve it After Committing Murder” Heart shirt and the “This Crap is Free” shirt. Pre-order them now and receive a Tony Janning & Sandeep Parikh autographed 8×10.
On September 10, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Cartoon Network held a red carpet Season Three premiere screening at the Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco. The fun-filled evening, sponsored by Hasbro, featured a first-ever big screen presentation of the season’s launch episodes, as well as a whole host of special activities — including videogame demos, Hasbro Galactic Battle game stations, photo opportunities with costumed characters, Jedi Academy Training and more. Special guests included youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, along with Executive Producer George Lucas, Supervising Director Dave Filoni, Producer Cary Silver and the cast of Star Wars: The Clone Wars!
The next chapter of Star Wars: The Clone Wars begins with a must-see one-hour premiere, airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, September 17 on Cartoon Network.
We know it’s only been two weeks since we’ve written, but it’s been an action-packed time and we didn’t want you to fall behind on the news!
The observant among you may have noticed that the last briefing had TWO signatures at the bottom instead of just one. That’s because as of a few weeks ago, Breadpig officially has a new employee! Christina Xu has joined on to help steer our porky hero towards greater heights of do-goodery and generally improve awesome levels in the world. If you have any questions for Christina, please ask her!
One of the first missions that our largest-ever Breadpig team will tackle is an epic voyage to South Asia in October to visit, observe, and document the work Room to Read is doing with the $85,460 we’ve donated to them. Both Alexis and Christina will visit the Laos Room to Read office as well as the XKCD school Breadpig built in Salavan, Laos. Then, Christina will continue solo to the RTR programs in Hanoi, Vietnam; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Kathmandu and Bariya, Nepal to find out how our other funded projects (and Room to Read in general) are getting along. We’ll be posting an official itinerary soon — please contact us if you have advice, requests, suggestions for great organizations to team up with in the future, or the ability to meet up for a drink anywhere along the way!
Finally, Breadpig joined in Reddit’s efforts to create the largest fundraiser for DonorsChoose ever to convince Stephen Colbert to have a rally in DC. We donated $1776.63 to the campaign to celebrate Reddit breaking the $30,000 mark (Hilary Clinton’s record over the last 3 years!) in less than 24 hours, and in return Mr. Colbert wrote us a little letter. We are proud (and starstruck) beyond words!
Breadpig doubled in size as a company, is going to visit Room to Read sites in Laos/Vietnam/Sri Lanka/Nepal in October, donated $1776.63 to DonorsChoose to congratulate Redditors on generating over $30k in less than 24 hours.
Love and crusty bacon,
Alexis and Christina
(P.S. This Sunday, November 19th, is Talk Like a Pirate Day. We hope you observe this holiest of days.)
New Video: Who We Are, What We Do
J!NX is not a clothing company. Yes, we do indeed sell clothing, but at the core, J!NX is not even a company. It’s a credo, a set of tenets. It is a way of going about your day, and a list of the things that we make important. Distilling it down further, let’s say we simmer things down to a zesty passion-infused reduction sauce, J!NX becomes simply the people that drive their automobiles to this Fortress daily. It is their values, interests and personalities that manifest into something tangible. Every blurb that hits our Community section, every piece of clothing we create, every convention we hit, literally every synapse that fires for the purposes of propagating our message, comes from the amazing craniums of the people here, my friends, the J!NX crew. Watch this video and get to know them better.
New J!NX Classic Tee: Portal Potty
It is the natural progression of human nature to make technological advances, celebrate them, and then abuse them. The Portal Technology is no different. One minute we’re shifting companion cubes around with the greatest of ease, the next minute we’re mooning each other (or worse) through space and time. Let’s just hope the orange portal is placed inside GLaDOS’s server room.
L2Dress, Noob!
When it comes to pwning and levelling, you’ve got it covered, but how do you measure up to IRL challenges, like paying taxes and dressing well? We can’t help you with the taxes part, but J!NX now offers a whole line of clothing to help you attain the Legendary Closet achievement. Click here to view the full Line!
20% off all products for Orders $50+
Use Promotion Code: WHATWEDO
This offer expires Monday, September 20, 2010 at 11:59PM PDT, so don’t wait!
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced several new DVD releases scheduled for September and October that expand the company’s popular Bleach, Naruto and Vampire Knight animated series.
New Bleach Releases Include:
Bleach Volume 32
Rated “T” for Teens
MSRP: $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN
Available September 21st
Captain Hitsugaya’s advance Soul Reaper troops get involved in some unexpected sidelines during their stay in the World of the Living. When Karin Kurosaki agrees to go up against a tough group of middle school students in a game of soccer, Hitsugaya himself steps in to lend a hand. Then all the top members of Karakura First High School’s kendo team are injured, and Ikkaku is brought in to put the remaining team members through a training regimen from hell! Contains episodes 132 thru 135.
Bleach Uncut Box Set Season 6
Rated “T” for Teens
MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $71.99 CAN
Available September 28th
Back in the World of the Living, Ichigo Kurosaki has been officially recognized as a Substitute Soul Reaper by the Soul Society. But trouble soon comes to Karakura Town in the form of Visoreds, a group of ex-Soul Reapers that have crossed over into the realm of the Hollows. As they try to recruit Ichigo to their side, it is revealed that former Captain Sosuke Aizen is attempting to create an army of Hollows with Soul Reaper powers called Arrancars. It will take Ichigo and his friends, along with a detachment of Soul Reapers, to keep them from destroying the town. Contains episodes 110 thru 121 (Original and Uncut).
For more information on Bleach, please visit BLEACH.viz.com.
New Vampire Knight Releases Include:
Vampire Knight Volume 2
Rated “T+” for Older Teens
MSRP: $19.97 U.S. / $28.99 CAN
Available September 28th
A new teacher arrives at Cross Academy with a hidden identity and possibly deadly connection to Zero, whose suffering is driving him to desperation. Yuki’s feelings are torn between Zero and Kaname, and her determination to help Zero may lead her to betray the one she loves most. Contains episodes: 5-8.
For more information on Vampire Knight, please visit: ShojoBeat.com.
New Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden Releases Include:
Naruto: Shippuden Box Set 4 Special Edition
Rated “T+” for Older Teens
MSRP: $69.97 U.S. / $99.99 CAN
Available October 19th
Team Kakashi’s spying mission brings them face to face with the Leaf’s most deadly enemy, Orochimaru. Naruto’s rage brings forth the Nine-Tailed Fox, but at great risk to both himself and those he cares for the most. With Naruto’s rampage quelled, the team continues on to Orochimaru’s lair to find Sasuke, but the mysterious Sai has disappeared. Could one of their own be planning the ultimate betrayal? The Special Edition Box Set contains 14 episodes (episodes 40-53) on 3 discs, and a special limited edition collectible Sasuke figure.
Naruto: Shippuden Box Set 4 Standard Edition
Rated “T+” for Older Teens
MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $71.99 CAN
Available October 19th
DVD-only collection featuring 14 episodes on 3 discs. Limited edition collectible figure not included.
Naruto Uncut Season 4, Part 1
Rated “T+” for Older Teens
MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $71.99 CAN
Available October 26th
In the Hidden Leaf Village there are few things that Naruto and Choji love more than a steaming bowl of Ichiraku ramen. But when the daughter of the noodle shop owner is kidnapped, they’re on the case. Then, missions for the Leaf ninja lead them to the Land of Bears after a fallen meteorite and on to the Land of Greens where the team must protect a princess. When an evil ninja who’s after the princess gets in their way, Naruto puts his life on the line to save her! Contains episodes 164-191.
For more information on Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, please visit NARUTO.com.
NEW! Collect ALL 6! The final three Sanrio X MIMOBOT characters have now arrived! Please welcome Badtz-Maru MIMOBOT, Hangyodon MIMOBOT, and Hello Kitty Classic MIMOBOT as they complete our Sanrio 50th anniversary collection now! Learn More!
Video Profile: Hello Kitty @ NYSE! Check out Hello Kitty as she ring-ring-rings the bell at the New York Stock Exchange! Watch Now!
FREE Shipping on orders over $75*! Click here for more info.
