Announcements – Page 63 – ÜberSciFiGeek

It’s on like you-know-who in “Donkey Kong Country Returns” for Wii

One of the most iconic characters in video game history is making a triumphant, chest-pounding return just in time for the holidays. The game Donkey Kong Country Returns is now available exclusively for the Wii system, giving new and experienced players a wild new way to get acquainted with the legendary Donkey Kong. Combining imaginative new features and dynamic motion controls with classic elements from the original Donkey Kong Country games for Super NES, this side-scrolling jungle adventure also marks the first time in the series that friends can play together in a cooperative two-player mode.

Donkey Kong Country Returns takes place on scenic Donkey Kong Island, where the mischievous Tiki Tak Tribe has plundered Donkey Kong’s banana stash. Players use either the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers or a single Wii Remote held horizontally to maneuver the famous ape as he runs, jumps and climbs on a quest to recover the stolen bananas. Players can feel the power of Donkey Kong by shaking the controllers to perform moves such as the mighty Ground Pound or forward-tumbling Barrel Roll as they advance through more than 70 beautifully rendered levels. The new simultaneous two-player mode lets a second player (with his or her own Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller or Wii Remote held horizontally) swing into action as Donkey Kong’s agile sidekick, Diddy Kong, whose special talents include riding high on Donkey Kong’s back, using his Barrel Jet to defy gravity and firing his Peanut Popgun.

“Players of every generation know they can count on Donkey Kong to deliver timeless video game experiences, and with Donkey Kong Country Returns, they can also pair up with a friend and enjoy the fun together,” said Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada’s vice-president and general manager. “Whether you’re a longtime fan or just getting your first video game console, Donkey Kong’s latest jungle adventure is right at home on Wii with collaborative multiplayer action, fun motion controls and colourful worlds to explore.”

The creatively designed levels in Donkey Kong Country Returns contain loads of hidden items for players to discover, keeping them coming back for more to uncover all of Donkey Kong Island’s secrets. By finding hidden puzzle pieces and collecting “K-O-N-G Letters,” players can unlock fun enhancements like new stages and behind-the-scenes concept art as they progress through the game. Donkey Kong Country Returns also includes a built-in Super Guide feature, which players of all kinds can activate to help make it through tricky levels.

The Donkey Kong character was originally created by veteran Nintendo game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, and first appeared in the 1981 arcade classic Donkey Kong, which also marked the debut of Mario (then known as Jumpman). Donkey Kong has since been featured in countless games across multiple console and hand-held platforms, selling a combined total of more than 49 million units worldwide to date.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit wii.com.

For more information about Donkey Kong Country Returns, visit donkeykong.nintendo.com.

J!NX: $1000 Awarded to 3 Awesome Artists

from J!NX:

New Winners from the J!NX Design Arcade
The past few weeks have been pretty exciting for us with a few key launches. In the midst of all that, we wanted to highlight some of the gems that have come from the J!NX Design Arcade. I Slay Dragons (on the internet) comes to us from the inimitable iamdeadfish, which let me say, is also a cool alias. Ian-S enters the fray with Floppy Disk. It happens to everyone… I swear. And we round out the batch with Cult Classics from Mark722. Each of these digital artisans walks away with $750 cash and a $250 J!NX Gift Certificate!

“Riese: Kingdom Falling” Episode 8: Indoctrination

About Riese: Kingdom Falling:

Eleysia is a dying kingdom where resources are dwindling and compassion is fading. Distrust and anxiety have clouded people’s minds, causing a regression into primitive ways of thinking. People have grown restless, almost feral. Rituals and mythology have resurged, and the darker side of mankind has begun to reveal itself.

Riese (Christine Chatelain), a wanderer, travels across the decaying lands of Eleysia with her wolf, Fenrir. Marked as a heretic by religious group The Sect and the new Empress, Amara, Riese must evade their assassins and discover their true intentions for Eleysia.

Riese is the Crown Princess of Eleysia, forced to flee into the wilds after her family was slaughtered. She will soon serve as a catalyst for a disparate group of supposed heretics, the Resistance, launching them into civil war.

Now is Your Chance to Help Get “Riese: Kingdom Falling” on Syfy!

Riese: Kingdom Falling

I think it’s no secret to anyone who visits ÜberSciFiGeek with any frequency that we have been huge fans and supporters of Riese: The Series since we first discovered some teaser footage on YouTube over a year ago. In case you are aren’t familiar with it, Riese is a sci-fi/fantasy series richly influenced by history, mythology, folklore and steampunk. The series follows a young woman named Riese and her companion, a wolf named Fenrir, who travel through a collapsing world trying to piece together the fragmented memories of her past while attempting to evade the dangerous religious cult that hunts her. The series is a visual and auditory feast with great attention paid to every detail, from the stitching of the wardrobe to the background noise in the high-definition sound. It caught the attention of Fireworks International and was pulled from the web while distribution rights were being negotiated. It was then re-edited with narration by Amanda Tapping (Stargate, Sanctuary) and re-released a few weeks ago on Syfy.com as Riese: Kingdom Falling.

From co-creators Ryan Copple and Kaleena Kiff (who shares directorial credits with Nicholas Humphries), Riese features sci-fi regulars such as Christine Chatelain (Sanctuary, Supernatural, The Collector), Sharon Taylor (Smallville, Stargate Atlantis, Eureka), Patrick Gilmore (Stargate Universe, Battlestar Galactica), Ben Cotton (Harper’s Island, Stargate Atlantis, Taken), Ryan Robbins (Sanctuary, Caprica, Battlestar Galactica, Stargate Atlantis), Peter Kelamis (Stargate Universe, Dragon Ball Z, The X-Files), Emilie Ullerup (Sanctuary, jPod, Battlestar Galactica), Alessandro Juliani (Battlestar Galactica, Smallville, Death Note), Allison Mack (Smallville, Alice & Huck), and Gina Chiarelli (The Dead Zone, Masters of Science Fiction, The Outer Limits).

For those of us who’ve been Riese fans (lovingly referred to as Rieslings) since the beginning, and the new ones who’ve been watching Riese: Kingdom Falling since it premiered on Syfy.com, it’s been a harrowing few weeks. Many of us watched Sanctuary get snapped up by Syfy after only eight episodes and have been hoping that Riese might be able to make the same move from hit web series to hit TV series. Syfy has been teasing us and watching the numbers while considering whether or not to make that hope a reality. We’ve all been waiting on the edge of our seats for news and running guerrilla warfare tactics to get our friends, family members and random strangers online to watch the show to help convince Syfy this should be on their New Original Series line-up for next season.

Well, the wait may be close to over. Today, Syfy posed the following question on its Facebook page:

What do you think? Should Riese eventually make the jump to TV?

Twitter and Facebook have been busy for the past few hours as Rieselings repost and respond to the question. @Riesetheseries tweeted “Our tweet to @Syfy got so much buzz it made it to Twitter’s front page. Guess you do want to see more Riese. 😉 Good work Rieslings!”

So, here’s your chance to help make our dreams a reality.

If you have a Facebook account, visit Syfy and answer “YES!!!”

If you have a Twitter account, send a friendly “PLEASE make #Riese a TV show!” to @syfy.

So, what are you waiting for? Go… do it. Now!

Riese: Kingdom Falling Official Website
Riese on Facebook
Riese on Twitter
Riese on Amazon
Riese: Battle for Eleysia Game for iPhone

“Riese: Kingdom Falling” Episode 7: Beast

About Riese: Kingdom Falling:

ThinkGeek’s Canned Unicorn: now with extra sparkles!

from ThinkGeek:

Dig out the elastic-waisted pants!

It’s Thanksgiving next week and we’re ready to stuff our faces — how about you? It’s time for bacon-wrapped turkey, mashed potatoes with caramelized bacon & onions, cornbread & bacon stuffing, bacon-stuffed mushrooms, and chips with bacon dip. Oh, and pumpkin pie. Can’t forget the pumpkin pie.

The extra special part of this year’s feast will certainly be the canned unicorn. We can’t wait to see Grandma’s face when we bring that to the table.

Canned Unicorn Meat!!
No foolin’ — Unicorn meat is real! Unfortunately, due to restrictions on the importation of mythical processed meatstuff, we are unable to bring you Canned Unicorn Meat in the way the Sisters of Radiant Farms intended. When you open your can, you will find one tiny unicorn which has been appropriately sliced into its main cuts of meat. Simply use your Growth Ray to re-embiggen the unicorn before skinning it and processing its flesh. Or if you’re lazy, just bring it to your local Mad Scientist-Butcher. He’ll know what to do.

TannenBomb Prank Holiday Ornament!!
Our world-famous Annoy-a-tron gets a festive makeover. Give the gift that keeps on giving — annoyance! Gift your friend/loved one/enemy with this Trojan Horse style present. It looks just like a standard innocent Christmas ornament. But when your victim hangs it on the tree the weight triggers a switch that causes the ornament to power-up and periodically emit beeps, mosquito tones, Christmas crickets, and elf giggles at random intervals. Merry Christmas insanity!

$10 Off Your Order — Timmy’s gift to you
We want your Thanksgiving meal to be the most bacontastic feast possible. But times are tough, and you may be thinking: ThinkGeek or bacon? No one should have to make that choice. EVER. Timmy wants you to have your toys and eat bacon, too. Use code BACONFEAST for $10 off orders of $40 or more through 11/19/10 at 11:59 PM ET.

ThinkGeek Holiday Gift Center — Booooookmark it!
The Ghost of Holiday Future apologizes for the lack of flying cars. But he tells us that in your immediate Future, you can avoid holiday disaster by referencing the ThinkGeek Holiday Gift Center. There you’ll find everything you wanted to know about shopping ThinkGeek for the holidays. Top sellers for those who need ideas, shipping information for procrastinators, gift certificates for the indecisive, and much, much more! Use it for yourself — or invoke your ninja skills to slip the link to someone who owes you a present this year. Hint hint.

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!

An All-New Episode Highlights New Character Models for the Heroes of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”

from StarWars.com:

When Padmé Amidala and Ahsoka Tano travel in secret to Raxus to forge a peace agreement with the Separatists, Ahsoka must confront her own prejudices and preconceptions when she comes face to face with the enemy. She will learn that there are “Heroes on Both Sides” in an all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars — airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, November 19 on Cartoon Network.

In addition to exploring some of the complexities of the war itself, the episode is notable because it introduces all-new character models for some of The Clone Wars’ heroes — including Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka.

“Over the course of the series so far, our characters have been affected by the conflict, so the changes we are seeing are a reflection of what they’ve gone through and how they’ve changed,” says Supervising Director Dave Filoni. “We’re getting closer to the events of Episode III, and the look of the series is moving toward that look and those designs. We don’t have a live-action point of comparison for Ahsoka, but her development is definitely as pronounced as anyone’s. When the war began, she was just a kid; she was strong and capable, but she had a lot to learn — and she’s been through a lot. She’s been changed by the things she’s seen and done, and now we’re seeing that reflected in her look. She’s older, more mature. In this episode, we see a significant step for her emotional development, in addition to her aesthetic development. Coming face to face with the enemy is going to be an eye-opening experience for her.”

In addition to showcasing the series’ character development and its progression toward the Episode III aesthetics, the new CG models also reflect a change in the way that The Clone Wars is produced.

“Our production keeps getting better; as we move forward, we’re able to incorporate new techniques and improved animation,” says Filoni. “As a weekly series, we’ve been pushing ourselves to do things that haven’t been done in TV animation, and it’s always a struggle just to get it done at all. But we are learning tricks that help to streamline the process, and we continue to build our asset library. We’re at a place where we can explore and develop new and improved character assets for some of our primary players. In addition to the look change, these new models are so much more expressive.”

“Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet” On Sale Now

from Marvel:

The legendary Marvel Super Hero Squad is back and ready to “Hero Up” in an all-new video game adventure for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii and the Nintendo DS family of hand-held systems.

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) announced that Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet, an all-new Marvel Super Hero Squad game, has landed on store shelves and is available for purchase today. For a limited time only, THQ is offering a free, exclusive downloadable pack inside every new copy of Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 systems. The downloadable pack — the Captain America Collection — commemorates the release of the game and features three new playable characters: Captain America, Bucky and Red Skull. It also offers new Heroic Feats, Achievements (Xbox 360) and Trophies (PlayStation 3 system) for each of those characters. Also available is a custom Super Hero Squad comic book inside copies of the game for Wii and Nintendo DS systems.

“This latest entry into our series of Marvel Super Hero Squad video games ramps up the action, adventure and puzzle solving gameplay on every level as it captures the fun of the popular animated series,” said Martin Good, Executive Vice President, Kids, Family, Casual Games, and Global Online Services. “The addition of free downloadable content and the comic book right at launch provides even greater value to fans, and adds significantly to the game’s overall experience.”

In Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet, players use the “Squaddies’” super powers and super smarts to battle Thanos and a cast of villains, including Doctor Doom, Nebula, and Loki, as they search for the lost Infinity Stones. Along the way they travel through deep space, solve tricky puzzles, acquire new powers, and gain new allies in their mission to defeat the intergalactic threat. In addition to the game’s exciting campaign mode, players can experience exciting challenge modes, compete in multiplayer “beat-em ups” and more!

Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet was developed by Griptonite Games. The game is rated E10+ for everyone 10 and older and is available starting today on North American store shelves for the suggested retail prices of $39.99 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii) and $29.99 (Nintendo DS).

VIZ Media Announces November Haikasoru Imprint Releases

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, releases today a pair of riveting novels under its Haikasoru imprint — the philosophical hard science fiction title The Ouroboros Wave by Jyouji Hayashi, and the paperback edition of the hit heroic fantasy Dragon Sword and Wind Child by Noriko Ogiwara.

Haikasoru is a unique imprint with a dedicated focus on publishing some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences.

The Ouroboros Wave by Jyouji Hayashi
Price: $14.99 U.S. / CAN $19.99
Available Now!

Ninety years from now, a satellite detects a nearby black hole scientists dub Kali for the Hindu goddess of destruction. As human society expands to Mars and beyond, the generations-long project to harness the power of the black hole pits the retrograde humans of Earth against the imminently rational men and women of the Artificial Accretion Disk Development association. While conflicts simmer, a mystery within Kali itself tests the limits of intelligence — that of both human and machine.

Jyouji Hiyashi was born in Hokkaido in 1962. Having worked as a clinical laboratory technician, Jyouji Hiyashi debuted as a writer in 1995 with his cowritten Dai Nihon Teikoku Oushu Dengeki Sakusen. His popularity grew with the Shonetsu no Hatou series and the Heitai Gensui Oushu Senki series — both military fiction backed by real historical perspectives. Beginning in 2000, he consecutively released Kioku Osen, Shinryakusha no Heiwa, and Ankoku Taiyo no Mezame, stories that combine scientific speculation and sociological investigations. He continues to write and act as a flag-bearer for a new generation of hard SF.

Dragon Sword and Wind Child by Noriko Ogiwara
Price: $13.99 U.S. / CAN $18.99
Available Now!

The forces of the God of Light and the Goddess of Darkness have waged a ruthless war across the land of Toyoashihara for generations. But for fifteen-year-old Saya, the war is far away — until the day she discovers that she is the reincarnation of the Water Maiden and a princess of the Children of the Dark. Raised to love the Light and detest the Dark, Saya must come to terms with her heritage even as she tumbles into the very heart of the conflict that is destroying her country. The Light and Dark both seek to claim her, for she is the only mortal who can awaken the legendary Dragon Sword, the fearsome weapon destined to bring an end to the war. Can Saya make the dreadful choice between the Light and Dark, or is she doomed — like all the Water Maidens who came before her…?

Noriko Ogiwara was inspired to write by the classic Western children’s books she read as she was growing up. Dragon Sword and Wind Child is her first book, part of the award winning Magatama Trilogy. The second book of the Magatama Trilogy, Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince, will be also available from Haikasoru in May 2011. Her other books include The Good Witch of the West and Fuujin Hisho. Ms. Ogiwara makes her home in Japan.

For more information on Haikasoru, please visit the dedicated website at Haikasoru.com.

Be a Laughbender! RiffTrax’s riff of “The Last Airbender” is now available!

from RiffTrax:

A lot of bad things have come “from the mind of M. Night Shyamalan,” but we feel it’s safe to say that this one came straight from his colon. What is there to say about The Last Airbender that isn’t already said by its Rotten Tomatoes rating of 6%? A whole lot, as it turns out. It’s becoming apparent that the true genius of M. Night is finding a way to make the wrong creative decision at any given moment. Dialogue, casting, music cues, every choice in the film suggests that the once-acclaimed director has given up Alfred Hitchcock as his inspiration, and replaced him with a certain T. Wiseau. And, frankly, we couldn’t be happier. But, Mr. Shyamalan: we worked with Tommy Wiseau, we know Tommy Wiseau, and you, sir, are no Tommy Wiseau.

Only $3.99!

Get it here.

J!NX: Duty Called, We Answered

from J!NX:

The Call of Duty: Black Ops Collection is Here!
Last week, the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops made millions of gamers around the world let out a collective squeal of glee. This week, the J!NX Crew has the pleasure of announcing our new Call of Duty: Black Ops Collection! We’ve got four new designs for you to sport like a badge of honor. To find out more about this Epic Collection, check out Brolo’s blog, or head straight over to the tees!

10% off all products

Use Promotion Code: BAZINGA
This offer expires Monday, November 22, 2010 at 11:59PM PDT, so don’t wait!

*can’t be combined with any other offer or discount

Pandora’s Box Set – “Avatar” DVD Contest!

from GeekChicDaily:

James Cameron really, really likes things that are long and blue. And by “things” we mean movies. (What did you think we meant?) Avatar, which extended Cameron’s cerulean obsession by starring giant Smurfin’ cat-people, already saw a theatrical re-release with 8 new minutes. The new DVD and Blu-ray sets feature the extended and theatrical cuts, plus a newer version that’s 8 minutes longer – just the thing to keep you up all night. Want’em all? Sign up to win your own Avatar Blu-ray or DVD 3-disc set from GCD!

Additional scenes include a new prologue on an overcrowded Earth, and a subplot about Neytiri’s sister (which prompts Jake to make a threesome joke not unlike the one you just made in your head). Not enough new stuff? There’s also 45 minutes of justifiably deleted scenes: Jake takes a psychedelic trip! Norm and Trudy get busy! Metaphors get overly explained! (In the spirit of extended cuts see GCD’s extended Avatar 3-disc set review.)

A documentary goes into every detail you want to know about the movie, while another follows Cameron’s journey to the Amazon to protest a rainforest dam (kind of a bummer, that one). The Blu-Ray set has even more features, from the original “scriptment” to a full-on English-Na’vi dictionary. All that’s missing is 3-D… but smack yourself in the face hard enough, and you might be able to approximate that too. Remember, we’re giving these away (DVDs, not smacks to the head) so click here for your chance to Sully your hands!