Events – Page 18 – ÜberSciFiGeek

Split Reason: June 2010 Newsletter

E3 is over and it was a hell of a show. Laughs and gasps were in abundance amidst a barrage of announcements, hands-on demo’s, and doctored presentations. Microsoft tried to show the pinnacle of digital river rafting with controller-less Kinect, Sony gave us a Black Wii with an illuminated tumor, and Nintendo dropped a 3D bombshell sending DS fans into rabid obsession. (Soon to be camping outside their nearest video game retailer with a bag of rupees.) In a nutshell, the event was an interactive game of paper-rock-scissors after a case of Bawls and a few shots of espresso; a sight to behold and cherish, as the competition is what drives innovation so we can play awesome new games in awesome new ways, forever, and ever.

Extra Life is creeping closer by the day, don’t forget to play a few games and heal the kids! It takes place on October 16th, 2010. The event aims to raise money and awareness for Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals. To date Extra Life has raised more than $300,000 dollars to help kids live long happy lives by providing hospitals with much needed funding for equipment and programs. 100% of the money raised stays where it is raised. In the gamers LOCAL CMN Hospital. Read more…

This month, we’re happy to announce the launch of the Co-Optimus Store @ Splitreason.com. Co-Optimus is a website dedicated to Co-Op games. Their job is to bring you the most comprehensive list of games that support co-op play, and give you all the details you need to stay up to date. Stop by their site to check out the latest in co-op gaming and don’t forget to stop by the store for a new t-shirt!

If anyone is looking to save a few bucks, we’re running a promo for the next few weeks offering 10% off. Just enter the promo code REDRING at check-out. Stayed glued to our Twitter and Facebook page for more savings, contests, and give-a-ways! Now, on to our new products for the month of June…

Check Out What’s New for Celebration V This Week

from StarWars.com:

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Tell Your Story at Star Wars Celebration V
Fans of the Saga will have the unique opportunity to become a part of the Star Wars universe by contributing to Lucasfilm’s archive — The Star Wars Stories Project at Star Wars Celebration V this coming August in Orlando. Soliciting movie memories and fan nostalgia, the Stories Project is an ongoing initiative dedicated to chronicling the fan experience by inviting fans — young and old — to share their own anecdotes, missives and personal experiences through video testimonials. All four days of the convention, fans will have the opportunity to have their fifteen minutes in the spotlight, to tell their story as only they can tell it. Simply complete this form to reserve a timeslot during the event; a representative will contact you to schedule your 15 minute appointment. Reserve now! Appointments are filled on a first-come, first-reserved basis and once the slots are filled, we will not be able to accept addition reservations. Next door to the scheduled room, a walk-up Stories Project camera is planned, where fans can come without a reservation, for a limited number of hours each day. However, to avoid waiting in line, we recommend you make an online reservation. Sign up now to share your Star Wars memories!

Star Wars Stories Project at Celebration V

By reservation: W305 A, Thursday-Saturday, August 12-14, 11am-6pm; Sunday, August 15, 11am-5pm
Walk-up Star Wars Stories: W305 B, Thursday-Sunday, August 12-15, 11am-1pm, 3pm-5pm

Build Echo Base at Celebration V
Frank D’Iorio, the master diorama builder behind the fantastic fan-built dioramas at Celebrations II, III, and IV is returning for yet another Celebration, this time to lead fans in building Echo Base, the Rebel encampment on the ice planet Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back. D’Iorio will set the stage in the Diorama building area, and then adults and kids alike can come and build a portion of the scene — free of charge — which takes shape as one huge diorama over the course of the weekend. Attendees who have been to D’Iorio’s building areas agree that one of the best parts of building a diorama at Celebration is getting to take their portion home on the last day of the show. Read more on the Celebration V Diorama Building Area here.

Celebration V Art Show
Star Wars artists of extraordinary vision will be exhibiting and selling their original prints at Celebration V. Each of the artists listed here will have a limited number of prints available, created exclusively for the show. Most of these artists will be within the Celebration V Art Show area, hosted by ACME Archives, in the Celebration Experience Exhibit Hall. A few others will appear in their own booths on the exhibit floor. Here are some of the artists participating.

Weta: meet Jackie Chan, Xenodefugio and Pomson

from Weta:

New Pin Joins the Ranks!
Readers of VICTORY — Scientific Adventure Violence for Young Men and Literate Women will no doubt have drooled over the Pomson 6000 — a stonker of a beautiful ray rifle. We are testing the market for these beasts by making available a smidge of trinketry for lapel application. This pin joins previous pins — the Unnatural Selector and the Goliaton 83. Acquire one or perish excrutiatingly! (one of each if you want to be ABSOLUTELY certain)

Dr. Grordbort’s Exceptional Exhibition gets Shanghaied by Jackie Chan!
It was announced yesterday by Jackie Chan, the rapscallion, that the Dr. Grordbort’s Exceptional Exhibition that has recently closed its doors after a successful stint in Hong Kong, is next headed for Shanghai. There is a locomotorial electropictogrammatic recording the revelation to the publishing hordes right here! The readables and audibles seem to be encrypted (or possibly in Mandarin). But by Jove — you will get the gist!

LAST CHANCE to acquire an Unnatural Selector Ray Blunderbuss — only 5 LEFT!
Out of the 50, only 5 remain. Order yours now.

Steampunk Fashion Show and Gala Ball
The hugely talented provincials in the township of Oamaru on New Zealand’s largely deserted South Island, have put on an extraordinary event — a Steampunk Fashion Show. Grordbort Industries sent Kim Graham along as a judge for the competition and we had a very hard time getting her back from the League of Victorian Imagineers, as they’ve monikered themselves. For the results and a description of the event, please visit The League of Victorian Imagineers in Oamaru!

Xenodefugio Subtiltus — a mouthful on a multitude of levels!
The hive is a-flutter as yet another species is awarded with extinction! With the latest, the Xenodefugio Subtiltus, it’s actually been a struggle to keep it alive this long. More about that — and the chance to OWN one — on Wednesday 30 June! Keep them peeled! No… your eyes, stupid! Here’s an excerpt of behavioural characteristica: “To ascribe the characteristic ‘retarded’ to its movement would not be unfair, as these simple little beasts move unpredictably in a manner akin to an unhappy grasshopper with mild brain damage.”

Greg Broadmore — Philosophising in Switzerland
Greg Broadmore will no doubt be entrancing his audience when he descends on Neuchatel, with talk about Weta Workshop design philosophy and about creating Science Fiction Worlds such as Dr. Grordbort’s and District 9. This all takes place at the Imaging the Future Symposium at this year’s NIFFF, the Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival. In Neuchatel. Naturally. When? In the morning Thursday 8 July!

Dr. Grordbort’s for beginners
It is advisable, for beginners, not to throw themselves at the aether oscillating contraputronica straight away, but to familiarise oneself. We can think of no better way than to secure a “Dr. Grordbort’s for beginners” swag pack, consisting of no less (and no more) than seven items — all drawn from the blunter end of the Dr. Grordbort’s arsenal. There’s the book — Dr. Grordbort’s Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory — a stylish pin, a sleek and sexy keyring and four postcards. Neither of which can be used (as far as we’ve been able to establish) to cause any major harm (young impressionable minds excluded).

“San Diego Comic Convention”
A whole exhibition hall dedicated to compartmentalised picture essays? What a preposterous notion! And in the colonies? Pah! Alas, it seems to thoroughly have mesmerised Messrs Taylor, Broadmore, Launder and Tremont who are all going to attend Weta’s booth (#2615) alongside assorted totty. Again. Every year, the same debacle. This year, a number of hefty crates have been packed and forwarded. Contents include customised rayguns (on themes such as stripy animals, orientals with a death wish and Teutonic knife makers), a huge lump of faux stone, vaguely in the shape of the Matterhorn, which is allegedly to serve as a kind of beacon to the masses at the convention. And other shiny and desirable bits. Grordbort Industries production associates, “Weta” have a page of updates available for your perusal.

Gunstand. It’s a Universal thing!
Is your sidearm crying out for a cooling rack? Now we have these beauties in stock. A slap of cast iron with weight and heft to hold ANY of Dr. Grordbort’s range of aether oscillating handguns. The Pearce Atom, the F.M.O.M., the Goliathon 83, the Manmelter 3600zx, the Victorious Mongoose and last (and least) the space-age lightweight stealth pistol the Righteous Bison Indivisible Particle Smasher. Don’t singe your velour-clad travel case — cool and display your gear on a Universal Gun Stand today! (or in a few days, depending on the slackness of the freight forwarders).

Follow Weta Online! Twitter | Facebook

Important Alert from “Star Wars” Celebration V

from StarWars.com:

It has recently been brought to our attention that other companies are posing as the operators of the Official Star Wars Celebration V Travel Desk.

Please note that the ONLY Official Housing Partner for Celebration V is powered by onPeak. We cannot guarantee the lowest possible room rates during your stay in Orlando this August when you book through any other housing agent.

With rooms in our official Celebration V housing block starting as low as just $65 per night, getting to Celebration has never been more affordable. Book before July 21 through the simple-to-use reservation website or with a helpful and friendly booking agent, and save!

Our priority is to serve you best and provide the lowest possible hotel rates available during your stay in Orlando this August. Be sure to look for the official logo of our exclusive housing partner, onPeak, before making any reservations and book before July 21.

See you there!

Star Wars Celebration V Team

Weta: Prancing Pony + Narnia Trailer and Sale!

from Weta:

The Prancing Pony limited edition environment from The Lord of the Rings.

Perched upon a crossroads in the northwest of Middle-earth, the small town of Bree is a quiet village. In the center of town, the Prancing Pony Inn is a home away from home for weary travelers from distant lands. Looking for Gandalf the Grey, Frodo and his companions seek shelter from the Black Riders who have pursued them through the wilderness, but there is little rest to be found at the Inn this night. Unfriendly stares bear down on the fearful Hobbit party and the wizard fails to appear. Amid the sodden patrons and hooded strangers Frodo and his friends exchange fretful glances, while outside the terrifying Wraiths converge upon the town in search of their quarry.

ONLY 500 World Wide. Pre-order now!

The Lord of the Rings: © 2010 New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc.

San Diego Comic-Con update!
The Weta booth will be crawling with bugs. At the request of our friends on The Shadow and Flame Forum, we will be bringing a batch of copper wire Weta bugs for sale at Comic-Con. These wiry little fellows are normally sold in the Weta Cave, where they feel most at home. And they won’t be the only creepy crawlies there. They will be joined by the Blue Sacked Pillock, the Nandy Duke and a 3rd Venusian insect, recently made extinct by Dr. Grordbort’s hunting elite. There is just too much news to just cram into newsletters, so we’ve created a whole page dedicated to Comic-Con updates! Save it in your Favourites and come back often — we can’t promise news every day, but there’s already a fair few posts. Check out our Comic-Con updates page! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and to discuss on the forum on The Shadow and Flame!

…and don’t forget — Weta presence at Anime Expo in LA
Weta’s US envoy, Phil Davis will be at Anime Expo in Los Angeles from the 1-4 July in the LA Convention Center. It is the largest Anime and Media Con in the western US and as usual, Phil will have a selection of Weta merchandise for sale at his booth. See you there!

The Art of District 9 — new book from Weta
Weta designers, particularly Greg Broadmore, David Meng and Leri Greer, were heavily involved in the creation of District 9, from the props and weapons, to the Prawns, to the graphic design. Now Daniel Falconer is collecting all this into a beautiful book for release later in the year. Check out Daniel’s post on the forum! Pre-orders open Soon (VERY soon) on a Weta Website Near You!

Righteous Bison + Universal Gun Stand = TRUE
Did you know that the lightweight and wieldable yet deadly and intimidating Righteous Bison looks AWESOME on the Universal Gun Stand? Get the Gun Stand here!

The Lord of the Rings for Beginners!
To kickstart your collection of The Lord of the Rings, we have put together a sample pack of some great, collectible products to start with. And we’ve made it easier for you to get started by giving you a discount and saving you money on the combined postage. The package contains: an Easterling Miniature Shield, a Gandalf Rune Pendant, and a Red Eye of Sauron Pin. All three items are actually wearable as the miniature shield doubles as a brooch.

The Chronicles of Narnia — The Voyage of the Dawn Treader trailer
Having done conceptual design, props, weapons, miniatures and all sorts of things for the first two Narnia movies, our involvement with the latest instalment of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia Chronicles wasn’t on the same scale, but we’re REALLY looking forward to the movie in December. Especially now that we’ve seen the trailer… Check out the trailer here!

Amazing Narnia Sale and prize draw!
We thought we’d offer you an opportunity to get a bargain or two from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe that Weta created props, weapons, characters, miniatures and a host of other things for. Including collectibles. But that’s not all… If you buy ANY item from Prince Caspian or The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe before 29 June, you go in the draw to win an authentic red Lucy Cape from Stansborough who made the fabric for Lucy’s cape in the movie!

Follow Weta Online! Twitter | Facebook

NEW PEOPLE Announces One of the Nation’s Biggest Pop Culture Events of the Year with the “2010 J-Pop Summit Festival”

from VIZ Pictures:

NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, has announced the date for the 2010 J-Pop Summit Festival — Saturday, September 18th. The venue has also launched a web site at J-Pop.com to serve as a central information hub for updates on related events, film premieres and celebrity appearances planned for the day-long extravaganza that will take place in San Francisco’s Japantown.

Additional news alerts over the coming weeks will detail specific events and appearances.

A variety of fun Japanese pop-inspired attractions including fashion shows, a theatrical film premiere, live art performances, and mini-concerts by some of Japan’s hottest bands are planned for the 2010 Summit Festival both inside NEW PEOPLE, and also at the adjacent Peace Plaza and areas in between. Innovative artists and companies from the Bay area and Japan will join in with an array of products for sale in open air displays on both sides of Post Street and a food court highlighting Japanese cuisine will further complement the celebration.

Last year, more than 35,000 people attended the first J-Pop Summit Festival, which marked the Grand Opening of the NEW PEOPLE complex. The day-long event featured a trio of bands as part of the Japan Nite Special: Girls Rock Explosion as well as a rare appearance by famed artist and anime character designer Yoshitaka Amano, a Gothic and Lolita Extravaganza, a Harajuku Fashion Makeover, and the U.S. theatrical premiere of 20th Century Boys inside NEW PEOPLE’s VIZ Cinema, the country’s first theatre with a dedicated Japanese film program.

NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located in San Francisco at 1746 Post Street, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass facade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at: NewPeopleWorld.com.

New Weird Al Merch Store Now Online!

from “Weird Al” Yankovic:

Attention Close Personal Friends of Al –

To celebrate the start of Al’s summer tour, we wanted to let you know that our long-awaited new merch store is NOW ONLINE! Just go to weirdal.com and check out our brand new line of shirts, hoodies and first-ever set of trading cards! And of course you can also see an up-to-date listing of where Al will be playing. Hope to see you on tour!

Check Out What’s New for Celebration V This Week

from StarWars.com:

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Discounted Travel Deadline Quickly Approaching — July 21
With rooms starting as low as just $65/night, attending Celebration has never been more affordable! Book now using our official travel desk before July 21 and save!

Fan Movie Challenge Awards
The Ninth Annual 2010 Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge is in full swing but the deadline to enter your movie is fast approaching. Lucasfilm Ltd. and Fan Movie Challenge partner Atom.com are making a call for immediate submissions at starwars.Atom.com, Atom’s Star Wars movie website, before June 24. Moviemakers who make the finalist category this year can look forward to seeing their movie in the spotlight at Celebration V!

One Man Star Wars Trilogy at Celebration V
Charlie Ross, the creator and performer of “The One Man Star Wars Trilogy” will bring his show to Celebration V this August in Orlando. Using no props, and no instruments except his versatile and talented voice, Ross performs everything from dialogue and music to sound effects and battle scenes. Those who attend Star Wars Celebration V should not miss these performances. Read more about One Man Star Wars Trilogy here.

Star Wars Costume Contests
Veteran and amateur Star Wars costumers are invited to join in for two exciting costume contests at Star Wars Celebration V! With two Costume Pageants to showcase the finest costumes in the galaxy, you’ll have more opportunities to model your finery. Simply complete the online entry form here.

Collectors Panels
The Star Wars Collecting Panels will return to Celebration V, with new and interesting talks, giveaways, and events that will run all four days of the show. Gus Lopez, who organized the Collecting Panels for the past four Celebrations, is assembling a new lineup of subjects to entertain and inform all collectors, from beginners to the most experienced. See all of Star Wars Celebration V Collectors Panels here.

Orlando 101
Have you given any thought to what you’ll do after the show each evening, and in your days in town before and after the convention? Need some help planning what to do? Orlando 101 is your comprehensive, friendly guide to the best restaurants, attractions and activities that will ensure your trip to a far-off galaxy (otherwise known as Central Florida) is nothing short of out of this world! We’re also thrilled to offer you and your family a variety of special offers and savings at select locations, all of which simply require a flash of your CV show badge. View Your Orlando 101 Guide.

Exclusive T-Shirts on Sale Now Thru July 25!
Choose from Celebration V Logo T-Shirt (ONLY available for purchase online through July 25 — Don’t wait!) & Boba Fett Jet Ski T-Shirt (available for pre-order and onsite; onsite quantities will be limited). BUY TODAY!

Special Event for Celebration V Attendees
Last Tour to Endor hosted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Buy Tickets Here!

Free Celebration V e-Cards!
Select a design for your e-Card and tell your friends why they should join you at Star Wars Celebration V. We’ll email your FREE customized e-Cards to friends, family, co-workers, etc with your own personalized greeting. Send a FREE Star Wars Celebration V e-Card today!

We look forward to seeing you in Orlando!

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The Future of Comics Has Arrived! Dark Horse, Toshiba, and “USA Today” Proudly Present “DH:HD”

from Dark Horse Comics:

Three leaders in pop culture have come together for a groundbreaking new program to bring comics to your desktop, doorstep, and digital TV! Following up on the success of USA Today’s Wednesday Comics program, it was announced today that the nation’s top-selling print newspaper will bring comics to the forefront of culture yet again. The program will showcase exclusive and all-new original content from Dark Horse Comics’ top properties and creators across a variety of media platforms.

“As an entertainment company, Dark Horse prides itself on pushing the boundaries with groundbreaking creators and content,” said Mike Richardson, president and publisher of Dark Horse Comics. “We’re excited to continue this tradition by showcasing some of our most exciting stories in this all-new program with these great partners.”

“As a leader in home entertainment built on Toshiba’s rich 130-year history of groundbreaking technologies, we are proud to associate our products, including our new LED HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players, with the compelling and legendary Dark Horse brand,” said Maria Repole, vice president of communications for Toshiba. “This truly exciting campaign will help Toshiba build a connection with a passionate group of consumers eager to experience fresh content in innovative ways.”

“USA Today is excited to be partnering with Toshiba and Dark Horse on this innovative program. It’s a terrific example of how USA Today can take exclusive content and turn it into a compelling cross-platform reader experience,” said Susan Lavington, senior vice president of marketing for USA Today.

The DH:HD (Dark Horse: High-Def) program kicks off today with an exclusive look at best-selling author Janet Evanovich’s first graphic novel, Troublemaker, in USA Today. The newspaper and Toshiba will maintain momentum by continuing to showcase Dark Horse’s content online, in print, and at the Comic-Con International in San Diego and New York Comic Con. In October, Dark Horse will roll out a series of all-new stories created exclusively for the program.

Nintendo Introduces Glasses-Free 3D Gaming, and Unleashes the Industry’s Best Franchises in Entirely New Ways

from Nintendo of Canada:

Nintendo is raising the bar — again.

Nintendo changed the world of video games with touch-screen gaming on the Nintendo DS in 2004. Nintendo then pioneered the motion-controlled gaming revolution with the Wii console and the Wii Remote controller back in 2006. Today the company unveils an even more immersive gaming experience: Nintendo 3DS.

At the E3 Expo today, Nintendo gave the world the first look at a portable system that lets people view games in 3D, without the need for special glasses. Nintendo also announced a substantial list of upcoming games for Nintendo 3DS, the Wii console and the Nintendo DS family of systems — a lineup that reads like a who’s who of some of the greatest franchises in video game history with a completely new look and feel.

“The additional dimension of depth in 3D makes it easier for players to judge distances while giving developers a new tool to create games and experiences that play with both height and depth,” said Nintendo video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, who pioneered the fully rendered 3D video game world with Super Mario 64.

Nintendo 3DS comes with a 3.53-inch top screen and a 3.02-inch bottom touch screen. It has three cameras — one inner and two outer — to deliver the 3D effect and take 3D pictures. It includes a motion sensor, a gyro sensor and even a Slide Pad that allows 360-degree analog input. At the E3 Expo, Nintendo showed attendees a range of games and applications for Nintendo 3DS that reinvent some of the industry’s most beloved franchises. These include:

Kid Icarus: Uprising, the long-awaited franchise follow-up to the NES classic.
Mario Kart, which shows off the potential of driving and tossing bananas in 3D.
nintendogs + cats, a new version of the best-selling nintendogs franchise that lets players interact even more with their virtual puppies — and kittens!
PilotWings Resort, a flying simulation that lets players soar above Wuhu Island.
Animal Crossing, a new installment of the charming community-building franchise.
StarFox 64 3D, a game that demonstrates the true distance and depth of outer space using Nintendo’s well-known franchise.
Steel Diver, a new submarine-navigation game from Nintendo.
Paper Mario, which brings paper-based 2D environments to life.

Nintendo 3DS also comes to market with the strongest third-party support of any video game system in Nintendo history. Games on display at the Nintendo booth at the E3 Expo include:

DJ Hero 3D from Activision
RESIDENT EVIL REVELATIONS from Capcom
The Sims 3 from Electronic Arts
HIDEO KOJIMA’S METAL GEAR SOLID SNAKE EATER 3D “The Naked Sample” from Konami
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles (name not final) from LEVEL-5
RIDGE RACER (name not final) from Namco Bandai Games
KINGDOM HEARTS franchise game from Square Enix
DEAD OR ALIVE 3D (name not final) from Tecmo Koei Games
SAMURAI WARRIORS 3D from Tecmo Koei Games
Battle of Giants: Dinosaur Strike from Ubisoft
Hollywood 61 (name not final) from Ubisoft

A sampling of other Nintendo 3DS games already in planning includes SUPER STREET FIGHTER IV 3D Edition (name not final) from Capcom; Madden NFL and FIFA Soccer games from Electronic Arts; CODENAME: Chocobo Racing 3D and a FINAL FANTASY franchise game from Square Enix; a NINJA GAIDEN (name not final) game from Tecmo Koei Games; Saint’s Row: Drive By from THQ; Assassin’s Creed: Lost Legacy, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos Theory from Ubisoft; and a Batman game from Warner Bros. Additional games are in development by Atlus, AQ Interactive, Disney Interactive Studios, Harmonix, Hudson Soft, Majesco, Marvelous Entertainment, Rocket, SEGA, Takara Tommy and Take-Two Interactive.

Nintendo also announced a substantial slate of games on the way for its Wii console and Nintendo DS family of systems, with a list of characters and franchises that appeal to all types of gamers.

“If the video game industry had an All-Star team, Nintendo’s games would fill the starting lineup,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The combination of advanced interface and engaging game play broadens our appeal to all audiences. This is evidenced perfectly at the E3 Expo this year by the incredible new experience and controls that Wii MotionPlus brings to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.”

Wii:

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: The game marks a turning point for the franchise, as the introduction of full motion controls enabled by the Wii MotionPlus accessory synchronizes player movements with Link’s actions while offering the most intuitive play control of any Legend of Zelda game to date. The game is scheduled to launch in 2011.
Donkey Kong Country Returns: The classic franchise makes a return with new levels and updated graphics, but with the same sense of fun and excitement of the original. For the first time in the series, two people can play through the entire game cooperatively. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.
Kirby’s Epic Yarn: Kirby’s entire immersive world is created from different fabrics and textiles. Kirby himself is made from yarn, which gives him the versatility to take the shape of a car, submarine, parachute or UFO. The game is scheduled to launch this fall.
Wii Party: A party game that brings the fun off the screen and into the living room. Players must perform tasks in the real world to achieve success in the game. The game is scheduled to launch this fall.
Mario Sports Mix: A collection of four amazing sports — Mario style. Players can compete with their favourite Mushroom Kingdom characters in basketball, volleyball, hockey and dodgeball. The game is scheduled to launch in 2011.
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu’s Adventure: The first Pokémon adventure game on the Wii console puts Pikachu at the center of a fun, expansive area filled with adventure, Attractions and Pokémon. Players take on the role of Pikachu and interact with Pokémon and compete in Skill Games and Attractions, such as races, battles and other challenges, to save the PokéPark from disaster. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.
Samurai Warriors 3: Players can choose from more than 35 playable samurai characters, many based on actual figures from Japanese history. Each samurai has different skills and weapons, and each one offers a different perspective on the overall story of the unification of Japan. The game is scheduled to launch on September 27.
GoldenEye 007 from Activision: The original revolutionized first-person shooters, and this Wii-exclusive sequel features four-player split-screen competition or up to eight players competing online. It’s the signature GoldenEye experience for a new era, and is scheduled to launch this fall.
Disney Epic Mickey from Disney Interactive Studios: In this Wii exclusive, players take Mickey Mouse on an epic journey of creativity and discovery. In Wasteland, an alternate world with lands inspired by Disney’s animated films and theme parks, players use paint and paint thinner to change the world and affect the outcome of the game. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.
NBA JAM from Electronic Arts: In this revival of the classic franchise with vintage game play, the Wii-exclusive sequel includes new features that bring outrageous moves and over-the-top hoops action to new levels. The game is scheduled to launch this October.
Just Dance 2 from Ubisoft: The second installment of the popular franchise features hot dance moves choreographed by experts in every style of music. Up to eight players can compete or, for the first time, two players can dance side by side as a duo. It’s a nonstop dance party only available on Wii this fall.
Sonic Colors from SEGA: In Sonic’s latest adventures, he blasts through obstacles like never before as he uses coloured power-ups to boost his abilities and speed through stages. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.
New Carnival Games from 2K Play: This sequel to the multimillion-selling original features more than 30 new games and 300 new prizes, plus multiplayer action for every game. Only available on Wii this September.

Nintendo DS Family:

Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs: The third installment in the action-packed Pokémon Ranger series lets players take on the role of a Pokémon Ranger tasked with protecting Pokémon, people and nature. With new Ranger Signs to call powerful Pokémon, including Legendary Pokémon, and the addition of multiplayer missions, players investigate the nefarious actions of the Pokémon Pinchers, who have been disrupting the peace by chasing and catching Pokémon. The game is scheduled to launch this fall.
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn: A classic role-playing game branches out with a new look, countless adventures and heroic battles. The game picks up 30 years after the first two games in the series left off with amazing graphics and beautifully animated summoning abilities that span both Nintendo DS screens. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies: For the first time, this storied franchise is appearing exclusively on the Nintendo DS family of systems. Character customization, cooperative multiplayer adventuring and an epic story make for a one-of-a-kind experience. The game is scheduled to launch on July 11.
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future: This third installment in the series includes more than 165 puzzles and even more animated sequences and voice acting than the previous game. The game is scheduled to launch on September 20.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Miniland Mayhem: Players use the stylus to draw red girders and control items like ladders, pipes, springs and conveyor belts. The goal is to bring the Mini Toys to the door. Using an intuitive tool kit, players can create new level maps and share them with the public. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.
Super Scribblenauts from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment: The sequel to the smash-hit original includes 120 new levels, the ability to use more than 10,000 adjectives, a hint system and a level editor for players to create their own levels and objectives. The game is scheduled to launch in Q4.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective from Capcom: Players are transported into the spirit world of a murder victim who has lost his memory and returned as a ghost. Players must possess and manipulate objects to solve puzzles and the mystery. The game is scheduled to launch this fall.
Rock Band 3 from MTV Games: The franchise makes its first appearance on Nintendo DS with a stylish interface that puts players into the Rock Band universe like never before. Eight play modes challenge players in guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, and both co-op and competitive multiplayer options are available. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.
Okamiden from Capcom: Players use a brush to draw bridges into existence, traverse canyons and connect winding paths through space. This sequel to Okami follows the story of an adorable wolf pup that fights off a new threat that has drained vibrant colours from the world. The game is scheduled to launch in 2011.
FINAL FANTASY: THE 4 HEROES OF LIGHT from Square Enix: This first original FINAL FANTASY game for the Nintendo DS family of systems uses charming storybook visuals and a fun, intuitive combat system. Players can customize their characters and up to four players can join forces for cooperative play. The game is scheduled to launch on October 5.
Sonic Colors from SEGA: The portable version of the game doubles the excitement and action by using both screens as a giant, unified landscape. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

For the duration of the E3 Expo, Nintendo will provide fans with exclusive videos and Nintendo content on the Nintendo E3 Network. People can visit e3.nintendo.com to watch developer interviews, get all the information about new games and see coverage coming directly from the show floor. The same exclusive content also will be streamed through the Nintendo Channel to Wii owners who have a broadband Internet connection.

Remember that Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about these and other features, visit wii.com or nintendodsi.com.

Weta: Knights, hobbit ears and collectible News!

from Weta:

Sir Richard!
Her Majesty the Queen on the celebration of her Birthday, is pleased to appoint Richard Taylor as a Knight Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit. To be knighted, in other words, and earn the right to be addressed Sir Richard. Richard received this honour for services to film. From all here at Weta — huge congratulations, Richard. We’re very proud that your contribution to New Zealand film has been recognised in this manner and there’s not a single person here who doesn’t think it’s well deserved.

Are you a Hobbit at heart? Now ‘ear this!
For Hobbits-at-heart everywhere, here’s a wonderful piece of The Lord of the Rings to wear with pride — like a Hobbit. Drawn from the original molds that Frodo’s and Sam’s ears were drawn from for the The Lord of the Rings trilogy, these prosthetics are as authentic as can be. Hand made here at Weta Workshop by Makeup Supervisor Frances Hawker and her team. Made from latex, they can be blended to look like part of your anatomy for your next costume event or convention. Get yours ‘ere!

Raygun shootout May winner
Last month’s winner, for best alien raygun, was Radulan for the Head Mounted Interpolator. This month’s challenge is Rocket Ships!

Weta presence at Anime Expo in LA
Weta’s US envoy, Phil Davis will be at Anime Expo in Los Angeles from the 1-4 July in the LA Convention Center. It is the largest Anime and Media Con in the western US and as usual, Phil will have a selection of Weta merchandise for sale at his booth. See you there!

New collectibles on the way
Tim Launder (when he’s not busy managing us rogues here at Weta Limited) is the guy who gets stuff off tall shelves in the Workshop. He says he found something at the very back — it appears to be an environment from The Lord of the Rings… possibly sculpted back-in-the-day. Looks a bit like a drinking establishment of some sort. As some of the Lord of the Rings fans in the building got very excited, we’ve decided to make a few of them and to put them up for pre-order this week, so keep an eye out for more announcements.

San Diego Comic-Con update!
There is too much news to just cram into newsletters, so we’ve created a whole page dedicated to Comic-Con updates! Save it in your Favourites and come back often — we can’t promise news every day, but there’s already a fair few posts. Check out our Comic-Con updates page!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and to discuss on the forum on The Shadow and Flame!

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Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge Awards at Celebration V!

from StarWars.com:

The Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge for 2010 is in full swing, but there is still time to enter your movie before the coming deadline, June 24. Lucasfilm Ltd. and Fan Movie Challenge partner Atom.com are making a call for immediate submissions at Atom’s Star Wars movie website.

Moviemakers who make the finalist category this year can look forward to seeing their movie in the spotlight at Celebration V, this August 12-15 in Orlando. All finalist movies will be played in a dedicated track throughout the run of the show.

The Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge is produced by a long-running partnership between Lucasfilm and Atom, to celebrate the best in fan made videos and animations. The winning entry each year is selected by Star Wars writer/director George Lucas, and the finalists are also posted online, where a worldwide body of viewers selects the Audience Choice Award. This year the famous golden droid trophies will be presented to the winners at Star Wars Celebration V, in the Fan Movie Award Ceremony, planned for Thursday evening, August 12.

But before moviemakers can receive all that honor and glory, they need to enter their movies in the competition. The deadline for the Ninth Annual 2010 Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge is June 24, 2010. Talented moviemakers need to submit their movie before that date at starwars.atomfilms.com, in order to be considered. All Challenge rules and guidelines are on the site, plus Star Wars movie assets that moviemakers can use in their creations.

Times and location might change. Please check starwarscelebration.com for updates closer to the show. A valid Celebration V admission badge is needed to attend the Fan Movie Award Ceremony.