Celebrate Your Geekdom
from Mimoco:
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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.
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.
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.
Nintendo unveils their next video game console, the Wii U. Check out what gamers can expect from the finally revealed Wii 2/Project Cafe in this trailer from E3 2011.
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.
from VIZ Media:
VIZ Media has just launched a special digital promotion for its Naruto manga (graphic novel) series. Digital versions of Volumes 1-27 of the classic action adventure story are available via the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch for only $3.99 — 20% off the normal MSRP. The promotion kicks off today for a limited time only and ends Friday, June 17th at midnight PST.
Created by Masashi Kishimoto in 1999, Naruto (rated ‘T’ for Teens) quickly became Japan’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens and has sold more than 85 million copies to-date. Naruto is also one of the most popular anime/manga properties in North America. The Naruto manga and animated series depict the adventures of a young boy named Uzumaki Naruto who trains to become a ninja. Naruto, cursed with the spirit of the nine-tailed fox demon sealed within his body, is forced to live a bullied life discriminated against by his fellow villagers. But Naruto is resilient and undaunted and his determination often inspires those around him. Through the adventures, the young ninja learns the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity and right vs. wrong. More information on Naruto is available at Naruto.com.
The VIZ Manga App is the leading application to read Japanese manga on the iPhone iPod Touch, and iPad. The app is free to download through the iTunes store, and volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada for only $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) each.
An extensive library of over 250 volumes is available now, including popular series such as Bleach, Blue Exorcist, Death Note, Naruto, One Piece and many more. Readers are encouraged to check the app regularly, as new additions to the store and free Chapter 1 previews of other forthcoming manga series are featured.
For more information on the VIZ Manga App, please visit VIZ.com/apps/.
from VIZ Media:
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced it has been named the exclusive U.S. product licensor for the new animated crime-fighting action series Tiger & Bunny. The company will showcase the property to a variety of potential merchandise partners during 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. The event 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.
Tiger & Bunny currently simulcasts the same day it debuts in Japan on Hulu (Hulu.com) and VIZAnime.com, the company’s own exclusive web destination for anime. Tiger & Bunny Blu-ray currently rank Number 1 on Amazon Japan, and a wide variety of toys, collectables, and other products are already licensed for the Japanese market.
“We’re very excited to participate again at the Licensing International Expo, and this year we’ll showcase Tiger & Bunny, a new series that has been the subject of tremendous buzz among fan circles,” says Tracy Hanchett, Director, Consumer Products. “With its multi-textured characters and unique blend of comedy and over the top action, the Tiger & Bunny brand is ideally suited to a range of product merchandising options across all categories for the key male 14-25 demographic. We look forward to meeting with leading product partners at the show to explore the exciting range of possibilities for this hot new property.”
Tiger & Bunny (rated TV-14) is directed by Keiichi Sato (director of Karas), with original character designs by Masakazu Katsura, creator of the manga series, I”s and Video Girl Ai (also published by VIZ Media). Stern Bild is a metropolitan city where superheroes called NEXT help to maintain peace. Sporting sponsor logos on their suits, these heroes work to solve cases and save people’s lives in order to earn Hero Points, while also helping to improve the public image of their corporate sponsors. Their activities are documented and broadcast by the popular show “HERO TV,” in which each superhero strives to become the “King of Heroes” of the year.
One such hero is Wild Tiger (real name Kotetsu T. Kaburagi), a veteran superhero who relies on his years of experience and instincts to fight crime. Though obligated to work for his boss’s best interest, Kotetsu follows his own code of honor and is even willing to cause destruction to public property for the sake of protecting the lives of his fellow citizens. Over time, he has grudgingly earned the nickname “Crusher for Justice.” Now, Kotetsu suddenly finds himself forced to team up with rookie hero Barnaby Brooks Jr.
To view the official trailer and to follow Tiger & Bunny on the official Facebook page, please visit www.facebook.com/TigerAndBunny.
For more information on Tiger & Bunny and other animated titles from VIZ Media please visit VIZAnime.com.
from VIZ Media:
VIZ Media has announced the availability of the anime series, MÄR, on Netflix, Inc., the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. 52-episodes of the animated fantasy adventure story will be available to stream to subscribers in the U.S. beginning May 31st.
MÄR (rated TV-PG, subtitled) is based on the hit 15-volume manga series created by Nobuyuki Anzai (Flame of Recca), published in North America by VIZ Media. The series joins several other popular VIZ Media anime titles such as Bleach, Death Note, Naruto, and InuYasha, which can now be instantly streamed from Netflix.
An ordinary middle-school boy with an overactive imagination, Ginta Toramizu dreams about fairy tales and make-believe lands. One day at school, a gate appears and he enters the World of MÄR, the world of his dreams. Within the World of MÄR exist ÄRM: accessories with unique powers. Soon, Ginta stumbles upon Babbo, an ÄRM that can speak, and learns that he has been summoned to this mythical world to stop the Chess Pieces, a group of rogue soldiers, from destroying the World of MÄR. Now part of Team MÄR, Ginta and Babbo fight in War Games against the Chess Pieces to save the MÄR World. But will Ginta’s mission be compromised by his ally’s secrets?
To learn more about MÄR anime and manga series, please visit VIZAnime.com or ShonenSunday.com (free Chapter 1 manga preview available).
from J!NX:
World of Warcraft Summer 2011 Collection
The days have grown longer, and the sunshine brighter; at last Summer is upon us. As you eagerly await the Midsummer Fire Festival, stay cool this season with an upgrade to your wardrobe from the epic new WoW Summer 2011 Collection.
Just a Few Days Left
Fans of The Guild! You’ve only got until this Friday to enter the J!NX Quest: The Guild Quote-a-thon. Enter now before you miss your chance at a $250 J!NX Gift Certificate and all seasons of The Guild on DVD.
from The Associated Press:
Stan Lee, whose career writing comic books has run from the golden age to contemporary times, is going digital.
Boom! Studios said Monday that the man who helped create modern marvels like the Fantastic Four and X-Men will see his current crop of comic series available online and on mobile devices through his own app by way of the Los Angeles-based comic and graphic novel publisher.
Dubbed the “Stan Lee BOOM! Comics App,” the program is being offered through Apple’s iTunes app store. Lee’s superhero comic series Soldier Zero, The Traveler and Starborn are also being made available through it and through Boom!’s own app.
The comics come with a free preview of the first issues but cost $1.99 for subsequent issues. The iVerse Media-developed app will also be linked to Lee’s Twitter musings.
The titles will also be available for download on desktops, including Windows and Mac, through ComiXology, Graphic.ly, iVerse and MyDigitalComics.
The three new series, penned by Lee, made their debut last year in association with his company, Pow! Entertainment.
Lee said that given the proliferation of comic books into the digital sphere, it made sense to bring his own titles to market that way, too.
“What’s great about releasing this app is that it enables us to bring the joy and wonder of comics to the mobile fan and a whole new generation of readers,” Lee said. “Comics are a medium that transcends age, appealing not only to today’s young readers, but older ones as well. And by giving them an unprecedented level of access, we’re ensuring that the fantastic stories, characters and worlds found only in comics will endure for many years to come.”
Digital comics have gained popularity and acceptance in recent months with most, if not all, major publishers — DC, Marvel, IDW, Dark Horse, Zenescope Entertainment, among others — embracing the platform. It lets comic readers carry their favorite titles on their phone or access them on their laptop without having to cart around numerous issues.
Boom!, whose roster of titles include Irredeemable, Dracula: The Company of Monsters and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, has put its lineup in its own app, too.
“With the easy accessibility of digital comics, we’re excited to be able to turn everyone with a computer, iOS or an Android device into a lifelong comics fan,” said Chip Mosher, marketing director of BOOM! Studios. “Anyone who’s ever been curious to try comics now has the power to read them instantly with just a click of a button.”
from RiffTrax:
Are you a giant, cheaply-made monster looking for a nice place to terrorize? Your search is over: Crater Lake is the spot for you! Get your limp rubbery body down here, you’ll be feasting on mustachioed creeps quicker than you can say “AaaUUurgghh, I’m a monster!!” This small, sleepy community has everything you’re looking for. A sheriff who will refuse to believe in you until it’s too late. Uptight scientists that DO believe in you, for the sheriff to ignore. A pair of drunken hicks to provide aimless, misguided comic relief, and also be ignored by the sheriff. All this, and random unlikable tourists for you to snack on along the way! Just avoid choking to death on all the hideous 1970s facial hair, and you’ll have the time of your life.
Mike, Kevin, and Bill became the laughingstock of the scientific community for their fervent belief in The Crater Lake Monster. But they’ll show them, yes, soon they’ll show them all!!
Coming May 25th: The Crater Lake Monster!
There are some things in life that you’ll do without a second thought. Lend a friend a quarter. Help an elderly woman across the street. And if you’re like the lead character in The Devil’s Hand, join a satanic cult to sacrifice your fellow humans in the name of The Great Devil God Gamba.
Yes, when he encounters the owner of a mysterious doll shop, Rick Turner turns his back on his friends and family to embrace a life of voodoo in the name of the author of all lies. But to his credit, there wasn’t anything good on TV that night.
Once signing up for the cult, Rick is drawn into a sinister web of chanting and plodding drumbeats that make Meg White look like John Bonham. Will voodoo executions follow? They will! Will the victims relish the sweet embrace of death as a way to escape the incessant drumming? Probably! Should you immediately download this RiffTrax? The Great Devil God Gamba* commands** it!
*Mike, Kevin & Bill
**Humbly requests***
***OK, tearful begging
Coming June 1st: The Devil’s Hand!