GameFly Top Ten Lists, March 30, 2009
The GameFly Top 10 List reflects gamers’ choices from more than 6,000 titles for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PSP consoles. Here’s the lists for March 30, 2009. “Wanted: Weapons of Fate,” based on the film that was based on the Top Cow graphic novel, tops the list of most popular games across all platforms.
Most Popular Games Cross-Platform:
1. Wanted: Weapons of Fate | PS3, Xbox 360 | Shooter | WB Games
2. Resident Evil 5 | PS3, Xbox 360 | Action Adventure | Capcom
3. Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena | PS3, Xbox 360 | Shooter | Atari
4. Godfather 2 | PS3, Xbox 360 | Action Adventure | Electronic Arts
5. Halo Wars | Xbox 360 | Strategy/Sim | Microsoft
6. Wheelman | PS3, Xbox 360 | Racing | Ubisoft
7. Guitar Hero: Metallica | PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2 | Arcade/Puzzle | Activision
8. Killzone 2 | PS3 | Shooter | Sony Computer Entertainment
9. H.A.W.X. | PS3, Xbox 360, Wii | Action Adventure | Ubisoft
10. Street Fighter IV | PS3, Xbox 360 | Fighting | Capcom
Source: GameFly
More lists after the break.
Cost too high for “End is Nigh”
THE NEXT LEVEL
The downloadable game “Watchmen: The End is Nigh” is a strong indication of the high-end of graphics that can be delivered in the downloadable format, but ultimately the game doesn’t live up to its visuals or its source material. Furthermore, the game only offers about three hours of play for around $20.
Spinning off from the movie “Watchmen,” itself based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, “End is Nigh” takes place in the 1970s, when superheroes Nite Owl and Rorschach worked as a team.
The gamer can play as either Rorschach or Nite Owl in a single player or cooperative multiplayer game.
The game takes place in 1972, as Nite Owl and Rorschach attempt to shut down a prison riot in Sing Sing.
As it turns out, the riot was only a cover so that crime lord the Underboss could escape. On each level, Nite Owl and Rorschach must bash their way through a phalanx of thugs as they seek the Underboss. Eventually they uncover a planned assassination attempt, which the gamer will see as a twist from the actual history of 1972. Gibbons was an art consultant on the game, and it’s written by original “Watchmen” editor Len Wein. The story is decent, and the look is brilliant. But the gameplay isn’t there.
Rorschach and Nite Owl have different fighting styles and power-ups. Rorschach is a brawler, taking on multiple enemies at once. Nite Owl is a more strategic fighter who also has an electrical weapon in his suit. The combat is similar to other beat-’em-up games.
While “Watchmen” the graphic novel is a brilliant deconstruction of the superhero, “The End is Nigh” is a by-the-numbers fighter that’s graphically impressive, but doesn’t offer anything new.
The game is rated M for mature and is available for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
by Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Monday movie quote challenge #23
“What’s the worst thing that can happen? We’ll all die, right?”
Identify who said this quote in what film in the comments!
Comics vodcast: X-Force/Cable Messiah War, Incredibles: Family Matters 1, The Muppet Show 1
Matt Price and Kyle Roberts discuss the kickoff of the “Messiah War” crossover and the beginning of the Boom! Kids line: Incredibles: Family Matters #1 and The Muppet Show #1. Get your Boom! Kids comics soon, as the first two issues have already sold out at the distributor, though copies may remain at local comic-book stores. Second prints are on the way.
Planet Comicon this weekend in Kansas City area
I’m unfortunately missing the Planet Comicon this year, in Overland Park, Kan. It’s always one of the best comic-book shows in the area. If you don’t have previous commitments, and if driving isn’t impossible, you might check it out.
The show runs Saturday and Sunday at the Overland Park International Trade Center at 115th and Metcalf in Overland Park.
Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Joe Jusko and Michael Golden will be on hand – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
You can see the considerable guest list at planetcomicon.com.
I’ve been to this show several times, and it’s one of my favorites. It’s very much a comic-book heavy show, though there are also very good media guests. This year, I’ll instead be attending the AP-ONE journalism awards in Norman – which should also be outstanding – but those of you going to Kansas City, have some comic-book fun for me.
– Matt Price
Geoff Johns on Flash: Rebirth, Blackest Night
DC Comics writer Geoff Johns talks to Matt Price about “Blackest Night” and “Flash: Rebirth” at the ComicsPRO annual meeting in Memphis.
Flash, Green Lantern in spotlight in 2009
WORD BALLOONS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Flash and Green Lantern will be the “cornerstones” of the DC Universe in the coming year, said writer Geoff Johns, speaking at the ComicsPRO annual members’ meeting last week.
ComicsPRO is a nonprofit organization of direct-market comic store retailers.
Johns is the writer of the upcoming “Flash: Rebirth,” slated for release on April 1, and “Blackest Night,” which kicks off with a free No. 0 issue on May 2, Free Comic Book Day. “Blackest Night” No. 0 is the first original story created by DC for a FCBD giveaway. The first half of the book will be by Johns and Ivan Reis.
“It’s a 12-page story that’s a lead-in to the DC Universe through Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) and Barry Allen (Flash),” Johns said. “I look at Hal and Barry as very different in how they’re coming into the DC Universe.”
The Flash died a hero in “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” saving the world from the Anti-Monitor, before returning in “Final Crisis” last year. Hal Jordan was turned evil by the entity Parallax and destroyed the Green Lantern Corps before dying in the “Final Night” series. In the 2004 series “Green Lantern: Rebirth,” Hal Jordan was purged of the entity and returned as a hero.
“There’s a line in (”Blackest Night” No. 0) where Hal says, ‘You died a saint and I died a sinner,’” Johns said, referring to the different situations in which the two close friends now find themselves.
Barry Allen returning from the dead is “the worst thing that ever happened to him,” Johns said.
“I think a lot of people are wondering why we’re bringing Barry Allen back,” Johns said. “But really ‘Flash: Rebirth’ is knee-deep in doing what we do best.”
“Flash: Rebirth” is from the creative team of “Green Lantern: Rebirth,” Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver.
DC Executive Editor Dan DiDio announced that, based on pre-orders, “Flash: Rebirth” No. 1 will be DC Comics’ top book for April.
“Blackest Night” No. 1 will launch July 15, written by Johns and drawn by Reis. It will tie in with “Green Lantern” and “Green Lantern Corps.”
“I’ve been working really hard on Green Lantern for the last few years,” Johns said. “When we did (the) Sinestro Corps (storyline), it was kind of a surprise for a lot of people,” Johns said. “But now that we’re headed toward ‘Blackest Night,’ the fact that readers, retailers, DC, everybody’s really excited about it, that gets me excited, because I’ve been wanting to tell this story for a long time.”
By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Ross returns with new “Superpowers” series
Alex Ross returns for “Project Superpowers” Chapter 2, launching from Dynamite in June. The popular painter will paint ever cover of “Project Superpowers,” and will plot and direct the entire “Project Superpowers” universe.
Writer Jim Krueger returns to the series, joined by two artists: Edgar Salazar and Doug Klauba. Salazar will draw the main story; Klauba paints a special painted origin sequence in each issue. He’ll kick things off with an origin of the Black Terror.
Issue #0 of chapter 2 will launch in June for a $1 retail price.
- Matt Price
See the full release after the break.
He’s Our You – A Lost discussion with George Lang and Matt Price
In something of a blog crossover — think of those classic Justice League/Justice Society team-ups — George Lang of Staticblog and I, Matt Price of Nerdage, will share some thoughts on this week’s episode of “Lost,” “He’s Our You.” As the episode begins, Sayid has been captured by the Dharma Initiative, and Sawyer plans to save him. Plans are afoot to continue this as a regular feature if interest continues. Spoilers ahead.
A SPOILERIFFIC DISCUSSION OF “He’s Our You.”
MATT: Well, I feel like this episode wasn’t perhaps as awesome as the last two — there was simply a lot of moving pieces into place for that final shot. Still, I did notice some interesting things.
1. Sawyer’s beard coming back. 
MATT: Since Jack and crew returned to the island, Sawyer is looking more like Sawyer and less like LaFleur.
GEORGE: Kate just brings out the beard in him. Makes him all hairy and man-musky, instead of looking, ‘77 stylee, like he’s ready to sit in with America on a lovely rendition of “Ventura Highway.”
2. Kate and Juliet
MATT: Maybe they should just rock-paper-scissors?
GEORGE: Yeah, except that in Juliet’s case, it would be suture scissors. Rock-paper-scissors would be one option, but Kate’s handy with guns and rigging explosives, and Juliet, as a medical professional, probably knows how to make Kate’s death look like an accident — at least to your average or below-average Dharmanians. Juliet basically has squatter’s rights (in the “possession is 9/10ths of the law” sense, perv) on this one, but Kate’s psychology is structured toward deviancy — she can get what she wants. Plus, Kate’s a good tracker, so Juliet can’t just run away. Kate has the upper hand.
3. What happens to the timeline?
MATT: Does Sayid’s action change the timeline, or was this what was always supposed to happen? Is Ben dead in the future? Given the fact that the island brings back those it’s “not done with,” could Ben return? Could Ben be saved by Jack, since the island now has a surgeon?
GEORGE: I personally hope that Lindelof and Cuse are killing off Ben, not because he’s not a sparkling personality or a good guy, but because it messes with Space-Time Continuum(tm) and paradoxes. Sure, Ben could be saved by Jack, but we’ve been there before. I want to see the world twist because Ben Linus isn’t around making googly eyes at us.
4. Why are the castaways in 1977, anyway?
MATT: My original theory was that they were there to prevent the slaying of the Dharma Initiative. Then, I wondered if they were there to redeem Ben. I don’t know if either theory got more credence with last night’s episode.
GEORGE: I don’t know if Ben’s redemption is what anyone is looking for — I think your original theory holds water. It certainly isn’t for the 13-percent interest rates of the “stagflation” era.
5. Callbacks
MATT: Sayid being tortured while Sawyer watches recalls Sayid’s torture of Sawyer in season 1.
GEORGE: But what’s missing is 12-year-old Ben Linus pushing up his bangs to reveal that he is, in fact, The Boy Who Lived, and that Sayid’s got nothing on Tom Riddle.
6. Why the crap
MATT: Why didn’t Sayid just go along with Sawyer’s plan? Why didn’t Sawyer just come out and make up some story about what Sayid told him?
GEORGE: It’s basic lack of trust, and Sayid’s not the kind of guy to go along with something unless massive torture, or Zuleikha Robinson in knee-high boots, or both, is involved.
“Where the Wild Things Are” trailer released
Maurice Sendak’s classic book “Where the Wild Things Are” comes to the big screen as directed by Spike Jonze.
