Voltron to have first Comic-Con panel in San Diego
The battling robot Voltron will have its first franchise panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego on Thursday, July 21.
The panel presentation at Comic-Con International will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 21, in the Indigo Ballroom at the Bayfront Hilton hotel.
The panel is scheduled to feature a mix of entertainment of new and classic Voltron content, including original graphic novels, comic books, video games, Nicktoons’ Voltron Force television series and more.
Carrie Keagan, host of VH1’s Big Morning Buzz Live, will moderate. Guests include:
· From THQ, Adam Affrunti, producer;
· From World Events Productions, Jeremy Corray, Voltron Force supervising producer, and Todd 
Garfield, Voltron Force story editor;
· From Nicktoons, Keith Dawkins, senior vice president and general manager of Nicktoons;
· From Mattel, Steed Sun, entertainment brands design director, Michael Montalvo, entertainment brands design manager, and Brandon Sopinsky, entertainment brands designer;
· From Dynamite Entertainment, Joe Rybrandt, editor, and Brandon Thomas, Voltron comic book writer;
· From VIZ Media, Traci Todd, senior editor, and Jacob Chabot, cartoonist and illustrator for VIZ Media graphic novels
“This is an epic year for Voltron fans and the Comic-Con panel is going to be a memorable event for them,” said Peter Armstrong, executive producer of THQ’s forthcoming video game, in a news release. “It’s the perfect time for us to present the first-ever Voltron panel since this legendary robot action franchise is back right now in a very big way. We can’t wait to talk about what’s next for Voltron, and to showcase some of the best and most exclusive Voltron content for the first time.”
An autograph session will follow the panel. A giant Voltron figure will also be on-site.
Voltron: Defender of the Universe was a highly rated cartoon show in the 1980s, in which five brave explorers pilot five robotic lion ships, which combine to form Voltron, the robotic hero.
A new animated series, “Voltron Force,” recently debuted on Nicktoons.
- Matt Price
New Tomb Raider trailer revealed at IGN
IGN shares this trailer for the new “Tomb Raider” game, set for a Fall 2012 release. What do you think of Lara Croft’s new look?
- Matt Price
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The Terminator handheld game simulated online
Pica Pic has an assortment of handheld games simulated online, including The Terminator, shown above. It’s amazing how such graphically limited games could be so much fun.
“Homefront” video game from THQ looks at United States under occupation
It’s 2027, and a reunified Korea has invaded the United States.
That’s the premise of “Homefront,” a new video game from THQ that explores what might happen if Americans were forced to form a resistance to an invading army.
The game’s lead level designer, Rex Dickson, said the game deals with the foreign occupation of America, and how that could come about.
“We have what we call pillars, or guiding statements, and one of those pillars was ‘familiar has become alien,’” Dickson said. “We did a lot of research into post-peak oil, what would happen after an oil crash, when gas was no longer available. What would our country look like if democracy were to fall apart, or fail, when there were no jobs left, when things began to get more and more abandoned?”
Dickson said designers looked at some modern cities, where large neighborhoods have been abandoned in the throes of the Great Recession.
“Anyone in the United States who grew up in suburbia will immediately understand these places,” he said.
The “Homefront” game is expected to spawn sequels and already has led to a novel, “Homefront: The Voice of Freedom,” by John Milius and Raymond Benson, exploring the game’s backstory.
“Homefront is set to become one of THQ’s most successful original IP launches,” said Danny Bilson, EVP Core Games, THQ, in a release. “The team at Kaos (has) spent three years building an FPS (first person shooter) that competes with the very best, offering a thrilling and original single-player experience and hundreds of hours of multiplayer.”
THQ is providing dedicated servers for console and PC versions of “Homefront.”
“Dedicated servers allow us to support 32 players on large maps with infantry, vehicles and drones, and level the playing field compared to titles that rely on user-hosted games,” said Drew Como, director of infrastructure, THQ.
In the game, the reunified Korea acts much like Japan in World War II, island-hopping until it is able to control large portions of Asia.
“They attack the United States with an electromagnetic pulse weapon, and that is a very real-world threat,” Dickson said. “It knocks out all electricity and computer devices and shuts down all communication.”
This allows the Korean army to mount an incursion into the United States.
“The Koreans don’t do a full-scale invasion of the United States; they go after pockets here and there,” trying to take over resource-heavy areas, Dickson said.
The game was written by Milius, who co-wrote the film “Apocalypse Now” and wrote and directed “Red Dawn.”
“While ‘Red Dawn’ is closest in terms of its depiction of civilian resistance, ‘Apocalypse Now’ … was much closer to what we were going for in terms of tone,” Dickson said. “This is a very dark, serious game. We wanted to get away from the … thrill-a-minute action movie.”
Milius established the arc and created a strong focus on the civilian storyline. The players take on the role of a civilian resistance force in Colorado.
“He’s been giving us feedback constantly on what would make sense for resistance fighters, and things that a civilian resistance would be capable of versus a professional soldier and squad.”
Dickson said many Americans are used to living in a resource-rich environment, and one of the questions the game wants players to ask themselves is how they might react in a dangerous, desperate situation.
“We’re trying to pull on that emotion and ask that question. … Maybe it’s very unlikely that we could ever be invaded, but what if?” Dickson said. “And you know, even just asking that question makes people very uncomfortable. But that’s exactly what the game is all about.”
- By Matthew Price
From Wednesday’s The Oklahoman
Click past the cut for more screenshots from “Homefront.”
Ghostbusters still ain’t afraid of no ghosts: Team appearing in “Infestation” and “Sanctum of Slime” this month
Ghostbusters: Infestation #1
More than 25 years after they first arrived in movie theaters, the wisecracking Ghostbusters remain at the heart of a popular franchise.
Amazing Spider-Man costume, Green Lantern game trailer, Thor and Captain America get toys
SPIDER-MAN GETS ‘AMAZING’
Sony has revealed official title of the new Spider-Man film: “The Amazing Spider-Man.” The costume of Andrew Garfield in the Spider-Man movie reboot was also recently revealed, and you can check it out at the site: 
http://www.theamazingspiderman-movie.com/.
GREEN LANTERN GAME TRAILER RELEASED
Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters is an action-adventure title that is scheduled for release in conjunction with the Green Lantern movie releasing this summer.
The game will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and Nintendo DS.
Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters is inspired by the feature film, which stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan. In the game, players will be able to wield the Green Lantern ring to restore intergalactic order.
THOR, CAP TOYS
Chris Hemsworth, who plays “Thor” in the upcoming film, and Chris Evans, who plays Captain America, recently visited Hasbro’s showroom at Toy Fair in New York. The “Thor” line is set to debut March 1, and the Captain America toys hit the shelves on May 16. The “Thor” movie releases May 6, and Captain America: First Avenger hits on July 22.
REVIEWS
Matt and Kyle review Amazing Spider-Man 654.1, Jennifer Blood #1, Silver Surfer #1 and more.
DC Universe of superheroes comes to online game
A screenshot from "DC Universe Online."
DC Comics has brought its superhero universe online. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and more star in “DC Universe Online,” released this month for the PC and PlayStation 3. The massively multiplayer online (MMO) game allows gamers to create their own superhero or supervillain.
Green Hornet hits theaters; DC Comics releases online game; The Walking Dead tops sales charts
GREEN HORNET COMES TO THEATERS
Seth Rogen tells George Lang he was allowed to reshape Britt Reid, aka the Green Hornet, in his own image.
“We kind of wanted to subvert notions that are in a lot of these comic book-type movies and that you would find in a lot of early origin stories of comic book characters,” Rogen said during a news conference on a soundstage at the Sony Pictures studio lot in Culver City, Calif.
“In order to play with those ideas, you have to be very aware of what they are in the first place and that they exist and to acknowledge them to some degree. We kind of wanted to dance on the line of being a comic book movie and commenting on a comic book movie.”
Seth Rogen, left, and Jay Chou in "The Green Hornet."
The film made $34 million in its opening weekend, according to the Associated Press.
BEST-SELLING COMICS ANNOUNCED
The hit television show “The Walking Dead” helped spur sales of the graphic novels on which it was based. According to a news release from Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc., “The Walking Dead” Vol. 1 trade paperback was the No. 1-selling graphic novel for 2010.
Diamond Comic Distributors is the world’s largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop-culture merchandise.
DC UNIVERSE ONLINE RELEASED
Sony Online Entertainment LLC recently released the eagerly-awaited online action game DC Universe Online (DCUO) for the PC and the PlayStation 3.
“We’re redefining the genre and blazing a new trail in the gaming industry with the introduction of DC Universe Online,” said John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment. “This is the first true action MMO utilizing twitch-based combat and physics to deliver a completely unique and immersive gameplay experience that is reflective of the creativity, action and strength of the DC Universe.”
REVIEW FILE: Matt and Kyle review Amazing Spider-Man 651, Wonder Girl 1 and John Byrne’s Next Men 2.
Batman: Arkham City trailer, screenshot, concept art released
Concept art from "Batman: Arkham City."
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE), Rocksteady Studios and DC Entertainment have released a teaser trailer for Batman: Arkham City. The game is set for fall 2011 release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC.
Batman: Arkham City screenshot
Here’s the description from WBIE:
Developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City, the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.
Click past the cut for the teaser trailer for “Batman: Arkham City.”
Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston to voice “Thor” video game
Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor, signs for a fan at Comic-Con International in San Diego. (Photo by Annette Price)
SEGA has announced via a news release that “Thor” actors Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston will star in the video game “Thor: God of Thunder.” The pair will reprise their roles from the upcoming “Thor” film, with Hemsworth voicing Thor, the god of thunder, and Hiddleston voicing his villainous brother Loki, the god of mischief. The likenesses of the actors will also appear in the game.
“Bringing in Chris and Tom to star in Thor: God of Thunder gives us AAA talent that will create a truly cinematic interactive experience,” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA Europe and SEGA of America, in the release. “Mighty Thor and the trickster Loki will face off with real emotion while giving fans visual and vocal continuity between the video game and film adaptations of the Marvel franchise.”
Matt Fraction, current writer of the “Thor” comic book, served as story consultant for the game. Thor will battle through worlds of Norse mythology to save his home of Asgard.
Foes will include Ulik, Ymir and Surtur from the Marvel comics. The game is set for release in spring 2011.
- Matt Price
