This Transistor Figure Is Too Cute
Supergiant Games has unveiled its latest Transistor collectible and it’s an adorable Red figure.
The figure stands six inches tall and features Red with big blue eyes, holding the mysterious sword known as Transistor. It comes in a translucent box adorned with the game’s unique designs for the collectors who prefer to keep their toys sealed.
According to Supergiant’s blog, the figure, designed by the studio’s art director Jen Zee, has been in the works for over a year in partnership with notable pop culture merchandise retailer We Love Fine.
J.K. Rowling Reveals Severus Snape Secret
Following the tragic passing of Alan Rickman, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has revealed a secret she shared with the actor about his character, Severus Snape.
Back in 2011, Rickman told RTÉ that Rowling offered him "crucial" insight into the wizard's character, which informed his portrayal of Snape in the seven-part film saga. Until now, however, what she told him has remained a mystery.
In response to a fan on Twitter (via News.Mic), Rowling shared the secret:
Filming Wraps On Assassin’s Creed Movie
Filming has wrapped for Ubisoft Motion Picture's upcoming Assassin's Creed flick. Head of content Azaïzia Aymar posted a photo on Twitter confirming that the last shot was taken on January 15.
It is my honor to announce that #assassinscreedmovie last shot was taken minutes ago! Congratulations guys!!! pic.twitter.com/UxsiUDIQQm
— Azaïzia Aymar (@AymarMtl) January 15, 2016
Right in the middle of the photo stands star Michael Fassbender, who plays Callum Lynch in the film. Fassbender said he hadn't played any Assassin's Creed game before landing the role. Back in December the star admitted that he'd finally played one, "mainly to get an idea of the physically of the character."
The X-Files’ Return is This Week’s TV Highlight
Okay. There's a rather large amount of TV to sort through this week. A lot of returning shows. Some popping back in after their December break, others premiering new seasons. On The CW, Arrow and Flash are back while The 100 returns for Season 3 and DC's Legends of tomorrow makes its big debut.
Plus, Heroes Reborn ends while new seasons of Marvel's Agent Carter, Black Sails, Portlandia, and Childrens Hospital start up - and Shawn Ryan's Mad Dogs officially premieres on Amazon.
But the biggest news this week - the highlight, if you will - is The X-Files on FOX. Back, after 13 years away, for a new six-episode miniseries designed to push the show ahead creatively. Into more seasons, in fact, if it does well.
Fan Remake of Metal Gear Solid is a Labor of Love
Konami's 1998 classic Metal Gear Solid is being remade by fans using Unreal Engine 4.
The project, titled Shadow Moses, is not in any way Konami approved, something creator Airam Hernandez is fully aware of.
A post to Shadow Moses's Facebook page clarified that the remake does not have Konami's "full permission." Openly sharing the project from the beginning, Hernandez said, is key to dealing "with any issues that may arise."
Konami wants to continue the Metal Gear Solid franchise despite losing series creator Hideo Kojima. In fact, IGN reported last month that Konami Group is actively searching for a "wide range of highly-skilled development professionals" for a new Metal Gear game. The company is looking to expand its Tokyo and Los Angeles studios, despite the announcement that the California branch would be closing.
Tanner Girls Talk Returning for Netflix Spinoff, Fuller House
Everywhere you look, on February 26th, the Tanner clan returns for more wholesome Full House goodness with Netflix's Fuller House - a decades later spinoff revolving around recently widowed veterinarian D.J. Tanner Fuller (Candace Cameron Bure) living in San Francisco with her younger sister, an aspiring musician, Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin), and lifelong best friend and fellow single mom Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), and Kimmy’s feisty teenage daughter Ramona. All living under one roof and taking care of D.J.’s three boys: Jackson, Max, and her newborn baby, Tommy, Jr.
Cameron Bure, Sweetin, Barber, and executive producers Bob Boyett and Jeff Franklin appeared at the TCA Winter Press Tour to preview their new series and answer questions during a Q&A panel. With Franklin even addressing the fact that, as much as they worked to make it happen, the character of Michell Tanner wasn't a part of the series due to the Olsen twins refusing to return. "I tried," he said. "We all tried to persuade them to come and play. They decided not to at this time. We’re hopeful at some point in the future that they may change their minds and come back and reprise Michelle."
Tom Clancy’s The Division Setting Limited to Manhattan
Though set in the ravaged ruins of New York, Tom Clancy's The Division will reportedly not feature the entire New York City area.
According to The Examiner, the game will only feature one borough of New York: Midtown Manhattan. This contrasts what we've seen leading up to this point from Ubisoft, including an E3 2013 demo set in Brooklyn that will reportedly not appear in the launch version of The Division.
Magnus Jansen, creative director on Tom Clancy's The Division, told The Examiner Midtown Manhattan was chosen "because of the one-to-one re-creation" and because of the way the pandemic happened. According to Jansen, the Manhattan area is a huge experience and "more than enough to sink your teeth into."
Fragments of Him Examines the Effect of Losing Someone You Love
Fragments of Him is a deeply personal game about a man named Will. We follow his tragic death, which has a ripple effect throughout his life and the lives of the people he loved. Anyone that’s ever had to cope with the loss of a loved one at some point in their life knows how terribly crippling the feelings of death and loss can be.
The final version will be split into several different sections, each of which shows events from a different character’s perspective. The preview I played only covers the introductory moments leading up to Will’s death. You’ll explore the life of not only Will, but also his partner, Harry, ex-girlfriend, Sarah, and grandmother, Mary.
The developers made sure to emphasize that while Fragments of Him has many of the tenets of branching narrative games – different characters, impactful events, personal struggles, and more – it’s not a choose-your-own-adventure game such as Heavy Rain or Until Dawn by any means. This story is already in motion – you can’t save Will. There are no puzzles, or collectibles, or boss fights muddying up the story.
Movie Based on London’s Hatton Garden Jewel Heist in the Works
Metrodome is among backers of a feature film based on the Hatton Garden heist that took place in London last year.
According to Screen Daily, The Hatton Garden Job is the film's working title, and it will be produced by Mark Harris and Ben Jacques with a script from Simon Cluett. It is hoped that filming will begin in the spring.
Image credit: Getty Images
The Division Won’t Have Player-to-Player Trading at Launch
Ubisoft has cut player-to-player trading in Tom Clancy's The Division. This feature would have allowed players to buy and sell items between each other in-game.
Speaking to GamesRadar, associate creative director Julian Gerighty said "priority of different features" took precedence over trading. "It's the reality of production. Some features make it, some features don't," he said.
Last week, creative director of Ubisoft Massive Magnus Jansen announced that Tom Clancy's The Division would have free updates and paid post-launch DLC. This is where, presumably, player-to-player trading could "make an appearance in the future," Gerighty said, mentioning that it's "something that obviously some people are very passionate about."