How Teens Earn $25,000 Scholarships Playing Pokemon
This year’s Pokemon World Championships in Boston was the biggest in Pokemon history, measured by both turn-out and prize values. Competitive Pokemon itself, however, remains a relatively quiet scene. Is it just for kids? Is it an eSport? The truth, as it often does, lies somewhere in the middle. Pokemon is in a competitive gaming category all its own.
I talked to two competitive video game players while at Worlds, brothers Aaron and Brendan Zheng. Aaron, 17, is a partnered Twitch streamer and finished in the Masters top four at this year's Nationals event, while Brendan, 13, was the Juniors division World Champion in 2013 and is a veteran of the scene — he’s been playing seriously for five years already.
Axcend Brings Video Games to Reality
You may know Shane Davis from his work on the Superman: Earth One graphic novels or his many covers for both Marvel and DC. And if you know his work, then you know his wife Michelle's work, who frequently inks his pencils. This comics duo has taken a bit of a break from the Big Two to work on Axcend, a creator-owned series at Image Comics, out October 7.
Axcend is the couple's love letter to video games that also explores a troubled teenager who we meet on the anniversary of his twin brother's death. Eric Morn soon enters a virtual reality video game where he can escape the drama of his life, but like in so many comic book origin stories, an accident happens where he can access his super-powered video game avatar in reality.
Supergirl: Glenn Morshower Cast as General Lane
When DC Comics character General Sam Lane makes his debut on Supergirl, he’ll be portrayed by an actor who has plenty of experience playing military men, as IGN can exclusively reveal that Glenn Morshower has been cast in the recurring role on CBS’s new fall series.
Glenn Morshower will play General Sam Lane in Supergirl.
The Supergirl version of General Lane is described as a powerful military lifer -- and an overprotective father to both Lucy Lane and her sister, Lois. His arrival in National City stirs up trouble for Supergirl when he enlists her in a dangerous government initiative.
Activision Reveals Transformers: Devastation Pre-Order Bonuses
Activision has revealed pre-order bonuses for Transformers: Devastation.
Pre-ordering the upcoming brawler will secure bonus weaponry (the Dark Star Sabre sword, the Photon Disruptor cannon and twin pistols, Golden Hunter) and three extra character skins: Nemesis Prime, Red Alert, and Goldfire.
Transformers: Devastation -- which was inadvertently leaked the week before E3 -- will release on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PC on October 9, 2015, and feature five playable autobot heroes, including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Wheeljack and Grimlock.
Apple iPhone 6s Event Live Blog
On Wednesday, September 9th at 10am Pacific (1pm ET / 6pm BST / Thu Sep 10 3am AEST), Apple will take the stage at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium—and one of their announcements presumably will be about the iPhone 6s.
What else can you expect? Given the tagline on the invite ("Hey Siri, give us a hint"), it seems a given that we'll hear more about iOS 9. It's also likely we'll hear more about a refreshed Apple TV, and possibly a streaming TV service. Less likely are an iPad Pro and an iPhone 6c, but it won't be long before we know everything.
For now, you can read up on what we expect from this September Apple event—but be sure to bookmark this page and come back on the 9th for breaking news as it's revealed!
What to Expect From Apple’s iPhone Event
It's that time of the year again. Last week, Apple sent out invitations for a special event to be held on September 9, exactly one year after the company revealed the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, its first smartwatch, and the Apple Pay service.
So what will Tim Cook and company have in store for us this time around? We have a few guesses as to what will be introduced in San Francisco next week.
Star Wars Battlefront Will Not Feature Server Browser
Star Wars Battlefront will not feature a server browser.
Developer DICE confirmed the news via EA's community manager, Sledgehammer70, on the game's Subreddit page, stating that while a server browser will not be available it will use a "new skill-based matchmaking system" to match online players.
This moves away from server set-ups in games like Battlefield 4, where players can select from a variety of servers providing different maps, modes, player numbers, and the ability to find active games with their friends.
"I want to have specific, favourite servers with communities I know etc.," said one fan on the Subreddit page. "I want to have servers with one map only. Matchmaking won't offer me that."
Club Nintendo Waves Farewell with the Goodbye Coin
Nintendo has revealed what will be the last item of its Club Nintendo rewards scheme for fans in Europe and Australia, the Goodbye Coin.
Available now on the Club Nintendo store, the Goodbye Coin costs 2,000 stars, and features Mario and Luigi waving a fond farewell along with the words "thank you" in Japanese.
It also comes with a 50mm x 60mm velvet drawstring pouch for safekeeping. The coin itself is around 40mm in diameter and 3mm thick.
Track List Revealed for PES 2016
Konami has revealed the licensed tracks that will be in Pro Evolution Soccer 2016.
PES 2016 will be out on September 15 in North America and September 17 in Europe for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.
The full track list is as follows:
- Queen - We Will Rock You
- Joywave - Somebody New
- Broken Bells - After the Disco
- Passion Pit - Lifted Up (1985)
- Asgeir - In Harmony
- St. Lucia - Elevate
- Royal Blood - Figure It Out
Kojima and Konami Release MGS5 Mini-Documentary
Hideo Kojima and Konami have released a 10-minute mini-documentary about Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
The Debriefing video features a look inside the world of MGSV from the perspective of the actors, developers, and media personalities. It also shows us what inspires Kojima to keep doing what he loves.
“I always felt that every chapter I made would be the last, and nothing would follow. But suddenly, before I knew it, 28 years had passed!” says Kojima.
The video later sees Kojima visit the family of Sean Paul Gillespie, who died at his home in Ventura after a long battle with cancer on February 8, 2015. According to Kojima, Gillespie sent an email to the Metal Gear team. Kojima – inspired by Gillespie’s story – then "shared Sean’s message with the team, and it motivated everyone to complete the game.”