Screentendo Lets Players Create Mario Levels From Images
Screentendo, a desktop application, will turn a selection of your computer screen into a playable Super Mario Bros. level.
Aaron Randall, a software developer from London, recently showcased what his Mac app can do with Mario bouncing around a Google logo made of brick blocks.
Launching Screentendo opens a semi-transparent window which can be moved and resized. Clicking inside the window causes the app to take a screen capture, and then, Super Mario-fy it with brick blocks, clouds, and, of course, Mario.
Randall created Screentendo using Cocoa and Sprite Kit. He’s made the source code available on Github, but OSx and CocoaPods are needed to use it, which can downloaded here. This is not compatible with Windows platforms.
Batman: Arkham Knight Gets Yet Another Pre-Order Bonus
Warner Bros. has revealed another pre-order bonus for the upcoming Batman: Arkham Knight.
The Gotham's Future pre-order bonus was spotted on Steam and comes with two skins - Batman Beyond from the animated series, and Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns.
While it's currently unclear if this is a Steam exclusive or we'll see it on consoles, it's the latest move in a fairly controversial run with regards to Arkham Knight's DLCs and bonuses. Alongside the previously revealed Harley Quinn pre-order bonus, an expensive Season Pass and the option to play as Batgirl, it looks like it's going to be pretty difficult to pick up the definitive version of the game for a reasonable price. At least until the inevitable Game of the Year edition is released.
The Witcher 3 Getting More Free DLC This Week
CD Projekt Red has announced the contents of the third and fourth free DLC bundles coming to The Witcher 3 later this week.
The first two of a planned 16 such offerings arrived last week, and included the Temerian Armor Set available from a merchant in White Orchard and an extensive array of additional beards and hairstyles for Geralt.
Now, CDPR has revealed a new Witcher contract will be available later this week, called "Missing Miners". In it, you'll have to discover why miners from a small village near Skellige are disappearing. The other piece of DLC we'll see this week is a new look for Yennefer.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Gets Wii U Stretch Goal
Koji Igarashi's new game Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night will be coming to Wii U should the campaign raise over $3 milllion.
The upcoming "Igavania"-style game, (a phrase used to refer to titles such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Harmony of Despair) is already confirmed for PS4, Xbox One and PC.
To make sure the creation of a Wii U version doesn't affect development on the previous editions, IGA and Inti Creates will remain focused on the original versions, with the Wii U port handled by Armature Studio. Armature is made up of devs who've previously worked on the Metroid Prime franchise and have a long history of successful remasters.
New Dragon Ball Z Movie Coming to North American Theaters
Dragon Ball Z is coming to North American theaters for a limited time this summer.
The latest in the long-running series, titled Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F, opens on August 4 and will run through August 12. Fans can sign up on the official Dragon Ball Z website to be alerted when tickets will go on sale.
Resurrection F follows up on last year’s Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and debuts a newer form for the classic villain Frieza, who has returned to take revenge on his nemeses Goku and Vegeta.
These Sweet X-Men Statues May Never be Released
Marvel has asked XM Studios, makers of premium collectibles, to cease production on its upcoming X-Men and Fantastic Four products.
According to Comic Book Resources, the studio based out of Singapore posted a message on its Facebook page stating it had been “asked to put a hard stop to all X-Men characters” indefinitely.
"Folks, it's been a sad day for us... due to reasons we aren't at liberty to disclose, we have been asked to put a hard stop to all X-Men characters for now," said XM studios. "That means Cable can't be released, and neither can the awesome Sentinel Diorama which we've all been so looking forward to."
Elektra May be in Daredevil Season 2
It appears casting is under way for ninja assassin and love interest of Matt Murdock, Elektra.
The news comes from Marvel_Spider’s tweet, which links to deleted video auditions for Shiva Kalaiselvan (no movie or TV credits) and Louisa Mignone (Wish You Were Here).
Both videos reportedly showed Kalaiselvan and Mignone's respective auditions from the same two scenes, the first with a criminal victim, and the second with Matt Murdock during their college years.
Although believed to be auditions for the role of Elektra, the videos claim the actors were auditioning for a character called Elise.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Rebooted
20th Century Fox is rebooting The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
According to Variety, John Davis (The Blacklist) is producing the remake. The movie is based on The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Kevin O'Neill, focusing on the exploits of a supergroup of public domain literary heroes.
Free Update for Dirt Rally adds Pikes Peak
Codemasters has released a new, free update for Dirt Rally which adds the world-famous Colorado, USA hillclimb course Pikes Peak to the impressive rally simulator.
The route comes to Dirt Rally in two guises, a full asphalt version and a mixed surface version.
The update also includes a trio of specialist hillclimbing vehicles to tackle Pikes Peak with; Codemasters has added hillclimb versions of the Peugeot 405 T16, the Peugeot 205 T16, and the Audi Sport quattro S1.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second-oldest motorsports event in the USA, second only to the Indianapolis 500.
The real course is all paved now, unfortunately.
Will the Need for Speed Reboot Capture the Original Essence of the Series?
Last week EA revealed its 2015 Need for Speed game, and it’s just called Need for Speed. No colon, no cute subtitle. Pitched as a “full reboot”, EA promises Need for Speed will draw on what it considers the core pillars of the series: “deep customisation, authentic urban car culture, a nocturnal open world, and an immersive narrative that pulls you through the game.” Ghost Games, in its words, is seeking to go back to the roots of Need for Speed.
Thing is, I’m not sure I necessarily agree these are, in fact, the roots of the Need for Speed series. They’re certainly part of the franchise’s identity now, but it’s worth remembering Need for Speed certainly wasn’t always about “nocturnal open worlds”, “immersive narratives,” or urban anything. This kind of content was introduced in the fun and very successful Need for Speed Underground, itself somewhat of a reboot for the Need for Speed series.