Charles Martinet: ‘I Want To Voice Mario Until I Drop Dead’
Charles Martinet, the actor known for his iconic work as the voice of Mario (as well as a number of other characters in the Nintendo franchise) has said that he would like to continue in the role until he dies.
Martinet, who has been voicing Nintendo's beloved character since 1992, recently answered questions about his time as Nintendo's renowned mascot as part of a Q&A session at FAN EXPO Canada: Limited Edition.
As reported by The Game Creator, when asked by a fan how long he could see himself continuing as Mario, Martinet told the audience, "I want to voice Mario until I drop dead," though he quickly followed this up with a further caveat, adding, ‘‘If someday I think I am no longer capable of doing it, I will tell Nintendo to look into finding someone else.’’
Examples of Martinet's work can be seen far and wide across the popular video game franchise where his voice work has also brought to life the characters Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi. When asked whether or not someone would be able to fill that void once he'd left, Martinet said, ‘‘I am very touched by that. But I hope there will still be Mario after I am gone. Anyways, there are over 5 million audio files of me voicing Mario. I go into the studio and record 45 takes of every sound I can think of, so I’m not going anywhere for a long time!’’
Despite having been synonymous with the role of Mario for so long, Martinet is not set to play the character in the franchise's upcoming Super Mario movie, where Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World star Chris Pratt will voice its lead. Martinet is set to appear in the film, however, his role will take shape in a number of featured cameos in the movie.
Following the film's casting announcement during September's Nintendo Direct, it's fair to say that initial reactions to Pratt stepping into the role of the legendary character have been mixed, and fans took to social media to post their own reactions to the news. To keep up with the latest from Nintendo and Illumination's upcoming Super Mario Movie, make sure to check out our dedicated IGN page for the film.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
Blue Origin Is Building Its Own Private Space Station
Blue Origin has announced plans to launch a commercial space station called Orbital Reef, which the company aims to open for business in the latter half of this decade.
As reported by Space.com, the Orbital Reef station will be built in partnership with multiple other space companies, including Boeing, Sierra Space and several more. The outpost is scheduled to be up and running by the late 2020s, aligning itself as a possible successor to the International Space Station, which is expected to be retired between 2028 and 2030.
Blue Origin's press release for the newly announced project describes the Orbital Reef station as a "mixed use business park" that will be built in low Earth orbit. It will be designed to support a diverse portfolio of uses across the commerce, research, and tourism sectors and will initially feature 29,311 cubic feet of pressurized volume to accommodate up to 10 people.
Whether film-making in microgravity, opening a space hotel or conducting cutting-edge research, the website for the project suggests Orbital Reef will lease locations according to each vision. The spacious modules host distinct quarters for both living and working, with large Earth-facing windows that allow travellers to "take in the beauty of our planet."
"For over 60 years, NASA and other space agencies have developed orbital spaceflight and space habitation, setting us up for commercial business to take off in this decade," Brent Sherwood, Senior Vice President of Advanced Development Programs for Blue Origin, said in a statement as the plans for the commercial destination in space were unveiled this week.
"We will expand access, lower the cost, and provide all the services and amenities needed to normalize spaceflight," he added, offering further insight into how the team will reimagine living and working in space. "A vibrant business ecosystem will grow in low Earth orbit, generating new discoveries, new products, new entertainments and global awareness."
Other groups involved in the project include Redwire Space and Genesis Engineering Solutions together with Arizona State University — leading a consortium of universities that will act as an advisory council on research. As of now, it's unclear how much of an investment each of the partners has committed for the construction of the Orbital Reef outpost.
Blue Origin has made the headlines a few times on its mission to build a road to space. Star Trek legend William Shatner recently became the oldest person to ever reach space following the successful completion of a flight aboard the company's New Shepard rocket. It was only the second crewed outing for the ship, which had Jeff Bezos aboard for its first launch.
Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.
Sony Is Reportedly ‘Happy’ With Sales Numbers For Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Mike and Josh Grier from Ember Lab have revealed that Sony is happy with the sales numbers of Kena: Bridge of Spirits and that the game has already recouped its initial development costs.
In an interview with Bloomberg, the Grier brothers didn't provide a sales number, but they noted that they were pleasantly surprised at the sales so far. "It’s hard to tell what's a huge success. Sony's happy," said Josh Grier. Mike Grier also mentioned that Sony put plenty of effort into marketing Kena: Bridge of Spirits because of the large amount of attention it was getting. It was revealed alongside the PlayStation 5 back in June 2020.
At game conferences, Ember Lab pitched earlier versions of the game. While there were lots of big publishers interested, the studio eventually closed a deal with Sony for both funding and marketing support. Additionally, Ember Lab was allowed to learn about the PS5 a year prior to its official announcement and was given development kits for the console.
The team pitched early versions of Kena at game conferences and drew interest from several big publishers, then struck a deal with Sony for funding and marketing support. Working with one of the big console makers had some nice perks. They were briefed on the PlayStation 5 a year before its announcement and even received early development kits, much to the delight of everyone there.
As for the studio's next project, the Grier brothers know that it'll be a narrative driven game. In IGN's Kena: Bridge of Spirts review, Mitchel Saltzman said, "Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a wonderful first game from Ember Lab, combining its outstanding pedigree in art and animation with some really solid combat, fantastic world design, and a great balance of action, platforming, puzzle solving, and exploration."
Kena: Bridge of Spirits launched on September 21 for PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
George Yang is a freelance contributor at IGN
Leaked Videos Appear To Offer the First Glimpse Of Facebook’s Oculus Pro
New leaks from Oculus appear to show a first look at the rumored Oculus Pro VR headset, The Verge reports.
Videos and images from the servers of Facebook, which owns Oculus, first leaked to Reddit before being downloaded by The Verge. The videos show CG characters interacting with a new, darker VR headset and participating in activities like meetings, character customization, and games like Beat Saber.
Though the videos are CG, they show off what appears to be full body motion tracking, new Oculus Touch-style controllers (without the ring that goes around your hands), a charging dock, and the Horizon Workrooms app, where users will host meetings and use presentation tools like a 3D image of a building blueprint.
If Facebook confirms the existence of a pro version of its Oculus Quest headset (something executives have previously teased), it'll likely be at the upcoming Connect conference, where the social media company has previously revealed VR hardware. Facebook is also reportedly gearing up for a big company name change that will reflect its work building a "metaverse," a particularly ambiguous term that tech leaders have used to define a future where brands, users, and tech share a single centralized, interconnected platform. Facebook and Oculus VR hardware, plus the more detailed avatars and functionality, will likely play a role in Facebook's plans for the metaverse.
The only catch to the leak is that Facebook VP of Reality Labs, Andrew Bosworth, said in April that the company wouldn't have any Oculus Quest Pro news this year, The Verge reported. It's possible that Facebook's plans have changed in the subsequent months, though.
The Verge also reported that YouTuber Basti564 told them that references to an "Oculus Pro" can be found in recent Oculus Software. According to BAsti564, the leaked videos will play upon the headset's initial setup.
Meanwhile, Oculus Quest 2 just received a VR version of Resident Evil 4, which editor Taylor Lyles called "a fresh take" on one of the most ported games of all time.
Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/VR fan for IGN
Halo 3’s Original Servers Shutting Down Along With the Rest Of the Series On Xbox 360
343 Industries has revealed the date when the online multiplayer servers for several Halo games on Xbox 360 will close down: January 13, 2022. Back on December 18, 2020, the studio announced these servers would shut down no earlier than one year after it had posted the notice, but now a definitive date has been decided.
"To date, we’ve juggled future-facing work and priorities with continued upkeep of Halo’s Xbox 360 legacy services. Maintaining these legacy services today requires significant time and resources which directly impacts the studio’s ability to support current and future projects like Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo Infinite," wrote 343 Industries in a statement.
As the player base of these games on Xbox 360 dwindle more and more, the imbalance between maintaining the Xbox 360 servers and working on recent projects increases. Additionally, the digital sales of the Xbox 360 Halo games have greatly slowed down and new physical sales of them were halted back in 2018.
The following games are affected: Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, Halo 4, Halo Wars, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and Spartan Assault. While the multiplayer functions of these games will be limited following the server closures in January, the games will remain playable offline. Along with finally deciding on a date for sunsetting the servers, 343 Industries also showed off some footage of Halo Infinite's campaign this morning.
Halo Infinite launches on December 8 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
George Yang is a freelancer writer for IGN
Halo 3’s Original Servers Shutting Down Along With the Rest Of the Series On Xbox 360
343 Industries has revealed the date when the online multiplayer servers for several Halo games on Xbox 360 will close down: January 13, 2022. Back on December 18, 2020, the studio announced these servers would shut down no earlier than one year after it had posted the notice, but now a definitive date has been decided.
"To date, we’ve juggled future-facing work and priorities with continued upkeep of Halo’s Xbox 360 legacy services. Maintaining these legacy services today requires significant time and resources which directly impacts the studio’s ability to support current and future projects like Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo Infinite," wrote 343 Industries in a statement.
As the player base of these games on Xbox 360 dwindle more and more, the imbalance between maintaining the Xbox 360 servers and working on recent projects increases. Additionally, the digital sales of the Xbox 360 Halo games have greatly slowed down and new physical sales of them were halted back in 2018.
The following games are affected: Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, Halo 4, Halo Wars, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and Spartan Assault. While the multiplayer functions of these games will be limited following the server closures in January, the games will remain playable offline. Along with finally deciding on a date for sunsetting the servers, 343 Industries also showed off some footage of Halo Infinite's campaign this morning.
Halo Infinite launches on December 8 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
George Yang is a freelancer writer for IGN
Brendan Fraser Will Reportedly Be the Villain In New Batgirl Movie
Brendan Fraser will reportedly star in Warner Bros. and DC's upcoming Batgirl film as the villain Firefly, sources speaking to Deadline say. The Mummy and Doom Patrol star will join Leslie Grace (In the Heights) playing Barbara Gordon/Batgirl.
Deadline's sources say they haven't confirmed the information, but believe Fraser will play the DC villain Firefly, one of DC's longest-running villains, who was reimagined in the 1980's as a special effects artist-turned-pyromaniac wielding a flamethrower, various bombs, and a fireproof suit with a jetpack. Firefly has since served as one of Batman's recurring villains, with other characters taking the name throughout the years, including a "Lady Firefly" in 2018's Gotham TV series. It's currently unknown how much of Batgirl will adhere to the comics and Firefly's origin story.
Batgirl will debut on HBO Max, making it one of DC's first big IPs to launch on the streaming service.
Fraser's resurgence as a star actor is thanks in part to DC's Doom Patrol, where Fraser plays a former NASCAR driver whose brain is transplanted into a robotic body following a horrific racing incident. Fraser's role has proven to be a fan favorite over the course of its three seasons, with IGN's Jesse Schedeen noting that Fraser is able to "mine a wonderful amount of depth and pathos out of a character who spends most of his time trapped behind an almost expressionless metal shell" and calling him the "heart and soul" of the series.
Fraser is also set to star in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale, a psychological drama following a 600-pound man (Fraser) attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter.
Fraser's seemingly abrupt exit from the high-profile acting world has been attributed to different incidents: Surgeries stemming from injuries suffered on set of his various action films, as well as Fraser telling GQ in 2018 that Philip Berk, former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, sexually assaulted him at an event in 2003.
Fraser is also set to appear in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon with Leonardo DiCapprio and Robert De Niro.
We got a big look at Batgirl, including concept art and comments from directors Adil El Arbit and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys For Life) and writer Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey, Bumblebee), during DC FanDome 2021.
Image Credit: Jordin Althaus/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/has always believed in Brendan Fraser...for IGN.
Brendan Fraser Will Reportedly Be the Villain In New Batgirl Movie
Brendan Fraser will reportedly star in Warner Bros. and DC's upcoming Batgirl film as the villain Firefly, sources speaking to Deadline say. The Mummy and Doom Patrol star will join Leslie Grace (In the Heights) playing Barbara Gordon/Batgirl.
Deadline's sources say they haven't confirmed the information, but believe Fraser will play the DC villain Firefly, one of DC's longest-running villains, who was reimagined in the 1980's as a special effects artist-turned-pyromaniac wielding a flamethrower, various bombs, and a fireproof suit with a jetpack. Firefly has since served as one of Batman's recurring villains, with other characters taking the name throughout the years, including a "Lady Firefly" in 2018's Gotham TV series. It's currently unknown how much of Batgirl will adhere to the comics and Firefly's origin story.
Batgirl will debut on HBO Max, making it one of DC's first big IPs to launch on the streaming service.
Fraser's resurgence as a star actor is thanks in part to DC's Doom Patrol, where Fraser plays a former NASCAR driver whose brain is transplanted into a robotic body following a horrific racing incident. Fraser's role has proven to be a fan favorite over the course of its three seasons, with IGN's Jesse Schedeen noting that Fraser is able to "mine a wonderful amount of depth and pathos out of a character who spends most of his time trapped behind an almost expressionless metal shell" and calling him the "heart and soul" of the series.
Fraser is also set to star in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale, a psychological drama following a 600-pound man (Fraser) attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter.
Fraser's seemingly abrupt exit from the high-profile acting world has been attributed to different incidents: Surgeries stemming from injuries suffered on set of his various action films, as well as Fraser telling GQ in 2018 that Philip Berk, former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, sexually assaulted him at an event in 2003.
Fraser is also set to appear in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon with Leonardo DiCapprio and Robert De Niro.
We got a big look at Batgirl, including concept art and comments from directors Adil El Arbit and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys For Life) and writer Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey, Bumblebee), during DC FanDome 2021.
Image Credit: Jordin Althaus/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/has always believed in Brendan Fraser...for IGN.
Game Scoop! 648: What’s the Best Video Game Sequel?
Welcome back to IGN Game Scoop!, the ONLY video game podcast! This week your Omega Cops -- Daemon Hatfield, Tina Amini, Sam Claiborn, and Justin Davis -- are discussing the best video game sequels, God of War, Cyberpunk, games that break the fourth wall, and more. And, of course, they play Video Game 20 Questions.
Watch the video above or hit the link below to your favorite podcast service.
Listen on:
Game Scoop! 648: What’s the Best Video Game Sequel?
Welcome back to IGN Game Scoop!, the ONLY video game podcast! This week your Omega Cops -- Daemon Hatfield, Tina Amini, Sam Claiborn, and Justin Davis -- are discussing the best video game sequels, God of War, Cyberpunk, games that break the fourth wall, and more. And, of course, they play Video Game 20 Questions.
Watch the video above or hit the link below to your favorite podcast service.
Listen on: