Telepresence Robot Mimics Your Every Move Using the Oculus Rift
A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a physical-virtual interface (PVI) by combining the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset and teleoperated robotics.
Dexterous Observational Roving Automaton, or DORA, is unlike most other telepresence robots on the market by offering greater and flexibility immersion within the environment. DORA’s swiveling head mimics the movements of the user’s head, allowing them to freely look around the environment without having to move a whole robotic rig. The user can also view the feed in 3D via the headset thanks to DORA’s dual cameras copying our stereoscopic vision.
Hasbro and IDW Reveal Plans for All-Female Transformers Team
Fresh off confirming plans for a shared Transformers universe, Hasbro has now revealed that it is working with IDW Publishing to craft an all-female Transformers team.
The news broke via USA Today that the team will consist of six new female Autobots who join to form new "Combiner" character, Victorion. Expect the group to appear first in comics with July's Transformers: Combiner Hunters miniseries, with Hasbro debuting a toy line sometime later this year.
Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition Xbox One On Its Way
The studio head for Halo 5: Guardians, Josh Holmes, has teased via Twitter that a special edition console for the upcoming shooter is in the works.
“There is a limited edition console coming, yes. It hasn’t been revealed yet, but it’s pretty sweet,” Homes wrote in response to a fan's question if there are plans for an Xbox One Edition Halo 5.
@juliocurt There is a limited edition console coming, yes. It hasn’t been revealed yet, but it’s pretty sweet. :)
— Josh Holmes (@JoshingtonState) April 26, 2015
Super Troopers 2 Smashes Crowdfunding Goals
Super Troopers 2's Indiegogo campaign has pulled in more than $4.4 million.
The campaign fell shy of the 'Live bears in the movie' stretch goal of $4.5 million, but more than 50,000 people contributed funds to the total tune of $4,444,430 USD.
The Indiegogo campaign secured $2 million in its first 24 hours.
Super Troopers 2 is now the second most successful crowdfunded film behind 2013's Veronica Mars Kickstarter campaign.
Green Lantern & Blade Runner 2 Screenwriter Reportedly Hired for Wolverine 3
The latest standalone Wolverine may have found its screenwriter in Michael Green, whose credits include Green Lantern and the upcoming Blade Runner 2.
The Wrap reports Green is currently working with director James Mangold to pen Hugh Jackman's final outing as Logan in the X-Men franchise. A previous draft of the script was written by The Wolverine scribe, David James Kelly. It's unclear whether Green is working on rewrites or starting over.
Wolverine 3 will mark Jackman's eighth time playing the mutant, unless he makes an appearance in X-Men: Apocalypse.
C2E2: Marvel Announces 7 New Comics
This year's C2E2 convention was fairly quiet in terms of new Marvel announcements, as the company is still keeping a lid on their post-Secret Wars plans this fall. But they did announce several new Secret Wars tie-ins at the show this weekend, as well as a couple promising new ongoing series and an actual release date for the long-gestating Captain America: White. Scroll down to find out what was announced and when you can read it.
Creative Team: Nick Spencer & Ramon Rosanas
Release Date: August 2015
Avengers: Age of Ultron Has Massive Overseas Opening
While Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron doesn't open in the US until this Friday, it dominated the international box office over the weekend.
Variety reports that the $250 million production has already opened to $201.2 million across 44 territories, and it was the highest grossing film in all locations. The debut was higher than expected, with Disney projecting between $160 million to $175 million.
Age of Ultron also broke IMAX records with the largest international opening in IMAX history, not counting China, earning $10.4 million across theaters.
Marvel's latest movie is projected to earn north of $200 million when it opens Friday in the US. Some analyst are even expecting it to top the first Avengers film, which had a record-breaking $207.4 million opening.
Check Out Nic Cage’s Light-Up Superman Suit
The latest trailer for The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened? has hit the Internet, offering us more images of Nicolas Cage donning his Superman light-up suit created for the unproduced project.
The documentary from Jon Schnepp promises to tell the story of the ultimately doomed Nicolas Cage/Tim Burton Superman movie that halted right before production began.
The new trailer teases interviews with key members of the Superman Lives team, including director Tim Burton, third screenwriter Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler), and first screenwriter Kevin Smith. You can also see previously unseen footage of Nicolas Cage in a special effects test and more of the light-up Superman suit.
Furious 7 is Now 5th Highest-Grossing Film Worldwide
Not only did Furious 7 top the domestic box office for the fourth weekend in a row, it is now only the third film after Titanic and Avatar to ever pass $1 billion internationally. (Most billion-dollar grossing films are a combination of domestic and international totals to reach $1 billion.)
Furious 7 is now the fifth highest-grossing movie of all time at the worldwide box office. It also became the highest-grossing film in China this weekend, surpassing Transformers: Age of Extinction.
And with meek competition at home, Furious 7 easily remained the No. 1 movie at the North American box office this weekend with an estimated $18.3 million. It's month-long reign will certainly end when Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron opens stateside next weekend.
Guillermo del Toro Touches On Kojima Collaboration
A source close to director Guillermo del Toro has confirmed to IGN that the filmmaker's collaboration with Hideo Kojima on Silent Hills is "not gonna happen."
During a question and answer session last night with fans at the San Francisco International Film Festival, the director commented on his involvement with the project, saying he and Hideo Kojima will no longer be working together on the game.
One fan in attendance tweeted out a statement made by del Toro during last night's panel.
"It's not gonna happen and that breaks my greasy heart." -Guillermo del Toro on #SilentHills. #sfff #sffs #sffilmfest #fb