After attending a New York Comic Con Panel entitled Games and Learning, I was suddenly endowed with a remarkable yearning. With a panel of professors, teachers, scholars and theologians, many got to see an incredible connection between video games and a classroom.

The guidelines and rules of a classroom and a game mimic one another as they follow rules, victory conditions/rewards and genres. In order to facilitate critical thinking and harness players’ and children’s potential; their skills are put to the test to create an unprecise skill set for the future. What exactly does that mean you say? During your younger grade years, you are taught to obey rules, tie your shoelaces and count to 10. These skills set are completely unprecise skill sets as they are the beginning foundation to your ability to follow the law, take care of yourself and apply mathematic equations to situations. Same holds true for video games. During the preliminary stages of a game, you’re battling enemies with unprecise skill sets that will either later evolve into more power skills/combination of skills, or are apparent now to teach you something new in the future. The difference in video games and classrooms are that in games players act upon their own idea of a better skill set to complete a task. This evokes a determination to seek to be better skilled for reinforcement inside and outside the context of a game.

In regards to teachers, a certain degree of over stimulus interferes with the ability for a student to flourish on their own due to the process of control over the student's every task, ability and mental direction. A student’s prospective is hindered when its own potential results from the constant effort of not exceeding a teacher’s expectations. What Gamification does to counter the old teaching methods is it influences and encourages students to adopt processes and applications that will engage them in desired behaviors combining the elements of game mechanics and uses it in the real world. According to Sue Parler at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne  NJ, Gamification in classes has kept kids in school engaged and obtaining good grades. She believes the old school system “simply doesn’t work anymore” as student these days are more interconnected and online with the use of iPhones, iPods, computers and video games. She believes children aren’t “hardwired” like they use to be, so engaging them the old fashion way fails every time. Connecting to kids with the same tech they are accustomed to closes the gaps for teachers to reach students. Sue believes using game mechanism to motivate students has a higher probability for them to respond to well.  Demanding students to follow methods that were used 10 years ago is completely obsolete and impractical.

Gamification is used in a slightly different way in other classrooms. Underfunded schools with old teaching skills are inadequate to combat issues related to gang wars, underpaid/understaffed teachers, and lack of supplies. As a teacher at Newark, Justin DeVoe uses games mechanisms to bring kids not only to school, but to work together even if they are rivaling gang members. Justin divides his classroom into guilds and uses guild gaming mechanisms to get kids to work, teach, and do homework together. For kids that arrive early to school, Justin allows them to play games before school starts. Most of his classes revolve around playing loud rock or metal music and talking about the mechanics of economy, skills and war in games like Halo, World of Warcraft and Guitar Hero. Justin's methods were so successful that he now teaches an English class in Newark Leadership Academy, an experimental reform school which received a $100 million dollar donation from Mark Zuckerberg to improve struggling school systems.

Most teachers like Sue and Justin are criticized and ridiculed for their attempts to divert from traditional failed teaching methods and apply Gamification into their classes. In order to help support these striving leaders, spread the word of their efforts. Encourage change in our school systems to better our students.

At least in a matter of speaking. HALO's resident A.I. will be the newest addition to the Premium Format line of statues, and while just a teaser, its looking good so far. One thing I'm eager to see is the finished base, and that might sound weird initially but here is why: The Premium Format line is expensive, but one of the reasons for that is the sheer scale of them, as they normally range from 16" to 22" tall. They also use actual fabric & material for the costumes, accessories, etc. The thing is, Cortana has almost none of that. Her costume is basically painted on (she is a hologram after all) and she doesn't really have any accessories that jump out at me. Yes it's great to have an amazing statue, but if I'm paying a premium for this line anyway it does kind of seem like an odd choice. Not saying she doesn't deserve a statue, just not sure she's the best pick for the line.

As always, I'll wait to pass final judgement 'till I see the complete package, but what do you guys think? Anyone considering a pre-order? Let us know in the comments!

It's been almost a year now since Skyrim first came out. It only feels like yesterday when I screamed like a little girl as UPS dropped the game off at my house on launch day. There are only few games that will ever do that to me but I assume that many others feel the same way. If they don't, well, at least they know how I get down.

As a PS3 owner, I have watched these last 12 months, both Xbox and PC users get to dive into the added fiction of the Skyrim world. This has bummed me out because The Elder Scrolls series is the one series that I truly care too much about, and to be shut out from those extra experiences is a shame. I will probably never get to play this either, but here's to hoping.

As for the trailer, the Dragonborn DLC looks to be interesting. You are going up against a character who was the first Dragonborn (I think) and he is some mean creature that eats a lot of dragon souls. I don't know how that makes him evil (because your character does the same thing), so I hope it's addressed in the story.

From what I can tell, this DLC will let you ride dragons. Yeah, like fly them around.

Also, is that Morrowind architecture in the background during the opening?

Assassin's Creed III has just hit store selves and as of right now, I bet there are a bunch of you who are reading this and wishing you were home playing the latest time-traveling murder simulator (it's not really time travel, I know). While you might be staring at the clock and counting down the minutes to get home, why don't you take some time to buy yourself this awesome Assassin hoodie scarf?

Think about it: You could leave work (in the city, for this example), exit through the top of the building, throw this hoodie scarf on, and traverse along the tops of the apartment complexes as you make your way home. Now, you can't murder anyone with this on; I don't care how well it fits the outfit.

This piece of gear was created by Etsy user, Eitanya, and they are selling the hoodie scarf for $35.00 each (plus shipping).

Here are some more details from the Etsy page:

For the style-savvy assassin. Strike from the shadows in this super-cozy hooded scarf. Measures 42" long from the top of the head, made from an awesomely soft knit material (think favorite t-shirt,) fully lined and reversible. The long red and white scarf "tails" can be wrapped, twisted, and tied a number of ways, making it extremely versatile (as all assassin equipment should be.) It's sure to keep your features masked in shadow for quite some time as it is fully machine washable. Includes the blood drip version of our signature button.

These are also "made-to-order", so you need to give the seller some time to make them. You can purchase the product on Eitanya's Etsy page.

Where would go wearing your Assassin hoodie scarf?

Arriving just in time for Halloween, everyone's favorite Hong Kong under(sleeping)dog video game is getting some DLC that looks like an 80's horror film. Nightmare in North Point has the essentials: you have the strong, synth musical score, angry demons, and a B-movie story. It's everything that a horror fan would want and it also gives you that Sleeping Dogs' action that you love. 

A gangster named Smiley Cat has arrived to take over the criminal underworld with magical powers. Turns out he can also raise the dead as well as wield magic. Oh, and did I mention he comes from Hell? The story seems pretty silly/awesome and a bit of a tonal change from the game, itself. I am for this added flavor, but will everyone take to it?

I think someone like horror director, John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing, Escape from New York), would dig this trailer. I mean, it feels like Big Trouble in Little China to me and it echos his style quite a bit. Maybe that's just me, but if you agree, let me know!

Nightmare in North Point is $4.99 (or the equivalent MS Points) and you can grab it today!

Do you want your Sleeping Dogs to be a little more weird, or do you prefer it as it is?

You know, I have been on a real Persona kick recently. The soon-to-be-released Persona 4: Golden on the PS Vita has made me want to go back and play Persona 3 and to finally get around to taking a dive into Persona 4: Arena. Quick aside: Persona 4: Arena is a pleasure for Persona fans and fighting game fans alike. Don't fear if you suck at fighting games (like I do), it's easy to jump into and a blast to play. The story mode is basically a visual novel, so it appeals to weirdness that is inherent in Persona games. Don't be afraid, yo. 

Anyway, Persona has been on my mind, so I looked for some artwork dedicated to the series, and came across this Persona mash-up. Deviant Art user, Zelkats, has mashed together the main characters of Persona 3 and 4 into one vibrant scene.

Do you prefer Persona 3 or 4?

Hot Toys has just put up their newest sixth scale figure for pre-order, and it turns out its none other than fan favorite Ada Wong. Its the most recent entry in their Video Game Masterpieces series, and they've done quite well in capturing Ada in figure form. Now this is specifically based on her Resident Evil 4 incarnation, but her look hasn't drastically changed from game to game anyway, so any RE fan would probably be interested. 

As with all of their figures, Ada comes with a plethora of interchangeable hands and accessories, including a crossbow and an oh so awesome tommy gun. She also has 25 points of articulation, so for those who actually open the boxes of their figures (like me) you have a ridiculous amount of poses to choose from. She comes in at 12 inches high and will go on sale sometime in March of 2013.

To give Ada a place on your shelf you will need to pony up $200, but the good news is you can break that up into 3 payments of about $66. I know that's still expensive, but its better than nothing right? To be fair these figures are extremely well done, and this one seems to be no different. If you're a Resident Evil fan nonetheless an Ada Wong fan, you might want to check it out. You can head to Sideshow's product page or to the Hot Toys official page to find out more about it.

So what does everybody think? Too expensive or totally worth it? 

That time has come everyone. The time when we all must come to terms with the fact that the G4TV channel will never be the same. Hell, most of have said it has been doomed ever since the TechTV merger. But one must admit that the station did have its good days. 

There is no easy way to say this, so let's just get to it. Both Attack of the Show and X-Play has been cancelled by G4. I know, shocking, but not all that suprising right?

TVGuide.com is reporting that the station has cancelled these shows as they look forward to re-brand the channel. The rumors have been circulating that the channel is looking to be more upscale and basically be the Esquire or GQ of television. What does that mean exactly you say? It means they want to be more sophisticated and cater to the upper echelon of our male society. Or at least try to and then ending up basically being another SpikeTV.

I guess we shouldn't be surprised, I mean did you really think after the station lost both of their TOP hosts that it would survive? X-Play had a little bit of hope, with Morgan Webb and Blair Herter, not all was lost with the show. Sure, Adam Sessler is one that can't be replaced, but at least we had these familiar faces to still guide the show. 

Attack of the Show was in another boat. After Kevin Pereira left, most wondered what would be the point of the show anymore. Candace Bailey just joined a year prior, and most people still were not exactly warming up to her yet. Of course they tried (and succeeded somewhat) to boost viewership by adding the eye-candy that is Sara Underwood to the show, but that only goes so far. 

So I ask you gaming and geek community, where will we go now? We don't have a channel to call our own anymore. Not even the Sci-Fi, oh my bad, I mean the SyFy network is even the same these days. (BTW, did you hear Kevin has a new viral video show premiering on that network?!) I guess we will be left to watch online tech/gaming outlets like Desctructoid or Revision3, who both do fantastic jobs. 

What do you think the future holds for G4TV?

If you're a big Left 4 Dead fan like myself, then you are going to jump for joy over this news. Valve has announced that Left 4 Dead 2 will be free to play this weekend on Steam! That's correct, you read right! Free zombie killing for everyone! 

To celebrate Halloween, they are opening up the zombie killing floodgates to all you Rick Grimes wannabes. On top of all this, there is also a new achievement called "Good Guy Nick" which is awarded to current players who help out new LFD2 players survive through a campaign. How cool is that?

Here is the official statement from Valve found on their blog:

To celebrate Halloween, we are unleashing L4D2 on the world. Starting this Thursday, the entire game will be free to play for the whole weekend. New players can begin pre-loading now. For long time players, it is time to welcome your new found friends and help them survive the zombie apocalypse.

For current players, we created a new achievement. Good Guy Nick – – “Plays games with free weekend players and helps them survive a campaign.” Who is a free weekend player? You’re going to have to talk to each other to find out or you could always let your friends know Left 4 Dead 2 is going to be free this weekend and have them join you. Spread the word! It’s the zombie apocalypse, bring friends.

Who's your favorite zombie that you like to kill in Left 4 Dead?

Who doesn't like the classic game, Punch Out? This was a mainstay in everyone's NES console back in the day. Come to think of it, Nintendo, you should really have an upgraded Punch Out game in the works for the WiiU. Just sayin'!

Created by Anthony Petrie, we have this fantastic illustration of Little Mac laying out King Hippo on the ring floor. As you can see, instead of filling the audience with random people, many other great old school game characters have come to see the fight. Mario, Link, Bowser, Mega Man, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and even Samus have come to sit this spectacle.

Now if for some reason you live under a rock, and have no idea what the artist is recreating in this piece, let me fill you in a little. This is basically a gaming version of one of the most iconic photos of all time, the image of Muhammad Ali looking down over a knocked out Sonny Liston in their May 25, 1965 championship fight in Lewiston, Maine. 

So now that Little Mac has taken down King Hippo, do you think he can go against Muhammad Ali?

Now I should start this off by saying I've never played Dragon Age 2. However, I hear that it's a great game, just like this kick ass cosplay I'm about to show you. 

True gamer and big time cosplayer, Kirana, has brought Lady Hawke to life. On top of that, she's ready to burn some s***! Looks like some great attention to detail has gone into this costume. 

If you're like me, and have no idea who this is, check out the description from the DA2 Wikia page:

Hawke is a human who lived in Lothering during the Fifth Blight in Ferelden, escaping the darkspawn attack by fleeing north to the Free Marches and eventually rising to become "the single most important character in the world of Dragon Age". Along the way the title of "The Champion of Kirkwall" is earned. Over the course of the game's ten-year timeline, players' actions and choices will determine Hawke's history, relationships, and regrets to determine Hawke's rise to power.

Hawke's father, Malcolm, was an apostate mage, who died three years before the beginning of the game, while their mother, Leandra whose maiden name is Amell, is a noble from Kirkwall. Hawke has two younger twin siblings, the mage Bethany, and the warrior Carver, who are both potential mutually exclusive companions.

Who is your favorite character from Dragon Age 2?

You probably read the title of this article and now have a very perplexed face right now. Totally understandable. Why the hell would Mega Man be in Steelport?

Well it seems someone has taken it upon themselves to add the beloved old school hero to the wild world of Saints Row. Now I'm not sure if this was done with some special mod, or that they just used Saints Row's VERY customizable character creation section. Either way, this is pretty cool.  Again this leads me to think that more games should have crossovers, just for the hell of it. 

So let's all speculate, how do you think Mega Man wound up in Steelport?

Castlevania is one of those series, like Sonic, that has been trying to push its way into the mainstream ever since consoles went polygonal. While Lords of Shadow was not dismissed by critics, it was not the Castlevania that you know and love. While I enjoy the series, I think it's time they stop trying to make it for modern gamers and just stick to re-releasing the older titles (the one on PSP was pretty great).

There are people keeping the fiction alive, apparently. Warp Factor 2 has created a live action fan series that will depict the life of Simon Belmont. The first episode is the birth of Simon and how he escaped the clutches of Dracula. There isn't much going on this first episode, so I can't really form too much of an opinion, but I'm interested to see how this plays out.

What do you think they should do with Simon Belmont in live action form?

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the lombax mechanic and his robotic pal, Insomniac & Sony have teamed up with iam8bit to present a series of exclusive prints. All of these prints are being drawn by different artists and on short runs, so be sure to get them while you can.

I absolutely love the first of these, which was done by Aled Lewis, and features the fearsome twosome in one of the rare quieter moments looking upon their arsenal. Aled's print goes live at 9AM PST / 12PM EST, so make sure to check in at iam8bit's page around then.

Can't wait to see the rest of the series, and here's hoping my personal fave, Captain Qwark, makes an appearance in one of these soon.

As it turns out the teased 20th anniversary project from Nippon Ichi is going to be a direct sequel to the PS2 classic Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. The sequel titled Disgaea: Dimension 2 will be released in Japan on March 20th 2013 for the PS3. For those unfamiliar with the series, Disgaea is a turn based strategy game in the vein of Tactics Ogre or Final Fantasy Tactics. Granted, it contains a much more irreverent (i.e. awesome) sense of humor than those titles, but there are plenty of similarities in the gameplay.

I've been begging for years to have the Disgaea series go multiplatform, but that notwithstanding I am grateful that at least some of the North American public has had access to it. Its wonderful that the original (my personal favorite of the bunch) is finally getting a direct sequel. Laharl, Etna, and Flonne will all be back in Dimension 2. Disgaea was heralded for its off-kilter characters and hilarious dialogue, and hopefully those all remain intact for the sequel. The gameplay itself was known for its slightly ridiculous depth, and while not for everybody the grinder in me hopes these systems return. I know I don't need it, but its good to know that if boredom sets in I have an inventory full of unused weapons that contain countless dungeon levels to explore. To you that might sound crazy, but to me that's heaven.

If I have one pet peeve with the series its that none of them take advantage of the hardware they're on. I have no problems with sprites and hand drawn backgrounds (in fact I love them), but Disgaea 3 seemed like it was never developed with the PS3 in mind. Hopefully we'll see some improvement in that area. Even if not though, these are still wonderful & complex games. I expect to see some news soon about its trip to U.S. shores.

Question time! If there was a niche RPG sequel green lighted tomorrow, what would you want it to be? Kartia 2? Suikoden 6? Let us know your picks in the comments!

With Halloween quickly approaching, it's time to pick out those pumpkins and make a cool design on it. So if you're a gamer, what better way than making a video gaming character on your pumpkin?

Artist Joh Wee sure thinks so, and he has the many pumpkin carvings to prove it. Check out some of these various gaming pumpkin designs he has made. They took him at least 6 hours or more to do each one, and the design detail is damn near flawless. 

He doesn't only do gaming pumpkins though. If you hit up his Deviant Art page, you can check out all of his other fantastic designs as well. 

What gaming character do you want to dress up as on Halloween?

Two videos hit the interwebs today that give better insight into the next God of War game which is being developed by Santa Monica Studios. I don't know about you guys, but I have checked out of the series at this point. After the main trilogy and the PSP titles, I have had my fill of that formulaic gameplay. I thought that God of War III's ending summed the story up and left room for the gamer's own interpretation.

When God of War: Ascension was announced, I rolled my eyes at the familiar gameplay and the focus on multiplayer. After seeing both this new trailer and developer diary, I have a better understanding of the game. My curiosity is perking up but I don't think I'm excited just yet.

The first video is the "Zeus" trailer which shows the player utilizing powers based off of Zeus. It shows some new gameplay and new moves, but it's similar to what you have seen already. Check it out!

The second video is the first dev diary to be put out by Santa Monica studio called "Unchained". It's a decent dev diary but there seems to be too much time spent on talking about how to "trick" the press. I understand there is a lot of stress on the team to live up to the expectations of the series, so I can't fault them to be worried about every blogger, ever. Educate yourself!

Based on the videos in this post, has your opinion changed on God of War: Ascension?

Before you know it, the holidays will be upon us. With that comes those dreaded holiday parties for the job or family. We know you would rather be at home playing a game or something. But since you can't, how about showing off your gamer side a little while at that party. 

Check out these Portal cuff links, themed after the Aperture logo from the hit franchise. While most people will think it's just a cool design on the cuff link, you will be showing off how devoted of a gamer you are. 

For just $49.99, you can pick these up over at ThinkGeek. 

Who is your favorite character from Portal?

The countless hours you've put in: experiments run, data processed, test subjects scraped off walls... they've all led to this day. It wasn't until after you found out just how toxic the moon rock was that you won this award. Thankfully, you're dying slowly so you can bask in your accomplishments (and radiation) a bit longer. Tonight is a night for reveling in brilliance, in science, in just how talented you are. Tonight is your big night and you're going to look mega snazzy. 

The decades you spent hidden away underground, being mocked by competitors and fellow scientists alike was all worth it just for tonight. You're being given some kind of award, but more importantly everyone will be there to applaud you and cheer you on. So, put on those Aperture Cuff Links, grab your ASHPD, and prepare the water balloons because those Black Mesa guys are in for a treat.

Product Specifications

• Look snazzy with Science! Now you're dressing with portals
• Silver with black Aperture logo looks stunning
• Subtle design means they're always situationally appropriate
• Let the geek shine through even if nobody else knows
• Officially licensed Portal 2 collectible
• Rhodium plated cuff links with a bullet back closure

Making a decision of what you're going to be for Halloween is a tough one and if you're still struggling, I have a great idea for you. Slender Man is hot right now and if you dressed like him, people would notice your sense of style as well as your ability to stay topical. Us nerds have to do our best to seem appealing to the general public.

Thankfully, the Thread Banger YouTube channel shows you how to make your own costume on a budget and how to make it look realistic.

Corinne, the girl in the video, may do a horrible job at playing the game but at least she knows how to make some threads. Hey, not everyone can be amazing at video games, I guess.

I wouldn't want to puke with that mask on. Just sayin'

Where would you go dressed as Slender Man?

We all know how awesome yet crazy the Illusive Man can be, and if this art by David Woodward over at BadgerLordStudios is anything to go by, I'm leaning more and more towards crazy.

As for the art itself I really dig this style. Cartoony but with a nice amount of detail, and don't get me started on the smoke. If you take a look at the gallery you'll see a few other characters from Mass Effect, and the smoke is a standout in every single one of them. Clean lines, bright blue indoctrinated eyes, and nice effects on the planet behind him round out a really cool piece of art.

If you've taken a liking to his work as much as I have make sure to check out his gallery for more great stuff.  

I think he's still watching me……..maybe putting this as my wallpaper wasn't such a good idea...

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We keep the guest rolling with Josh Winward (@JRWinward) of Ubisoft. This field executive tells us how awesome his job is while we sit in envy. He also breaks down the challenges he faces in his day to day. Throwing parties for video games and getting paid for it isn't all rainbows and sunshine. Actually, it is. But it still hard work and we appreciate Josh stopping by.

Remember when you were little and playing around with an Etch A Sketch? If you were like me, then the most you could really make was your name, or a few boxes. Well today we present you an artist who has gone far above that. 

Check out these Etch A Sketch designs made by Jane Labowtich aka Pikajane on Reddit. She has captured some of our most most beloved gaming characters, and brought them to life in this unique way.

Here's a little more about her via her Facebook page (which has WAY more sketch designs, btw):

I started playing with an etch-a-sketch when I was 4, like everyone else in America. My grandma had one at her house, and I'd go there every other weekend. I probably wouldn't have played with it so much if it weren't for the fact that my grandma was kind of mean and didn't let us watch TV a lot. In retrospect, I am really thankful that my grandma was kind of mean to me as a kid because it was during those weekends of boredom that I began to hone my skill.

I played with my etch-a-sketch so much that I got really used to the mechanics, and it got to the point to where I didn't have to think about which way the knobs made the stylus on the screen move. In a sense, I became fluent in a language. I developed my vocabulary by practicing, and my etch-a-skills grew with my drawing skills.

Fast forward to today. I am only where I am now as an etch-a-sketch artist because I put forward hundreds of hours of practice. Like any form of art, it takes time, patience and practice to improve. I continue doing art on an etch-a-sketch because it's never gotten boring, and if it hasn't yet in the past 16 years, I don't think it ever will.

No idea how long this took to make, but I know it would probably take me a couple days at the very least.

What's the best thing you ever created on an Etch A Sketch?

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You're probably looking at this title thinking, "What the hell is Sabonis?" These are our Multicast bonus episodes, where we interview various people throughout the gaming industry. So sit back, grab a cold drink, and listen to this very thought-provoking conversation. 

In this episode, we get in touch with our feminine side. The fabulous Coribear (from Zaptoid and CodingHax) joins us today as we talk sex baby. Just you and me. And David Jaffe. But most importantly we tackle sexism in games. Does it exist, can it be fixed, or are we over thinking the situation? 

• Zaptoid.me
• CodingHax.me 

Mass Effect fans, while you wait for new DLC or even possible a new game to drop, check out this custom mod from Javier Riquelme. 

As you can see, it takes on the N7 theme that you see throughout the game. It has a nice carbon fiber finish to it as well, which I imagine was done with special wrap. The inside glows with that iconic red color to match, and brings it all to life. 

I'm not 100% sure how long this took to make, but I imagine a great deal of work was put into this. Who knows, perhaps if you hit him up on his Facebook or Google+ page, he may can make you one for the right price. 

Are you ready for another Mass Effect game after the somewhat overall disappointment that came with ME3's ending?

As we all prepare for the upcoming Halo 4 game, there has been a great web series that is being used to tie into the game called Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn. 

Most people have seen the great poster that went along with this web series, but have you seen this fantastic recreation of that poster using LEGO characters?

Made by Solid Brix Studios, this illustration recreates every aspect of the poster right down to Master Chief himself. Check out the full description from the poster's creator:

After 8 hours of work on Photoshop and photography I finally finished one of my newest and favorite photos! Just about everything had to be shot separately (Chiefs left arm, the helmet, Assault Rifle, all blended in photos!). Since I'm not the greatest painter, the shoulder gear and blue team marks where added in during the editing process. Of course, I've got to thank Pedro for his wonderful gift of Master Chief as he is surely getting use! My love to Halo 4 has no limit, so expect more pain-staking photos (and videos, hint hint) to come!

Now if you happen to not be all that familar with the webseries itself, we have included the series decriptions from both Halo Waypoint and IGN, as well as the first episode. 

We all know everyone loves Master Chief, so besides him, who has been your favorite character in the Halo universe?

From Halo Waypoint:

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn is a live-action digital series that takes fans back to the terrifying beginning of the Human/Covenant war, when the Master Chief inspired a young cadet who would eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC’s greatest vessel: the UNSC Infinity. Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn tells a story leading into the events of Halo 4, the biggest entertainment event of 2012.

From IGN: 

The series will revolve around Master Chief one of the last remaining Spartan II's and how he inspired a young UNSC (United Nations Space Command) cadet who will eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC Infinity spacecraft, with pre-war flashbacks spliced in. It will play out over five weekly installments, each being around 15 minutes in length. Frank O'Connor, franchise development director at 343 Industries, told Variety, "We needed a way to ensure there was a way for people to get on board this universe without feeling intimidated." 

Hey there Marvel fans! Ubisoft has released the full list of the characters that will be included in the upcoming Marvel Avengers Battle For Earth game due out this holiday season. 

If you're not that familar with the game, it's a movement based game that will be released for the Kinect and Wii U, that will have you facing opponents using the iconic moves for each hero or villian.

I got the chance to check out this game back at E3, and again at New York Comic Con, let me just tell you... it's definitely one of the better Kinect titles to date. At first it takes a little getting used to, but within 5 mins you will think you are a super powered god. 

Here's the full description for the game:

Marvel Avengers Battle for Earth is the ultimate super hero brawler set in authentic comic book-style art environments based on the iconic Secret Invasion storyline. Battle for Earth provides endless entertainment through a variety of gameplay modes including co-op, campaign, arcade, challenges, versus and tournament. Fans will enjoy embodying their favorite Marvel super heroes or villains within the game including Avengers Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Loki.

The full character lineup includes:

• Black Widow
• Captain America
• Doctor Doom
• Dr. Strange
• Hawkeye
• Human Torch
• Iceman
• Iron Man
• Loki
• Magneto
• Phoenix
• Queen Veranke
• Scarlet Witch
• Spider Man
• Storm
• Super Skrull
• The Hulk
• Thor
• Venom
• Wolverine

So do you think this a worthy Kinect/WiiU title? For you non-Kinect users, would this game make you want to run out and finally buy one?

As you can see all the main characters are standing back to back, almost as if they are about to face an enemy from all sides. Who would be the villian here? Surely would have to be someone of epic proporations, for all three of these guys to come together. 

Am I the only one that wishes game developers/publishers would do more crossover games? Just think of the marketing potential here, they would without a doubt sell out instantly. 

Recently fan favorite character Domino was confirmed as being featured in High Moon Studios upcoming Deadpool title. After the initial excitement and happiness that I'm actually getting a version of Domino in a game wore off,  I've been hunting the web for more information just like everybody else.

That leads us to the newest interview with High Moo…sorry, Deadpool, specifically talking about Lady Luck herself. Here are a few choice quotes, and feel free to read the full thing here. 

Q: Deadpool, why did you choose to include Domino in your video game?

A: Dude, no brainer, man. Have you seen pictures of her? She is smokin’ hot. And if that wasn’t enough (it totally is) she also knows how to handle a gun which turns me on. She has a soft spot for pancakes in large volumes, loves blowing things up, knows my GUY <BLEEP> (sorry, spoilers!) AND she owes me a date. (there’s the important part) So this is kinda like that: a date. I figure her Mutant power will help her ‘get lucky’ with me. (we see what you did there) Cross your fingers for a happy ending! Did we mention that she is stupid hot?

Q: Is Deadpool’s version of Domino different than how she is shown in the comics?

A: Why would you take a work of art like Domino and mess with her? She’s got that lucky feeling that a person wants to be a part of. Get us some of that! So my minions at High Moon modeled her sweet body into the game just the way Deadpool (that’s me) likes it. The fans will appreciate High Moon’s careful attention to (her bewbs) detail and clear love of the Marvel comic universe when they see her in game. It’s called craftsmanship! 

Okay, so I can hear someone yelling at their screen "its a joke" and "get over it". You could also be saying "that's the character" and "stop being over-sensitive". Maybe you're right, but I'm not so sure. Yes its a joke, and I get what its trying to say. Deadpool is hilarious, irreverent, a rebel with absolutely no cause, etc, etc, and I could just let it go. The reason I can't though is that to me what is described above is not THE take on Deadpool, just one of several takes over the years. I happen to prefer the "slightly goofy, could be considered insane if he wasn't so good at his job" version of the character. That is personal taste, so I know not everyone sees that as their Deadpool, nor do they have to.

Even outside of my favorite interpretation, I've never found Wade to just be an over-sexed neanderthal who seemingly can't spell (bewbs….really?). Deadpool has been surrounded by women in many books over the years, and yet most of the time there was something extremely likable about his constant foibles with characters like Black Widow & Domino. Those situations accentuated his terrible timing, bad one liners, and over-confidence, but also kept things funny & lighthearted so you would root for him. Here we just have him being crass for the sake of being crass, and it doesn't translate into anything memorable or funny for that matter.

I know High Moon is capable of making a great game, and I have high expectations for the final product. The only questions I have involve the direction of their star. When written well Domino can be a really cool character, and I feel that is getting a bit lost within 4 paragraphs of "Dude Bro" talk and comments about how the developers "modeled her sweet body into the game". I'm not a prude, but I'm not sure this type of PR message is the one you want to be sending.

So, what do you think? Am I being over-sensitive? Or do I have a point? Hit me up in the comments and let me know your thoughts. 

(A sequence that gets the slightly crude yet endearing combo right - Courtesy of Marvel Comics)

Mega Man Legends was a favorite of mine on the PS1 and I enjoyed it at the time more than the original side-scrolling series. In my later years, I learned that the original games aged better than the polygonal PS1 entries, but at the time, I just wanted PS1 goodness. As we all know now, the Legends series is probably dead and maybe that's for the better. People are keeping the spirit of the series alive, though, with art and other creations.

TheDailyRobot over at Etsy created a Mega Man Legends poster that tackles a minimalist feel and it feels like something out of Borderlands.

Here is the description from the Etsy page:

It would appear that the Mega Man Legends series is forever finished, and perhaps the entire Mega Man franchise is at an end. This is no easier for me to accept that it is for you, I'm sure, but that doesn't mean we need to cease showing our love for the Blue Bomber in all his forms!

This 11"x17" poster features Mega Man Volnutt (of the aforementioned Legends series) in a modern, splattery style. The poster is Professionally Printed on heavy (100lb) coverstock, and it looks Awesome. There aren't very many of them though, and each one is signed and numbered!

Posters ship rolled via USPS first-class mail. Order multiple items and get a break on shipping costs.

The poster only costs $15, so you should probably buy it! Head here to buy yourself a copy!

Do you think Mega Man Legends aged well?

Big changes are coming to PSN in the upcoming weeks. The Playstation Store, which has been using the same (almost) format for several years, is about to get a big update. They are reformatting the layout and even though it was announced last week with some photos, the Sony team now has a video for you to give you a better idea of everything.

Maybe it's me, but there is something Windows 8-ish about the layout of the new store. It doesn't annoy me, I just think it's interesting that Sony is using a similar aesthetic. Maybe I'm wrong, but I that's just what I see in the video.

I'm all for this update because it's time for a change in the world of PSN. I am still not convinced that searching for things will be easier, but it looks manageable. There is only so much you can do when you have such an extensive library of digital content.

Apparently the store redesign is already live in Europe, so talk to them if you want a real opinion. The Americans (me!) will get it on Oct. 23.

What do you like best about the redesign? What don't you like?