A Look Into the Diablo III Beta

Blizzard’s Diablo III Beta was released a few days ago to 100,000 lucky fans.  More will be sent out through contests and giveaways, but there are still the millions of fans who will not enjoy the experience early.  Let me try to be of some help.

Can you use all five heroes?

Yes.

What difficulty is the beta?

Blizzard set the difficulty on normal and this cannot be changed. There are greyed out options for the higher difficulties and an option to create a Hardcore character. For all who don’t know what Hardcore means, you get only one death. Just one.

Is there anything new in the main menu screen?

The initial log in screen has a similar layout to World of Warcraft. The character screen has a slot list on the left for your characters. There is a new feature that allows you to customize your own unique banner. This is connected to your overall account and not to each character. These banners can be seen around waypoints in the game when playing with other people. If you are a fan of the Game of Thrones novels, you will love this.

How much of the actual game is in the Diablo III beta?

The beta consists of what is said to be the first half of Act 1. I am unsure if this is true or not. It is a quick play taking up to roughly two hours of your time in main quests, but you can reset these and continue leveling up your character to level 13.

What is the first half of Act 1 about?

Okay, lets get detailed here.

Your hero starts on the outskirts of New Tristram. The “Fallen Star” piques your hero’s curiosity to explore the damage it has done. Each hero has their own dialogue keeping it fresh between the characters you create. As you come to the gates of New Tristram you come across Captain Rumford and his soldiers as the hold back the newly risen undead. Rumford gives a quest to talk with Leah (Deckard Cain’s niece) who was assumed to be the only survivor from the Fallen Star as it decimated Tristram Cathedral.

After confronting Leah, you head back to Rumford. He asks you to help him with the undead threat on New Tristram by killing off enemies called Wretched Mothers and their Queen at the Old Ruins (the original Tristram in Diablo II).

Once the path is cleared, you then set out with Leah to her mother Adria’s hut for the gate key to get in to Tristram Cathedral. Upon finding the key in a secret underground cavern below Adria’s home, you head out alone again to look for Deckard Cain.

In the depths of the Cathedral, you come across Deckard Cain fleeing from the Skeleton King and his minions. He then tells you that the Fallen Star has awakened the Mad King Leoric (Skeleton King) after you save him from impending death. Leoric was driven mad by Diablo’s evil and was killed by one of his knights. In order to get to the star, you must vanquish the Skeleton King who now guards the path.

Easy right? No.

In order to kill the Skeleton King, you need to find his old crown buried in the Defiled Crypts of the Cemetery of the Forsaken. Haedrig the Blacksmith, from the second Diablo, tells you about its whereabouts after you help him kill his sick and evil undead wife. You also look for his apprentice who hasn’t returned to New Tristram. 

You find the apprentice dead and tell Haedrig. Who cares?

After fighting and re-killing a dead chancellor who protects the Skeleton Kings crown, you bring it back to Haedrig so he can shine the thing up a bit. It needs to look glorious for when you kill the Skeleton King. Pristine, I know.

Now with the spit-shined crown in your hands, you make your way back to the Old Cathedral and fight your way to the lower levels. You eventually come across a Templar by the name of Kormac whom you save from a group of sorcerers. He tells you about his mission to kill a treasonous Templar, Jondar, who has become a necromancer and protects the Skeleton King.

He wants the Skeleton King dead as well, so you shake hands, hug and go about your business together.

As you scoot down farther in search of the Skeleton Kings Royal crypt you come across Jondar who Kormac “Troy’s” to death. You eventually find your way to the crypt after fighting off the Skeleton Kings small army of undead soldiers who magically spawn out of four pillars.

Magical pillars.

They die, the pillars fall and you can finally enter the Royal Crypt. There is an epic battle once you place the crown on the Mad Kings remains and the Skeleton King falls to your mighty skills. The end.

Is there anything new in the gameplay?

There are collectible books that give experience and a little bit of Diablo lore which helps with background information. This is presented through audio so it doesn’t interrupt gameplay and gives you some nice bed-time stories.

I also came across a battle event called the Jar of Souls. This event is triggered by clicking on a glowing jar found in the center of the room. A small quest is appears telling you to kill the approaching enemies being spawned by four pillars or poles. It is a great way to build some experience and they send a lot of enemies at you. A lot.

I will be going over some more parts of the game later in the week, like the Blacksmith Training so keep a look out.

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The Fun of Fright Night

I found myself bored the other night, so I checked On Demand, and I came across the new remake of Fright Night. I remember seeing previews for this flick and thinking it looked a bit campy and silly. I looked into the summary and saw that Colin Farrell and David Tennant were listed in the cast. I immediately decided that I needed to watch this, I’m a huge fan of David Tennant, so I hit play.

The plot was decent, main character Charlie Brewster (Anton Yelchin) discovers that his neighbor, Jerry Danridge (Colin Farrell), is a vampire. He seeks the assistance of the Vegas show runner/self proclaimed vampire specialist, Peter Vincent (David Tennant), for help destroying the vampire. He is turned away and returns home. 

As soon as he goes home all hell breaks loose. Jerry the vampire is after Charlie, his girlfriend Amy (Imogen Poots), and his mother Jane (Toni Collette).

There is a battle and Charlie now takes it upon himself to do whatever he can do destroy the vampire. He returns back to the Vegas strip to try and get help from Peter, while he is there Jerry arrives and with a new ally. Charlie’s ex best friend, who tried to tell him that his neighbor was a vampire, has been turned into a vampire.

Peter hides while Charlie has to battle his friend while dealing with the guilt of his friend being turned because he failed to listen earlier. After he has defeated his friend, Charlie and Amy attempt to escape from the building. Jerry is after them; he succeeds in grabbing Amy and turning her.

Charlie prepares himself for the fight of his life and is joined by Peter, who finally decides to fight. The big battle happens during daylight in Jerry’s house. Charlie and Peter discover Jerry’s underground hideout, and find out he has been turning humans in an effort to build up his numbers.

The big battle happens, and when all seems lost, Charlie uses an idea suggested earlier, and lights up his suit, attacks Jerry and succeeds in finally killing the vampire. The turned vampires return back to human, as their maker had been killed.

The film is definitely a bit ridiculous, But I say this in a good way. What movie with a vampire living next door to you wouldn’t be? I giggled during parts of the film I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to, and the way the vampires looked when they were ready to rip out someone’s throat, was awkward looking. They look more bat like than man. A different look than I have been used to. The trend of vampires in the past few vamp movies and series has been human like. The vampire looks added to the ridiculousness.

The movie really should change the beginning of its title, there wasn’t much fright in Fright Night. That doesn’t mean the movie was bad, it just wasn’t really a horror film. It had some freaky scenes, and of course blood, but there really wasn’t much to scare the audience. The fight scenes were entertaining, and there was some good comedy in the film. The movie was fun, silly, bloody, and entertaining. Some characters left much to be desired, Charlie and Peter were by far my favorite characters. Peter being a big part of the humor of this film.

The film is definitely worth a view. I wouldn’t go into it thinking it’s going to be a scary horror. Go in looking for an entertaining vampire movie. The acting is good and there is enough blood and fun for everyone. I enjoyed it, and plan on viewing any sequels released.

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Nocturnal Release: Drive

I picked up Drive last night on Blu-Ray. Damn I love the 80's. While watching it with my friend, she originally had thought that the film took place in the 80's due to the soundtrack. Now if you haven't noticed a recurring trend in my articles I love two things in movies: score/soundtrack and the 80's. Well, the 80's isn't really something that I look for, but I just had to reiterate.  

The movie is very slow paced, and it isn't filled with a massive amount of driving, so if you think that this is another Fast Five then you're dead wrong. The marketing of this movie can be a little deceiving. When I saw this in theaters, a few people in the audience weren't too pleased, but if you aren't pleased with this movie then you might have missed the point.

Ryan Gosling has been known better for being eye candy in a bunch of sappy romantic films. This movie showed him curb stomping a hit-man in an elevator and making his face into a potato latka. Just dropping fools at the drop of the hat is NOT the Ryan Gosling that the ladies know and swoon over, which made this movie all the better. After he squashed the beejezus out of that goon, I could have sworn he was gonna make that iconic Bruce Lee face after he greased somebody

                                                             Mudhole in the face....IN THE FACE!

The movie takes a drastic, violent turn towards the latter half of the movie, which really surprised me. I was taken along for this smooth, cool ride that ended up becoming a dark tale. I love that about this movie. I don't like to be able to predict what is going to happen before it happens. I want something fresh, something new. And this movie delivered. Like this movie for what it is, don't hate it for what you want it to be.

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The Amazing Spider-Man Trailer

Check out the latest look at the latest reboot of Marvel's The Amazing Spider-Man!

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Haywire Review

Steven Soderbergh continues to evolve his craft as he takes us into the world of spy versus counterspy. As he did with Sasha Grey and 'The Girlfriend Experience', Soderbergh has an amazing ability to have taken two women with little to no acting experience and really make them shine. This time, female MMA fighter Gina Carano takes the lead as Malorie Kane, a spy for hire and ex Marine. Sent off on a mission by her boss played by Ewan McGregor, she enters into a tale of betrayal, murder, and espionage.  

What I love about Soderbergh ( and Tarantino also) is the use of music in his films. I absolutely loved the choice of music for the Oceans movies. It gave the movie this sense of class and sophistication. It wasn't like you were watching a high octane action flick like the Bourne movies (which I love by the way). 

He takes you along a cool, hip ride with characters that aren't completely far fetched. The cast of characters is so well chosen: Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Channing Tatum, Bill Paxton, and Michael Fassbender. Characters that just ooze with cool calculating exteriors.  

The action was the heart and soul of the movie.  Carano's background as a martial arts fighter gave the action scenes an extra sense of realism due to the fact that she has actually used these maneuvers in real life. This added a sense of brutality to each fight scene, which made it even more compelling to watch.  Carano really makes an impression as a sexy, deadly spy. Think Bond meets Bourne with curves. 

Carano was simply fantastic and I'm hoping that I see more of her in film in the future. But if she goes back into the octagon and continues to beat the stuffing out of people, I'm totally okay with that.  If you're a fan of the Oceans movies, or just want to see a movie that is more than just your average spy flick, you'll really enjoy this.

Bottom Line: A well directed action tour de force with a phenomenal cast that will not disappoint. Cough up the loot and check this one out.

Review written by Eric Colon

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Thoughts On The Grey

"Once more into the fray. Into the last fight I'll ever know. Live and die on this day. Live and die on this day."

This post is spoiler-ridden. You've been warned. 

This poem from Liam Nesson's latest film "The Grey" echoed far deeper as the movie progressed. Nesson plays a wolf hunter who protects employees of a petroleum company in Alaska from wolf attack while working on the pipeline. The movie plays out as if you were reading a novel, fitting because this was based on the short story Ghost Walker by Ian Mc'Kenzie Jeffers. It tells a tale of a man who's battle with nature and beast is an outward manifestation of the battle within his soul.

After a harrowing plan crash, Nesson and several other survivors, find that living through the crash allowed them to enter a new nightmare. They begin to be harassed by a pack of grey wolves. From the first death in the movie you see that the main character has a unique perspective on death. Maybe it was the suicide attempt that was alluded to in the beginning of the movie or maybe it was the death of his wife who visits him in his dreams. 

Once he held the shredded body of one of his companions, looked in his eyes and led him to the afterlife, I knew that I was watching something more than just a character death. You see a man who has walked that valley before, who has seen the face of death as it crept into his life, but that death wasn't coming for him, not yet. That death came for someone he cared deeply for. He recognized the fear in that persons eyes and knew exactly what to say to make that fearful transition as peaceful as possible.

As the story goes on I wondered as to why Nesson's character is fighting so hard to cling to survival. It seemed that as each of his companions died, his resolve to live began to grow.  It culminated to a powerful scene in which Nesson screams out into the heavens looking for God in the frozen hell that he is in. Wondering and hoping that those cries will be answered, but no answer comes. Regardless of the lack of response from this unseen God, the movie heads toward the inevitable fight with the alpha wolf of the pack.

This film was beyond what I expected. After the trailers I had thought that this would be a movie like Anthony Hopkins' "The Edge". But it was more than just a movie about survival, it was a movie about life. It was a film that asks us to re-examine the battles that we go through in this life and gets us looking deep inside at what truly keeps us going.

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Predicting Super Bowl XLVI In Madden 2012

Seeing as The Geek Asylum is based in New York, it only seems appropriate that we take the time to predict Super Bowl XLVI. Will the Giants do us proud?  Will the Pats get their revenge for 2007? Well that's what we have Madden 2012 for. Consider it a crystal ball, if you will. The game was predicted in two different ways. One game was actually played out by a physical player, while the other game was simulated.

Lets start with the first game played by a physical player who chooses to play as the Giants. Keep in mind that the rosters are completely up to date to ensure that we have the closest thing to today's game. Enjoy.

Game 1 Breakdown

First half: Giants receive ball at kick off. They go three and out in first possession. Tom Brady having trouble dealing with the Giants blitz. He manages to put a drive together in the latter portion of the quarter effectively getting the pats in the red zone.

Giants D steps up big time in a goal line stand and hold the Pats to a field goal. Eli finally gets in a groove and puts a drive together. Ahmad Bradshaw is killing it on the ground and eventually gains a TD. End of first half, the score is 7-3 Giants. Overall a very defensive first half.

Second Half: Giants D will not quit, putting Brady on the ground multiple times forcing him to make mistakes. Pierre-Paul is having an insane 3Q sacking Brady twice. Then Mathias Kiwanuka makes a big play when he smacks Brady so hard that it drives the ball loose and Pierre-Paul intercepts the ball.

With great field position, Eli converts the turnover to six points by launching a 38 yarder to Hakeem Nicks for the TD. The New England Patriot's nightmare is just getting started. Giants Strong Safety Kenny Phillips plays like a man possessed. Sacks Brady three times in the Pats next two possessions. Then he intercepts the ball at the start of the 4Q and runs 42 yds with it.

It's just ugly for New England. Eli converts again on another masterful 54 yd drive utilizing Cruz on the slot and then the nail in the coffin with the short pass to Nicks for the TD. The rest of the game sees Brady getting mangled and torn to shreds by the Giants D line. They hold Brady to no TD's and Giants demolish the Pats 24-6. It was glorious.

Final Stats/Awards: Eli Manning 21/32 192 yds 2TD's no INT's. Ahmad Bradshaw 17 carries 102 yds 1TD. Pierre-Paul 4 Tackles 2 Sacks 1INT. Kenny Phillips 6 Tackles 3 Sacks 1INT. Kenny Phillips gets Superbowl MVP. This is every Giants fans wet dream, but this just isn't going to happen. The Patriots pass protection is a lot better than that, at least we hope so. Remember that Game 1 was played by a physical player.

Game 2--Simulation

This is the game that was played as a simulation, which played out much differently. Giants defense isn't nearly as nuts as it was in the first game. The game is actually pretty boring after Eli Manning puts up a TD to Nicks and Hynoski runs in for another TD in the 1Q. Pats D adjusts quickly applying pressure to Eli throughout the game.

Eli throws three interceptions in the first half, he's sacked three times, and he fumbles the ball once. Fortunately the Giants D steps it up and keeps the Pats scoreless. The rest of the game is just a defensive chess match with no real action to speak of. Neither team can get a solid dive going or they would get to the red zone and choke.

The final ended up being 17-3 Giants.  Justin Tuck ends up getting MVP for his eight tackles and two sacks. This better not be today's game, no one wants a defensive match-up on Super Bowl Sunday. Let us know what your prediction for today's game is in the comments below.

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7 Movies You Can't Miss In 2012

There are so many movies this year that it's really hard to breakdown which ones are worth your hard earned coin. The first quarter of the year is usually reserved for a lot of the stuff that isn't all that great, although one movie does eek its way on to this short list. Keep in mind that this list will not include any Oscar-worthy flicks.

I sifted through the movies that I thought would either be forgotten or simply ignored. After doing the homework, I found the lucky 7 and why you should see them. The list will start at seven and work its way down to what I consider the number one movie you shouldn't miss this year.

7. Snow White & The Huntsman--June 1st, 2012

Go ahead, make fun of me. Yes, Kristen Stewart is in the movie, but we shouldn't immediately write the movie off for that. And who can forget Chris Hemsworth in Thor? He was tailor made for this movie. The movie will also star the lovely Charlize Theron as the evil Queen. The main reason this movie is on the list is because of its unique approach to the Snow White folklore.

Snow White is usually associated with adolescence and animated features. The crazy thing is that Snow White is an incredibly dark tale and it's the tale that director Rupert Sanders wants the world. to see. After watching the trailer I was convinced that going the more dramatic/dark route was a brilliant idea. It's essentially Snow White for adults and I'm okay with that.    

6. Project X--March 2nd, 2012

The tried and true formula of high school/frat house comedies is this: Two losers become rock stars in 90 minutes or less. That's all there is to it. Project X decided to up the ante and perhaps update the formula to version 2.0. Project X is going the Paranormal Activity route with its film style and going with a more HD Handycam look.

I think the concept is a bit overboard, but who cares? This movie is all about complete insanity. I feel that Nima Nourizadeh's directorial debut may have started a new trend in douchebag humor and I'm driniking the Kool-Aid. Check the trailer.






 5. Safe--April 27th 2012

Between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, it's difficult for me to pinpoint which one of these brutes is the new Hollywood action hero. I think Johnson may have relinquished the throne when he went all Disney on us there.

Statham has solidified himself as the new action hero and his new movie Safe may be his Die Hard. What I love about Statham is his raw quality. The dude is a genuine bad ass who is proficient in martial arts, a former Olympic swimmer, and has an absurd workout routine. 

Bad assery aside, Safe looks like a great action thriller, but it's the premise that got me:

 A former elite agent takes on a two-tier mission: rescue a Chinese girl who's been abducted by the Triads, then use a safe combination to outwit the Russian Mafia, corrupt NYC officials, and the Triads themselves. 

It's nothing original, but when it comes to action films, are we really concerned about originality? No, we want to be entertained, and that's what Statham does best.

4. Brave--June 22, 2012

A Summer without a Pixar movie is a sad one. While their last effort (Cars 2) may not have been the best, Brave looks to change that. This would be the first time Pixar ventures into a medieval setting (finally), and we can expect the same brand of charm and humor that they're renowned for.

The movie features a strong female protagonist named Princess Merida who breaks old traditions, which leads to turmoil within her Kingdom. Determined to make things right, Princess Merida relies on her archery skills and bravery to restore order. This has all the makings of a classic. With a solid story, a great character, and Pixar behind the wheel, this is one you don't want to miss.

3. World War Z---December 12, 2012

Based on Max Brooks phenomenal novel, World War Z creates a world where Zombies are a reality and shows us the aftermath. Brooks has this uncanny ability to make zombies seem like a plausible thing. He covers things like a World War III scenario, how the economic infrastructure would be destroyed, how humanity as we know it transforms, how the government and military would react, and creates horrific scenario that feels like it could be a reality.

Details surrounding the movie are pretty sparse, but what we do know is that we have the cast, leading man (Brad Pitt), and a release date. This shouldn't be any cause for concern, I've read the novel and Pitt chooses his roles very selectively, so we should be pleasantly surprised.

2. Safe House--February 10th, 2012

Denzel Washington has many gifts, one of those gifts is his talent at taking crap and making it gold. Crap script? No problem, Denzel will still turn in a killer performance and polish a potential turd. To me, that's a gift. This isn't to imply that his new movie Safe House is going to be a turd, I think it actually looks promising.

Washington plays Tobin Frost, a hardened fugitive who is being looked after by a young CIA Agent (played by none other than resident funny man Ryan Reynolds) in a safe house. Of course, nothing goes according to plan and the safe house is attacked. You should expect Washington to do all sorts of amazingly violent things and Reynolds to play a terrified young buck who learns from the master.

1. Django Unchained--December 25th, 2012

Quentin Tarantino movies never suck do they? You ever notice that every time you watch his movies that you always find another reason to love it? Tarantino is undoubtedly batshit crazy, but maybe that's why his movies are so great. He's so good at what he does that actors come to him. His new movie, that was rumored for years to be a western, is a reality now. Check out the plot summary and this incredible cast:

A former slave-turned-hired gun (Jamie Foxx) heads back to the plantation to free his wife from a tyrannical plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio) with the help of a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Don Johnson, and M.C. Gainey co-star. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Do you see that cast? I'm not entirely sure, but I'm almost positive Sammy L has been in half of Tarantino's movies. Then we have Don Johnson, Jamie Foxx, and Leo DiCaprio? Like I stated earlier, A-List casts like this are a Tarantino staple. Tarantino has always shared his love of  "Spaghetti" Westerns, and you houldn't be surprised if he pays homage to the legendary Sergio Leone and composer Ennio Morricone. I simply can't wait for this one.

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First Diablo III Beta Emails Sent Out

To whom it may concern,

For all of those Blizzard fans eagerly waiting for that glorious beta email to pop up in their mailbox, the wait is over.  Blizzard just recently sent out the first 100,000 beta emails for those worthy enough to face the wrath of the Burning Hells.

Geek Asylum will be posting daily details on all the action if you didn't receive the goods. Sorry to all those who have been left at the wayside.

Yours truly,

Eric G

P.S.
Go H.A.M in the paint.

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Skyrim Patch 1.4 Available Now (for PC)

Bethesda Studios has posted that the latest patch for Skyrim (1.4) is now available through Steam for all PC players. Sadly all console players have to wait a little longer but the studio has said the PS3 and Xbox 360 update will be submitted to the hardware manufactuers this coming week. Lets hope it a speedy release by Sony and Microsoft. Bethesda has posted a full list of the bug and quest fixes to there blog. See if what you wanted to be fixed actually has been.

Thanks to: Teamxbox

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The Last of Us First In-Game Screenshots

      If you haven't heard yet The Last of Us is a survival horror game coming from Naughty Dog Studios, developer of the Uncharted series. The impressive trailer that was released at this years VGA's set this game to be one of 2012s most anticipated games. GameInformers next issue will have a full feature including interviews with the design team and the writers take on what they saw from gameplay. There is a slight possibility The Last of Us will slip into early 2013 but judging by these newly released in-game screenshots Naughty Dog seems to be on track. Take a look.

Thanks to:

GameInformer and

  ComputerandVideoGames.com 

for the screens

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Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Trailer!

Ubisoft has just released the single player trailer for Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. It looks like Ubisoft is taking the series into a more intense gameplay than its predecessors. The trailer gives off more of a Call of Duty pace, but delivers a wide arsenal of futuristic weaponry and gadgets. The third person perspective allows for some violent and exciting takedowns. Watch the trailer below.

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Marvel Comic of the Day: X-Sanction #3

This week's Marvel book of the week is XSanction #3. We start off February with the Red Hulk facing off against Cable, at least from what the cover tells us. Previously we learned that Cable came back from the future to assasinate the Avengers to prevent a disaster. He's already taken down The Falcon, Captain America, and Iron Man. We left off issue 2 with the Red Hulk making his grand entrance and the virus fully engulfing Cable's body.

SPOILERS BELOW

This issue is jam-packed with action. From the get go it's Red Hulk vs Cable, Red Hulk vs Blaquesmith, Red Hulk vs Cable, Cable vs Cyclops, Red Hulk vs Virus, and Wolverine & Spiderman vs Cable. Blaquesmith plays a small role, distracting Red Hulk to let Cable regain footing temporarily.

When Red hulk strikes back at Cable, Cable does something incredible- PORCUPINE POWER! If you see the cover image posted in this article, that's exactly how it looks. Not only that, but after Red Hulk is immobilized, Cable notices the virus leaving himself and beginning to take over Red Hulk. As it does, Cyclops and Hope arrive on the scene. After a heartwarming reunion, and an argument over what Cable is doing, Wolverine and Spider-man arrive to free the Avengers and to kill Cable if necessary. Don't worry, Spider-man was just as confused.

The next thing about this issue is the preview. If you look closely, there are few things in the image that you'll want to look out for in March's final issue. First, it's Wolverine in his X-Force costume and Spider-man in his Symbiote Costume. Could this mean Spider-man will join the X-force? Probably not, but I would hope so. At least have Kaine join it

The other thing to notice is who they're fighting - it looks like Cable. Except Cable doesn't have black hair. The the Red Hulk does! I would have to say the virus takes over Red Hulk for the next issue. So expect March's issue to be Spider-man and Wolverine VS the Red, er, Silver Hulk.

You'd be silly not to track this series. Go to your comic store, spend the $10 (roughly), and grab these three issues. And when #4 comes out, grab that too. It's all setting up for Avengers VS X-men in April, and you won't want to miss that either.

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Mass Effect 3 Voice Acting Cast

When you play the Mass Effect games its like you are playing your way through a full on feature film. Not a game. That’s what makes the Mass Effect franchise and universe so engrossing. You care about Shepard and all of his brothers and sisters in arms. Which is why when you are making a monumental game such as this you want a cast of voice actors and actresses that can pull their own weight and make the universe that much captivating.

-Going in order of appearance in the trailer-

Martin Sheen played the Illusive man in Mass Effect 2 and was fantastic. He gives off a vibe of unquestionable authority while at the same time has a very spooky, yet mysterious element to his persona. With scores of acting and film landmarks under his belt, such as “Apocalypse Now” and “The Departed”, he is a fantastic choice for the character he was dealt to play.

Freddie Prinze Jr. plays the new James Vega on Shepard's squad of kick ass commandos out to rescue the universe...again. For those of you who don't know Freddie Prinze, he starred in the films “Scooby Doo” (Unfortunately) and also starred in a season of 24. Freddie Prinze is well suited for the role of an experienced soldier.

Seth Green has been around as “Joker” since the first Mass Effect and quite frankly, the Mass Effect Universe and Shepard need him in it. He offers an excellent comic relief element and at all the right moments as well. Seth Green is the mind responsible for the hit show on Adult Swim called “Robot Chicken.” He also starred in movies “Austin Powers”  and “The Italian Job”. Seth Green is the perfect choice for the comic relief in the Mass Effect universe.

Tricia Helfer entered the Mass Effect franchise in Mass Effect 2 as the Normandy's A.I. system labeled EDI (pronounced Eee Dee). EDI stands for Enhanced Defense Intelligence. When you play the Mass Effect games and hear EDI's voice it really doesn’t phase you much as to who the person behind the machine is; when in fact it should. Tricia Helfer starred on arguably the greatest sci-fi drama ever to air on television. Not only did she star in “Battlestar Galactica”, but she was also in the game “Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars”. Tricia Helfer is an outstanding choice for this sci-fi epic.

Ali Hillis plays the sexy and powerful Asari scientist Liara T'soni. She and Shepard go way back and fight side by side. Once you get the chance to explore the character in game she gets much deeper. The side mission you are given in Mass Effect 2 greatly expands on the character and the dynamics within Liara's species. Ali Hillis has starred in the films “Must Love Dogs” with John Cusack and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” with Robert Downey Jr.

Jessica Chobot is arguably my favorite voice actress in this cast with the exception of Tricia Helfer. Chobot was part of the IGN.com crew and hosted their daily fix video series for over a year. A while ago she announced that she was taking leave at IGN to work on a secret project. I would have never have guessed this is what she was talking about. Ms. Chobot plays Diana Allers who is a reporter and brand new to the Mass Effect franchise. Given the history of romance in these games I wouldn't put the fact that she is a possible love interest past you.

Keith David ,like Seth Green, has been around since the very first Mass Effect. In the Mass Effect he was Shepard's superior officer, which is no longer the case. He has starred in films such as “Platoon” and “Crash”. Keith David has a very unique voice. Its a voice that’s very deep and suited toward his characters military stature and status. His character is very strong and assertive and can motivate anyone of his men to do anything that is required of them. He fits the classic mold of the bold military leader who will fight to the last man.

Jennifer Hale has played the female Shepard since the beginning of the series. I have never played as the female Shepard before so I am not totally acquainted with the sound of her voice. Other titles that Hale has worked on include “Bulletstorm", “Star Wars The Old Republic”, and “God of War: Ghost of Sparta”.

With a cast of voice actors such as these it's easy to see that Bioware is focusing on high quality voice acting. So much talent on one project is hard to ignore. I don't know about you guys, but I will be the guy that is camped out a week early to get the first copy of my collectors edition of Mass Effect 3 once it drops on March 6^th.  

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2012: Armageddon For Nintendo?

 Imagine a world without any more Zelda and Mario games. Imagine when we’re older, when we all have children, that on their 18th birthday, we give them our old Nintendo systems coupled with the top hits from our time. It’ll be a sad day when Nintendo finally does close its doors for good, and that day might be sooner than we all think.

Last Thursday, Nintendo broke some gut wrenching news; they revealed that between March and December 31st, their fiscal year, they lost $623 million whereas in the previous year, they gained $639 million. For whatever the reason, it’s starting to become clear that this generation wants more hardcore consoles with blood and guts over the classics that we all grew up with.

And no, the news doesn’t end there – They’re also estimating their loss by the end of this fiscal year to be $837 million. The cause? Reports say it’s because the yen is strong – it’s currently at 77.54 to the US dollar in comparison to the 82.90 that it was a year ago. My personal opinion? It’s because this generation wants more hardcore consoles, like PS3 and XBOX 360 to cater to their craving for blood, guts, and multiplayer with all the bells and whistles.

Can the Wii-U stop the money from hemorrhaging for Nintendo? Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

Even kids at four years old play games like Grand Theft Auto – kids these days only know of the new Mario and Sonic games, not the classics that us old geezers grew up on. It’s a sad forecast and prediction to say that Nintendo’s name is dying out.

While it delivers in strength and reliable hardware, the games are not as desired as they once were and Nintendo doesn’t want to give too heavily into popular demands because they, like us, still value games from a different time.

The other reason for their loss? Nintendo would rather lose all this money instead of firing their employees. Had it been Sony or Microsoft, employees would be cut without a second thought. Even in Nintendo’s time of depression, they’re still producing the Wii-U. Let’s just hope that the Wii-U will have high sales and that the powers-that-be will keep Nintendo around for a while longer.

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Soul Calibur V Review

Its been three years since the last Soul Calibur game and Namco has decided it was a good time for another game. Not too short that fans are tired of the game, but not long enough that they’ve all forgotten. Should Soul Calibur V have stayed in Namco’s closet? Or is it a worthy buy? Let’s take a look at what we’re dealing with.

You start out as a holy warrior, Patroklos, trained to slay the Malfested. He faithfully served Graf Dumas for years in hope to find his sister, Pyrrah, who was kidnapped when she was a child by the Malfested and to also get revenge on the vile creatures for killing his mother.

Throughout his journey, he meets people to give him clues on Pyrrah’s whereabouts, so he persists on the journey, fighting and proving his worth to carry the legendary Soul Calibur.

In time, he finds that the only way to rid the world of the Malfested is to destroy Soul Edge – the cursed sword who transforms its wielder into the ultimate evil, Nightmare. All sounds well and easy, but nothing is that simple. The journey for Patroklos is personal – he is torn between either saving his sister or obeying his Athenian guardian mother. Which will he choose?

Well, you have to play through the storyline to find out.

Online play is generic – you both pick your character, choose your settings by difficulty, time limit, and how many rounds you’ll play. You pick your arena and it has the typical soundtrack with the poetic narrative intro, and each character says their starting line. "Aaaaaaaand FIGHT!"

You both beat the crap out of each other until someone wins. It's the same type of setup as any other 3D fighting game. A new feature of the SC series is it picked up the gauge strategy – from taking and dealing damage, it fills up the gauge. Once it is filled, you can blast out a pretty nasty move.

The great thing about Soul Calibur V is that the fighting system is simple enough that mostly anyone can pick up the game and look fancy doing it. However, speaking from personal experience, button mashing will not be an optimal strategy like it was in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. SCV is simple enough that you’ll pick up on the pattern of what button does what, but challenging enough that once you learn each individual’s fighting style, you can cause some serious damage.





Some characters are naturally slower than others and other characters may be easier to use, but there’s a graph akin to Dance Dance Revolution on the difficulty of the character’s use. Another new addition to the series is the very robust character creation feature, which is absolutely incredible.

Soul Calibur lets you customize either one of the fighters or completely create your own from the bottom up. As far as original characters, you can customize their body size, height, voice, pitch and tone, hair, and tons of clothing and accessories. The possibilities are endless.

I have some friends right now recreating Dragon Ball Z characters - that's how customizable this new feature is. I know a lot of you have some original RP characters from your middle school days. Here's your chance to bring it to life, not to mention it's a lot of fun. Pick up the game to explore more possibilities.

Between the easy to pick up and hard to master fighting style, Soul Calibur will satisfy its fan base. With its simple, yet well done storyline, and an amazing character creation option, SCV packs a lot more than your average fighter. That being said, unless you're a die hard Soul Calibur fan, SCV is more of a rent than a buy.

It's definitely a game that's enjoyable to play alone or with a bunch of people. Every game has its quirks, but then again, what game doesn't? If you don't like it right away, give it a little while. You'll learn to love it like I did.

Verdict: 8.0

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"7500" First Trailer

Ryan Kwanten, Amy Smart, Jamie Chung, and Leslie Bibb all star in Takashi Shimizu's new horror flick "7500". If you couldn't guess within the first 6 seconds of the trailer, it is the name of the flight. This is the only thing since The Grudge that Takashi Shimizu has done.

Ryan Kwanten and Amy Smart are a couple in this film aboard Vista Pacific Flight 7500 with Jamie Chung and Leslie Bibb as hot stewardesses. The flight departs from L.A and arrives at Tokyo which takes a grand total of 10 hours. However, we soon learn that ordinary people are not the only passengers on this flight. A super natural entity resides on the plane to terrorize these poor people.

Gorgeous female celebrities and planes? I am more than willing to bet someone is going to become a member of the Mile High Club.

In any case, I have faith in Takashi Shimizu. I can see this working because this whole movie will take place on  an airplane, making for a forgiving budget and giving Mr. Shimizu more room to work. This dark being is leaving on a jet plane and for the moment we do not know when it will be back again. Keep it locked on the Geek Asylum for all the info.

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A Look at Ninja Gaiden 3

We're still a little more than a month away from the release of Ninja Gaiden 3 but it's never to early to get some juicy details on what to expect. GameTrailers.com was able to play a level or two from the Xbox360 version and they got to see some of the new abilities that Ryu Hayabusa has gained since we last met.

The dragon sword ability has somehow transferred itself into Ryu's arm which should make for some very excellent kill combos. Also he can now slow time while jumping to aim that insane bow he has. Team Ninja has said they calmed down with the difficulty of Ninja Gaiden 3 to help the noobs out. That might save me an aneurism or two this time around.

Get More: GameTrailers.com, Ninja Gaiden 3 - Preview HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Source: GameTrailers

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Game of Thrones Season 2 Trailer: A Clash of Kings

Whether you are following the books, HBO series or both, I believe a good viewing is in order for HBO's new Game of Thrones Trailer

Season 2: Preview - You Win or You Die

The trailer starts with the spider, Varys of the Kings council telling Tyrion a riddle.  "Three great men, a king, a priest, and a rich man.  Between them stands a common sellsword.  Each great man bids the sellsword kill the other two.  Who dies?"  Varys' riddle resonates throughout the second book and perfectly sets the tone for this second season.

A Clash of Kings introduces a whole new batch of characters that were only spoken of in the previous book/season including the late King Roberts brother, Lord Stannis.  The treachery, brutality, and glory will keep you drooling for more.

"A very small man can cast a very large shadow."

Please share your thoughts about the Game of Thrones new trailer below.

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Fan-Made Zelda: The Lost Oracle Wii U Trailer

     A very talented and dedicated fan has put their best effort in creating a trailer for a Zelda game for Wii-U. 20,000 YouTube views in one day is a definite accomplishment, maybe not a record, but a nice pat on the back for a job well done. A combination of great art and some good animating makes this seem so real but we know Nintendo could take this to another level.



Lets hope someone at Nintendo sees this and takes it to that level. The Wii-U is going to need some serious platformers to launch the system into any kind of success. Judging from their last quarterly results, they need it desperately.

Thanks to IGN.com

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Inspiration For The Glorious Uncharted Series

Sony gives a quick behind the scenes look at some of the inspiration and tech used for the Uncharted series.

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Samsung Galaxy Note Tablet/Phone Gets Release Date

The latest effort to bring a tablet-like experience to your pocket has been underway around the globe for some time, but the states have been left with options that don’t quite cut it. The Galaxy Note is Samsung's latest device in the Galaxy Series that is making its way to the U.S. under the AT&T banner and it is looking to fill your pockets to capacity.

This design is neither phone nor tablet, the hybrid is attempting to carve out its own niche in the mobile device market. With a 5.3in screen, you can imagine that a lot can be done on that sort of real estate and the OS has been tweaked to take advantage in some situations.

Because the Galaxy Note does not have a 7-10in screen that is common on most of todays tablets, using your finger as the universal input can't be accomplished throughout the entire experience. Samsung has included a built-in stylus to accommodate users who aren't used to such a large screen on their phones.

This is a step in the wrong direction. I know all the old school Palm users disagree and I would be happy going back to the days of stylus inputs, but I remember losing every single stylus I’ve ever owned so this does not tickle my fancy. Short of a major life-changing incident, my fingers don’t get lost.

Samsung has also paid attention when building this phone/tablet hybrid, making sure that the under 10mm profile allows you to fit something besides the device in your pocket. With 5.3 inches of screen I can’t see it being anything of any size though (Perhaps a credit card or I.D.).

The overall design of this phone makes it a niche product, not a game changer. Playing in-between large phone/small tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Note has too many disadvantages. The size almost guarantees I wouldn't be putting this is in my pocket, and holding the device with one hand is almost out of the question. Stylus’ need to die the death they should have 4 years ago, (Just let go little buddy) If you feel the need to buy an aftermarket stylus that’s fine, but designing a product around the use of one makes no sense in 2012 on beyond.

One handed use? I don't think so.

The Samsung Galaxy Note pre-orders start Feb. 9^th and will be available on AT&T Feb. 19^th for $300 with 2yr contract.

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Trailer Mash-Up: The Hunter, Lockout, and More

Welcome to Trailer Mash-Up, our new weekly feature where we round up the best movie trailers that we can find. We figure new look, so why not a new recurring feature? So sit back, relax, and enjoy.

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Viva La Vita! Anxiously Awaiting the PSP Vita's Arrival

The Sony family is expecting their new baby handheld, the PSP Vita, on February 22nd, 2012. This adorably tech savvy and absolutely brilliant bundle of joy is at about 182 mm in length and 9.8 ounces. Unlike its siblings, the PSP GO and the first, second, and third generations of the original PSP, this little guy will give PlayStation fans what they’ve always been looking for.

This handheld features baby smooth front and rear touch pads, dual analog sticks, front and rear cameras, motion sense technology, and because we get super bored sometimes, there will also be downloadable applications.

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DC Comic Book of the Week: Justice League #5

So the DC book of the week is by far Justice League 5. I know it might seem cliche that the biggest title for DC is my book of the week and I can likely promise that for February when JL 6 comes out that will be too, but understand this book is unreal. Geoff Johns is incredible and Jim Lee is kicking-ass with the art. The story line is the perfect book to infant DC readers getting you into the main characters, weaknesses, showing each for how special they are, and integrating the team element into a great title, so without further ado here is the review.

SPOILERS BELOW!!!

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Underworld Awakening Review

Ever since the first Underworld I have been addicted to the series. To be quite honest, vampires are a guilty pleasure of mine. That's really why I love True Blood. (And just for the record I'm really not a fan of the Twilight franchise, just to get that out of the way.) Another really big factor for why I love the Underworld franchise so much is because I literally grew up with the series. On top of that I have been madly in love with Kate Beckinsale since I first saw her in the first Underworld film.

The premise of this film is that the Lycan's (werewolves) and Vampire species have been discovered by humans and now they are on a campaign to completely wipe all of them out. In midst of all this is Selene (Kate Beckinsale) and a girl called subject 2 who inadvertently convinced an entire vampire coven (vampire hideout) to fight back against not only the humans, but the Lycans as well.

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Starhawk Beta Impressions

When Incognito Entertainment (now Lightbox Interactive) released Warhawk on PSN in 2007, it was considered by many to be one of the best multiplayer experiences available at the time. It was a multiplayer-only title unlike anything that had been seen at the time. Warhawk put 32 players in a massive arena, dropped vehicles into the mix, and let the pandemonium ensue. It was critically well received and was a sucess for Sony.

Fast forward five years---Lightbox is finally releasing an unofficial successor to Warhawk in the form of Starhawk. Dubbed as "Warhawk in space", Starhawk takes all of the elements that made Warhawk so great, while also introducing some unique new features. Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of playing Warhawk, but that doesn't mean I couldn't enjoy Starhawk.

The game is currently in public beta (it should be noted that only those with a code that was povided in retail copies of Uncharted 3 and subscribe to PlayStation Plus have access to the beta) and I have been having the time of my life with it. It makes me regret missing out on Warhawk. After three solid hours with Starhawk, I can confidently say it's one of my must buy titles for the year

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Resident Evil 6 Trailer Has Zombies and Guns In It

Another Resident Evil is on the way. That means another story about some village and Wesker. Then some shit explodes and Wesker. Then some gigantic creature emerges from some lagoon and then Wesker shows up. Then Leon brushes his hair aside and says something stupid. Then Chris takes some more human growth hormone and shows off his python arms. Then Chris gets a machine gun and staright effs things up. Then Wesker shows up, does a maniacal laugh, and goes on some tirade about power or something. Then a buliding blows up. Then some zombies moan and Leon goes all Bloodsport on them dudes. Check the trailer.

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DC Comic of the Week: Green Lantern Corps #5

This week I want to go over and cover the newest Green Lantern Corps #5. The series has been pretty kick-ass so far. I have to admit I haven't read a great deal of DC titles going into the New 52 and although GLC is one of the few titles not effected by Flashpoint I was able to jump right into it and enjoy the hell out of it so far. One of my favorite things that has been going on with the New 52 books in DC is that a lot of these titles are introducing new villains and not just reintroducing old ones in a new way. These Keepers that are in the books are really whipping the GLC's ass something serious.

SPOILERS!!!

In issue five Guy Gardener gets together a bunch of Green Lanterns after an "enhanced interrogation" of a Keeper prisoner. The Green Lanterns are the ones we saw from the first five issues. Guy also recruits a group of certified bad ass Lanterns to go in shoot first and ask questions later. They remind me of the elite force that doesn't get sent in unless things are really ugly and the soldiers need to do some dirty work. I guess I could reference something like "The Expendables" as a direct comparison of the type of Lanterns that get sent in to clean house.

These Lanterns suggest using a "Fear Bomb" and guns. The Fear Bomb is two Sinestro Corps Lanterns named Fat Man and Little Boy. The history fan in me had to laugh inside and if for some reason you slept through all of history in school Fat Man and Little Boy are the names of the nuclear bombs dropped during WWII. So obviously this Fear Bomb is going to be some wicked shit that gets dropped on the Keepers. Then since the Keepers are mostly immune to the green power ring the Lanterns attack a pirate ship in space and raid it for all of the extremely heavy artillery on board to open up a can on the Keepers.

I give this a 2 thumbs up and definitely recommend for purchase and reading. Be on the look out and if you want to catch up now is the time, come February issue 6 of most DC titles will be a conclusion of whatever arch is occurring and some major crap is going down.

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My Take On SOPA and PIPA...It's BAD folks (please read)

For those of you who don't already know, there are two new pieces of legislation that are currently moving through congress with the sole purpose of censoring the internet in order to stop the piracy of movies and music.

Lets take it back a step and slow it down shall we...SOPA (stop online piracy act) and PIPA (Protect-IP Act) is what these bills stand for. Basically in laymans terms this means that any website, any website at all that you can upload to (i.e. wikipedia, youtube, google, facebook, and even this one!) will be censored. And when I say censored I mean shut down. There will quite possibly not be much of an internet to go back to if these two pieces of legislation passes.

So please take out a few minutes to follow the link below and write your local senator to try and stop these vile bills from passing. While I am confident that these two bills will not pass, you can never be too safe. In the words of V for Vendetta "Governments should be afraid of their people, not the other way around!"

P.S. I would be shut down for quoting that because its not originally mine. (Just a thought)

AmericanCensorship.org

Dan W.

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