Fallout 4’s Announcement Trailer is Lackluster

Before being treated for third degree burns from the flaming I’m going to get, let me lay out my thoughts. First off, I love the Fallout franchise and have even gone as far as to explore the series roots in the older PC titles. The series has had some fantastic writing over the years, with deep moral questions that hit players hard. Couple that with a post-apocalyptic setting, great humor, and references to pop-culture, Fallout is a series that will stand the test of time as a classic.

However, I will say that through the years there has been a lack of a truly unique experience from title to title. Sure, the gameplay mechanics changed drastically when Bethesda released Fallout 3, but the art direction of the game has barely budged over years of titles. This is horribly apparent when comparing Fallout: New Vegas to Fallout 3.

Each environment feels empty, barren, as they’re supposed to feel, but they also lack the depth the series so desperately needs. There was a nuclear war, there’s a monologue about the history so far, and a vault is seen closing. Each game is fundamentally similar. In fact, many assets were reused in New Vegas, which makes the trailer for Fallout 4 unsettling for me.

When I found the countdown on Bethesda’s site, I immediately set an alarm for the reveal. That morning, I sprang up, downed a cup of coffee, ate some Cocoa Wheats, and waited patiently. When the trailer finally started to play, I immediately asked, “Wait, are they re-releasing Fallout 3?” Even as I said that to myself, the chat on Twitch reflected my thoughts. Thousands immediately feared the same. While I wouldn’t say no to playing Fallout 3 again (in fact, shortly after the trailer I bought the complete edition on Steam), I was worried that after all this time there wasn’t going to be a new game.

At the end of the trailer the large font announced that what I had just saw was in fact Fallout 4. Not only was I not impressed, I was kind of peeved that I had woken up early for it. Needless to say, I went back to bed.

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After the trailer finished, I compared my feelings to that of a wandering Deathclaw.

A portion of this includes http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/teddy-bear-puppy/ cheapest brand viagra the utilization of this medication. Don’t hide your condition from your partner, because your lady can feel it when you are not hard soft cialis online in bed. You need to improve your diet, and exercise to name a http://cute-n-tiny.com/page/3/ levitra without prescription few. According to reliable sources, generic levitra without prescription visit that pharmacy drugs save consumers an estimated 8 to 10 billions USD a year at retail pharmacies. Since my initial anger from the reveal, I’ve tried to dissect why I dislike the trailer. For starters, there was a lack of new assets. The entire trailer could probably be recreated with Fallout 3 assets. Even the way the characters move looked identical to the original, which is more upsetting considering that they’ve already been used twice!

Another problem I had was the direction of the trailer. Instead of showcasing what gamers could expect for the new game, the trailer looked like a glorified Machinima project. Camera pans were jerky, animations lacked polish, and characters looked lifeless. The only saving grace for the trailer was the expanded color palette, which does bring some new layers to the Fallout formula.

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Notice the lack of a brown filter, boy?

Finally, the way the trailer was hyped didn’t match what was actually shown. The countdown promised something new, profound. Yet, many fans were left confused. I worry that this trailer may be what it is due to the leaking of information on the game. It feels like a rushed job in response to the leaks.

Bethesda
What other titles could Bethesda have in store?

While I was disappointed by this trailer, I do have hope for the game’s full release. Bethesda is having their own press event for E3 on June 14, 10 p.m. EST, which is great considering how much information is lacking for Fallout 4.

I will say that I would ignore my major complaints so far, as long as there is a plethora of game content on the way. Rumors have said that Massachusetts will be one of the largest maps seen in Fallout history. I’m hoping for more depth to each area, instead of more steps to take alone. There also has to be some new creations. Fallout has plenty of room to expand and evolve, Bethesda just needs to take some risks.

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Ah, mods. Breathing life into games since the early 80s.

Even though I’ve got a terrible taste in my mouth from the trailer, I can’t wait to see what Bethesda has in store for their press event. Here’s hoping the wasteland will be a bit more interesting this time around. Till then, I’ll be exploring the modding community. Maybe they have something new.

Insight Editions’ Wonder Woman Journal

I finally got a chance to use my Wonder Woman journal. Okay, I lied. I haven’t used it; it’s just too pretty to use. I don’t want to vandalize it with my terrible handwriting and insignificant rambles.

Wonder Woman Journal

The cover is made out of a sturdy material that is scuff and scratch resistant.  With Wonder Woman’s infamous symbol debossed on the front, I feel like I’m part of a secret agency on Earth that works for her. I’m lame, I know, but hey, what do you do?
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To help readers feel like they are even more a part of the DC Universe, Insight Editions included several pages filled with sketches and notes from yours truly. During a battle with Cheetah, Wonder Woman loses her journal and leaves you with the beginning of a looming,  great battle.
Wonder Woman JournalI love this journal. It’s durable, 192 pages, and there’s even a little pocket on the inside of the back cover. I didn’t think Wonder Woman would have a journal—when would she have the time or where would she keep it—but I can believe this one is hers.

You can order Wonder Woman’s or Superman’s journal from Insight Editions for $18.95. I hope a Batman journal is next!

Orphan Black: A Much Needed Addiction

I should start this post by saying if you haven’t watched BBC America’s Orphan Black, then you should stop reading now and make the best decision of your life. There’s no good way to talk about this show without giving everything away, so you may not want to read any further. Trust me, you will absolutely love this show.

Currently in its third season, Orphan Black follows the story of a young woman named Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) as she dives deeper into an intricate conspiracy involving herself and her clone siblings. Clones! I was hooked from the moment I started watching. I can safely say that I’ve never seen anything like this show. I am never not surprised. That was a little redundant, but seriously this show is incredibly sneaky! There are so many moments where they let you believe you know what’s going on, and there’s some crazy twist and you realize you never really knew what was happening at all. Surprisingly, the best parts of the show aren’t necessarily centered around the clone conspiracy. Many segments of the show are solely dedicated to each clone’s own story line, which helps keep Orphan Black interesting.
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The performances are stellar, especially from Tatiana Maslany. She has to play several identical (physically anyways) characters, and she does it so well. Beyond using different accents (since some of the clones grew up in different countries from each other), she gives each clone her own unique mannerisms. Sometimes it’s just the way they smile or laugh, but Maslany even physically moves in a certain way depending on the character she’s playing. She is simply a delight to watch. But arguably the next best part of Orphan Black is Felix (Jordan Gavaris), Sarah’s foster brother. I have yet to be disappointed in Felix in any way. He always has the best lines, whether funny or serious. Felix is an essential part of this show. I really can’t imagine it without him.

By now I think you’ve got the idea. I love Orphan Black. Perhaps an unhealthy amount. Regardless, it is an incredibly original and thrilling show.

Top Fan Films (So Far)

Through my life, I’ve learned one universal fact. . .

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Cosplayers often dedicated a lot of time and money to become closer to their favorite characters. Image from Santana Cosplay

Geeks are the most passionate people on the planet.

This passion often leads us to wield our various talents to try and become closer to the works we so enjoy. This has led to many creations: from terrible fan fiction that becomes a movie to amazing film projects highlighting technical skills and upcoming actors.

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Yep, this concept was once a labor of love for Twilight. However, this becoming a top-selling book gives me hope as a writer.

Today’s list will be of the latter.

Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope

The talented folks of Robot Underdog bring much shame to Hollywood’s attempt to bring the high flying action this legendary anime is known for. Light of Hope is an adaptation of the animated film The History of Trunks, one of the most emotional moments in DBZ‘s history. With this as its inspiration, Light of Hope has a lot to work with as far as scenarios and character development.

Even though there is only a pilot episode available, Robot Underdog delivered one of the most accurate live action visions of the Dragon Ball Universe. Every punch is highlighted. Energy ripples from the fighters. Malice drips from the Androids like hot oil. All of this is used as the paint that wets the canvas, displaying what DBZ fans have been wanting for a long time.

My only complaint is waiting for the series’ completion. Keep rockin’ the dragon, Robot Underdog!

Spawn: The Recall

Some of the most amazing art in comic books comes from Todd McFarlane, whose main man is none other than Al Simmons aka Spawn. While the Avengers were fighting a giant purple dude with bling, Spawn was dethroning Satan, destroying the world and recreating it in his own image. While Spawn has been kicking ass in comics, his live action experiences have been lack luster.

Michael Paris and his team sought to redeem the red-caped knight and did just that in their short film, The Recall. Spawn’s tales have always been oozing with darkness, which is why this project’s direction of being more of a horror film makes sense. There’s all sorts of disturbing imagery and suspense that leads up to some of the best effects I’ve seen in a movie period, let alone an indie project. I’d share more, but its just so good that after the eight minutes are over, you’ll be crawling to the feet of Malebolgia, begging for more.

Croft

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It’s this image of Lara that Can Cinema latched onto, creating a gripping short story of a hostage situation. What’s interesting in this piece is the desperation Lara shows, just as she did in the newest game. Each kill is done effectively for the huntress, but every time there’s a bit of regret in her eyes. The film is filled with action, but these tender moments with the character is what makes it worth while. Even fans of the original character will enjoy a few notable scenes, as a lot of inspiration was pulled from the Tomb Raider’s early years.

Welcome to Hoxford

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stnRvFzGWY8

IDW Publishing has been putting out comics such as Transformers and Ninja Turtles for several years. Yet, there is one mini series that they released that stands out, Welcome to Hoxford. The story centers on Ray Delgado, a murderous, insane man, believing himself to be Chronos, lord of the Titans. He is sentenced to death for all of his crimes and transferred to Hoxford. Unfortunately, the prison is being run by a group of werewolves that enjoy hunting down their inmates. Ray faces these monsters head on, knowing that he is destined to destroy them.

Like the comic series, the fan film highlights the dark nature of the story in its visual style. Reflections are bright, stark contrasts to the encompassing darkness of Hoxford. Coupling this with absolutely brutal action scenes, the film seems to have been done professionally on the same level as 300 or Sin City.

Personally, this fan project has sparked a deep interest in the comics. Hopefully this team will get a chance to expand Ray’s story into a full length film.

Joker Rising

D.C. Comics has inspired a flood of fan films. Whether it’s the overall need to put these characters onto the silver screen in ways closer to the comics or the general ease at which these scenes can be recreated, I’m not sure. Either way, there have been loads of amazing projects featuring characters from the D.C. Universe.

Joker Rising tells the origin story of the Clown Prince while paying homage to Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight. The fan film was shot in just over a week and has a vibe similar to Blow. What’s amazing is the deliverance of the character, building on each scene that leads to a climax that is chilling, but also puts the Joker in a sympathetic light. In fact, this portrayal rivals Ledger’s in my opinion.

https://youtu.be/VoGAv23-FL0

Smoking Alien will also be creating a sequel series called The City with Two Faces and a pilot episode is on the way. Keep a sharp eye on their Youtube page for more information, as well as other projects they have produced.

Over the course of researching for this list, I’ve discovered not only these amazing projects, but a multitude of worthy films. The D.C. Universe is a playground for these indie developers, for I stumbled upon an excellent Harlequinn story and a Nightwing Mini Series.

Fan films give producers, directors, writers, and actors a chance to make their mark in an industry that’s nigh impossible to get started in. Yet, even if they don’t have absurd budgets or A-list actors, their passion for films rings out louder than ever.

Even though its hard, log off Netflix, shy away from Hollywood and explore the world of indie film once in a while. There are amazing stories being told. Don’t forget to spread the word about these films; each of them deserves being viewed much more than they have.

Please share your favorite fan films in the comments below! They may even be mentioned in future articles.