Canyons star and porn legend James Deen has finally nabbed a big bad for his western/steampunk project, Cowboys and Engines and it’s an impressive get — Malcolm McDowell, aka the man who killed Captain Kirk and the force of nature that played Alex in A Clockwork Orange.

McDowell’s career has been incredibly varied and interesting — from the above mentioned work to his more recent TV work on Franklin and Bash and Entourage, his long ago turn in Caligula, his time voicing Metallo in various animated Superman projects, and a whole host of other roles. Really, he’s a geek icon, a gee-con if you will, and he’s just the latest (and greatest) one to join the cast of this intriguing project, joining Walter Koenig (Star Trek, tell me you knew that) and Richard “Do Not Ever Call me Dick” Hatch of BSG fame.

Check out the synopsis for Cowboys and Engines below, read our interview with Deen, and then decide if McDowell took this project based on it’s merits, or if he’s slowly working to cinematically knock off every cast member from the original Star Trek series.

Cowboys & Engines is an ambitious steampunk adventure that follows Cade Ballard (Jeff Cannata), the war-weary former ambassador from the nation of Texas as he meets Guinivere Wheeler (Libby Letlow), a woman who proves to be as dangerous as she is charming. When they encounter Professor Nicholas Timéon (Walter Koenig), and learn that his temporal engine, a machine with incredible destructive power, has been stolen by would-be conqueror Dr. Clay, Cade and Guinivere set off to save San Francisco from total destruction.

To learn more about Cowboys and Engines, check out their Kickstarter page.

Source: IO9

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It’s the announcement gamers have all been waiting for — Sony is revealing details for the next generation, the Playstation 4. Watch the livestream here and check out our live blog.

Live video from your iPhone using Ustream

Live Blog

So far, the biggest reveals have been the new dual shock controller, with a touchpad and a camera that sees the controller. There will also be a dedicated chip for downloads and uploads — something that could pave the way for more direct downloads of content. They’re also promising the death of load times.

Social networking will also be a key component. I don’t see the point in being able to watch a friend game, but they’re highlighting it.

Share button seeks to bring friends into the gaming experience. Help with defeating tough levels and challenges, social messaging on screen while playing a game, sending someone a DM to change your feed bag so you never, ever have to stop playing Skyrim.

They’re talking about the Vita as a companion device, taking a cue from Wii U and their tablet inspired controller. Also, every screen is beautiful.

Usual suspects in terms of streamable content: Amazon, Hulu Plus, Crackle (because, apparently people crave the crackle), and the Netflix.

Talking about putting retro games on PS4 via cloud technology eventually, though you won’t, apparently, be able to play PS3 games on the PS4 out of the box. How pissed are you that you got rid of your copy of Final Fantasy IX?

The Missing Wow Factor So Far

Still waiting for that WOW reveal. That thing that makes me think, I MUST have this system. Quicker downloads is a big deal, but they can only do much on the hardware side to make direct downloads of games a feasible mainstream model. So that feels like an innovation for another day, not something that will matter a whole hell of a lot out of the box in the near future. I imagine that the longevity of the last generation and the rocky debut of PS3 made the need for built in innovations that would matter more as time goes by a MUST. Smart business move, but that won’t get wallets to swing open.

Social network function is neat, but is it going to be practical. Solitary gaming is the proffered way for many.

Okay, the video with developers gushing over the development process has come to an end, back to the live blog.

Live Blog (Continued)

Killzone: Shadow Fall demo on screen. Graphics are impressive, sound and effects like the explosion draw you in. Is this THAT MUCH of an upgrade over current gen? Also, this is a demo. How will it look on MY TV out of the box?

Cars look spectacular on Drive Club, which is a team based game that has been in the works for about a decade. Ooooh, fiber direction map. Snazzy…

Is Sony over emphasizing social gaming?

This game from Sucker Punch looks amazing, but Killzone looked like gameplay, this looked like a cinematic, so who cares what that looks like?

Thou shalt not poo poo immense, open worlds. The Witness is aiming to be dense, all killer, no filler. I am skeptical. I’m a Fallout junkie, I need a 45 minute walk from outpost to outpost damnit.

I understand the need to show a broad range of game options, but for something like this, I think showing games that push the graphical edge  would have been wiser. Also, familiar franchises.

David Cage from Quantic Dream, aka Hard Rain and Beyond: 2 Souls creator talking now. Could get what I’m asking for in terms of innovation and beauty.

Hey, by the way, this presentation is far too long.

Do gamers care about the past of Sony, or is this about the future? Less about the talk, more about the show.

90 minutes in and they finally announce that “nearly” every 3rd party developer will support PS3. No-brainer, but still, it would have been nice if it came up front.

This guy just said the word tweet… he is clearly one of us.

Explain to me how Capcom’s past use of tech on the PS2 is going to sell me and you on the PS4?

A thing I missed before: HOW ON EARTH DOES THE AWFUL MOVE CONTROLLER SURVIVE INTO THE NEXT GENERATION!?!?!

Right now, all I want to know is: what does it look like, how much will it cost, will it play used games, and how long will they offer support on the PS3 so I can avoid buying this new thing.

Watching the stream on Twitch. Lots of “these guys look gay” on their comment system. Oh yes, lets make gaming MORE of a social experience.

Talking about Watch Dogs now, one of the most buzzed about games from E3.

Watch Dogs looks good. This is something we already knew.

Blizzard and Sony have aligned. Then, the Blizzard guy called out for applause from the audience — there was silence.

Blizzard announces a Diablo port to the PS4. So… that worked out well last time they did that.

Activision guy comes out, vows to support PS4 in launch window, which will be…

Bungie and Destiny coming to the PS4. So far, this is my favorite bit of news.

And it’s done. Yes. It’s done.

Summation

Apparently the next generation looks a lot like this generation. Also, way to piss off gamers and sour journalists against your system by putting out a 2 hour dog and pony show with little substance. No look at the system, no specific release date, no set price point. Basically, all the games looked like something off a PC dev kit and there were tons of cinematics and little gameplay.

Basically, Microsoft can rather easily grab a lead in the next gen race with a presentation that is less flair and more fact. And also, show us the damn system.

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Matt Kindt is the creator of Mind MGMT, a mind bending monthly comic book from Dark Horse. Here, we talk to Kindt about his role on Ridley Scott‘s recently announced adaptation, having a set end for his opus,whether he’ll tie up loose ends, what is and isn’t real, the rumors that he might take the baton from Geoff Johns on DC’s Green Lantern book, and more.

Matt Kindt gets into your head after the jump.

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Someone get Jeff Anderson to sign a fucking contract before Kevin Smith convinces himself that what the people really want Clerks 3 to be, is a silent movie, like The Artist, but with pantomime dick jokes.

Smith went on What’s Trending? to discuss the future of television and in the middle of the discussion, he was asked about bringing Clerks 3 to the web, something Smith said he had considered in an effort to, essentially, make the project interesting to him.

Smith also talked about a Broadway play (Fun Fact: the word cocksmoker hasn’t been uttered in a Broadway theater since the time I went to see Cats and found out that an understudy was playing Grizabella), but he said that that notion had been abandoned when he found out that doing a limited run on Broadway would be cost ineffective.

A book that won’t be titled, “The Ass to Mouth Diaries”, was also mentioned, with Smith saying he wants such a project to precede the possible third Clerks film and come out on a chapter by chapter basis so that the work can evolve with the assistance of fan feedback.

Why a book? Apparently, Smith would like to go deeper into these character’s lives so he can tell their origin story and seek value in their concentric monotony. Also, money.

I’m just guessing on that last part, but think of how many dependents this man has. Feeding them has to cost money. Not podcasting money. Real money.

Honestly, I like Smith and I love Clerks, but at some point the man is going to have to stop talking and get to work. Also, this is the second straight appearance without his trademark hockey jersey. I am getting concerned.

Here’s the video from What’s Trending?, the chat about Clerks begins at around the 13 minute mark.

Source: Slash Film

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Death is in everything that Batman does.

The fire of his existence, of his endless crusade, was sparked in an alley with the death of his parents and fed by the loss of Jason Todd all those years ago.

Even now, in this new 52, death hangs in the air with the conclusion of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s “Death of the Family” event, as the question is asked: why hasn’t Batman killed the Joker? (more…)

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I don’t know why they didn’t call this episode “Broken”, because both sides of the divide are clearly in a state of disarray following the first real dance of combat and bloodshed between Woodbury and Team Rick.

For the Governor, he’s merely mopey and withdrawn thanks to the death of his zom-daughter, his missing eye, and the invasion by the Rickers, an attack that has spooked Woodbury’s supply of sheeple into trying to jump out of the frying pan and into the zombie filled oven.

For Rick, it’s much worse. He’s seeing ghosts, Oscar is dead, Michonne has splintered off from the group to destroy the Governor’s aquarium, and Daryl ran off and got caught, forcing Rick and Maggie to rescue him and his brother. Something that might have been a bit more exciting had the promos not completely blown that for us.

Of course, the central conflicts this episode aren’t between Rick and the Governor. They’ve backed off that a bit to show the repercussions from “Made to Suffer” and to show the similarities between these two leaders who have been made anew by the awful transformation of the world. Two leaders who have put too much on their shoulders.

This time around, the big conflict is between Rick and himself as he struggles to keep it together while seeing more ghosts, driving away Daryl (who chooses Merle), and keeping his distance from Michonne and Tyrese — warriors who could be vital for the coming firefight with the Woodbury folk that is likely brewing.

Now, I can’t speak to how far down the rabbit hole the show plans to take Rick before his inevitable resurrection, but I welcome the change, provided that  the show can deliver some consistency — something they have struggled with before. Rick has endured too much to not experience a break like this, and if Rick is down, they need to let him stay down for awhile while Glenn and Hershel take the reigns in the name of showing us something different.

Best:

- As always, Melissa McBride steals every scene that she is in. Her bond with Daryl has always been sweet and obvious since last season, but after she processes Daryl’s departure, her remarks about the similarities between her and Daryl as abused people and her fears about what she would do if she saw her husband again hit the right note. Carol is quickly becoming my favorite character on the show, which means she’ll be dead by next week.

- Darryl grabbing the crossbow. Nuff said.

- Rick silencing Merle. It bordered on slapstick humor, but it was a nice throwback to season 1.

Worst:

- Andrea’s speech to the Woodburyians. These people barely know her and she’s supposed to quell an uprising based on fear and the sudden disappearance of their leader with 30 seconds of oratorical empty calories? More than a bit ridiculous. “When they write about this…” good lord…

- Ghost Lori/Wolverine Shane/The telephone. I love the phone device in the comic and I was thrilled when they brought it into the show, but the further they take this, I almost wish that Rick’s insanity were allowed to manifest itself with only his actions, rather than these big, “Now Entering Crazyburgh” signs. Lori was just another example of that, though I’m glad they did it right and brought back Sarah Wayne Callies — even if we couldn’t really see her.

- This isn’t about the show so much as it’s about the promos. I know AMC has to try and get eyes on the show, but they’ve got to strike a balance and preserve some of the shock factor for viewers by not blowing big reveals in their previews.

- Though I should expect nothing less, I really thought there might be some humanity from Merle upon being rescued. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I’m also surprised that there wasn’t more of a conflict between Merle and Rick. Producers went down the middle instead of delivering either of these extremes, and the end result was a profane jackass that foolishly left behind an offer of shelter to go it alone with Daryl.

Overall, I give “The Suicide Kings” a 3 out of 5. Coulda done it better, but at least it wasn’t just a bunch of mindless violence and worthless character culling.

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I feel like I just got socks for Christmas. After waiting and waiting and waiting for October 19th, it finally came tonight — albeit 3 and a half months too late — and new showrunners David Guarascio and Moses Port did disappoint, delivering the AT&T of Community episodes.

They Britta’d it people, throwing a garbage pale full of pop culture crumbs at the screen in an effort to Harmon-ize the show. Honestly, I’m really glad that Guarascio and Port probably spent a weekend watching season 3 on Hulu a couple of days before they made this episode, but did they have to try and make this feel like a tribute collage?

There are movie references (The Hunger Games, an utter failure and inexplicably absent any mention of Starburns’ nefarious facial hair. Inexcusable.), an animated Muppet Babies segment, a mockery of laugh track sitcoms (at least, I think it was supposed to be mockery), and a well deserved attack on chunky glasses, because the show runners decided that they must die, even though they make girls look 9% hotter and they really pull my look together.

As for the viewer response, from what I saw on Twitter during the show, it was mixed. Some superfans seemed to take pleasure in seeing these characters again, but others were underwhelmed.

I feel bad for the superfans. I’ve come to “know” some of them online, a great group who worked tirelessly setting up flashmobs and other events like Communicon. These people have become a well-meaning cult that worships this show, and I mean that in the best sense, not the sense that implies some sort of mental defect. Frankly, they deserved better.

Personally, I think it was a poor imitation of a Community episode, and while imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the flattery part falls short when someone is living in your house, wearing your clothes, and trying to be you. And while I’ve finally accepted that Dan Harmon’s Community is dead, I do believe that this show can still live and be worthwhile if the producers stop trying to court fans with awkward poses and instead, try to make them laugh and put out a good TV show.

Right now though, I am skeptical that they’ll have the guts to push this show away from it’s comfort zone, even though episode 1 of this unfortunate experiment seems to indicate that they really can’t find that comfort zone with a flashlight, a map, and ample prayer.

It’s simple, Community gained attention for the impossibly intelligent way that it spoofed pop culture, but in the first episode of a new era, the show went unintentionally meta and spoofed it’s past self in the most in-artful way. So far, this is #ThreeSeasonsAndACatastrophe

Best:

- Um… everyone looked like they took care of themselves over the hiatus. That’s good, right?

- It was only 22 minutes long.

- Dan Harmon is working on 3 new TV shows.

Worst:

- The end bit with Troy and Abed in drag made me contort my face and understand that this is the darkest timeline.

-Catatonic Abed was criminal and showed that the producers don’t get the magic of a character that is — arguably — the most important character on the show. This episode was written by Andy Bobrow, who also wrote “Basic Rocket Science” and “Pillows and Blankets”, proving that either he had a really bad week, or that Bobrow without Harmon is as worthless as saltines without Orangina. I really like Orangina. Harmon is Orangina, because that fizzy citrus drink makes everything better. I just killed this analogy, y’all.

- Dean Pelton and Jeff as almost-roomies. Hilarity shall not ensue.

Be sure to look out for this weeks episode of The Bastardcast, where I and Jeremy R! Hudson further examine this week’s episode of Community. 

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Under Dan Harmon, Community existed to poke normality in the eye, embrace the weird, and pay tribute to and/or mock… well, nearly every meaningful shred of the pop culture swaddling cloth, but now that he’s out, the show is in-arguably heading into a different era. Good or bad (so far, bad), the show will be different in some way, and so, as October 19th occurs across the globe and as Community returns in an effort to fullfill the promise of #SixSeasonsAndAMovie, we thought it would be best to name our top 7 episodes of Community, a task that was incredibly hard due to all the fantastic candidates.

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So, Marvel has found it’s Peter Quill, but if I tell you who it is in these first few sentences, you will totally see the reveal in the excerpt on the front page of the site or on our Facebook page and then you won’t click the article. We want you to click our articles. We need you to click our articles, so really, this part is just filler because I will be damned if I’m going to give you this information for free without extracting a page hit out of you! (more…)

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With reports that Sony will debut the PS4 in three weeks and with a possible holiday release on the table, the next generation has begun. Soon, Microsoft will follow with their Xbox 360 follow-up and Nintendo will sit there, their latest system not even a year old, their gamble foolish from the start.

A few years ago, when the Wii pioneered motion gaming — making it a must have system for casual gamers, families, and a lot of people who had never before owned a console before — it seemed like they could do no wrong.

Back then, the mobile gaming market wasn’t dominated by smartphones and tablets. Back then, Sony and Microsoft got caught on their heels, fighting a war over half the available market.

Then, back then ended. Android and Apple seized the mobile market and Sony and Microsoft eventually lowered their prices, marketed their systems as home entertainment hubs that could do things that the Wii could not, and then they entered the motion gaming market as well, with the Move and the Kinect, robbing Nintendo of the one thing that made them unique.

What makes them unique now? Their lack of foresight, and their pending irrelevancy.

See, when Sony and Microsoft had Nintendo beat, the House of Mario doubled down and brought a new system to market, even as it’s peers were writing off this generation and preparing to move into the future.

Will that system, the Wii U, be able to stand in against competition that will surely have them beat in every facet of the game? All signs point to no.

The End. 

Companies die. It’s a sad thing because it means jobs and legacies vanish, but Atari just filed for bankruptcy, and Sega abandoned the console game years ago, fully aware that smaller companies cannot compete in the console wars against companies like Sony and now Microsoft — a lesson that Nintendo is now learning more fully.

Why am I so confident that the end is near for Nintendo, the home of NES and Gameboy, one of the industries’ forefathers?

I’m confident because they’re already beginning to erode, even before the next Sony and Microsoft system hit the market. From a report on Forbes.com:

Nintendo cut sales forecasts for all of its hardware and software today, most notably the Wii U. The company slashed shipping estimates on the Wii U from 5.5 million to 4, and software estimates from 24 million to 16.

The article goes on to say that, despite a profitable holiday season quarter, that Nintendo still suffered an annual loss last year. Again, this is in the last days of disco for an ending generation, and Nintendo couldn’t even live up to their own expectations with it’s new, shiny product (with current gen performance capabilities) that they are now locked into.

What about the DS and the 3DS? According to TGDaily:

The company also cut forecasts for its other consoles. 3DS sales are now likely to be 15 million by March – 14 percent fewer than predicted – with DS sales down eight percent on their forecast at 2.3 million.

Now, I don’t want to sound like I’m eager to dance on Nintendo’s grave. I grew up with an NES in my living room and adored the N64, but the past is the past and Nintendo’s corporate overlords have demonstrated a lack of vision and painful ineptitude when it comes to reading their own marketplace.

Who is the Wii U for anyway? As I said, motion gaming is now available on every system, so they have no edge there. What about hardcore gamers? Turns out they require top-line graphics and strong third party developer support — things that the Wii U doesn’t provide. Home entertainment fans? The Wii U doesn’t have a Blu Ray player. Budget conscious shoppers? You can buy a 500 gig PS3, with the Blu Ray player for the same price as a base model Wii U with only 8 gigs, and that doesn’t even count the cost of an extra tablet controller.

Is Nintendo pondering a price cut to try and gain a foothold? No, their doubling down on their failures once again.

Like I said, I don’t want Nintendo to fail, but they’re handheld products are equaled by other multi-functional products that are viewed as essential by most consumers, something that renders their products in-essential. Furthermore, they released an overpriced, under-performing, awkward to use console that doesn’t meet the demands of the average consumer, a consumer whose expectations are set to rise when Sony and Microsoft announce their new products, products that I imagine will one day host Mario and other Nintendo properties as the company stumbles down the same ravine that Sega did.

It didn’t have to be like this. The future was plowing toward the station and instead of waiting, Nintendo jumped too early and fell right onto the tracks.

They could have strived for innovation, they could have aimed for a niche, any niche, but instead, they relied on the strength of brand loyalty and the assumption that Wii owners would rejoice over backwards compatible peripherals, and everyone else would wait for the system to offer a healthy library of games.

Sadly though, the market doesn’t wait, and now Nintendo’s window has closed and they are a cautionary tale.

Game Over.

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