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A quartet of new novels will fill in the story between Mass Effect 3 and Andromeda
EA and BioWare will help produce a quartet of novels that will bridge the gap between the events of Mass Effect 3, and those of its upcoming sequel, Mass Effect: Andromeda.
The novels were outed by a “Rights Guide” from Titan Books, and the first, Mass Effect Andromeda: Initiation, will be written by N.K. Jemisin and released this August. Jemisin is an award-winning fantasy author, and her first novel, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, was nominated for a Hugo, a Nebula, and a World Fantasy Award.
Titan plans to sell the novel series to readers by promising to “answer the many questions fans have been asking”:
While earlier Mass Effect games focused on the defense of the Milky Way galaxy, with humans pitted against a race of ruthless mechanical invaders known as the Reapers, the new story will take the game in a dramatic new direction and is set in a new region of space, with a new and deadly enemy.
The novels will act as prequel and sequels to the events in the games and will become part of the overarching Mass Effect saga. They will focus on key characters and answer the many questions fans have been asking.
The series will continue with Novel 2 in March 2017 and Novel 3 in September 2017, though an author wasn’t announced for either book. The concluding volume, Novel 4, will be written by BioWare’s Mac Walters, and will be published in March 2018.
Vans releases their Nintendo-themed shoe and clothing line
As a plumber, Mario usually wears work shoes, but if you’re in the market for some athletic footwear, Vans and Nintendo have announced that their “Vans X Nintendo” collaboration is now available in stores and online.
More than just fancy sneakers, the “Vans X Nintendo” collection will also include Nintendo-themed t-shirts, backpacks, bags, socks, and hats.
The shoes and clothing from the “Vans X Nintendo” collection will feature 8-bit artwork from a quartet of classic titles (Super Mario Bros., Duck Hunt, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda), as well as apparel adorned with the iconic NES design.
Head over to Vans.com/Nintendo now to browse the entire collection.
Posted in Etcetera, News, Retro
Tagged Donkey Kong, Duck Hunt, Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda
Shovel Knight is getting a series of tie-in kids books this January
Shovel Knight lives by the Codes of Shovelry, and the teachings of this ancient art helped him topple the Order of No Quarter in Yacht Club’s excellent side-scrolling platformer of the same name. Capturing the hearts and minds of nostalgic gamers everywhere after his 2014 debut, Shovel Knight will take on his greatest challenge next year… the Children’s Literature section of your local bookstore.
Yacht Club Games has partnered with Grosset & Dunlap to publish a series of Shovel Knight-themed books targeted at kids 8-12 years old. The four books announced so far include:
- Shovel Knight Guidebook, a 176-page strategy guide that includes all of Shovel Knight’s secrets and tips to defeat the Order of No Quarter.
- Shovel Knight: Codes of Shovelry Handbook, which will teach readers more about the characters from the game, “as well as tips for enhanced gameplay.”
- Shovel Knight: Digger’s Diary, a journal filled with “fun activities, challenging mazes and puzzles, and writing prompts.”
- Shovel Knight Mad Libs, which promises 21 silly stories from the world of Shovel Knight.
Yacht Club expects to release Shovel Knight’s final two expansions by the end of the year, which nicely matches up with the January 10, 2017 release date for the game’s first four tie-in books.
Tetris: The Movie is a “sci-fi thriller” that’s the first in a trilogy
Nearly two years ago, the producer of Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Lawrence Kasanoff, surprised the world by saying he was going to turn Tetris into a blockbuster film franchise. We all had a good laugh at the sheer absurdity of an action movie starring animatronic Tetris pieces and then we forgot about it. But Kasanoff didn’t forget, and he was just biding his time until a group of investors decided to drop a bag of cash into his lap.
According to a report on Deadline, Kasanoff’s Threshold Entertainment has partnered with Bruno Wu of Seven Star Works to produce Tetris: The Movie. The $80 million film will be shot in China and other locations with a predominantly Chinese cast, though Kasanoff said he makes “world movies for the world market.”
So how do you make a movie out of Tetris? Beats me, but Kasanoff said he has that part figured out too. Tetris: The Movie will be a “sci-fi thriller,” and also, “the first in a trilogy.” It’s an ambitious plan, and while I can’t wrap my head around the idea of Tetris as a sci-fi thriller, maybe Kasanoff has an elusive line piece in his back pocket.
Meanwhile, director Brett Ratner is continuing to work on his biographical film about the life of Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov. It’s currently without a release date, but maybe we’ll have another Armageddon/Deep Impact situation on our hands.
Mario Goes Hollywood (Again): Nintendo wants to get into the filmmaking business
Nintendo disappointed a lot of people last year when they shot down rumors that The Legend of Zelda was being adapted into a gritty Game of Thrones-like series for Netflix. But the dream didn’t totally die, and Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima recently told Asahi Shimbun that the company wants to get into the filmmaking business.
Rather than license their characters out to a third party production company, Kimishima told the Japanese newspaper that Nintendo is looking for a partner and wants to do as much as they can by themselves. It’s likely that Nintendo’s hands-on approach is a direct response to the absolutely bonkers film adaptation of Super Mario Bros. from 1993. I guess turning the Mushroom Kingdom into Blade Runner‘s Los Angeles still stings after all these years.
Nintendo’s President also told Asahi Shimbun that they’d like to release their first movie within two-to-three years, though it’s unknown which of the consolemaker’s many properties will be adapted. What we do know is that it’ll probably be an animated feature, though that’s not set in stone either.
Yo-Kai Watch 2 will be released in North America on September 30
The Yo-Kai are getting ready for their second American invasion, because the mischievous spirits at the center of Level-5’s Yo-Kai Watch series will make an encore appearance on the 3DS this Fall in Yo-Kai Watch 2. Set to launch on September 30, Yo-Kai Watch 2 will be available in two versions (Bony Spirits and Fleshy Souls) and add more than 100 new Yo-Kai to the game’s universe:
Already a huge hit in Japan, the sequel to the first smash hit, which is once again developed by Level-5, offers the same deep RPG gameplay and wacky adventures as the first game. The new adventure also offers many new areas to explore outside of Springdale, more than 100 new Yo-kai, a new-and-improved in-game Yo-Kai Watch and even the ability to travel back in time! Yo-Kai Watch 2 will also launch with two versions, Yo-Kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits and Yo-Kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls, each featuring rare Yo-Kai that can only be found in their respective games.
Fans of the Yo-Kai Watch television series also have reason to be excited this morning, as Disney announced the second season will begin airing on Disney XD this Summer. And in case you missed it, you can catch up with the first season on Netflix.
Posted in 3DS, Etcetera, News
Tagged Yo-Kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits/Fleshy Souls
Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst’s theme song is “Warning Call” from Chvrches
“You can run for this skyline / Your eyes open wide.”
Getting a famous musician to do your game’s theme song is all the rage nowadays, which is why Karen O recently contributed “I Shall Rise” to Rise of the Tomb Raider and Florence + The Machine covered Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” for Final Fantasy XV.
Yesterday, we were treated to “Warning Call” from Chvrches, a brand new song from the Scottish band, and the theme song to the upcoming Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst.
“We were honored to be asked to contribute to the soundtrack for Mirror’s Edge Catalyst,” said Iain Cook, the band’s guitarist. “The sound of Chvrches’ music resonates with the minimalist sci-fi dystopia of the Mirror’s Edge world, and we feel that the song complements the drama, emotion and empowering themes of Faith’s story.”
Developed by DICE and published by EA, Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on June 7.
The first trailer for the Assassin’s Creed movie sneaks into view
Last year, Michael Fassbender (as Callum Lynch, the descendant of an Assassin know as Aguilar) and Marion Cotillard (as Sophia Rikkin, the leader of the Animus Project) lent their talents to Ubisoft as part of the upcoming Assassin’s Creed film adaptation. And now, Jimmy Kimmel has pulled back the curtain on the film’s first trailer. Eager viewers of Jimmy Kimmel Live! saw it yesterday, but the rest of us can watch right here.
Unlike most game-to-movie adaptations, Ubisoft was heavily involved in bringing Assassin’s Creed to the silver screen. Set during the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th century, Ubisoft is even planning to integrate Fassbender’s Aguilar (and the events of the film) into the franchise’s sprawling story.
Assassin’s Creed will open in theaters on December 21.
Posted in Etcetera, News
Tagged Assassin's Creed