Power Rangers
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Japanese TV shows that inspired 'Power Rangers' are coming to YouTube
Many millennials grew up watching Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and the similar shows that followed in its popularity, but they most likely have never seen the source material from Japan that was used to create the action-heavy battle scenes. TOEI -- the studio behind many of those shows -- wants to change that. The company will upload subtitled versions of classic special effects shows to its new YouTube channel, TOEI Tokusatsu World Official, starting on April 6th. The channel will feature tokusatsu -- sci-fi shows that rely on miniature models, special effects shots and over-the-top costumes -- that were adapted by western studios, such as Himitsu Sentai Gorenger and Space Cop Gavan, as well as other classics like National Kid and Combattler V.
Chroma Squad dev discussing ultimatum with Power Rangers owner [Update]
Chroma Squad developer Behold Games added a backers-only update to its Kickstarter page yesterday informing the game's funders that it is negotiating a royalty-share deal with Power Rangers owner Saban. According to the update, Saban contacted Behold Games about Chroma Squad and found the game was too similar to the Power Rangers brand, agreeing to either split the game's royalties or go to court to ensure the game would not launch. As Behold Games told Joystiq via email, the developer opted to "make a win-win negotiation" by discussing terms with Saban, though it did not note how royalties from the game's sales would split between the two parties, should they come to an agreement. The developer also stressed in its Kickstarter update that Chroma Squad "is inspired by something much broader than Power Rangers. We're talking about an amazing Sentai culture that is mostly Japanese, but got even bigger with fans from around the world."
Barely Related: Power Rangers film, Gotham trailer
Ah, Friday. Welcome to Barely Related, a conversational Friday column that presents the non-gaming news stories that we, the Joystiq staff, have been talking about over the past week. And no, we're not stopping our focus on industry and gaming news. Think of this as your casual weekly recap of interesting (and mostly geeky) news, presented just in time to fill your brain with things to discuss at all of those weekend shindigs. Grab a fresh drink, lean back in your armchair, and get ready to talk nerdy with us.
Power Rangers Megaforce game morphs with 3DS this fall
Power Rangers Megaforce is taking on the 3DS this fall in North and Latin America, as a side-scrolling action game from Namco Bandai. Players pick a favorite Megaforce Ranger to embody, and with help from the remaining team, they defend the Earth from the Warstar aliens. Yes, you'll be able to from Megazords.Players will be able to scan in official Morpher Cards for power-ups in the game, and they can take photos of themselves to transform on-screen into their favorite Rangers.Power Rangers Megaforce, the TV show, is the current and 20th season of the Power Rangers series, which first aired in the US on August 28, 1993, with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. That's right, 20 years ago. Namco Bandai has been in charge of some mighty fine Power Rangers games in the past, so here's hoping this one doesn't make us feel too old is just as good.
WoW Moviewatch: Power Rangers: Empress
I wasn't sure what to expect from Power Rangers: Empress. I kind of expected a raid video and you never know what you're going to get with that kind of thing. And then I pressed Play. I pressed Play and I leapt out of my chair and screamed, "Oh my gosh!" I then ran to my fellow coworkers, shrieking, "You must watch this right now." Stop reading this and watch the opening. Have the volume on. Come back when you're done. I know, right? Isn't that awesome? And while the last few minutes are a relatively standard raid video, they more than deserve us watching them kill a boss after that incredible opening. I really hope Mighty Morphin' Fifth Element becomes a thing. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
Power Rangers Online holds open beta event
It's been quite some time since we last heard anything about the mighty Power Rangers Online, but apparently it's made significant progress since then. According to the game's site, Power Rangers Online is currently hosting an open beta event in Asia until January 2nd. Unfortunately, it's a little difficult to translate the page for more details, as it's one large graphic. Still, it looks as though there are product tie-ins and special rewards for those participating. [Thanks to Antonio for the tip!]
Attention 20-something adultolescents: Power Rangers Online is a thing
The amount of nostalgic, nigh-shameful glee we have for the Power Rangers series could fill several extended volumes, fully annotated with diagrams and bibliographies and everything. We're even into the obscure pre-Saiban Power Rangers from the 70's, like Battle Fever J (natch) and Himitsu Sentai Gorenger. We ain't no spring flowers, though, and as the steady march of time takes us ever closer to our graves, so too do the Power Rangers march forward into a new century. Part of that march, it turns out, takes the Mystic Force rangers straight through MMO town: South Korean golfing MMO developer Ntreev Soft is in the process of beta testing Power Rangers Online, a side-scrolling beat-em-up MMO staring our favorite teenagers with attitude. Much like the SNES Power Rangers games of yore, players start out as normal teens at the beginning of the stage, mightily morphin' into Rangers halfway through each level. Only the Red, Pink and Yellow Mystic Rangers are playable at the moment, however the Mystic Force continuity has at least 7 rangers total to pull from, should more characters be added. We didn't even have to look that last part up, which should probably worry us beyond all measure. Oh well!
Go go Power Rangers Online! For real!
Because we miss the '90s and the wonderful fads that it introduced to our culture, Korean developer Ntreev has announced the return of the fabled Power Rangers -- this time in MMO form. Officially unveiled on Friday in Seoul, Power Rangers Online is prepping for its first Korean closed beta, which should begin November 3rd with extremely limited numbers. The game is designed to be a side-scrolling action MMO based on the Power Rangers Mystic Force series. Player will make their own unique character but choose an iconic color (i.e., "class") from the show. As they level up, players can outfit their characters with gear other than the Power Rangers classic spandex-slash-biker motif. So far the beta consists of two "acts" with 14 stages and storytelling comic book-style sequences. If you're fully secure in who you are and have no compunctions about friends and family members questioning your viewing habits, you can look at some of the first screenshots in the gallery below and watch the teaser trailer after the jump! %Gallery-137937%
Fossil's Meta Watch passes the FCC, your magic wristwatch fantasies are about to come true
Fossil's Meta Watch has been beset with delays and defective parts but finally there's good news -- the watches have passed the FCC. The two models (analog and digital) can sync with your Android smartphone or tablet via a Texas Instruments CC2560 Bluetooth controller and are being sold as a "development platform" until enough apps are built to take advantage of the technology. T.I.'s website lists the watches as being available since August 22nd, although we're not entirely sure what to make of that -- it still looks like a pre-order situation to us. In any case, the devices should hopefully start reaching app developers pretty soon. Hey, how about using the internal gyroscopes to bring some genuine wrist-flapping action to Angry Birds? Update: TI's website is now listing the watch with a September 29th availability date. [Thanks, Imdad]
Namco Bandai signs long-term Power Rangers licensing deal
Say what you will about the decidedly kid-oriented Power Rangers franchise, but it's made for some pretty enjoyable beat-em-up video games in console generations past. Hence our interest in Namco Bandai's recent decision to renew its partnership with Saban Brands to start making games based on the Mighty Morphin heroes once again. According to Eurogamer, this collaboration was made possible by Saban's recent move to re-acquire the Power Rangers IP from Disney, which has owned the rights to the franchise since 2001, and has used it to launch like, a zillion spin-off series. We hope any games Namco Bandai creates under the partnership focuses on the original crew. You know, Zack, Kimberly, Trini ... the Red one, and ... the nerdy one. Also, the insufferable robot.
The Queue: Zordon, no!
Welcome back to The Queue, WoW Insider's daily Q&A column where the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Alex Ziebart will be your host today.A lot of people were confused about the picture I used in The Queue a couple of days ago. You know, the one with the German writing on it. That edition of The Queue was titled Mercenaries, and the person depicted in that picture was Götz von Berlichingen, a German mercenary from the early 1500s. He literally had an Iron Fist. As in, his hand was crafted out of iron. Go read up on him, he rules.idkanything asked..."A question on guild leadership. Our guild leader has decided to stop playing WoW but he didn't transfer the guild to someone else before he left. (It's a long, not very exciting story.) We don't want to just disband and reform under a different name because of the gold in the gbank. Does anyone know the procedure for getting the guild transferred to another person? Is there a certain amount of time that has to pass?"
Power Rangers-esque heroes promote DJ Max
Insert your own hilarious caption here! Aren't promotions supposed to entice buyers? This recent Korean promotion of DJ Max Portable 2 features people dressed up in Power Rangers-esque outfits, begging onlookers to purchase the newest Korean music sensation. I don't know about you, but the very sight would have me running away in terror, shivering in a corner somewhere. Supposedly, these characters are in the game, but that certainly doesn't make this any less creepy.Video, embedded after the break. More pictures of the event can be found at Ruliweb.[Via PSP-Vault]
Apple adds several new TV shows to iTunes
Attention, Law and Order fans: Special Victims Unit [iTunes link] and Criminal Intent [iTunes link] have just received season passes. New to the iTMS today are several Jetix shows [iTunes link], including Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Power Rangers: Mystic Force and Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go (there's a sentence I couldn't have made up if I tried). There's also a free episode of the Andy Milonakis Show [iTunes link] as well as Little Einsteins for the kiddies [iTunes link].
