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The origin of Justiciar
It's time for a new superhero spotlight in the Champions Online universe. This time we get to learn about Justiciar, the Canadian cybernetic crime-fighter who leads the Toronto-based super team, StarForce. We always love a good technology-based super hero (and with the box office success of Iron Man there are probably some recent converts) so it's really nice to see the artwork for Justiciar look turn out so well.Don't miss out on the one-page origin comic, either. It may be short but there's a certain amount of coolness to the presentation. We really would love to see our own characters in Champions Online presented in such a way after creating them, but something like that would probably take quite a bit of development time. Oh well, we're sure there's going to be plenty of super-heroics in our futures to come!
WiiMan is a human Wiimote
While we're not adverse to posting completely kickass examples of cosplay, sometimes the hobby makes us speechless for all the wrong reasons. Take, for example, WiiMan -- the white fabric-clad manboy, with a Wiimote decal on the front of his costume. Oh, and let's not forget the cape.One cool thing about Wiiman, though, is that the Wiimote on his costume is wired to work like an actual Wiimote. Of course, that's one of those things that sounds better in theory than in practice, because feeling up some guy in a superhero costume (or watching him feel up himself) while playing Wii is something we tend to avoid.Still, we admire WiiMan's dedication. It's not everyday you see a man dressed as a functioning Wiimote, amirite?(Note: We know some circles won't consider this as official cosplay, but it's close enough for our standards.)[Via Gemaga]
WiiMan Superhero: what we all should aspire to be
Okay, so maybe millions of Wii-costumed individuals running around wouldn't be ideal, but the idea at least sparks up a modicum of hilariousness, yeah? The person you see above, dear readers, is WiiMan Superhero. Fully equipped and ever-ready to address any Wii-related issues and / or injuries that you may be enduring. Best of all, this suit (a GarageGeeks project) does way more than make a boy a man -- it acts as a fully functional Wiimote, complete with built-in Bluetooth, accelerometers, and an IR cam. Check out a few more shots in the read link, and be sure to bow as you enter.[Thanks, Rafael]
Paragon City: All But Child-Free
There seem to be two children in all of Paragon City, and their names are Penny and Jimmy Preston. If you don't already know Penny, she's a mutant 'store' contact in Founder's Falls. Okay, there aren't any schools for kids to go to, even if one of the Westin Phipps villain missions does have you destroying a shipment of schoolbooks. But what strange side-effect of the Rikti Invasion has apparently concealed all of Paragon's other children from view?Super-powered kids are a comic book staple. The Marvel Power Pack is the best known, but super children have been showing up in comics ever since the infant Kal-El revealed his Kryptonian nature. So why aren't there any in Paragon, except for the Prestons? (Baby New Year doesn't count. That bizarre little anthropomorphic personification is a law unto himself.)
Meet Champions Online's art development director
For the past few week's we've been receiving these intriguing interviews with members of the Cryptic staff who are working on Champions Online. So far, it's been an interesting month, as each week we've gotten a look into the varying madness of each team member -- in a good way. This week's interview with Cryptic Studios' art development director Shayne Herrera is especially fun to read through, as Shayne seems like the goofy-fun kind of guy everyone has a blast hanging around. We take it as a good sign that the guy in charge of CO's art development has a sense of humor -- it explains the game's rather bright and cheery color scheme a bit.If this is your first time seeing one of these developer profiles, make sure to check up on the last three we've spotlighted as they're also quick, interesting reads.
4-player arcade game with 'well known' superheroes in the works
We know what you're thinking, because honestly we're thinking the same thing. Who goes to arcades anymore, right? Apparently there's still some life in the old girl, at least according to hardware and software developer Signature Devices, which just sent word that it has put the final touches on a new 4-player arcade game that "will include several well known comic book and television superheroes." The company has left us guessing as to what characters exactly will be included, stating only that players will take control of "earth's mightiest heroes" in co-op style gameplay, leaving us to wonder if we'll be dropping quarters to play as Superman or the Wonder Pets. Either way, as we remember how much fun we had playing Captain America and the Avengers in the 90's, this news already has us scrounging through couch cushions for loose change.
TurpsterVision: An Episode of Great Impotence
Every Tuesday think "T" for Turpster and take the "a" in "day", capitalise it, remove the little bit in the middle, turn it upside down and you get a "V". Put the two together and you'll have TV for TurpsterVision -- the best Internet video podcast on Massively! (Never mind that business about it being the only video podcast on Massively...)It's that time of the week again folks! For some people out there they have been going through withdraw symptoms since my absence on this week's WoW Insider Show. Have no fear, for Super Turpster is here! I have tried to make it up to you guys, even though my schedule is whooping my butt. Thanks to all the folks from last week who voted Bard, you all win a "Turpster-Patented-Internet-High-Five".I find it very tough in this job to ever be fair to an MMO; I only get a week to play it and produce the review. It's always tough to get a sense of how fantastic it is past the starting zone. That in mind, I do urge all of you out there to try every MMO you can get your hands on. There is so much more out there than just World of Warcraft (Blasphemy I hear you scream!) Then again on Massively I feel like I am preaching to the choir!Enjoy the show this week; it was a close shave getting it up in time...in more ways than one! (Join us after the break to find out if Turpster is really allowed to make such horrid innuendo.)
Mysterious Mysteries: Arakkoa superhero, or druid in disguise?
Refugees dwelling in the Bone Wastes not far from the blasted ruin of Auchindoun have reported seeing a bird-man Arakkoa soaring through the sky! Kirrik the Awakened at the refugee caravan gave a speech today regarding the momentous significance of this sighting: "This is none other than Superarakkoa, the prophesied super-hero of the Arakkoa, come to reform the Arakkoa people and finally get our caravan moving again!" Superarakkoa is widely known among Arakkoa to be the invincible savior of "Truth, Justice, and the Arakkoa Way," only vulnerable to the deadly "dark crystals" or "Thraptonite," from the mythical planet of Thra.A night elf standing nearby said that the superhero is a hoax. This elf, named Jared, claims to know the hero's secret: "There is a quest for the Skyguard called 'A Shabby Disguise' in which you disguise yourself as an Arakkoa to buy a book from some guy. Well, I discovered that Druids can use their forms while in this disguise and it doesnt change their appearance." Showing us pictures he himself took of the hero (Superarakkoa's personal photographer, apparently), he claimed that the druid in question tried using his epic flight form while disguised, and was thereby able to fly about looking like an Arakkoa. "The disguise can only be used in Terokkar," he said, "but I still think it is a neat trick."Many thanks to our reader Jared for providing us with the inside scoop on this mystery! We wonder who Superarakkoa's secret identity is... but while we investigate that, what other mysterious uses have you adventurers found for other quests and disguises?
Today's most Hero(es)ic game video: Heavenly Sword on NBC's 'Heroes'
Tonight's episode of Heroes on NBC opens with Micah and Niki/Jessica playing Heavenly Sword on the PlayStation 3. Apparently one of Micah's other tech-based powers is the ability to play unreleased video games. That would actually be a pretty sweet ability to have. Of course, talk about getting no work done as a result. Like us rushing to get this post to you before the show even airs. We read your minds, a la Matt Parkman, and knew you'd want to see this early.Is there also some sort of a hint or clue buried in the game title? Hiro is desperately trying to get his hands on that special samurai sword that he thinks will let him access his powers once again. Of course in the game Heavenly Sword, the title weapon is the game. According to an IGN interview with the developer Ninja Theory, "The story revolves around an ancient sword, the Heavenly Sword, which belonged to a deity and can never be wielded by a mortal without destroying them ... but as the sword is not meant for her, it sucks away her life force. So you begin the game with only a few hours left to live and have to fulfill this one last mission before the sword finally takes your life. But until that day arrives, Nariko's fighting skills rock."Also, Gollum/King Kong/Nikola Tesla's assistant Andy Serkis will be playing villainous King Botan in this game. Is there any sort of connection here? We'd love to see Serkis on heroes. His power would be to make you feel slightly uncormfortable. Very interesting, NBC. Verrrrrrrrry interesting.
Metareview - Marvel Ultimate Alliance
The ongoing debate over which superhero universe reigns supreme may never be settled, but Marvel Comics is looking like the clear winner in the gaming space with Activision's release of Marvel Ultimate Alliance. There's no Incredible Hulk (he's in Vivendi's game), but just about everyone else from the House of Ideas makes an appearance, which amounts to at least 20 playable characters on each platform. Where Ultimate Alliance really shines over Justice League Heroes is in the stronger focus on teamwork, not to mention a more impressive cast of villains. <Your team name here>, assemble! Game Informer (93/100) likes the new transparent rejuvenation system: "In this game, you no longer need to stock potions. When an enemy is slain, there's a chance that the fallen will gift you with a cluster of healing orbs that automatically zoom to your character. This change not only removes the clunky system of healing, it makes you feel more like a hero. Your focus is always on the battlefield, not a meter." GamePro (90/100) appreciates the challenging enemy AI: "The major boss battles are head and shoulders above anything you've seen in the past. The roster of villains changes with such frequency that you never get a chance to get sick of them. Stronger ones boast talents like healing and immunity to certain attacks, while others carry shields that force your active crew of four to work as a team." TeamXbox (88/100) was dazzled by the production quality: "The opening cinematic by Blur Studios is perhaps the finest I have witnessed in a videogame...but it's worth mentioning that the in-game footage cut scenes by Raven are no slouches either. Raven's in-game work is really nice too. Characters all have that comic book look, but have been updated to have their own edge. The backgrounds are just as sweet, flexing a bunch of post-production effects and lots of animations."
