Feature Category: Article

Remember when I started this column and I said that whoever signed 20th Century Fox would win the online streaming service war? No? Well that’s okay because both Netflix and LOVEFiLM signed a deal simultaneously it seems. Netflix are trickling out Fox titles and LOVEFiLM got excited and added about 25 all in one go. Although what they added was a lot of lesser known catalogue stuff like Best Laid Plans, Road to Perdition and Monkeybone. They have yet to add anything from the Die Hard, X-Men or Alien franchises but this must surely be forthcoming.

So now the last major player has signed a deal what happens now? Well Netflix is quickly becoming almost on par with the US service and with Hemlock Grove and Arrested Development shortly to make exclusive Netflix debuts they could have this sewn up but LOVEFiLM now has a certain brand loyalty and a more aggressive advertising campaign. We will see…

Paul (2011) – LOVEFiLM

All the ingredients were in place for this to be an absolute riot. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost were playing nerds, who go to comic con, end up looking for area 51 and get a hard living alien voiced by Seth Rogen along for the ride. Plus it was directed by Greg Mottola who was coming off both Superbad and Adventureland. For some reason though Paul just doesn’t quite work. It’s too long, too broad and not as funny as it should have been though there are some chuckles to be had. Seth Macfarlane did a similar thing with Ted last summer and produced a far better film.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012) – LOVEFiLM

The good news is that this is far better than the 2007 Mark Steven Johnson directed exercise in tedium. The bad news is it’s still not that great. Part of the problem with why it’s not that great is that they hired the hyperactive duo of Neveldine/Tyler to make the film and then don’t let them off the leash. There is very little of their hyperactive and kinetic style in evidence and the plot is a re-tread of the Terminator films. Had they let the pair bring their trademark craziness to the film then we could be talking about something special here but as it stands this is merely adequate Friday night entertainment.

Ultraviolet (1998) – LOVEFiLM

Joe Ahearne’s much loved and celebrated Channel 4 vampire series is now available on demand for everyone to catch up on what the fuss was about. Back in ‘98 The X-Files was still going strong and anything that aped the formula got a lot of attention. Ultraviolet was unique because it focussed on vampires and the squad of government agents who were assigned to control them. Dark and inventive, this is still essential viewing. The much talked about series two never happened and Ahearne instead gave us the inferior Apparitions and The Secret of Crickley Hall, although he did write the forthcoming Danny Boyle mind trip Trance which by all accounts is amazing.

Love (2011) – LOVEFiLM

Last year’s no budget sci-fi spectacular has been largely ignored by the masses and sniffed at by critics. Perhaps it’s the connection with emo group Angels and Airwaves or the finale that coasts too closely to 2001. Either way this film is now available for those of you who were cynical enough to give it a miss last year. If for nothing else this deserves your attention because of how good it looks and how far director William Eubank was able to let no money take him. Approach this with an open mind and it’s very rewarding. Trust me; Eubank is a name to watch.

The Hunger Games (2012) – Netflix

Last year’s young adult book series that got a megabucks franchise starter was The Hunger Games. This first film split opinion the way that the Twilight franchise did despite being almost completely different. Those that love the books pretty much loved the film and went back two or three times, those who know nothing of the books thought the film was a tedious re-tread of films like Battle Royale and The Running Man. I recognise the film has issues, some trimming in the first half would have gone a long way and some of the more horrific elements of the book are skirted over but I still think this a solid first step for what is to come. Perfect time to watch it too as Catching Fire is due in cinemas this November.

Species (1995) – Netflix

This film is so ‘90s it hurts, blending the H.R Giger influenced creature feature with the erotic thriller that was all the rage at the time. This is a film from a time when Michael Madsen was still thought of as being one of the next big leading men. So he and a cast including Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, Forest Whitaker and Marg Helgenberger chase around a babe played by Natasha Henstridge who is an alien bent on shagging and killing foolhardy men. It starts off well but soon descends into silliness and schlock and the creature work is poorly staged. Still a nostalgic film for some who remember the year this came out and how the VHS was passed around all your horny classmates.

Spaced (1999-2001) – LOVEFiLM

The place it all started for Pegg, Frost and Edgar Wright. The soft focus TV camera work may have aged the series somewhat but Spaced is still essential viewing for the awkward 20 something geek. At its core this is a straight sitcom about penniless youngsters struggling in London around the turn of the century but manages to mix things up with some serious nods to the genre and pop culture references all over the place and is endlessly rewatchable. Thankfully the US version of Spaced never came to pass but we did get the brilliant Community which owes Spaced a huge debt and has a very similar rabid fan base.

Black Mirror Series 1 (2011) – Netflix

If you enjoyed the recent second series and the feature with Charlie Brooker in the recent issue of Starburst then now you can enjoy the first series of Black Mirror on Netflix. The series is three short stories all about modern media and a dark reflection of our society. The first series presents three scarring and scary stories that you will never forget. The first episode is perhaps the strongest because of the controversy and will stay with you forever. The second is the more angry and sci-fi, presenting a world where everything is decided by a bunch of X-Factor style judges but the third is the best of all with Toby Kebbell playing a man who has recorded his entire existence. The quality was mostly upheld in the second series and this is some of the best writing currently on British TV. I hope this goes on long enough to actually change many of the things in society that it is commenting on.

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch (1982) – Netflix

For the third in the franchise, the producers abandoned the Michael Myers stalk and slash formula entirely and went with something different. The story is still set at Halloween and presents a world where a maniacal toy company owner intends to melt kid’s heads into piles of snakes using pagan magic, rubber masks and a TV signal that sets off the apocalypse. This truly does not belong in the Halloween series but is absolutely nightmarish and surreal and, if you saw it young enough, most likely an experience you will never forget. I like the fact that in the last couple of years due to a quality DVD and Blu-ray re-release this film is now getting its due, it really does deserve better.

Battle: Los Angeles (2011) – LOVEFiLM

Sadly lumped in by many with the dire Skyline, Battle: Los Angeles is a much superior alien invasion film. It’s no masterpiece, it’s cheesy and cliché ridden but my god the action is breath-taking. It truly does feel like the action of something like Black Hawk Down or the Call of Duty games transposed to the city streets with aliens instead of enemy soldiers. On a big enough TV and with the sound cranked up at home this is a great way to spend two hours of balls to the wall action entertainment.

The American Scream (2012) – Netflix

This is a touching documentary about how Americans celebrate Halloween and would make a good double feature with Halloween 3 if you are twisted enough to think that way. The American Scream focusses on 3 different families and individuals and the lengths they go to to make Halloween a night to remember not just for themselves but for their neighbourhoods as well. It will make you cry, it will make you laugh and it may well inspire you. Interesting to note that despite much acclaim and festival love this has bypassed DVD and gone straight to streaming.

Kaboom (2010) – Netflix

After Mysterious Skin and Smiley, director Gregg Araki returned to his twisted genre films about homosexual identity confusion with Kaboom. The film starts as many of these things do with a youngster living through a confused life as he experiments in college with his sexuality and drugs and stuff. Things get complicated when some kind of end of the world cult reveals itself and things change drastically for a full tilt lunatic finale. I am probably not the audience for this film but I found much to enjoy here.

Technically, we might be talking about the second half of Series Seven. But what we’re really looking at here is the first helping of fiftieth anniversary year Doctor Who. And if the first half of Series Seven didn’t leave us expecting something special for the remainder – not to mention the Christmas Special that left the mystery hinted at in Asylum of the Daleks no closer to an explanation – then surely the fact that this looks like being the majority of what the BBC have planned for 2013 (Christmas and Anniversary Specials, along with 90-minute docudramas notwithstanding) must leave the appetite well and surely whetted. So let’s look ahead at what we can expect over the next couple of months. (N.B. Before we go on, all bar one of the episode titles – Episode Five – are unannounced at the time of writing, so we’re using here the titles that fandom have collectively led themselves to expect…)

EPISODE ONE: “THE BELLS OF ST JOHNS”

Written by: Steven Moffat

Directed by: Colm McCarthy

Steven Moffat described this as a “modern urban thriller,” effectively moving into Russell T Davies territory for the opening instalment of the series, and Matt Smith has revealed that the threat involves some kind of “monster in the wi-fi.” But of course, that’s just the backdrop to the real story here: what the world is waiting to find out is, what is it with this Clara girl? Twice already the Doctor and she have crossed paths, and on each of those occasions, the character has perished. Rather like a River/Pond take on A Christmas Carol (and let’s be honest, Steven Moffat has never been afraid of drinking from the same well twice), we have already met the future version of Clara Oswin Oswald, and the version from the past. Now it’s time to take in the very-much present version. And here’s another couple of questions: how long before the Doctor gets to the bottom of this future-past-present mystery? And more urgently, will Clara Oswald survive beyond the end of these eight episodes? Also featuring Celia Imrie.

EPISODE TWO: “THE RINGS OF AKHATEN”

Written by: Neil Cross

Directed by: Farren Blackburn

TARDIS-eating asteroids, beach scenes and deadly hospitals aside, Steven Moffat’s Doctor Who hasn’t really “done” an alien planet yet – not properly. But the first of two scripts by Luther’s Neil Cross (and actually the second to have been written) is going to change all that. Not only has Moffat described this story as involving a “fantastic alien planet, looking absolutely amazing,” but he’s also said it’s “the best alien planet we’ve ever done.” Which might not mean all that much, seeing as the revived series has by and large avoided setting its stories on extraterrestrial worlds, but we have to trust that this new “movie-of-the-week” version of the series, which hasn’t failed to impress so far, will keep on doing so. As such, this episode might end up being something truly spectacular.

EPISODE THREE: “THE COLD WAR”

Written by: Mark Gatiss

Directed by: Douglas MacKinnon

Ice Warriors on a submarine? That’s what Mark Gatiss has in store for us in the first of his two scripts this year. Yes, the worst-kept secret in Doctor Who was finally confirmed a few weeks ago, when executive producer Caro Skinner spilled the beans on what Episode Three would contain. “A monster of that scale and that size trapped in a really small, contained environment such as a submarine,” Skinner teased, perhaps giving away more than she possibly ought. For those fans of the classic series Ice Warrior design, worried that the updated Martians might lose their identity in a fashion similar to the redesigned Daleks and Silurians, we’re pleased to tell you it looks unlikely. A 2013-period Ice Warrior head recently surfaced at a toy fair and, apart from modern Cybermat-style teeth, it looks reassuringly similar to the classic 1960s design. “The fulfilment of a long-term dream,” is how Gatiss described the submarine setting, and the episode title might also give away something of the story’s time period; apparently the crew of the sub are Russians, and include Liam Cunningham among their number. David Warner also stars, and as no set photos or trailer clips involving him appear to have surfaced, we can only assume there’s a possibility he might be playing the Ice Warrior itself.

EPISODE FOUR: “PHANTOMS OF THE HEX”

Written by: Neil Cross

Directed by: Jamie Payne

One of the first episodes of the second half of Series 7 to go before the cameras, we don’t really know much about this, except perhaps that it’s the episode Steven Moffat described as a “cracking ghost story.” Judging from the on-set photographs, we might suppose that it is set a century ago or maybe even before, but certainly Dougray Scott’s professor puts us in mind of the character he played in the film Enigma. Curiously, this might even give Neil Cross’ first script for the series (Moffat has said, “You won’t be in any doubt why we cranked another story out of him”) something of the feel of the 1989 stories Ghost Light or The Curse of Fenric, possibly a clue as to the overall direction of these eight episodes. For if Episode Three is a Patrick Troughton story by any other name, and Episode Five a William Hartnell… Perhaps the fiftieth anniversary run of episodes has been designed to evoke memories of the seven classic series Doctors; in which case, this is undoubtedly the Sylvester McCoy. This episode will also include in its cast Call the Midwife star Jessica Raine, significant now for having been cast as the show’s original producer Verity Lambert in Mark Gatiss’ docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time.

EPISODE FIVE: “JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE TARDIS”

Written by: Stephen Thompson

Directed by: Mat King

“This show will do what it says on the tin,” says Steven Moffat, with writer Stephen Thompson (alumni of Moffat and Gatiss’ Sherlock) adding, “That was the brief: what’s in the middle” of the TARDIS? The curious thing about this “bottle episode” is that its cast doesn’t end at Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman; instead, we have (among others) Ashley Walters (of Hustle, and ex-member of So Solid Crew), and even more intriguingly, Jahvel Hall as a character called ‘Tricky’. Could there be something metaphysical going on down there? Given its nature as an entirely in-studio production (probably!), very little in the way of other information has escaped about this story – and that’s almost certainly a good thing. Not-so-fond memories of the TARDIS-set episodes of The Invasion of Time will hopefully be wiped out after the transmission of Episode Five, and finally those fans who’ve been asking for a TARDIS-set bottle episode will have their every prayer answered.

EPISODE SIX: “THE CRIMSON HORROR”

Written by: Mark Gatiss

Directed by: Saul Metzstein

The first of two episodes featuring the return of the eleventh Doctor’s “gang”, Madame Vastra and her partner Jenny, and the gloriously gung-ho Sontaran Strax, this is also the Mark Gatiss story that much of the early publicity for the series centred upon. That’s right, this is the first time that Diana Rigg and her real-life daughter Rachael Stirling have appeared together, in this “joyously camp” (Stirling) episode playing another mother and daughter – albeit perhaps in not quite such a straightforward manner. Although a period piece, the evidence points to Episode Six as being one of the more unusual of the run, which Steven Moffat has described as “absolutely mental” and “a monstrosity of nonsense.” The League of Gentlemen fans might therefore be led to assume that somehow Gatiss has managed to fuse the best of the three projects he is most famous for working on (Madame Vastra perhaps taking on the role of a lesbian lizard Sherlock Holmes once again), and while Doctor Who purists might balk at the prospect, elsewhere hopes will be high that Gatiss can finally pay off on all the promise he has previously shown.

EPISODE SEVEN: “THE LAST CYBERMAN”

Written by: Neil Gaiman

Directed by: Stephen Woolfenden

With The Doctor’s Wife, Neil Gaiman made good on all the high expectations that his Doctor Who debut gave rise to. And now it’s difficult second album time, but it looks like the stops have been well and truly pulled out to ensure that this one’s an equal success. Revamped Cybermen on an alien planet, with Tamzin Outhwaite, Warwick Davis and the magnificent Jason Watkins as a “band of misfits”, according to the official website, Gaiman’s new story may well turn out to be the moment the revived series truly engages with the steel men from Mondas; there is, after all, plenty of back-story from which to cherry pick. Illicit set photographs of the Cybermen stomping about Cybus-style notwithstanding, even the title of this episode (The Last Cyberman – apparently genuine) suggests a wholly different approach than the one we’ve recently seen. It’s a shame the redesign is less Mondas than it is middling-to-different, but at least it shows a production team on their toes, and at last listening to their critics when it comes to changing things overmuch and for the sake of it. There’s a very great possibility that this run of eight episodes might well be the most distinct and enjoyable since the series returned.

EPISODE EIGHT: “TITLE UNKNOWN”

Written by: Steven Moffat

Directed by: Saul Metzstein

It isn’t only the title that’s still a secret about this one, it’s pretty much everything else as well – although this looks to be the Vastra-Jenny-Strax triumvirates’ second appearance of the year, and we wouldn’t throw out the suggestion that River Song might be involved somewhere along the way either. Other than that, both cast and plot are a mystery, but we’d like to suggest that this might be the eleventh Doctor’s rematch with the Great Intelligence. After all, The Snowmen wouldn’t have finished on that odd note, as the Doctor discovers who his enemy has been and tries to remember having met them before, if Steven Moffat weren’t trying to signal something for the character’s future. And the peculiar sequence with the London Underground map wouldn’t have made any sense either to 99% of the audience. No, we’re convinced that the Great Intelligence will be back and almost certainly in this episode, and what’s more, that they’ll be bringing the Yeti along for the ride. That’s right, producer Marcus Wilson teased us a long time ago with the news that two old enemies were making a comeback this series, and so far (unless the redesigned Cybermen are to count) we’ve only seen the one. Which would make sense of Steven Moffat’s promise of “some serious fanboy-pleasing,” and “more treats than you think you could be allowed.” It is the fiftieth anniversary, after all.

And insofar as we know, that’s about it for now. Although of course, the very biggest question that Series 7B will hopefully answer (if we’re lucky, and Steven Moffat’s record surely doesn’t lead us to expect it, although we can but hope), is the question of who Clara Oswald is, and of how she can have already lived and died twice before (or after, if you wibbly-wobbly see what I mean). Then there’s the question of who and how much we can expect in the autumn, but that’s a question for another time…

DOCTOR WHO returns to BBC1 and BBC America on March 30th 2013.

 

Since its announcement, the news of new Star Wars sequels has excited and worried many fans of the series. Though the man on the street doesn’t know it, there have already been sequels to the classic movies. It’s just that these sequels have been in novel, comic book and video game format. So how do Disney’s plans for the future fit in with already established works? . . .

The problem with a vast and sprawling franchise such as Star Wars is that the demand for more stories set in that universe is always going to be high. Being a franchise, this means producing as many interesting tales as possible, which in turn means multiple authors are going to be telling multiple stories, all at the same time. Because George Lucas simply didn’t have the time to individually approve every single novel, comic book and game, but wanted to keep enough creative control so he could tell the stories he wanted to tell without contradicting the works of others, he created The Expanded Universe; a setting for Star Wars stories that maintain the look, feel and consistency of the Star Wars Universe, but at the same time allowed Lucas the creative freedom to do whatever he fancied with his own intellectual property.

The short explanation of this complex canon system is this; the movies George made are the ones he wants you to pay the most attention to. The stories other people have weaved, using his intellectual property, are less important. At least that’s what George says.

When Lucas sold the rights to his life’s work to Disney, many fans speculated that the proposed sequels might involve elements of the Expanded Universe, namely The Thrawn Trilogy, a set of books written by Timothy Zahn that followed on from Return of the Jedi. This rumour was very quickly quashed; Disney had not spent four billion dollars simply to turn 21-year-old spin off novels into a movie. All, however, is not lost. Hollywood likes to play it safe, and though the Star Wars prequels made a lot of money, they didn’t gain a lot of critical acclaim. It is thus likely that any creative team involved with developing the series post–Lucas will look at the wealth of previous works and mine them for good ideas.

After all, it’s happened before. Boba Fett originally appeared in Star Wars Holiday Special, a disastrous and notorious one shot TV spin-off which failed on almost all levels. It was so bad that George Lucas declared that it wasn’t anything to do with Star Wars, and utterly non-canonical. However, Fett appeared in a mini-cartoon that was part of the show. The character also appeared in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, so it’s clear that there is a two-way street between the movies and other sources. Fett’s armour and origin story was also expanded in various spin-off media, and when it came to the prequels, you can clearly see that the armour design and ideas used in both the clone trooper and Jango Fett costumes have been influenced by this work. Other examples, such as the depiction of Chewbacca’s homeworld, have also dripped its way into the mainstream movies.

It’s important to remember where the Expanded Universe came from. Though there had been a single spin-off novel (Splinter of the Mind’s Eye) and a pile of Marvel Comics, the main source of early EU work came from the original role playing game. Tabletop games work best when the players have a detailed world available to them. For example: the games designers wrote back-stories for everyone you can see on screen; everyone in that cantina has a tale to tell. When Timothy Zahn came to write his sequels, they sent him a big box filled with these gaming supplements, and later on, all of this work was bundled into a thing called the Star Wars Encyclopaedia. This, and subsequent editions, formed the basis for the Expanded Universe as we know it, but George Lucas also used this same book when creating the prequels. It is highly unlikely that subsequent writers and producers will ignore this tome, even though its origins come from the Expanded Universe. It is worth remembering that up until this point, George Lucas has had the power to declare anything as canon. This includes jokes and ideas he’s made up on the spot. For example when talk-show host Jon Stewart asked which plant Obi-Wan-Kenobi came from, Lucas jokingly claimed that this was the planet Stewjon (a play on Stewart’s name). This was dutifully recorded by the official Star Wars twitter feed, and then the official database was also updated; because at the time if Lucas said it, it became fact. If this strikes you as silly, it’s because it is, and it’s an excellent reason not to take canon too seriously. Continuity and consistency are vital to good storytelling, but declaring that one person’s made-up story is somehow more valid than another can be problematic, as the planet Stewjon shows. Still, now that it is canon, it’s likely that this gag will stay to haunt the fans, though with a world as layered and as detailed as Star Wars it is likely we’ll see many references to the entire body of work created thus far.

Does this mean that we’ll see shout outs to Mara Jade, a well-loved character from the Zahn books? Maybe. They may even kill Chewbacca off in the same way that tie-in author R. A. Salvatore did in the 90’s. What’s more likely is that designers, writers and other creative types will come in with fresh ideas, and build upon the vast lore that already exists. The new movies won’t look like the movie that people created in their minds when reading the spin-off media because that would be impossible.

It seems highly likely that the Expanded Universe will continue to inform and inspire Star Wars fans all over the world, as well as creative types working on various levels of the franchise. It is also worth remembering that just because one person says that one story is more valid than another, it doesn’t make it true. Lucas has created a sweeping space fantasy epic that has inspired people all over the world, and the ideas we draw from inspiration belong to us. It is up to you to decide which of these stories means the most to you, after all, and we will be keeping an eye on all things Star Wars in the future, regardless of their canonical status. A good story is a good story, no matter what label happens to be stuck on to it.

At a time when video games are under fire by social forces, it’s more important than ever for journalists to actively portray video games with truth and context. Naming titles is one way, but performing actual journalism? That’s a change I’d like to see. 

By now you’ve probably seen how various people have been linking video games and violence, particularly in the wake of the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14. Again, many pundits are claiming that video games are largely responsible for inspiring the shooting, from the NRA to Fox News. While I don’t agree with this statement, the sheer number of sites that have been driving this conversation have me concerned, especially due to their inability to actually cite the titles of games in their conversation. This is a multi-faceted problem that we’re going to examine with due detail.

I’m glad that there exists a plurality of voices in this argument today. When Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris committed the horrific murders in Columbine in 1999, the overwhelming pubic campaign against violent games drowned out any other logical voices. In 2013, it should be easier than ever to see that blaming video games for violence and aggression is part of a larger social problem, but the microphone offered by constant media exposure is louder than ever. And the voices that are being heard, the ones that we trust, are often wrong about this topic.

Today, we’re seeing a difference in the types of coverage that are offered regarding this topic, but there’s still a scary form of media bias that exists regarding video games, and it’s because most journalists don’t understand a thing about video games.

They don’t know how they work. They don’t know how they operate. They don’t know why people like them. All they recognize is a surface-level assessment, and usually that assessment focuses on the graphical fidelity, in-game content, and portrayals of violence and conflict. And Sandy Hook is only the latest link in this ongoing struggle between journalism and understanding.

For one, an awful trend that’s swept through journalism on gaming in mainstream media outlets is the inability to actually give the names of said violent video games. For most writers, it doesn’t matter what games are involved, so many times titles will be left out of the stories or will be knowingly wrong. Recently, Kotaku writer Owen Good wrote a scathing op-ed about journalists being culpable in this blame culture by not actually giving specific game titles when they’re reporting on objectionable content in games. According to Good, mainstream news overindulgence of murderer and mentally ill person Adam Lanza’s connection to Call of Duty is evidence of this lack of connection.

“That’s what’s driving the current conversation, where the president and vice president are calling for federal research into the effect of violent video games on kids, as a response to a mass shooting incident. This connection is made through one statement and one statement only: a quote attributed to a plumber who had done work in the Lanza home.”

This is absolutely true. Most of the comments I’ve seen in regards to violence and video games has been sloppy at best, speculation made by persons without any clear evidence of existing games or the cycle of game releases. Think back to the now-infamous NRA press conference where Wayne LaPierre blamed the “shadow industries” of Hollywood and video games for shooting deaths. Bulletstorm, Mortal Kombat, and Grand Theft Auto were among the titles that he mentioned as being most culpable in the culture of violence in the United States, yet he failed to mention that the NRA had its own video game available for release. He also failed to mention more current titles that gamers would be more likely to play, such as Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, and Temple Run, along with the current king of the AAA game mountain Call of Duty.

According to actual reports, Lanza was more enamored with Dance Dance Revolution. Not exactly linked to the typical reporting of violent game titles by the NRA or mainstream media outlets. Moreover, friends of Lanza stated that his closest obsession in video gaming was the title Dynasty Warriors, which is a Japanese action game that takes place in the feudal era of the country, is largely bloodless in its violence, and veers perilously close to camp in its narrative. Don’t believe me? Watch the video below (Not for fans of quality voice acting):

Not exactly fitting within the portrayal of video games by politicians or many media pundits, is it? Knowing Lanza played Dynasty Warriors and understanding why the game is ridiculous is one way of understanding why this argument doesn’t hold sway in this case. That didn’t stop The Express from attempting to portray this game as another of the violent pieces that formed the puzzle of Adam Lanza. They treated the game as an answer when the question and framing was already wrong, and readers that could see the game in action would know it to be false.

Other news outlets avoided this game title altogether. Since Dynasty Warriors is not as identifiable or easily stereotyped as games like Call of Duty, it was easily left out of the conversation. But still, games were brought up as a valid stimulus for Lanza’s actions, and the titles didn’t matter. When faced with this quandary, Good brings up the following point:

“That’s why names are important. It helps readers verify the accusations made against them and the credibility of those making them.”

Another reason for this inability of journalists to list proper game titles is the need for hits and the laziness of content creation. Let’s move to a time before the Sandy Hook shootings and focus on an equally abhorrent set of crimes perpetrated by the killer and by the “journalist” covering the story. Please be warned that the details of the crime are gruesome and not for the faint of heart.

On August 17, 2010, 18 year-old Tyler Savage baited 16 year-old Kimberly “Kimmie” Daily to a brushy area near his house in Puyallup, Washington. Daily, a developmentally-disabled female, tried to leave after 15 to 20 minutes, at which point Savage attacked her from behind and choked her to death. Savage stripped her of her clothes, sexually molested her corpse, carried her into a patch of brambles, and put her bicycle on top of her.

Tyler Savage

It’s a sickening crime, but coverage of the story varied across outlets and was disgusting on a different level. Besides the sexual assault and murder of a young, developmentally disabled girl, Savage was accused of playing Dungeons & Dragons. Joel Moreno of the Seattle PI wrote the attention-grabbing headline “Detectives: Murder motive may have been video game fantasy.” In it, Moreno links a game to Savage’s actions, but it’s referred to as “a violent fantasy from Dungeons and Dragons.” It’s actually Dungeons and Dragons Online that Savage was playing, which is important as Dungeons and Dragons is a wide-ranging fantasy and intellectual property based on its humble origins as a role-playing dice and card game. But you wouldn’t know it based on Moreno’s story. Instead, he throws bones like this to an angry mob searching for an answer to this crime:

“The video game theory comes from something Tyler Savage said to investigators. He talked about playing a video game to cope with what he’d just done. Detectives now want to know if that game somehow became his point of reference on reality.”

Only in secondary/supporting paragraphs, and at the very end, do we see the following “disclaimer” written:

“Savage’s defense attorney calls the video game connection pure speculation and a rush to judgment. ‘What if there’s a chemical or organic imbalance or something physically wrong, identifiably medically wrong with his brain that caused this to happen?’ said defense attorney Jay Berneburg.”

Why is it written like this? Because Moreno gets to have his cake both ways. He gets the hits caused by linking a murder to video games, and he also gets to trumpet his incredible “journalism” skills. People can scan the headline and come to a conclusion about the content and news, while invested readers will be able to locate a crumb of “objectivity” in his piece.

Mike Fahey of dedicated gaming news site Kotaku offered a stronger form of journalism in his follow-up story “Detectives Explore Video Game Fantasy as Motive for Brutal Teen Murder.” The reason why Fahey’s story is better? Look at that description of the crime that I used above. All of those details came from the Kotaku piece, not the Seattle PI story. Quite frankly, Fahey’s story provides greater details and information. It’s gory, descriptive, and factually accurate regarding the game being played, along with its actual link to the crime Savage committed:

“(Savage) then told investigators he went home and played Dungeons and Dragons Online to help him forget about what he had done.”

Fahey’s story is a much deeper read than what was offered by the Seattle PI link. He explores the statements made by authorities, Savage’s defense lawyer, and Savage’s acquaintances. Fahey defines what D&D Online is for readers, noting “It bears noting to those not familiar with the game that it does not involve overt depictions of choking or rape.” He also reaches out to game developer Turbine for a comment, and none was given.

Screenshot from Dungeons & Dragons Online

Reasons for the connection between the game and Savage’s brutal crime varies, but none of those interviewed outwardly blame the game for the murder. In fact, according to Fahey:

“Investigators are making one thing perfectly clear: They aren’t looking to blame the video game for the crime. They’re simply trying to understand what makes a teenager with no prior criminal record suddenly commit such a heinous crime.”

So why does this narrative exist? Think back to how I talked about Columbine. Even though Dave Cullen provided the definitive text on Klebold and Harris’s actions in his excellent book Columbine, there are still educators and media pundits who believe the shooting was tied to Doom. This blame game has occurred repeatedly over the years with varying topics, from sex and Mass Effect to homophobia and Bully to rape within the context of pirated games.

Today, if you perform a cursory Google search of “violence and video games” you can find Senator Charles “Chuck” Grassley (R.-Iowa) saying “There are too many video games that celebrate the mass killing of people” during a Senate meeting on gun violence. Furthermore, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee) responded with this bromide when asked by Chuck Todd about background checks for gun sales. “Chuck, I’m going to wait and see on all of these bills. You know, I think video games is a bigger problem than guns, because video games affect people.”

But there is hope coming from the news and coverage over the past seven weeks since the shooting occurred. A number of video game news outlets have given outstanding professional and personal insight into this debate, offering news reports on studies linking violent actions to exposure to violent video games. Sites like IGN, Kotaku, and Eurogamer have been instrumental to this changing of the violent games debate. IGN editor-in-chief Casey Lynch gathered many of his gaming journalism peers together for a fantastic multi-part examination of violence and gaming culture, and his views on the role of violence in games and his conversation with Gamasutra’s Chris Graft are required reading.

The work of gaming website Polygon in this violent games debate is another example of excellent journalism that has pushed the medium forward. Their story on a Connecticut town that was holding a drive to collect and destroy violent video games in order to “inspire” a “conversation” about violence and media exposure was the most comprehensive and thoughtful piece on the topic. Fortunately, Dr. Christopher J. Ferguson, the chair of Texas A&M International University’s department of Psychology and Communication, spoke out about this specific drive and is citing his research as well as that of others to show, in spite of what the game-destroying group cites as “ample evidence that games contribute to aggression,” that there is “no evidence linking video game violence to bullying or any other forms of youth aggression or violence. Past research has been mixed, at best, and often weakened by substantial methodological flaws.” In the end, the town decided to not hold the campaign, stating that “the conversation was already occurring.”

Furthermore, game developers are making themselves answerable to an extent that is unprecedented. Gamasutra, a site that focuses on the technical side of development, has offered a variety of useful links and discussions for both sides of the debate within the development circles. But game development is a slowly changing industry that’s hidden behind unspoken ethical codes and PR red tape that prevents many journalists from gaining access to the people that would be able to offer insight into specific narratives. Read Eurogamer’s Simon Parkin’s amazing inside story on the link between weapons manufacturers and the developers who must pay a licensing fee to use their “brands” in their games. Too many developers and publishers hide behind the “no comment” wall to really offer insight that would benefit the industry.

This is one of the reasons I teach a course on video games and journalism at The University of Iowa, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with a variety of gaming journalists and able professors to make this course adhere to the professional boundaries of journalism. At the end of the day, all that’s different about these students would be the medium that they are covering, which requires an understanding of core skills and applicable cultural knowledge that should be used while writing. Based on the overwhelmingly popular reception to the course and the willingness of journalists, developers and legislators to have a truly honest conversation about this topic, I’d say that the tide is legitimately turning in the favor of people beginning to take this topic seriously.

But it’s an uphill battle facing the industry, and one that’s not going to be easy to win. Very recently, CNN host Erin Burnett attempted to have decorated psychologist William Pollock link violent, M-rated games to incidents of gun violence.

Pollock, while condemning these games for their “disgusting” content, did not agree with her assessment, but nevertheless the damage was done. One more talking head that can propagate this belief without understanding what games actually are or how they function is more damaging than ever to the credibility of this industry.

It’s time journalists actually took a stand and did their job. Understanding how video games operate and reading the actual research on the topic is one important way. Another way that journalists should actually cite the games that they believe are linked to violence. By taking these steps, I believe that journalism can actually become credible again when dealing with issues related to gaming. Otherwise, there’s going to be an uncomfortable divide between those who know the answers to the questions, and those whose answers will continue to propagate the lies that have informed this cultural stigma.

New Comic Book Day is upon us and it’s bound to be one to remember. With spoilers running rampant – and with DC doing little to put a stopper on them – many fans were unduly alerted to the major plot twist in Grant Morrison’s Batman Incorporated #8, but we’re taking it with a grain of salt. Nothing is ever as it appears when Morrison is involved. Bats and robins aside, this week’s new comics include a couple of time travelers, Avengers aplenty, and the conclusion to DC’s aquatic game of thrones.

Batman Incorporated #8

Story by: Grant Morrison / Art by: Chris Burnham 

From DC Comics: Everything Grant Morrison has been planning since the start of BATMAN, INCORPORATED leads to this stunning issue! You must not miss this one!

Aquaman #17

Story by: Geoff Johns / Art by: Paul Pelletier and Art Thilbert 

From DC Comics: A startling epilogue to “THRONE OF ATLANTIS”! With the secrets of Atlantis revealed, Aquaman is confronted by a horrible myth from Atlantis’s past that’s connected to his own. Plus: Mera confronts a longtime enemy.

Justice League Dark #17

Story by: Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes / Art by: Mikel Janin 

From DC Comics: Constantine and the others are trapped on a world where magic has been outlawed, and Tim Hunter is king! Their only hope of returning home is in the hands of Colonel Steve Trevor—but will the A.R.G.U.S. chief decide to protect the Earth by leaving Team Dark where they are?

Doctor Who, Vol. 3 #6

Story by: Andy Diggle / Art by: Craig Hamilton 

From IDW: The Eye of Ashaya, Part 2 of 2: Amy and Rory’s holiday aboard a luxury star-liner has turned into a game of to catch a thief as class warfare threatens to break out on the ship. And what’s the Doctor been distracted with in the bowels of the TARDIS?

Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time #2

Story by: David Tipton and Scott Tipton / Art by: Lee Sullivan 

From IDW: Our yearlong celebration of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary continues! Oh my giddy aunt! It’s time to break out the recorders, as the Second Doctor takes the spotlight in this issue of a 12-part epic adventure featuring all 11 incarnations of the Doctor!

Comeback #4

Story by: Ed Brisson / Art by: Michael Walsh 

From Image Comics: Things go further upside down for RECONNECT Agent Mark Thompson. His partner is dead and his mission failed. Now both the FBI and his former employer, a man more frightening than any government agency, are hot on his tail. One wants him in jail, the other wants him dead.

Hawkeye #8

Story by: Matt Fraction / Art by: David Aja, Annie Wu, and Matt Hollingsworth 

From Marvel: Valentine’s Day with THE heartthrob of the Marvel Universe? This will be… confusing. Xoxo, Hawkeye

Uncanny Avengers #4

Story by: Rick Remender / Art by: John Cassaday 

From Marvel: Red Skull and his S-Men move forward their take over of New York. A member of the Uncanny Avengers joins the S-Men! When the chips are down, the fight all but lost, one Avenger must rise and face the terrible might of The Omega Skull!

Young Avengers #2

Story by: Kieron Gillen / Art by: Jamie McKelvie, Mike Norton, and Matthew Wilson

From Marvel: Has Wiccan made a horrible mistake that comes back to bite everyone on their communal posteriors? Spoilers: Yes. Does this guest star the Uncanny Avengers? Spoilers: Also Yes. A figure from Loki’s past emerges. Friend? Foe? What will it be? Spoilers: It’s Foe. And much more from Marvel’s most critically acclaimed book. Yes, we’re saying it’s critically acclaimed and it’s not even out yet. We are very bad.

Journey Into Mystery #649

Story by: Kathryn Immonen / Art by: Valerio Schiti and Jordie Bellaire 

From Marvel: Guest starring the Superior Spider-Man + a collection of superstars from the MU firmament! Ancient Viking Monsters? Eerily Familiar Freaks? Whatever they are, they’re invading Midgard! Sif and her three hench-Berzerkers slither back to Earth in time to help put down this new assault. But can the berserkers keep their bloodlust in check…?

With Skyfall finally out on DVD and Blu-ray, the time has come to turn our attention to the future and, more specifically, Bond 24. So here are 7 things Starburst would like to see when James Bond returns….

 

001) THE GUNBARREL BACK WHERE IT BELONGS

This may seem like a minor quibble to non-Bond fans, but it’s a biggie for a lot of us. Bond films shouldn’t start the same way that any other film does. There is a comfort in seeing that white dot move across a black screen before Bond walks into it. It lets us know we’re in good hands. That we’re in official hands and not some poor Kevin McClory Bond knock-off!

002) BRING BACK QUANTUM

Okay, we admit, the whole QUANTUM thing didn’t really come off in Quantum Of Solace, but they are still out there in the Bond-verse and nobody likes loose ends. And in the right hands there is a lot of potential in the idea of it as a modern day SPECTRE, but within the boundaries of the new “grounded” Bond. 

003) GADGETS

So we’ve been told now that MI6 don’t really go in for exploding pens anymore, but there is always a place in Bond for a few ‘out there’ gadgets. We’re not saying we should go the way of an invisible car again, but a few smaller gadgets would be nice. Maybe they could dust off Little Nellie!

004) BOND’S CAR

As the DB5 was blown up at the end of Skyfall, Bond needs a new car for his private use (not the Q branch issued car). Odds are the DB5 will reappear at some point, but if EON are looking to go another way; how about the Aston Martin V8 Vantage from The Living Daylights? It’s a great looking vehicle, taps back into Bond history and is an Aston (Bond’s car of choice). If you really want to get picky and point out that the V8 was blown up, why not go for DBS from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service?

005) LET CRAIG BE THE FULL BOND

So far we’ve had two films where Craig wasn’t quite Bond yet and then we were given Craig as a Bond that was passed it. You could argue that being not-quite-Bond is Craig’s thing, but the end of Skyfall gave us our strongest indication yet that the next time we see Craig as the character, he will be the full-Bond. Then again, Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace kind of promised us the same thing and then didn’t deliver it, so Bond 24 is finally the time to show us Craig’s Bond Prime!

006) FELIX LEITER

With the Bond family back in place (with a new M, Moneypenny and Q back where they belong) how about bringing back the extended family and writing Felix Leiter back in. And if you do bring Leiter back, bring Jeffrey Wright back to play him to. It’s nice to have some continuity in the role for a change. If Wright is unable to play the part again, I’m sure David Hedison would like a shot as regaining his title as the actor to have played Leiter the most. 

007) A CLASSIC BOND POSTER

While we have to admit that the Casino Royale poster had a nice classy feel to it (although it wasn’t as cool as the teaser poster), the Quantum Of Solace posters and (particularly) the Skyfall posters have been incredibly dull. Casino and Quantum went for the Daniel Craig walking towards you style of poster (in style of the first two Bourne movies) for their main campaigns and Skyfall went for the Craig looking like he kind of needs a 002 at the next available port-a-loo. The ‘Bond lying in the dirt shooting’ poster for Skyfall had a quite nice, clean sort of look to it, but it didn’t scream 007. The Brosnan Bond posters (especially The World Is Not Enough) had a great Bond feel to them and it would be nice to bring some of that Bond poster magic back.

Note: Originally this list included the return of David Arnold, but with the news that Sam Mendes may return, it’s a safe bet that Thomas Newman (who did a great job on Skyfall to be fair) will return to. We’d also like to add as a footnote for the DVD/Blu-ray release that they pull out the stops and give us some better special features. It’s fair to say that all of the Bond DVDs/Blu-rays from Goldeneye onward have had lacklustre bonus material at best, especially when put up against the Ultimate Editions of Dr. No through to Licence To Kill.

But that’s just what we think. Why not tell us what you’d like to see in Bond 24 in the comments below…

Blinkbox’s free section has gone, seemingly never to return, although the website says that it will make its way back, bigger and better in spring of this year, we will see. In the meantime after a racy first couple of weeks of the year, things got quiet again with Netflix and LOVEFiLM both adding about one title a week. Then Netflix added House of Cards, an original series they produced and the game has been changed forever.

Not only is House of Cards a series starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright but the first two episodes are directed by David Fincher. Netflix build on the appeal of the weekend DVD series box blowout by adding all 12 episodes at once. They advertise this like Netflix is the only place you can see this series in a manner similar to Sky’s Atlantic channel campaigns. Netflix also has more coming; Hemlock Grove is a supernatural town series with the involvement of horror director Eli Roth which is due in April. The much celebrated and missed Arrested Development returns for a fourth series in May and there is also a kids CG animated series about a racing snail or something. As far as I can tell, LOVEFiLM has nothing like this on the cards…

Netflix has changed the game and it’s a very interesting time to be a member of the viewing public. If Netflix can keep its subscription charge low and maintain this exclusivity then it could win this war hands down.

Anyway in terms of films, the recent weeks have seen the below added to your favourite services:

Mad Max, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1979,1981,1985) – LOVEFiLM

Now is a good time to catch the original three Mad Max movies as the fourth, Fury Road is due out later this year or early next with Tom Hardy in the role Mel Gibson made his own. The first film is a revenge fuelled, stripped down, punk rock film at its finest. The second changes tack with whatever apocalypse was looming in the background of the first movie having happened and Max now roaming the outback in his V8 Interceptor. It also features some of the best practical stunt work ever which still manages to thrill and delight thirty years later. The third and final of Mel Gibson’s Mad Max movies is the most commercial with the fantasy elements ramped up and even featuring Tina Turner as the villain. Whilst they had more money, they lose some of the soul with a plot that is just a glossier re-tread of the second film when you get down to it. It looks very pretty but the carnage has been lost in favour of impressive sets and epic scope. If you haven’t seen them yet then you simply must watch these films, it’s a timely reminder of when stunts were performed by stuntmen in the real world and a time when Mel Gibson was one of the best screen presences out there.

Deep Blue Sea (1999) – LOVEFiLM

Renny Harlin’s Deep Blue Sea is also something of a throwback because it represents a time when the big, ridiculous monster movie still had money thrown at it by Hollywood before the SyFy channel robbed it of all its potential and started churning out Sharktopus and CrocoPiranha or whatever it’s called. Deep Blue Sea is ridiculous but its great ridiculous and at the time of its release nobody batted an eye at just how silly the whole thing was if they were in a crowd. Three genetically altered mako sharks with big brains get loose at an underwater research facility and only Thomas Jane, LL Cool J and Saffron Burrows can stop them. Its CG may be fairly dodgy (especially during one infamous shock moment) but this was really good in the golden summer of ‘99 and still stands up (mostly).

The Green Hornet (2010) – LOVEFiLM

This is one of those big budget would-be blockbuster films where you can’t quite understand what the people behind it were thinking – yet somehow it works, for me anyway. So after years of development and going through talent like George Clooney and Kevin Smith, they finally made classic radio and later TV crime fighter The Green Hornet into a film written by and starring newly slim comedy superstar Seth Rogen and directed by visual mad man Michel Gondry. The film goes more for knockabout good natured action comedy rather than costumed heroics but the tone is still rather confused. For one thing when Rogen and Jay Chou as Kato decide to be crime fighters they seem to actually be going out and killing people and having a good time doing it, which is pretty weird. Christoph Waltz in his first big post-Tarantino villain role seems to be having the time of his life in a role previously filled by Nic Cage. It’s entertaining and good looking mayhem but you can’t help thinking what the other versions might have been like.

Near Dark (1987) – LOVEFiLM

Kathryn Bigelow’s second film as a director is a stripped down, grungy and violent affair which sees a young man fall in with a gang of blood drinking gypsy types. The tropes of the film are western through and through, nobody ever says the word ‘vampire’ and nary a fang or glowing eye is ever seen. Near Dark had the ill fortune to come out at the same time as the relatively more commercial and pretty The Lost Boys but time has been more kind to this film. Near Dark is stylish and violent and perhaps a film that, now 25 years later, is finally getting the recognition it deserves. After all the critical acclaim and Oscars it would be great to see Kathryn Bigelow return to low budget horror, we can only dream…

Child’s Play (1988) – Netflix

Tom Holland and Don Mancini’s first film featuring the Chucky doll possessed by murderer Charles Lee Ray is remarkable these days because of how straight it is played. Later films would lead to Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky which are polar opposites from this film. Due to what the series would become Child’s Play doesn’t really hold up, but at the time it was genuinely scary and suspenseful stuff. Try and watch it pretending there were never any sequels and this might still work… just.

Detention (2011) – LOVEFiLM

Some people absolutely flat out hate this film. I have seen it now about 5 times and every time I watch it I catch some new pop culture reference or gag. The film at its core is the story of a slasher who comes right out of a film series popular with the too smart kids at Grizzly Lake high school and starts killing them off. The film also includes time travel, aliens, body swapping and a mutant fly boy. Granted for some the rapid fire dialogue, pop culture references and fast editing is too much but Joseph Kahn’s film is such a joyous celebration of the last thirty years of teen culture that approaching it in the right frame of mind can lead you to the best nights watching for quite some time.

Livid (2011) – LOVEFiLM

Last year’s follow up to Inside from directors Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury is seen as something of a disappointment amongst horror fans who loved their first film. Approach it on its own terms though and it’s actually quite brilliant. The film is a great creep around a haunted house but refuses to be pigeon holed; alternately a ghost movie one minute and a vampire film the next. The film is massively atmospheric and stylish and deserves much more love than it’s currently getting.

The Goonies (1985) – LOVEFiLM

You should be warned that although you liked this film in your childhood, watching it as an adult is much like being at a children’s birthday party where all the kids are hopped up on popping candy and going crazy. It doesn’t really stand up to those in their thirties who watched it on VHS back in the day but there is still much to like about the film which harkens back to a time when kids movies were not afraid to go dark and Sloth, the inbred, deformed son of the criminals in the film is especially terrifying for anyone under 10. It’s telling that the BBFC re-rating has moved this from PG to a 12, sad…

The Human Centipede (2009) – Netflix

Not really a film I can recommend but if you want to see what all the fuss was about a couple of years back then it’s now on Netflix for all to see. The problem is that The Human Centipede can’t really ever get over its outrageous premise and despite one unpleasant scene it’s not really that bad and feels like director Tom Six is trying to emulate early David Cronenberg without the actual skill to do so. South Park episode ‘The Human Cent-iPAD’ is actually much better and does more with the premise. Tom Six then forgot all about the less is more approach and made a sequel which is so unpleasant as to be nearly unwatchable by anyone except the most disturbed basement dwelling horror fan.

 

To celebrate the recent release of Resident Evil: Retribution on DVD and Blu-ray, we at Starburst were pleasantly surprised to receive an email from the bosses of Umbrella Corporation themselves, inviting us to a special event in Reading that they thought might be of interest to us. The email looked official enough and thinking – nay, hoping – that this was a first step for them towards turning over a new, friendlier leaf, we replied with confirmation of our attendance.

Our stomachs obviously full of trepidation considering Umbrella’s history of subterfuge and experimentation, we travelled to Reading by train on the drizzly morning of Tuesday 29th January. Following directions given in the email, we wandered away from the station and found ourselves standing at the rear of a building that appeared to be very understated and not at all what we expected to be an Umbrella establishment. In fact, the only evidence to confirm that we were in the correct location was a small laminated Umbrella Corp logo, stuck to the door. We also found that we were not alone, as we were joined by other journalists who had also been invited along for the soiree.

Our pleasantries were short lived as the rear door crashed open and we were greeted by an individual encased in what appeared to be a hazmat suit and gasmask. Before any of us could react, we were hurried inside and the door was locked behind us. Finding ourselves in a tight corridor, we were each given a form to complete and sign. This should have been our first real warning (after the gasmask of course!) as the form stated something about infection but we felt pressured to follow the orders being barked at us.

From here, we found that we really should choose which events to attend more carefully. Each of us had to place our finger on a sensor pad, which turned green and we were told to wait in line. Well, all of us except for one. One of our group found the sensor turned red and she was led away screaming, and off into a room, never to be seen again. All this happened as our forms were checked and we were given an armband, either red or blue in colour, which were strapped to our arms.

We were rushed into a side room, where a doctor gave us a drink that correlated with the colour of our armband. The following minutes were a blur as we were advised by someone dressed in an Umbrella uniform that we were there to assist with the clearance of the facility. We were given some protective jackets, eyewear and pump action shotguns and given a run through of how to use the weapons before being taken further into the building. It’s at this stage when we all realised we were actually in an old abandoned shopping centre. Our confusion reigned supreme and was suddenly compounded when our Umbrella guides were felled by a hail of bullets by two men who came out of the shadows.

As we trained our weapons on these individuals, they explained that they were there to help and that Umbrella had lied to us all and infected us with two separate strains of virus – hence the different colours. We also discovered that our shotguns weren’t even loaded, meaning that up until that stage, we were actually cannon fodder. They gave us pills to combat what we had been given and we then had no choice but to follow these freedom fighters in order to escape. Around the next corner, we bumped into another Umbrella goon and a reverend. Both were taken down, but not before the reverend called out the name “Eve”. One of our new guides then found some papers that held a picture of Eve and we were informed that our new task was to track her down and save her. It appeared that she was the victim of another experiment, code-named Project Eve.

Thus began the pulse racing search throughout the building as we tried to stick to shadows and escape the clutches of further Umbrella soldiers and the shambling undead that seemed to be everywhere we looked. A TV screen allowed the Red Queen to provide us with the cheery message that she expected us all to die. Yeah, thanks for that love!

A few set pieces followed that got the adrenaline going as well as more running and hiding as we avoided a pair of Tyrants and a horde of zombies who chased us up the stairs before finding Eve and releasing her. It was only when we reached the roof that we realised that we were safe and that our ordeal was over.

Regardless of the fact that Umbrella had tricked us and tried to kill us one way or another, we hacks all congratulated each other on managing to survive and complete the mission. No one dared to ask what fate befell our female colleague that was manhandled away from us at the beginning of the day. After all, she was infected.

Wasn’t she?

A big thank you to Lee and the crew at Zed Events for running the day. You can read our previous review for their zombie experiences here.

If you find an invite from anyone representing the Umbrella Corporation, delete it.

Resident Evil: Retribution is out now on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD.

It’s an exciting week for comics, with a slew of noteworthy new issues hitting the shelves with all the force of a great typhoon (pat yourself on the back if you got the Mulan reference). This week, we welcome a Strange addition to the family, get cozy with the Joker, celebrate the Doctor’s big 5-0, and support Hurricane Sandy relief with the help of Matt Fraction and Hawkeye. And that’s just the tip of the comic book iceberg.

Emily and the Strangers #1

Written by Mariah Huehner & Rob Reger / Art by Emily Ivie

From Dark Horse: With the help of her trio of troublemaking cats, Emily is determined to make the most rockin’ song the world has ever known and win a legendary haunted guitar . . . but can she do it solo? Only one thing is for sure—what Emily wants, Emily gets . . . sometimes.

Teen Titans #16

Written by Scott Lobdell & Fabian Nicieza / Art by Brett Booth

From DC Comics: A “DEATH OF THE FAMILY” tie-in! Our heroes learn a lesson they’ll never forget as Arsenal takes control in Red Robin’s absence! Mirroring the events of RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #16, Jason Todd and Tim Drake must rely on each other to survive The Joker’s attack! Plus: It’s the return of Raven!

Batman and Robin Annual #1

Written by Peter Tomasi / Art by Ardian Syaf

From DC Comics: Robin leads Batman on an unrelenting hunt across the globe for family secrets that promise to change them both forever. If you think you know Bruce Wayne…think again!

Green Lantern Corps Annual #1

Written by Peter Tomasi / Art by ChrisCross

From DC Comics: “RISE OF THE THIRD ARMY” ends here! Thanks to the Third Army, the Guardians have shut down the Green Lantern Corps! Everything from the GREEN LANTERN comics from the past few months has been building to this. Get ready for a go-for-broke ending, which sets up the next great GREEN LANTERN event!

Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time #1

Written by Scott Tipton & David Tipton | Art by Simon Fraser

From IDW: November 23, 1963: A day that changed the world forever. That day saw the broadcast debut of Doctor Who, which was to become the longest-running science-fiction series on television. And now 50 years later, we pay tribute to one of the greatest pop-culture heroes of all time with this special series, which tells an epic adventure featuring all 11 incarnations of the intrepid traveler through time and space known simply as… the Doctor.

Adventure Time #12

Written by Ryan North / Art by Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb

From BOOM! Studios: THE HOTTEST ALL-AGES COMIC CELEBRATES ITS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! BMO’s sick, but it’s not just any virus…it’s a magical virus! And now, Finn and Jake have to seek out a sorta-no-good-very-bad wizard to set things right! Don’t miss the latest issue of what critics called “the best series of 2012!”

Hawkeye #7

Written by Matt Fraction / Art by Steve Lieber & Jesse Hamm

From Marvel: We’re pushing the next story back by a month to make room for a timely story about Hawkeye and Kate Bishop dealing with the ramifications of a hurricane that hammers the east coast. With lovely art by the Eisner Award Winning artist Steve Leiber and newcomer Jesse Hamm, it’s a perfect pause before the next Fraction/Aja mini-opus begins….featuring the reveal of a villain that I can promise you no one sees coming.

Mara #2

Written by Brian Wood / Art by Ming Doyle

From Image Comics: As superstar athlete Mara Prince’s superpower manifestation is caught on live TV, her life rapidly starts to spiral out of control. The media descends like vultures. Her handlers go into spin mode. The footage is seen around the world, and this young woman, who only hours ago was the darling of pop culture, is now being slammed and ridiculed for being a fraud and a liar. But the more she tries to fight back, the only thing she’s doing is escalating the problem. A sci-fi take on real world superheroes by the powerhouse team of BRIAN WOOD, MING DOYLE and JORDIE BELLAIRE!

The weather outside may be frightful – and it certainly is here in New York – but there’s a veritable cornucopia of delightful new comics out this week to keep you warm. This week’s slate features not one, but two books lovingly drawn by Battlepug artist Mike Norton, the start of a new arc by Mind MGMT’s Matt Kindt, a handful of formidable heroines from DC and Marvel, and an Avengers team for a new generation.

The Answer! #1 (of 4)

Story by: Dennis Hopeless / Art by: Mike Norton 

From Dark Horse Comics: Devin McKenzie is an insomniac librarian with a knack for solving puzzles. The Answer! is a masked crime fighter with a giant exclamation point on his face. Aside from a penchant for late nights, they share nothing in common . . . until both become embroiled in a deadly mystery surrounding a sinister motivational speaker!

Mind MGMT #7

Story and Art by: Matt Kindt 

From Dark Horse Comics: We’ve learned some of the secrets of Henry Lyme; now get ready to meet the rest of MIND MGMT, beginning with the Ad Man! With the remains of MIND MGMT on Lyme’s tail, the former spy is forced to seek help from other defectors.

Batwoman #16

Story by: J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman / Art by: J.H. Williams III 

From DC Comics: This issue guest-stars everybody! In this penultimate chapter, everything that’s been happening in BATWOMAN comes to a head! Plus, a new hero is introduced, and Wonder Woman fights monsters!

Birds of Prey #16

Story by: Duane Swierczynski / Art by: Romano Molenaar 

From DC Comics: The team gets a deadly new member in the form of Strix, a former Talon from the Court of Owls! Who is she and what does her appearance mean for the rest of the Birds? Plus: Something goes terribly wrong for Black Canary…

Catwoman #16

Story by: Ann Nocenti / Art by: Rafael Sandoval 

From DC Comics: Catwoman is possessed by the power of Eclipso! Selina may be able to fight her way out of the Black Room, but what will be left of her soul if she does? And find out the shocking identity of the person who hired Catwoman to steal the diamond in the first place!

Revival #6

Story by: Tim Seeley / Art by: Mike Norton 

From Image Comics: A great jumping on point for new readers. Dana investigates the murder of a prominent psychologist who specialized in coping with returned love ones. Cooper gets a visitor. And May Tao visits the hospital.

FF #3

Story by: Matt Fraction / Art by: Mike Allred 

From Marvel: The new FF take to the streets to celebrate 2013! How does the world respond? How do the kids of the Future Foundation feel about these new grown-ups running the show? And what does Scott Lang have in store for Doom? The war begins…

Uncanny X-Force #1

Story by: Sam Humphries / Art by: Ron Garney 

From Marvel: THE DARKEST CORNERS OF THE MUTANT UNIVERSE: EXPOSED! The X-Men: sworn to protect a world that fears and hates them. UNCANNY X-FORCE: charged to deal with situations the X-Men fear and hate! Psylocke and Storm lead a new team of outcasts and scoundrels, including fan-favorite Puck, the villainous Spiral, and the mysterious Cluster. The first adversary to strike out from the darkness? X-legend BISHOP!

Young Avengers #1

Story by: Kieron Gillen / Art by: Jamie McKelvie

From Marvel: Legacy isn’t a dirty word… but it’s an irrelevant one. It’s not important what our parents did. It matters what WE do. Someone has to save the world. You’re someone. Do the math. The critically acclaimed team of Gillen/McKelvie/Wilson (with added Norton Sauce) decide to reinvent the teen superhero comic for the 21st century, uniting Wiccan, Hulkling and Hawkeye with Loki, Marvel Boy and Ms. America. No pressure. Young Avengers is as NOW! as the air in your lungs, and twice as vital. It’s the book that knows Hyperbole is the BEST! THING! EVER!