Captain America: Another Avenger Makes His Way to Disneyland

Looking for Earth's Mightiest Heroes? Disneyland would be a good place to start these days!

On the heels of exhibits focused on Iron Man and Thor that made their way to the original Disney park in Anaheim, CA in the past year, Captain America -- whose new movie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, is not so coincidentally about to open -- is joining his fellow Avengers for the new "Captain America: The Living Legend and Symbol of Courage" opening on March 7th.

I got a chance to check out the Cap display at a press event, which is located in Innoventions in Tomorrowland, right next to the Thor and Iron Man areas, making for a nice Marvel-based gathering. Like the one for Thor, the Cap experience is primarily centered on a meet and greet opportunity, allowing fans to speak to Captain America and get photos with him - and making him the second Marvel superhero, after Thor, to appear as a costumed character at a Disney park. As you wait in line though, you get a fun look at Cap's history and as with the Iron Man and Cap exhibits, this includes some very cool props and costumes straight from the Marvel movies.

A timeline gives you a look at Cap's story, as see in the Marvel movies, so far, ending with his encounter in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (don't worry, it doesn't say how that plays out!).

In a display case is the uniform Cap wore during World War II in Captain America: The First Avenger, when he rescued Bucky and proved his worth as a soldier, along with his first shield.

And then, of course, there's the man himself...

I spoke to Disney's Jennifer Magill, who served as show director on "Captain America: The Living Legend", as well as "Thor: Treasures of Asgard", who noted how fun it is to see fans of all ages get to meet the iconic Marvel heroes. Said Magill, "I was able to bring my son to meet Thor and to go to Asgard a couple of weeks ago. That's the best part of it is being able to experience that with friends and family and see our guests enjoy that."

The actor playing Captain America did a great job, certainly looking the part, and conveying a friendly, earnest attitude, and I expect kids will be delighted by their encounters with him. When I went to take my photo with him -- you don't pass up a photo with Captain America! -- he asked me about my Boba Fett hoodie, having me describe the character a bit, which led to a chat about Tony Stark's arrogance, yet undeniably impressive tech.

Mr. Whedon, I await your phone call (Cap suggested the Iron Man pose).

While you get a glimpse while waiting in the queue, as you leave your meeting with Cap, you walk right by a display of shields, which includes several Howard Stark prototypes glimpsed in Captain America: The First Avenger - and, of course, Cap's famous, final shield with the "stealth" paint job seen in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

With both Captain America and Thor appearing as actual in-person characters at Disneyland, Iron Man stands out as the one Marvel-based exhibit where that's not the case - though there's a cool display of many of his armors. I asked Magill if that might change and she replied, "You never know. I do know, obviously, that Hong Kong Disneyland is working on a new [Iron Man] attraction and experience there that will open in 2016. You never know what's on the horizon. I can't speculate, but we're excited to have Captain America and Thor here."

"Captain America: The Living Legend and Symbol of Courage" will be open to the public on Friday, March 7th at Disneyland.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

The Cast of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Talks Marvel Crossovers

Show of hands: who among you would be interested in a Spider-Man/Avengers crossover movie? Pretty much everybody?

Well, you’re all in good company as director Marc Webb and the cast of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 are unanimously in favor of such an endeavor. Of course, the odds are against it due to licensing constraints (Marvel controls the Avengers, Sony has the film rights to Spidey) but it never hurts to dream.

22:31

IGN Rewind Theater

Rewind Theater: Will Gwen Stacy Die?

Yahoo! Movies UK put the question to Webb and Spidey 2 stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx. Everyone says they’d love to be involved in a crossover with the Marvel film universe, but they all seem to recognize the difficult logistics. As Garfield says, “Obviously big business and lawyers and rights issues are an obstacle for that.”

Webb does comment briefly on attempts to have some of the Marvel film universe characters show up in the first Amazing Spider-Man, which is interesting. With something of a knowing chuckle he demurs, “There were maybe efforts that were made, but obviously nothing came to fruition.”

Would you like to know more? Follow @adamdileo on Twitter or adam_dileo on IGN. Service guarantees citizenship.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

5 Useful Things to Know About Infinite Crisis

Superheroic MOBA Infinite Crisis is in better shape than it was when I played the closed beta a few months ago. It certainly wasn’t bad then, but moving, attacking, and casting spells all feel fittingly faster now. Also, since going hands-on with the newest characters on the latest map, I’ve identified five aspects of Infinite Crisis that, together, give it a more distinct feel in the ever-crowded MOBA genre. Here are the biggest takeaways you need to know:

One Hero Can Perform Different Roles

Imagine Green Lantern is your favorite superhero. Now imagine Green Lantern is a support class, but you prefer characters who dish out damage on the frontline. Disappointing, right?

02:24

Trailer

Infinite Crisis Atomic Green Lantern Trailer

Infinite Crisis sidesteps this problem by including multiple versions of some of its heroes, with plenty more on the way. To run with the Green Lantern example, one (Arcane Green Lantern) is indeed more support focused, while the original can provide respectable ranged damage. The different versions are not simple costume swaps, but different heroes entirely with their own styles of play.

New Content is Coming Quickly and Often

New, playable characters will be released every three weeks, and new outfits will be available weekly. Though the developers don’t have a completely free license to make whatever they want, it seems they’re already having plenty of fun with their freedom. One of the outfits I saw was “First Date Doomsday,” complete with shades, a suit coat, and a bouquet of roses.

Tuning the balance between all playable characters is hugely important in a competitive MOBA. With such a fast-paced plan, I asked Turbine’s executive producer, Jeffrey Steefel, how they’d make sure the new characters aren’t imbalanced:

“We have an in-house team that plays all day long,” Steefel said. “They see all kinds of games, and they understand the current state of the balance of the game.” He added that the development team is considering player feedback as well, and will continue to do so once the open beta launches.

04:22

Feature

Infinite Crisis - Mecha Superman Spotlight

Getting Gold is Easier

“Last hitting,” which refers to killing a unit by doing the last tick of damage on an enemy’s health bar, is a huge part of how most MOBAs work – especially in the early game. Skilled players who nab the last hits on their enemy’s drones are rewarded with gold. But in Infinite Crisis, if a drone dies and you didn’t get the last hit, a coin drops on the ground and you have a chance to grab it before it disappears. The dropped coins are worth less than a true last hit, though, so practicing is still in your best interest.

 If you’re new to the genre and you don’t have the timing down yet, this change improves your chances of getting your hands on some gold so the match isn’t a disappointing blowout. Also, if you’re in your lane with a partner, who’s perhaps a support class, that character could run up and nab the gold instead.

Support Classes Have More Freedom

In many MOBAs, you can purchase wards, place them around the battlefield, and gain vision on your minimap of the surveyed area. This task usually falls on support characters, as the core fighters often need to beef up their offensive capabilities in a more direct way. If the supports are having a bad game, however, they might only be able to purchase wards and little else in the way of equipment. It’s still useful, but it’s not the most exciting role to fill.

04:42

Feature

Infinite Crisis - Green Arrow Spotlight

Wards in Infinite Crisis are handled differently. When you travel back to your base to heal, you can grab a ward from a dispenser and head right back into the fray. Even as a damage-dealer, I was able to provide vision to my team with little inconvenience. This allowed the supports to focus more on locking down enemies or keeping the team alive in combat. It’s a smart way to spread out some of the housekeeping responsibilities across the whole team.

Buying New Items Isn't a Hassle

After getting last hits and killing your enemies, you’ll have gold to spend on new and better items. In some MOBAs, getting those items can be a chore. Some require you to go back to your base. Others let you deliver items on an animal courier, which can be killed by the enemy. Infinite Crisis chose a route that, while less tactical and demanding, keeps the action fast paced: You can buy items from any one of your towers on the map.

A system like this lets you keep the pressure on your foes, or conversely, it lets you defend a tower without having to leave and come back. The result, overall, is more and bigger clashes on the frontline.

What do you think of Infinite Crisis? If you've been playing the closed beta, let us know what you think in the comments below. And remember, the open beta kicks off on March 14. Check out our Infinite Crisis Wiki for strategies, character guides, and more.

Brian is an associate editor at IGN. He's crazy about MOBAs, and you should be too! Follow him @albinoalbert on Twitter.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

New Release Date Announced for The Purge 2

Universal Pictures has pushed the release date of The Purge: Anarchy from June 20, 2014, to July 18, 2014.

The Purge, starring Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey, was Blumhouse's first collaboration with Universal under their first-look deal. Jason Blum of Blumhouse will produce the sequel alongside Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes and and Sebastien Lemercier.

00:41

IGN NEWS

The Purge Director Returning for Sequel

Universal decided to move forward on The Purge: Anarchy shortly after the opening weekend success of The Purge, which, on a $3 million budget, earned an impressive $34 million at the box office.

James DeMonaco, director of the first movie, will helm the followup about dutiful citizens preparing for their country's annual 12 hours of anarchy.

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love by following @Max_Nicholson on Twitter, or MaxNicholson on IGN.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Battlefield 4 Naval Strike Expansion Coming Late March

Battlefield 4's third expansion pack adds new weapons, gadgets, four new maps, a vehicle and a new game mode, DICE announced today.

The Naval Strike expansion takes players to the South China Sea in four new multiplayer maps and features the new hovercraft vehicle. Additionally, Naval Strike introduces the Carrier Assault game mode, which is a revamped version of Titan Mode from the 2006 Battlefield 2142.

01:01

IGN NEWS

DICE Announces Battlefield 4 Player Appreciation Month

In Battlefield 2142's Titan Mode, players were tasked with destroying the opposing team’s Titan by controlling Anti-Titan missile silos or boarding the enemy Titan. Naval Strike's Carrier Assault is a “re-imagined" version of this mode, but DICE has promised to release more information soon.

As with previous expansions, Battlefield 4 premium members will receive Naval Strike two weeks earlier than standard players. Though DICE has yet to reveal the release date, it said the expansion would be out sometime in "late March" for Premium members.

Miranda Sanchez a freelance writer who spends most of her time playing Rust and Persona 4 Golden. You can get in touch with her on Twitter.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Aaron Paul May Join Better Call Saul

Aaron Paul may soon reunite with his former Breaking Bad co-star Bob Odenkirk in the upcoming spinoff Better Call Saul.

According to AP News, the actor has had "serious talks" with Better Call Saul co-creator Vince Gilligan about returning to play his character Jesse Pinkman, who in the new show would be a low-level drug dealer before he met Bryan Cranston's Walter White.

"Anything Vince is involved with, I'm there," Paul said in a recent Need for Speed interview. "I owe him my entire career. And the idea of jumping into the skin of Jesse Pinkman again in his lighter days -- because it's all a prequel -- it would be fun."

06:10

IGN Conversations

Will Better Call Saul Be a Comedy or Drama?

Currently it's uncertain if Cranston will also make an appearance. However, one Breaking vet that won't be coming back is Dean Norris, who played White's DEA agent brother-in-law Hank Schrader. He's still committed to Under the Dome, which will begin airing its second season this summer on CBS.

"I don't think they'll let me do a little cable show," Norris said in an interview this week. "I think that experience was that experience. I'm not a big fan of kind of revisiting something that has already been done. But I think it's going to be awesome. So I can't wait to see it."

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love by following @Max_Nicholson on Twitter, or MaxNicholson on IGN.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Wii U is a 'Powerhouse,' Says Donkey Kong Country Developer

The Wii U is much more powerful than people give it credit for, according to Retro Studios president Michael Kelbaugh.

"Unfortunately, the perception is that it's not a very powerful machine," Kelbaugh told GameSpot. "That's just not true. It's a powerhouse. It's more than adequate to make great games on." He added that in working on a more powerful machine for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, his team felt free from the "traditional limitations" of the Wii.

"It was really fun being able to crack that open for the first time and learning HD techniques; pixel shading, having a lot more horsepower and how that impacts the team," he said. "It was really fun to watch our artists just go crazy because now they didn't really have to worry about polygons anymore. 'Make as many as you want!'"

04:56

Review

Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze Video Review

He said the studio has enjoyed working with Metroid, Mario Kart, and Donkey Kong, and they'd "love to come back to them sometime."

Producer Kensuke Tanabe confirmed that Retro is at work on a new game, and Kelbaugh added that it's been in development for a few months since Tropical Freeze was finished. Neither of them were willing to elaborate on what the project is, however.

Steve Watts is a freelance writer who remembers the DK Rap. You can read more of his keen insights by following him on Twitter and IGN.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Ashton Kutcher Designing Lenovo Smartphones, Apparently

When Ashton Kutcher took on the role of Apple's visionary co-founder in the biopic Jobs, something must have really stuck. As reported by Recode, the actor will assist Lenovo in developing a unique line of smartphones set to launch sometime in 2014. Lenovo had previously hired Kutcher to promote its Yoga Tablet.

"This partnership with Lenovo brings together my love of technology and design that makes your life better," said Kutcher. "I can't wait to dig in and help Lenovo develop future mobile computing products."

Lenovo recently purchased the majority of Motorola Mobility from Google in a $2.91 billion USD deal. Lenovo's chief marketing officer David Roman says Kutcher won't actually work on the smartphones' internal circuitry, but will instead focus on the user experience. And lest you think this is all just a farce, Roman offers some (admittedly tepid) assurance.

"I know on one level, it sounds corny, but it is real," said Roman.

Matt Clark is a freelance writer covering the world of videogames, tech, and popular culture. Follow him on Twitter @ClarkMatt and MyIGN at Matt_Clark.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Microsoft Considers Free Windows 8.1 Bundle

Earlier this week, ZDNet reported Microsoft was experimenting with the concept of a free version of its latest operating system, Windows 8.1. Speaking with sources familiar with Microsoft's current plans, The Verge is now reporting a bundled version of the OS--called Windows 8.1 with Bing--is already in the works. Allegedly, the free bundle is being positioned as an incentive for Windows 7 users to upgrade, but this offer could extend further.

01:47

IGN NEWS

Windows Start Button is Back with 8.1

Currently, a Windows 7 upgrade to Windows 8.1 costs $120 USD. But according to these latest rumors, Windows 8.1 with Bing could be a free or low-cost alternative bundled with packaged apps. Microsoft could see the bundle as a way to both increase the number of users on Windows 8.1, and simultaneously draw attention to its other services, like the subscription-based Office 365.

Similar rumors have floated around as of late, claiming Microsoft may offer a free version of its Windows Phone OS. Of course, none of this is confirmed with Microsoft, so take all rumors like these with a dose of skepticism.

Matt Clark is a freelance writer covering the world of videogames, tech, and popular culture. Follow him on Twitter @ClarkMatt and MyIGN at Matt_Clark.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Marvel Announces Days of Future Past Mobile Game

Marvel has announced that it's working with developer GlitchSoft to bring the Uncanny X-Men classic storyline "Days of Future Past" to the world of mobile gaming.

VP of Games Production at Marvel TQ Jefferson said of the project, "GlitchSoft came to us with a pedigree of rock-solid game development, strong production values, and a passion for the Uncanny X-Men franchise that was impossible to ignore."

Days of Future past is a story line set in a dystopian future where mutants are interned in camps due to anti-mutant hysteria among the general population and takes place in Earth-811 reality in the Marvel Multiverse.

Glitchsoft's site for the game promises "Uncanny X-Men enthusiasts will be able to experience Marvel’s 1981 landmark Days of Future Past comic book story arc in an immersive and story-driven game."

Uncanny X-Men: Days of Future Past will be available for iOS and Android devices in May 2014 in conjunction with the Days of Future Past film.

How do you feel about a mobile game based on Days of Future past? Are there other X-Men story arcs you'd like to see made into games? We want to know about it in the comments below.

05:09

IGN Conversations

What IGN Saw on the Set of X-Men: Days of Future Past

Seth Macy is a freelance writer and podcaster. Follow him on Twitter @sethmacy and MyIGN at sethgmacy.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

New Godzilla Images Include Size Comparison Chart

Even though you don’t get to see too much of him in the most recent trailer, we’ve know for a while now what director Gareth Edwards and Legendary’s new take on Godzilla looks like. (Which is to say, awesome.) But a few new promotional images for the film have now dropped, including a size comparison chart that tracks the King of the Monsters from his original incarnation all the way to this new version.

The images come from the new issue of Empire. Take a look at a few of the choice ones here:

Who said size matters not?

Director Gareth Edwards and Bryan Cranston

Edwards also did a trailer breakdown with Empire, which you can check out here.

And last but not least, our own Chris Tilly and Luke Karmali in the UK just got to see 20 minutes of the film. Hear what they thought in the below chat:

11:48

IGN Conversations

We've Seen 20 Minutes of Godzilla!

Via Coming Soon and Scified

Talk to Senior Editor Scott Collura on Twitter at @ScottIGN, on IGN at scottcollura and on Facebook.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Steam Family Sharing Now Available for All Users

The Steam Family Sharing feature allowing users to share their libraries with each other has left beta and is now available for all users, Valve announced today.

Family Sharing allows a user to authorize up to 10 devices and five accounts to access any of the games in his or her Steam account. Users need to be online in order to play a shared game and have access to the entire library of a user sharing games, with some exceptions -- games that use CD keys or third-party services like Origin or Uplay may not be supported. DLC can be played right alongside the base game, but only if that game is not owned by the guest. In other words, you can't borrow DLC for a game you own through Family Sharing.

04:00

IGN Conversations

Which Steam Box Is Right For You?

Another key restriction is that a shared library can only be accessed by one guest at a time, and should the owner decide to play a game, anyone playing a shared game will have a few minutes to either buy a copy or stop playing.

In order to use Family Sharing, which had been in beta since September, users have to enable the Steam Guard security feature and specifically authorize each device games will be played on.

Valve encourages users to be cautious about whom they share their library with, as guests who use a shared library to cheat or commit fraud may have the library owner's sharing privileges revoked and account VAC banned.

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer who spends his spare time agonizing over the final seasons of The X-Files. Check out what he's saying on Twitter and follow him on IGN.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Donkey Kong, Pokemon, and the Shutdown of Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection

Download Nintendo Voice Chat Here

Download Nintendo Voice Chat Here

This week, NVC #LetTimHost. Join Tim Gettys, Brian Altano, Peer Schneider, and Greg Miller as they talk about the challenging platforming of Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, the weird world of Twitch Plays Pokemon, and the Shutdown of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Leave Us Feedback

Please let us know what you think of the show in the comments or email us at the address below.

Sign up for future episodes on our RSS feed here.

Subscribe to our show on iTunes here. New episodes will post every Thursday on IGN and your favorite podcast download service.

Do you have a great idea or topic for a future episode of Nintendo Voice Chat? Email us: nvc@ign.com

Jose Otero is an Associate Editor at IGN and host of Nintendo Voice Chat. You can follow him on twitter.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

State of Decay: Lifeline Places You In Military Command

State of Decay's upcoming DLC, Lifeline, was announced last week with little more than a name and a few particulars, but Undead Labs has now revealed the forthcoming expansion places you in the role of the military during the outbreak.

"In zombie fiction, the military is often the go-to badguy," wrote Undead Labs designer Geoffrey Card in a design concept outline of the new content. "They’re the hammer to which every problem is a nail, blindly mowing everything down to serve some unknown goal. But this view is fairly one-sided and naïve. Few people have a greater opportunity to make life-altering choices than soldiers."

16:31

IGN Plays

Another Day in the Zombie Apocalypse - IGN Plays: State of Decay Episode 1

State of Decay: Lifeline presents a reversal of the usual zombie-apocalypse fortunes. You'll start in control of a small surviving unit, Greyhound One, sent to the city of Danforth to recover vital research.

It's early in the outbreak, you still have access to resources and support - but things are rapidly deteriorating. Eventually, you well-armed and well-prepared will lose resources and its military lifeline, forcing you to adapt to as you fall from the top of the food chain.

23:25

IGN Game Reviews

IGN Reviews State of Decay

As Lifeline initially focuses on military action rather than immediate survival, Undead Labs have taken the opportunity to expand on base defense. Your secured HQ will allow for supply drops, civilian extractions and come loaded for bear with an arsenal of combat equipment. Minefields, trained soldiers and off-map artillery are all on the table as you fight the waves of oncoming undead to defend civilians. If you lose too many, it's game over.

We'll have more on State of Decay: Lifeline as it becomes available. However, if you're a grizzled veteran of the zombie apocalypse, why not help a fellow survivor out by contributing to our State of Decay wiki.

Brandin Tyrrel is a freelance writer who has braved a zombie apocalypse or two and lived to write about it. There's absolutely no reason to follow him on Twitter.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Games With Gold March 2014: Civilization Revolution, Dungeon Defenders

The two games that will be free to download in March on Xbox 360 are Civilization Revolution and Dungeon Defenders, Microsoft has announced.

Beginning tomorrow on March 1, Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution will be knocked down from its regular price of $30 and will be free to download until March 15. Civilization Revolution is an older title from 2008, but it is a great console strategy game. It earned 8.8 in IGN's review when it released.

02:30

Trailer

Dungeon Defenders-Gameplay Trailer

Starting on March 16, Civilization Revolution will return to normal price and Dungeon Defenders shall take its place, dropping from $14.99 and remaining free through the end of March. Dungeon Defenders launched in 2011 for the Xbox Live Arcade, and it's an incredibly addictive multiplayer tower defense action game. It scored 8.5 in IGN's review.

Keep in mind that only Xbox Live Gold subscribers on Xbox 360 will be able to download these games. If the games are downloaded during the two-week free periods, players can keep and play them forever, whether they remain Gold members or not. Sit tight, Xbox One owners-- Games With Gold is coming to the platform sometime before 2014 ends.

Kyle England is a freelance games writer relaxing on DK Island. Hit him up on Twitter if you know where sailors like to hang out.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

App Store Update: February 28

Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention. For more mobile game trailers, reviews and news be sure to Subscribe to IGNMobileGames on YouTube.

Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.

Game Debuts

Card City Nights – ($0.99)

I thought this art style looked familiar, and sure enough this one's coming from the same team responsible for the Legend of Zelda-esque adventure game, Ittle Dew. Card City Nights is also an adventure, but of a different sort – you step into the role of a card player who travels around a city full of other card players, doing battle with them by the light of the moon. Can you find and collect the eight legendary cards?

Running Quest – ($1.99)

Though at first this looks like the App Store's latest endless runner, it's more of a chaser – and with an ending. You're hot on the heels of a thief, and when you catch up to him, it'll be time to fight him and bring him to justice.

Laboratz – (Free)

This one was in the running for yesterday's ASU, but I'm glad I waited an extra day, because it's had its priced dropped to free in the meanwhile. Laboratz is a card battler in which you build an army of warrior rats:

Midnight Bite – ($1.99)

When a young vampire's parents leave him at home alone, he decides to sneak out and stalk victims in the nearby village of peasants:

Freebies!

Game of Watchcraft: Spawn of Squishy – (Free)

Yesterday's ASU presented Snip and Chu, the newest "LCDemake" made to play like Nintendo's old Game and Watch handhelds from three decades ago. In celebration of its release, this predecessor from the same studio has been set to free. Grab it!

That’s it for today! Email subscriptions to the App Store Update are still just one sign-up away, right here:

Lucas M. Thomas has been compiling IGN's App Store Updates since 2012 (and he even has an app of his own). He's also running a Kickstarter right now! You can follow him on Twitter, @lucasmthomas.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Game Writers Talk About Gay Protagonists

The writer of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon believes we won't see an openly homosexual protagonist in a triple-A game for some time out of fears that sales would be hurt.

Speaking to the Ubisoft blog, openly gay Ubisoft Montreal lead writer Lucien Soulban shared his view that we're unlikely to see any gay leads for a while and, if they do turn up, it'll have to be surprise from a powerhouse like Rockstar.

04:33

Review

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Video Review

"So when are we going to see that gay protagonist in a AAA game? Not for a while, I suspect, because of fears that it'll impact sales," he said. "So either we'll see a bait-and-switch like the original Metroid with Samus Aran where we'll find out damn near after the fact (PS: And Dumbledore was gay), or it'll come out of left field with Rockstar, Valve, Naughty Dog or Telltale, perhaps. But when it happens, I hope it's a serious take on it and not played up for jokes."

“

It's not too much to demand a bit of tolerance and compassion.

Soulban did acknowledge however that while we may not see a game centered on a gay character for a while, he believes that change is happening little by little.

"We'll definitely see more of them, and I think it's happening quietly," he said. "Look at the choices offered in Mass Effect 2 & 3, or Fable 3, or Dragon Age II or Skyrim, the gay characters in Borderlands 2 who mention it without much fanfare, etc.

"Video games have stopped announcing gay characters. They're introducing them without much fanfare in an effort to say, 'Yeah, it's there and pretty normal.' Call it: 'We're here, we're queer, and we're busy working.'"

01:06

IGN NEWS

New Dragon Age: Inquisition Updates

Last week, BioWare's Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider also penned a blog post about being openly homosexual and how that impacts his work.

"There are people out there for whom the presence of any gay content will automatically render it 'the gay game'," he said. "The presence of two bisexual male followers in Dragon Age II, only one of whom made advances on a male player without first being flirted with, means 'every man in Thedas is gay and wants my man-meat'. These are the same people for whom the mere existence of a gay character, or a plot that deals with gay subject matter, really anything that forces them to acknowledge that homosexuality so much as exists, is going to be a personal insult.

"I remind myself that it's not that much to include, and really it's very little in comparison to the entire rest of the game and thus, considering what it means to those fans who receive that validation almost nowhere else, it's not too much to demand a bit of tolerance and compassion from the portion of the audience for whom this content is not even intended."

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Junior Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on Twitter.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com

Hugh Jackman: Recasting Wolverine is “Inevitable”

Say it isn’t so! Hugh Jackman, who has been playing Wolverine since the first X-Men film was released in 2000, believes his days with the claws are numbered.

The Origins of X-Men: Days of Future Past

I spoke to the superhero actor and super nice guy on the set of director Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Days of Future Past a few months back, and the topic of recasting Wolverine did come up. Today, in the last part of our coverage of that set visit, Jackman addresses that topic and much more…

04:45

Feature

X-Men: Days of Future Past Explained

Was there ever a conversation about whether First Class would feature a young Logan played by a different actor?

I’m sure they had the discussion. They didn’t mention it to me, obviously! [Laughs] Look, that’s inevitable, man. Anyone who thinks they're indispensable in this business is fooling themselves. But I feel unbelievably blessed to have this part. I never thought in a million years I'd get to play him seven times. Every day I walk on the set with the claws and the hair, I thank my lucky stars. I don't take any of it for granted. To think that in a second version we'd have this cast and this director, and you guys don’t know the script, but I would say probably the best script of all of them, is pretty amazing. I think that's why I'm still here. I'm sure by the way, that it won't always be my decision to always be here. At some point, someone will close the door on me… [Laughs]

How he keeps track of everything when he bounces from Wolverine to other films and back to Wolverine in different time periods.

Well luckily, of all the bouncing around I do, the easiest one to bounce back to is Wolverine obviously. For me, the experience kinda gets weirdly… I don't feel, people might presume I'm getting tired of it. I don’t. It feels deeper to me and even more engaging than ever. I'm probably having more fun with the character than ever before. But this particular film is one that brings up a lot of feelings of gratitude for me. First of all, to walk on the set in the first few weeks was weird. It was like a reunion with Bryan. I owe a lot to Bryan. He cast me in this character. This was the first film I ever did in America and it had this incredible cast, this great director, and I was playing this unbelievable role. Even if it was bad, I would have said yes, because I had no other options. But it happened to turn out to be a great movie and a great character! [Laughs] And from there to have everyone we've worked with over the last 10 years and now to have James [McAvoy], Jennifer [Lawrence], Michael [Fassbender], and Nick [Hoult], and this incredible cast. It really is, every day is a treat. And to play a character I love -- to me this story is pretty epic and pretty extraordinary. When I first heard about it, I was filming Wolverine, and I thought maybe… And the moment I heard the pitch for this, I thought this is going to be brilliant and there's no way I'm missing out. And I answered 18 more questions than you asked me -- I’m sorry!

05:09

IGN Conversations

What IGN Saw on the Set of X-Men: Days of Future Past

On what’s at stake for Logan personally in this film.

[Laughs] For all the X-Men, everything is pretty much at stake! I would say the stakes or the danger level is certainly at its greatest in this movie. It's certainly the greatest villain or threat that they've faced. And so for everyone involved the stakes couldn't be higher. This is as dangerous as it gets for all of us. So in this particular part, because this is a continuation of the franchise, so in a way we're combining two X-Men worlds, but where we begin, and I don't know how much I can tell you… You know it’s set in 1973. So when it starts Wolverine is very much a part of the group, and I know that has not always been the case for him. So for him the journey is part of that team, part of that ensemble.

The physical demands of this film versus The Wolverine.

There were some differences with Wolverine, we had the Samurai element, we had some elements of some martial arts that I wanted to incorporate into that, not that he's a martial artist but I wanted him to learn some of that. So I was learning that style. Here my physical preparation because of Wolverine has been even better for this, because I really haven't stopped for almost two years. Because I spent a year preparing for that and we shot that for six months and six months later here we are, or five months later. So in a way, physically in terms of the look of the character, I'm probably in better shape than I was for The Wolverine, which has surprised me. But all the action in this, we've done a little bit of it but most of it is yet to come. So right now, I'm feeling pretty good, but I'm sure my body will be beaten up pretty soon!

X-Men: Days of Future Past director Bryan Singer (and friend)

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

New X-Men: Days of Future Past Images

< Previous

Next >

On working with Bryan Singer again.

It's been fantastic. You know, [X-Men 1] wasn't his first movie by any stretch of the imagination, it was my first movie, and he was a massive learning experience for me. I learned a lot from Bryan. Fair to say, I was scared out of my mind when I began. It was massive. I had only come from Ozzie movies. This whole thing was huge. So to now, 13, 14 years later, I've come back and to work with such a great director who is such a good friend of mine, and we’ve stayed friends ever since, so it's all the sweeter. The relationship, we know each other so well, from day one we just fell straight into it. I think he is as turned on and as grateful as I am to have this opportunity and he's loving it. I keep thinking, not only did Bryan create this universe, but the comic book genre was pretty much dead when X-Men started. You can credit Bryan with igniting the entire genre. So he's rightly deserved an iconic status in this world and for him to come back in such an epic way, with such a big movie and such a big cast, I think is exciting not only us for but for the fans everywhere.

Where he would go if he could travel through time.

I want to go back to the ’80s! I want to go back to my high school days with what I know now! [Laughs] The things I worried about back then, I wouldn't worry about now.

What did he worry about?

Well, we'll talk about that later! [Laughs] But let's just say, who wouldn't want to relive a day in their high school years? No, it probably would be the ’80s actually. It was fun. I liked the music back then, but then I think everyone just likes the music from when they were teenagers. I'm sure younger people or older people think the ’80s music sucked, but for me it’s kind of good.

On Wolverine’s time travelling and how he ages.

Can you tell the greys have slightly been taken out of my beard? There are a few things. Like he does… there is this misconception that Wolverine doesn't age at all. But obviously he does, but just at a much, much slower rate because he heals. So for him, it takes a little more extra work for my make-up artist in the mornings! [Laughs]

Read on for more of our chat with Jackman...

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com