By Alex Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
BAYER Philippines may be the first pharmaceutical company in the Philippines to ever use a Flash-based web game to advertise its product, particularly the men's health supplement Rogin-E.
The game is largely an "advergame" wherein a brand is represented in an interactive video game, either as in-game advertising or as the main theme of the game itself.
In the case of Bayer’s Rogin-E Man, the player must control a male character along a maze and catch packs of Rogin-E capsules while avoiding enemies. Catching large packs of Rogin-E would strengthen the character and beat enemies by just approaching them. The game is similar to the arcade hit Pac-Man.
On the other hand, instead of just being a game, Rogin-E Man gives players a chance to win prizes ranging from watches, MP3 players, gift certificates and a grand prize of P250,000.
Bayer Philippines Group Product Manager Tricia Duavit in an interview with hackenslash said that Rogin-E Man was launched in early June and will end before the last week of July.
She said this would be the first time that they have locally tested an advergaming campaign for a product and this could potentially revolutionize the industry's marketing campaigns on the Internet.
"We think it's an excellent sales promotional activity that can be made in line with the characteristics of our target market, which are men who are modern, fast-paced and very active lives. It's also a unique way to market the product and one way to convey the idea that the product delivers," Duavit said.
Duavit also added that using an advergame gives them the advantage of collecting data regarding their target market since players would have to register their real names to play the game. The database will then be used as the basis for the company's other campaigns.
"It's a quick and comprehensive way for us to find more about our market and what they like about our product," Duavit said.
Advertising agency JWT was the main advertising proponent of the Rogin-E Man game while Skyrocket Interactive developed the game.
JWT Account Director Arnel Gonzales said Bayer's entry into advergaming is an extension and evolution of its previous marketing activities through the Internet. The Rogin-E Man advergame is a test bed for Bayer’s marketing strategy in the Philippines.
"We started with a microsite then we launched a television commercial. We also had a partnership with another men’s magazine where we marketed the product and the Rogin-E Man promo. Right now, they’re trying to expand their reach and provide a meaningful and interactive experience to both Rogin-E users and potential customers," Gonzales said.
Gonzales also said that companies in other industries might take notice in utilizing new mediums to promote their products. He said that while Bayer's attempts to promote Rogin-E has yet to reach its targets, companies will eventually move to using the Internet for their marketing campaigns and also implement advergames.
"That’s what we’re promoting with the companies that we're handling. Of course, it’s still in the early stages and some will not be receptive of the idea but that will change as the benefits become apparent," Gonzales said.
June 2007 Archives
By Alex Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
ANYONE who grew up in the 80s and had a TV set would surely agree with me: "Transformers" is the best American-made robot cartoon series ever. The series, as well as the subsequent toys and the VHS-only full-length animation film, made such an impact on the Filipino child's psyche that it only meant to draw people to believe that another film would soon be made. It took another 20 years, but finally we have a live-action movie about gigantic alien robots that are disguised as normal-looking vehicles.
Luckily, the two who took up that responsibility are Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg, both legends in their own right. Still, many fans of the beloved robot series were afraid that, like many good TV franchises that went sour after being made into a movie, their version of Transformers would fall short of even the faintest expectations. They were happily proven wrong.
Bay and Spielberg's retelling of Transformers is the best one yet, one that will not be easily forgotten not just by the fans of the series but also newbies who are not familiar with it. It would be such a hit that the DVD home videos of the Transformers would be sold out as soon as it is released. Even the toys are currently being lapped up by people who grew up with the Transformers and their kids who are about to be introduced to the Autobots and Decepticons. While Bay and Spielberg are to be thanked for making sure that the visuals and the action scenes are as stunning as they could get on film, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (both writers for sci-fi TV series) should also be given credit for creating a solid story.
The "Transformers" movie of Bay and Spielberg is a retroactive continuity (retcon) of the original series. This meant changing the story from the original source material but most of the characters and the main plot remain intact.
The movie starts with an explosive scene in an American military base in Qatar that was attacked by a transforming helicopter (the Decepticon Blackout) who tried and failed to hack into the government servers.
Afterwards, Sam Witwicky buys a curious classic Camaro, which reveals itself as a mute transforming robot (the Autobot Bumblebee). The Camaro rescues Sam from another Decepticon disguised as a police car (Decepticon Barricade) who scares Sam into telling him where a pair of mysterious glasses is found. Later, it is told that both the Autobots and Decepticons, masters of the planet Cybertron, are at war for an infinitely powerful energy source called the Allspark and have brought their battle to Earth where the gigantic Allspark cube crash landed. From there, anyone could already expect what will happen next: gigantic robots beating each other up into piles of scrap in the hopes of acquiring the Allspark.
The movie is surprisingly long: at 2 hours and 20 minutes, it is longer than even "Superman Returns." But what is so good about the film is that it does not feel any longer than the normal 1-hour-and 30-minute length for most films. Bay has greatly utilized his skills in shooting his film without putting in too many "dead" scenes. A lot of Bay's signature moves also find their way to the movie, particularly the jarring camera movement and use of unnatural angles that he employed in his previous films such as "Armageddon," "Pearl Harbor" and "The Island," to name a few. The movie's progression is also well executed despite Bay's attempt to make it feel like it's still a movie for an older generation.
The computer graphics re-animation of the Autobots and Decepticons bears the signature of Spielberg's Dreamworks, which did 3D movies "Shrek," "Madagascar," and "Antz," as well as live-action movies with 3D effects such as "A.I." and "War of the Worlds." Various scenes show the Transformers change from vehicle to robot in Bay-esque camera movements as if they were really part of the environment and not just obvious 3D renders placed by special effects teams. It's as if you would want to pause the movie just to see what the robots look like in mid-action.
The Transformer robot designs have been changed drastically from the original ones but in most cases, they still bear some resemblance to their 80s counterparts. For example, Bumblebee still has his yellow paintjob and his helmet design while Optimus Prime is still in his red and blue color scheme, although he's now a long-nose long-haul truck, sans the trailer. Meanwhile, none of the Decepticons bear any resemblance to their original designs. Only the favorites Megatron and Starscream are in the film but some viewers would still like the new Decepticons Barricade and Blackout.
Understandably, few of the Transformers actually have speaking parts. Only the Autobots get to say some lines in the movie and only a few of them get some character buildup. Poorer still are the presentation for the Decepticons. Only a few of them, such as Barricade and Blackout, get enough screen time and dialogue. The rest of the Decepticons, including Megatron, don't show up until the last 30 minutes of the film. However, as earlier stated, the progression of the movie is so fast that viewers would be time-warped to the last battle scene without them knowing it. The urban mayhem involving all of the Transformers is also one of the best action scenes for a sci-fi movie in recent history.
Of course, the human element remains intact. Sam Witwicky (played by Shia LaBeouf) is the worrisome teenager whom most of us guys would empathize with. Sometimes, however, he is becomes annoying with his fast talk as he churns out 10 words per second as he tries to make sense of what’s happening to him. Mikaela Banes (the hot and sultry Megan Fox) works well with him as she stays quiet most of the time and only taking action if Sam is frozen in his tracks. Perhaps the hacker Maggie Marconi (Aussie actress Rachael Taylor) is the only other female in the movie who is equally hot, even as she shows a tattoo on the right side of her neck.
Here's Rachael posing in front of a mock-up of a transformer as she arrives at the premiere of "Transformers" in Los Angeles.
Other actors who did respectable jobs in the movie are Jon Voight, who plays US Secretary of Defense John Keller, and John Turturro, as Simmons from the secretive Sector Seven. I emphasize the word "respectable" since this isn’t a movie about the human actors anyway and it's all about the robots.
The movie, while sticking to its roots, is still largely a popcorn action flick where the mind does not need to flit around the storyline or the special effects. "Transformers" is more like a New Year's Eve fireworks display that is more of a visual bombardment than anything else.
While the movie will be a sure blockbuster hit, it does not necessarily mean that everyone will be hoping to watch it again after the first screening.
Perhaps only the bigger fans of the TV series will have the motivation to invite a few of their other friends to watch it again. But the casual moviegoer will just say it was fun but not something worth watching again except when it comes out on home video.
Still, a blockbuster is a blockbuster and "Transformers" deserves to be in that category.
ANYONE who grew up in the 80s and had a TV set would surely agree with me: "Transformers" is the best American-made robot cartoon series ever. The series, as well as the subsequent toys and the VHS-only full-length animation film, made such an impact on the Filipino child's psyche that it only meant to draw people to believe that another film would soon be made. It took another 20 years, but finally we have a live-action movie about gigantic alien robots that are disguised as normal-looking vehicles.
Luckily, the two who took up that responsibility are Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg, both legends in their own right. Still, many fans of the beloved robot series were afraid that, like many good TV franchises that went sour after being made into a movie, their version of Transformers would fall short of even the faintest expectations. They were happily proven wrong.
Bay and Spielberg's retelling of Transformers is the best one yet, one that will not be easily forgotten not just by the fans of the series but also newbies who are not familiar with it. It would be such a hit that the DVD home videos of the Transformers would be sold out as soon as it is released. Even the toys are currently being lapped up by people who grew up with the Transformers and their kids who are about to be introduced to the Autobots and Decepticons. While Bay and Spielberg are to be thanked for making sure that the visuals and the action scenes are as stunning as they could get on film, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (both writers for sci-fi TV series) should also be given credit for creating a solid story.
The "Transformers" movie of Bay and Spielberg is a retroactive continuity (retcon) of the original series. This meant changing the story from the original source material but most of the characters and the main plot remain intact.
The movie starts with an explosive scene in an American military base in Qatar that was attacked by a transforming helicopter (the Decepticon Blackout) who tried and failed to hack into the government servers.
Afterwards, Sam Witwicky buys a curious classic Camaro, which reveals itself as a mute transforming robot (the Autobot Bumblebee). The Camaro rescues Sam from another Decepticon disguised as a police car (Decepticon Barricade) who scares Sam into telling him where a pair of mysterious glasses is found. Later, it is told that both the Autobots and Decepticons, masters of the planet Cybertron, are at war for an infinitely powerful energy source called the Allspark and have brought their battle to Earth where the gigantic Allspark cube crash landed. From there, anyone could already expect what will happen next: gigantic robots beating each other up into piles of scrap in the hopes of acquiring the Allspark.
The movie is surprisingly long: at 2 hours and 20 minutes, it is longer than even "Superman Returns." But what is so good about the film is that it does not feel any longer than the normal 1-hour-and 30-minute length for most films. Bay has greatly utilized his skills in shooting his film without putting in too many "dead" scenes. A lot of Bay's signature moves also find their way to the movie, particularly the jarring camera movement and use of unnatural angles that he employed in his previous films such as "Armageddon," "Pearl Harbor" and "The Island," to name a few. The movie's progression is also well executed despite Bay's attempt to make it feel like it's still a movie for an older generation.
The computer graphics re-animation of the Autobots and Decepticons bears the signature of Spielberg's Dreamworks, which did 3D movies "Shrek," "Madagascar," and "Antz," as well as live-action movies with 3D effects such as "A.I." and "War of the Worlds." Various scenes show the Transformers change from vehicle to robot in Bay-esque camera movements as if they were really part of the environment and not just obvious 3D renders placed by special effects teams. It's as if you would want to pause the movie just to see what the robots look like in mid-action.
The Transformer robot designs have been changed drastically from the original ones but in most cases, they still bear some resemblance to their 80s counterparts. For example, Bumblebee still has his yellow paintjob and his helmet design while Optimus Prime is still in his red and blue color scheme, although he's now a long-nose long-haul truck, sans the trailer. Meanwhile, none of the Decepticons bear any resemblance to their original designs. Only the favorites Megatron and Starscream are in the film but some viewers would still like the new Decepticons Barricade and Blackout.
Understandably, few of the Transformers actually have speaking parts. Only the Autobots get to say some lines in the movie and only a few of them get some character buildup. Poorer still are the presentation for the Decepticons. Only a few of them, such as Barricade and Blackout, get enough screen time and dialogue. The rest of the Decepticons, including Megatron, don't show up until the last 30 minutes of the film. However, as earlier stated, the progression of the movie is so fast that viewers would be time-warped to the last battle scene without them knowing it. The urban mayhem involving all of the Transformers is also one of the best action scenes for a sci-fi movie in recent history.
Of course, the human element remains intact. Sam Witwicky (played by Shia LaBeouf) is the worrisome teenager whom most of us guys would empathize with. Sometimes, however, he is becomes annoying with his fast talk as he churns out 10 words per second as he tries to make sense of what’s happening to him. Mikaela Banes (the hot and sultry Megan Fox) works well with him as she stays quiet most of the time and only taking action if Sam is frozen in his tracks. Perhaps the hacker Maggie Marconi (Aussie actress Rachael Taylor) is the only other female in the movie who is equally hot, even as she shows a tattoo on the right side of her neck.
Here's Rachael posing in front of a mock-up of a transformer as she arrives at the premiere of "Transformers" in Los Angeles.
Other actors who did respectable jobs in the movie are Jon Voight, who plays US Secretary of Defense John Keller, and John Turturro, as Simmons from the secretive Sector Seven. I emphasize the word "respectable" since this isn’t a movie about the human actors anyway and it's all about the robots.
The movie, while sticking to its roots, is still largely a popcorn action flick where the mind does not need to flit around the storyline or the special effects. "Transformers" is more like a New Year's Eve fireworks display that is more of a visual bombardment than anything else.
While the movie will be a sure blockbuster hit, it does not necessarily mean that everyone will be hoping to watch it again after the first screening.
Perhaps only the bigger fans of the TV series will have the motivation to invite a few of their other friends to watch it again. But the casual moviegoer will just say it was fun but not something worth watching again except when it comes out on home video.
Still, a blockbuster is a blockbuster and "Transformers" deserves to be in that category.
By Alex Villafania, hackenslash reporter
INQUIRER.net
LEVEL UP! Inc. CEO Jane Walker has confirmed the departure of Level Up! Chief Operating Officer Sheila Paul, one of the earliest employees of the Philippine online game publisher.
Walker said Paul stayed on with the company until the end of May and moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the middle of June.
"She wanted to move forward to a new industry other than gaming. It was fun working with her," Walker said, adding that Paul was a business partner.
Meanwhile, at its press briefing to announce its second quarter earnings, IP Ventures Group president and CEO Enrique Gonzalez named several new employees, including Gil Edeza, the former executive of several startup firms, who will be IPVG's new Vice President for Business Development.
Edeza was hired along with 14 other new executives from different companies as part of IPVG's expansion plans.
In an interview with hackenslash, Edeza confirmed his position in IPVG but clarified that his function is the company's Senior Consulting Executive for IP Converge, the data center division of IPVG.
Edeza's post allow him to provide ideas to executives of IPVG regarding the expansion of their IP Converge business, which he said will introduce innovative products and services.
He also clarified that he will not be focusing on IP e-Games, IPVG's game distribution company.
Edeza previously worked as Global Chief Technology Officer for Level Up! Inc., which is a competitor of IP e-Games.
Edeza's move to IPVG was also confirmed by Level Up! CEO Walker, who is also a friend and business partner of Edeza.
Apart from Level Up!, Edeza also worked for Internet cafe chain firm Netopia and software services provider WolfPac. He was once the country manager for network equipment vendor 3Com.
By Alex Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
A FEW days before the opening of the Transformers movie, local merchants are all ready to cash in on the potential blockbuster of the year. On June 29, several companies will be introducing several lines of Transformer-themed products.
The launch of the Transformers movie merchandise launch will be held at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. Most of the items would be action figures from the movie and from the previous cartoon series, clothing lines and similar items.
Apart from the merchandise, the event will also have several side events such as trivia contests, diorama exhibits and collections.
In an interview with hackenslash, Transformers Philippines event organizer Azrael Coladilla said the launch would be one of the big movie highlights of the year thanks to a 23-year-old cartoon franchise that made an impact among Filipinos.
In fact, the recently introduced toy line from the movie have been selling out in such stores as Toys "R" Us and Toy Kingdom. Among the most sellable characters are the new movie versions of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron and Blackout.
"It's going to be a big blockbuster that can compete with other movies. Of course we can't say it'll beat the other franchises but the Transformers movie will surely be a hit for both the fans of the original cartoon series and first-time viewers," Coladilla said.
Already, local websites are abuzz with information regarding the upcoming film, directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg, particularly the Transformers Philippines online forum, the largest and most prominent Transformers-related forum in the country.
The upcoming movie will be a retroactive continuity (or retcon) of the first cartoon series that came out in 1984, which means that much of the story has been rehashed but the main plot is retained. According to forums, the heroic Autobots and their enemies the Decepticons have come to earth to look for an energy source called Allspark (a retcon of the original concept of the fictional "energon cubes"). The location of the Allspark is unwittingly being held by Spike Witwicky (another original character from the TV series).
Both Autobots and Decepticons disguise themselves as earthly vehicles to avoid detection. As toys, the Transformers were a hit in the early 1980s up to the late 90s.
According to Coladilla, based on forum discussions, as well as the release of a kiddie book, a continuation of the Transformers movie is easily noticed. Sequels have also been confirmed in previous interviews with Spielberg and Bay.
By Joey Alarilla, hackenslash Editor
INQUIRER.net
I WAS at Borders in Singapore on June 16 with Hinge Inquirer Publications group editor Adel Gabot, GAME! editor in chief Howard Paw, and Emir Samonte, editor in chief of IP e-Games' Content/Communications Group when one of the store staffers made an announcement. She said the members of the Fantastic Four would be making a visit, so customers should get their cameras ready.
Well, I certainly wasn't going to miss that! I excitedly told Emir that it was meant to be, 'coz what a happy coincidence it was that we just happened to visit Borders then, heh :)
Well, I was in for a disappointment. Only Dr. Doom and the Human Torch (and heck, you wouldn't even know at first that he was meant to be Johnny Storm) arrived while we were there, and instead of a grand entrance the guys portraying these characters basically, um, skulked inside. As if they were ashamed -- dunno why, heh.
Actually, I joked that the Invisible Woman was also there, but of course we couldn't see her.
Anyway, here are two clips from that Borders visit.
For more videos, visit iVDO. And check out Alex Villafania's review of the "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" movie.
By Joey Alarilla, hackenslash Editor
INQUIRER.net
SINGAPORE--The Philippines may not have made it to the finals of the first Southeast Asian Granado Espada Raid Party held at Zouk on June 16, but the teams went down fighting and gained experience in competing at the international level.
Kudos to Malaysia, which emerged as the champion in the two-on-two player vs player tournament after cara and Nuub of YakiMY2 defeated the Singaporean team Ravage composed of Voyage and RavaNa. Interestingly enough, it was an all-Yakisoba affair as all four members of those teams belong to the Yakisoba faction in Granado Espada.
Meanwhile, the Philippine teams received a number of special awards. Hailed as the Most Valuable Player was Mark Sta. Ana, one of the members of the NCR team that emerged as the top team in the Philippine tournament and was sent to Singapore to represent our country. Mark went home with a Pinnacle digital media player.
The other Philippine team in Singapore, the GE Philippines "Wild Card" Team composed of Lam Shun Chun and Rommel Reyes, was named Most Supporting Team and received a Microsoft Reclusa keyboard and Pinnacle TV tuner.
Team Visayas, which was one of the teams that played from the Philippines at the Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention 2007 in SM Megamall, made it to the wild card round and was our last hope. Unfortunately, they lost both matches to the Singaporean teams in the three-way round robin. Still, the Visayas team was cited for Best Feature Match, with members Kenneth Tiu and Bryan Sacal receiving Seagate 250 GB hard disks.
This isn't the Best Feature match because I couldn't recharge my Nokia N90 and the battery died, heh, but here's the previous wild card match of Team Visayas that was also featured on the big screen, courtesy of iVDO.
SINGAPORE--Here's a video of legendary game creator Hakkyu Kim, the "Father of Ragnarok," responding through a translator to questions on how he feels about the gaming community's reception to his new game Granado Espada and if it exceeded his expectations.
Questions thrown by me, GAME! editor in chief Howard Paw, and Hinge Inquirer Publications group editor in chief Adel Gabot.
I took this Video on June 16 during the first Southeast Asian Granado Espada Raid Party at Zouk.
By Alex Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
THE FIRST "Fantastic Four" film was a good popcorn movie but not as well-made as other Marvel-based movies such as "Spider-Man" and "X-Men," despite doing well in the tills. But the Fantastic 4 sequel is something of a surprise, particularly the storyline that stuck close to the material, except for a few changes in characterization. Simply put, the second F4 movie is one of the few sequels that have surpassed expectations.
One of the more difficult parts in doing a sequel is merging separate plots into a cohesive storyline and in the case of "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," there was lower expectation about the narrative due to the largely bad reviews from the first film. Fanboys of the comic book did not like the overly simplistic characterization of the heroes and even ordinary moviegoers only saw a regular action flick with the sultry Jessica Alba as the cherry on top. The first F4 flick suffered somewhat a "lechon manok" effect amid Hollywood studios taking Marvel comics licenses to turn them into money-making movies. Not surprisingly, F4 was overshadowed by the successes of the Spider-Man and X-Men movies, as well as minor success of the first Hulk film (with the exception of the badly mangled Punisher film).
In "F4: Rise of the Silver Surfer," there are two distinct stories, namely the wedding of Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and Susan Storm (Invisible Girl), as well as the appearance of the cosmic being known as the Silver Surfer. The Richards-Storm wedding is notable in the story arc of both the comic book series as well as the movie as it depicts the complexities of settling down amidst a media circus as well as their responsibilities to society.
Meanwhile, Silver Surfer is well chosen to play the part of the mysterious planetary antagonist, his mission initially being obscure to movie viewers until the end.
But it is the Silver Surfer plot thread that is the highlight of the film and all throughout, the Silver Surfer appears to be the villain. Not even the return of the F4's perennial enemy, Victor Von Doom (from the first film) could undermine the mysterious mission of Silver Surfer. From the time he arrives on the planet, the cosmic being has affected the natural balance of the places that he passes by. He flies faster than Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), can go through solid objects without destroying them, is virtually indestructible against human weapons and can travel from outer space and back to earth with ease. The idea of an ultimate being as embodied by the Silver Surfer is easy enough to understand unlike "regular" super heroes whose powers have to be explained. This makes it easier for the movie writers and producers to chuck in Silver Surfer to save time to explain his origins and focus more on what he really means to do to the planet, which is to serve Galactus as his herald in seeking out planets for the cosmic entity to consume.
The F4 sequel also stuck with some of the original portrayal of the F4 superheroes and the acting has been fine-tuned to prevent the same inane characterization of the cast. Reed Richards (played by Ioan Gruffudd) talks and acts like the comic book character he is portraying, while the Thing/Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) and Human Torch (Chris Evans) have become more humorous than they were in the first film with their constant verbal tussles. Jessica Alba's portrayal of a sensitive but hot-looking Sue Richards is something that fanboys would still have to learn to appreciate.
But the best non-canonical portrayal of a comic book character must be the world devourer Galactus, who is shown only at the last part of the film and is nothing more than a huge but mute dark cloud that can cover five planets.
Again, fanboys will definitely not agree with the directors (and with me) in the portrayal of Galactus who is shown as a huge humanoid in the comic books but there are advantages to using an antagonist without any dialogue or a physical body. That is to allow the enigmatic Silver Surfer to explain himself who Galactus is and to make viewers more curious as to what Galactus would look like. Being a cosmic being, Galactus can take any form he wants -- in this case, a huge galactic cloud. Also, Marvel comic book enthusiasts would know that Galactus can never be destroyed (he is, after all, an essential element in the creation of the universe in the Marvel comic book context) but the F4 sequel would have the Silver Surfer using all his cosmic energies to turn Galactus inside out.
Criticism by fanboys aside, "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" is a surprise hit that most viewers and marginal comic book fans would appreciate and enjoy due to the superhero theme, the elements of hilarity among the characters, and the visual effects.
By Alex Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
THERE are so many double-crosses in this movie that it made me dizzy just in its first 30 to 40 minutes. The plot was muddled by a difficult-to-understand Middle English accent spoken by all of the pirates in the film and the progression of the narrative is as confusing as Captain Jack Sparrow's thoughts. Wait a minute, is this supposed to be a kiddie movie?
If Disney wanted to turn a good theme park ride into a cash cow, it should have made the third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean consistent with the first two films. True, the plot of the first two Pirates of the Caribbean films were also hard to follow, but what they lacked in progression, they made up for with comic relief (almost single-handedly delivered by Johnny Depp's clever portrayal of crazy pirate Jack Sparrow), thus leaving viewers with a sense of comprehension of what the entire story was all about.
But these two films' slightly confusing storylines were no match for the third film's incomprehensible plot and seemed to have broken off from the original story, which is rescuing Jack Sparrow after being eaten by the gigantic Kraken.
Anyway, the main story of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is supposedly to rescue Jack Sparrow from Davey Jones' Locker, a purgatory-like place where the souls of Davey Jones' enemies are trapped as punishment by the squid-headed transporter of souls lost at sea. However, the rescuers of Jack Sparrow, namely Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swan (Kiera Knightly) and a resurrected Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), have a different reason for saving Sparrow and that is to bring him to the Brethren Court, a group of nine pirate lords. The summoning of the Brethren Court was done to find a way to survive the onslaught of Lord Culter Beckett, the scheming master of the East India Trading Company whose goal is to wipe the seas of pirates.
Surprisingly, Davey Jones is under the command of Beckett who is holding Jones' heart hostage. Take note that Jones and his fishy crew is trapped in the ghostly ship the Flying Dutchman and Beckett uses Jones to destroy pirate ship. Jones' pet the Kraken does make a comeback in the film but only as a rotting carcass after Beckett ordered Jones to kill the squid-like monster.
From here, the plot becomes even more confusing as Will Turner who makes unscrupulous deals, first with the Singapore pirate lord Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat), then with Beckett, then with a rescued Sparrow. Viewers would find it confusing how Turner makes these deals with pirates and a rabid shipping magnate without ever getting caught. Barbossa's resurrection is in itself confusing since it was Sparrow who had killed him. But then, it was explained by the sea witch Tia Dalma why she resurrected Barbossa, who was willing enough to rescue Sparrow despite dying in the first film.
Tia Dalma herself is a confusing character. Later in the film, it is explained that she was Calypso, a sea goddess who gave Davey Jones his original assignment of ferrying souls of the dead lost at sea. Later, it is revealed that Calypso and Jones were lovers and that she betrayed him by not showing up in their meeting place after 10 years of servitude. Jones developed his squid-like physical appearance after ending his deal with Calypso.
I'm sure you're already confused with the synopsis in itself but try watching the film. There were too many names and ideas that were thrust into the movie: Beckett, Calypso/Tia Dalma, Davey Jones' Locker, the Brethren Court, World's End navigational chart, the Eight of Nine Pieces, etc. All these played an essential role in the film but there were too many of them that it was difficult to understand the correlation of one idea with the rest.
On a positive note, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is perhaps the best of the three films in terms of production value. It had the most diverse locations, both real and virtual, and had the most epic pieces, such as a swampy Singapore, the Parlay sand island where Beckett met with the pirate lords and the final battle between the Flying Dutchman and the Black Pearl. Computer graphics did play a major role in many of the scenes but these were well integrated into the movie and can leave viewers a sense of wonder where these places were located or if they were real.
Still, it would have been best if the movie stuck to the continuation of the series, which is to merely rescue Jack Sparrow. All indicators point to a potential follow up in the series and even with a confusing third installation, Sparrow and his beloved Black Pearl deserves to sail again.
By Alex Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
WITH only two weeks left before the opening of the highly anticipated "Transformers" movie, comic fans, collectible fanatics, hobbyists and casual geeks were treated to the year's biggest toy and hobby fare, the Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention 2007 (ToyCon).
This year's ToyCon at the SM Megamall saw the biggest number of exhibitors and sponsors, many of whom are involved in the preparation for the opening of the live action flick "Transformers," which will be shown on June 28 in the Philippines, almost a week before the worldwide premier showing.
The ToyCon website even offers video streaming to highlight this year's activities.
"It's more of a Transformers event than anything else but that's OK because everyone loved the cartoon series and the toys that came with it. Many of the hobby shops that sold Transformers merchandise already ran out of some stock," according to Azrael Coladilla, head of the organizing committee for ToyCon.
Some of the merchandise from the "Transformers" movie as well as the older versions of the series sold just slightly higher than in some shops, though that did not stop fans from buying the more popular Transformers toys, particularly the movie version of Autobot leader Optimus Prime, which sold between P3,000 to P3,500.
There was also a booth where nearly all of the toys from the series were displayed, some of which are as old as the 1984 series and a rare few that have not been removed from their boxes yet, making them extremely expensive to purchase.
Here's a snapshot of the exhibit that showed off the artwork of legendary Filipino comic book artist Alfredo Alcala.
Meanwhile, the live performances gave their rendition of the catchy Transformers theme music. One band in particular, Elite Star Pilots, did a hip hop version of the Transformers opening sequence.
There was even a group of participants in the cosplay competition who donned elaborate Transformers costumes, particularly the classic Optimus Prime design and a well-detailed Decepticon Constructicon suit.
Nevertheless, many of the exhibitors still sold numerous action figures from different brands, both popular and cult classics. There were characters from Marvel and DC comics, anime TV shows, and video games.
Here's a photo of life-size versions of DC's Justice League together with some Marvel heroes.
Some shops were also giving discounts and promos, including buy one, take one offers. Specialty shops from Greenhills, Makati and Alabang were among the exhibitors who were enticing potential buyers with special promos.
"We've exceeded expectations. Just for the first day, we already had 8,000 visitors and about 168 participants in the cosplay games. We expect more on the second day," Coladilla said.
Coladilla said the community of toy collectors and enthusiasts in the Philippines continues to be stable through the years, especially those who grew up with fond memories of the characters they read or watched.
He said the high cost of the collectibles could not deter fans from purchasing. Even having families of their own would not stop them from being fans. Some of them even go as far as saving up for months to buy an item.
"It's a very good market for toy and specialty shops in the Philippines because there are collectors here who are willing to pay premium for the toys that they buy. This would continue to go as more kids now become fans of the toys that they are growing up with," Coladilla said.
After ToyCon 2007, Coladilla said he is preparing for another toy event on June 29, also in Megamall. This time it would be all about the "Transformers" movie.
"This will be a niche event but we're expecting fans of all ages to come," he said.
WITH only two weeks left before the opening of the highly anticipated "Transformers" movie, comic fans, collectible fanatics, hobbyists and casual geeks were treated to the year's biggest toy and hobby fare, the Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention 2007 (ToyCon).
This year's ToyCon at the SM Megamall saw the biggest number of exhibitors and sponsors, many of whom are involved in the preparation for the opening of the live action flick "Transformers," which will be shown on June 28 in the Philippines, almost a week before the worldwide premier showing.
The ToyCon website even offers video streaming to highlight this year's activities.
"It's more of a Transformers event than anything else but that's OK because everyone loved the cartoon series and the toys that came with it. Many of the hobby shops that sold Transformers merchandise already ran out of some stock," according to Azrael Coladilla, head of the organizing committee for ToyCon.
Some of the merchandise from the "Transformers" movie as well as the older versions of the series sold just slightly higher than in some shops, though that did not stop fans from buying the more popular Transformers toys, particularly the movie version of Autobot leader Optimus Prime, which sold between P3,000 to P3,500.
There was also a booth where nearly all of the toys from the series were displayed, some of which are as old as the 1984 series and a rare few that have not been removed from their boxes yet, making them extremely expensive to purchase.
Here's a snapshot of the exhibit that showed off the artwork of legendary Filipino comic book artist Alfredo Alcala.
Meanwhile, the live performances gave their rendition of the catchy Transformers theme music. One band in particular, Elite Star Pilots, did a hip hop version of the Transformers opening sequence.
There was even a group of participants in the cosplay competition who donned elaborate Transformers costumes, particularly the classic Optimus Prime design and a well-detailed Decepticon Constructicon suit.
Nevertheless, many of the exhibitors still sold numerous action figures from different brands, both popular and cult classics. There were characters from Marvel and DC comics, anime TV shows, and video games.
Here's a photo of life-size versions of DC's Justice League together with some Marvel heroes.
Some shops were also giving discounts and promos, including buy one, take one offers. Specialty shops from Greenhills, Makati and Alabang were among the exhibitors who were enticing potential buyers with special promos.
"We've exceeded expectations. Just for the first day, we already had 8,000 visitors and about 168 participants in the cosplay games. We expect more on the second day," Coladilla said.
Coladilla said the community of toy collectors and enthusiasts in the Philippines continues to be stable through the years, especially those who grew up with fond memories of the characters they read or watched.
He said the high cost of the collectibles could not deter fans from purchasing. Even having families of their own would not stop them from being fans. Some of them even go as far as saving up for months to buy an item.
"It's a very good market for toy and specialty shops in the Philippines because there are collectors here who are willing to pay premium for the toys that they buy. This would continue to go as more kids now become fans of the toys that they are growing up with," Coladilla said.
After ToyCon 2007, Coladilla said he is preparing for another toy event on June 29, also in Megamall. This time it would be all about the "Transformers" movie.
"This will be a niche event but we're expecting fans of all ages to come," he said.
By Joey Alarilla, hackenslash Editor
INQUIRER.net
SINGAPORE--Will Filipinos bring home the gold and show they're a force to reckon with in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game Granado Espada?
Let's not sugarcoat things: It's going to be a tough battle, especially against the Singaporean players who are just as passionate about the latest game from the "Father of Ragnarok" Hakkyu Kim as our own growing community of GE fanatics in the Philippines. But the Filipinos are out to prove that they have indeed embraced GE and have made the game their own.
At any rate, the execs of IP e-Games, which publishes GE in the Philippines under its IP Interactive brand, seem pretty confident that the Philippines will have a strong showing in the Raid Party, which will be held later today at Zouk. I arrived last night with fellow journalists Adel Gabot, group editor in chief of our sister company Hinge Inquirer Philippines, and Howard Paw, editor in chief of GAME!, HIP's gaming magazine.
The online game publisher has flown in not just one but two teams to Singapore for the competition -- the team of Mark Anthony Sta. Ana and Paolo Inocencion from the National Capital Region, who topped he pre-qualifying tournament in the Philippines, as well as "wild card" team that was formed to support the Philippine contingent. Apart from the teams that are now in Singapore, seven more Filipino teams will compete in real-time at the Philippine Toy Convention 2007 at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City.
Our bets will compete against their counterparts from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Oh, and did I mention that Hakkyu Kim himself is also here to witness this tournament? And that they've decorated Zouk to make it look like the in-game world of GE, complete with models in Granado Espada costumes?
Steve Tsao, the president and COO of IP e-Games, has made a fearless forecast for this first ever Southeast Asian Granado Espada Raid Party.
"The Philippines represents some of the top guilds and players in GE. I really expect the to win in the tournament," he said in a press statement.
Let's see if our bets will be able to pull it off. We'll be rooting for them all the way.
Catch you later during the tournament.
By Alex Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
JOHNATHAN WENDELL is everywhere. The man whose nickname is Fatal1ty is the world's most popular professional video game player and may perhaps be the richest, having earned about half a million dollars in cash and prizes by joining competitions, not including his many sponsorships and endorsements.
During the recently held computer exhibit Computex in Taiwan, Fatal1ty made his presence as a player, giving tips to wannabe video game professionals. For three days, Fatal1ty played one-on-one against guests of the giant computer exhibit in the fast-paced first-person shooter Quake 4. Of course, he was never beaten.
In all of his competitions during Computex, Fatal1ty never died a single time and was always on target, almost never losing a shot in what seemed to be a superhuman capability to anticipate the enemy's random moves. His skills were honed through years of intense and dedicated playing.
Fatal1ty became known in the professional video gaming world in 1999 as a third place winner in the Quake III Arena Tournament. He also plays Counter-Strike and Call of Duty. Since then, he has won half a million dollars and a Ford Focus. He has also been endorsing computer peripherals from Creative Labs, Zalman and of course Universal Abit.
Fatal1ty himself explained to the audience that he practices eight hours a day and does physical exercise for at least two hours. He also told would-be professional gamers that video games are as serious as any sport and should be treated as such.
"It develops skills and coordination. Besides, it's fun for the player and the spectator," he said.
On the other hand, his visit to Taiwan was not just about playing against video game players but also to endorse motherboard manufacturer Universal Abit, which created the world's first computer motherboard series bearing the name of a person, simply called the Fatal1ty series.
Universal Abit started manufacturing the Fatal1ty motherboards a few years back as a niche market board for gaming enthusiasts. The latest model introduced in Computex 2007 was the Fatal1ty AN9 32X, which uses AMD multicore processors as well as graphic card maker NVIDIA’s chipset the nForce 590 SLI. This is among the most powerful gaming motherboards in the market and also among the most expensive at around $170 to $200.
JOHNATHAN WENDELL is everywhere. The man whose nickname is Fatal1ty is the world's most popular professional video game player and may perhaps be the richest, having earned about half a million dollars in cash and prizes by joining competitions, not including his many sponsorships and endorsements.
During the recently held computer exhibit Computex in Taiwan, Fatal1ty made his presence as a player, giving tips to wannabe video game professionals. For three days, Fatal1ty played one-on-one against guests of the giant computer exhibit in the fast-paced first-person shooter Quake 4. Of course, he was never beaten.
In all of his competitions during Computex, Fatal1ty never died a single time and was always on target, almost never losing a shot in what seemed to be a superhuman capability to anticipate the enemy's random moves. His skills were honed through years of intense and dedicated playing.
Fatal1ty became known in the professional video gaming world in 1999 as a third place winner in the Quake III Arena Tournament. He also plays Counter-Strike and Call of Duty. Since then, he has won half a million dollars and a Ford Focus. He has also been endorsing computer peripherals from Creative Labs, Zalman and of course Universal Abit.
Fatal1ty himself explained to the audience that he practices eight hours a day and does physical exercise for at least two hours. He also told would-be professional gamers that video games are as serious as any sport and should be treated as such.
"It develops skills and coordination. Besides, it's fun for the player and the spectator," he said.
On the other hand, his visit to Taiwan was not just about playing against video game players but also to endorse motherboard manufacturer Universal Abit, which created the world's first computer motherboard series bearing the name of a person, simply called the Fatal1ty series.
Universal Abit started manufacturing the Fatal1ty motherboards a few years back as a niche market board for gaming enthusiasts. The latest model introduced in Computex 2007 was the Fatal1ty AN9 32X, which uses AMD multicore processors as well as graphic card maker NVIDIA’s chipset the nForce 590 SLI. This is among the most powerful gaming motherboards in the market and also among the most expensive at around $170 to $200.
DIGITAL Media Exchange president and COO Jojo Añonuevo explains how the developer of the online game Rakion was able to solve the latency that usually plagues peer-to-peer games.
Video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania.
For more videos, visit iVDO.
Digital Media Exchange brand director of mobiusgames Nikolai Galicia announces the company's partnership with GGClient and how this will benefit Philippine players of the popular game Defense of the Ancients.
Video interview conducted by INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania.
For more videos, visit iVDO.
By Joey Alarilla, hackenslash Editor
INQUIRER.net
I'M here at the Digital Media Exchange office in Bonifacio Global City where the execs of the Philippine publisher of online games such as MU, GunBound, GoPets and Rakion are divulging their plans for the Philippine gaming community.
That's Jojo Añonuevo, president and COO of dme (center), stressing a point during the informal presentation. At left is Eric M. Roceles, manager for New Media, Creatives and Research, while on the right is Nikolai Galicia, brand director of mobiusgames. Also here with me are Riane Garfin, corporate communications manager of dme; Jayvee Fernandez, blogger for ABuggedLife.com and INQUIRER.net's interactive media consultant; and hackenslash and INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania.
One of the things they're previewing is OnlineGX.net Auction, which dme touts as the first massively multiplayer online-based auction site in Southeast Asia that allows players to auction off in-game items for the virtual currency known as ePoints.
Añonuevo said that while they are first testing this online auction service for Rakion, it will also be deployed in the future for some of the other games the company publishes through its mobiusgames division. Añonuevo, however, said he could not yet divulge the titles, which would include some of the existing games as well as new titles that the company will launch.
Añonuevo also stressed that ePoints supports multiple currencies, which is crucial since the company publishes its games in different Southeast Asian countries
"We act as the guarantor, which we call 'Sure-Trade,'" Añonuevo said, pointing out that players can rest assured that they will not be scammed since the transactions are virtual and involve the ePoints, which they can then use to buy other products through mobiusonline.
The company started testing the auction site for Rakion early this year. Galicia pointed out that they also had to educate developers, who initially had reservations about being involved with item trading in their games, which users have been doing illegally in a booming underground virtual economy.
"We told them these things will happen regardless of what you do... So you might as well make it safe for your users," said Galicia said.
The service has already been getting 8, 000 to 10, 000 visitors in a month even though it hadn't even been officially launched.
The introduction of OnlineGX.net Auction is part of the June 18 rollout by mobiusgames and Softnyx of Rakion Reloaded, which now offers a better player vs player experience after mobiusgames and the developer worked on resolving the latency issues inherent in peer-to-peer games.
That's Jojo Añonuevo, president and COO of dme (center), stressing a point during the informal presentation. At left is Eric M. Roceles, manager for New Media, Creatives and Research, while on the right is Nikolai Galicia, brand director of mobiusgames. Also here with me are Riane Garfin, corporate communications manager of dme; Jayvee Fernandez, blogger for ABuggedLife.com and INQUIRER.net's interactive media consultant; and hackenslash and INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania.
One of the things they're previewing is OnlineGX.net Auction, which dme touts as the first massively multiplayer online-based auction site in Southeast Asia that allows players to auction off in-game items for the virtual currency known as ePoints.
Añonuevo said that while they are first testing this online auction service for Rakion, it will also be deployed in the future for some of the other games the company publishes through its mobiusgames division. Añonuevo, however, said he could not yet divulge the titles, which would include some of the existing games as well as new titles that the company will launch.
Añonuevo also stressed that ePoints supports multiple currencies, which is crucial since the company publishes its games in different Southeast Asian countries
"We act as the guarantor, which we call 'Sure-Trade,'" Añonuevo said, pointing out that players can rest assured that they will not be scammed since the transactions are virtual and involve the ePoints, which they can then use to buy other products through mobiusonline.
The company started testing the auction site for Rakion early this year. Galicia pointed out that they also had to educate developers, who initially had reservations about being involved with item trading in their games, which users have been doing illegally in a booming underground virtual economy.
"We told them these things will happen regardless of what you do... So you might as well make it safe for your users," said Galicia said.
The service has already been getting 8, 000 to 10, 000 visitors in a month even though it hadn't even been officially launched.
The introduction of OnlineGX.net Auction is part of the June 18 rollout by mobiusgames and Softnyx of Rakion Reloaded, which now offers a better player vs player experience after mobiusgames and the developer worked on resolving the latency issues inherent in peer-to-peer games.
By Alexander Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
THE FIRST batch of Filipino gamers going to Singapore for the World Cyber Games Asian Championship was recently announced by WCG Philippines organizer eSports.
WCG Philippines held the elimination games last June 9 and 10 at the Villman Computer shop in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.
The five-man team FLOW bested 32 other teams in the PC game Defense of the Ancients All-Stars . FLOW was also the same team that was sent to last year's first WCG Asian Championship in Singapore.
FLOW is composed of Arby Ng, Jose Ena Uy, Bryan Ang, Marvin Jantzen Lu Tan and Alvin Villaguez.
Newcomer Raymund (thanks for the heads-up, Canister--Ed.) Raymond Cardona beat seven other players in the Xbox 360 fighting game Dead or Alive 4.
Two other players will be fielded for the PC games FIFA 2007 and Age of Empires III: The War Chiefs, though the elimination would be online through the WCG special site WCG Zone. Winners will be announced by July 15.
eSports general manager Mike Vinluan told hackenslash that the top Filipino players for both FIFA 2007 and Age of Empires III: The War Chiefs will be chosen from the WCG Zone tournaments. "They must also be currently residing in the Philippines."
Vinluan said they could have fielded four other players for the Xbox 360 shooter game Gears of War though it was scrapped due to budget constraints and availability of at least eight Xbox 360 consoles and eight individual Gears of War titles.
"Maybe we can have tournaments for Gears of War next year," Vinluan said.
As part of a new strategy to promote professional gaming in the Philippines, Vinluan said the company would be organizing WCG Leagues on a local level, which would be done on a fortnightly scheme.
"This is to ensure that players who are serious in joining WCG would continue playing and honing their skills even during the off-peak season of the WCG," Vinluan said, adding that they are still working on the details of the tournaments, which could start next August.
Vinluan also said he is confident that the Philippines could take home a medal this year, especially after seeing improvements in the skills of the winners in Dead or Alive 4 and DOTA All-Stars.
"Team FLOW has had prior experience from the WCG Asian Championship last year and the DOA4 winner plays against others through Xbox Live so the level of skill has already increased," Vinluan said.
The WCG Asian Championship will be held in Singapore from August 2 to 5.
I GUESS you can't keep a good God of Thunder down. Better watch out, Iron Man!
Here's the announcement from our friends over at Marvel, who also provided the images, that we've turned into this Slide Show.
When Marvel's mighty God of Thunder known as Thor disappeared while saving Asgard from Ragnarok, fans clamored for his return and this July their wish is granted in the brand new ongoing series Thor. Featuring scripts by award-winning scribe J. Michael Straczynski (Amazing Spider-Man) and rich, detailed art by superstar Olivier Coipel (House of M), this new ongoing series brings back Thor to the Marvel Universe -- no clones, no robots, because this is the real deal! What happened to Thor after Ragnarok? Who was the man that picked up the mighty hammer known as Mjolnir? And what about that little skirmish known as Civil War? The Marvel Universe isn’t the same place Thor left and when he returns, he might not be the same either! "Blake will be back, stronger and more of a real character than in the past, and Thor will begin the process of trying to locate and restore the rest of the Asgardians, with mixed results," revealed JMS. "And the throwdown between him and Iron Man will be huge." It’s the return of Dr. Donald Blake, the return of Thor and the return of… well, we can’t give it all away, can we? Featuring covers by both Olivier Coipel and Michael Turner, this red-hot issue is the perfect jumping-on point for fans new & old. You know where Thor’s been, but you’ll never guess where he’s going! And did we mention that Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies) will be providing a special Zombie variant cover, available in stores July 25th?THOR #1 Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI Pencils and 50/50 Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL Variant 50/50 Cover by MICHAEL TURNER THOR #1 SUYDAM ZOMBIE VARIANT Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI Pencils by OLIVIER COIPEL Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM
IF you love Vampire Hunter D, check out the recently launched official site in the US. The site also includes a blog.
This is the announcement sent by our friends over at Digital Manga:
The year is 12,090 A.D., and what little is left of humanity has finally crawled out from the ashes of war and destruction. From the darkness of fallout, mutants and a race of vampires known as the Nobility have spawned. They rule the weak with no remorse. Once bitten by a Nobility, one is cursed to become a member of the undead. Villagers cower in fear, hoping and praying for a savior to rid them of their undying nightmare. Vampire-D.com brings you the latest information on the new manga to be released in November 2007. And for those that can find the secrets to the website, only the “nobility” are allowed access… For more information and future bonus lair passwords, join the Vampire Hunter D newsletter and check the blog for regular updates.Here's a video clip that Digital Manga released and posted on their YouTube channel to intro the site and whet our appetites for the Vampire Hunter D manga coming out in November.
By Michael Martin Leaño, hackenslash Contributor
INQUIRER.net
DISMISSING The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar as World of Warcraft in Middle-earth is a common pitfall faced by online gamers. You see, LOTRO is an amalgam of the best features of massively multiplayer online role-playing games, so you might see a bit of WoW, a dash of EverQuest, or even a hint of Final Fantasy XI. LOTRO's individual features may not offer anything groundbreaking, but the sum of its parts is a polished game that stays generally faithful to Tolkien lore.
As with any MMORPG, your first task is creating your character. The process is simpler, shorter, and rather painless compared to other games of the genre. Then again, customization of your character's appearance is quite limited because your choices are few. You may select from four races and seven classes. Some may find this wanting, but if you're familiar with Tolkien's books, you'll know that it's faithful to the literature -- something that Turbine, the developer, prioritized while making the game. Even the classes available to each race stay true.
Turbine has emphasized storytelling, which you'll see through the use of cutscenes. On top of this, your characters will start out in different tutorial areas depending on the race you choose. Each area has an overarching storyline that follows Tolkien tradition. This storytelling approach gives LOTRO a refreshing appeal because it doesn't narrate the story by making you read a marketing leaflet or a mountain of in-game text like other locally available MMORPGs. However, you'll notice that some clips weren't very well made. Several of the videos had a tendency to stutter, while others looked blurry.
A character's first six or seven levels are made into a tutorial that briefs newcomers on the basics of the game. MMORPG veterans will breeze through the missions, and so will greenhorns. LOTRO offers a lot more beyond the tutorial: a myriad of quests, familiar characters (if you read the books at least), and "Monster Play" player-versus-player action.
You may indeed notice WoW in LOTRO because of turn-based attacks, a clockwise-moving cooldown meter, and an interface that's reminiscent of Blizzard's MMORPG. Combat in LOTRO is simple as simple can be, so learning the game's intricacies won't be as overwhelming. Indeed, Turbine doesn't mess with a proven formula.
Advancing in level requires a lot of teaming up with other players, and the developers have made it worth our while. The classes and races are very well-balanced, so there's no one-man show running LOTRO. Fellowships, the game's term for teams, aren't just a matter of creating a party and pursuing quests that can't be completed when alone. Coordination in a team would result in fellowship maneuvers or group-based attacks with varied effects. The concept of cooperation works well in LOTRO, and it encourages smart team play.
Perhaps the most talked-about feature of LOTRO is its music system, which allows characters to play an instrument through the use of your keyboard's number keys. The keys function like an in-game piano that lets you play any song you wish. This feature adds a new dimension to LOTRO because aside from the usual discussions of teaming up in raids, players talk about popular tunes that they want to learn. It now becomes a common sight to find a group jamming in one corner of a town while waiting for everyone in their fellowship to gather.
The technical side of LOTRO is relatively smooth compared to other MMORPGs. Launch day may have passed by without a hitch, but the game is more punishing on average PCs because a gig of RAM is a must if you want to preserve decent frame rates in towns. The game looks amazing when the eye candy like AA and stencil shadows is turned on, but you should be prepared for longer loading times as well.
Despite the faithfulness to Tolkien's lore, you'll realize that parts of LOTRO aren't as deep as you'd want it to be. There may be a PvP element, but you're limited to using powerful monsters against high-level players. Currently there's no option to create a character from the Angmar side, and the economy is too young to be lucrative for all professions. Many of the locations are mainly just scenery, and it can be disappointing to a hardcore fan.
After all's said and done, LOTRO remains a well-made MMORPG that also provides a huge service to Tolkien fans because of its faithfulness to the literature. Everything we've read about Middle-earth may not be here yet, but we expect the experience to deepen as the game matures. What LOTRO does, it does very well, and that alone is a good enough push to experience the game. Its staying power depends on the paths that LOTRO will take.
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
Genre: Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game
Developer: Turbine Inc.
Publishers: Turbine Inc., Midway Games, Codemasters
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
DISMISSING The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar as World of Warcraft in Middle-earth is a common pitfall faced by online gamers. You see, LOTRO is an amalgam of the best features of massively multiplayer online role-playing games, so you might see a bit of WoW, a dash of EverQuest, or even a hint of Final Fantasy XI. LOTRO's individual features may not offer anything groundbreaking, but the sum of its parts is a polished game that stays generally faithful to Tolkien lore.
As with any MMORPG, your first task is creating your character. The process is simpler, shorter, and rather painless compared to other games of the genre. Then again, customization of your character's appearance is quite limited because your choices are few. You may select from four races and seven classes. Some may find this wanting, but if you're familiar with Tolkien's books, you'll know that it's faithful to the literature -- something that Turbine, the developer, prioritized while making the game. Even the classes available to each race stay true.
Turbine has emphasized storytelling, which you'll see through the use of cutscenes. On top of this, your characters will start out in different tutorial areas depending on the race you choose. Each area has an overarching storyline that follows Tolkien tradition. This storytelling approach gives LOTRO a refreshing appeal because it doesn't narrate the story by making you read a marketing leaflet or a mountain of in-game text like other locally available MMORPGs. However, you'll notice that some clips weren't very well made. Several of the videos had a tendency to stutter, while others looked blurry.
A character's first six or seven levels are made into a tutorial that briefs newcomers on the basics of the game. MMORPG veterans will breeze through the missions, and so will greenhorns. LOTRO offers a lot more beyond the tutorial: a myriad of quests, familiar characters (if you read the books at least), and "Monster Play" player-versus-player action.
You may indeed notice WoW in LOTRO because of turn-based attacks, a clockwise-moving cooldown meter, and an interface that's reminiscent of Blizzard's MMORPG. Combat in LOTRO is simple as simple can be, so learning the game's intricacies won't be as overwhelming. Indeed, Turbine doesn't mess with a proven formula.
Advancing in level requires a lot of teaming up with other players, and the developers have made it worth our while. The classes and races are very well-balanced, so there's no one-man show running LOTRO. Fellowships, the game's term for teams, aren't just a matter of creating a party and pursuing quests that can't be completed when alone. Coordination in a team would result in fellowship maneuvers or group-based attacks with varied effects. The concept of cooperation works well in LOTRO, and it encourages smart team play.
Perhaps the most talked-about feature of LOTRO is its music system, which allows characters to play an instrument through the use of your keyboard's number keys. The keys function like an in-game piano that lets you play any song you wish. This feature adds a new dimension to LOTRO because aside from the usual discussions of teaming up in raids, players talk about popular tunes that they want to learn. It now becomes a common sight to find a group jamming in one corner of a town while waiting for everyone in their fellowship to gather.
The technical side of LOTRO is relatively smooth compared to other MMORPGs. Launch day may have passed by without a hitch, but the game is more punishing on average PCs because a gig of RAM is a must if you want to preserve decent frame rates in towns. The game looks amazing when the eye candy like AA and stencil shadows is turned on, but you should be prepared for longer loading times as well.
Despite the faithfulness to Tolkien's lore, you'll realize that parts of LOTRO aren't as deep as you'd want it to be. There may be a PvP element, but you're limited to using powerful monsters against high-level players. Currently there's no option to create a character from the Angmar side, and the economy is too young to be lucrative for all professions. Many of the locations are mainly just scenery, and it can be disappointing to a hardcore fan.
After all's said and done, LOTRO remains a well-made MMORPG that also provides a huge service to Tolkien fans because of its faithfulness to the literature. Everything we've read about Middle-earth may not be here yet, but we expect the experience to deepen as the game matures. What LOTRO does, it does very well, and that alone is a good enough push to experience the game. Its staying power depends on the paths that LOTRO will take.
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
Genre: Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game
Developer: Turbine Inc.
Publishers: Turbine Inc., Midway Games, Codemasters
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
By Noelani Torre
Inquirer
MEET the Robinsons: fast-talking 13-year-old Wilbur, molar-deficient Grandpa Bud, perky Lucille, flower-pot-dwelling Uncle Spike and Uncle Dmitri, the bespectacled dog, the purple octopus butler, the snappily-dressed singing frogs -- and around a dozen more characters.
Yes, the Robinsons are one strange family, but though they're mentioned in the title of Disney's newest animated CGI feature, "Meet the Robinsons," they’re not exactly what this movie's about. The focus is more on 12-year-old Lewis, an orphan kid inventor with big, round glasses, and a shock of blond hair.
Despite his irresistible cuteness -- or more likely, because of it -- you won’t find him a very sympathetic character at first.
Lewis, however, is a believably earnest little kid. A foundling living in an orphanage, he has been waiting a long time for a family to adopt him.
After his 124th disappointing interview, Lewis decides to look for his real mom and ask her to take him back.
Unfortunately, he was just a baby the last time he saw her, so this leads him to invent a memory scanner.
When he enters his invention in the science fair, his showing ends in disaster after a stringy villain in a bowler hat sabotages it, and before he knows it, he finds himself catapulted into the future to meet the Robinsons! Confused? Further plot developments explain everything, including the whys and wherefores of the bowler hat.
The story is bewildering, but you don't really notice until after everything is over because the movie proceeds at such a madcap pace.
As for the visuals, they're one of the animated feature's strongest points. In the director’s vision, the future is bright, colorful, and filled with zany people and buildings that are all curves. There are no angles there, and everything is on the clean and wacky side. It's very 1950s -- and very charming, indeed.
Though "Meet the Robinsons" doesn't have a lot of belly-laugh moments, it will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. It’s not as good as Pixar's best, but it's a step in the right direction.
By Agence France-Presse
LOS ANGELES--The 1980s animated television show "Thundercats" will leap on to the big screen under the direction of Warner Bros., entertainment magazine Variety said Wednesday.
Real actors will star as the half-cat-half-human superheroes battling the evil Mumm-Ra mummy who lives in a sarcophagus. The television series put out some 130 episodes of "Thundercats" in 1985 and 1986.
The announcement follows Warner Bros.' recent decision to also make a movie out of the 1980s cartoon series "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe."
By Alexander Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
TAIPEI, Taiwan--If there is one business in the Philippines that is expected to grow, it would be the do-it-yourself (DIY) PC building sector, particularly the market of people who build gaming PCs.
The gaming enthusiast business in the Philippines is considered the most stable sector in the PC building business, especially with the advent of more triple-A or premium PC gaming titles, as well as new online games that require faster and more robust systems.
Most PC builders would spend between P20,000 and P30, 000 for a basic PC that can run most games and other applications. However, hardcore gamers will spend P50,000 or more to build a powerhouse system.
During the recent Computex Taipei International Information Technology Show in Taiwan, some computer parts makers revealed that the Philippines' growth in the DIY market has been at par with those in other Asian markets. Despite rising costs, there is still a strong and stable sector of gamers and PC enthusiasts.
InnoVision Multimedia marketing manager Caroline Kwok said that the DIY market remains the strongest sector for all component manufacturers, especially the very niche market of gamers who build their PCs from scratch but are willing to spend about $1,000 for a high-end system.
Not even the introduction of gaming computers from brand names such as HP and Dell could outrun the DIY business as computer builders are very picky with their choice of parts.
"DIY builders are difficult to please but when they spend on something, they spend on it a lot. That is why manufacturers have to be on their toes to provide the best solutions for this market," Kwok said.
She added that their Philippine operations has been doing well in the last few months as they market their Inno3D mainstream graphics card.
She said the business is doing well enough that the company will introduce its more extreme high-end graphics card brand called iChill, which uses the latest NVIDIA 7000 and 8000 series of graphics processing units.
iChill cards have gold-plated outputs instead of aluminum for better signal transmission and these can be overclocked at high-speeds without burning. This brand's main features are its customized fans and heatsinks to ensure stable overclocking.
At the heart of a DIY or gaming enthusiast machine is the processor. With the recent launch of Intel's Core 2 Quad processor series, manufacturers are racing to come up with motherboards that support the chip. Even AMD has come up with its own quad-core processor line.
In comparison with the current dual core processors, quad core processors from both Intel and AMD have four cores in each die. In simpler terms, it is like running four processors in a single chip, making it four to six times faster than the older Pentium 4 processors
two years ago.
Elitegroup Computer Systems vice president for Worldwide Channel Sales David Chien told hackenslash that the mainboard business will be driven by the quad-core processors, which will encourage manufacturers to push their products to become more stable in running an extremely complex quad-core processor.
"While I don't see the time when we need to replace the standard size (ATX and micro-ATX) of the motherboard, there will be new innovations in boardmaking that will prove how well a company can keep up," Chien said.
Chien noted that the Philippines is a particularly good market for ECS motherboards. Like Inno3D video cards, Chien said their entry-level to mid-level motherboards are the top selling models for the company.
"We sell thousands of units per month to the Philippines, mostly in the low- to mid-tier sectors. We're expecting to sell quad-core motherboards that are the most affordable in the industry," Chien said.
With a very niche but heavy spending market of DIY and game enthusiasts, memory module maker Corsair knows that it would not be a hard-sell in the Philippines. Despite not having a major presence in the mainstream DIY sector, the US-based company said that the Philippines is still a good market for its more expensive modules.
Corsair Asia-Pacific sales manager Shane Dennison said that while Corsair continues to sell high-value memory modules, their users are more than happy to have purchased their products.
"We test our modules thoroughly and we buy parts that are of good make. This is an assurance to our customers and in fact, we have reported failures of no more than 0.02 percent per batch. That means the chances of a memory module failing is almost impossible," Dennison said.
He said that the company is confident enough to introduce other non-memory module products, particularly water-resistant flash drives and power supply units for computer casings.
And like all of its other products, the new ones to be introduced in the Philippines will also be high-end units.
"We won't be entering this market unless we're confident that we can sell," Dennison summed up.
By Alex Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
PHILIPPINE-BASED game development firm Pixelstream gave a sneak peek into the next stages of development of an experimental game and a new game that could be released commercially.
The company also showed the new look of its proprietary Pixelstream Graphics Engine, which was ported to the Xbox 360 through the Microsoft XNA development kit.
A demo of the Pixelstream Graphics Engine was run on the Xbox 360 with new features being added, particularly a cel-shading texture scheme that can be toggled on and off.
Cel-shading gives screen objects the look and feel of a cartoon. The Pixelstream Graphics Engine can use either cel-shading or real skin tones.
It also has better lighting and shimmer effects than the previous design.
The first game to use the Pixelstream Graphics Engine is an independently created pet game called Evopets, created by Pixelstream developer Anthony Jason Hecali.
Evopets, originally a PC game, was also rewritten to run on Microsoft XNA to make it playable on both the PC and Xbox 360.
The new Evopets now uses full 3D objects unlike the previous PC version that used 2D sprites.
Hecali explained that Evopets is more of an experimental game than a commercial one. "It proves the capabilities of the Pixelstream Graphics Engine, including playability," he said.
Meanwhile, Pixelstream director Nobuhiro Fujii gave a glimpse of a game codenamed Duo that was developed using the Pixelstream Graphics Engine and Microsoft XNA.
Duo programmer Roderick Rivero demonstrated the game on the Xbox 360. It makes use of split screen for side-scrolling and top-view gaming, though the game itself was developed in full 3D.
The main character is a humanoid iguana that uses what seems to be a baby iguana that fires projectiles against enemies, which vary from android wolves, bat-like creatures and zombies.
Rivero said that while the gameplay is still in development, the basic story has already been established. The iguana hero in Duo is one of the last remaining creatures from a ravaged world and has to face the destroyers on another planet. As in all action-adventure games, the Duo character has to face hordes of enemies as well as bosses, then collect weapons and upgrade their attack skills.
“Duo could have a possible commercial availability. It's still in prototype but we're expecting a playable version," Fujii said.
The first game to use the Pixelstream Graphics Engine is an independently created pet game called Evopets, created by Pixelstream developer Anthony Jason Hecali.
Evopets, originally a PC game, was also rewritten to run on Microsoft XNA to make it playable on both the PC and Xbox 360.
The new Evopets now uses full 3D objects unlike the previous PC version that used 2D sprites.
Hecali explained that Evopets is more of an experimental game than a commercial one. "It proves the capabilities of the Pixelstream Graphics Engine, including playability," he said.
Meanwhile, Pixelstream director Nobuhiro Fujii gave a glimpse of a game codenamed Duo that was developed using the Pixelstream Graphics Engine and Microsoft XNA.
Duo programmer Roderick Rivero demonstrated the game on the Xbox 360. It makes use of split screen for side-scrolling and top-view gaming, though the game itself was developed in full 3D.
The main character is a humanoid iguana that uses what seems to be a baby iguana that fires projectiles against enemies, which vary from android wolves, bat-like creatures and zombies.
Rivero said that while the gameplay is still in development, the basic story has already been established. The iguana hero in Duo is one of the last remaining creatures from a ravaged world and has to face the destroyers on another planet. As in all action-adventure games, the Duo character has to face hordes of enemies as well as bosses, then collect weapons and upgrade their attack skills.
“Duo could have a possible commercial availability. It's still in prototype but we're expecting a playable version," Fujii said.
YUP, the June issue of GAME!, the gaming magazine of our sister company Hinge Inquirer Publications, is out in the market.
And hey, you could get the chance to win an Xbox 360 by buying this issue.
Here's the lowdown on this issue from our counterparts over at GAME!
Here's the lowdown on this issue from our counterparts over at GAME!
GAME! is available for only P80.GAME!, The Best Online Gaming Magazine, gives readers the chance to win an Xbox 360 this June. While waiting for that big win, readers can enjoy the latest updates and exclusive previews of the upcoming editions of RF Online Episode 2! Get ready for an all-out battle with the first online military tactical FPS game in the Philippines, War Rock. Be one of the pioneers of the New World, and know more about character classes in Granado Espada. Enhance your PK skills in Guild Wars. Stay on course with the new visitor's guide for ROSE Online. Equip your Gunslinger with tips on gunfighting and more in Ragnarok. Discover new gaming features in Khan Online: Hordes of War; and go on a shopping frenzy for Supa Supa and Dreamville items.
FILIPINO game development firm Anino Games has submitted an entry to the annual Indie Game Developers Showcase, an international contest that awards the skills of independent video game makers.
Anino's entry is a PC game called Word Archery, a word game where players form words by shooting floating letters in bubbles using a weapon called Word Archer. The letters are spread out and wordsmiths should be able to complete complex words. Weapons such as fire arrows and word bombs allow you to get rid of obstacles popping up with increasing difficulty.
A demo version of the game is available on the Indie Game Developers Showcase site. About 80 entries are already available on the site, all of which are playable demos.
Ten of these entries will be chosen as semifinalists through online voting. The contest has several categories, including Overall Game and Casual Game, with each having grand prize winners, finalists and semifinalists.
Prizes vary from a high-end computer, security software and Apple iPod nanos.
Winners will be announced at the Austin Game Developers Conference in September.
In 2004, Anino won an award in the Independent Games Festival for the PC game Anito: Defend a Land Enraged, while Anino Mobile won in the International Mobile Gaming Awards for Anima Wars.
In a statement, Anino Entertainment president Niel Dagondon said that while the company has become a full-fledged game development company, it would still develop for independent competitions.
“We have not forgotten our roots and will continue to develop and supply independent games… that continue to lead the way in terms of experimenting with new game designs, concepts and innovations where mainstream games dare not tread,” Dagondon said.
“We wanted to see if we could design a casual game that people will enjoy,” Paraluman Cruz, Word Archery's producer, added in a press statement. "We're offering it for free so we can find out what players' reactions are. That's also why we joined the Indie Game Showcase."
