Retro Gaming Triumvirate

Source: Wired

Anytime gaming nostalgia used to hit me I would dust off my trusty old NES, blow the dust off a few cartridges and relive my first video game experiences in all of their pixelated glory.

Then my NES broke, and I tried to make due for a while on emulators and downloaded games on my laptop, but it just wasn't the same...

It looks like the good old days can be mine again with the RetroN 3 Gaming System. This ingenious device consists of one part NES, one part Super Nintendo, one part Sega Genesis and is completely radical!

As you can see from the pic it has three separate slots for the various game cartridges, and ports on the sides compatible with the original controllers for all three systems but comes with wireless controllers just in case you forgot what it was like to play with corded controllers. It is a first step to an old school gamers nirvana for a mere $70!

I knew saving my old NES games would pay off someday!

Simpsons 13th Season in August

Source: MovieWeb

America's favorite dysfunctional yellow pigmented family is coming to DVD and Blu-ray again this August 24th.

All 22 episodes of the 13th season of The Simpsons will be included in the box set, and for you collectors out there wondering whose head will grace the limited special packaging wonder no more, because it is none other than lovable and infinitely quotable Ralph Wiggum.

If any of you are going to be in Southern California living the dream known as the San Diego Comic-Con you will have an opportunity to get your hands on the molded head DVD set a month early. If this is something that is relevant to your interests head directly to the Fox booth (#4313) between July 22nd and the 25th to pick up your copy, and all Comic-Con buyers will also receive a bonus limited edition lithograph as well as your Simpsons box set.

The Blu-ray box set of The Simpsons: The Complete 13th Season does come with specialized menus and extra animations than the DVD box set, but it seems that all of the other special features can be found in both versions.

Extras Include:

• Audio commentaries on every episode featuring executive producers, writers, directors, cast and notable guest stars on select episodes
• Deleted scenes
• Various Special Featurettes: A Token from Matt Groening, Ralphisms, The People Ball, The 13th Crewman, Blame It On The Monkeys, The Games, The Sweet Life of Ralph
• PiP Animation Showcases for episodes: The Parent Rap and Sweet & Sour Marge
• Sketch Galleries
• Commercials
• Special Language Feature
• Easter Eggs

Star Wars Special Edition ReDux?

Source: Big Shiny Robot

Hold onto your butts, because George Lucas may be at it again...

Matt Wood, one of Lucasfilm's top audio Jedi, spilled some tidbits of information while being interviewed on The Forcecast on another possible revamping of the original Star Wars trilogy.

The detail in itself may be small; it is in reference to Obi-Wan Kenobi's screeching noise that scares off Luke's attackers, but here is the direct quote from the podcast:

"And, to be honest, that sound effect has been changed again. So at some point the audiences will be hearing that scene again with the new sound effect."

That particular sound effect is of course from the film that started it all, A New Hope, which means they are working yet again on at least the audio of original trilogy.

Why would Lucasfilm be spending time and resources on the old films again? A long anticipated Blu-ray release seems the most logical answer. Which in itself is amazing news, but if they are changing sound effects what else will change?

The special editions of the three classic Star Wars films that were released several years back were not exactly received well by fans, some of the changes (Han shoots second?!) really were unexpected and only succeeded in getting fanboys angry. And some of the CGI work that was added in already looks dated (Jabba anyone?).

While updating the audio and sound mixing may not be as controversial, and in all honesty even necessary for a quality Blu-ray release, it does Star Wars vulnerable for exploitation all over again.

All that I really have to say is, Mr. Lucas, for the love of all that is good in this universe and those far, far away ... please no 3D. All it took to bring down the Death Star was a exhaust port, how much can you do the original Star Wars trilogy before it also implodes?

WTFriday?! - Cardboard Warfare

If war wasn't hell before now you have to worry about papercuts!

This short film a serious amount of dedication, more than you would think that could possibly go into a cardboard gun shootout:

• 254 program crashes
• 427 manual frames to rotoscope
• 59 layers of sound effects
• a BUTTLOAD of cardboard and box cutters

The result speaks for itself however, and I can't help but to just be in awe. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Dish Network $1 Movies

Source: Home Media Magazine

The satellite television provider Dish Network has a pretty amazing deal for on demand movie rentals.

Typically new video on demand movies will cost you $3.99 but through July 7th select new releases will only cost you 99¢. Not only is the price right but there are some pretty decent flicks to choose from including She's Out of My League, Alice In Wonderland, Green Zone and Hot Tub Time Machine. After ordering the movies are available for viewing a full day, just in case you missed it the first time around for some reason. On top of that all of these VOD movies are available in standard and 1080p high definition (for no extra charge!) depending on the quality of your TV.

So if you Dish subscribers aren't to busy trying to lose a limb in some amateur pyrotechnic display, or the weather is just being crappy, for less than a dollar you have a pleasant alternative.

Paper Man in September

Source: HighDef Disc News

What if you had an imaginary friend who was a superhero?

Cool right?

Well what if that superhero was played by Ryan Reynolds and you were Jeff Daniels?

Yup, I think this just got awesome!

Paper Man sees a writer (Daniels) suffering some severe writers block and the one true friend he could always rely on Captain Excellent (Reynolds) is only in his head. But he finds his first real life friend in a 17 year old (Emma Stone) he hires as a babysitter, although he has no kids. Over time their quirky friendship leads to some personal epiphanies and lots of origami.

Paper Man is an indie film that saw limited release last year. Don't worry if you missed it and it seems like your kind of flick seeing as you will be able to pick it up September 14th on DVD and Blu-ray. No word yet on special features, so stay tuned on that front.

For your viewing pleasure here is the trailer in all of its leotard wearing, cape fluttering glory: