For better or for worse, it’s the age of reboots and spinoffs, especially those that come from classic, nostalgic shows and movies. Many popular sitcoms from the golden age in the 90s and early 2000s (likeSaved by the BellandHow I Met Your Mother) have been getting rebooted recently, or had some sort of reunion special à laFriends. They’ve been released to varying degrees of success, and it seems like this is going to continue to be the trend for the foreseeable future....

People really enjoy boiling complex topics down to simple boxes that can be checked, regardless of how inane and ineffective that system will almost always be. A concept like gender representation in genre fiction does not easily map onto a yes or no question, but that won’t stop people on the internet from trying. In 1985, cartoonist and author Allison Bechdel put out an entry in herlong-running comic stripDykes to Watch Out Forentitled “The Rule....

The world ofStar Warsgaming has been thriving off of rumors and speculation for some time now. Ever sinceStar Wars: Squadronsreleased last year, there hasn’t been much content for fans of the galaxy far, far away. At the same time however, there’s been more than enough news to get them excited nonetheless. One of the biggest pieces ofStar Warsnewsfrom the last few months is that fact that a game based onThe Mandalorianis supposedly in development, something that many fans have wanted since the show first aired....

It’s long been known that a sequel toStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderwas coming at some point, but now EA has announced that two other new Star Wars games are in the works as well. Electronic Arts announced it’s teaming with Respawn - the developer behind the firstStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order- and Lucasfilm Games to bring three newStar Warstitles to the gaming world. It’s starting to look like a rather large part of the video game industry’s future is going to include a bevy ofStar Warsgames....

Valve’s own Gabe Newell has said that the 10-yearCall of Dutycontract from Microsoft is unnecessary.Valve’s Newell trusts that Microsoft will act on its promises, which is something Sony’s PlayStation hasn’t said, and wouldn’t say, about its competitor. The American video game company Valve first became known in the late 90s for itshit video game seriesHalf-Life. In addition to the first-person shooter that spawned one of the most popular esports franchises in the history of gaming,Counter-Strike, the company has developed critically-acclaimed titles such asPortalandLeft 4 Dead....

For as long as movies have existed, it seems like dedicated fans and aspiring filmmakers have always set out to mimic the exciting new techniques they’ve seen on the big screen. But how often do those same fans end up possibly surpassing the work they intended to replicate? The visual effects team over at Corridor Digital set out to do just that withThe Mandalorian’s Luke Skywalker. The only question is, did they succeed?...

The popular animated seriesStar Wars: The Clone Warscame to end last year. However, some very talented and dedicated fans have recreated the final touching scene of the series usingthe advanced Unreal Engine. Star Wars: The Clone Warswas initially canceled after six seasons back in 2013, with several incomplete episodes being abandoned. Thankfully, the series was renewed for a seventh and final season, allowing creator Dave Filoni and his team to finish the story they started back in 2008....

Studio Ghiblifilms are well known for their beautiful art, fascinating stories, and wonderfully complicated worlds. However, as these films age, they are quickly gaining a reputation for timelessness. The lessons in Spirited Away about the dangers of rampant corporate greed are especially poignant today. The lessons in Ponyo about love and acceptance also seem especially important in this day and age. Another of their stories however will be celebrating its 25 anniversary this year in December....

FromSoftwarehas earned itself an indomitable reputation with seminal games and emergent experiences that iterate upon its gameplay formulas. It cannot be overstatedhow muchElden Ringbrought to the open-world action-RPG genre, for example, and it will be exciting how it inspires others in the next several years. Before it, games likeDemon’s Souls,Dark Souls,Bloodborne, andSekiro: Shadows Die Twicehave also all made an individual impact on the industry. FromSoftware could have easily chosen to stick to this formula of gameplay and world-building, but it has recently demonstrated that it is unafraid to look back on its decorated history and provide players with new experiences that they may be unfamiliar with....

A major shake-up to the Mythic Keystone formula is coming toWorld of Warcraftwith Embers of Neltharion, as the upcoming patch will have no seasonal affix in store for players for the first time sinceLegion. Ever since their introduction inBattle for Azeroth, seasonal affixes were both beloved and reviled by the community, askeystone affixes inWorld of Warcraft’s Mythic dungeonsin general remain a hotly-debated topic full of strong opinions. While Season 1 was generally received well byWorld of Warcraftplayers, no one will miss the Thundering seasonal affix, nor theabsence of Ruby Life Pools inDragonflight’s dungeon slatefor Season 2....

There’s a lot of lore and history to enjoy in Northrend, which is one of the reasonsThe Wrath of the Lich Kingexpansion forWoW: Classicwas the game’s peak era. The quests available on the continent are often connected to the legend of Prince Arthas, the Fall of Lordaeron, and the rise of the Scourge, with big events like the Wrathgate to show the forces of Azeroth united against a new Lich King....

Phil Spencer is the rare kind of high level executive who is willing to go on camera and offer up opinions on the industry he is a part of. Spencer makes time for interviews and shows up at major industry events fielding questions from journalists and fans alike. He recentlypraisedThe Legend of Zeldafranchisefor its enduring legacy, but there is one Nintendo product that Spencer can’t wrap his head around: the N64 controller....

Summary The Teal Mask is part 1 ofPokemon Scarlet & Violet’s expansion pass: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, much like Gen 8’s Isle of Armor was toPokemon Sword/Shield. As Gen 9, many fans were expecting the Teal Mask to have stronger content - story, characters, etc - over Isle of Armor. Like every other DLC, Teal Mask has its pros and cons, but there are some things it does better than Isle of Armor....