While the first three episodes were pretty good, if a bit slow, Game of Thrones needed to pull the trigger on something big to keep most people engaged in the show. Last week, I called it “the fireworks factory.” This week, Game of Thrones went bang. If you were waiting for something big to happen, you were certainly taken care of this week.
Author: Steve Murray
F1 Power Rankings: Spanish Grand Prix
After a three-week break, the Formula One circus resumes for the month of May. For the first time this season, the teams will be able to enjoy home cooking just a little bit longer as the European portion of the season begins in Spain.
What will the move to Europe bring? Some new aero upgrades, races starting at a more reasonable time for North American fans and probably more of the same at the head of the field. Until there are some serious changes to the rules formula, we’re going to be waiting a long time to see if Mercedes slips.
Wednesday Link-Off: The Political Divide
I’ve come down quite quickly with some sort of flu but that didn’t stop me from watching the first 45 minutes of Alberta election results. When I left it, the NDP were poised to score a majority government. With 40 years of Conservative rule to end with the NDP taking over, Stephen Harper must be shitting himself at the possibility of such a revolution topping his Conservative’s Western power base.
Anyway, I need to wrap this up quickly because I feel like death warmed over. Kind of like the Alberta Conservatives. It’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kick things off with Lais Ribeiro. I’ll get through the weird and random pictures from the Met Gala for the next linkdump.
The Baltimore sun got a fascinating behind the scenes look at the Baltimore PD’s Freddie Gray investigation. (Baltimore Sun)
A new poll suggests that the US is experiencing a massive racial divide after the events of the last few years in Florida, Ferguson and Baltimore, among other lower profile incidents. (Wall Street Journal)
The Governor of Texas has deployed the Texas State Guard to watch over a US Special Forces training exercise in case they try to take over the state. I’m not kidding. (NPR)
Heroes of the Storm Closed Beta Impressions: Enter the Storm
Apart from free-to-play mobile tower defence games, I’m not sure there’s a more crowded genre in gaming than MOBA. At the top of the pile, you have League of Legends and Dota 2. Smite is probably the #3 MOBA though Heroes of Newerth would probably give it a run for its money. You’ve also got the like of Strife and Infinite Crisis too. There are probably plenty of other that I can throw in there but I don’t want a 1,000 word intro.
The problem is that while each game has its little intricacies, they all feel fairly similar at the end of the day. You play one member of a five-player team on a three-lane map with towers that you must power through in order to destroy the central structure of the enemy base.
Heroes of the Storm doesn’t completely revolutionize the basics of a MOBA. It’s still a five-on-five match to destroy the enemy team’s core. However, Blizzard has taken the standard Point A to Point B approach to MOBAs and turned it on its head. What results is the most unique MOBA on the market right now.
From Failure to Record-Breaker: Tomb Raider Racks Up Franchise Record 8.5 Million Copies Sold
I want you to flashback to March 2013. I know it seems like forever ago. I didn’t have any grey hair then so it’s longer for me.
In an investor call at the end of the month, Square Enix effectively called the Tomb Raider reboot that had been out for all of three weeks a failure. They said that they had expected the game to ship between five and six million copies and only it moved 3.4 million. Square Enix made it sound like the Tomb Raider franchise was dead on re-arrival.
Over the following 24 months, Tomb Raider and the current-gen (PS4 and XB1) Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition sold another 5.1 million copies to bring the total units sold to a franchise record of 8.5 million copies sold. They’re touting the success of the Tomb Raider reboot in the run up to this fall’s release of The Rise of the Tomb Raider (a timed exclusive on Xbox One and Xbox 360).
So what happened for Square Enix to change their tune?
Sunday Link-Off: TKO
So I understand that there was a boxing match on last night. While I like boxing, I never had any intention of watching that fight. I don’t know how some people can separate Floyd Mayweather the person from Floyd Mayweather the boxer and I certainly don’t know how people can overlook Mayweather’s history of violence altogether. So rather than put money in his pocket, I skipped the fight.
Anyway, enough with the pre-amble because it’s Sunday which means that it’s time for us to do the links. Let’s kickoff today’s post with a knockout of a different kind. Here’s Chrissy Teigen.
Robyn Doolittle isn’t the only reporter (once) of the Toronto Star to get her own book about a major Canadian scandal. Her partner on the Rob Ford beat, Kevin Donovan, will get one for the Jian Ghomeshi scandal. (Hello)
In other media matters, things aren’t getting any better for Brian Williams but he isn’t going to give up without a fight. (Page Six)
So the so-called fight of the century that would save boxing was last night. One participant (and the likely winner though I’m writing this several hours before bell time) has a track-record of domestic violence. However, the Nevada legal system has been successfully used to protect Floyd Mayweather and keep evidence under wraps. (Deadspin)
Game of Thrones: High Sparrow Review
I think people are starting to come around on this season of Game of Thrones. It might be because we got some killing and dragon action last week. However, it might be because people have come to realize that non-stop action like we had last season just isn’t sustainable. You can have action without blood being spilled. While it looks like we are quickly approaching the bigger budget and bigger action portion of the season, it didn’t start this week. However, the pieces keep moving into their places but they move in such unpredictable and entertaining ways, you can’t help but feel enthralled.
The Internet as Superheroes (Infographic)
I think I’ve seen the internet and various mammoth sites around compared to just about everything possible. Well, that was until today when someone on Reddit posted a little infographic that compared to superheroes. Not only are they being compared to superheroes but DC Comics superheroes. That sounds like my sort of infographic.
Wednesday Link-Off: Power and Politics
Politics isn’t an easy arena to be in. Unless you’re exceptionally popular or just happen to luck into it, chances are that more than half of your constituents will disagree with whatever you do or say. I can’t say that I can understand how someone could hate themselves so much to put up with it unless they legitimately think they can help people more than the next man. Of course, if you aren’t in it for public service, I won’t vote for you. I can think of plenty of politicians who I wouldn’t vote for.
Anyway, it’s Wednesday which means that it’s time for us to do the links. Considering the controversial nature of politics, it’s only fitting that the controversial Taylor Swift opens up this post.
Amid the coverage of the Baltimore riots on Fox News, Shep Smith once again proves that he is the station’s only voice of reason. (Salon)
The US Supreme Court is hearing arguments to decide if gay marriage should be legalized in America. Support for it has increased by 50% since 1988. (Washington Post)
Watch out, Hilary! Bernie Sanders is coming for you! (VPR)
Game Trailers Roundup for April 28, 2015
Trailers… Trailers, everywhere. Today, we have nine trailers for you to check out. There are some launch trailers for Killing Floor 2 and Project CARS among other games. Call of Duty had an announcement trailer for the next game that dropped yesterday. And there was a features trailer for Rory McIlroy PGA Tour? I’ll keep waiting for an Elin Nordegren game.
The Lowdown 