The Elder Scrolls Online Beta Impressions: Prison Break

the-elder-scrolls-online-wallpaperI think I’ve mentioned it a couple of times before that I’m not a fan of MMOs. If the subscription model (that requires you to pay the equivalent of four games to play for that first year) and microtransactions aren’t enough to scare me off, the grinding and fetch quests seal the deal.

I’m not unwilling to put my previous experiences aside to give MMOs another try. For example, I got into last weekend’s beta session for The Elder Scrolls Online and was willing to give that a try to see if I’d like it.

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Star Wars: Episode VI Retold In Icons

star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-iconoscope-headerAll the back in 2011, we ran a couple of posts of illustrator Wayne Dorrington retelling the Star Wars trilogy using icons. When we originally ran the posts, he had completed A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. By the time that he completed Return of the Jedi, we had slightly forgotten about his series even though they were quite popular.

Now, over two years after he posted it and we first started bringing you the series, here’s the thrilling conclusion to the Star Wars trilogy retold in iconoscope.

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Wednesday Link-Off: Going Back to Cali

kristen-bell-oscars14-01Usually I do a little preamble at the start of the link-off but I’m going to cut it short because your attention should not be at the top of the post but the bottom. All the Rob Ford stuff is at the very end. There are recaps of his Jimmy Kimmel appearance, a TMZ story and the whole Kimmel interview. Just click through and go scroll down.

With that out of the way, let’s get the rest of the links going. Here’s Kristen Bell who certainly attracted some attention at the Oscars.

Things in the Ukraine keep deteriorating as Vlad Putin says one thing and does the complete opposite. The world is dealing with a dangerous man who is still in the Cold War mindset. Has he lost touch with reality? (The New Republic)

Bitcoin might be an interesting idea but there are still bugs to work out. Like when a major exchange goes down and causes chaos in the market. (Venture Beat)

Disney has cut funding from the Boy Scouts of America over their anti-gay policies. If only companies did that with the Olympics over Russia’s anti-gay policies. (Associated Press)

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Facebook Fails of the Week

Every so often, we look at the most spectacular fails that the internet has to offer. Well today, we look at the most spectacular fails that Facebook has to offer. This week, we have five of the best fails Facebook has to offer.

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Formula One: 2014 Bahrain Test Two Recap

Unlike most seasons that see the Circuit de Catalunya hosting a pair of tests, this year, the Formula One circus makes a pair of appearances in Bahrain on successive weeks to dial cars in for the season. Even though the two Bahrain tests were only a week apart, teams brought out some new parts and other improvements to tune up for an Australian Grand Prix that’s only two weeks after the conclusion of this test.

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Sunday Link-Off: Back in Business

ashley-diana-morris-maxim14-01Just because the Olympics are over doesn’t mean that stories about Russia are done. Their neighbours, the Ukraine, are making news and Russia seems to be right there sticking their noses in to make things worse.

Anyway, since it’s Sunday, I think we should do the links. Let’s start with Canadian model Ashley Diana Morris.

Two years before the Boston Marathon bombing, Tamerlan Tsarnaev and an accomplice killed three men. The case was never solved. Would solving that case have prevented the bombing? (Boston Magazine)

The situation in the Ukraine has been deteriorating over the last week and the possibility of armed Russian intervention is a real issue. (Washington Post)

The Harper Government is sending a delegation to the Ukraine to meet the new government but the Harper Government is using this as an opportunity to play politics… as usual. (MacLean’s)

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Weekend Geek Links of the Week

If you aren’t Canadian and didn’t see her stint hosting Electric Playground (the same show that gave Geoff Keighley his start and also featured legendary game composer Tommy Tallarico), you may not know Jade Raymond. You will, however, know her work. She was a producer on the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Watch Dogs, The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot and is now the Managing Director of Ubisoft Toronto. [AdWeek]

Have you ever wondered where King’s millions of dollars in profit are coming from if you and no one you know are spending money on Candy Crush? Well, that’s because half of mobile game revenue comes from about 0.15% of gamers. [Swrve]

The folks at Pew Research have examines Twitter and broken topical conversations down into six different categories. It’s actually a fairly fascinating examination. [Pew Research Internet Project]

Eve Online can be both the most and least exciting game ever made. It all depends on how you play it. Here’s an in-depth look inside the space MMO that frequently captures the attention of the gaming world. [Polygon]

And for something completely different, a porn search engine has created a live feed of its search terms in case you wanted a look into some of the more depraved minds of society. This link is the NSFW-ish one not the NSFW work one. [Weird Internet]

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Entertainment Link-Off: Up Up and Away

Kate MaraNot much competition at the box office this weekend. Perhaps The Lego Movie will continue to dominate but I’m sure Liam Neeson and his airplane thriller Non-Stop is looking forward to dethroning the animated feature. Anyway, I’m gonna kick off the ELO with Kate Mara because I recently decided to see what the hype is all about in House of Cards. 

After the jump, more Matrix movies on its way, a longer look at the new Godzilla, Obama wants to build some Iron Man suits, and Jean Claude Van Damme takes his splits to outer space. Continue reading

Titanfall is Poised to Completely Change the FPS Genre

titanfall-header-largeWhen I was at Fan Expo last August, someone in line for the State of Gaming panel asked the group of us waiting where we thought the industry was headed. Increasing the quantity and quality of free-to-play games was a popular answer. More mobile games for core gamers was another answer. Motion controlled games on Kinect, Wii U and PS Eye finally becoming proper gaming was a less popular suggestion but it was made.

After some pondering, I realized that those answers weren’t wrong but I had a better one. While all those ideas might be right, I think Titanfall might be a harbinger for where the industry is headed. It has nothing to do with mechs or pretty graphics or third-party triple-A games going exclusive. It has everything to do with dropping the single-player campaign and launching a game with only multiplayer.

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Man Lab Showdown: Nina Agdal vs. Lily Aldridge vs. Chrissy Teigen

It’s been almost sixteen months since we last had a Man Lab Showdown and I’m not sure why because the Showdown is consistently your favourite post. So to mark the release of the 50th anniversary issue of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and the return of the Showdown, I thought I’d do something special.

In one corner is the woman I said was my dark horse for this year’s cover and fastest growing star in modelling over the last year, Nina Agdal. In the other corner, a Victoria’s Secret Angel recruited to SI, Lily Aldridge. And in the third corner, a long-time Swimsuit Issue veteran who finally got her shot at the cover, Chrissy Teigen. That’s right, it’s our first ever Man Lab Showdown three-way dance to find the ultimate 50th Anniversary cover girl.

More photos and the poll after the jump.
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