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From Failure to Record-Breaker: Tomb Raider Racks Up Franchise Record 8.5 Million Copies Sold

tomb-raider-wallpaperI 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?

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Sunday Link-Off: TKO

chrissy-teigen-daytimeemmys15-03So 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)

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Entertainment Link-Off: Superhero Smackdown

emmanuelle-chriquiSo have you seen Avengers Age of Ultron yet? It’s the movie everyone is talking about right now. Anyway, it was a solid entry into the Marvel Universe. Captain America: The Winter Soldier set the bar pretty darn high, so go into the cinemas with your expectations lowered down a notch. Anyway, I’ll start off the ELO entry with Emmanuelle Chriqui. No she’s not in Avengers but she’ll be in the upcoming Entourage flick. 

After the jump, Daredevil almost got his own feature film reboot, big spoiler for Terminator Genysis, go see how old Microsoft thinks the Game of Throne characters are, some new tunes to listen to and watch how the elderly react to Mortal Kombat X. Continue reading →

1 Comment Posted on by Steve Murray Entertainment

Game of Thrones: High Sparrow Review

game-of-thrones-high-sparrow-headerI 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.

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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.

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Wednesday Link-Off: Power and Politics

taylor-swift-glamouruk15-01Politics 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)

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Video Games

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.

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Humour

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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Sunday Link-Off: Bodyslam

charlie-xcx-maxim15-06I hope that you’ve been paying attention to the calendar because the deadline for filing taxes in Canada is on Thursday. I still have to file mine. They’re done. I just have to actually file them. Hopefully you’re not leaving the actual preparation of your taxes to the last second. That’s the hard part of doing your taxes.

Anyway, it’s Sunday which means that it’s time for the links. To keep you on your toes, let’s kick things off with Charlie XCX. I don’t know who she is but she looks like what an acquaintance of mine would look like as a brunette.

Is/was the Harper government closely tied with oil giants? Redacted entries from Mike Duffy’s diary seem to indicate such. (National Observer)

The Republican Party’s Presidential nomination race might be a battle for the future identity of the party. There’s a massive difference between the ideals of the GOP establishment and the GOP’s youth. (Rolling Stone)

Ben Affleck has courted controversy by trying to cover up that one of his ancestors owned slaves. That almost begs the question of who wouldn’t. (Boston Globe)

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Entertainment Link-Off: Forever Young

scarlett-johansson-avengerspremiere-londonIt’s a big weekend as Avengers Age of Ultron is in cinemas and it poses to become the biggest movie of 2015! While alternative programming will lead you to seeing Blake Lively in her latest Age of Adeline, it is still more fun to see Scarlett Johansson kick ass in the Marvel epic. 

After the jump, all TV superheroes are pretty much the same, Joss Whedon liked Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man script a lot, Dennis Quaid’s meltdown viral video was fake, more Daredevil on the way and Seinfeld fans would love to have Kat Denning’s phone right now. Continue reading →