5 Reasons why wrestling fans should get the WWE Network

Julian Cannon Leave a Comment

Once again WWE has surprised the WWE Universe. Last week at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, Vince McMahon along with other notable WWE superstars and personalities officially announced the launch of the WWE Network.

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The specific details of the Network have been rumored for months, but with the irresistible force (the inclusion of all 12 WWE pay-per-views – including WrestleMania) meeting the immovable object (the “No way, Seriously??” price point), shit just got real. The 24/7 Network + Video on Demand service is the first of its kind.

After listening to the highly entertaining and informative press conference, it is clear that the WWE Network is a monumental step on how wrestling fans will consume content.

Here are five reasons why the WWE Network is a must have for any wrestling fan around the world:

#1: 24/7 LIVE FEED

A 24/7 network that is strictly wrestling. It’s a wrestling fan’s dream come true. You’ll feel the same adrenaline-pumping emotion when you watched Hulk Hogan body Slam Andre the Giant for the first time in front of 93,000 screaming fans.

No more NCIS before RAW or Sharknado (it’s not the worst movie in the world) before SmackDown. The WWE Network will have wrestling related content streaming all day every day, not to mention pre-shows, post-shows, behind the scenes action and interviews from superstars at RAW and SmackDown every week. Never before has there been so much content available to the WWE Universe.

#2: ORIGINAL SERIES ON THE NETWORK

Not a fan of Total Divas? Have no fear; there is no doubt that the WWE Network will have at least one exclusive series tailored just for you. Here is a brief run-down of each series announced at the press conference:

Legends House: A spin-off of MTV’s Real World – 8 former WWE superstars and personalities such as Roddy Piper, Mean Gene Okerlund and Pat Patterson will be living under one roof.  Of course, a camera crew is there to catch all of the hilarious, emotional and heart-stopping moments that these Legends endure in their everyday lives.

WrestleMania Rewind: With WrestleMania Rewind, the WWE Universe will get never-before-seen interviews and reactions from past and present superstars that have performed at the “Showcase of the Immortals”. Superstars such as Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton talk about their all-time favorite WrestleMania moments, Shawn Michaels talks about “the perfect match” he had with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 and Andre the Giant has a sit-down interview after his match with Big John Studd at WrestleMania 1. These are just some of the things that will be showcased on this series.

WWE Countdown: WWE Countdown is a one hour long series that will feature the top…well, whatever you can think of really. The very best matches, factions, catchphrases, villains, entrances, finishing moves, couples, managers, tag teams, divas and moments are just some of the categories highlighted at the press conference.

Monday Night War: Ah, of course, the Monday Night War. Everything you want and need to know about the battle between WWE and WCW will be featured in this series. Get exclusive reactions from superstars such as The Undertaker, Triple H and Shawn Michaels as they witnessed the fight right in front of their eyes. Did they honestly think they were going to go out of business? Find out by tuning in!

NXT: What better way to scout future talent and get behind a new favorite superstar than by watching WWE’s extremely popular developmental program NXT? Finally, wrestling fans will have an easily accessible, hassle-free way to watch the young superstars of tomorrow showcase their talents and try to make a name for themselves as they climb the ladder for a spot on the main roster.

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#3: LIBARIES OF WWE, WCW, ECW AND MORE

Get ready for more 80′s, 90′s & 2000′s wrestling action than you can handle. The WWE Network will have over 100,000 hours (4,166 days) of WWE, WCW and ECW footage, including every WWE, WCW & ECW PPV in history – as well as every single episode of RAW, SmackDown that has ever aired.

It would take you 11 years to watch all the footage the WWE Network has to offer – and that’s just what will be available at launch.

The WWE Universe will also have access to replays of RAW, SmackDown, Main Event, Superstars and NXT each and every week with just the simple click of a button.

#2: ALL 12 MONTHLY PPVS INCLUDED

One of the main reasons why the WWE has sold me into subscribing to the WWE Network is their dedication and vision when it comes to showcasing past and present PPVs. With the WWE Network, not only are you going to get all 12 monthly PPVs, but you will have the chance to relive every single WWE, WCW and ECW PPV in history.

In the mood to watch some old Mania’s before WrestleMania 30 airs? Just type “WrestleMania” in the search box and you will see a list of all 29 events. The same goes for any other PPV your heart desires.  That’s right, no more typing in “watch Royal Rumble 2002 for free” into the Google search engine.

Oh, what’s that? I haven’t convinced you into buying the WWE Network yet? The next category might change your mind.

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#1: THE PRICE

This one is the proverbial Stone Cold Stunner that seals the deal and wins you your first WWE Championship in front of 90,000 screaming fans – with your 22 year old fitness-model girlfriend eagerly waiting for you backstage.

For just $9.99 per month, this is what you’re getting if you subscribe to the WWE Network:

  • A 24/7 live stream of WWE programming
  • Over 100,000 hours of archives and exclusive footage
  • New series such as Legends House, WrestleMania Rewind, WWE Countdown and the Monday Night War(s)
  • All 12 monthly PPV’s
  • Every single WWE, WCW and ECW PPV in history.
  • Every episode of RAW and SmackDown in WWE history

It is astonishing how cheap the WWE Network is going to cost considering all of the content that will be displayed on a 24/7 basis.  Instead of paying over $600 a month for PPVs every year, you’re paying just $9.99, and that’s one hell of a bargain if you ask me. The WWE could have charged $20-$25 a month and Twitter still would have blown up. Come on, this is a no brainer for wrestling fans.

At launch, the WWE Network will be available on virtually any platform, including WWE.com, iOS, Android & Kindle devices (via the WWE App), Playstation 3 & 4, XBOX 360. Support for XBOX One and Smart TVs is coming this summer. All you have to do is sign up at WWE.com, follow the simple instructions and you’re all set. It really couldn’t be easier.

As John Cena announced out at the press conference, the WWE Network will officially launch on February 24, 2013 at 11:05pm directly after Monday Night RAW has concluded. The WWE has struck gold with this idea and the network will truly be a one of a kind experience and will change the entire landscape of the professional wrestling industry

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Also to note out, According to a report from F4Wonline.com, WWE sent out a memo stating that  footage of Benoit will be allowed to air on its new network, but with a caveat.  There will reportedly be an advisory played before every piece of video he  appears on.

For the FAQ, click on the link here http://www.wwe.com/help

follow me on twitter @julianexcalibur

Lil Vampi Review

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By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

For the better part of 20 years, my wife and I have enjoyed the adventures of Vampirella. Our collection is just shy a few early issues from Warren magazine.

Our collection continues till this very day. With all this in mind, I came into reading Lil Vampi with a huge open mind. All I can say is YES!

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Lil Vampi is to Vampirella as Itty Bitty Hellboy is to Hellboy, sheer genius. The artwork is playful and, at the same time, solid. Never once does the art feel cheap or too “kiddish.” It doesn’t throw the aspect of it being a kid version in your face.

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I know that sounds dumb, but it’s the best way to describe how well the artist, Agnes Garbowska, handles the book.

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The writing fits with the art perfectly. The story reads like a noir/crime drama mixed with a young girl’s diary. Eric Trautmann and Brandon Jerwa take nothing away from Vampi and adds all her history into this one comic.

The subtle addition of Pantha makes for some amusement. Unlike how Vampi usually shared half a book with The Pantha, in this, Pantha is almost like her own inserted Bazooka Joe strip strung together at the bottom of each page.
Each funnier than the next.

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If I can give any negative feedback on this book is it’s a one shot. This book needs to be monthly or a seasonal title. Fans will buy this book as well as non fans. The style and content of this comic will somewhat douse the flames of sexism that has always been attributed to Vampirella.

Overall, the comic is fun for everyone and you don’t need to be a Vampi fan to read it (it helps, though). If you love books based on My Little Pony, Adventure Time, and cartoon greats like the Powerpuff Girls, then you must add Lil Vampi to your collection.

I give this comic 5/5. Buy it now and share the Vampirella goodness with your family.
Follow me on Twitter @AltMindz

Pop Culture Bigotry

Rob 2 Comments

By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

Look into the mirror, what do you see?
Are you a fanboy, geek, nerd, otaku, weeaboo, a social outcast?  Or are you just simply a fan?
Labels define who and what you are. I’m a New Yorker, a Brooklynite, a collector and a pop culture lover. Yet, if you ask me who I am I’ll just say I’m Rob.

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Labels help the huddled masses understand things they never could. You’re a slacker, a loser, fat, ugly, or, simple enough, you will never be accepted as one of the chosen. The elite group, handsome, beautiful, sexy, or in their eyes, important.

So, when conventions come around and I see sub-factions of the pop culture fight amongst each other, it saddens me. It shouldn’t be a popularity contest. In the end, you are a fan of Star Wars and the other is a fan of Naruto. She cosplays as She Hulk and that guy there reads Yaoi. We love comics and you are a video game junkie.

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It’s all in or all out. I don’t expect anyone to suddenly love things you normally wouldn’t, but just be cool  about what other people like. We band together as a sub-culture and here we are judging others who are (if you strip down the facade) the same.

It becomes clear that no matter how “different” we think we are, the minute you mock another fan base, you are no different than the people who mock you.

In this new year of 2014, we need to try and start a movement. To truly accept each other and all of our differences. Let’s make it a stellar year for pop culture.

I hope that at least a few who read this can truly look into themselves and make that change. Let’s be the bigger person.

Ok, I am going to get off the soap box and watch my wife play GTA 5 while I read Mouse Guard to my 2 year old daughter.

mouseguard-blackaxe3Follow me on Twitter @AltMindz

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeros Preview

Julian Cannon Leave a Comment

It was recently announced that the first part of Metal Gear Solid V which is titled Metal Gear Solid V:Ground Zeros, will be released in spring 2014. It will be released in retail or by download for the price of $29.99. The reason MGSV is split into two games is because MGSV: Ground Zeros is the prologue to the upcoming MGSV: The Phantom Pain which is the main game. Also, the development of the main game is taking too long as stated by the developers so the fans can get this game to play while the main game will be completed soon. Hideo Kojima made a statement about the game’s size. Kojima stated that the main game is 300% larger than the prologue. Even though Ground Zeros is smaller, the area it takes place in is still very large in my opinion. Also, the new voice actor for snake Kiefer Sutherland, will do both MGSV: Ground Zeros and MGSV: ThePhantom Pain. Now lets get to the preview.

 

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Ground Zeros will have the storyline mission that will lead into the main game once it releases. Outside from the story, there are many extra ops missions to complete. Some gameplay changes and additions have been either added or removed. The alert phase has been reworked so that you can be spotted from any angle. The newest addition called “Reflex Mode”, slows down the time for a few seconds for you to take out the guard before a base wide alert goes off. This mode was added for first time players but this feature can be turned off. The other new addition is the IDroid device. This device is the pause menu and you can call for an chopper, get mission information and more options. It is also you’re map for the game. The tagging feature replaces the radar from the past games. It was put in for the player to see the guards and items and more things very easily and from a far distance since this game is an open world game. The bullet drop feature has been added for more realism to the weapons you are using. It is also a feature that makes sure that you are in the right range when you are firing a weapon. For example, you will know you are in the right range once the crosshairs of that weapon turn from white to red. It will take some time to get used too but I am looking forward to this. The CQC (close quarters combat) has also been reworked. In past games, it was not as realistic as it is in this game. This time you can steal enemy weapons and use it against them. Also, the hand to hand combat is exactly how CQC is supposed to be. Quick, Fast and effective. Another thing I want to mention is the ability to call for choppers. In MGS Peace Walker, you can call for airstrikes and care packages but in this game, you can call for a chopper to pick you up at one location to go to another or to use it for combat. However, in Ground Zeros, You can only call for one chopper per mission (see the reason why on the story preview below). Once it is destroyed, you will have to use you’re head for another option on how to escape or to go somewhere else. In MGSV: The Phantom Pain, you can call for as many choppers you want. The final part of gameplay I will mention is the alert phase. When you are playing in the night, it is less likely you will get spotted but however, if the guards see something suspicious or wrong (for example, another guard is knocked out or hear you’re footsteps while you walk or sprint or etc), the alert phase begins and they will use their flashlights to search for you. When this happens, it means that you are closer to getting spotted and if you are spotted, the guard will call for a base wide alert. In the daytime, you will have a high chance of getting spotted. The guards will not always stand in the same spot as the AI have been advanced from past games. There will also be times where the guards will work in teams. For example, if guard A tells guard B to cover a location in the area, guard B will go there but he will let guard A know when he will either go to another location or come back to meet up again. There will be more dialogue to ease drop when the guards talk but this is what I saw in one of the gameplay trailers. Another example is when two guards are patrolling an area, snake can hold a guard hostage. If you hold him for too long, the other guard will notice and will try to look for him. That is another way an alert phase will begin. I almost forget to add this but when the base wide alert happens, you will have to use everything and everything to take the enemies down or escape the area because it will not go to the caution phase since that has been removed .It will not only be the soldiers after you, it will also be choppers, tanks and more.

 

STORYMODE PERVIEW

This is known based off the trailers and interviews from Hideo Kojima. This part of the game takes place in 1975 and it is the sequel to MGS Peace Walker. Due to the ending of MGS Peace Walker, Big Boss (Naked/Punished Snake) and Kaz Miller, the leader and commanders of MSF, are now a target and a threat to the entire world. The Cipher (The Patriots) agent Paz, survived the battle from the previous game, have been found and captured by XOF leader Skull Face. She knows too much information from Big Boss and she has been hiding information from both Cipher and Major Zero. Skull Face, under the orders of Zero, wants to interrogate Paz to the whereabouts of MSF and Big Boss. Chico from the previous game as well goes on his own to rescue Paz but ends up being captured by XOF and Skull Face and is now being held in Camp Omega. Meanwhile at the same time, there were rumors that MSF was holding weapons of mass destruction so there is an inspection going on at Big Boss’ base (this is the reason you can only use one chopper per mission in this part of the game, it would be too suspicious to send out many choppers during the inspection). The mission for Snake is to rescue Chico and Paz  and get out of Camp Omega in Cuba. A few more scenes shown in various trailers is that Paz is getting a bomb removed from inside her stomach, the surprise attack on MSF  from XOF, and Big Boss falling into a coma. I believe that will be the end of the prologue once Snake falls into the coma so when he wakes up in 1984 (the year MGSV: The Phantom Pain takes place), that will be the beginning of the second part of the game that should be released by the end of next year. The special edition of the game will come with a figure of Snake, and the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker novel. This novel is for the players who have never played the game to read about the events of the Peace Walker Incident. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeross will come out in spring 2014 for the PS3, Ps4, Xbox 360 andXbox One

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Follow me @julianexcalibur

2013: A Comic Book Comeback

Rob Leave a Comment

By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

Most sites do a year-in review (or the best of), but this time, I want to talk about the feeling of nostalgia and the return of comic book royalty.

With the massive success of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon show,

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it was only fitting that someone would make a comic based on it and IDW  knocked this series out of the park; not only making a tie-in comic, but continued the stories of TMNT past history.

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While, for the purist trading all the past works from Mirage and Archie comics, this is truly a come back in all its forms, making Turtle power and kicking bad guys back sides fun and entertaining once again.

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Next brings me to something I didn’t expect to ever see done. Once again, IDW comics grabs a property by the neck and brings in a winner with the remastered issues of The Maxx. That’s right, IDW and Sam Kieth have brought The Maxx to a new generation of fans and all Sam did was punch up the color palette.

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The remastered editions are not the “Star Wars” of the comic book world. All they have done is given the comic a prettier paint job and said this is what it is and we like that way!

I am so pleased with this series and I hope it finds and inspires a new audience.

IDW isn’t the only comic book company making good on history. Some do it by reinventing the way we look at comics.

Dynamite, for the better part of a few years, has taken pulp fiction icons and gave them a home to be heroes in.
But most recently, its crossover books are just amazing. With The Kings Watch leading the charge

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and  DC crossing paths with IDW on a Spirit/The Rocketeer,

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the past worlds collide and tell some fun and action packed stories.

If 2014 can continue this trend, then we are in a wonderful time for modern comic books.

Enjoy the New Year and Follow me on Twitter @AltMindz

Farewell DC Comics: One of New York’s True Landmarks!

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By Robert “Rob Base” Greenwood

The End is neigh for the home of DC comics here in NY and all their staff must make the decision to either move to LA or not.

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Job relocation is always a tough choice for people so I wish them all the best in the next few days to upcoming months.
I find it amazing that a major staple in the comics world, which is all about New York history, is leaving almost unceremoniously.

Comics history is all over New York and these comic headquarters are almost mythical themselves.

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I have never had the chance to work for DC, I had meetings with editors back in the 90s, but never got a gig. Yet, as a New Yorker, this really seems to hurt my soul. It was inevitable and I feel the same will come of Marvel.

These companies are owned by larger corporations and to downsize and keep everything within arms length on paper makes sense. Ye,t it doesn’t hurt any less.

At one time, having a Manhattan zip code and address actually meant prestige but, with the dawn of the internet and the abundance of electronic communication, you can be just as big coming from Tallahassee or some remote island as being located in a major city.

Farewell DC, this New Yorker will miss you!

Follow on Twitter @AltMindz