The LEGO Group and Nintendo reveal full product range for new LEGO® Super Mario™ play experience

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The wait is over… today’s full reveal shows fans how they can ‘level up’ their LEGO® Super Mario™ gameplay, creating exactly the LEGO universe they want their beloved character to come to life in!

BILLUND, June 16, 2020: The LEGO Group today revealed the full product portfolio for its LEGO® Super Mario™ experience. Fans can expand on the LEGO Super Mario range announced in April with a whole new range of Expansion Sets, collectible Character Packs and Power-Up Packs. The result of a unique partnership with Nintendo, LEGO Super Mario will reinvent the way people interact with Super Mario in the physical world. The products announced today give fans the chance to build Mario’s house, search for treasure hidden by Toad, and defeat a Koopa Troopa in the Guarded Fortress. And of course that’s not all!

The partnership was announced earlier this year, and in April the fun-packed Adventures with Mario Starter Course was revealed alongside two Expansion Sets. The Starter Course is key to unlocking the entire play, being the only set to feature the interactive LEGO® Mario™ figure that collects coins in game levels created with LEGO bricks. LEGO Super Mario brings new interactivity and gameplay to the traditional LEGO brick experience.

All sets come with their own series of unique challenges and characters for fans to play with, or to play against friends. In addition to the Piranha Plant Power Slide Expansion Set and Bowser’s Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set announced in April, the Expansion Set line-up includes: the Guarded Fortress Expansion Set, the Mario’s House & Yoshi Expansion Set, the Toad’s Treasure Hunt Expansion Set, the Desert Pokey Expansion Set, the Whomp’s Lava Trouble Expansion Set and the Boomer Bill Barrage Expansion Set.

Also announced today are ten collectible enemy characters that are available in blind bag Character Packs, adding that extra level of excitement. Each pack will contain a buildable character and action tag to play with – it could be a Paragoomba, Fuzzy, Spiny, Buzzy Beetle, Bullet Bill, Bob-omb, Eep Cheep, Blooper, Urchin or Peepa!

Every Expansion Set and collectible Character is made to be used with the Adventures with Mario Starter Course, for an enhanced play experience. The entry point set features seven action bricks for different interactions with the LEGO Mario figure, which has LCD screens in its eyes, mouth and belly to display instant reactions to movement, color and action bricks. In May, the LEGO Group and Nintendo also announced a series of Power-Up Packs – including Cat Mario and Builder Mario – to help boost gameplay with a variety of suits for LEGO Mario that each reveal new features and powers.

“With today’s announcement, 16 LEGO Super Mario sets have been introduced and I am really looking forward to seeing how people’s play expands with these and the unique Power-Up Packs,” said Takashi Tezuka, Executive Officer and Game Producer of Nintendo Co., Ltd. “Each player’s preferences and imagination are different. By adding already owned LEGO bricks onto the Starter Course, and different LEGO Super Mario expansion sets, we hope that people can create various different Mario worlds and continue enjoying them indefinitely.”

“The reaction to LEGO Super Mario has been incredible,” said Jonathan Bennink, Digital Design Lead on LEGO Super Mario, the LEGO Group. “Super Mario is such an icon – and fans have been highly anticipating the release of the full details of the product line. Our entire range – from the Starter Course to the Power Up Packs, through to the Expansion Sets and Character Packs – have been built to bring Super Mario, his friends – and his enemies – to life. We love how creative Nintendo and LEGO fans are, and can’t wait for them to unleash their imaginations in how they interact with Super Mario in the real world.”

Fans will also love the free LEGO Super Mario app created by the LEGO Group, a supporting feature to further enhance the physical play experience. It keeps track of scores to encourage continuous rebuilding, as well as providing digital building instructions with zoom and rotate viewing tools to make building easier, suggestions of other creative ways to build and play, and a safe forum to share ideas with friends.

The full LEGO Super Mario assortment will launch August 1st 2020, but fans can pre-order the LEGO Super Mario Starter Course on www.LEGO.com and from select leading retailers around the world now (subject to availability).

The Walking Dead Fans Come Up With Baby Names if Daryl and Connie Had a Child

Julian Cannon Leave a Comment

There are a number of fans of The Walking Dead that would like to see Connie and Daryl Dixon in a relationship. This is due to how organic their chemistry are whenever these two are on screen with eachother. So the question is, if these two were to have a son or daughter, what would be the name of their first child? I went to Twitter to see what the fans think, and here are some of the responses that I would like to share.

DJ would be quite insteresting as it would be similar to RJ. Imagine when they grow up and ask for eachother’s names? That would get a chuckle of a laugh for that moment in a genuine way. I would also want to know what exactly DJ would stand for too.

Girl Dixon or Boy Dixon would fit too because of who Daryl is. I mean, he did name his dog “dog” so this name could happen. I would not personally name my children boy or girl, but Daryl would have to come up with a good reason for that name choice!

Now I like the Hunter name. Especially for when he grows up in the apoclapyse, he will know how to use Daryl’s crossbow when he is at least 10 years old. Or Connie could teach him how to use her weapon as well.

Dannie is something I have not thought of during my whole thought process of this topic. Not only would that be close to Donnie, everyone would relate to the name since it is close to the name that the fans coined for Daryl and Connie’s potential relationship.

This name choice also fits the Daryl character as Boy or Girl. But I would like to know, what happens when Baby turns 20 years old? Would Daryl or Connie have to change his or her name?

This would come first circle for Daryl if he named his son Meryl just like when Maggie named her son Hershel. Plus, I would not think that Meryl jr. would not grow up to become a bad guy especially since Daryl and Connie will have him on the right track.

Donnie would be very meta and I would actually like that. In fact, that would be the ultimate fan service for the fans of their relationship and maybe for the majority of the casual viewers of The Walking Dead. Angela Kang is even hopeful to see these two together so to name their first child Donnie would be the icing on the cake.

What do you think of some of these names? Do you have your own name for their first child?

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @julianexcalibur for more content. Contact me at julian@alternativemindz.com

The One Time WWE Used Product Placement The Right Way Worked and Here’s Why

Julian Cannon Leave a Comment

Over the years, WWE has had product placement on television whether if it is Raw, Smackdown, NXT, or even the pay per views. Not only does whatever product that is being shown on television is being seen by millions of viewers worldwide, it will also increase the awareness and interest of the brand that is being showcased on television. There are hits and misses when WWE does this at times. But last weekend at NXT Takeover: In Your House, one of the best uses of product placement on WWE programing happened.

This happened during the backlot brawl match for the NXT Championship between Adam Cole and Velveteen Dream. While they were both brawling by the cars, one car pulls up and the driver asked “did somebody call an Uber?” This moment was so sudden and random and it not only worked, it also fit to the entire scenery of the match. It was also not forced and in your face as many other times WWE has done product placement on their shows.

Don’t get me wrong, The few times that I thought WWE used product placement right were good. The first one I can think of, is at last year’s TLC when KFC had their own table. That also fit the theme of the show as that table that was full of KFC food and products, was destroyed during a match. But the difference between this one, and the Uber product placement, is that it was quick and it was not in your face like the KFC spot.

I think that WWE can do more of this type of product placement without overstaying it’s welcome like this. Do you remember nearly almost a decade ago when there was Mountain Dew on the commentary tables for the whole night and not one of the commentators even cared that it was there? I understand that brands paid for the spot, but if it will not have no use other than just being there, what would be the point then? This one product placement that happened on NXT was far better than the various times WWE used product placement on their main shows for the last decade.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @julianexcalibur for more content. Contact me at julian@alternativemindz.com

Uncanny Brands Introduces Marvel Captain America Popcorn Maker, Available Exclusively at
Amazon.com

Rob Leave a Comment


June 10, 2020 New York, NY — Uncanny Brands, the leader in pop culture licensed small
appliances, takes on another Marvel icon with the Captain America Popcorn Maker. This
healthy, hot air popper transforms Cap’s shield into the lid of the machine. The lid is removable
and doubles as a colorful serving bowl. An inner plastic cup measures the perfect serving of
corn and warms butter.
This perfect companion for watching all of your favorite Marvel Captain America and Avengers
movies is available now, exclusively on amazon.com.

Velveteen Dream Became Negan With His Ring Gear at NXT Takeover: In Your House

Julian Cannon Leave a Comment

Last sunday, NXT Takeover: In Your House took place at Full Sail University as one of the promoted matches of the show was Velveteen Dream vs. Adam Cole for the NXT Championship in a Backlot Brawl match. What got everyone talking besides the match, was Velveteen Dream’s ring gear which payed homage to The Walking Dead’s most popular villain, Negan.

Just like Negan himself, Velveteen Dream had his jacket, scarf, boots, jeans, and even his own version of Lucille without the barbed wire wrapped around it. It is quite fitting since there were cars surrounded around the ring just like there were cars surrounding Rick and his group when they first encountered Negan with his large number of Saviors.

Although Dream did not win the match, his ring gear and entrance got the entire Walking Dead fandom to react to his ring gear. Velveteen Dream has had inspired gear before such as Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Notorious B.I.G, Toronto Raptors, and even NFL inspired gear at last year’s NXT Halftime Heat special during the Super Bowl.

Personal note, I love this since I am a fan of Negan and The Walking Dead.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @julianexcalibur for more content. Contact me at julian@alternativemindz.com

I’ve Watched The First Five Episodes of Season 2 of NOS4A2 and Here is my Non Spoiler Preview

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Ashleigh Cummings as Vic McQueen, Jonathan Langdon as Lou Carmody, Jason David as Wayne McQueen – NOS4A2 _ Season 2 – Photo Credit: Zach Dilgard/AMC

NOS4A2 returns for a second season on June 21st as the second season takes place 8 years after the death of Charlie Manx. But what will come to Vic and her family and friends after his death is another story within itself. I do not want to give all of my thoughts on the first few episodes on this introduction as I shall begin giving you my thoughts on the first few episodes right now!

The first episode titled “Bad Mother” showcases how Vic, Maggie, Lou and the rest in her circle are coping with the aftermath of the death of Charlie Manx. They were really convinced that he was dead, but Vic is the only one that does not think that he is dead after she killed him on the season one finale. Vic and Lou are now in a relationship and they have a son named Bruce Wayne. Wayne also likes basketball too and I think basketball fans will get a good laugh on what Lou bought Wayne when he returned home. Maggie is now in a relationship with Tabitha, and Bing has moved on from the previous season, but is still on Charlie’s side. Over at Christmasland, Millie is waiting for her father to return. But at that time, she is with the rest of the other children. In fact, you will see her at the opening of the episode. There is also a few Star Wars references that are brought up by one of the couples as this person wanted to compare themselves too. There are also nice moments involving Vic and Wayne not only on this episode, but on episode 3 and 4 as well. The only other thing I can say about episode 1, is that it is a solid opener and it will keep you engaged to watch the second episode.

Now about Charlie, his scenes on the second episode are gory for most of the episode. I cannot give too much away, but it goes back and forth on the younger version of Charlie, and the current Charlie. You will learn more about Charlie in these flashbacks than you did in the first season as it will give context and answers that everyone has had about him. You will like this episode, I promise you that.

I will place episodes three and four here together because I believe that they needed to be watched back to back as one episode. There are a few minor changes from the book on these episodes that might split the fanbase. But my favorite parts of this episode is everything with Millie and Charlie. Vic also had a good conversation with her mom on one of these episodes about parenting and everything that comes with it. I will also not say which episode that this happens, but Vic and Charlie will encounter eachother for the first time in years. Also to note, Charlie is also trying to capture Wayne and the way he is trying to do it, is quite clever. Also on episode four, there is a good fight scene that happens in the basement, and another that happens on episode three. Wayne is also fed up with Vic’s obsession of Charlie too and that moment will be worth paying attention too. Another good moment between Lou, Vic, and Wayne is the three of them swimming after Lou and Vic’s dad teach Wayne how to fish.

The first second of episode five might want you turn away for a split second if you are not into gore. But this episode is centered around Wayne and it felt more like a mission when I watched this. This episode also has a lot of action as I was on the edge of my seat during those sequences. I also will not say who, but someone gets a half joker smile as a wound during a fight! I think I can say that episodes two and five are my favorites so far of the season and the cast is pretty great in this season too. That is all I can say about episode five as that episode is too spoiler heavy.

I also would like to say that the pacing here is better structured on this season than the last season even though there are a few changes from the novel. There are also a lot of easter eggs from the novel that you will enjoy too and there are a lot of moments that will make you laugh and feel a bit emotional towards the characters.

The second season of NOS4A2 premieres on AMC Network on June 21st, 2020.

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @julianexcalibur for more content. Contact me at julian@alternativemindz.com