Friday, July 23, 2010

Comic-Con 2010 Day 1 photos

Tim Dekay and Matt Bomer of "White Collar" discuss the show's first season success and give a sneak peek of season two.

Marsha Thomason ("White Collar") talks about returning to the show for season two.


Sharif Atkins ("White Collar") delighted fans with a cartwheel during his introduction.

Bruce Campbell and Tim Matheson ("Burn Notice") talk about what goes into filming the show in Miami.

Bruce Campbell steals the show and is always a fan favorite at Comic-Con.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

The funniest hour ever

You know you're in for a fun hour when it starts with Curt Smith of Tears for Fears singing "Shout" with James Roday and Dule Hill. "Psych" is the kind of show that doesn't do anything halfway, and its panel proved that.

In what was by far the funniest hour ever, the stars and producers revealed that upcoming guest stars included Freddie Prinze Jr., Chi McBride, William Devane and Carl Weathers.

The cast also had a little fun at each other's expense, saying that Timothy Omundson blows the most takes and that Duke Hill is really protective of his food.

This hilarious hour ended with Jason Samuels Smith and Hill in a tap dance battle, It was a spectacular way to end a great hour.

Bruce Campbell makes it look easy

The first panel of the day in Ballroom 20 was for USA Network's "Burn Notice." On hand were Creator Matt Nix, Executive Producer Alfredo Barrios, Director/Guest Star Tim Matheson and Star Bruce Campbell.

Campbell is very popular with Comic-Con fans due to his long list of genre credits including the "Evil Dead" movies, "Hercules" and "Xena."

While everyone was there to discuss "Burn Notice," it didn't take long for the panel to become The Bruce Campbell Show.

A long running gag is that Campbell rewards complimentary audience members with money.This year he paid off quite a few fans and USA Network executive Jeff Wachtel when he announced that Sam Axe would be getting a prequel movie.

Nix also revealed that Matheson's hilarious character "Dead" Larry would be returning later in the season.

Nix showed up later during the "White Collar" panel to challenge its writers to game paintball. "White Collar" producer Jeff Eastin then revealed that the two staffs have pranked each other in the past.

The panel also featured "Ask a Spy" videos geared towards Comic-Con, with Michael and Jesse giving fans spy tips made specifically for Comic-Con.

It's always a fun time when Bruce Campbell takes over the spotlight and this year he did not disappoint. This panel provided a great start to an afternoon of USA Network panels.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Comic-Con preview

With exactly one week until San Diego Comic-Con International, it's time to preview Viewpoints' intensive four day coverage of the pop culture extravaganza.

Comic-Con is the place for movie studios, TV networks and comic book publishers to preview their latest projects.

Since there is a huge list of big films and popular TV shows slated to have panels at the convention, this is a list of the must see panels at this year's show.
  • Marvel featuring footage from "Captain America" and "Thor." There are also rumors that the entire cast of "The Avengers" will be on hand with director Joss Whedon.
  • "Tron: Legacy" marks the return of the cutting edge "Tron" series. Fans were responsible for the franchise's reboot when they responded enthusiastically to the idea two conventions ago.
  • Warner Bros. brings the first "Harry Potter" panel to Comic-Con for "The Deathly Hallows." With the last two films in the franchise coming out, this is the last chance for fans to salute their favorite wizard. This panel will also give fans their first look at Ryan Reynolds as the Green Lantern when footage from that film is screened for the first time.
  • Every year Entertainment Weekly hosts a panel called The Visionaries where they bring together two of the best in the business to discuss their craft. This year's panel is tailor made for Comic-Con as it features Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams, two of the biggest geek icons ever.
  • One of my personal favorite panels is Kevin Smith's Q&A, where he answers audience questions, no matter how obscure or ridiculous. It is always a laugh fest and always completely full.
  • The schedule also includes panels for popular shows like "Glee," "True Blood," "The Big Bang Theory," "Community," "Castle" and many others.

Be sure to check back regularly during the convention for daily updates and instant reactions.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

E3- Day 3, The Last Day


"Finally" is not the word for me to put before I say "The last day of E3," because I just wish that it wasn't over. But knowing very well that today was my last day, I still made sure that I got to play new games so that I could share my experience with my peers.

I figured that the majority of E3 attendees got their chance to play Sony's Playstation Move, so it was my turn to try it out with the advantage of a short line. Right I was, because I only waited about five minutes and it was finally my turn. I got the chance to play a virtual ping pong game with the Playstation Move. The concept of the Move is basically the same as Nintendo's Wii. You use two microphone looking controllers to imitate any action required to play the game, in my case, ping pong. The movements on the game reflected my actions and they were honestly accurate. All I can say is that it was fun to play, and it would be just as easy for me to say that it's fun to play the Wii.

The hype of 3-D has transferred onto the gaming world as it should I suppose. Personally I'm not a big fan of 3-D when it comes to movies, and after playing a couple games in 3-D I still say it's pointless. "Grand Turismo 5" had its own section with driver seats and a wheel with 3-d glasses for the ultimate and most realistic experience. That is stretching it a little too far. The depth of it was confusing and made me dizzy. I guess the only realistic thing about it was that you have to have some actual racing experience just to get the handling right.

After that I decided enough with the 3-D, I could do without it. It was time for me to play "Killzone 3," which is more epic than the first two, enough said. Alright, I can also tell you that the graphics are much better, the aiming system is more accurate, and you will always feel like a bad ass when you fire your weapons.

Aside from nothing but video games, I managed to watch the Mexico vs. France game today for the World Cup. I take pride in my heritage and I wouldn't dare miss the game. Apparently I was not alone because dozens gathered around to watch the game and fortunate that the majority of them were rooting for Mexico. I viewed it at EA's "FIFA 11" section which was outside of the West Hall. Mexico played brilliantly and the fans definitely made some noise. Viva Mexico!

I wanted to check out the "Motion Sports" booth from Ubisoft. They had the Microsoft Kinect, formerly known as Project Natal, and demonstrated some of the active games that will be available for the Kinect. I got to try out downhill skiing, and although I couldn't do this in real life, I did it like a pro in the game. I moved my body in the same way I would if I really was skiing, so I pushed myself forward pretending I had those sticks, and bent my body when I needed to turn. It was awesome to play, it felt real and I can't wait till I have it in my own house.

Those were my highlights for today. Everything that E3 had to offer was overwhelming, but that did not bother me. I took full advantage and truly enjoyed my three days at E3. It was just awesome to meet people from around the world who come together for this single event. Like music and art, video games bring people together as well. Whether we appreciate the games or feel like they were a waste of time, the experience was the same for almost every single person. Every game, no matter what type or style it was, was a reflection of the creativity and effort that the developers put into them. I tip my hat off to them, because their talents allow me to enjoy being at home, just playing video games. I am truly honored and grateful to have been apart of this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

E3 day 2


It was my second day at E3 at it just keeps getting better and better. Today I decided to start off in the West Hall. This is where Sony Computer Entertainment is located, along with Nintendo and Capcom. There were games and people everywhere!

I set my eyes on the newest and most awesome version of "Twisted Metal." This game goes way back, from when the first Playstation was all the rage. The game definitely did not lose the destruction and epicness that it's known for, and this time the graphics are much better. The controls are the same as well, they were pretty easy to get the hang of. When this game comes out, it's definitely going to be a must have if you want to stick to the roots of good old destruction and mayhem that is "Twisted Metal."

I ventured off into the rest of the hall and was absolutely fascinated with everything that I had to see. I had my chance to try out video games, so I wanted to watch other people play and look at their reactions. It's always awesome to see true gamers getting excited when playing a new game that isn't supposed to be out for months. Of course, I saw some people who were novice at games but it did not matter, they wanted to play and that's all there is to it.

At 1 pm I got to see a demonstration of "Rock Band 3." The concept is the same obviously, but Harmonix added a new instrument that was long awaited. "Rock Band 3" will now feature a keyboard, which makes a perfect addition to the music making game play. They also have harmonized vocals, so a song like "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen is top choice for party play. Harmonix is making an attempt to make the instruments more realistic by adding cymbals to the drums, and using real guitars to play songs. After watching the demonstration, their attempt was a success and this new edition of "Rock Band" is truly impressive.

There will be much more to check out tomorrow, the last day of this awesome experience.

E3-Day 1

As soon as I made it to the top of the escalators, I turn around and look at everyone behind me and say, "Are you guys super excited about this?" The reactions were priceless and it added to the hype I already felt as I ascended up the escalators.

And so it began, I entered through the doors and voila! Electronic Arts was there to show off their latest and greatest. I've always been a fan of racing games and as soon as I saw the demos for "Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit," I had to get my hands on some game play. I had to escape a cop that was chasing after me, so I put the petal to the metal and sped away. Unfortunately, the guy controlling the cop had some skill and I got busted.

Next on my game trial was the newest "Medal of Honor." Unlike all its predecessors, this game is based on modern warfare. I must say, I think this game definitely outdid "Call of Duty." The graphics were top notch and the game play was by far the most realistic I've experienced in a war game. I was truly impressed.

I also had the opportunity to watch the trailer for "Star Wars: The Old Republic." All I can say is that will be one amazing game to play.

I left the EA section to venture off into the rest of nerdville and I honestly felt like a kid at Disneyland. Game companies such as Konami, Microsoft, THQ, and 2K has some superb setups. Everyone wanted their shot at a new game and some free stuff.

I really wanted to check out "Mafia 2" and so I did, and it met my expectations, which weren't high. After today I can still say that Rockstar is the best at making sandbox games. The graphics were good but the game play was not as realistic as it could be. The cover system was pretty good, and it also used a destructive system in which you could shoot through walls and basically anything that is penetrable. I guess it was an alright game but the environment in it wasn't too impressive.

It was my very first day at E3, so I really wanted to take it all in and just enjoy my time. It was such an awesome experience and I can wait to do it again tomorrow.

Monday, June 14, 2010

What is 'What the Hoopla'

Welcome to What the Hoopla, Viewpoints' new entertainment website.

What the Hoopla will offer a unique perspective on all the breaking entertainment news from movies, TV and gaming.

As part of our launch week we've decided to open big with Viewpoints at E3.

We will be previewing new games and giving our take on all the big announcements from the show in daily updates.

So stick with What the Hoopla this week for all the latest from E3.