Everyone that was at PAX EAST this weekend is still resting up, especially if they were out late at one of the many awesome after-parties around town. Comic fans can throw on their headphones on and get back to coding while they wait for some of the most anticipated video games in the industry where you get to control your favorite hero, even if that hero is Deadpool.
It is argued that as far as comic book characters are concerned, the real way a company like Disney or Warner can make money is by licensing the properties out to merchandise; the real money comes from video games, and of course, by selling movie tickets. I don’t think that’s wrong, and it is always a tickle in the back of the mind that hopefully the success of films like Dark Knight Rises or Avengers can prop up the floppy or digital comic book industry for years to come.
Both of The Big Two have announced some awesome games recently that we’re excited about, to keep our thumbs busy when not flipping pages.
DEADPOOL (High Moon Studios — Summer 2013)
Deadpool Game
The Merc with a mouth will be “Torching this Mutha” in his XBOX and Playstation 3 Game this Summer. Written by comic writer Daniel Way (Deadpool, Wolverine: Origins) and voiced by Nathan Drake, this will be a filthy taco-filled and boob celebrating bloody mess of a game. Oh, Canada. | deadpoolgame.com
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US (NetherRealm Studios — April 16, 2013)
OK, so it’s another DC Universe, as it were, and The Joker has killed everyone including Lois Lane and her unborn super kid! Developed and curated by Mortal Kombat’s Ed Boon, this is a fight game with DC characters chosen to face each other battle royale style. Oh Hell Yes.
A prequel to the game can be found as a monthly book at your local comic shop.
Injustice: Gods Among Us is on ComiXology as a digital first edition with covers by Mico Suayan (Valiant, Marvel, DC). | injustice.com
MARVEL HEROES (Gazillion Entertainment / Secret Identity Studios — June 4, 2013)
"Ex-Cardon Me, The Punisher". Daredevil as Señor Cardgage.
Marvel Heroes is a different flavor of game, a Massively multiplayer online role-playing game, or MMORPG, for those of us in the know. Best of all, this will be free to play for PC gamers on the Unreal Engine. Mac users (like myself) will need to wait until after launch for the dev team to tackle the growing Mac gaming demand in the market.
While free to play, expansion packs are not free but offer you some cool Founder’s Program characters and costumes not available to everyone.
Nick Fury alerts your team that The Raft has been compromised and villains have escaped. Pick one of the standard heroes and play the story all the way through. | marvelheroes.com
You’ll want to consider joining the Founder’s program if your favorite hero isn’t available for free.
INFINITE CRISIS (Turbine / WB Games — Fall 2013)
3 Batmen. One Game. FTW. - Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis was announced post-PAX on Monday from Turbine. This DC game is a Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) style and designed to release the endorphins of continuity buffs in comic shops across the land!
We hope that current DC editorial trends and creative team shuffling has little to do with these big picture game and movie launches, but time will tell.
There’s no reason to cut of the Joker’s face to spite the Dark Knight’s cowl. But I digress. Fans of the film Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, and Grant Morrison’s classic JLA: Earth 2 as well as his Bruce Wayne: The Road Home will pick up on the string theory holding this story together. (Again, strangely moving away from the New 52 continuity and recognizing ‘old’ DC mythos).
The arena battle game features both familiar and Elseworlds versions of the Justice League and more as a Crisis strikes the DC multiverse.
Sources inside Turbine (Lord of the Rings Online, Asheron’s Call), a leader in the industry are as excited about this game as the fans are. The price of admission for DC’s multiplayer is also free to play. I’ll be clocking some hours as Gaslight Batman, based on one of my favorite Batman stories, Gotham By Gaslight. I’m going to pit him against Joker Prime!
Our friends World is Square (SquareSoft/Enix VGM Folk Band) coined a phrase this weekend, appropriate for the season.
“Happy St. PAX-Mas to everyone”.
There are certainly some gifts we can’t wait to open on our machines, so stock up on the Dr. Pepper.
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League of Ordinary Gentlemen Podcast Episode #147 — The P.P.P.
The Post-Pax Podcast! The Gents talk PAX-East, G.I. Joe, Batman, Dr. Who and our post-PAX Party!
Direct Download / Mp3 Stream (opens in new window).
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