Disney Infinity 3.0 feels the Force

Disney Infinity 3.0 feels the Force

Disney Infinity 3.0: Star Wars™ Rise Against the Empire Play Set

Game Spans Iconic Destinations From Classic Star Wars Trilogy, Takes Open World Exploration and Space Combat to New Heights with Overhauled Vehicle Mechanics

Disney Interactive today released new information and assets for Star Wars™ Rise Against the Empire, one of three Star Wars Play Sets to be released for Disney Infinity 3.0 this year.  Developed by Studio Gobo, in partnership with Avalanche Software, the game takes iconic moments inspired by the original Star Wars trilogy, Episodes IV-VI.

Star Wars Rise Against the Empire will take players on galaxy-spanning missions with legendary Jedi Luke Skywalker, Rebel leader Princess Leia Organa, heroic smuggler Han Solo and his trusty co-pilot Chewbacca to help defeat Darth Vader and overthrow the evil Galactic Empire.

Non-stop, action-packed adventure awaits players as they explore open world planets like Tatooine on foot or on a Bantha, take down AT-AT walkers aboard a snowspeeder on Hoth, out-maneuver stormtroopers on a speeder bike on Endor, and partake in epic space battles in an X-wing starfighter to destroy the Death Star.

                  

The Star Wars Rise Against the Empire Play Set includes Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa figures. Han Solo, Chewbacca and Darth Vader will be available and sold separately.

Two additional Star Wars Play Sets will be available for Disney Infinity 3.0 this year, including Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic and Star Wars™ The Force Awakens. In addition, players will be able to unlock the ability for all Star Wars characters to play inside all of the Star Wars Play Sets, as well as in the newly enhanced Toy Box, along with all characters previously released for Disney Infinity.

The Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set is included in the Disney Infinity 3.0 Starter Pack available this Winter, which also includes the Disney Infinity 3.0 Base, Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker character figures, and a web code card that unlocks content for PC and mobile devices.   

A Play Set based on Disney•Pixar’s upcoming film Inside Out and a Marvel Play Set featuring Hulkbuster, Ultron, and other Marvel characters will also be available. Additional Disney Infinity 3.0 figures and Play Sets will be announced in the coming months.

Rainbow Six Siege introduces SWAT

Rainbow Six Siege introduces SWAT

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More NZIFF titles unveiled

More NZIFF titles unveiled

Amy Winehouse, Mavis Staples, and The Who Top NZIFF 2015 Music Line-up We could hardly indulge in early announcements without celebrating a selection of this year’s stellar crop of music films. For our 2015 programme, the lives and musical careers of Amy Winehouse and Mavis Staples take centre stage in two powerful bio-pics. Asif Kapadia’s eagerly anticipated Amyand Jessica Edwards’ Mavis! bring two iconic songstresses to the screen, one a living legend and the other gone too soon. Fans of The Who will want to add Lambert & Stamp to their must-see list: an entertaining look at the chaotic early days of Britain’s pop opera maestros. And the poetic From Scotland with Love teams archival footage with the stirring folk songs of King Creosote to resounding cinematic effect. A vibrant, kaleidoscopic elegy for 20th century Scotland, this film is a collaboration between ex-pat New Zealand director Virginia Heath and prolific Scottish indie folksinger King Creosote (Kenny Anderson). A stunning vignette depicting Scotland’s heart: it’s impossible to watch the lively throngs in this film without considering how massively the communal spirit of a nation has changed from decades past. While these titles will be headlining our music section, don’t think this is it. We have a few more musical tricks up our sleeve yet.

Amy UK 2015 | 127 minutes | Censors rating tbc An intimate, overwhelmingly moving tribute to Amy Winehouse, the great young British soul singer whose talent and charisma brought her more fame than anyone might be able to handle. From the director of Senna.

From Scotland with Love UK 2014 | 75 minutes | Exempt Archival film of Scottish life is shaped into a kaleidoscopic evocation of work and recreation in the 20th century, stirringly scored with original songs by Fife musician/singer/songwriter King Creosote.

Lambert & Stamp USA 2014 | 117 minutes | Censors rating tbc The candid, definitive and hugely entertaining tale of the rise of The Who, named for the cinephilic pair of Swinging Londoners who figured that managing a band would be a great way to get a movie made.

Mavis! USA 2015 | 85 minutes | Exempt The life, music and passionate commitment of the irresistible Mavis Staples are lovingly chronicled in this spirited doco – with help from fans Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Chuck D, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Prince. NZIFF programmes will be available in Auckland from Tuesday 23 June, in Wellington from Friday 26 June, in Dunedin from Tuesday 7 July, and in Christchurch from Tuesday 14 July. NZIFF screens in Auckland from 16 July to 2 August, in Wellington from 24 July to 9 August, in Dunedin from 30 July to 16 August and in Christchurch from 7 to 23 August with other centres to follow.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare DLC out now

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare DLC out now

CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE

DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT PACK SUPREMACY

AVAILABLE NOW

Four New Multiplayer Maps, New Celebrity Performance in Fresh Exo Zombies Experience; Supremacy a Must-Have Call of Duty Experience for Fans

Auckland, New Zealand – June 4, 2015 – Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare Supremacy, the third DLC pack for Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare, is available now, first on the Xbox Live online entertainment network for Xbox One and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, with other platforms to follow.  The content pack features four new multiplayer maps, taking players to iconic locations around the world. Published by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), and developed by Sledgehammer Games, Supremacy brings a new Exo Zombies adventure, and also features Exo Grapple gameplay with the four new maps to give players faster ways to gain a strategic advantage.

·      Parliament: Docked on the River Thames, this military cargo ship delivers a view of the London cityscape along with a fast-paced combat experience. Mixed site-lines provide opportunities for all styles of play to dominate this medium-sized map. Players can take control of the map-based scorestreak to unleash a barrage of missiles that annihilate enemies.

·     Kremlin: Gamers must prepare for intense combat in Red Square. Secure elevated positions to give the team a strategic advantage, or use exoskeleton capabilities to avoid being caught in the minefield that activates mid-match.

·       Compound: Players take combat preparation to the limit in an Atlas training facility hidden away in the Colorado wilderness, as they’ll have to be quick on the trigger in this small, symmetrical map, which funnels high-speed combat through tight corners to the main tower structures.

·      Skyrise: Players deploy to an Atlas Skyscraper overlooking the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Based on the fan-favorite Highrise, from Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2 by Infinity Ward, this map brings new exoskeleton mechanics to the classic multiplayer layout. Gamers must dominate the power positions in the center of this small-to-medium sized map to control the key navigation points.

In addition, the all-new Exo Zombies experience: Carrier, features Bruce Campbell (Burn Notice, Bubba Hotep) joining John Malkovich (In the Line of Fire, RED, Burn After Reading), Bill Paxton (Aliens, Titanic, Edge of Tomorrow), Rose McGowan (Planet Terror, Scream), and Jon Bernthal (Fury, The Wolf of Wall Street). Carrier is an original adventure in the fight against zombies, as players experience new advanced new weaponry, enemy Atlas Strike teams, Sentinel Task Force support squads, and a host of new zombie enemies to combat in this adrenaline-fueled adventure.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Supremacy is available now, first on Xbox Live.  The Supremacy DLC Pack is also included in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’s DLC Season Pass*, featuring all four DLC Packs planned for the year, as part of the discounted bundle.*

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare DLC is developed by Sledgehammer Games with additional development by Raven Software and High Moon Studios.  Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is available for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4, PC, as well as Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. The title is rated MA15+ for strong content.  For the latest intel, check out: www.callofduty.com, www.facebook.com/callofduty,www.youtube.com/callofduty or follow @CallofDuty_ANZ on Twitter and Instagram.

*Downloadable content in the Season Pass may be sold separately.  If you purchase the DLC Season Pass, do not also purchase these standalone DLC Map Packs, as you will be charged for them.  DLC Season Pass and DLC Map Packs may not be available on all platforms or in all territories.  Pricing and release dates may vary by platform.  Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare game required; sold separately.

**Based on DLC Season Pass suggested retail price and four DLC Map Packs at individual pricing.

American Sniper: Blu Ray Review

American Sniper: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Ent

Director Clint Eastwood saddles back up in to the director's chair for this story of America's most acclaimed marksmen.

Bradley Cooper stars as Chris Kyle, a small-town Texan boy whose reputation as one of the deadliest snipers of all time (he apparently notched up over 160 confirmed kills during his tours of Iraq) saw him revered among his own and feared among the enemy.

American Sniper is Kyle's story - from his courtship of wife Taya (Sienna Miller) to his sign up and deployment.

There's a sequence early in American Sniper where Chris' dad lectures both him and his brother about how people are sheep, wolves or sheep-dogs when it comes to their nature.

It could also be applied to Eastwood's take on America's deadliest sniper and his story, given the mixed episodic feeling of the tale he weaves together - a meek piece that occasionally roars and also overly salutes those who serve abroad and protect the homeland.

Background on Kyle is kept to a minimum - a patriot who's incensed by the terrorist assaults launched on his homeland and who's determined to do the right thing in life. But by chopping inbetween and back and forth to tours of duty to Iraq's frontlines and domestic troubles with wife Taya (a solid unshowy Miller, providing a much-needed counterpoint as a wounded and changed man returns home), Eastwood barely manages a rounded picture. It's more a snapshot of man whose first kill is a mother and child and whose reputation within the marine corp is labelled as legend stands in stark contrast of Iraqis who labelled him the devil of Ramadi.

Cooper dramatically impresses, with little to do other than look calm under fire (given how under-developed the domestic side of events are); he's as focused as his rifle sights and displays growing signs of PTSD as he heads back in between tours. To be frank, after a little background reading Eastwood's chosen to leave out some of the darker elements of his character and preferred not to muddy the dramatic waters with some more morally questionable moments. 

It's an interesting take given that there's clearly more to this jingoistic cowboy from Texas - but given the story of American Sniper, it's probably wiser that he adopted this approach preferring to concentrate on the implied effects rather than a histrionic melodrama of PTSD  and the domestic impact which have all been told a million times before.

Characters around Kyle fare less well with the grunts and the marines becoming more faceless  hoo-yahs and irrelevant to the plot but difficult when one of them succumbs to the evil sniper and proves a driving force for Kyle's ultimate quest; an early bond with his brother seeded nicely in the opening stages withers frustratingly in the dramatic garden, unwatered by screen time or development. And the Iraqis - including the roof-top running sniper set up as Kyle's nemesis and opposite counterpart - are little more than once over lightly baddies. It becomes a battle of good vs evil for no reason other than several marines imparting the fact "there is evil here", a mantra which Cooper's character intones and implicitly believes without the burden of proof.

Thankfully, some tension comes in the execution of battle scenes. Riddled in sand and rumbling in occasional suspense, Eastwood finds his focus is as sharp as Kyle's shooting apparently was with hardly any screen time wasted on filler as the shots ring out. A final sequence and showdown grips as a sandstorm and insurgents bear down on Kyle and his cohorts and go some way to capturing the claustrophobia, fears and uncertainty of the theatre of war, even it is swathed in a thick blanket of red dust which makes key players hard to differentiate. Plus, it treads the well-worn cliches of the genre - there's some good news for one, suddenly they're under attack. It all feels startingly unoriginal.

A final footnote to Kyle's life is frustratingly skated over and scenes after his return home don't quite deliver the dramatic promise which has been previously afforded; moreover, the final cavalcade with routes lined with flags and police escorts feels more like Eastwood's innate thanks being delivered to anyone who's ever served rather than the soldier he's chosen to concentrate on in this celluloid outing.

Overall, American Sniper is a tight and taut movie in parts; one which looks down a barrel and has its target in its sights thanks to Eastwood's restrained direction and a beefed up turn from a lead who says little physically but delivers more than enough; but that isn't quite enough to help it hit the dramatic bullseye.

Rating:

Skylanders Superchargers erupts in September

SKYLANDERS SUPERCHARGERS BRINGS VEHICLES-TO-LIFE

IN SEPTEMBER!

New Video Game Puts Players in the Driver’s Seat by Introducing an Entirely New Way to Play Skylanders with Land, Sea and Sky Vehicles

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – June 4, 2015 – Skylanders^® is bringing another trailblazing innovation to the #1 kids console franchise^¹ with the launch of Skylanders^® SuperChargers on September 25 in New Zealand. Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) and the leaders of the toys-to-life category it created, expands upon the franchise’s signature gameplay to introduce vehicles-to-life - an entirely new way for fans to experience the magic of Skylands.

At the helm of powerful, tricked-out land, sea and sky vehicles, Portal Masters can engage in a high-octane action-adventure videogame like never before. Kids can speed across Skylands’ roads in vehicular combat, race down roaring rapids and engage in aerial dogfights as they barrel-roll through enemy swarms for the first time. Developed by Vicarious Visions, Skylanders SuperChargers offers a rich story-driven gameplay experience, filled with vehicle-based and on-foot adventures, combat, puzzles, mini games, activities and platforming, set within a variety of all-new compelling environments.

"We created the toys-to-life category and have continued to lead it by bringing new innovations and new magic to the genre with each and every game. First we brought action figures to life, and now we're bringing vehicles to life with Skylanders SuperChargers,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. “We love making these games because in order to do it well, you have to constantly tap into your inner kid. What kid hasn’t imagined epic vehicles with amazing powers and dreamed about the adventures they could have with them? Skylanders SuperChargers makes those dreams real.”

Skylanders SuperChargers features a brand-new class of heroes, called SuperChargers who are distinct with fresh moves, powerful attacks and all-new weapons.  These SuperChargers also have special in-game abilities that help Portal Masters fight Kaos.  Twenty new SuperChargers character toys and 20 new vehicle toys will be available. 

Players will have the ability to customize all vehicles in-game with super cool modifications and upgradeable weapons. For the ultimate gameplay experience, players can pair a SuperCharger Skylander with its signature vehicle to create a SuperCharged combination, unlocking an exclusive mod that revs up the performance of both the vehicle and character. Not only are the vehicles playable in the game, but also many feature moving parts, making them fun to play with outside of the game.  Additionally, Skylanders SuperChargers supports all 300+ Skylanders toys from previous games, enabling all Skylanders characters to pilot land, sea or sky-based vehicles.

“Since first partnering with Activision to bring the original Skylanders® Spyro’s Adventure to our stores, we have believed whole-heartedly in the magic and innovation of this brand, as well as the company’s ability to reimagine and redefine play experiences with the toys-to-life concept,” said Richard Barry, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us, Inc. “With each new introduction, Activision never disappoints its highly loyal fans of the franchise, and we are thrilled to continue to offer the broadest assortment of all Skylanders® merchandise, including the newly introduced Skylanders SuperChargers.”

The game’s storyline focuses on Kaos’ latest attempt to rule Skylands. In his efforts to take down the Skylanders, Kaos has unleashed his most sinister weapon ever – a massive “Doomstation of Ultimate Doomstruction” capable of eating the sky itself!  Fortunately, Master Eon has seen the warning signs and assembled a special team of Skylanders to pilot an unstoppable fleet of land, sea and sky vehicles with the power to travel through the reign of destruction to stop Kaos!

To support the game’s announcement, motorsports champion Travis Pastrana stars in the Skylanders SuperChargers trailer. Check out Pastrana having a blast with the Skylanders!

Fans can pre-order Skylanders SuperChargers Starter Pack beginning on June 4 at select retail destinations worldwide, which includes two new Skylanders characters, a first-of-its kind Skylanders vehicle, newly designed Portal of Power^®+ and the full AAA game. Skylanders SuperChargers will be available on Xbox 360^™ and  Xbox One^™ video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, PlayStation^® 3 and PlayStation^® 4 computer entertainment systems, Nintendo’s Wii U^™ system, and a different, unique adventure will be made available on Nintendo’s Wii^™system and the Nintendo 3DS^™ hand-held system. Additionally, the complete Skylanders SuperChargers experience will be available on iPad^®. The game will be available on September 25 in New Zealand.

About the Skylanders^® Franchise

The award-winning, $3 billion Skylanders franchise has sold through more than 250 million action figures since pioneering the toys-to-life category in 2011 with the debut of Skylanders® Spyro’s Adventure. The game originated a play pattern that seamlessly bridged physical and virtual worlds across multiple platforms. In 2012, Skylanders® Giants further evolved the genre and added LightCore^® characters to the collection of interaction figures.  Skylanders® SWAP Force^™, which launched in 2013, introduced an all new play pattern – swapability. In 2014, Skylanders^®Trap Team reversed the magic of bringing toys to life by allowing players to pull characters out of the digital world into the physical world and became the number 1 kids’ console game globally^². The game was also the first console game to simultaneously bring the entire AAA experience to tablets. S

Exo Zombies Carrier trailer

Exo Zombies Carrier trailer

Official Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare – Exo Zombies Carrier Trailer

Our heroes are left desperate for answers after Sentinel pilot Captain Lennox executes one of their own. Before they can unravel the truth however, they must band together with their captor to survive the horrors aboard an Atlas research vessel.

Bruce Campbell joins the fight as Captain Lennox in Exo Zombies Carrier, which stars Rose McGowan, John Malkovich, Bill Paxton, and Jon Bernthal. Get Exo Zombies Carrier with the Supremacy DLC pack on June 3rd for Xbox Live, with other platforms to follow.