First look - XBox Series X Games

First look - XBox Series X Games

Here is your first look at rhe XBox Series X Games

First look XBox Series X Gameplay

First look XBox Series X Gameplay

Here's your first look at the XBox Series X Gameplay.

Spark teams up with Microsoft to bring Xbox All Access to New Zealand

Spark teams up with Microsoft to bring Xbox All Access to New Zealand

Spark announced today it is the exclusive partner for Microsoft’s Xbox All Access program in New Zealand, offering a simple and affordable new way to get the best in gaming with Xbox.

Beginning today, both new and existing Spark customers can join the Xbox All Access program as part of eligible Pay Monthly mobile or broadband plans. With Xbox All Access, customers can choose from Xbox One S or Xbox One X bundles and get 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for only $32 or $39 per month over a 24-month period.

With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, customers get all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, including online multiplayer, plus access to more than 100 high-quality games on console and PC. 

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate even includes Xbox Game Studios titles the same day as their global release, so members can immediately jump into the latest from franchises like Halo, Gears of War and Minecraft, including the highly anticipated upcoming Minecraft Dungeons, available for members on May 26.

Joining the line-up of entertainment options Spark customers can already add to their plans, Xbox All Access provides everything you need to start gaming right out of the box and is an affordable way to join the Xbox family and community of gamers around the world.

Matt Bain, Spark’s Marketing Director says Spark is excited to join forces with Xbox to bring Xbox All Access to customers in New Zealand.

“I believe gaming has huge potential as a digital subscription service - we’ve already seen this transformation with movies and music. We’re excited to bring Microsoft’s industry-leading Xbox Game Pass membership to more gamers in New Zealand with Xbox All Access,” Bain said.

“One of the exciting things about this digital evolution is that it enables greater access and choice for households and that’s definitely true for Xbox All Access. It’s ideal for players who want flexibility in their purchasing options, offering great value and an awesome gaming experience with Spark.”

Jeremy Hinton from Microsoft says the company is thrilled to be working with Spark to bring Xbox All Access to New Zealanders, following success in Australia, US and the UK.  

“With Xbox All Access we are bringing more choice than ever before to New Zealand. Our partnership with Spark will offer an affordable and convenient way for new and existing Xbox fans to jump into gaming.”

For more details on the Xbox All Access program, please visit www.spark.co.nz/getmore/xbox

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective: DVD Review

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective: DVD Review

Released by Madman Home Ent
Rating: PG

Jim Carrey's break out performance is still as amusing as it was back on its original release in 1994.

Carrey plays the titular pet detective who's brought in to find the Miami Dolphins' missing mascot - and chaos ensues.

With an early film performance from Friends' star Courtney Cox, the film greatly benefits from a zany Carrey literally pulling as many faces as he can. and throwing everything at the role.

Sure, the film's plot is flimsy as and the level of humour is puerile, but there's something enduring about Carrey's earliest role - go in with expectations low, and have them delivered on.

There's no other way to view Ace Ventura: Pet Detective - put the brain out of the box, and on the floor.

The only real question is why DVD, and not Blu Ray.

New The Last Of Us Part II trailer arrives

New The Last Of Us Part II trailer arrives

Ahead of the release of The Last Of Us Part II on June 19, Naughty Dog has unleashed a new story trailer for the return of Joel and Ellie.

Watch the trailer below, and get ready to see what's next for the series - and get ready for the PlayStation exclusive on June 19.

SPACE FORCE Teaser Trailer + Key Art Debut

SPACE FORCE Teaser Trailer + Key Art Debut

 SPACE FORCE 

TEASER TRAILER + KEY ART DEBUT + EXCLUSIVE CO-CREATOR Q&A

The new comedy series premieres globally Friday, May 29, 2020 on Netflix. 

A BRIEF ORAL HISTORY OF SPACE FORCE

WITH CO-CREATORS STEVE CARELL & GREG DANIELS

STEVE CARELL: Space Force came around in a rather atypical way. Netflix had this premise that they thought might make a funny show — the idea made everybody laugh in a meeting, an idea of a show about the origins of a fictitious Space Force. I heard about the idea through my agent, and Netflix pitched the show to me, and then I pitched the show to Greg, and we all had the same reaction to it. There was no show, there was no idea aside from the title. Netflix asked, ”Do you want to do a show called Space Force?" And I pretty much immediately said, "Well yeah, sure. That sounds great." And then I called Greg, and I said, "Hey, you want to do a show called Space Force?" And he said, "Yeah, that sounds good. Let's do it." And it was really based on nothing, except this name that made everybody laugh. So we were off and running.

GREG DANIELS: After that call, we had a bunch of creative sessions where we brainstormed at Steve’s house, outlining who his character would be and what pressures would be on him, and what we wanted to say about the notion of making space more military. We realized that the story had beautiful visuals and a mythic quality, and it echoed some of America's best moments. It had a lot of heroism and yet it also had a strong satirical element. Suddenly everybody has realized that there are riches to be had on the moon, and we’ve got to stake our claim. It feels like there’s now a scramble to colonize space. The contrast between that and the super hopeful early days of NASA, when it was just such an achievement for all of mankind to get a person on the moon, is a good subject for satire.

CARELL: Once we had just the concept of Space Force itself, Greg and I sat down and we asked, "Well, what's the show going to be? What will it be about?" And we landed on the idea that it should be about the inception of Space Force. It should be about the person who is entrusted with the development, the creation of a new branch of the Armed Forces. And my character, General Mark R. Naird, is the person who's drafted into creating this branch.

DANIELS: We wanted to make sure that we were being accurate and more than respectful — I would say complimentary — of the military virtues that Steve’s character holds. We have astronaut advisors, science advisors, and our military advisor, Mark Vazquez, has been very useful in teaching us about military behavior. Both Steve and I have relatives in the military who we love and respect, and hope are going to enjoy watching the show.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

A decorated pilot with dreams of running the Air Force, four-star general Mark R. Naird (Steve Carell) is thrown for a loop when he finds himself tapped to lead the newly formed sixth branch of the US Armed Forces: Space Force. Skeptical but dedicated, Mark uproots his family and moves to a remote base in Colorado where he and a colorful team of scientists and “Spacemen” are tasked by the White House with getting American boots on the moon (again) in a hurry and achieving total space dominance. From co-creators Carell and Greg Daniels (The Office), SPACE FORCE  is a new kind of workplace comedy, where the stakes are sky high and the ambitions even higher. John Malkovich, Diana Silvers, Tawny Newsome, Ben Schwartz also star, alongside co-stars Lisa Kudrow, Jimmy O. Yang, Noah Emmerich, Alex Sparrow and Don Lake. Howard Klein/3Arts (The Office) serves as executive producer, as well

The Prisoner: The Complete Digitally Remastered Series: DVD Review

The Prisoner: The Complete Digitally Remastered Series: DVD Review

Released by Madman Home Ent

Essential viewing for Cult TV fans, and in many ways, setting the tone for the conspiracy mystery shows that now grace our screens, sixties' mind-bender The Prisoner is still a great, if confusing watch.

Patrick McGoohan is a high-ranking Government official who resigns and is promptly abducted. Awaking in the village, he's given a number, much like others there - and decides he will do what he can to escape.

But fighting against a system he doesn't understand, he finds it's not as simple as it could be.

All 17 episodes have been restored and look great in their latest incarnation.

As ever, the story remains as baffling as it always did, but this time, it looks great. Not really binge-worthy, this intellectual series mixed drama and mystery well, to ensure that each episode is rewarding.

Still resonant decades on, The Prisoner's a cult TV gem, and a worthwhile watch.