While most of 2020’s big movies were either moved to next year or released straight to streaming platforms, there was one blockbuster that received a more traditional release–Christopher Nolan’s Tenet. Although Tenet hit theaters worldwide in the summer, its release was far more limited in the US, where many key markets remained closed. Los Angeles was one of these, but it’s now reported that the film will finally screen there this month.
According to Variety, Tenet will screen at the Hollywood Legion Theater drive-in from December 5 to 16. The drive-in was set up this summer as an alternative to the Hollywood Legion’s indoor Post 43 theater, which also operates a club for local veterans but had to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The LA screening will precede Tenet’s digital, DVD, and Blu-ray release. The movie hits home entertainment formats on December 16. It won’t be cheap to own a physical copy however–it will reportedly cost $45 on 4K UHD, $36 on Blu-ray, and $29 on DVD.
Tenet made $350 million at the worldwide box office, which is an impressive figure given the circumstances of the release but a disappointing number compared to Nolan’s previous track record at the box office. Last month, Nolan stated that he was “thrilled” with its commercial results and criticised other studios for “drawing the wrong conclusions from our release” about the commercial viability of movies released during the pandemic.
In related news, another of Warner’s big 2020 films, Wonder Woman 1984, is heading straight to streaming. The film will hit HBO Max on December 25 in the US, and the studio has confirmed that it will be the first movie to be available in 4K on the service.
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Photo modes have become a key attraction in video games over the last few years, and Cyberpunk 2077 will also have an option to pause your tour of Night City and grab a few snapshots of your surroundings. Revealed in a new trailer, Cyberpunk 2077’s photo mode includes all the regular features such as filters, aperture control, and the ability to maneuver the camera at the perfect angle.
One other innovative shutterbug option is that you’ll be able to position the protagonist V wherever you need them to be in a scene. You can also cycle through several facial expressions and poses, such as Run the Jewels, On the Trail, and V for Victory.
To add some extra flair to your subject matter, you can also add a number of themed frames, stickers, and effects to your photoshoot.
Oh snap.
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After a few delays, Cyberpunk 2077 releases on December 10 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, PC, and last-gen consoles. Its multiplayer section will be released in 2022 at the soonest, but don’t call this slice of Night City a mode. CD Projekt Red describes its Cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer as a full standalone game that will include microtransactions that are designed to feel like a fair transaction for users.
Fortnite Season 5 is live, and the new content is largely focused on the Mandalorian and his companion–an alien creature we refuse to call anything but Baby Yoda. One of the biggest challenges is finding Beskar ingots in order to make the Mandalorian’s signature armor, provided you have the battle pass, and we’ll show you how you can make his right shoulder plate here.
Where Is The Razor Crest On The Map?
To get the shoulder plate for the Mandalorian’s armor, you need to find the Razor Crest. This is the ship you often see him piloting on the Disney+ show. Near the center of the map and to the south of the Colossal Coliseum area, you’ll find the ship. Visiting the ship will earn you a Beskar Ingot that will be turned into his right shoulder plate. It’s marked on the map below. Be careful, however, as you may run into the Mandalorian himself, who can do massive damage.
Razor Crest location
This armor is, of course, purely cosmetic in Fortnite, but it makes Mando highly resistant to blaster fire on the show. There are several other pieces of Mandalorian armor you can make in Fortnite, including another shoulder, but challenges to do so are not yet available. By ranking up the battle pass, you can even unlock everyone’s favorite little green friend as a companion.
Fortnite Season 5 has plenty of other Star Wars goodies as part of The Zero Point update. You can even grab the Amban Sniper Rifle, which is a very versatile weapon, and you’ll find new “bounty” missions available from NPCs
Pat Patterson, one of professional wrestling’s most successful and well-known personalities for five decades, has passed away at the age of 79.
Born Pierre Clermont in Montreal, Quebec, Patterson began his career in 1958 in his native country before moving on to the San Francisco promotion, Big Time Wrestling. Despite not speaking English, Patterson became an important staple in the Bay Area for nearly two decades, winning the regional tag team championship an unprecedented 11 times with seven different partners–including with the likes of Peter Maiva and Rocky Johnson–and twice capturing the legendary Cow Palace Battle Royal in 1975 and 1981.
Eventually going into a behind-the-scenes personality and producer, Patterson helped create one of WWE’s most iconic events, the Royal Rumble, as well as helped book Hulk Hogan vs Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VI.
Patterson returned to the ring during WWE’s Attitude Era along with Gerald Brisco as one of Mr. McMahon’s “Stooge” characters. At one point, Patterson even pinned Crash Holly to win the Hardcore Title, making him one of two people to have won the 24/7 Champion as well as the Hardcore Championship–the other being his fellow Stooge, Gerald Brisco.
Behind-the-scenes, it was known in certain circles that Patterson was gay, but finally publically came out in an episode of WWE Legends House in 2014, becoming one of the first out gay wrestlers in the company.
Patterson was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996 by fellow Canadian, and WWE Champion, Bret Hart and leaves behind a one of a kind legacy in professional wrestling.
Daybreak Games–the developer of H1Z1, Planetside 2, and EverQuest–separated from parent company Sony a few years ago after having operated as Sony Online Entertainment. However, its days of independence were short-lived. The studio has now been acquired by Enad Global 7 for $300 million.
Announced by Enad Global 7 (EG7) on December 1, the deal sees the company acquiring 100% of Daybreak’s shares.
“On behalf of the Daybreak team, we are elated to be joining the EG7 family,” said Daybreak executive chairman Jason Epstein. “The combined companies are strategically positioned to expand Daybreak’s unique and iconic portfolio of live games and will help amplify our passion for making great games for our communities.”
Daybreak has struggled in recent years, undergoing numerous layoffs. H1Z1 has had difficulty competing with the likes of Fortnite and Apex Legends, and it went free-to-play a few years ago before eventually changing its name to Z1 Battle Royale.
Prior to the launch of H1Z1 and Planetside, Daybreak was best known for the EverQuest series. Despite eventually being eclipsed by more-popular MMO games such as World of Warcraft, it’s still in active development. The latest expansion for EverQuest, Claws of Veeshan, is set to release in less than a week. EverQuest 2, meanwhile, gets its next expansion, Reign of Shadows, on December 15.
Of course, Daybreak’s greatest claim to fame is being the former home of internet meme Brent Rambo. The thumbs-up-giving technology whiz recreated his signature gesture as an adult several years ago while working for the studio.
While it’s been more than eight years since Drake first mentioned that he had his eye on the leading role in a (thus far non-existent) Obama biopic, the former president has now given the hypothetical casting his seal of approval.
In an interview with Complex News, Obama was reminded of the comments Drake made almost a decade ago, and asked if he would give Drake a thumbs up for the role. “I will say this, Drake seems to be able to do anything he wants,” Obama commented. “That is a talented brother.”
While the former president dodged confirming his own approval of Drake for the role, he did mention that the Canadian artist has a more important qualification. “You know what, Drake has–more importantly, I think–my household’s stamp of approval,” he explained. “I suspect Malia and Sasha would be just fine with it.”
The interview was part of Obama’s press tour for A Promised Land, the first volume of his presidential memoirs. While there’s not currently an Obama biopic in the works that we know of, the release of his memoirs only makes a potential biopic more likely. The Obamas are currently signed on a multi-year deal with streaming service Netflix, which was responsible for Oscar-winning documentary American Factory–and a sketch comedy about Trump.
Whether Obama’s seal of approval will help Drake land his dream role is yet to be seen, however. While Drake started his career in the entertainment industry as an actor on Degrassi: The Next Generation, he is now far more well-known for his music.
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Nostalgia is a funny thing. When the first episode of Telltale Games’ Sam & Max Save the World debuted in 2006, fans of 1993’s Sam & Max Hit the Road had waited years for the dog and bunny’s return. Now, Save the World is old enough to have built up its own nostalgic fanbase, keen to once again revisit these lovable weirdos. Sam & Max Save the World Remastered isn’t a new game, but the huge visual and mechanical improvements implemented by developer Skunkape Games (a team made up of ex-Telltale folks) make it a pleasure to revisit.
For the uninitiated, Sam & Max Save the World Remastered is about two freelance police agents: Sam, a loquacious, wry dog who acts as de facto leader of the duo, and Max, his psychotic rabbit pal. Across the six episodes included in this remaster, the pair gets caught up in a mass-hypnosis scheme, thwarting various enemies on their way to finally facing the season’s big bad during the finale. While Telltale would eventually become known for its choice-focused narrative experiences like The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us, Sam & Max Save the World is a far more traditional point-and-click adventure game–you talk to people, gather items, and then use those items in clever ways to progress through the story.
Sam & Max Save the World Remastered on Nintendo Switch
Each episode of Save the World follows roughly the same pattern: Sam and Max get a call about a new case in the opening cutscene, and they head out to start asking questions. Each episode is compact, running about two hours and featuring, at most, three locations. Over time, recurring themes and characters emerge, and before long the pair realize that there’s some nefarious connective tissue running throughout all of their cases.
The plot doesn’t take itself particularly seriously, which is a good thing, because the overarching story is a bit of a dud. While some side characters are fun (a chicken actor; a nearby neighbor who changes her job every episode; a giant living statue of Abraham Lincoln), many of the recurring characters are more annoying than amusing. There are only so many times you can talk to a squeaky-voiced child star whose gimmick is that he pees too often before you get tired of him. There are some fun individual moments and plenty of great scenes throughout the game, but most of the good jokes are saved for Sam and Max themselves.
The two heroes are a delight. Sam and Max’s conversations are a mix of bon mots, puns, and allusions to wild adventures. It’s easy to grow attached to Max’s irreverent love of violence and Sam’s unerring devotion to his little buddy, and the game’s script is peppered with fun Easter eggs, meta comments, and absurdist jokes. Both characters are consistently amusing throughout the adventure.
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The game’s puzzles are, for the most part, enjoyable and clever. They tend to come in groups; once or twice an episode you’ll be given three tasks to complete, all interconnecting in smart ways. The key is to remember that you’re playing a comedy game that follows comedy rules–and many of the solutions end up being pretty funny. Logical leaps are rare in the front half of the game, and while the back half has a few circuitous solutions, there’s nothing too obscure or ridiculous. While it won’t give your brain a full workout, there’s enough here to make you feel smart.
This remastered version of the game has been updated with widescreen display, controller support, uncompressed audio, and drastically overhauled visuals. Sam & Max Save the World wasn’t a looker by 2006 standards, but it’s now gorgeous, with reworked character models and a lighting system that adds a huge amount of depth and personality to the experience. Despite these major upgrades, the original art remains largely intact, and has been polished rather than replaced. Chintzy décor and ugly fonts abound, and you wouldn’t want it any other way–the game’s look and vibe are still unique all these years later. There’s some subtle cel-shading to give characters a more cartoony look, which suits the overall tone perfectly. This is a significant upgrade and an enormous improvement over the flat graphics of the original release. It looks fantastic on Switch, too, although it can look slightly fuzzy in handheld mode.
You’re now in direct control of Sam, rather than guiding him around with a pointer (as was the case in the original release), and it feels much more natural than before. The ability to highlight every object you can interact with by tapping the L button cuts down on frustrating pixel-hunting, and the controls have been streamlined to make this feel like a game built specifically with a controller in mind. You can also play with the touch screen on Switch, if that’s your preference. Clicking and dragging to control Sam is functional, but I switched back to the Joy-Con almost immediately–still, it’s a good option to have.
The game runs beautifully, which is a blessing for anyone who played the original release on Wii or Xbox 360. Load times are short and frame rates are stable, with no hitches or stuttering across the entire six-episode series. All of these changes are very welcome–it’s enough to make you wish that Skunkape could go back and touch up all of Telltale’s old games.
Sam & Max Save the World Remastered on Nintendo Switch
The development team has also changed a few camera angles, added new songs, and even changed the timing on some jokes. Bosco, the local convenience store owner and a major side character, has been re-recorded–he’s a Black man who was previously voiced by a white actor, which has thankfully been rectified–but otherwise the dialogue is unchanged, for better or worse. While the game is mostly funny, some jokes have aged more poorly than others. At times, the game can punch down or lean on stereotypes for the sake of a gag, and while they’re never outright hateful, these lazier jokes don’t sit well next to the game’s more effective absurdist humor. The fact that you’re playing as two gun-toting, trigger-happy cops hits differently now, too, although the characters and situations are all strange and exaggerated enough that it’s easy to disconnect from reality while playing.
In other areas, the game’s advancing age can be kind of charming. The fact that there are jokes about Keanu Reeves being a bad actor certainly date the game, as does the chapter where Max faces off against the US president, presented as a robotic hayseed satire of George W. Bush who is threatening to introduce, among other things, mandatory gun registration. One chapter takes place inside a virtual reality version of the internet; seeing a pastiche of the web that contains no references to social media feels very strange, because things have changed so much over the years. These jokes date the game, but they also give it a keen sense of time and place: the heart of the original game is mostly untouched.
Sam & Max Save the World Remastered is more than just a nostalgia play. The season has held up well and still has plenty of great jokes and clever puzzles that have held up well over time. Even if the overarching plot is weak, and some jokes don’t hit, the titular duo is still a delight, and the smart puzzles are even more enjoyable to solve now that the controls have been improved. This is the definitive version of one of Telltale’s strong early efforts–hopefully Sam & Max Seasons 2 and 3 will receive similar treatment in the future.
In Fortnite, players and their friends lead a group of Heroes to reclaim and rebuild a homeland that has been left empty by a mysterious darkness only known as “the Storm.”
In Fortnite, players and their friends lead a group of Heroes to reclaim and rebuild a homeland that has been left empty by a mysterious darkness only known as “the Storm.”
As video games get more and more realistic, it becomes harder for an untrained eye to distinguish screenshots and real-world photographs. The latest victim of this mistake is Oregon local news station NewsChannel 21, who published a stunning Red Dead Redemption 2 screenshot in its ‘Out & About’ nature photography segment.
The image first appeared on Reddit, with the catch proudly shared by the father of the person responsible for the fake-out. “My daughter sent another picture into our local TV station… from Red Dead Redemption 2 for their “Out & About” segment…” the post reads. “And once again they fell for it!”
A girl keeps sending my local news station screenshots of the landscape from Red Dead Redemption 2 for their “Out and About” news segment… and they keep putting it on the news thinking it’s a photo.
The screenshot still exists in a video of the segment posted to NewsChannel 21’s YouTube channel, which has accumulated a number of comments poking fun at the screenshot’s inclusion.
While apparently the culprit has done this (and gotten away with it) before, this is the only instance that has surfaced so far. Still, the channel’s YouTube has an extensive archive of Out & About segments if you want to look for earlier slip ups.
