Official Website For Clay N. Ferno, Clay S. Fernald, Boston MA, USA
Website for writer Clay N. Ferno / Clay S, Fernald
We all need something to make the time go a little quicker. When you’re stuck waiting in the dentist’s office, waiting for a late train or just need something to entertain you before dinner is ready, mobile games are the comprehensive go-to-. Thankfully we have an abundance of choices and a mixture of oldies and new hits that we can all enjoy.
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This year at New York Comic Con we stopped by the Kabam booth to try our hands at the latest from Contest of Champions. The mobile game features Marvel characters in head to head fighting action and has the distinction of adding new heroes and villains into the Marvel Universe. Have you been following the adventures of Venompool, Civil Warrior and Guillotine?
No, you, haven’t because these are brand new properties introduced exclusively for Contest of Champions.
We spoke with Contest of Champions design director Tim Molyneux on the New York Comic Con floor and he talked us through his job and what we can expect from the future, including the introduction of mystic character Morningstar and other new characters soon to be unlocked on a tablet or phone near you.
Tetris: The Games People Play
Written and Illustrated by Box Brown
Published by First Second
Release Date: October 11, 2016
EAN 9781626723153
Price: $19.99
The New York Times Bestselling author Box Brown (Andre The Giant: Life and Legend) returns for his second major release through First Second to be released in October of this year. With herds of roaming purple-eyed glow kids tripping on curbs to collect the latest Pokemon lately, we thought this a fitting time to review the origin of Tetris in Tetris: The Games People Play.
Brown illustrates the graphic novel using two color printing (yellow and black) and a simplistic but humorous style that is uniquely his.
The story of Tetris doesn’t include Man from U.N.C.L.E. espionage, but it does have a dramatic element and compelling story that is difficult to put down.
Back in my day, my family, like Brown’s, all fought over the grey screened Game Boys and this addictive Russian video game, shrunken down from the full color version on our ‘big’ TVs.
[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]
There were 678 Nintendo games releases for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America.
This is the story of lifelong friends issuing a challenge to one another to collect them all in 30 days.
Jay Bartlett is a super-fan of Nintendo and Star Wars, already has most of these games but must start from scratch using his own money and no online purchases in a race against the clock.
Nintendo Quest is the documentation of that journey and the hero’s challenges along the way as real life and anxiety set in as stumbling blocks toward achieving the goal.
Jay Bartlett and friend Rob McCallum (writer/director) have been friends for 30 years.
To channel the thrill of the hunt and also to showcase some great Nintendo trivia and history, Rick started a Kickstarter under the name NES Club. Nintendo Quest is the successful product of a crowdfunded movie, at the very least. They incorporate some great original 8-bit graphics for titles as well as an 8-bit soundtrack to set the mood.
[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]
This past Saturday, The Legend of Zelda came alive on the stage at the Citi Wang Theatrein Boston with The Rhode Island Philharmonic and full choir, led by Zelda Symphony leader Jeron Moore. Fans of the long-running video game franchise, some in costume, brought their Nintendo 3DS’s out to play and enjoy the celebration of
Link, The Tri-Force, Zelda, and The Goddesses.
This was truly a unique experience for all involved. The tour came through for its second season,The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, Second Quest. Fans of the game, parents, and those like myself that have fallen out of practice with video games in recent years gathered at The Wang Theatre for pre-recorded gameplay accompanied by a full orchestra and choir in two movements, and four acts.
After the Overture, Producer & Lead Creative Director Jeron Moore introduced himself to the crowd. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening which takes place not on Hyrule but on Koholint Island. This music lead us all into the theme of another handheld Zelda game, Spirit Tracks, a bizarre and underrated game where Link drives a train!
Jeron has re-presented these musical themes, with all new arrangements with the blessing of franchise producer Eiji Aonuma and Nintendo composer and sound director Koji Kondo (Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda).
If you’re head is literally not in the game, it certainly doesn’t matter. Hearing an orchestra play, while watching someone else play through difficult levels of Zelda you may or may not have heard of is at once impressive as it is meditative. And did we mention dynamic? The roar of excitement you feel from the music see Link defeat Ganon might make it seem like a smaller victory at home on your system.
At points, all I could think of, especially while watching a difficult section of Link’s Awakening was, “That looks hard.”
[READ MORE AT DIGBOSTON.COM]
The world’s most popular video game franchise comes to life this weekend at the beautiful Wang Theatre, part of Citi Performing Arts Center.
The four movement symphony showcases the work of Nintendo’s composer Koji Kondo and is the first ever video-game-themed concert tour of its kind.
“It’s all a part of my Hyrule Fantasy.”
Legend of Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses, Second Quest
The Zelda Symphony will take you from the Dungeons of Hyrule to the Ocarina of Time, ending on A Link To The Past with a full symphony orchestra, choir, and larger-than-life video accompaniment.
Legend of Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses, Second Quest
All new arrangements of the scores are officially approved by franchise producer Eiji Aonuma and Nintendo composer and legendary sound director Koji Kondo (Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda).
Link Hero of Hyrule cosplayers are of course encouraged to attend—after all, it is Halloween weekend!
This is a truly unique experience will bridge generations of symphony lovers, video game music lovers, and Nintendo Power fanatics this weekend at the Wang.
Follow @ZeldaSymphony #SecondQuest on Twitter!
[Sat 11.2.13. 270 Tremont St., Boston. 8pm/all ages/$38.75-$92.75. @citicenter. citicenter.org]
>>LeaguePodcast Zelda Event Page<<
[READ MORE AT DIGBOSTON.COM]
We’re at a year into the relaunch of popular ’90s comic book publisher Valiant Comics and just in time for another Summer of Valiant. We’ll try not to get any water on these comics as we sit by the pool, drink in the sun and follow the adventures of Archer and Armstrong and Shadowman in our summer series that celebrates successes on our first birthday of our cherished Valiant Comics. Also, we take a look at their cool 8-bit variant covers and Harbinger Wars: Battle For Las Vegas free retro video game for iOS andAndroid.
A look through the Earth Prime Time Archives will show you what we have an affinity for, and that’s the story of an independent publisher rising from near obscurity. Valiant was fortunate enough to have a loyal fanbase to rebuild on their properties long thought lost to many die-hard comic fans. It is the underdog story that Bostonians write about ad nauseam and tend to wear on our sleeves. This column was only a few months old when X-O Manowar #1 hit the shelves, and naturally we have covered most major events in the universe since then.
What can we say a year in?
There is likely a better reaction to the Valiant books, on a whole, than after the first twelve months of DC’s New 52initiative.
Marvel NOW! reaction from fans seems to be split between both positive and negative, with a varied selection of titles appealing to different kinds of fans.
Valiant’s strength lies in not relying on a 75 or 50 year history to complicate matters.
Over at the new publisher, they can make the same kinds of superhero and supernatural books with the industry’s top talent and a completely clean slate. There certainly are nods to the previous continuity as fan service, but with low-numbered issues and trades, the appeal to a new audience without being intimidated by continuity allows for an easier entry point.
As far as the old characters go, Valiant has paced the introduction of new books, concepts, leading heroes and villains, and background information on the shared universe in a way that paints a lush tapestry but does not rely on throwing everything at you at once.
Let’s take a look at two books that are coming out today, Archer and Armstrong #10 and Shadowman #7.
Both books ship with an 8-bit variant cover that ties into their cool 8-bit side scroller Harbinger Wars: Battle for Las Vegas (Storm City Games).
[READ MORE AT DIGBOSTON.COM]
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 orAvengers 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.
[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]