The Nintendo Switch Journey Comes to E3 to Reveal New Worlds for Mario’s Odyssey

Nintendo outlined major upcoming waypoints on the continuing journey that started with the launch of the Nintendo Switch system in March. This summer, Nintendo renews its commitment to fun multiplayer gaming anytime, anywhere, with anyone, with games like Splatoon 2, ARMS and Pokkén Tournament DX, the first Pokémon title for Nintendo Switch. Tournaments featuring all three games will take place this week during the E3 video game trade show, which runs through June 15 in Los Angeles. To watch all of the tournament action, keep an eye on http://e3.nintendo.com or on Nintendo’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

Later this year, Nintendo Switch owners will get to explore glorious new kingdoms with the Super Mario Odyssey game, the first 3D sandbox-style Mario adventure in more than 15 years. Visitors to Nintendo’s booth at E3 this week will be the first members of the public to get their hands on the game.

Nintendo Spotlight: E3 2017 video featured new Nintendo Switch games for Yoshi, Kirby and Xenoblade Chronicles, plus new looks at key titles such as Super Mario Odyssey. The video also announced the development of the Metroid Prime 4 game and a Pokémon RPG for Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Spotlight: E3 2017 video can be seen in its entirety at http://e3.nintendo.com.

“Nintendo Switch provides everyone a ticket for a journey to new worlds and fun, exclusive experiences,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “This journey continues through all of 2017 and beyond, and it’s one that video game fans of all types won’t want to miss.”

This year, Nintendo will see a constant delivery of great games for both Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, headlined by Super Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch system. Players roam massive 3D kingdoms to collect Moons to power Mario’s airship, the Odyssey. The kingdoms around the globe are filled with secrets and surprises. Mario can don a variety of costumes and interact with his environment in many creative ways, such as by driving vehicles or exploring sections as Pixel Mario. Mario’s new partner, Cappy, gives him new moves like cap throw, cap jump and capture, which provide a fresh take on the classic Super Mario formula and define this new adventure. The game offers new locales like the skyscraper-packed New Donk City. Three Super Mario Odyssey series amiibo figures – Mario, Princess Peach and Bowser in their wedding outfits – will be sold separately and as a three-pack when the game launches on Oct. 27. These amiibo can be seen in Nintendo’s booth at E3, alongside two new amiibo figures in the Super Mario series: Goomba and Koopa Troopa.

Other upcoming games for Nintendo Switch:

• Pokkén Tournament DX from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment and The Pokémon Company will let players take direct control of the prized Pokémon fighters to defeat other Pokémon in arena battles. With new fighters on the roster and new support Pokémon, this is the definitive version of the game, which saw a strong fan reaction to the Wii U original. Pokkén Tournament DX launches on Sept. 22.
• In Yoshi’s new game, players explore a huge world decorated like a miniature diorama. Each side-scrolling stage has the traditional front side as well as a back side that lets players explore the world from a different view to find new surprises. Yoshi’s new adventure begins in 2018.
• In the first mainline Kirby game for Nintendo Switch, the ever-friendly puffball can recruit enemies by hitting them with hearts to gather a party of up to four characters, or join with up to three friends* for co-op play. Kirby can even combine copy abilities to create combo attacks for defeating enemies and solving puzzles. This game will release in 2018.
• In Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the latest entry in the acclaimed RPG series, a new hero will seek out Elysium on an immense journey through a new world. The game launches this holiday season.
• And in Fire Emblem Warriors from Koei Tecmo Games, players take control of favorite Fire Emblem franchise characters such as Marth, Xander and female Corrin, as well as new characters exclusive to this game. Players unleash over-the-top moves and strategize with the classic weapons triangle as they try to defeat hordes of fighters in a variety of areas, including some that are inspired by well-known Fire Emblem locations, such as Hoshido Castle. Fire Emblem Warriors launches this fall for Nintendo Switch, and will also be available for New Nintendo 3DS XL, New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 2DS XL**.

Nintendo Switch will enjoy strong third-party support from some of the top publishers and developers in the industry. A sampling includes:

• Rocket League from Psyonix lets up to eight players* compete in a high-powered hybrid of arcade soccer and driving. The Nintendo Switch version of the game includes exclusive Customization Items and Battle-Cars. The game launches this holiday season.
• As a special treat for Nintendo fans, select items from The Legend of Zelda franchise will appear in the Nintendo Switch version of Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim when it releases this holiday.
• Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle from Ubisoft® is a playful mashup of the Mushroom Kingdom and the irreverent Rabbids. The turn-based combat adventure combines classic Mario characters and wonderfully hilarious Mario-themed Rabbids with fun exploration and gameplay. The game launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch on Aug. 29.
• EA SPORTS™ FIFA 18 delivers all of the action fans expect from the world’s most popular sports video game franchise, and now players can play the world’s game anytime, anywhere, in brand new ways with FIFA 18 on Nintendo Switch. The game launches on Sept. 29.

Nintendo showed details of the upcoming DLC packs for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The two packs are available only as part of the Expansion Pass for $19.99. The first pack, “The Master Trials,” launches June 30, and the second one, “The Champions’ Ballad,” arrives during the holiday season. Nintendo also announced upcoming amiibo of the four champions from the game for release during the holiday season: the Goron champion Daruk, the Rito champion Revali, the Zora champion Mipha and the Gerudo champion Urbosa.

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Movie Review: Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman – The Triumphant Lifeline DC Movies Desperately Needed

Let me get straight to the point. Wonder Woman is a great film in any genre, not only superhero fare. It trades overproduced action sequences for a coherent, evenly paced story-line. It relies less on expository and quick quip dialogue and instead lets its characters develop and act based on their established traits. And most importantly, for the DCMU (DC Movie Universe) in particular, it finally found the right mix of seriousness while allowing its cast to breathe, laugh, and, yes, smile!

Wonder Woman took its main cue from Man of Steel in setting up the very unearthly aspects of Princess Diana of Themyscira, but it learned to not dwell on them. Diana is very proud of her heritage, and although she doesn’t fit in and is saddened by the state of “man’s world”, she doesn’t spend any considerable amount of time dealing with an existential crisis built on that alienation. She has been ready for action since she was a child and that is what occupies her mind – the only thing that’s changed is the surrounding environment: paradisaical Themyscira is switched for a dark and grey World War - Europe.

This readiness for action is what drives the movie and its main protagonists. It wants to explore Wonder Woman’s heroic motives, but it does a great job of not lingering laboriously on this. She has a heart to care for mankind; it’s simple and straight-forward. Her actions are a manifestation of that. And even when she questions mankind, it makes sense as a direct reaction to something that has happened, and not some pseudo-heady post-modern dilemma.

While the plot sails along smoothly, and each set piece is well woven into the story, the movie does falter in one important aspect: it fails to create any real tension. The final act becomes especially tedious due to this. It relies on our investment on Diana’s choice whether to believe mankind is worth fighting for or not. As we all probably know the answer to that, these final scenes can’t help but be structurally anti-climatic. The main villain, who is not well established, offers no immediate threat and ends up simply being an agent to get her to say silly lines like, “I believe in love!”

But in the end that is what this movie is concerned with: telling us why Diana stuck around Earth and is willing to fight for us. It’s a well constructed enough backbone to stand on that the lack of, “how will they get out of this one,” set pieces doesn’t hurt the overall quality of the movie.

Taking these minor flaws aside, Wonder Woman is a triumph for the big screen – and should be considered the benchmark for the DCMU. It’s their most confident and complete story, not relying on CGI-heavy effects or action sequences every five minutes to make us forget there is no plot (or that the plot is too confusing to follow for anyone outside the core DC-fanbase). It finally gets the tone correct – keeping the real-world seriousness of Man of Steel and Batman vs Superman while adding the more light-hearted aspects of Suicide Squad to the mix. And most applause-worthy (for a movie in any genre), it produces a female hero who is fully rounded, who likes to kick butt as much as she likes her hair beautiful – who isn’t afraid to fall in love.

Hollywood take note, being a female hero does not always have to equate to being a sexless, emotionless, pseudo-man with breasts. Wonder Woman is a girl-power movie without having to shout “girl-power” once. It’s better for it, and hopefully future superhero films with female leads will be too.

I definitely recommend catching Wonder Woman on the big screen. Warner Bros. did the right thing by listening to the fan criticism and putting out the movie that we wanted to see. I have no doubt that this movie will be a huge hit, and no doubt that her future films are open to limitless possibilities. As an origin story, I rank this nearly as high as Batman Begins – and we all know what followed after that. Look out Marvel, Warner Bros. and the DCMU has finally arrived to the games.


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DC SIGNS BOGDANOVIC TO CREATE CONTENT FOR DC & VERTIGO

DC Entertainment continues to expand its talent roster, announcing today that it has reached an agreement with all-star artist Viktor Bogdanovic (NEW SUPER-MAN) to create content solely for the company’s DC and Vertigo imprints.

“Hiring an artist like Viktor, who has clean lines and clear characters, was perfect to launch NEW SUPER-MAN,” said DC Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras. “With this success, I’m looking forward to seeing what Viktor does this summer with ACTION COMICS. We have an incredible creative team here at DC and we’re always looking for talented new writers and artists to join our ranks.”

“I started working for DC in late 2014,” said Bogdanovic. “It’s been an amazing place for me. My very first book was BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT and then came SUICIDE SQUAD MOST WANTED: DEADSHOT. More recently, I had the unique chance to help create a cooler character than Batman—of course I’m talking about New Super-Man, Kong Kenan.”

Since the launch of Rebirth, Bogdanovic has teamed up with writer Gene Luen Yang to give the world a new hero, Kong Kenan in NEW SUPER-MAN. From there, Bogdanovic will transition to working with Dan Jurgens on ACTION COMICS, with his first issue (ACTION COMICS #983) debuting on July 12.

“Drawing the Man of Steel himself in ACTION COMICS is another childhood dream come true,” Bogdanovic explained. “There are exciting things happening at DC right now and I’m delighted to be a part of it.”

Bogdanovic is the newest name to be added to DC’s roster of talent. DC has also recently signed artists Bruno Redondo (INJUSTICE 2), Liam Sharp (WONDER WOMAN), Andy Kubert (DARK KNIGHT III), Javier Fernandez (NIGHTWING), Jorge Jiménez (SUPER SONS) and writers Amanda Conner (HARLEY QUINN), James Tynion IV (DETECTIVE COMICS), Dan Abnett (TITANS, AQUAMAN) and more. Stay tuned for more announcements as DC continues to expand its talent pool.

For more information about DC, visit the website at www.dccomics.com.

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The prelude to 'DARK DAYS: METAL' begins here with 'DARK DAYS: THE FORGE!'

We’ve asked the question and now its time for you to answer: ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?!

DC is bringing you that sweet, sweet sound as METAL kicks off with two ground-shaking preludes—starting with DARK DAYS: THE FORGE in June and continuing with DARK DAYS: THE CASTING in July. The New York Times best-selling writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV collaborate with iconic artists Andy Kubert, Jim Lee, and John Romita Jr. to bring these stories to life— laying the foundation for whats to come and showing you the first look into METAL and DARK MATTER this year.

DARK DAYS: THE FORGE begins with a discovery, and a secret. Aquaman, The Flash and more of DC’s pantheon of heroes suspect Batman of hiding a dark secret that could threaten the very existence of the Multiverse! What has he discovered? And how does this connect to the origins of one of DC’s most legendary heroes?

Spearheaded by Snyder, METAL and it’s preludes will expand the DCU as we know it— revealing that the world of our favorite DC characters still has many areas left uncharted. Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman and the rest of the Justice League think they’ve been to every corner of the Multiverse—but a looming threat is coming from a place they never knew existed. Welcome to a crazy, melt-your-face, hard-rock space adventure like you’ve never seen before.

Welcome to the Dark Multiverse.

The great comics event begins here—DARK DAYS: THE FORGE #1 hits shelves June 14.

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Nintendo to Launch New Nintendo 2DS XL Portable System on July 28

New Dedicated Hand-Held System Will Sell at a Suggested Retail Price of $149.99

The Nintendo 3DS family of systems will soon be adding a new member. On July 28, New Nintendo 2DS XL makes its debut in the United States at a suggested retail price of $149.99. The New Nintendo 2DS XL system gives consumers a third choice of hand-held systems, one that offers pricing and features that fit between the Nintendo 2DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL systems. New Nintendo 2DS XL will launch on the same day as two big new games for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems: Hey! PIKMIN and Miitopia.

“This new addition to Nintendo’s portable hardware line demonstrates our commitment to the hand-held market,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s President and COO. “New Nintendo 2DS XL sports a beautiful clamshell design and offers a great balance between price and performance.”

The new system will be available in a stylish black/turquoise color, and will use the same size large screen found on New Nintendo 3DS XL systems. As the name of the new system implies, visuals will be displayed in 2D only. The system is lighter but still packs the same power as New Nintendo 3DS XL, and has built-in NFC support for amiibo cards and figures. It can play the massive library of quality Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS games in 2D. Nintendo systems are also the only dedicated video game systems where people can find their favorite characters and game franchises, such as Mario, Peach, Yoshi, Kirby, Pokémon, Fire Emblem, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., Animal Crossing and The Legend of Zelda.

There are over a thousand games in the Nintendo 3DS game library and more are always on the way, including two that launch on the same day as New Nintendo 2DS XL. These new games will offer fun new experiences for New Nintendo 2DS XL owners, and for owners of any Nintendo 3DS family systems.

• Hey! PIKMIN: In this brand-new style of Pikmin game, players guide Captain Olimar through 2D side-scrolling levels and collect Sparklium to refuel his crashed ship, the S.S. Dolphin 2, so he can escape the planet. The touch-screen controls let players choose the right Pikmin to toss at enemies and objects, which is critical to defeating foes and solving the many puzzles Olimar encounters during his adventure.
• Miitopia: Band together with your Mii and Mii friends to explore your own personalized world of Miitopia. Cast Mii characters into various roles and watch hilarious scenes unfold as they work together to defeat the Dark Lord who has stolen the faces of townspeople of Miitopia. Players can bring in their created Mii characters from the Miitomo or Tomodachi Life games, or create their own Mii team in the game. This game has a lighthearted tone with traditional and strategic RPG-like elements, including customization, relationship building and team management.

Remember that New Nintendo 2DS XL features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/2ds/new-nintendo-2ds.

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DISNEY TWENTY-THREE EXPLORES PANDORA – THE WORLD OF AVATAR, OPENING THIS SUMMER AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

THE CREATIVE MINDS BEHIND DISNEY’S NEWEST LAND GIVE DISNEY TWENTY-THREE AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT THE SPECTACULAR ADDITION TO DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM

PLUS, EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH THE NEW CREW OF PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES, THOR: RAGNAROK’S CHRIS HEMSWORTH, AND THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND CARS 3

Disney twenty-three will take readers 4.4 light years away to visit the breathtaking Pandora – The World of Avatar. Opening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on May 27, this new land will transport guests into the epic creations first seen in James Cameron’s 2007 blockbuster, Avatar. Readers will set out on a behind-the-scenes look at Pandora with the creative team responsible for this unprecedented project, including Walt Disney Imagineering’s Joe Rohde, Cameron, and Avatar producer Jon Landau. “We didn’t build sets of all this stuff when we made the movie. It was all in a computer,” James Cameron remarked in an exclusive interview with Disney twenty-three. “So, to be able to walk around it in full-scale? It’s unfathomable. We’re literally on Pandora! I’m on Pandora! It was a pinch-me moment to ensure I was really awake and actually in the world we had created.”

In addition to the cover featuring Pandora – The World of Avatar, the summer issue, exclusively for Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, has a second, spine-tingling cover with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Javier Bardem and Kaya Scodelario reveal what it was like to join the Pirates crew, as they set sail on an all-new adventure with Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, and Orlando Bloom. Cars newcomer Cristela Alonzo talks about joining the high-octane franchise. And Chris Hemsworth shares what it’s like going head-to-head with Hulk in this fall’s Thor: Ragnarok.

Walt Disney Imagineering’s Steven Davison and Kim Irvine give readers a first look at the triumphant return of Fantasmic! and Disneyland’s Rivers of America; enjoy a tour of Duckburg with the creative team behind the upcoming reimaginedDuckTales for Disney XD; and return to the beautiful art of Bambi in honor of its 75th anniversary year, created by Disney Legend Tyrus Wong and other influential Disney artists.

Also included in the summer issue of Disney twenty-three:

• A tour of Golden Oak Ranch, one of Disney’s most storied filming locations
• Popular Disney myths busted
• A celebration of Disney’s most innovative films, attractions, and experiments
• A toy-filled edition of “From the Desk of” as we tour John Lasseter’s office at Pixar Animation Studios
• Regular features including A Walk with Walt, D Society, and Ask Dave

Plus, all D23 Gold Members will receive a Na’vi translator card featuring the Shaman of Songs, the character featured on the attraction Na’vi River Journey. This card is a collectible on its own and, when used with the Na’vi language translator device (available at Pandora this summer), will tell the guest how to say the words in the Na’vi language.

Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family Members as a benefit of their membership. The latest issue will begin arriving in mid-May.

About D23
Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($74.99), Gold Family Membership ($99.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

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