Daniel WhitehillI would cut a bitch for this.
Last week, Nintendo dealt a crushing blow to retro gaming fans when it announced that it was discontinuing the uber-popular NES Classic Edition. We’re still not sure what Nintendo was thinking—most companies do not choose to discontinue products that get such great reviews and sell out immediately and consistently…
Daniel WhitehillWow. Pretty good haul.
Coachella is always full of surprises (like when Radiohead quit earlier this week after audio problems), but this year’s biggest surprise seems to have happened far away from the main stage. On Friday, a New York man was arrested after allegedly stealing more than 100 cell phones from concert attendees in one of the…
Daniel WhitehillHmmm. Erg. I dunno. I just think if she stole all her jokes she'd be funnier.
Daniel WhitehillWow. Poor guy.
When 25-year-old Cary McCook told his friends that he got run over by a deer they thought it was a joke. It was April Fools’ Day, after all, and who gets bulldozed by a deer?
Daniel WhitehillWowza
California governor Jerry Brown recently declared an end to the state of emergency brought on by his state’s historically terrible drought. It’s a mid-level miracle, assisted by record rainfall earlier this year. If you don’t believe me, just look at these before and after images.
Daniel WhitehillDa Fuq? Way to leave money on the table.
If you've spent the last few months trying to get your hands on a NES Classic Edition, it's time to give up. Nintendo's tiny, plug-and-play retro console is dead. Or dying, at least. The company says the last shipments to North American territories will reach stores in April, advising buyers to check with their local retailers for availability. In other words, the NES Classic Edition shortage is going away, but only because the product won't exist anymore.
Source: IGN
Daniel WhitehillThis could be interesting. And it has gays! I like gays.
TV network Spike has released the first trailer for its upcoming series based on Stephen King's novella The Mist. Like the book, the TV series tells the story of what happens when a creepy mist comes to town. But unlike the book, the show has a new cast of characters and will tell its own story.
The show's creator, Christian Torpe, told Entertainment Weekly that Frank Darabont's 2007 movie The Mist is an example of a good adaption of King's work. He wanted to be "respectful to the source material" with the show--but also try new things.
"The novella is 200 pages and one location, and we needed to change that to make an ongoing series. But we wanted to remain faithful to the heart of the story," he said.
In the book, the people of the town huddled together in a grocery store to avoid the mist and the monsters outside. While in the store, they became the monsters. In the TV show, there will be several of these "lockdown locations," according to EW. As you can see in the trailer, these include places like a church and a mall.
EW has an in-depth and fascinating feature on the Mist TV show--read it here.
The show premieres June 22 on Spike. It stars Alyssa Sutherland, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Bill Carr, Gus Birney, and Luke Cosgrove.
In other news about Stephen King adaptations, the first trailer for the killer clown movie It was recently released. In picked up more than 197 million views in its first day to set a new 24-hour record. Additionally, the movie The Dark Tower has been delayed yet again.
Daniel WhitehillI kinda have to agree. These movies have kinda gone over the edge. I have no clue as to what is going on here mashing up all this stuff. Weird.
Okay, look. I need to ask something: Transformers franchise, are you okay? Because this... thing you’ve unleashed upon the world feels like you’re not. Are you entering your angsty teen years? Is that what all the swords are about?
Daniel WhitehillWow. Impressive!
Microsoft will offer refunds for digital game purchases through Xbox Live across Xbox One and PC, according to an image of an upcoming update posted on Reddit.
Information on the refund program was issued to those participating in the Xbox Insider Program, which allows members to test new features before they are made available to the wider Xbox community.
"You’ve spoken; we've listened," reads the message. "In support of offering gamers the freedom of choice, we're making changes to the Microsoft Store purchase experience by offering customers a simple way to instantly return digital products like games and apps through account.microsoft.com.
"When a game or app leaves you wanting more, we're here to help. Self-service refunds on Xbox One and Windows 10 provide a quick, simple way of returning a digital product."
Further details on the specifics of what content can be refunded and when were posted on NeoGAF. According to a second image, games are "eligible for self-service refunds within 14 days of purchase if you have less than 2 hours of play time across all accounts." However, "DLC, season passes, and add-ons are not eligible for self-service refunds."
Additionally, "the game or app must be downloaded and launched before requesting a self-service refund" and "you must wait for at least 1 day after the game or app's release before requesting a self-service refund."
Microsoft also states that "certain Windows 10 apps may not be eligible for self-service refunds" and it "reserves the right to block access for users who abuse self-service refunds."
This self-service approach to refunding digitally purchase content is uncommon on consoles. Neither Sony nor Nintendo currently offer a similar feature on their current consoles. On PC, however, Valve introduced a similar refund policy for Steam games in 2015, allowing users to return games and DLC within two weeks of purchase provided they haven't played the content for more than two hours.
Microsoft has steadily been introducing and tweaking Xbox Live features to make it a more robust gaming platform. In March it detailed Arena, which allows Xbox Live users to participate in tournaments together. Features such as Clubs and LFG have also been added to make it easier for communities to form around games and for people to find multiplayer groups.
The news comes as Microsoft gears up for the reveal of Project Scorpio, the next console in the Xbox One family. On April 6 it revealed the full hardware specs for Project Scorpio and has since shown off what a developer unit looks like.
Project Scorpio is due to launch this holiday season, but it remains to be seen when Microsoft will start to officially show it off in more detail. Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said he is unsure if Microsoft will show off Project Scorpio before E3 in June, while also stating recently that he thinks it's "critical" for first-party games to be ready for the system's launch.
For more on Project Scorpio, check out all our coverage of the latest information:
Daniel WhitehillSome good cat photos here.
Daniel WhitehillThis is the second really good PR move Xbox has made since the launch disaster 3 years ago. The first was teasing this console for such a long time (i.e. we all see now that PS Pro was a bit rushed). But this is smart too, using a rebellious yet respected third party to give a glowing preview of your product before launch. Brilliant. They are clearly targeting the hardcore folks. The last pieces of the puzzle are the name (I kinda hope they keep Scorpio at this point), and the actual games we'll see in June. Then, as long as the price is under $499 (they've warned it's a premium console), I think they can stick the landing.
Microsoft couldn’t wait until E3 in June to unveil the Scorpio, so the company shared some details with Digital Foundry and we now know all of Project Scorpio’s tech specs. As expected, it’s going to be by far the most powerful gaming console out there.
The console GPU will be able to process six trillion floating point operations per second, or six teraflops for short. Read MoreDaniel WhitehillThis is essential internet viewing
Animals electronically coerced into singing has been one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements. The internet is now packed full of countless songs performed by countless creatures, but few are as wonderful as these random autotuned animals singing the Duck Tales theme.
Daniel WhitehillHUGE fan of his work!
Markie More, a gay adult film actor who works with Next Door Studios who recently announced his retirement, made a couple of announcement at The Phoenix Forum trade show over the weekend.
— Paadzer (@paadzer) March 16, 2016
The first announcement was that he’s coming out of retirement. The second was that he would be donating $250 from each forthcoming scene to the Gay-Straight Alliance network, a “next-generation LGBTQ racial and gender justice organization that empowers and trains queer, trans and allied youth leaders to advocate, organize, and mobilize an intersectional movement for safer schools and healthier communities” according to its mission statement.
Said Markie:
“I’ve always felt a calling within myself to help people, especially those who can’t necessarily help themselves. And over the years it’s only gotten stronger, this feeling. And I thought that I had to subtract myself from the adult industry to make this happen. So I took some time to reflect and I realized that this is the very industry that changed my life in so many ways for the better. Being more confident, comfortable with who I am, comfortable with my sexuality. So I’ve decided not to retire and from this point forward I will be donating $250 from every scene to the GSA network ― the Gay-Straight Alliance network. It’s a charity that organizes clubs within middles schools and high schools for LGBTQ youth, giving them a safe place to learn, a comfortable place to socialize and avoid the hate and then just to grow. I believe we just need to love each other. Just be kind.”
Watch:
WATCH: @MarkieMore Statement at The Phoenix Forum 2017 (https://t.co/V0hnlWqJMP) Video by @philliyT // @BuddyProfits @NextDoorStudios pic.twitter.com/XhCNm6tfrb
— Queer Me Now (@QueerMeNow) March 25, 2017
The post Gay Adult Film Actor Markie More Vows to Donate $250 from Each Scene to Gay-Straight Alliance Network appeared first on Towleroad.
Daniel WhitehillSo. Much. Yes!
At E3 2016 Microsoft showed off a new, slimmer Xbox One called the Xbox One S (which is already out) and announced "Project Scorpio," a souped up Xbox One meant to do 4K resolution bullshit for peoples whose TVs also do 4K bullshit. And supposedly better than the PS4 Pro does. It might also be more expensive! Who knows?
Well, we might soon. Windows Central reports Microsoft will unveil Forza Motorsport 7 "in the next few weeks" as the headliner of a 4K showcase for Project Scorpio. A bunch of glossy cars; I can just picture it on an endless loop on a wall of Costco TVs.
According to the report Forza 7, Crackdown 3, and State of Decay 2 will all be on display -- all first-party Microsoft games will run at native 4K on the Scorpio -- along with Call of Duty (presumably the newest one), FIFA, Madden, Star Wars Battlefront 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2. Maybe we'll get a little more than we did in the teaser?
Microsoft will use Forza 7, Battlefront 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2 to showcase 4K on 'Project Scorpio' Xbox (exclusive) [Windows Central]
Daniel WhitehillYAY E! Just doing our part to destroy respectable TV, one show at a time! Thank you, thank you!
West Hollywood’s most famous gay bar The Abbey is now the subject of a reality show (or “docu-series” as they’re being called these days) that bears a striking resemblance to the Bravo show shot just next door: Vanderpump Rules.
The show focuses on the bar’s employees, the show’s celebrity guests, and lots of skin.
And that’s Billy Reilich from The Cream Pies who later became Ellen’s gardener.
Watch:
The post West Hollywood Gay Bar ‘The Abbey’ Gets a ‘Vanderpump Rules’-Style Reality Show: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
Daniel WhitehillThis is awesome.
And here I thought it was particularly shitty waiting for the bus this morning.
Submitted by: (via Nick Colvin)
Daniel WhitehillFuk Yis. I love this shit.
Mass Effect: Andromeda will let players stay connected to the game while they're out and about through a companion app for the game's multiplayer mode.
Called Apex HQ, the app tracks your progression in the mode, displaying information like which characters you've unlocked and what items and rewards you've collected. All the widgets on the home screen can be customized, so you can choose which ones show up and the order that they appear.
You can also use the Apex HQ app to choose a loadout that will appear in the game the next time you log in. Additionally, you can see how you stand compared to friends and the community at large through leaderboards, while there is a store where you can buy cosmetic packs for multiplayer.
Importantly, in order for your stats to be tracked, you need to log into Apex HQ with the same EA Account that is linked to the platform you're playing on.
The app launches on March 20 for iOS and Android devices. Go to the Apex HQ website to learn more.
Andromeda launches on March 21 in North America for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. If you're an EA/Origin Access subscriber, you can start playing the game right now.
GameSpot will have a lot more on Andromeda in the coming days. The first part of our new video series, The Story of Mass Effect: Andromeda, airs this Saturday, March 18. You can watch a trailer for that here.
Daniel WhitehillHa. I love the gamer.
Tinder might be destroying it in the creepy messages to women department, but as far as custom emojis go, Grindr is king.
Sorry, but your Eggplant and Peach emojis are basic af.
The gay-friendly dating app is set to release a new batch of custom emoji to say the things we don't have the things we can't find the words to say. Things like:
But seriously, these super specific emojis are amazing. Check 'em out.
Submitted by:
Daniel WhitehillThis dog is nuts and adorable. The wipeout replay is at 1:00 and is good stuff.
Ollie, a Jack Russell terrier, is going viral today after an epic fail of a run at the Crufts Dog Show. If there was a prize for audience favorite, it would certainly go to Ollie.
Watch:
The post Jack Russell Terrier Hilariously Fails at Dog Show and ‘Couldn’t Care Less’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
Daniel WhitehillWOOO HOOOOOO! CAN'T WAIT!!
We’ve known for a long while that the seemingly penultimate season of Game of Thrones wouldn’t be coming in the show’s usual spring slot on HBO—but today, the company finally confirmed just when we’ll be going back to Westeros: July 16. But bloody hell, did we have to go through a mess to know it.
Daniel WhitehillPsyched and all and will definitely Tivo for hung over saturday mornings, but I miss the lyrics we grew up with and the animation style is just okay.
This first trailer for DuckTales might just be the coolest thing we see all week, all year, or in our lifetimes. David Tennant was simply born to play Scrooge McDuck.
Daniel WhitehillThis kid is pretty good.
Ladies and gentleman, the future President of the United States.
Everyone loves a good news blooper and everyone loves a good fart, so how could you not win with this video. So when this rambunctious youngster beaming with potential decided to spice up this weather report with a spicy little fart, he wasn't just doing it for his own amusement, he was doing it for all of us.
"Are you sure? Are you crazy sure?" the future leader of the free world asks the smug meteorologist about his report before farting right on his leg.
No, the future commander-in-chief is not buying it. The president of the future responded by farting on the weatherman and reminding him of the plight of the American farmer.
"Ca ca!" he screamed before the weatherman could answer. "Remember there are farms everywhere and toots."
Yes, there are farms and toots everywhere, future Mr. President, and because of that, you have my vote.
Submitted by: (via NewsFunnies)
Daniel WhitehillNice! Can't WAAAAIT!
Mass Effect 3 may have been a disappointing end to the alien dating trilogy, but BioWare handled the multiplayer component with a bit of grace. Instead of shoving in a bunch of maps with the season pass for the game, all the extra maps were released for free. That trend is going to continue in the upcoming Andromeda as confirmed by BioWare's general manager, Aaryn Flynn.
Along with that information, the producer for Andromeda (Fernando Melo) stated that the multiplayer component would tie back in with the single-player in the form of some unlocks for your character. Melo mentioned on Twitter, "On the fifth day of MP-mas, the MP dev team gave to you: a new feature in MEA – Missions. Your link between MP/SP. Play & get rewards in both."
That sounds similar to how Mass Effect 3 handled your "War Readiness" for completing missions in co-op mode. That may be a bit tacky (since you can farm out components to make the game easier), but at least your time spent away from the campaign won't be for naught. Getting extra maps for free is also a pretty nice gesture, even if that used to be an industry standard (I miss you Unreal Tournament).
Mass Effect: Andromeda’s Multiplayer Maps Will Be Free [WWG]
Daniel Whitehillha. This is pretty good.
The hot “Pool Boy” from Coca-Cola’s new commercial from their “Taste The Feeling” campaign.
When One Million Moms (read: Four Crazy Moms With Too Much Time On Their Hands) get bored with sharting up rage-filled emails about Disney’s first gay cartoon kiss and LeFou being a big ole’ gay, they can use their fingers of throbbing rage to shoot out nonsensical hate mail at Coca-Cola. On Thursday, Coke spit out the latest commercial that’s part of their “Taste The Feeling” campaign. It stars a sister and a brother who are thirsting so hard for the pool boy that they can taste the feeling. And the feeling doesn’t taste like Coke, unless the pool dude’s peen tastes like Coca-Cola. If that’s the case, then his dick must be rivals with Lana Del Rey’s Pepsi-Cola pussy.
Rodolfo Echeverria, the marketer’s VP-global creative, said this to Ad Age about the ad:
“This story has more layers, including a ‘wink’ that touches on our point of view regarding diversity and inclusion. We are managing our culturally relevant messages organically within our campaign spots not as the main subject of the story but as subtext.”
The pool boy in this ad is no Lucky Vanous, but I am into him dressed up like a small-town gas attendant in a gay porn parody:
Why does the gay guy have to be the crazed psycho who tries to murder his sister over a man?! But really, the brother and sister should be ashamed of themselves. I mean, pushing and tripping? That’s the way toddlers fight! One of them should’ve broke a Coke bottle and threatened to cut a bitch if they even think of trying to get near that hot pool piece.
Pic: YouTube
Daniel WhitehillBold move. Works better for us! We should hang and watch (on my new TV!)!
Early indications are that this will not be your standard fare E3. Even if the quality of the reveals is about the same as usual, the format of the whole show has significantly changed. Last week, the ESA announced that it's selling tickets to the public this year. Now, Microsoft has ventured out of its comfort zone too.
Late this morning, we received an email from Microsoft that served as a save the date of sorts (February is too early for this kind of thing). It tells us that the Xbox E3 briefing will be on Sunday afternoon at 2pm this year. Here's the graphic that was attached:
Daniel WhitehillBummer it's animated. Still sounds fun.
Vampire-themed shows are a dime a dozen, but you might have a better-than-usual reason to care about this one. Producer Adi Shankar (of Dredd and The Grey fame) has revealed that he's working on a Castlevania animated series for Netflix, with a first season due in 2017 and a second due the following year. Not only that, but you may be familiar with some of the contributors. Warren Ellis (from the Red graphic novel and numerous comic book imprints) is writing, while Adventure Time's Kevin Kolde is also involved.
Via: Glixel
Source: Adi Shankar (Facebook)
Daniel WhitehillWe should buy this game. It looks rad.3/7
Last weekend Ubisoft ran a closed beta for their upcoming open-world tangos ’n tactics game Ghost Recon Wildlands. I spent a few hours playing and am here to tell you what I thought.
Daniel WhitehillI don't know why i love this so much, but I do.