Main
Features
 FOTD
 Toy Fair 2023
 SDCC 2023
 Toy Fair 2020
 NYCC 2019
 SDCC 2019
 Toy Fair 2019
 SDCC 2018
 Toy Fair 2018
 HasCon 2017
 SDCC 2017
 Toy Fair 2017
 SDCC 2016
 Toy Fair 2016
 SDCC 2015
 Toy Fair 2015
 SDCC 2014
 C2E2 2014
 Toy Fair 2014
 SDCC 2013
 C2E2 2013
 Toy Fair 2013
 SDCC 2012
 C2E2 2012
 Toy Fair 2012
 NYCC 2011
 SDCC 2011
 Toy Fair 2011
Archives
 Books
 DVD
 Music
 Statues
 Prop Replicas
 Toys
 Video Games
Credits
Contact


This site is part of Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Entertainment Earth affiliate programs. We may earn a commission when you click one of their links.


Related Links:
16bit Tumblr
16bit Twitter
16bit Instagram
ASWN
EE Podcast
Galactic Hunter
Glyos News
OSM News

Shoot to Kill
November 1, 2007
Review: 25th Anniversary Flint

G.I. JoeAnd Knowing is Half The Battle!Review time! Today we look at the first (and so far, only) Flint from the 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe line. Sure, he shares body parts with Duke, but does that mean the figure isn't any good? And how are those guns, anyway? Read on!

And yes, we're still looking for a Series 2 Cobra Trooper, Series 2 Beachhead, and Shipwreck with the shark tattoo. And a non-color change Zartan, if one exists-- we found one without the "burst" that most certainly does change colors.

--AP

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 542, 543

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the nifty Darth Vader, 2007 Spirit edition! As part of a Battle Pack, he comes with 4 more figures for about $20-- is he different enough to warrant buying that whole pack? Read on!

We also examine costumed Obi-Wan Kenobi in Jedi Training Gear from the 2001 Power of the Jedi Collection line. With limited articulation, a non-movie costume, and a removable helmet, could he be just the figure you need? Read on!

--AP

Dragon Quest IV DS Screen Shots

Nintendo DSOld SchoolThe classic NES/Famicom game is getting a DS makeover! It doesn't look too fancy, but The Magic Box has several pages of the upcoming (formerly) Enix RPG. It looks pretty good and will be hitting Japan later this month, and there's no known US release date.

--AP

The Lost Trek Movie?

Star TrekWhat?Over at AICN, there's an interesting report on an abandoned script for a Star Trek movie that was proposed prior to the J.J. Abrams project getting off the ground. While it would have a few cameos of existing characters, it wouldn't be a Kirk/Spock/McCoy-fest like we're expecting. It seems to have been slated to take place almost immediately following the timeframe presented in Enterprise, and legit or not it makes for an interesting read. Click through for more.

Perhaps this will enter the halls of history, along with the aborted Star Trek: Phase II TV series and the in-limbo Star Trek Animated project. Who knows? It's interesting, though.

--AP

You Stay Outta This
November 2, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 544

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the dirtied RA-7, a Sandcrawler droid! Originally an exclusive figure from a $60 Sandcrawler, now you can get this figure individually at your local stores. Should you? Read on!

--AP

Waves 1, 2 of 25th Anniversary Comic Packs Revealed

G.I. JoeGUM!Not only was wave 1 put up to pre-order, but Entertainment Earth revealed wave 2 of next year's comic pack line. The good news: it's got new characters. The bad news: there's still only 5 packs so far, and you need to get 6 to mail in for the exclusive Doc action figure.

One new pack features a metal-headed Destro with Breaker, complete with gum bubble. The other set, previously revealed, features Dreadnoks Torch and Ripper. So that's 3 new figures, which is more than the entire first wave has. In other words, it's a step in the right direction.

--AP

Xbox Live Arcade: Chip Demo Games

Xbox Live ArcadeChipsRemember that Doritos design-a-game contest? Well, the betas are up, and you can see theme here. Want to be a T-Rex that chases after a truck? Well, you're in luck-- there are several games up to try out in Flash, and well, uh, whatever. We guess one of them will be free on XBLA later, so yeah, check it out. "Monkeys from Mount Doritos." We can't make this stuff up.

--AP

Entertainment Earth Podcast
(Powered by 16bit.com)

Podcast #65 November 2, 2007

More G.I. Joe Reviewed! We also talk about the lost Star Trek movie that just surfaced, new Halo 3 action figures, the 2008 G.I. Joe comic packs, new Star Wars, and much more. (Plus we gush on about the new Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles, as it is awesome.)

Click here to visit the Episode #65 page at Entertainment Earth.

--AP

How to sign up

For starters: You do not need an iPod to hear a Podcast. Podcasting is just a fancy word for "hack job internet radio show," which is exactly what we're aiming to produce here.

If you have iTunes 4.9 or above: You can subscribe to it for free. Just search for "Adam Pawlus" under Podcasts in the iTunes music store, or just go to "Subscribe to Podcast" and paste in "http://www.entertainmentearth.com/podcasts/podcast.xml". And you should be all hooked up.

If you're using an RSS reader: Subscribe to this feed: "http://www.entertainmentearth.com/podcasts/podcast.xml".

If you are using Safari: click here.

A Word From The Sponsor

Free Shipping!Ad: Entertainment Earth has added numerous pre-orders and in-stock items to its web site. Also, they're offering FREE SHIPPING on in-stock orders of $85 or more. Use it on Battlefront figures, Gentle Giant statues, Anime collectibles, and more. Click through for pricing, pictures, and availability.

Representative
November 5, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day Updated at Galactic Hunter

Q&A by Adam PawlusGalactic Hunter Star Wars NewsGalactic Hunter has posted a Q&A column by yours truly. Read on!

Also, Figure of the Day has been updated! The daily feature on figures you might have but might not-- either way, here's what you've been missing! Spanning from the original Power of the Force series of 1995 to the latest of the 30th Anniversary Collection, it's almost like a history lesson!

R2-KT Battle Droid Nikto

From left to right: R2-KT, Battle Droid, Nikto. Go to Galactic Hunter for the next update, with the 548th installment in our ongoing series!

--AP

Mysterious Crimson Guard Revealed

G.I. JoeWhat?G.I. Joe fan site HISSTANK updated with shots of this oddball gold and black marked Crimson Guard. Nobody knows what it's from yet, but assumptions are leaning toward a multipack, be it a comic pack or an exclusive boxed set. Take a look!

--AP

Sam's Club Exclusive Transformers 3-Packs

TransformersThree, and it ain't online only eitherDo you like boxed sets, or battle-damaged repaints? This is the story for you! Sam's Club has an exclusive three-pack in stores and online. You get Starscream, Arcee, and Optimus Prime with battle damage. Basically, you're getting a $20 toy, another $20 toy, and a $10 toy for $43. (Previous Sam's deals have been much sweeter but this isn't bad.) Check your local Sam's Club for availability or order online.

(Again, note the errors in the listing-- it's listed as available online only [which we hear is not the case], and as a 2-pack. It's neither.)

What's more, there's another set listed here as in-store only with Jazz, Brawl, and Bonecrusher. No price listed, but hey, there you go.

--AP

Enough Of This
November 6, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 548

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at Agen Kolar from Revenge of the Sith! As the first Agen Kolar figure to get its own mold, is it one of Hasbro's best or another turkey? Read on!

--AP

Doc Mail-In Details

G.I. JoeNOT FREEGood news, bad news. Mega-etailler Entertainment Earth confirmed the details to get Doc by mail. The good news is that you'll have a long time to send for it. The bad news? Well, here's the short version.

- Cost: 6 Stickers from comic packs + $4.95
- US addresses only
- Figure will not ship until 5/1/2008
- Offer must be postmarked 8/31/2008

Basically, it's going to be like the mail-in offers Hasbro did for Star Wars in 2006 (George Lucas in Stormtrooper Disguise) and 2007 (coin set). Before you cry like a baby, keep in mind Hasbro has only revealed 5 different comic packs so far and several more are expected to come between now and August. We've only seen product through February so far, which is probably a fraction of the year. (Rumor has it Tomax, Xamot, and more Crimson Guards may be coming.) So before you whine, wait a few months-- odds are this will work out nicely.

--AP

Wii Virtual Console This Week

WiiA Horrible Night to have a Curse!From the NES: Super Mario Bros. 3, arguably the NES' finest game of all time. From the TurboGrafx-16: Power Golf, so skip that. From the Sega Genesis: Alien Soldier, a previously Sega Channel-exclusive which we hear good things about.

--AP

Xbox Live Arcade This Week

Xbox Live ArcadeSwitchballTwo new games are coming this week to Xbox Live Arcade. Word Puzzle is basically a word search game and someone thinks it's worth $10. Also, there's Switchball, which we've heard described as a $10 Monkey Ball clone, minus the monkeys. Where the hell did Asteroids go, Microsoft? At least give us something we can recognize.

--AP

Can't Take Care of Themselves
November 8, 2007
Review: 25th Anniversary Sgt. Stalker (Yellow)

G.I. JoeAnd Knowing is Half The Battle!Review time! Today we look at the first release (and first variant) of Sgt. Stalker from the 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe line. Previously known as "Stalker," this figure once again shares a whole lot of parts with Snake Eyes. He also has a new head and a new gun-- but is this enough to make it worth buying one or more versions of Stalker? Read on!

--AP

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 549, 550

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the green Clone Trooper, which has so far been released at least three times! We look at the first release in-depth, and let you know if the newer ones are good enough to warrant plonking down some cash for. So do you need it or what? Read on!

We also examine the orange Sandtrooper that came out a few months ago. With 14 poin ts of articulation, is this shiny new repaint just what the doctor ordered? Read on!

--AP

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Site Relaunch

TVActual GirlsWhile it seemingly has no involvement from the original cast and crew, Best Brains relaunched the official Mystery Science Theater 3000 Web Page with lots of annoying flash, archival videos, and other stuff. As Joel and Mike are each heading separate commentary-related projects, odds are this won't be the revival many have hoped for-- but hey, clips. It's a start! Also, hats & shirts. Again, a start. Where are the bobbles? The action figures? The commemorative stamps from St. Vincent?

--AP

Why I Told You About The Pop Tart
November 9, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 551

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the 2004 repaint of the Gamorrean Guard, which is the most up-to-date version you can get. It combines the sculpt from 1997 with the paint of today. Is it worth adding to your growing armies? Read on!

--AP

2008 LEGO Revealed

LEGODad?  What?German web store Kaleido.Shop updated with tons of 2008 LEGO set pictures, including Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Spongebob, Batman, and more. Worth seeing? Yes. We're excited.

--AP

G.I. Joe Nike Shoes

G.I. JoeFresh KicksNike shoe fan site (we can't believe they exist either) NIke Kicks updated with some new G.I. Joe-themed sneakers due out in the coming months. Following Voltron and Transformers, it only makes sense. So when might we see He-Man? Check out these fresh kicks and cross your fingers for Skeletor-editions in 2009.

--AP

He-Man 2008?

Masters of the UniverseMo Money Mo ProblemsWe totally forgot to link this a few months ago, but He-Man.org posted shots on August 10 showcasing a conceptual He-Man prototype from the Four Horsemen. It's very barbarian-influenced and looks like what the original 1980s figure might look like today if designed with modern Mattel sensibilities in mind. There are no known plans to release the toy, but it's sure nifty to see! You know what would also be nifty? Skeletor.

--AP

Entertainment Earth Podcast
(Powered by 16bit.com)

Podcast #66 November 9, 2007

Star Wars Battlefront II Action Figures Reviewed! We look at these new clones and droids to find out if they are worth your hard-earned dollars. Also: Star Trek casting news, Pixar DVD releases, G.I. Joe sneakers, and a whole lot more.

Click here to visit the Episode #66 page at Entertainment Earth.

--AP

How to sign up

For starters: You do not need an iPod to hear a Podcast. Podcasting is just a fancy word for "hack job internet radio show," which is exactly what we're aiming to produce here.

If you have iTunes 4.9 or above: You can subscribe to it for free. Just search for "Adam Pawlus" under Podcasts in the iTunes music store, or just go to "Subscribe to Podcast" and paste in "http://www.entertainmentearth.com/podcasts/podcast.xml". And you should be all hooked up.

If you're using an RSS reader: Subscribe to this feed: "http://www.entertainmentearth.com/podcasts/podcast.xml".

If you are using Safari: click here.

Aw, Shut Up Pops
November 12, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day Updated at Galactic Hunter

Q&A by Adam PawlusGalactic Hunter Star Wars NewsGalactic Hunter has posted a Q&A column by yours truly. Read on!

Also, Figure of the Day has been updated! The daily feature on figures you might have but might not-- either way, here's what you've been missing! Spanning from the original Power of the Force series of 1995 to the latest of the 30th Anniversary Collection, it's almost like a history lesson!

R5-D2 Mars Guo Commander Appo

From left to right: R5-D2, Mars Guo, Commander Appo. Go to Galactic Hunter for the next update, with the 548th installment in our ongoing series!

--AP

Pirates: At World's End Series 2 Toys Released???

DisneyWhat?While we've been told Zizzle put the freeze on future Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End product, we heard the same thing about Dead Man's Chest last year then proceeded to find figures the next week. Well, here we are again. At an LA-area Ralph's (a grocery store with no toy aisle to speak of), we saw "uncursed" Davy Jones. That's right-- the non-squid version, and it was one of two figures available for the low-low price of $11.99. We had a witness we showed it to so we know we aren't nuts, but we didn't buy it. Because, you know, $12. As we haven't seen any on eBay or elsewhere, we assume this means a very limited number were stamped out and are finding their way to alternate distribution channels, and if we see it again with a camera we'll bring a picture for you.

--AP

Wal-Mart Exclusive Masterpiece Starscream Spotted, Purchased

TransformersThree, and it ain't online only eitherOn Saturday we hopped in the car, drove West for 30 minutes, and found our very own Masterpiece Starscream from Hasbro. This Wal-Mart exclusive costs $48.88, and is a redeco of the Takara MP-03 Starscream which costs about $100 and comes in a more realistic jet paint job. We prefer the US one.

It's big and complicated, but not nearly the pain in the butt that Optimus Prime was. If you see one, have $50, and think a big expensive robot would do you some good, we say buy one. It's lots of fun and it looks great, we'd review it but, you know, we'd rather sleep or something. It's a fine item so good luck finding one.

--AP

Have At You!
November 13, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 555

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the 501st Legion Stormtrooper from Comic-Con 2006! As a nod to the biggest organized Star Wars paramilitary organization on the planet, could it possibly be the figure you just gotta have? Read on!

--AP

MORE Doc Mail-In Details: Flag, Battle Points

G.I. JoeNOT FREEAfter initially announcing the mail-in for Doc would be exclusively tied to comic packs, the G.I. Joe Collector's Club released some good news-- you can get extra figures using flag or battle points. A lot of them. The first figure still requires the form from the comic packs and 6 stickers, but additional figures can be had for $4.95 each plus 50 flag/battle points each. (We went through our offices and were surprised to find about 100 battle points upstairs. Yipee, indeed.) Click here for what we assume to be the final details.

--AP

Target Transformers Deep Space Starscream Coming; New Deluxes Hitting

TransformersBlackOver at The Allspark is word of a new black repaint of Starscream that's looking like a future Target exclusive. Click through for more details.

Also, Entertainment Earth briefly had some new deluxe figures like Cliffjumper in stock yesterday afternoon-- so they're hitting the USA. Happy hunting!

--AP

Wii Virtual Console This Week; Mario Galaxy In Stores

WiiJust UghFrom the Super NES: Axelay, one of the few Konami shooters we would not build a shrine for. From the NES: Volleyball, which is about as enticing as socks for Christmas. From the NeoGeo: Blue's Journey, which we've never played.

Also, Super Mario Galaxy is due in-stores today. Stores are running numerous promotions but the best so far seems to be the one at Toys "R" Us-- buy the game for $50, and get a $25 gift card for a future purchase. The game is also theoretically guaranteed in-stock by 5:00 PM in all stores-- we'll believe it when we see and/or buy it. From the sound of things Mario will be far better than the Virtual Console offerings available to you this week, or most weeks.

--AP

Xbox Live Arcade This Week

Xbox Live ArcadeScrewjumperLaunching tomorrow are two new games. From THQ and Frozen Codebase is Screwjumper, which, by virtue of its being from THQ, we're going to ignore. We're also going to ignore Shrek-n-Roll, but because it's a licensed game based on Shrek. We'll ask again: where did Asteroids go?

--AP

Ad: Baron Fel & More IN STOCK at Entertainment Earth

Entertainment EarthEntertainment EarthFrom Entertainment Earth, the Star Wars Expanded Universe Figure Comic Packs Wave 4 is in-stock now. It has Baron Fel, the first-ever Hobbie, the first-ever Bultar Swan, and some other goodies. Order it, or cry because you missed the case that has a copy of the super-cool comic book Star Wars: Purge in which Darth Vader lays the smack down on some surviving Jedi, but not before getting a beat down of his own.

And as always, buying through these shameless plugs means we get a nickel or two, and we appreciate your shined nickels and loose change.

--AP

It Means Without Pants
November 14, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 556

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the Pit Droid (the brown one) from the 2-pack from 2000! As a unique sculpt that hasn't been reissued, could this be the next best addition to your Mos Espa pit crew? Read on!

--AP

2008 Joes Revealed

G.I. JoeCOBRAAAAAOver at Toy News International they have three brand new images of G.I. Joe figures for next year-- Cobra Commander, Rock & Roll, and Torpedo.

Can we get Undertow soon, please?

--AP

Xbox Live to add "Xbox Originals" for the 360, $15

Xbox Live ArcadeWhy?As part of the upcoming "Fall" update in December, you're now going to be able to download first-generation Xbox games for about $15 each. While the prospect of being able to get Halo might sound thrilling at first, do remember that new copies of these games cost about $10 and used ones probably border on free-- and many are compatible with the 360. This should be a stellar program for shut-ins.

Also, Xbox Live will be celebrating its fifth birthday by giving away Carcassonne for free. We bought it this summer and think it's a fine game for $10-- for free, you should make sure you get it. The freebies begin November 15 and end in 48 hours.

--AP

Serious
November 15, 2007
Review: 25th Anniversary Duke

G.I. JoeAnd Knowing is Half The Battle!Review time! Today we look at the first (and so far only) incarnation of Duke from the 25th Anniversary G.I. Joe line. As an update to one of the most famous heroes in the line, how does this blue-eyed all-American soldier work as a toy? Read on!

--AP

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 557

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the tall Rep been, a unique Gungan dignitary! While not quite the bumbler that many have perceived Gungans to be, this robed elder is a respected man in his community, and a pretty spiffy action figure. Should you add one to your Naboo collection? Read on!

--AP

Entertainment Earth Podcast
(Powered by 16bit.com)

Podcast #67 November 16, 2007

Star Wars Battlefront II Action Figures Reviewed! We look at these new clones and droids to find out if they are worth your hard-earned dollars. Also: Star Trek casting news, Pixar DVD releases, G.I. Joe sneakers, and a whole lot more.

Click here to visit the Episode #67 page at Entertainment Earth.

--AP

How to sign up

For starters: You do not need an iPod to hear a Podcast. Podcasting is just a fancy word for "hack job internet radio show," which is exactly what we're aiming to produce here.

If you have iTunes 4.9 or above: You can subscribe to it for free. Just search for "Adam Pawlus" under Podcasts in the iTunes music store, or just go to "Subscribe to Podcast" and paste in "http://www.entertainmentearth.com/podcasts/podcast.xml". And you should be all hooked up.

If you're using an RSS reader: Subscribe to this feed: "http://www.entertainmentearth.com/podcasts/podcast.xml".

If you are using Safari: click here.

A Word From The Sponsor

New StuffAd: Entertainment Earth has had dozens of new arrivals from Star Wars and more. Find Wave 5 action figures like Darth Revan and Darth Malak, exciting hard to find exclusives, and the latest batch of comic packs. Every order with $85 or more of in-stock merchandise ships free! Click through for pricing, pictures, and availability.

A Division of The Sheinhardt Wig Company
November 19, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day Updated at Galactic Hunter

Q&A by Adam PawlusGalactic Hunter Star Wars NewsGalactic Hunter has posted a Q&A column by yours truly. Read on!

Also, Figure of the Day has been updated! The daily feature on figures you might have but might not-- either way, here's what you've been missing! Spanning from the original Power of the Force series of 1995 to the latest of the 30th Anniversary Collection, it's almost like a history lesson!

Shock Trooper AT-TE Gunner Battle Droid Magnaguard Droid

From left to right: Shock Trooper, AT-TE Gunner, Battle Droid, Magnaguard Droid. Go to Galactic Hunter for the next update, with the 561st installment in our ongoing series!

--AP

Video Game Deals This Week

Video GamesWhat?Lots of game deals this week-- let's get started with the general ones and remember they end Wednesday night due to the Thanksgiving holiday and consumer whorefestival. Toys "R" Us is offering a free exclusive Rey Mysterio action figure with the purchase of any SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008 game.

Nintendo WiiFor the Nintendo Wii: Toys "R" Us has all Wii games at buy 2, get 1 free. As the Wii selection has historically been somewhat crappy at our area Toys "R" Us stores, even weeks or months after a game's release, we're not hopeful-- but if you needs you some Raving Rabbids, this might be a good time. Circuit City is offering $20 off when you buy any 2 Wii games $39.99 and up.

Nintendo DSFor the Nintendo DS: Circuit City is offering Mario Party with a bonus $10 gift card for a total of $29.99. Fry's Electronics has Contra IV for $19.99, which is the store's regular price for the game. (It's $25-$30 elsewhere.)

Xbox 360For the Xbox 360: All stores will be carrying a "charity" 3-pack of games featuring Cars, Fusion Frenzy 2, and Open Season for just $29.99. It's a triple-pack, meaning three cases with three game discs packaged in a slipcase. We saw them at Target. We have no doubt it's an excellent deal but as we aren't 7-year-olds, we passed.

Out of all this crap, we picked up Contra IV. Which, according to most stores, isn't out yet, but as we have it we assume that it, in fact, is and they, in fact, are dead wrong. We'll post thoughts on this super-tough, super-retro, and super-good game tomorrow. Some people said that the Dracula X remake for PSP was hard. It isn't. This is hard. Oh, and if you do pick it up, now that you know it's out? Read the manual. It feels very much like it was written in 1988, what with the enemy names and slang and all.

--AP

Sigma 6 Clearance at Tuesday Morning

TransformersFor Old Ladies and Housewives, and now You TooOn Sunday afternoon we dropped in an area Tuesday Morning store to see what was there. Surprisingly quite a bit. The G.I. Joe Sigma 6 Snake Eyes vs. Storm Shadow 2-pack with DVD was $9.99, and individually packaged figures in the green-capped packaging with a bonus 2.5-inch figure were $7.99 each. So if you want a big Destro figure, you might want to get one while the getting is good.

--AP

Knock-Off Robot Masters, Micromasters at Tuesday Morning

TransformersIt's A Faaaaake!We also looked for Transformers and found the store to be riddled with knock-off toys, rather than Hasbro's or Takara's. You can find 3 unique 2-packs in faux Robot Masters packaging which include Star Saber & Victory Leo, and redecoed bootleg G2 Jets and Motorcycles. There's also a boxed set of KO Micromasters Aerialbots and other items. If you're too cheap or pathetic to buy the real thing (like a man), there you go.

--AP

Twofer
November 21, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 562, 563

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the brand new Lando Calrissian, now in smuggler's (Han's) clothes! As a retooled version of the 2004 Vintage Lando Calrissian, could this figure have what it takes to expand your universe? (Or at least fill a gap in your collection?) Read on!

We also examine the orange Tusken Raider Child that came out a few months ago as part of the Toys "R" Us exclusive Bantha with Tusken Raiders Battle Pack. With 3 points of articulation, is there anything here that's worth your time? Read on!

--AP

Wii Virtual Console This Week

WiiNot So HotGive thanks that you can always get other games from previous weeks. From the Genesis: Sonic 3D Blaster, a second-rate isometric platformer that was also on the Saturn. From the TurboGrafx-16: Super Air Zonk, which is more shooter than platformer.

--AP

Xbox Live Arcade This Week

Xbox Live ArcadeUndertowOnline now (or shortly, depending on when you read this) is Undertow, a new shooter that's supposedly pretty good from what we hear. It's $10 (or 800 points) and seems to be fairly creative.

--AP

Contra 4 Nintendo DS Impressions

Nintendo DSUndertowTo keep it short and sweet, we're going to give you 5 paragraphs on why we like this game so far.

1. The game is a pain. On Normal mode, we've made it almost past level 2 so far. The control is tight and the game is a refugee from 1995. Hand-drawn sprites are a glorious sight to see. Since the game looks primitive, it would stand to reason it should be easy-- it's not. The game demands your swearing and/or yelling at times.

2. Contra, Super C, and a lot of other stuff can be unlocked. But there's a catch-- to get these, you have to beat a number of minigames in the challenge mode. And to get the challenge mode, you have to beat Contra IV all the way through. That's just vicious, but probably a great way to drum up business for downloads on the Virtual Console on the Wii. We have no doubt many fans will be angry and just pay the five bucks to download the game directly. We hear that NES Classics Metroid on the GBA did fairly well, and it was also a freebie when you beat Zero Mission. In short, do not buy Contra IV if the only selling points are the two NES games.

3. They added some new stuff. The most nifty thing is probably a gun switching thing. Push L, and you switch weapons. You lose the weapon in your hand when you die, meaning you keep it if it's in reserve. You can "upgrade" a weapon by getting the capsule twice, meaning if you get two spread guns it shoots out a fan of 5 bullets and not 3. And if you get double machine gun, you get a crazy-ass rapid-fire double-attack. It's really quite cool, plus you can switch between weapons to best keep you alive. (Spread is only partially useful in places-- sometimes you just want an insane double-stream of horizontal bullets.) The other cool thing is a grappling hook, which brings the best of Bionic Commando to Contra.

4. Sound is good. A lot of the sound effects are inspired by the original games, but some are seemingly taken from the NES. There's a squeaky "hit" sound when your weapon connects with a villain requiring multiple shots to kill-- and it seems identical. Ditto with the "pause" sound. The first level's music is a remix of the original game's Level 1 soundtrack.

5. The manual is a hoot. If you were like me, you read a lot of the old Konami/Ultra NES manuals when you were a kid and noticed the strange, very odd "hip" vibe they tried to relate. This manual replicates this with really stupid enemy names like "Dirk McShooter," "Ingrid Birdman," and "Fillet o' Death." Also, there's this particularly choice quote on the multiplayer mode which I found very amusing for the manual:
If you know someone else with Contra 4, you can celebrate the time-honored tradition of taking all the good items and advancing the screen too quickly while playing alongside a friend. How refreshingly honest. The whole manual sounds like it was written by the same guys who did the manuals and ad copy for Konami games from 1987-1991, and for that, we're grateful. Thankfully nobody's taking it too seriously.

--AP

Black Friday
November 23, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 564, 565

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the 2007 Mustafar Lava Miner, a figure armored and armed with a bucket! As one of few all-new characters in the line this year, could this possibly be worth your while? Read on!

We also examine the Fan's Choice #2 winner, Amanaman! Is a big yellow and green alien that comes with a charred human corpse the value you're looking for? We like to think that it is. Read on!

--AP

G.I. Joe Movie Casting: The Baroness

G.I. JoeNot BadAccording to movie web site Jo Blo, the Baroness has been cast. It's a British actor named Sienna Miller, who we presume will put on some glasses, dye her hair black, put on some PVC get-up, and make a generation of boys turn into men over the course of the flick which is due in August 2009.

--AP

Xbox Live Arcade Rocky & Bullwinkle Coming

Xbox Live ArcadeBullwinkleWord on the street has it that The Bullwinkle Show will be the next pop culture franchise given the deluxe mini-game treatment. There are pretty much no details on the game yet, but supposedly you're going to be able to play it this year. We don't know what to expect but hey, Bullwinkle. The kids love a moose, right?

--AP

Ad: Black Friday Savings at Entertainment Earth

Entertainment EarthEntertainment EarthFrom Entertainment Earth, their Black Friday Sale is on all weekend long! Save big on new and old favorites from Star Wars, Transformers, Xevoz, and more.

Orders of $85 or more ship free (restrictions apply), and the sale prices are good through at least Sunday or while supplies last.

Over 70 items are available and some already sold out. Here's some decently encheapened stuff:

Delta Squad V for Vendetta Mask 300 Leonidas Statue X-Wing Fighter

And as always, buying through these shameless plugs means we get a nickel or two, and we appreciate your shined nickels and loose change.

--AP

Entertainment Earth Podcast
(Powered by 16bit.com)

Podcast #68 November 23, 2007

Star Wars Comic Packs Wave 4! Also: Justice League, Star Trek, and G.I. Joe movie casting news, newly released Star Wars exclusives, exciting video game developments, and some other great tidbits. Did you know they are making a Rocky and Bullwinkle game for the Xbox 360? How about X-Men Bobble Heads? Well, now you do.

Click here to visit the Episode #68 page at Entertainment Earth.

--AP

How to sign up

For starters: You do not need an iPod to hear a Podcast. Podcasting is just a fancy word for "hack job internet radio show," which is exactly what we're aiming to produce here.

If you have iTunes 4.9 or above: You can subscribe to it for free. Just search for "Adam Pawlus" under Podcasts in the iTunes music store, or just go to "Subscribe to Podcast" and paste in "http://www.entertainmentearth.com/podcasts/podcast.xml". And you should be all hooked up.

If you're using an RSS reader: Subscribe to this feed: "http://www.entertainmentearth.com/podcasts/podcast.xml".

If you are using Safari: click here.

Black Friday
November 23, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day Updated at Galactic Hunter

Q&A by Adam PawlusGalactic Hunter Star Wars NewsGalactic Hunter has posted a Q&A column by yours truly. Read on!

Also, Figure of the Day has been updated! The daily feature on figures you might have but might not-- either way, here's what you've been missing! Spanning from the original Power of the Force series of 1995 to the latest of the 30th Anniversary Collection, it's almost like a history lesson!

Chewbacca Princess Leia Sandtrooper

From left to right: Chewbacca, Princess Leia (Jedi), Sandtrooper. Go to Galactic Hunter for the next update, with the 569th installment in our ongoing series!

--AP

Transformers Club Comic: Next Stop, Transtech

TransformersWhateverA peculiar pattern we've noticed in toy collectors-- including ourselves-- is the nonsensical mourning of toy lines that were either cancelled early or aborted before the first toy hit shelves. We always shed tears for the unproduced 1986-1987 Star Wars toys, but that's nothing compared to the frankly illogical outpouring of love for the never-meant-to-be Transtech series of the Transformers. Rather than linger in some art morgue in Rhode Island, the Transformers Collector Club has been telling fans that the next year of the club comic will focus on this essentially undeveloped line. It doesn't excite us, but surely it must be more appealing than a year of comics based on the adventures of the non-movie movie toys.

--AP

Godzilla Unleashed: A Post-Thanksgiving Turkey?

GodzillaNot GoodSince it was delayed a few weeks, we've been itching to hear some news on the long-in-development (but apparently not long enough) Godzilla Unleashed for the Nintendo Wii. Well, we found some reviews at Metacritic and the prognosis ain't good. Nintendo Power Magazine gave it a 55. That's like hearing a special ed teacher ditch the euphemism "special" in favor of "glue-huffing retard" (and we use this example with no intended disrespect to the glue-huffing or glue-sniffing retards out there.) We haven't heard much of anything about the DS and Playstation 2 versions of the game, both of which are supposedly already out. (But as far as the DS goes, we don't expect anything else to to Contra 4 this year.)

(We'd consider offering some sort of holiday gamer buyer's guide, but it'd just look like this: for the Nintendo DS, get Contra 4. If you have a PSP, get Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles. If you have an Xbox 360, get Carcassonne, Prince of Persia, and Pac-Man Championship Edition. And if you have a Playstation 3, go get one of the other systems.)

--AP

G.I. Joe Flood Coming?

G.I. JoeYo Joe!While your mileage may vary, we noticed several stores with stock of waves 2 and 3 of this year's 25th Anniversary Collection line, finally. Several Cobra Red Ninjas, Shipwrecks, and Cobra figures were sitting around for the taking at local Targets, with few (and we do mean very few) wave 2 characters like Lady Jaye and Beachhead. If you've been avoiding the stores or crowds, we suggest you go out and start hunting for the figures you missed now. Not all of them seem to be carrying forward to 2008.

This pretty much goes for most toy lines now-- stores are actually restocking aisles multiple times a day rather than multiple times a quarter.

--AP

Twofer
November 27, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 569

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the brand new Ammunition Droid, not so much "new" as it is a "new repaint." Sure, it doesn't look a thing like the droid on the box, but it's a gonk droid and it's brown. What more could you possibly want? It's part of the Battlefront II sets, and you can get one now-- should you? Read on!

--AP

Wii Virtual Console This Week

WiiUgh?Save your money this week. From the Genesis: Ecco Jr., the less said the better. From the NES: Double Dribble, one of the finest basketball games 1988 had to offer. From the Super NES: Vegas Stakes, which, we guess, is better than not playing blackjack at all.

--AP

Xbox Live Arcade This Week

Xbox Live ArcadeAsteroidsOnline super-late (or early Wednesday) is Asteroids, which is actually Asteroids combined with Asteroids Deluxe, each of which were given fancy-pants facelifts to make them better than the various shareware clones we've seen on the Mac and PC over the years. For 400 points ($5) it's probably low-level decent, but we'll know for sure when we try it later this week.

--AP

Comedy Show Review: "The Shredder" with Emo Philips

16bit.comEmoNo, seriously, we saw Emo Philips last night. It was $10 at the Steve Allen Theater, lasted a hair under two hours, and involved a paper shredder during the show and free beer and wine after the show.

Premise: Man does comedy for over 30 years. Man has jokes. Some jokes work, some need work, some don't work. For the ones that don't work, there's a big paper shredder so the joke is destroyed on stage and never told again.

Entertainment Value: High. Emo's a high-energy guy who actually has jokes. Like, honest-to-goodness jokes. There are punchlines and everything. It isn't some meandering story about his frat buddies sneaking into a movie or something, this is a guy who actually can write a joke. There's no "did you ever notice?" jokes and very little of the set seemed cheap or easy. Also, the show had a guy playing a Korg, some chick with a paper shredder, Emo, and audience volunteers to pull jokes out of a basket.

Audience: Great. No heckling and more or less good vibes for a show that long. Very nice crowd-- the venue seems to invite a better audience than other comedy venues we've been to recently.

Problems set in when: ...you realize it's been 90 minutes. Also, when the recurring themes from the randomly drawn jokes show up. Some people find certain words or phrases very funny, and when presented with so much material you can start to see recurring elements. Like "Dutch" is his favorite nationality for when you need to punch up a joke with an extra word for added funny. ("A woman" doesn't necessarily invite a smirk, but "a Dutch woman" does.)

Worth going: Yes. We'd recommend it to friends, and if the show were shorter we'd probably consider going again. (He does it roughly once a month.) We hesitate to use a word like "quirky," but the kind of jokes and delivery should appeal to the kind of people we presume to regularly read this site-- i.e., nerds, comedy nerds, or people who have a taste for the obscure. There's something very surreal about the man in general, but seeing a comic trying out new and old material and commenting on it as the show goes on was quite a sight to see. If you have the means and are in the area, his show is called "The Shredder" and is easily worth the evening of your time that it demands.

(Tonight: we're headed to Cartoon Dump with the likes of TV's Frank, Joel Hodgson, and Patton Oswalt.)

--AP

Cynical People
November 28, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 570

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the 2000 Han Solo in his Bespin gear. It's just been reissued as part of a Battle Pack, and it's actually still pretty great. Could it be better? Absolutely. Is it good enough to warrant your buying? Read on!

--AP

Xbox Live Arcade Next Month

Xbox Live ArcadeSoccerIt's the Sensible World of Soccer! It's not yet known if it's the only title or one of many, but this game was delayed since the original, supposedly official release in August. (It's confirmed on the Codemasters Forums.) We find the prospect of a soccer game about as fun as a bunch of nerds cackling at unfunny comedy. And on that subject...

--AP

Comedy Show Review: "Cartoon Dump" with guest Patton Oswalt

16bit.comDumpLast night, we went and saw another show. This time, it was Cartoon Dump, a pastiche of real, actual old animation from the 1950s-1960s, a faux live-action kid's show for adults, and a stand-up comic. It was $10 at the Steve Allen Theater, was about an hour and a half, and ranged from inspired to insipid.

Premise: Cartoon historian/book writer Jerry Beck finds old cartoons, screens them, also spoils jokes before they start. Historian joined by live-action "kiddie show" segments which recycle gags like crazy and a stand-up comic from outside the immediate circle of people. (Highlighted names in the regulars: TV's Frank Conniff and Joel Hodgson.)

Entertainment Value: Genuinely mixed. The cartoons are quite awful, mercifully brief, and entertaining oddities from American's kidvid past. Were these part of an animation festival, they'd probably be enjoyable things you'd tell your friends to check out. The live-action bits with Compost Brite and Moodsy the Owl seemed a little flat, and it turns out part of this may be that they recycled a number of bits from the time we went in September, and still images from those bits have been on their web site for quite some time. In short, it's not only scratching the surface of "teh funny" but it's also quite stale. The stand-up performer was excellent: Patton Oswalt trotted out lots of material nobody in our party heard before, and we're fans.

Audience: Iffy-- it's a nerd crowd, which means you get to see a guy in the front do a standing ovation before the bits start, and people laugh at/sing along with/generally spoil some of the jokes in the cartoons. There's a low-level Rocky Horror vibe in that you can smell the regulars, although not literally courtesy of the cold climate.

Problems set in when: The bits start to seem familiar, thus breeding contempt. Also, Patton Oswalt was in a sort of a group song at the end where he was presumably asked to dance around with the other characters. He eventually seemed to have a switch go off that said "screw this" and went to sit on a sofa on the side of the stage, facing the rest of the crew until they finished. This may have been the funniest part of the non-animated, non-standup material that didn't involve Joel Hodgson's hastily thrown together paper bag puppet because he left his real puppet at home. (Oops.)

Worth going: Once? Yes. The cartoons are great, although it's a little weird to hear regulars in the audience sing along with the theme songs to shows that they probably saw for the first time mere weeks ago. The first time we went had Dana Gould do a standup set which was fantastic, and last night, it was Patton Oswalt, who we make it a point to see as long as it's reasonable to do so. For ten bucks, you get a decent night's entertainment, as the show provides a lot of different material which can be admired, hated on, or recommended to friends all by the same person. If you're in the area, it's worth seeing once, but due to the recycled bits (especially musical numbers) some aspects are a little unpleasant to have sat through twice. We like our comedy like we like our music-- with a dose of scorn, self-awareness, and with the knowledge of when the audience isn't happy. We sort of got that last night.

So this week: Patton > Emo > The rest of this week's Cartoon Dump.

--AP

Human Giant DVDs: 2008

DVDYay!Even though there were a mere 8 episodes, Human Giant was one of the best things to happen to MTV in years. The sketch comedy show was brief, funny, clever, and most important of all, not awful. It's coming to DVD in March according to TVShowsOnDVD.com, and we're quite looking forward to it as the show is, as we said, very funny. Check it out if you have the means.

--AP

Bacon Sprite
November 29, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 571

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the 2007 C-3PO as seen in Jabba's Palace. It just came out a few months ago, and it has an eye that pops out along with green goo that covers parts of the figure. Could it be worth picking up just for the slime alone? Read on!

--AP

Transformers: Botcon 2008, Animated Premiere Dates

TransformersTransformersMark your calendars: the 90-minute premiere of Transformers Animated is December 26, 2007! (Check your Cartoon Network listings for more information.) The full series should unroll on January 5, yet the toys aren't expected for several months-- a pity.

Also, the 2008 BotCon has been confirmed for April 24-28, 2008 in one of the toy destinations of the USA, Cincinatti, Ohio. (Nice choice!) From the illustrations, it seems the theme is going to be "Evil Autobots" and "Heroic Decepticons," so expect lots of black repaints in this one.

--AP

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends Bobble Heads Coming

Cartoon NetworkFoster's HomeWhile we're not experts, we know lots of you really love Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and wish there was more stuff for it. Well, Funko has announced four bobble heads coming in 2008: Mac, Cheese, Eduardo, and Bloo. Each comes in a box, is plastic, and will cost about $12. Next year.

--AP

It's That King We Met
November 30, 2007
Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 572

Today at Galactic Hunter we look at the 2003 Chewbacca as seen on Hoth. Yes. Another one. This particular one was based on the most articulated mold at the time, which was pretty gosh darn good-- sure, we've had a better one since. But how's this one? Read on!

--AP

MST3K Fans: It Got Worse

DVDTransformersVolume 10 of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 DVD collections came and went, and it turns out that it was indeed rights issues for Godzilla vs. Megalon. So what's the solution? They're going to make a variant boxed set with a different movie replacing Godzilla, notably The Giant Gila Monster. So if you got the old one, you're out of luck, you have to get the boxed set for the movie. And if you have the new one, you're screwed, you'll have to buy the other set on eBay. It's lose-lose! Wow!

--AP

Freezepop Future Future Future Perfect LE CD Available

MusicFreezepopWhile the standard version of Future Future Future Perfect came out on Rykodisc months ago, what you really want is the Archenemy Records limited edition. It has fancy foil packaging, two extra tracks, is hand-numbered, and (at least mine was) signed. It also costs a lot more-- but hey, we like our music limited, stuffed with bonus tracks, and awesome. If you're a fan of the band, you might want to get yours. (We hope to listen to it on the way in to the office tomorrow.)

If you haven't heard of them we suggest you give them a listen. Love it or hate it, it's damned entertaining.

--AP

Shooter Ships: Now with Variants!

Video GamesShoot the CoreA few months ago we reported on some mini-ships from Yujin. Now we found out there's a blind-boxed assortment with variants, too. They include ships from Gradius, R-Type, and other, less significant games. We're elated.

--AP

G.I. Joe: Crotch Corrections

G.I. JoeFixedApparently Hasbro really does care. HISSTank.com reports findings of a retooled Sgt. Stalker figure, this time with a retooled lower waist piece which allows the figure to actually be able to sit. As one of very few significant shortcomings in the line, this is a nice fix to see.

--AP

Entertainment Earth Podcast
(Powered by 16bit.com)

Podcast #69 November 30, 2007

Star Wars Elite Forces of the Republic Reviewed! Also: New bobble heads, Transformers convention happenings, Mystery Science Theater 3000 DVD changes, tons of Star Wars news from all over the world, and much more we would type up here-- but it is all in the show, so check it out.

Click here to visit the Episode #69 page at Entertainment Earth.

--AP

How to sign up

For starters: You do not need an iPod to hear a Podcast. Podcasting is just a fancy word for "hack job internet radio show," which is exactly what we're aiming to produce here.

If you have iTunes 4.9 or above: You can subscribe to it for free. Just search for "Adam Pawlus" under Podcasts in the iTunes music store, or just go to "Subscribe to Podcast" and paste in "http://www.entertainmentearth.com/podcasts/podcast.xml". And you should be all hooked up.

If you're using an RSS reader: Subscribe to this feed: "http://www.entertainmentearth.com/podcasts/podcast.xml".

If you are using Safari: click here.

A Word From The Sponsor: Holiday Sale!

New StuffAd: Entertainment Earth started their Holiday Sale! Save up to 70% on items from Star Wars, Firefly/Serenity, Superman, and more! What kind of goodies are available? Well, just click through for pricing and availability.

Click Here For News From October!


Old News
 Current
 March '24
 February '24
 January '24
 December '23
 November '23
 October '23
 September '23
 August '23
 July '23
 June '23
 May '23
 April '23
 March '23
 February '23
 January '23
 December '22
 November '22
 October '22
 September '22
 August '22
 July '22
 June '22
 May '22
 April '22
 March '22
 February '22
 January '22
 December '21
 November '21
 October '21
 September '21
 August '21
 July '21
 June '21
 May '21
 April '21
 March '21
 February '21
 January '21
 December '20
 November '20
 October '20
 September '20
 August '20
 July '20
 June '20
 May '20
 April '20
 March '20
 February '20
 January '20
 December '19
 November '19
 October '19
 September '19
 August '19
 July '19
 June '19
 May '19
 April '19
 March '19
 February '19
 January '19
 December '18
 November '18
 October '18
 September '18
 August '18
 July '18
 June '18
 May '18
 April '18
 March '18
 February '18
 January '18
 December '17
 November '17
 October '17
 September '17
 August '17
 July '17
 June '17
 May '17
 April '17
 March '17
 February '17
 January '17
 December '16
 November '16
 October '16
 September '16
 August '16
 July '16
 June '16
 May '16
 April '16
 March '16
 February '16
 January '16
 December '15
 November '15
 October '15
 September '15
 August '15
 July '15
 June '15
 May '15
 April '15
 March '15
 February '15
 January '15
 December '14
 November '14
 October '14
 September '14
 August '14
 July '14
 June '14
 May '14
 April '14
 March '14
 February '14
 January '14
 December '13
 November '13
 October '13
 September '13
 August '13
 July '13
 June '13
 May '13
 April '13
 March '13
 February '13
 January '13
 December '12
 November '12
 October '12
 September '12
 August '12
 July '12
 June '12
 May '12
 April '12
 March '12
 February '12
 January '12
 December '11
 November '11
 October '11
 September '11
 August '11
 July '11
 June '11
 May '11
 April '11
 March '11
 February '11
 January '11
 December '10
 November '10
 October '10
 September '10
 August '10
 July '10
 June '10
 May '10
 April '10
 March '10
 February '10
 January '10
 December '09
 November '09
 October '09
 September '09
 August '09
 July '09
 June '09
 May '09
 April '09
 March '09
 February '09
 January '09
 December '08
 November '08
 October '08
 September '08
 August '08
 July '08
 June '08
 May '08
 April '08
 March '08
 February '08
 January '08
 December '07
 November '07
 October '07
 September '07
 August '07
 July '07
 June '07
 May '07
 April '07
 March '07
 February '07
 January '07
 December '06
 November '06
 October '06
 September '06
 August '06
 July '06
 June '06
 May '06
 April '06
 March '06
 February '06
 January '06
 December '05
 November '05
 October '05
 September '05
 August '05
 July '05
 June '05
 May '05
 April '05
 March '05
 February '05
 January '05
 December '04
 November '04
 October '04
 September '04
 August '04
 July '04
 June '04
 May '04
 April '04
 March '04
 February '04
 January '04
 December '03
 November '03
 October '03
 September '03
 August '02
 July '02
 June '02
 May '02
 April '02
 March '02
 February '02
 January '02
 October '01
 September '01
 August '01
 July '01
 June '01
 May '01
 April '01
 March '01
 February '01
 January '01
 June '00

16bit.com is best not viewed in Apple's Safari browser, we don't know why. All material on this site copyright their respective copyright holders. All materials appear hear for informative and entertainment purposes. 16bit.com is not to be held responsible for anything, ever. Photos taken by the 16bit.com staff. Site design, graphics, writing, and whatnot credited on the credits page. Be cool-- don't steal.
We know where you live and we'll break your friggin' legs.