IRL – In Real Life is a warmhearted look at one fanboy’s journey from being a non-stop World of Warcraft addict to getting a real life. What I loved about this film is that it’s a video diary of how one fan fall in love with game — leaves his non-virtual friends behind — meets the fangurl of his dreams — is then dumped by the fangurl of his dreams — and then, well here is the result:

Sadly I guess that there is life after warcraft! And here is the entire film for your enjoyment:

And remember — nothing is bad for you, so long as it’s in moderation! That and don’t fall in love with fangurls from Norway…

I think its safe to call The Princess Bride a timeless classic. I’ve always been fond of it, and I don’t believe I’ve ever met anyone who felt otherwise. That said, I never thought I’d ever see any merchandise based off the film, or book for that matter, and certainly not a collectible figure. Fortunately, that didn’t stop Factory Entertainment from delivering. Introducing their 1/5th scale Dread Pirate Roberts. This 15″ statue features the Man in Black as he appears during his infamous duel atop the “Cliffs of Insanity.” It actually  has a companion piece featuring Inigo Montoya which you can view below. The two statues are designed to attach to each other, allowing you to capture the scene properly.

Both the Inigo Montoya and Dread Pirate Roberts figures come sold separately, retailing for ~$250, and and will limited to 500 pieces each. If you’re into collecting them mint in box, you’ll also be pleased to know that its a full-color presentation, though you’ll still need to remove the figures should you want to interlock them to create the miniature diorama described above.  Both figures are available for pre-order, and are currently scheduled to ship sometime this spring.

It’s been nearly a week since Final Fantasy XIII-2’s North American release, and gamers are just now finishing their first play-throughs. While some have labeled the game too short, many fail to realize the game actually has multiple endings since it isn’t explicitly stated during the gameplay. In addition, the message “too be continued,”  appears during the final moments. This has led some to speculate that the title may be part of a proposed trilogy, but recent comments by director Motomu Toriyama offer a different explanation.

When asked during a group discussion at the Taipei Game Show last week, Toriyama mentioned that in addition to the aforementioned multiple endings, gamers can expect downloadable content to extend their experience. An episode focusing on Lightning’s story is still in the works, and the upcoming Lightning/Amodar Coliseum DLC should be ready soon. Famitsu recently hinted to the possibility of future episodes including Snow and Sazh could be in the works, but Toriyama never verified it. While Toriyama’s statements may lay some of the rumors to rest, it would be fair to point out that he never outright denied that Final Fantasy XIII-3 could happen. Whether or not it does remains to be seen.

[news via andriasang]

With the success of Minecraft, it appears a whole new sub-genre of games has sprouted up: cube/pixel based worlds. Terraria took on the 2D aspect of this, Brick Force is focusing on guns and combat, and Cube World is dropping you into the RPG side of things – a bit like if Minecraft fell into a melting pit and emerged as a cubic, sword-wielding monster with better shadows and draw distance and then someone sprinkled some Zelda on top. A fan recently created a trailer for the game (which will hopefully be arriving soon) to show off how the game is coming, and it looks great!

Be sure to pay attention to the developer’s blog for more updates as they come!

The Mario Bros. theme song has been done over and over again by every instrument ever (even banana). In fact, most Mario songs have received this treatment, including the Super Mario World theme, so you have to be really unique to stand out now. The latest? Tap-dancing! Scott Bradlee takes to the piano while his buddy Alex McDonald taps out the rhythm to one of the catchiest game tunes, giving us a short and sweet tribute to Mario. Classy!

Seen via Best Week Ever.

ForrestFireFilms is back with a new stop-motion LEGO short film, and this time it features Captain America beating the crap out of some Nazis – and then some. The violence here is just ridiculously over-the-top and gory, with LEGO minifigs being shot point-blank in the face, sliced in half, and… well, I’ll let you see what else happens yourself. Let’s just leave it at this: this is not your usual LEGO film. Great work Forrest!

Seen via Topless Robot.

Good news for PC gamers: you can now get games that have already been out for a while! Ok, joking aside, PixelJunk Eden and Mortal Kombat Kollection are now on Steam at great prices ($7.99 and $8.49 respectively). Both are great games, but I understand Mortal Kombat features Games For Windows Live DRM on it, which may be a dealbreaker for some. Eden has a few new features added as well, and the Steam page claims “completely re-imagined controls for the mouse.” Sounds great!

Yup, you read that right. Only downside is it’s an auction. And for that you need money, and lots of it. But here’s the details: as I’m sure you know, Bill Watterson is a very private guy. He keeps to himself and very few pieces of original art from Calvin & Hobbes exist in the public realm. This is a 13″ x 10″ watercolor and ink piece that was once owned by Rick Marschall. Bidding goes until February 22nd online and is currently at $17,000. Worth it? That’s up to you.

There will be a final live session on February 23rd, and you’ll be able to bid live on it in person or phone/email/fax. Check out their site for the full rundown!

Digital comics have been growing fast and both DC and Marvel have had to make many changes to adapt to changing technology. How do they do it? MashUp Radio, hosted by Peter Biddle, will be featuring Marvel’s Ryan Penagos (the Editorial Director for Marvel Digital Media Group and Marvel.com), and they’ll be discussing it in-depth on their podcast. It’ll go live at 3pm, so if you can, be sure to tune in for what is sure to be an interesting discussion!

At a time when animation was still being looked at as funny little shorts, one man tried to prove them wrong! Produced with the help of Edgar Rice Burrough’s son John Coleman, animation director Bob Clampett (Looney Tunes, Beany & Cecil) produced this short pilot to a potential theatrical cartoon series he tried to sell to MGM during his off hours from “Termite Terrace”. Unfortunately several divisions of the studio felt the project was a little too weird for the audience’s taste and suggested a rather tamed approach based on something else. Needless to say Clampett’s enthusiasm dropped very quickly and he was back to the same ‘ol grind for many years to come, but still gave us good laughs every time.

This Lego Cuusoo project has been around for awhile, but has remained a bit of a hidden gem. Cuusoo user MaxVF1 threw together these amazing VF-1 Valkyries — or Veritechs depending on your preference — in hopes of convincing Lego to license them for retail. As you can see from the video above, they’re pretty easy to snap together and make pretty good display models. They even let you shift between gear-walk, battloid, and fighter modes with ease. The problem, at least from Lego’s standpoint, is that they appear a bit fragile. Of course, that issue alone is just one of many hurdles to overcome.

As far as I’m aware, retail distribution of products related to the original Macross would still have to include Harmony Gold’s permission. Before that even happens, there needs to be at least 10,000 supporters backing the project, only then would Lego even consider it. If you want to see these happen, be a pal and lend your support by visiting the Cuusoo page and giving it your vote. There are some more photos of the various models included as well.

This has got to be one the most unique Smartphone accessories we’ve come across yet. Introducing the XAPPR pistol, a $30 peripheral that fits most Android and iOS devices. You’re probably wondering how it works. First you mount your phone to its stand, then the device connects to your phone with the trigger sending its signals via the headphone port. Currently, there are only a few apps that support the device, most of which require the use of augmented reality. It works well with iOS titles like Spray’Em, or AR Wars and AR Invaders. There’s also an Android app, ATK, currently in open beta that supports it. If you’re interested in picking one up, you can currently pre-order one from the official website via Paypal, but it won’t be ready to ship ’til June.

I have a bit of a soft spot when it comes to board games. Recently, I banded together with a group of friends for a weekly game and while we’ve no shortage to choose from, my friends are always in the market for more. With HBO’s second season of Game of Thrones around the corner, this little gem caught my eye. Fantasy Flight’s A Game of Thrones the Board Game.

It’s actually the second edition, so the game has been out for awhile, and while I’ve always meant to give it a shot, I hadn’t found a reliable group to play it with — that is, until now. This latest edition boasts several new features. The rules have been clarified a bit, and there’s also some new pieces, cards, and game mechanics. It includes the previously released expansions as well. The game supports 3 to 6 players, and while they recommend having all six players present, they do provide rules to balance the game appropriately should you have less.

Speaking of which, the rules are available to download on the official Fantasy Flight website. If you want to learn more about how its played, or own the previous edition and want to know more about what’s changed, be sure to check them out. You can purchase this latest edition via your favorite local retailer, as well as through Amazon or ThinkGeek — it retails for $59.99.

Last year we heard about MGM’s plans to reboot the Robocop franchise. While I wasn’t adverse to the idea, I truly hoped they would just craft a new sequel. It might not have worked out so well for Singer’s Superman Returns, but the original Robocop was quite good for its time, claymation aside. That said, I can’t fault director José Padilha for wanting to place his own stamp on the iconic series. Now it seems he’s found just the man to make that happen.

Nick Schenk has been brought aboard to write the remake. Schenk’s known for his work on Clint Eastwood’s critically-acclaimed drama, Gran Torino. The studio had original planned to start production in February, but with no cast locked in, and a brand new writer attached, filming won’t take place anytime soon. Let’s just hope they don’t screw it up.

[via collider]

Here’s a quick teaser for Lego’s Lord of the Rings product line. Why does Lego taunt me with such awesomeness? They knew I outgrew my building phase years ago, yet they’ve waited until now to land this epic license. While I’m sure I won’t have nearly as much fun as I would have if I were still eight years old, I’ll definitely consider picking one up when they hit stores, and judging by how great the characters look, I’m sure they won’t disappoint. I do wonder if this also means we’ll be seeing some Hobbit-themed sets this holiday season. Be sure to visit the official site for more info on the upcoming sets.

For anyone visiting or living in London, the clock is ticking for the Doctor Who Experience. The exhibit will be closing its doors next month, but before that happens, they’ve planned several special events leading up to the last day. On Saturday, February 11th, series choreographer Ailsa Berk will be on hand offering lessons on how to move like your favorite aliens from the show. That following Monday, the effects team responsible for sculpting some of the show’s fearsome creatures will show off some of their techniques.

On the 15th, both the Cybermen and Ood will be walking around the exhibit — by this, I’m assuming they mean people in full makeup. On the 16h, the official makeup team will be on hand give visitors alien makeovers — they’ll even turn you into a Weeping Angel if you ask nicely. Finally, the FX team will be back to demonstrate some of their drawing techniques. The exhibit itself ends on the 22nd. Although its is scheduled to reopen in Cardiff later this year, many first-time tourists may be a little scared to venture outside of London proper — Cardiff is a bit of a drive — so if you have plans to be in the area, make sure to pencil it in. Check out the official site for information, ticket prices, and directions.

I know it’s a few months off, but Calgary Expo made a huge announcement yesterday. This April, the entire principal cast will be appearing at Calgary Expo in Alberta, Canada. It’s a bit of a huge deal for fans, as its been over two decades since the cast appeared together at such an event. I imagine the impending release of Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Next Level, and the show’s 25th Anniversary might be the reason they’ve agreed to it.

Nevertheless, this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for some of you, and if anyone is hoping to be attend from abroad, I suggest getting your passport in order as soon as possible. Depending on where you are, the approval process can be lengthy and its always better safe than sorry. For more information on the event, check out the Calgary Expo website. Star Trek: The Next Genertaion – The Next Level hits stores this week and for those of you who ordered your copy through Amazon, it should already be in the mail, so expect your packages as early as Monday or Tuesday.

Square Enix dished out their latest trailer for Final Fantasy XIII-2 this weekend, hoping to hype the title a little more before it hits North American stores this week. The demo has been available to download for several weeks now, and so far has met with mixed reviews. While some have praised the game for its fast-paced action, and improved mechanics, others feel that the introduction of quick-time events, or QTE, has ruined it. As far as the story is concerned, the addition of time travel seems interesting enough, but like Final Fantasy XIII, this sequel is littered with similar sounding pronouns like fal’Cie and l’Cie that are sure to confuse anyone who isn’t paying close enough attention. Still, as far as fans of the series are concerned, this may be the entry you’ve been waiting for. If you’re expecting Final Fantasy Versus XIII instead, keep waiting — Square Enix only really started working on it back in September.

Check out these awesome necklaces from Land of Rapture, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Yeah, that’s coming up soon, and chances are you’re going to want to get a special something for your special someone. So how about this cute Space Invaders Heart cameo? I’m sure there’s some clever joke about Space Invading your heart or something along those lines hidden somewhere. Space Invaders not your thing? Try Doctor Who, R2D2, or Portal! There’s a little bit of everything on their site.

See more from Land of Rapture on their site!

The Walking Dead is an interesting beast of a show to me. I both love and hate it simultaneously. There were long stretches of, honestly, very little happening the first half of season 2, but whenever they kicked up the action it was clear they could still handle the show competently. So forgive me if I’m a little more optimistic for the second half of season 2 due to the amount of action featured in this trailer. Decide for yourself after the break.

I hope they can use the momentum gained with the ending of the first half to propel the show forward to more interesting areas. Although chances are they’re still going to be stuck on the farm till the end of the season… The show starts back up again February 12th at 9pm EST of AMC.

As seen in this breaking headline The Daily Beast has confirmed that not only isn’t Dr. Who a fictional character but that he played a key role in taking out Bin Laden. It’s about time that the lamestream media got honest about this sort of thing…

I’ve got to admit that I’ve never seen this shot before! It’s a photo from the set of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan featuring Ricardo Montalbán reacting to a small blow up doll that has the face of his Fantasy Island co-star Hervé Villechaize. For you younger Trek fans Fantasy Island was super popular in the 70s and from time to time veered into supernatural themes.

Found via riotclitshave.livejournal.com.

Need the perfect weapon for dealing with a few zombies? You’d need to have the foresight to own one of these things, but let’s face it, chances are you want one, zombie apocalypse or not. This gun combines an AK with a chainsaw – attempting to make all your Gears of War fantasies come true. It sure looks cool, but if zombies are getting close enough for you to need to use your chainsaw, you’re probably already screwed. And I wouldn’t put too much faith in it: that chainsaw sounds pretty cheap. Maybe you could slice some butter with it, though. Check out the video below.

I mean, a chainsaw butter knife? Come on, that’s the right kind of overkill if I ever heard it.

Capcom and Namco recently announced that the PS3 and Vita versions of Street Fighter X Tekken would feature several exclusive characters. We already knew about Cole from Infamous, but let’s just say the rest of the bonus characters are very, uh, unique. Mega Man, Pac-Man, and Kuro and Toro (the Japanese Sony mascots). And it’s not the usual Mega Man, it’s the cheesy American boxart Mega Man – which is either hilariously awesome or incredibly disappointing, depending on your point of view.

Also, if Pac-Man is so short he needs a suit to stand up to the regular fighter’s size, why can Kuro and Toro go without? Oh well, check out the trailer and see for yourself.

What happens when a Korean cell phone company needs to advertise their new WARP feature? They use Darth Vader, of course! And a perfect allegory for data flowing through the intertubes is… Stormtroopers waiting in line for the restroom. Ok, we’ll go with it. Sure, maybe Vader should have his own personal restroom, but then we wouldn’t get to see his little “I need to use the bathroom” dance. Which is, frankly, the only reason you’re watching this anyway, am I right?

Seen via Topless Robot