What Are Your Favorite Silent Hill Memories?

15 years ago today, Konami released Silent Hill. With nine games and two movies, the franchise has become a phenomenon that survival horror fanatics love to play when they're home alone. Originally released for the PlayStation, Silent Hill had you play as an "everyman" searching for his daughter through the fog-filled town of Silent Hill.

We asked fans what their favorite memories were and we started to remember why Silent Hill terrifies us.

Nando P. - Watching Andrew DeSalvo's ghost cutscene in SH4 and then having to walk down that spiral staircase. My first NOPE in gaming.

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Chip 'n Dale Movie Coming from Disney

Live-action/CGI hybrid movies aren't letting '80s animated series stay dead, as we've seen with Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Smurfs. Now, Disney has picked up a pitch from commercials director Robert Rugan for a film adaptation of Chip 'n Dale.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will be produced by Mandeville Films/TV, which is responsible for The Muppets and the upcoming Muppets Most Wanted.

The film will reportedly be inspired by the 1989 animated incarnation of the characters, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. The show took the decades-old characters and launched them into a detective agency that specialized in clients from the animal kingdom. The show ran for three years on The Disney Channel, along with the popular Duck Tales and its spin-off Darkwing Duck. Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers was recently revived as a comic book series from BOOM Studios.

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The Top 15 Family Guy Episodes

As hard as it is to believe, Family Guy first aired 15 years ago this weekend, debuting after Super Bowl XXXIII on January 31, 1999. It's been a long, interesting road since. Family Guy managed to develop a cult following, survive cancellation, and return to FOX more popular than ever. It's spawned a spinoff series and made creator Seth McFarlane a major player in Hollywood.

And while Family Guy isn't exactly always known for its highbrow quality, what with its emphasis on cutaway jokes, shock value, and pop culture references over plot, it's still delivered some pretty memorable episodes over the course of 12 seasons. In honor of this anniversary, we've selected the 15 best episodes from Family Guy's long run.

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Stan Lee Previews His SHIELD Cameo

Suffice to say, but any chance you have to hear the iconic voice of Stan Lee speaking to you is a good one. I had the opportunity to talk to the legendary comic book creator about his upcoming appearance on this coming Tuesday's episode of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In the episode, Lee will continue a tradition he's had for many years now, making a cameo in a Marvel-based property.

IGN TV: My first question with you appearing on S.H.I.E.L.D. is, what took so long?! Were you saying, "Hey, why am I not in the first episode of this show?"

Stan Lee: Oh, I like the way you think! I felt the same way. Why was it not called Stan Lee and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

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TV Podcast: Gotham, Agent Carter and Dexter's Spinoff

Hey, remember us? Yes, it's been, well... It's been awhile. Big apologies for the delay, but let's get right to it!

In the long-awaited (ahem) new Channel Surfing, Roth and I do a lot of catch up, discussing some of the bigger events and news to come out of the winter TCA press tour, which is where we were for most of the past month. From a Girls sorta/kinda controversy, to Gotham turning out to have more to do with Batman (or at least Bruce Wayne) than expected to ABC confirming that Agent Carter is a possibility, we look back on the news of note. Lastly, we end with the reveal at TCA that not only is Showtime still looking at doing a Dexter spinoff, but that it would be about Dexter himself. Beware of spoilers in that final segment both for the end of Dexter and also, in a way, for Breaking Bad's end.

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The Last of Us: Left Behind Goes Gold

The story add-on for Naughty Dog's The Last of Us is complete, and ready for release, according to a Tweet from director Bruce Straley.

Left Behind releases Feb. 14 on PlayStation 3, constituting the first and only story DLC for IGN's 2013 Game of the Year. The storyline follows protagonist Ellie and her friend Riley in the days before Ellie's encounter with Joel, where the two young girls begin at a boarding school meant to protect them from the infected.

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Jennifer Lawrence: Mother of Invention?

Director David O. Russell, like most of America, can't get enough Jennifer Lawrence.

Deadline reports that Russell is in early talks to adapt the life story of Joy Mangano to film, and he wants Lawrence -- who starred in his previous two films, Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle -- to star.

Joy Mangano, the inventor of the self-wringing Miracle Mop and Huggable Hangars, shot from being a single mother of three working three jobs to Home Shopping Network maven and president of Ingenious Designs, LLC, a company she started and sold to HSN for millions of dollars. She still presents products on HSN's TV channel "with hourly sales topping $1 million." A rags-to-riches story of such ingenuity and tenacity is practically made for Hollywood.

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It's Team Batman vs. Team Luthor in Forever Evil #5

Forever Evil has been ramping up and this issue looks like the big clash between Batman and Lex Luthor's teams, not to mention that Power Ring is up against a newly returned Sinestro.

DC Comics has provided us with an exclusive peek inside Forever Evil #5 by Geoff Johns and David Finch, out next Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Take a look and let us know how you think this will all play out.

Joshua is IGN’s Comics Editor. If Pokemon, Game of Thrones, or Green Lantern are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter and IGN.

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Liam Neeson Joins Martin Scorsese's Silence

Actor Liam Neeson takes a break from action to spread the Good News.

According to Deadline, the Taken star has boarded director Martin Scorsese's 2015 project, Silence. The new movie, which also stars Ken Watanabe (Batman Begins) and Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man), is an adaptation of Shusaku Endo's novel about two Jesuit priests attempting to spread Christianity in Japan during the country's Sakoku Edict, which sought to drive out foreign influence by effectively closing off the country.

Silence won't be Neeson's first missionary role, if that is indeed the role he is set for. He also starred in The Mission, a 1986 film about Jesuit priests in South America forced to protect the natives from fellow colonists. He also previously worked with Scorsese on Gangs of New York.

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iOS 8 and iWatch May Be All About Fitness Tracking

Devices like the FitBit and the Nike FuelBand may be old news, but according to a new report, Apple could soon enter the fitness tracking space with its long-rumored iWatch and iOS 8. Citing unnamed sources familiar with the projects, 9to5Mac claims a new version of iOS and the fabled iWatch will emphasize fitness and health with sensors that track everything from miles walked to hydration levels and even blood glucose levels. The wrist-bound wearable will be anchored by iOS 8, which will include a new feature called Healthbook, which monitors a user's vitals, provide medication reminders, and more.

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Labor Day Review

If Nicolas Sparks took a stab at the home invasion genre, it might look a little like Labor Day, an atmospheric departure for Juno and Young Adult director Jason Reitman that's a little too earnest and heavy for its own good.

Based on a book by Joyce Maynard, Reitman's romantic drama broils over one long Labor Day weekend in 1987, the lives of near-agoraphobic Adele (Kate Winslet) and her son Henry (Gattlin Griffith) interrupted by Frank (Josh Brolin), a prisoner on the run. Little plays out during Frank's extended stay, allowing the film to rattle between steamy and unnerving with sadistic pleasure. Labor Day could stand to swing back and forth with greater momentum, but Reitman has something here — it's not the great film it wants to be, but it's absorbing adult drama.

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Pay What You Want for Dirt, Overlord, and More

The newest weekly Humble Bundle promotion includes Dirt 3 and several other Codemasters titles on Steam, for an investment of $6.00 US or more. Those who spend less can still receive a smaller selection of titles for a price of their choosing, as long as they meet the required minimum.

A $1.00 US investment generates a Steam key that unlocks the following five titles:

• Overlord


• Overlord: Raising Hell (DLC)


• Operation Flashpoint: Red River


• Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising


• Rise of the Argonauts

A pledge of at least $6.00 US adds the following three titles to the bundle:

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DC's Batman Editor Returns to Marvel

Comics Editor Mike Marts has returned to Marvel Comics. From 1996 to 2006, Marts worked at Marvel on notable books such as New X-Men and Astonishing X-Men and with creators Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Joss Whedon and John Cassaday, among many others. After spending the next eight years working for DC Comics, most notably as the Batman Group Editor, he has returned to Marvel as an Executive Editor.

"Mike Marts is a seasoned veteran who's edited some of the most critically acclaimed and highest-selling series of the last decade," said Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso in a Marvel press relese. "I'm overjoyed to see him return home, and I can't wait to see what he brings to Marvel!"

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Nintendo to Consider Mergers and Acquisitions, Iwata Says

After dramatically cutting fiscal year sales forecasts, president Satoru Iwata said Nintendo is looking to new areas for sales, marketing and customers.

"We should abandon old assumptions about our businesses," Iwata told The Nikkei. "We are considering

as an option. For this reason, we'll step up share buybacks."

Two weeks ago, the company cut the Wii U sales forecast from 9 to 2.8 million units, for the fiscal year ending March 31. Nintendo also cut the projection for 3DS sales, its perennial life boat, from 18 to 13.5 million; both of these revisions change Nintendo's net income projection from a profit to loss.

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Walking Dead Producers Making Sheltered Film

Image Comics’ Sheltered series, which only has six issues in print, is getting a big screen adaptation courtesy of the producers of AMC’s The Walking Dead and the writer-director of the 2013 indie film Siren.

Circle of Confusion, the company behind The Walking Dead, will produce the film version of Sheltered to be written and directed by Jesse Peyronel. Peyronel made 2013’s Siren, a supernatural love story featuring Pacific Rim’s Rob Kazinksy. He was also a writer for NBC’s Dracula before moving on to Dig, an upcoming USA series.

THR explains the premise -- though in somewhat spoilery fashion, so be warned. Instead of starting with a group of people who survive a cataclysm, Sheltered “is a preapocalyptic thriller set in a survivalist compound somewhere in the Pacific Northwest and populated by families who believe an imminent volcanic eruption is about to make the U.S. uninhabitable for years. Yet the adults are unprepared for a strike from within in the form of a coup d'etat by the kids, led by a charming sociopathic teen.”

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Star Trek's Zachary Quinto Joins Hitman 2

It was announced earlier this month that Homeland's Rupert Friend would replace the late Paul Walker in the title role of Agent 47 in Fox's Hitman reboot.

Today, Deadline reports that Zachary Quinto, Spock in the new Star Trek films, will join the film in an unspecified role.

Strangling people with piano wire is... illogical.

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Hannibal: Boardwalk Empire's Michael Pitt Joins Season 2

Some Hannibal spoilers may follow…

Boardwalk Empire star Michael Pitt will join the cast of Hannibal beginning in Season 2 in a recurring role that will be well known to fans of the film series and Thomas Harris Hannibal Lecter books: Mason Verger. That name not ringing any bells? Well, how about a picture:

Hope you're not eating. Ever again.

Remember now? Yick. Verger was the mutilated rich guy played by Gary Oldman in the 2001 film Hannibal. In the film and the novel it was based on, Verger tells Clarice Starling that in his youth he was an infatuated patient of Dr. Lecter’s. One night the unhinged little brat invited the good doctor over for dinner. As is all too often the case, one thing led to another and, before he knew it, a harmless evening of Quaaludes and pirate shirts turned without warning into someone getting his face chewed off.

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7 Ways Flappy Bird is Like Dark Souls

Don’t be fooled by Flappy Bird’s colorful, Mario-inspired graphics. The game is a brutal, unforgiving, neverending gauntlet of pain and death. And once you start playing it you might never stop.

Flappy Bird is the Dark Souls of casual mobile games. Allow me to explain why:

Flappy Bird is a simple take on a well-worn gameplay idea: your little bird is always moving forward. Flying through gaps keeps him alive. Hit a wall, and it’s game over. We’ve all played games like this before. But not quite like this.

To call Flappy Bird “unforgiving” is an understatement. Success requires near-perfection. There are no compromises and no second chances. Get it right, and your run continues. Make a mistake, and your run ends. It’s as simple as that.

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10 Marvel Comics You Should be Reading

Marvel Comics puts out a load of great comics, but it can be hard to figure out which ones fit your tastes or feature the heroes you can to read about. We've got you covered. Check out the list of our favorite Marvel books to learn what they're about and why they're so awesome.

Be sure to let us know what you think of the list, and if you're a Marvel reader, let us know your Top 10 comics!

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What Do You Think of Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor?

This morning it was announced that Jesse Eisenberg will portray Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons will play Alfred Pennyworth in the Man of Steel sequel. While the casting choice of Jeremy made sense to most, there were mixed reactions about Jesse Eisenberg.

We asked IGN readers their thoughts on this interesting piece of casting news.

Some would say Jesse Eisenberg has already played an evil villain when he portrayed Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network.

@IGN Call me crazy, but I can see it. I'm on board.

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DICE Details Battlefield 4 Tweaks

Balancing requests are among the most frequent DICE receives from Battlefield 4 players, and the developers have already tweaked a number of weapons and vehicles in response. Today on the Battlefield Blog, though, the devs are highlighting the items they believe are "working as designed."

For now, at least. DICE says it welcomes further "suggestions and comments," but doesn't believe some hot-button items currently need balancing.

Most notably among the balancing items DICE is monitoring:

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New 16GB Ouya Announced for $129.99

Just under a year since the launch model first started shipping to Kickstarter backers, Ouya is introducing a new 16GB version of the Android-based games console. Preserving the same design and core features of the original, the new high-capacity variant doubles the storage from 8GB, affording more space for games, apps, and media. The company had previously offered a 16GB version of the system as part of a limited edition white variant for the holidays.

However, prospective owners will have to pay for the privilege, with the 16GB model priced at $129.99 — $30 more than the base model. While the expanded internal memory is certainly convenient, the system's existing USB storage port already provides extensive upgradability.

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PS4-Exclusive Racer Ready to Run Revealed

Today, Ukrainian developer Beatshapers revealed that it’s developing and publishing a new game exclusively for PlayStation 4. It’s called Ready to Run, and it will launch on Sony’s new console in the second quarter of 2014.

You can watch the game’s very first trailer below.

According to Beatshapers, Ready to Run “is a furious R.C. car racing game in

unique retro-futuristic setting.” The final product will have over 15 cars for players to choose from, a “single city environment featuring endless track configurations,” and both real-time and asynchronous multiplayer options.

Beatshapers is becoming better-known to PlayStation gamers these days. The studio has created over a dozen PlayStation Minis, as well as the PS3 game StarDrone and the PS Vita games StarDrone Extreme, BreakQuest, Furmins, and Z-Run.

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Games With Gold February 2014: Dead Island, Toy Soldiers: Cold War

The two games Xbox Live Gold members will be able to download for free in February as part of the Games With Gold promotion have been announced today by Microsoft: Dead Island and Toy Soldiers: Cold War.

Dead Island will be the first of the two released for free. Beginning tomorrow, February 1, the open-world zombie game will drop from its usual price of $19.99 for two weeks. While it had technical issues, it was well received upon its release in 2011, earning an 8.0 in IGN's review. The game went on to be a major success, having sold 5 million copies as of early last year. Those strong sales led to a sequel, Dead Island: Riptide, being released last April.

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Lex Luthor, Alfred Cast in Batman Vs. Superman

Jesse Eisenberg has been cast as the Man of Steel's ultimate foe Lex Luthor in Warner Bros. and Zack Snyder's Batman Vs. Superman, while Jeremy Irons has also joined the film as Batman's loyal butler Alfred.

Variety has the report on the surprise casting. The question of who would play Lex has been a topic of much discussion among fans ever since the Man of Steel sequel was announced at Comic-Con last July. It has largely been assumed that Lex would appear in the film. Names like Bryan Cranston and Joaquin Phoenix had been floated regarding the part, but it looks like the master of Facebook himself, Eisenberg, will be running LexCorp when the film hits on May 6, 2016. (It should also be noted that Eisenberg is not bald, but is quite capable of shaving his head for the part. See how that works, Internet? You don’t automatically have to be bald to play Lex!)

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PlayStation Mobile App Now Lets You Find Livestreams

The official PlayStation App has been updated for the first time since launching last year, and among the improvements introduced is the ability to find PlayStation 4 livestreams that can be watched right from your iOS or Android device.

The addition of the Live From PlayStation feature is the most substantial aspect of the update. By choosing it from the main menu, users can scroll through a list of streams currently being broadcast, search for specific streams, and use filters to find streams offering interactivity or being hosted on Ustream or Twitch.

Unfortunately, at least on iOS, choosing a stream opens it up in a browser, rather than the Twitch or Ustream apps themselves.

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When Screen Tests Don't Work Out

With that GIF of Tom Hiddleston auditioning for the role of Thor doing the rounds yesterday, we got to thinking about other legendary screen tests that didn’t quite work out, prompting us to asseble some of our favourites for your viewing pleasure. So if you want to see who might have played Han Solo, James Bond, Spider-Man and Indiana Jones in some strange parallel universe, check out the following videos...

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Check Out the Poster for Ali G: Rezurection

Sacha Baron Cohen's Da Ali G Show is about to get a notable new presentation, as FXX begins airing Ali G: Rezurection on February 26th. This new presentation will include every episode of Da Ali G Show, including the original six UK-produced episodes that have never aired in the US, after HBO began making the series. In addition, Sacha Baron Cohen has filmed brand new, in-character introductions for every episode.

IGN has your exclusive first look at the key art for Ali G: Rezurection, showing Ali G himself admiring a piece of art featuring all three of the show's iconic characters - Ali G, Borat and Bruno.

New Captain America: The Winter Soldier Footage

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is one of many big movies that will have a new ad playing Sunday, during the Super Bowl - and it's the latest to get the "preview for a preview" treatment, via a new video tease. While this is a lot shorter than the teaser for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 that debuted yesterday, it still offers some pretty cool imagery and very brief but tantalizing character spotlights. (Falcon!)

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Dark Souls II's New Beginning

In neither Demon's nor Dark Souls did you have more than the barest idea of who you were, or why you had awakened in a desecrated realm of demons and the undead. You could piece it together from bare scraps of lore - indeed, there exist huge and fascinating discussions in the Dark Souls community about who exactly you are - but at the beginning of the game, you had no idea. You're just dumped in the Nexus, or into a cell in the Undead Asylum, without any idea how you got there.

Dark Souls 2 tells you more, but still without telling you much at all. You are cursed, you are one of many, you are marked by death and will go hollow - unless you find the cure to end your torment. The stunningly creepy opening cinematic shows a desperate hooded figure plunging into a dark abyss, guided by an old crone's mysterious words to a place called Drangleic, yet another dead kingdom. You awaken in a deep valley, with sunlight peeking through a long V-shaped crack in the rock in the distance. Here - for a change - nothing is trying to kill you.

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PS Plus Subscriptions Triple Following PS4 Launch

The launch of the PS4 caused the number of PlayStation Plus subscriptions to triple, Sony has announced.

The news came courtesy of Sony UK boss Fergal Gara, who made the revelation at the PS Vita Slim event IGN attended yesterday.

While Gara highlighted that needing PS Plus in order to play PS4 games online undoubtedly played a part in the spike, he also expressed his confidence that the value offered by the service was a driving force behind the increased uptake.

Elsewhere in the briefing, Gara revealed that there is now 1.5 PS4 consoles in the UK for every Xbox One.

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Dark Souls 2 DLC May Happen After All

Dark Souls II may get DLC after all, according to the game's producer.

Speaking to OXM, Takeshi Miyazoe contradicted statements he'd made previously saying that the team wanted to ship a finished product rather than add bits later.

"There is definitely potential

," he explained. "Again, it's all about fan feedback. Right now we are concentrating on completing what we've got, but I think there are next steps on how we can expand on Dark Souls 2.

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Batman: Arkham Origins DLC Cancelled For Wii U

Batman: Arkham Origins will no longer be getting story DLC on Wii U, Warner Bros. has confirmed.

The publisher explained in a statement to IGN that the decision was made as demand for DLC on the console apparently isn't strong enough.

"Based on demand for DLC content on the system, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has made the decision to remove its offering of the upcoming all-new story campaign for Wii U," it reads.

Anyone who has a Season Pass for content on the console will apparently be given a refund. A tease posted on Facebook at the start of the year suggests the story DLC will focus on Mr. Freeze.

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Lucario Revealed for Super Smash Bros. Wii U / 3DS

The roster of fighters for the upcoming Smash Bros. title on Wii U and 3DS just got its 22nd addition, in the form of the Pokemon Lucario.

Creator Masahiro Sakurai revealed that the team has "increased the influence of Aura this time, so a damaged Lucario is truly a force to be reckoned with."

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The Big Bang Theory: "The Convention Conundrum" Review

Warning: full episode spoilers follow.

After a string of episodes focused on Penny's latest personal crisis and her renewed focus on becoming an actress, The Big Bang Theory switched gears to an episode that could just as easily have taken place at any point during the past few seasons. The spark of this week's conflict was something most comic book lovers have had to contend with in recent years - the dreaded registration process for San Diego Comic-Con. As ridiculous as it might have looked to see the four guys huddled around their laptops and shouting "Refresh! Refresh! Refresh!' for hours, that's pretty much dead-on. SDCC requires a hell of a lot of effort and a fair amount of luck to score tickets for these days.

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Community: "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking" Review

Note: Full spoilers for the episode follow.

What a wonderfully random episode! This was a bit of a “what are they smoking in the writers' room!?” week on Community, but in all the right ways. And it was certainly consistently funny, as we followed Annie and Hickey on their guest star-packed journey though Greendale.

While Nathan Fillion was the hyped up guest star this week, he was only one of many, as Annie and Hickey spoke to Kumail Nanjani, Paget Brewster, Robert Patrick and the returning Jerry Minor, all playing folks who work at Greendale (and thus could return again). There was a bit of a “Hey, look who we got!” aspect to seeing so many guests packed in, but it was still very fun and most likely speaks to how much people just like Community, including within the industry, and were happy to pop over to the set to film a scene or two, with everyone given at least one standout moment - Fillion, so frustrated to not be seeing his porn, was awesome. In the end, it was also nice to see Hickey ultimately do a very kind thing and get that bulletin board (or donate his) for Annie.

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Hunger Games Actor Rumored for Point Break Remake

A former Hunger Games champion could soon transition from killing folks to robbing banks.

For a movie that has yet to be green lit, the Point Break remake is drawing a fair bit of casting buzz. Earlier this month, we reported that 300's Gerard Butler was in negotiations to take on the role of Bodhi, originally played by Patrick Swayze in the 1991 film. Now, Schmoes Know report that they have some intel on who might take on Keanu Reeves' Johnny Utah.

Taylor Kitsch (Lone Survivor) and Chris Pine (Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit) are two actors who have been rumored for the lead role, and now Schmoes Know are adding Sam Claflin -- Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire -- to that list.

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Parks and Recreation: "Ann and Chris" Review

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode follow…

"Ain't no party like a Leslie Knope party, 'cause a Leslie Knope party is actually 30 parties."

While it's pretty much impossible to be as emotionally enraptured with Ann and Chris as with Leslie and Ben, "Ann and Chris" was a strong send-off for Leslie Knope's "perfect sunflower" BFF and her health-obsessed, Dr. Richard Neigart-obsessed beau, Chris.

Though the one moment that really sticks out the most to me (probably because I found it to be the funniest and most interesting) was Andy's brief, insane farewell to Ann. Because honesty, it is a trip that the two of them ever were together. In fact, If I recall my early Season 1 reviews, I believe I actively wondered what the hell she was doing with him. Along with questioning why the cameras, if this was supposed to be a Parks Department documentary of sorts, were following him at all.

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Amazing Spider-Man 2: Super Bowl Spot Part 1

Spider-Man is heading to the Super Bowl this weekend... with a trailer for his upcoming movie, of course. And now the first part of the Amazing Spider-Man 2 trailer has debuted online. Yes, it's a trailer for a trailer... sort of. This actually functions as its own teaser, rather than one of those incredibly brief snippets we sometimes subsist on. And there's more to come this weekend.

In the meantime, take a look below. And keep an eye on IGN on Sunday for all the movie trailers as soon as we get them...

Talk to Senior Editor Scott Collura on Twitter at @ScottIGN , on IGN at scottcollura and on Facebook .

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Rust Sells 750,000 Copies

Rust, the survival game from the creator of Garry's Mod, has quickly been overtaking its predecessor –– as of today, Garry Newman and Facepunch Studios have sold 750,000 copies of Rust.

Those copies were sold in a month and a half; that's two-thirds of what Garry's Mod sold in eight years. Rust has also been the top-seller on Steam for almost two weeks, placing just above Day Z, according to the Steam sales chart. Facepunch never expected this; it's been a blessing and a curse.

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Former Call of Duty, Titanfall Devs Release Demo for Kickstarter

Scary Mostro and Section Studios released a playable demo yesterday for To the Death, the recently announced side-scrolling beat-em-up/shoot-em-up hybrid.

The demo, which can be downloaded on the game's Kickstarter page, features a rough version of the combat mechanics, according to the page. Players get three lives to achieve as many kills as possible, a score which will be recorded, although it's not clear whether any type of leaderboards will be involved.

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Top 3DS Games to Watch Out for in 2014

Nintendo’s 3DS had a fantastic lineup of quality games in 2013. The expanded software library helped propel the system to become the number one selling platform of the year.

It’s almost daunting to consider how Nintendo would possibly outdo such a landmark year of great video games, but the Japanese publisher is already off to a strong start. We’re weeks away from the release of Bravely Default in the US, followed closely by Yoshi’s New Island, Shovel Knight and more. Of course we only have a small glimpse into Nintendo's future, so expect more announcements leading up to E3 2014. But here’s our current list of top 3DS games to watch out for this year.

Much like Fire Emblem Awakening in 2013, Bravely Default seems set to kick off the year with a meaty, strategic RPG adventure that’ll keep us glued to our 3DS’. It’s pretty much a Final Fantasy game in everything but the name, and it absolutely carries the torch of that series’ 16-bit legacy, while implimenting some absolutely fantastic tweaks and systems that other RPGs need to adopt. For example, once you’ve been able to adjust the battle encounter rate using a slider, you’ll never want to go back. Oh, also, Bravely Default wisely crafted a demo provides rewards which transfer over to the full game. Genious. The game has been out for a while in Europe, so check out our review.

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Here's Beautiful New Art For Infamous: Second Son

Today, Sony provided IGN with five new pieces of gorgeous art for Infamous: Second Son, the PlayStation 4-exclusive title set for release on March 21st. You can find higher-res versions of them here, if you’d like.

For starters, here’s Delsin.

And the mysterious Fetch.

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Pac-Man Museum No Longer Planned for Wii U and 3DS

Namco Bandai today announced the release dates for Pac-Man Museum, but neglected to specify dates for the previously announced Wii U and 3DS editions.

Nintendo Everything consulted the company and reports that Pac-Man Museum will no longer be coming to those platforms "as a result of delayed development." The game was previously set for a digital release. It is still coming to PlayStation Network in North America on February 25th, while Xbox Live and Steam editions are slated to arrive on the 26th.

We've contacted Namco Bandai for additional information.

While waiting for a comment, why not brush up on your Pac-Man trivia and learn 7 Things You Never Knew About Pac-Man?

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The Secret World Publisher Raided by Norway's Economic Crime Unit

Funcom, publisher of The Secret World and Age of Conan, among other games, is under investigation by Norway's economic crime unit.

The Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime announced that it has charged Funcom with "suspicion of infringement" of Norway's Securities Trading Act. According to reports out of Norway, the charges were serious enough for the crime unit to raid Funcom's offices and temporarily delist the company from the Oslo Stock Exchange.

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What Is a Fascinating Video Game You Will Never Play?

Last week a massive battle on EVE Online broke out resulting in $200,000 worth of damage. While many people agreed the battle sounded epic, it still didn't entice people to try the game.

IGN reader SuperJohn95's top comment pretty much summed up how most readers felt:

EVE seems like a game that's more interesting to read about then play.

With 495 upvotes and only 2 downvotes, it was clear that was the general consensus. On Twitter, IGN reader Connor Sheehan asked which video games fascinated people but left them no desire to play it. The response to the questions were surprising.

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KI's New Patch to Punish Rage-Quitters

Hot on the heels of the Spinal reveal, Double Helix’s “Filthie” Rich Bantegui has outlined a new patch that will be “coming soon.” Aside from adding support for their bony new character, the update will address a variety of minor bugs, as well as the hot-button topic of how to deal with online rage-quitters.

According to the forum post on Double Helix’s website, if a player’s disconnect rate exceeds 15%, they will be sent to “jail” for 24 hours, during which time they will only be able to play with other jailmates. Subsequent trips to the virtual big-house will increase your sentence by 24 hours up to a maximum of five days, and every match that sends you there will result in a loss for you. Hopefully this will cut down on people intentionally disconnecting while getting pummeled by a long Ultra combo at the end of a match.

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QuakeCon 2014 Dated, Room Reservations Opened

Bethesda announced today that the biggest BYOC LAN party west of the Mississippi, QuakeCon 2014, will run from Thursday, July 17 through Sunday, July 20.

If you're a QuakeCon regular, those dates might sound fishy. That's because for nearly 19 years, id Software's celebration of all things PC has taken place in August. Parent company Bethesda didn't offer any explanation as to why the convention was bumped up two weeks, but it did open reservations at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, so you can secure your QuakeCon hotel room now.

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Microsoft May Soon Name New CEO, Could Replace Bill Gates

The search for Microsoft's next CEO may be over. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Microsoft plans to name Satya Nadella as the company's new chief executive, replacing Steve Ballmer who announced his retirement this past August. Nadella is currently the company's Executive Vice President of the Cloud and Enterprise division, which develops the backend technology that powers Xbox Live, OneDrive, Skype, and a myriad of other services. While Nadella's appointment has not been finalized, the site's sources say he is the top contender.

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Octodad: Dadliest Catch Review

Octodad: Dadliest Catch is very much my kind of game. The central conceit of an octopus masquerading as a human is pure absurdist genius, and a premise worthy of even the most coked-up ‘80s sitcom producer. And as the name suggests, Octodad is married with children, and must maintain the façade of being a regular Joe even at home. It’s a great set-up for genuinely amusing gameplay and a surprisingly sweet story.

Dadliest Catch doesn’t give any context initially, instead dropping us straight into Octodad’s wedding day. It’s a deliberately bizarre place to start, and a good training ground for the controls. Each one of Octodad's tentacle legs is controlled independently; your body flopping about as you lurch drunkenly around, while objects can be picked up with a single, snaking arm. It’s actually quite intuitive, and you’ll have your tux on and attempt a nonchalant walk down the aisle in no time.

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The Punisher Locks and Loads New Series

Marvel has provided us an exclusive first look at the new Punisher series by writer Nathan Edmondson and artist Mitch Gerads.

Here's the official description of the series followed by a peek inside the book:

"For years, The Punisher has waged a war on crime in New York City with an array of very large guns, but a lead on a major source of drugs, weapons, and more has set his many sights due west. NOW! Frank Castle's in the City of Angels, looking to give the devil his due. Things aren't all they appear, though, with a highly trained military hit squad hot on Frank's tail. Caught between a posse of Punisher predators and targets of his own one-man-war, Frank's manifest destiny may be a shallow grave!"

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Blackguards Review

A dwarf fanatic, a randy mage, and a drugged-out half-elf walk into a bar. The bartender has information they need, but he's holding out on them. Since Blackguards is primarily a combat game with no exploration and only cursory dialogue choices, it’s no surprise that the punchline is a turn-based tactical brawl against several henchmen. But happily, that combat is very well done. The pace of battle, the balance between melee/ranged/magic fighting, and the level design work in harmony. It falls down slightly in its uneven metagame of character progression, but other than that, almost everything in this dark fantasy roleplaying game works.

Despite its combat focus, arguably Blackguards' biggest strength is that it takes place in the universe of The Dark Eye, a popular German tabletop role-playing system. It’s a “low-fantasy” world, a setting characterized by gritty, characters who aren't world-saving heroes, and often aren't heroes at all. (The Witcher games are the most famous with low fantasy in them, and Dragon Age—and Game Of Thrones—both include notable low-fantasy elements.) But what makes the setting so crucial for Blackguards is that it's not just the world and story that reflect the story genre, but game design and mechanics as well.

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Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day Preview

Before I even knew that Suda 51 had anything to do with it, Ranko Tsukigime’s Longest Day stood out to me when I glimpsed it from across the room. Unlike a lot of people who grew up playing them, I never got sick of 2D side-scrollers, so when I see one with the kind of evocative style, and fast-paced gameplay that Longest Day exhibits, I can’t help but be drawn in; the fact that Suda-san is producing, and that Tokyo Jungle’s Crispy’s is developing is just the gravy on top for me.

Ranko Tsukigime is, as you’ve probably already guessed, not your average teenager. Sure, she goes to school and has normal friends with every-day concerns, but it’s almost entirely a farce for her. Her true life is as an assassin, and where some similar stories are about how the protagonist balances her normal, natural, adolescent challenges with more extraordinary ones, this tale already seems refreshingly different. As I watched the first of what I am told are many beautifully-crafted anime cutscenes, a far more tantalizing plot-point came to light: the reason this is going to be Ranko Tsukigime’s longest day is because her newly assigned target is none other than her father.

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This Week on the Wii U and 3DS eShop (Jan. 30, 2014)

Our long national nightmare is over. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is on the Wii U Virtual Console finally. Alongside Link to the Past this week is Mario Bros. on Virtual Console, a few 3DS eShop games, and a couple of rad deals on indie games on Wii U and 3DS. It might not be a plentiful new release week, but if you missed out on Runner2, Toki Tori 2+, or Spin the Bottle, the Super Indie Connection Sale is worth checking out. Now if only Super Mario Bros. 3 could come out in North America...

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past ($7.99)

Every other region has it already, but finally, the SNES classic can be played on the Wii U Virtual Console. Originally released in 1991, Link to the Past is heralded as one of the greatest games in the Zelda and in some circles, as one of the greatest games ever. Take good ol’ pink-haired Link (or whatever you name him) and save Zelda from Agahnim and that not-so-secret villain behind his power. Whether you experienced this version of Hyrule for the first time in Link Between Worlds or when you were 8 years old on the SNES, Link to the Past is almost always worth replaying. Remember, if you got it on Wii Virtual Console (or got the recent Club Nintendo reward), you can upgrade it to Wii U for $1.50.

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These Are February’s PlayStation Plus Games

Sony has revealed what games North American PlayStation Plus subscribers can expect to receive for free in the coming month of February, 2014.

First up is Outlast, the PlayStation 4 horror title. We actually already knew it was coming to PlayStation Plus, as Red Barrels, the game’s developer, revealed the news last week. But Sony’s reiterated and confirmed it, so expect Outlast for free at some point if you have PS+ and own a PlayStation 4.

As far as PlayStation 3 games are concerned, 4A Games’ Metro: Last Light will be free, as well as PayDay 2 and Remember Me. You can read the review of Metro: Last Light here, PayDay 2 here, and Remember Me here.

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CW Orders TV Pilot for DC Comics' iZombie

Hope you're not sick of zombies yet, because The CW is about to throw its hat into that ring, as the network behind Arrow has ordered a pilot for an adaptation of the DC Comics/Vertigo comic book, iZombie.

Entertainment Weekly provides the following synopsis for the uninitiated: "A med student-turned-zombie takes a job in the coroner’s office to gain access to the brains she must reluctantly eat to maintain her humanity, but with each brain she consumes, she inherits the corpse’s memories. With the help of her medical examiner boss and a police detective, she solves homicide cases in order to quiet the disturbing voices in her head."

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Lightning Returns Devs Talk Final Fantasy Battle Systems

Last week, we asked you what questions you had for the developers of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII following the reveal of a new battle system trailer. You asked, they answered.

Game design director Yuji Abe and producer Yoshinori Kitase go into detail about why the decision was made to switch up the battle system, whether we'll ever see turn-based battles again in the series and how it all ties in with Final Fantasy XV.

Watch the trailer below if you need to refresh your memory about the new battle system, then read on to see what responses we all received.

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Tropico 5 Announced For PS4

Tropico 5 is set to be the first entry in the series to appear on Sony consoles, when it releases on PS4 later this year.

Until now, the game had only been listed for PC, Mac and Xbox 360. Curiously, today's announcement didn't include confirmation of a next-gen Xbox version.

Multiplayer has also been confirmed for the upcoming game. Up to four players will be able to work co-operatively or competitively, though no details were disclosed other than that.

The timespan of the game has been extended too, thanks to the addition of Dynasties, which will allow you to pass power to your offspring and rule from colonial times all the way through to the modern day.

We still don't have a firm release date, but Tropico 5 is expected later this year.

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White and Disc-less Xbox Ones Rumoured For Retail

Microsoft is reportedly working to bring a range of different Xbox One models to market, including its white employee-only one, along with disc-less and 1TB hard drive versions.

The report comes from an alleged insider on NeoGAF, though The Verge has been able to verify elements of the claims independently.

Please note that none of the below statements have been confirmed by Microsoft. IGN has reached out to try and verify what we can, but until then do not take any of the below as fact.

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Comic Book Reviews: 1/29/14

This week saw a trio of Annuals released from DC Comics in Earth 2, Batman & Robin, and Green Lantern Corps, so be sure to take a look at those reviews to see if they're worth the extra cash. On Marvel's side, this proved to be a huge week for Thor as he took on ferocious enemies in two different books, earning him Editor's Choice on both.

Dark Horse made a fine showing with debuts for Furious and Serenity: Leaves on the Wind. Not to mention the climactic Saga #18 from Image ended the third major story arc and reminded us why we love it so. Plus, have you seen Ross Campbell's artwork on the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic from IDW Publishing? Talk about breathtaking!

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Dead Boy Detectives #2 Review

Dead Boy Detectives has taken a roundabout approach to setting up the series' general status quo. Issue #1 seemed to focus an inordinate amount of time on an art heist that had little bearing on the larger story. But with issue #2, Charles and Edwin have returned to the dreaded St. Hilarion's School for Boys and tasked themselves with safeguarding their new friend Crystal from the many dangers the school holds. Crystal herself remains mostly oblivious to their presence, but the trio are drawn closer together as this issue progresses.

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Red Lanterns #27 Review

All the Green Lantern books seem to be finding their footing lately, but Red Lanterns is very much the series to beat right now. You can credit that to the winning premise or the fact that the book is allowed to exist largely on its own within the Green Lantern franchise. But really, it all comes down to the inhumanly productive and talented Charles Soule. Lately it seems as if he can do no wrong.

This month, Soule seems intent on giving Keith Giffen's Larfleeze a run for its money as the funny Lantern book. It's a very lighthearted script for a book starring a bunch of blood-spewing rage-monkeys. Soule splits the cast in half, with Bleeze and Rankorr heading in search of a wayward ring, and Guy, Zilius, and Skallox taking a trip to Earth. The issue is worth a purchase just to see Zilius and Skallox go sight-seeing.

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Aquaman #27 Review

If you liked Jeff Parker's debut on Aquaman last month, you won't find much different in issue #27. This is still very much a slow burn of a story as is usually the case when Parker takes on a long-form assignment. The series is heavily steeped in the same elements that defined Geoff Johns' run - political intrigue among the Atlanteans, mounting distrust of Atlantis in the surface world, and bizarre creatures from Atlantis' secret past coming to light. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

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Night of the Living Deadpool #2 Review

Aside from a few chuckle-worthy moments, Night of the Living Deadpool #1 didn't do much to stand out from the various zombie comics or even zombie-themed Marvel comics. It's a crowded genre. Luckily, the series finds its footing somewhat with issue #2. It's a denser read this month, and one that balances out the humor with moments of darkness and despair. A more well-rounded zombie story, in other words.

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Superman #27 Review

It's no secret that Superman has had a rough time finding his footing since the launch of the New 52. This issue is a testament to that, no doubt. It's certainly not bad, but it reads like a comic from 20 years ago. There's something just off about it, failing to feel new and energized but still falling short of nostalgic and classic. It looks good, at least, it's just a shame there are so many words, thought bubbles and strange narrations covering up all that nice looking art.

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Furious #1 Review

Furious plays on some tropes we have been seeing in superhero comics a lot these days. It essentially one of those “superheroes in the real world” sort of comics, but it manages to do things better than most, without covering the same ground. It focuses heavily on media and celebrity, the difficulties in always doing the right thing. It might not feel entirely unique or new, but Furious is well executed and beautifully drawn. It's definitely worth checking out.

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Guardians of the Galaxy #11.NOW Review

This is fun issue of Guardians of the Galaxy, even if it's another one of these “talking head” issues that features lots of the characters setting up the status quo of the coming event. In case you have not heard, Guardians of the Galaxy is crossing over with All-New X-Men as the young Jean Grey is put on trial for the crimes her future self eventually commits. It's an odd setup, for sure, but this creative team has such a great handle on these characters, it's a treat to spend time in their world.

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Inhumanity #2 Review

Inhumanity is a hard title to get invested in. It requires a hearty interest in the event that came before it and the one that it is setting up. It's both an epilogue and prologue, a series that just exists between important events. This is not to say it is bad, because it's not. There's entertaining stuff here, for sure, but there's a sense that it's just killing time. Choppy artwork doesn't help anything, either. Unless you really love the Inhumans – really, really love them - it's hard to recommend this title.

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Thor: God of Thunder #18 Review

If we learned anything from Thor: God of Thunder #18, it's that dragons are nasty drunks. That's the moral of the story, and what a story it is. Yes, this series has been great since day one, and this issue is proof as to why. It's heartfelt, but more than a little bit ridiculous, filled with violence, drinking and lots of puke. This issue is like a blueprint for a great one-shot, a done-in-one story that still gives us character development and insight. Before this, who knew that Thor and dragons had so much in common?

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Thunderbolts #21 Review

Every time an issue of this volume of Thunderbolt hits the stands, I'm amazed all over again that it works as well as it does. The series started off rocky, to say the least, but once Charles Soule came on board, it found a groove that we didn't even know existed. Against all odds, this comic series is good. Really good. Hell, Thunderbolts #21 is great, and most of the time the characters are just talking and walking (but in Hell, so it's cool).

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Black Science #3 Review

If there was an award for best first pages, Black Science would win it. Each issue opens with a stunner, a simple, static image that instantly reminds you just how incredible this series is. This month, we get an insanely detailed city skyline, nothing but buildings, crowded together and falling apart. It's the kind of image that gives you pause before you say, “Oh yeah, this is one of the best looking comic books around.” Seriously, it's brilliant stuff and you guys better be reading it. Don't make me force you.

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Uncanny Avengers #16 Review

Thor is a pretty cool guy, and when he puts his mind to it, he can deliver the most epic action and spectacle you'll find in the Marvel Universe. That's how he won our Best Moment of 2013 award for Infinity #4. And he's up to his old tricks again in Uncanny Avengers #16. This issue spotlights those handful of Avengers who haven't been in the spotlight in recent months. Thor, with a little help from Captain America and Wasp, finally returns to school the Apocalypse Twins in the art of war. He's quite a teacher.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #30 Review

The turtle clan is still recovering from the events of last year. Most notably, Leo is still struggling to escape the effects of Shredder's dark control. This issue is a bit of a cool down as everyone tries to pick up the pieces of who they once were. There's no action to speak of, but that doesn't stop this comic from being an engrossing tale of family and love. It's really quite moving.

Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow and the amazing Tom Waltz have been delivering fantastic TMNT storytelling for the past few years. The key to all this has been putting the Turtles, as a family, at the center. Family and honor are what drive this series, and this issue puts those elements at the forefront. Visions of their mother provide moving and heartfelt scenes that rival anything you'd see or read with non-mutant turtles as lead characters. Seriously, the panel with Splinter holding his hand to the side of his own face, still feeling the touch of his wife, it's almost too much. Strong men also cry.

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Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1 Review

Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1 is the sequel you've been waiting for. No, really. Browncoats -- as some Firefly fans like to call themselves -- the world over have dreamed of this day for years. Now that it's finally here, does the comic book, by writer Zack Whedon and artist Georges Jeanty, live up to the hype? The short answer is yes.

The long answer is this: while it would have been nice to watch Firefly continue on the small screen, complete with actors like Nathan Fillion and Morena Baccarin, the medium of comic books allows for a wider scope of storytelling, which is a boon to the overall narrative. Whedon (brother of Firefly creator Joss Whedon) and Jeanty take a good hard look at how the events of Serenity have impacted the 'verse, and to do that, they examine the situation from multiple perspectives.

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Saga #18 Review

Saga #18 sees the conclusion to the story writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Fiona Staples have been building for months now. While the arc may have felt a tad stretched thin in certain areas (though that might be mitigated when read as a trade), this issue provides a mostly satisfying end to the emotional high stakes of the chapters that came before.

There have been a lot of plot lines in Saga, and while they've been gradually converging over time, some of them -- namely Upsher and Doff's -- haven't quite congealed with the heart of the narrative as well as they could. That's still the case, but for the most part, Vaughan and Staples are efficient in how they choose to tie their loose ends together. Sometimes, too efficient. Prince Robot IV's role in the issue is almost too neatly handled as he shuffles off into the distance, and the way in which Marko and Alana conclude their confrontation with an angry, desperate Gwendolyn doesn't quite feel earned within the text.

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Green Lantern Corps Annual #2 Review

Geoff Johns is a touch act to follow, and it seems like the Green Lantern writers have devoted the months since his departure trying their darndest to make sure the new status quo stands apart from the old. The Relic crossover was a big step in that direction, but it also read like more a means to an end than a great story. The Green Lantern Corps Annual reads like the final step in that long process. The Lanterns are facing a team comprised of some of their worst enemies, and there's a growing sense that anything can happen in the future of the Corps.

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Superior Spider-Man #26 Review

Superior Spider-Man #26 is the proverbial one final breath before the deep plunge. As "Goblin Nation" and the end of this series loom, Dan Slott sets the stage with a war between Green Goblin and Hobgoblin. There can be only one Goblin. But alongside that conflict is the long-awaited showdown between Spider-Man and the Avengers, as well as a third plotline dealing with the disembodied consciousness of Peter Parker struggling to maintain a foothold in reality. It's yet another jam-packed issue, though thankfully not quite as overstuffed as many recent issues have been.

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American Horror Story: Coven Finale Review

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode follow…

While (you may have guessed) I wasn't a fan - like at all - of the opening intro/music video featuring Stevie Nicks singing the '87 Fleetwood Mac hit "Seven Wonders," the rest of the Coven finale played out with satisfactory twists and turns, even offering up a few welcome surprises.

Fiona coming back wasn't one of the surprises, but her final scene with Delia (and her final condemnation) were done well. Because while I knew Fiona wasn't killed last week, I still didn't know how the story would end and there was a moment there when it seemed like Fiona may have been luring Delia in for a quick sucker-kill.

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Chrono Trigger Gets Orchestral

There's good news for fans of Chrono Trigger's well-respected soundtrack. Chrono Trigger Symphony: Volume 3, the concluding collection of orchestrated arrangements of music from Chrono Trigger, is being released on Thursday, January 30th.

Performed by The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra, the album features over 40+ minutes of orchestrated music based on the game's original works composed by Yasunori Mitsuda.

A preview of Chrono Trigger Symphony: Volume 3 can be seen here:

The full track listing for Chrono Trigger Symphony Volume 3 is as follows:

1. "Singing Mountain"


2. "Tyrano Lair"
   

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Arrow: "Tremors" Review

Warning: full episode spoilers follow.

This week's Arrow brought about a firm shift in focus after several episodes revolving directly around Sebastian Blood and his underground army of superhumans. For better or worse, it looks like we can expect Blood and his one-eyed master to take a backseat for a bit as the writers pick up other loose threads and set new conflicts in motion. But while it does seem like the season is taking on a scatter-brained focus so as to prolong the showdown with Blood and Slade until the season finale, it's hard to complain about the other juicy nuggets "Tremor" had to offer.

Above all, the crux of this week's conflict involved Ollie struggling to mentor Roy. He's had his assistants for most of the show's lifespan, but this is the closest we've come so far to seeing the Arrow partner up with an honest-to-goodness sidekick. But while there are certain similarities between Ollie/Roy and the iconic Batman/Robin partnership - they come from vastly different backgrounds but are united for a thirst for justice - this is still a very different Dynamic Duo. It's a partnership formed on Ollie's fear and Roy's rage, and thus not a very healthy one for much of this episode. But it was a partnership that evolved in a satisfying way. It was a nice callback to Ollie's early months on the island to see him subjecting Roy to the water slapping technique. And I liked how the entire partnership was presented as a second chance for Ollie. He failed to save Slade from himself, but maybe he's learned enough after six years of hardship on and off the island to be able to save Roy.

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Cataclysm: The Ultimates' Last Stand #4 Review

For a story that hinges on the heroes of the Ultimate Universe fighting for their very survival, Cataclysm doesn't hold quite the sense of danger or spectacle you might expect. Even this close to the climax, the mini-series seems trapped in a holding pattern. There hasn't been much in the way of consequences for the Ultimate U. since New Jersey was blown up. As with so many event comics, the real emotion and human drama is relegated to the tie-ins. For example, I care for Miles and his current struggles far more in the pages of Cataclysm: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man than I do here. Considering that the same person wrote both books, that's a little odd.

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Watch This: Oscar-Winning VFX Supercut

You've got to check out this pretty awesome super cut of every movie that's won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects since the category first appeared in 1977, as well as the five current nominees:

The Academy Awards will be held March 2nd.

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Nintendo to License Game Characters to New Partners

Today at Nintendo’s financial results meeting, CEO Satoru Iwata told investors and analysts (again) that the Japanese game maker would not put its characters on competing platforms.

Earlier this week, Nintendo denied rumors from the Japanese publication Nikkei that it would create mini-games for mobile devices. Nintendo has stated that it needs to harness smartphones as a means to drive customers to its platforms.

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Podcast Unlocked: Bold Xbox Predictions

We sneak in 12 bold Xbox One predictions for 2014 before January ends, including thoughts on Minecraft, Halo, Elder Scrolls Online, and more. Plus: our take on the big Gears of War acquisition news, the Titanfall beta is confirmed, and good news for 1 vs. 100 fans.

DOWNLOAD PODCAST UNLOCKED EPISODE 130 RIGHT HERE

SHOW GUIDE

2014 Xbox Predictions

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Matt Damon's Best Movies

Oscar winner Matt Damon is back in theaters next week with the debut of the long-awaited World War II drama The Monuments Men. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like the movie was entirely worth the wait.

The good news is that there are plenty of other quality films featuring Damon to choose from. He's had an impressive career since rising to prominence in the '90s thanks to films like Good Will Hunting and Saving Private Ryan. Now he's a Hollywood A-Lister, action hero, and accomplished dramatic actor.

We've picked his best films from over the years, ranging from those aforementioend early efforts to films such as Ocean's Eleven and the Bourne Trilogy.

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Thor 3 in the Works

It’s all about Marvel trilogies this week: First we got word yesterday that Captain America 3 is moving ahead with Winter Soldier directors Anthony and Joe Russo back at the helm, and today the first rumblings of Thor 3 are also happening, with news breaking about a writing team for the Thunder God’s return.

Captain America 3 in the Works

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3 Days to Kill: Exclusive Amber Heard Photos

The upcoming action-thriller 3 Days to Kill stars Kevin Costner as an international spy who is trying to complete one last mission while also looking after his estranged teenage daughter (Hailee Steinfeld). McG (Charlie's Angels, Terminator Salvation) directs with action legend Luc Besson serving as producer.

We're stoked to debut these five exclusive photos of Amber Heard, who plays the film's femme fatale. Click on the images below for hi-res versions:

Amber Heard in 3 Days to Kill. Click for hi-res.

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Batman and Robin Annual #2 Review

There's been a clear trend with Pete Tomasi's Batman and Robin run that the best issues have been those that focus on standalone stories that revolve around Damian Wayne and the impact he made on the Robin mantle. It was true for Batman and Robin #19. It was true for Batman and Robin Annual #1. And it's true for this year's annual issue too. If you're at all a fan of either the Bruce/Dick or Dick/Damian dynamics, you'll definitely want to add this issue to your buy pile this week.

Apart from a brief framing sequence set in the recent past (between Damian's death and Forever Evil, to be specific), this issue focuses mainly on the proverbial "first Robin story." This is hardly the first time we've seen a writer tackle the dawn of the Batman/Robin partnership, but this is a rare glimpse of that period of Batman history in a New 52 context. Tomasi is able to flesh out the exact nature of Bruce and Dick's relationship at that point in their lives. It's a more classical take than some might expect given recent revelations about Dick being more employee than ward to Bruce during his one year as Robin.

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What is the Future of Wearable Technology?

Last week, readers on Twitter let us know where they saw the future of home entertainment tech going. 4K TVs reigned supreme.

This week, we asked IGN readers on Twitter to predict a different future. With gadgets like Google Glass and the Pebble Smart Watch coming at us in full force, we wanted readers to predict the future of wearable technology. A lot of ideas given were creative while others went way outside the box.

@IGN Immediate future? Perfected AR via glasses and contacts. Otherwise..I'm still hoping for gauntlets that can do everything

— Glenn Sardelli (@GlennSardelli) January 27, 2014

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Get a Look at the New Tomb Raider Comic

Tomb Raider fans rejoice! The new Tomb Raider comic series from Dark Horse Comics is going to hit on February 26, 2014.

The series picks up right after the latest Tomb Raider game and is written by comics superstar Gail Simone. Simone is known for writing all-around great comics whether they be about Batgirl or Red Sonja or Deadpool. That Dark Horse has tapped her to continue the adventures of Lara Croft is good news for everyone.

Check out these unlettered preview pages from Nicolas Daniel Selma, and if you like what you see, then check out Tomb Raider #1 when it drops next month.

Joshua is IGN’s Comics Editor. If Pokemon, Game of Thrones, or Green Lantern are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter and IGN.

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Earth 2 Annual #2 Review

Since Tom Taylor took the reins of Earth 2 late last year, perhaps the biggest question surrounding the series has been the identity of the new Batman. If Superman cheated death at the hands of Darkseid's forces, is it possible Bruce Wayne could as well? Or is this a new heir to the mantle? The series' second annual issue answers all questions as it provides a detailed origin of this new Batman and explores his connections to the old.

Of course, thanks to DC's overly spoilery action figure solicitations, many readers already know this Batman's identity. Taylor does deliver an entertaining issue regardless of whether you know the big twist, albeit one that veers into melodramatic territory at times. At his best, Taylor has a very comfortable, easy way with DC's heroes that translates into fun, engaging adventures. His lighter touch when it comes to elements like dialogue was just what Earth 2 needed. Unfortunately, that element isn't as apparent in this issue. Perhaps the story and the characterization needed a bit more space than the single-issue format could allow. There are certain scenes that could have used more space and breathing room.

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Nintendo's Lifetime Hardware, Software Numbers

Nintendo’s quarterly earnings may not have been too strong, and the Wii U is staging a fight for its life, but one thing is for certain: when taken as a whole, Nintendo’s historic sales are, in a word, impressive.

Let’s go through the numbers console-by-console and handheld-by-handheld and see just how well each one did. All sales numbers are accurate and up-to-date as of the end of December, 2013.

The NES (or Family Computer, if you’re Japanese) launched in 1983 in the east, 1985 in North America, and was out in Europe and Australia alike by 1987. It was Nintendo’s first piece of mainstream hardware and had an undeniable impact on the gaming industry. Here are its life-to-date sales.

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Why is Deadpool So Popular?

Deadpool has almost no peer in the comics industry. I'm not saying that his stories are of such high caliber that even Alan Moore is forced to bend down and worship at his altar. Moore already has far stranger altars he prays at. I've read some pretty lousy Deadpool comics in my day. But the character has a level of enduring popularity among readers (and even non-comic fans, to an extent), that many find perplexing. People who otherwise have no interest in comics have been hardcore fans of the character since the '90s. After Batman, he's probably the most common choice of superhero message board icon on the Internet. He managed to sneak into Hollywood before even A-List Marvel heroes like Thor and Black Widow in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. And since he first received an ongoing solo series in 1997, he's essentially never been out of the spotlight. Even supposedly more iconic characters like Ghost Rider and Doctor Strange can't claim that.

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Kinect Sports Rivals Hosting International Competition in February

An international tournament for Kinect Sports Rivals Preseason players will kick off this Saturday and run through the end of February, at which point a champion will be awarded with a special, gold-encrusted wake racer for use in Rivals.

Officially known as the Kinect Sports Rivals Preseason International Champions, the competition will see players from around the globe competing to top the leaderboards. The top player at the end of February will receive the gold wake racer mentioned above, while the top racer in each country will earn the same reward, albeit in silver, rather than gold. All players from the overall winner's home country will also be entitled to a reward in the form of a wake racer bearing their country's flag.

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Killzone: Shadow Fall Sells 2.1 Million Copies

Today, Sony revealed in a Tweet that its exclusive shooter Killzone: Shadow Fall – available at launch – has sold 2.1 million copies to date. Since all PS4 games are available digitally, this likely puts retail and digital numbers together in one.

Shadow Fall’s numbers are impressive, and indicate a strong attach rate for the game that could be in the range of one game sold for every three or so consoles in the wild.

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PS Vita Slim to be Revealed in Europe Tomorrow

Beginning last week, Sony started teasing the reveal of something new in the PlayStation family. As you can see below, the invitation – sent to IGN’s UK office – discusses the “introduction” of “the slimmest” hardware yet.

Naturally, this can’t possibly be the reveal of new PS3 hardware (since there already is a “super slim” model) or new PS4 hardware (since, well, it just came out), indicating that this is the slim PS Vita model that’s already available in Japan. Now, we can all but confirm that.

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Battlefield 4 Weapon Balance Tweaks Previewed

In a blog post previewing some of the changes coming soon to Battlefield 4, DICE has detailed the balance changes it will be making to shotguns, DMRs, and other weapons and attachments.

Designated marksman rifles, or DMRs, will have their damage bumped up at all ranges. Long-range damage in particular has been increased (making three-hit kills possible at long range), and the accuracy penalty suffered when firing repeatedly has been decreased. "The amount of the damage increase varies from weapon to weapon, according to its intended range, rate of fire, and damage," DICE explains. "We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of DMRs in combat, and determine if additional action is needed to make DMRs a viable mid to long range weapon."

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Marvel Universe LIVE! Reveals Plot

It was back in November 2013 that we got our first exclusive look at the villains of Marvel Universe LIVE! -- a touring arena show -- but now we have not only the plot synopsis but a sweet video of the work being done to bring these heroes and villains to life on stage.

Tony Stark's workshop from Marvel Universe LIVE!

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Titanfall on PC Supports Xbox 360 Controller, Not Xbox One

Following a mistaken tweet suggesting Titanfall on PC could be played with an Xbox One controller, Respawn Entertainment has clarified it's actually the Xbox 360 controller supported in the PC version of its upcoming shooter.

In response to a question about Xbox One controller support in Titanfall's PC version, Respawn's Twitter account responded in the affirmative. That tweet has since been deleted, and Respawn has clarified, "

e don't

, sorry, I saw 'Xbox controller.' We support 360, not One on PC."

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Titanfall's Seamless Updates Detailed by Respawn

While not every issue can be resolved with server-side updates that are effectively invisible to gamers, Respawn is attempting to make seamless updates a reality for Titanfall as often as possible.

In response to a forum post inquiring about how Titanfall title updates will be handled, Respawn programmer Jon Shiring explained the developer's approach and pointed to the recent alpha test as evidence of what it's doing. "During our small Closed Alpha, we rolled out 3 new server builds and completely moved players from one build to the next without interrupting gameplay. Players never noticed a difference (other than some bugs went away)," he wrote.

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League of Legends Lunar Revel Brings New Skins and Icons

For the third year running, League of Legends is celebrating the Chinese New Year with its Lunar Revel event. This year's celebration is now underway and brings with it new summoner icon rewards, champion skins, ward skins, and more.

During the Lunar Revel, which runs until February 11, players will be able to visit the League of Legends website and vote for one of three paths -- the Path of Truth, Path of Freedom, or Path of Power -- they want their region to choose. Once the Revel is complete, the selection for each region will be announced, and players who have been online in the preceding 90 days will get a special summoner icon specific to their region's path.

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Sony's Surprise ‘Flash Sale’ For PS3, PS4, Vita

Every week – at least in North America – the PlayStation Store updates with new games, DLC, and more. You can see this week’s update right here. What we didn’t expect was something supplemental to the usual update was a ’flash sale’ that starts today and lasts until Friday, January 31st.

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Basement Crawl Delayed Due to 'Exciting Opportunities'

Just a week after announcing Basement Crawl would be released today, developer Bloober Team has delayed its debut PlayStation 4 game in order to take advantage of "exciting opportunities" that have arisen.

"While the completed version of Basement Crawl was prepped for launch during the last week, several exciting opportunities to partner with major industry players to enhance, refine and add-to the game arose," said Bloober CEO Piotr Babieno. "Although a difficult decision, we decided that the best choice for us, as a team, was to delay Basement Crawl so that we could take full advantage of these opportunities. We will be able leverage those new partnerships to further grow and improve the game while still providing an amazingly fun multiplayer experience for PS4 owners. We'll be able to announce more details in the days and weeks to come."

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The Monuments Men Review

A fictionalized take on the non-fiction book of the same name by Robert M. Edsel with Bret Witter, The Monuments Men follows a group of over-the-hill art experts, historians, and academics (Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville, and Bob Balaban) led by Frank Stokes (George Clooney, who also directed) who are on a Presidential-approved mission to recover and return the great works of European art looted by the Nazis even as the Second World War rages on around them. These scholars undergo basic training and must become soldiers as much as they do treasure hunters. They soon split up into different units to track down leads and recover key artworks.

The Monuments Men plays like a first cut, that rough assemblage of footage cobbled together for the filmmakers to see and judge but not the public, leaving one to assume the film simply got away from director George Clooney and his team in the editing room. It's a shame because there's a fine and engaging wartime tale in there somewhere, but not up on the screen.

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13 Horror Games Not To Turn Your Back On in 2014

There's something about horror, as a genre, that just won't die.

Burn it, stake it, expose it to the light, but it will always return for more. For a while horror has suffered at the hands of mainstream publishers. It's been bastardised by explosions, unnecessary co-op, and protagonists armed-to-the-teeth. Last Halloween, I wrote about the a renaissance that was creeping near, titled Where The Scary Things Are. It was about how horror had begun to thrive elsewhere – on PC, on mobile, on Kickstarter.

2014 is the year when some of these games make the leap to consoles. It's also a year that marks the return of Shinji Mikami to the genre he helped define, and sees mainstream publishers, like SEGA and Bethesda, once again dipping their toes in the genre.

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Arrow: Ra's al Ghul's Daughter Nyssa Revealed!

Arrow has been exploring the DC Comics universe in increasingly notable and cool ways as it's progressed and Season 2 has seen multiple references to a major player in DC who's also familiar to all those who saw Christopher Nolan's Batman films - none other than Ra's al Ghul. Now, in the February 5th episode of Arrow, called "Heir to the Demon," we'll meet one of Ra's al Ghul's daughters, as Katrina Law (Spartacus) makes her debut on the series as Nyssa - and we've got the first photos.

In the comics, Nyssa is the half-sister to Talia al Ghul and known as Nyssa Raatko. Her comic book journey has included plotting to assassinate Superman with a kryptonite bullet, only to be thwarted by Batman, and becoming the co-head of the League of Assassins, alongside Talia. On next week's Arrow, Nyssa will be introduced as a member of the League of Assassins who want to draw Sara Lance/Canary (Caity Lotz) back into the fold. Sara isn't so agreeable however, leading to Nyssa upping the stakes and kidnapping someone close to Sara.

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League of Legends Now Has 27 Million Players Daily

As if its popularity weren't already well enough established, Riot Games has revealed League of Legends now sees upwards of 27 million players playing on a daily basis, according to the Wall Street Journal.

That's more than twice as many daily players as it had when Riot shared some of the game's impressive numbers in October 2012, when League was seeing 12 million players daily. At the time, its peak concurrent players sat around 3 million, a number that increased to 5 million by last March. Riot now says the game peaks at 7.5 million users playing at the same time.

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