Link roundup

1. Looks like the next set of Happy Meal toys will be some totally lackluster Clone Wars toys. Via.

2. Night vision contact lenses. Via.

3. "Noir Afloat" - - vintage photos of the gambling boats that used to float just past three miles from the shore of Santa Monica and San Pedro.

*Buy Happy Meal toys at eBay.

The Old Republic: Alderaan trailer

The latest trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic shows off a mission on Alderaan. Via.

Link roundup

1. Robin Hanson:

Yes, maybe homework helps kids to learn things that their tests do not test. But more likely, homework functions to get kids used to doing a lot of work, in preparation for their future industry era jobs. Learning seems secondary.

2. Elephant and rhino playing tag.

3. Tie Fighter helmet.

Link roundup

1. Chad Ford on the NBA draft:

The process is now both bigger and more impersonal. The more money teams spend, the more they believe they have a competitive advantage by hiding information from others. In 2001 I could get five GMs in a room to talk in detail about prospects (Jerry Krause excluded). Now … good luck. And the result? Despite all the innovations, teams are getting worse, not better, at making draft picks.

Between 1990 and 1999, 37 percent of all lottery picks turned out to be All-Stars. 31 percent were busts.

This decade, just 21 percent of all lottery picks have turned into All-Stars, while a whopping 42 percent are draft busts.

2. Team Fortress 2 is now free to play.

3. San Diego Padres pitcher Evan Scribner wearing a Yoda backpack. (Bottom of the page.)

Bioshock Infinite gives a shout out to Star Wars

The latest Bioshock Infinite developer diary shows off the game mechanic that lets the busty heroine interact with alternate realities. Via.

*Buy Bioshock posters at eBay.

Link roundup

1. Cookies N’ Cream Cake recipe.

2. Mike Krahulik's positive comments about playing The Old Republic for a month.

3. Signalnoise logo desktop and iPhone wallpapers.

Illustration roundup

Dementor by Tony Lombardo for Gallery Nucleus's upcoming Harry Potter show.




Prints of Myke Amend's steampunk Boba Fett now available for purchase.




Man's Ruin by Tom Bagshaw for the Vices show at London Miles Gallery.




Barnabas Collins commission by Farel Dalrymple.




Twister circa 1966.

*Buy Dementors at eBay.

A love letter to Blur and its artists

It's pretty obvious at this point that just about every great video game trailer is by Blur, including the Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City trailer I posted a few days ago.

In fact, I mentioned Prey 2 the other day, but haven't posted the terrific trailer for the game, which of course was also made by Blur. Think Blade Runner meets The Fifth Element (with a little adult language), set to a country western version of Soundgarden's Rusty Cage:



Blur's so good that the studio does little to nothing to promote itself, letting the work speak for it. And the Blur artists that even have personal websites have websites that are well out of date. That being said, here's a look at few of the people responsible for Blur's great work.

Shaun Absher's work includes modeling the Sith Inquisitor for The Old Republic opening cinematic and Batman for the DC Universe Online trailers. Since I've already posted those, here's something he created for fun:




Joshua James also worked on the Old Republic and DCU trailers (and created the tattoo for the The Girl With the Dragon tattoo):





Toni Bratincevic has posted images from some of his older projects for Blur including Force Unleashed (and also has prints from personal projects on sale):





Eric Durante worked on the trailers for The Goon, RE, Bioshock Infinite, and more. Here's a look a gladiator he created for a personal project:





Jason Martin was the character lead on the Resident Evil trailer and has also teased some Tyger Guard characters from Arkham City (see the latest trailer here):





Alessandro Baldasseroni has posted some of the models he created for ToR, The Goon, and Force Unleashed (you can watch the trailers here):






Heikki Anttila has posted several images from TFU and ToR:

Illustration roundup

Clay Mann posted several convention sketches.




Ice Queen by Natasha Allegri.




The Mantra Waterfall by John Brophy for a show at Roq La Rue. Via.




Harry Potter by Tang Heng for the upcoming show at Gallery Nucleus.



Hobo Mon Calamari by Adam Koford.

*Buy Deathstroke toys at Entertainment Earth.

Star Wars postcards

Kotaku posted several Star Wars postcards found at E3.

*Buy bang guns at eBay.

Han in carbonite paper toy

Han Solo in carbonite paper toy available for download.

*Buy carbonite toys at eBay.

Papercraft Boba Fett

Boba Fett paper toy available for download.

Dark Horse Comics: Best Covers for September 2011

Dark Horse Comics solicitations for September 2011 feature several great covers:



Covers by Francesco Francavilla and Dave Johnson for Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest #1. Both are 20% off at TFAW.



Cover by Mike Mignola for Baltimore: The Curse Bells #2. 20% off at TFAW.



Dark Horse Presents #4 cover by Geoff Darrow. Three different cover versions 20% off at TFAW.



Fear Agent #31 cover by Tony Moore. 20% off at TFAW.



Rage: After the Impact TPB cover by Stephan Martinere.



And I love that Maris Wicks stars in so many of Joe Quinones's illustrations:




Issues of Star Wars: Knight Errant are 10-20% off at TFAW.

Your daily dose of Star Wars: The Old Republic

11 minutes of a Sith Sorcerer on a mission on Tatooine.

Star Wars: The Old Republic gameplay video

This video shows a Sith raid on "The Eternity Vault" in The Old Republic. Via.

A trailer for those peripherals for The Old Republic

I didn't realize there was a trailer for those ridiculously expensive mice and keyboards by Razer for The Old Republic. There's a giveaway, too. RPS puts it well:

it’s not like I can tell you whether they’re any good. They’ve only just been announced. But they’re certainly the most ludicrous bits of kit I’ve seen in a while, so top marks there.

Maybe the next gen will have a hologram projector.

Star Wars: The Old Republic wallpapers

I meant to post this last night, but Blogger's image uploader wasn't working - - I cropped some wallpaper-sized stills featuring Darth Malgus and his master from The Old Republic's cinematic opening.

*Buy KOTOR toys at eBay.

Ridiculously expensive peripherals for The Old Republic

About the Star Wars: The Old Republic Gaming Keyboard by Razer

A first for the world of gaming technology, the Star Wars: The Old Republic Gaming Keyboard by Razer features a full-color highly sensitive multi-touch LCD panel, and incorporates ten adaptive tactile keys, providing more room for easily accessible skills, hotkeys, and macros. Plus, you can convert the entire keyboard from alpha-numeric to Aurebesh!

The interchangeable gold backlit faction symbols let you showcase your allegiance with the Galactic Republic or the Sith Empire. The Force is with you in this ultimate tool for intergalactic domination.

Product features:
· Touch-sensitive LCD track-panel for better control and efficient skills management
· Ten dynamic adaptive tactile keys for customizable controls
· Gold backlit keys with slim key caps for faster actuation and shorter travel distance
· Fully programmable keys and on-the-fly macro recording
· Adjustable multi-color LED (Up to 16 million colors)
· 1000Hz Ultrapolling/1ms response time
· Braided 7 foot USB cable

Price: US $199.99 / EU €199.99

About the Star Wars: The Old Republic Gaming Headset by Razer

With the Star Wars: The Old Republic Gaming Headset by Razer, your total immersion into the game is complete. Featuring 5.1 surround sound so you can hear everything around you in absolute clarity. With positional audio, get the tactical aural advantage to prevent backstabs and react to enemy attacks no matter where you hear them. It comes with interchangeable Sith Empire and Galactic Republic faction symbols to emblazon your headset with the symbol of your allegiance.

Product features:
· 5.1 surround sound headset for positional audio
· Circumaural design with 50mm driver units
· Flexible boom microphone
· Interchangeable faction panels
· Adjustable multi-color LED (Up to 16 million colors)
· Volume and mic control buttons on the headset
· Adjustable headband structure for optimal comfort

Price: US $129.99 / EU €129.99

About the Star Wars: The Old Republic Gaming Mouse by Razer

Wield the Force with the Star Wars: The Old Republic Gaming Mouse by Razer, featuring gaming-grade wireless technology for complete swiping freedom and a fully programmable twelve button MMO thumb-grid for more skills at your fingertips. It also comes with interchangeable faction symbols and multi-color lighting so you can annihilate all those who oppose you with pride and in style.

Product features:
· 17 fully programmable MMO-optimized buttons (including 12 button thumb grid)
· Wired/wireless dual mode capability
· Interchangeable gold-backlit faction panels
· Charging dock (also functions as a wireless receiver unit)
· Adjustable multi-color LED (Up to 16 million colors)
· 5600dpi Razer precision 3.5G laser sensor
· 1000Hz Ultrapolling/1ms response time

Price: US $129.99 / EU €129.99

About the Star Wars: The Old Republic Gaming Mouse Mat by Razer

Every war has two sides, and to be victorious, you'll have to choose. With the Star Wars: The Old Republic Gaming Mouse Mat by Razer, experience enhanced swiping and unparalleled precision thanks to performance-grade tracking surfaces on both sides. One represents the might of the Sith Empire, the other the splendor of the Galactic Republic, so you'll always be gaming under the right banner with pride.

Product features:
· Dual-sided mouse mat to display different faction choices
· Performance-grade hard surfaces for smoother mouse swiping
· Non-slip, anti-reflective, abrasion-resistant hard coating

Price: US $49.99 / EU €49.99

Via.