Dissecting Worlds: New Year Honour List

It’s that time of year when the Dissecting World duo decide who to send the 50 foot high orichalcum statues of the Dissecting Worlds Coat of Arms to based on their best cultural experiences of the year….

I say that, it’s not like we’ve done it before, or have a massive supply of the ancient metals of the Atlanteans. Because we can’t agree on anything there are two awards in each category:

VOICES FROM THE SYNDICATE: What Was the Best Thing of 2011?

2011 has been a amazing year for all things geek ranging from books, movies and tv shows to conventions, games, comics and gadgets. But what was the best part of the year?

We asked the Geek Syndicate team what they thought and one thing that everyone agreed on is that 2011 was a great geek year and that 2012 can only get better.

Gaikai Cloud Game Streaming Service Launches

Gamers are invited to sample best-selling titles without leaving their web browser! Eurogamer Network Ltd, Europe’s leading independent media specialist, have announced that visitors to Eurogamer.net can now play games on the website using innovative cloud-based game streaming service Gaikai.

A selection of best-selling titles from leading publishers are now available to play with more to follow over the coming months. Gamers can play them instantly through their web browser at http://www.eurogamer.net/gaikai.

Marvel Comics vs The X-Men’s Rights

In the Marvel Universe there are evil sections of the Government that want us to believe that the mutant population are less than human and are not entitled to the same rights as us. Well I have some bad news for you all!

The guys at Marvel are now part of this evil collection of mutant haters and the Government are the ones trying to defend the mutants rights.

A tax law in the US states that if you are importing “Dolls” (representative of a human being i.e Barbies) then you pay 12% tax. However, if you are importing a “Toy” (anything else, i.e a dinosaur toy) you only pay 6.8% tax. It seems that if you are a multi-million dollar company that imports millions of dolls then you could save a hell of a lot of money if you could convince  the US government that your “Dolls” are in fact ”Toys”.

For the sake of a few million dollars in tax payments, Marvel are willing to deny the X-men and the rest of the mutant population the basic equal rights that the rest of us humans enjoy. For the full story check out this informative podcast (with comments by Bryan Singer)

Source: Radio Lab
GS Reporter: Matt

Sony Confirms Prices for European PS Vita Games & Memory Card

Sony has confirmed official RRPs for both the first wave of Vita games and the system’s proprietary memory cards. As detailed on the EU PlayStation Blog, the following first party launch titles are priced as follows:

Anarchy Books Announce Free Book Promotion

Christmas Day may be over but it seems that no one has told the guys over at Anarchy Books who are running a free book deal for Kindle owners. According to GS Member Phil there are some gems to be added almost the collection, namely Monstrocity by Jeffrey Thomas and Serial Killers Inc by Andy Remic. Check out the press release below for more information!

The Next Level – Episode 39

 Jingle bells, jingles bells, jingle all the way……Merry Christmas everyone. It’s the final episode of the Next Level for 2011 and three Stooges….

I mean three great hosts come together in this bumper episode to talk about the games we plan on spending our long Christmas holiday break playing.

We also debate the ethics of cheating in gaming. Are there acceptable levels of cheating?

BOOK REVIEW: The Hammer Vault

Titan release their latest Vault book and this time it is focused on Hammer films.

POLL: What Was Your Favorite Episode of Merlin Series 4?

The end of Merlin‘s 4th series has come and gone…for the United Kingdom at least!

Set to premiere on the US’ Syfy January 6th at 10PM, my personal favorites are in a two-way tie: The Wicked Day (4.03) and A Servant of Two Masters (4.06). In my opinion, both of these had the best plot and acting from its lead actors, Colin Morgan and Bradley James, but there were stand out moments every week, so curious to see what you all think!

What episode is the one that you’ll be telling your friends across the pond to tune in for? Which had your favorite moments? Vote in the poll below:

Attend the Premiere Screening of Justice League: Doom!

Leading up to the DVD release on February 28th, Warner Home Video & MTV Geek are hosting the World Premiere of JUSTICE LEAGUE: DOOM on February 13, 2012 in New York at The Paley Center for Media…and YOU could attend! Members of the voice cast as well as the filmmakers will be there for a post-screening panel discussion.

A limited number of free tickets are available for the general public. Fans in the New York City area wishing to receive free tickets to the NY event on Feb. 13 must RSVP via email to JLDoomNY@yahoo.com. Fans should include their first and last name and a valid email address.*

Written by the late Dwayne McDuffie, produced by the filmmaking team of Bruce Timm, Lauren Montgomery, Alan Burnett, Andrea Romano and the voices of Nathan Fillion, Tim Daly, Michael Rosenbaum, Alexis Denisof, Phil Morris and more, Justice League: Doom finds Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg and Batman on their heels when a team of super villains discover and implement the Dark Knight’s “contingency plans” for stopping any rogue Justice League member. The story is inspired by Mark Waid’s much-heralded “JLA: Tower of Babel.”

* Tickets to the event will be distributed on a “first come, first served” basis. MTV Geek will also be giving away special seating for the event.

Source: Warner Brothers
GS Reporter: Sharlene

COMIC REVIEW: Thorgal Vol 11: The Invisible Fortress (Cinebook Review #8)

We’re back exploring the alternative comics scene early, rolling a critical eye over the French and Belgian trades translated for us by Cinebook. I couldn’t wait until the New Year; I mean, there was this pile of trades just sitting there so I devoured Thorgal on Christmas Day between opening presents, shoving food down my throat and teetering on the edge of family arguments.  You should always, always have a book you can bury your face in when things get tense.  If it happens to contain a bit of nudity and violence then even better – just don’t let your gran see it.

TV REVIEW: Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe

What’s It About?

After a chance meeting before World War Two, The Doctor finds himself wanting to pay back the woman who helped him find his TARDIS. During the war, the Doctor prepares a surprise for her and her two children, planning to take them into a magical wintry world.

Star Wars: The Old Republic Off To A Great Start!

Star wars the old republic has been up and running foe over a week now and they are breaking records left and right already! Check out this press release for details!

And don’t forget to checkout the official Geek Syndicate Guild on the Hidden Beks PVE server!

REDWOOD CITY, Calif – December 22, 2011 – BioWare™, a Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), launched Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ on Tuesday, and already fan engagement is setting new standards for an MMO game launch. Star Wars: The Old Republic is the fastest-growing subscription MMO in history, with more than one million registered players since launching on December 20th. BioWare and EA will continue to steadily pulse players into the game through the holiday and into 2012 by limiting supply, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all while further growing the community. Fan reaction has been extremely positive, with the first wave of players posting impressive play-time feats after having been granted Early Game Access and playing up to seven days before launch. To date, players have:

• Logged 28 million in-game hours – roughly equivalent to watching all six Star Wars movies, two million times
• Averaged well over five hours a day playing the game
• Created more than 3.8 million characters; 510,000 Jedi Knights and 550,000 Sith Warriors
• Killed more than 2 billion non-player characters in the eight days since Early Game Access began

TV REVIEW: Merlin Series 4, Episode 13 – The Sword in the Stone (Pt 2)

In the last chapter of The Sword and the Stone, Merlin, Arthur & Co are still running for their lives from Agravaine, acting on orders from Morgana. They escape his clutches but faced with yet another betrayal and barbs from strangers, he loses faith in himself. Merlin knows that a saddened king will not be able to take back his kingdom so he sets out to prove that Arthur was born to rule.

While there were a few things that had me questioning the writers, the visually stunning pivotal moment this episode is named for makes up for it: it’s beautifully done and acted as such by Colin Morgan and Bradley James. For every iteration of Arthurian legend that has come out recently, there are no other actors more suited to these roles than those two. I think everyone will find something to love. Happy Holidays Merlin fans!

Cinebook Reviews: 2012 Preview

Christmas has come early in my house because I’ve had a bunch more trades come unexpectedly through the post.  For those who missed my previous series of Cinebook Reviews, I’m exploring the world of French and Belgian comics as a credible and inexpensive alternative to the dominating forces of Marvel/DC.