Fun Friday: An Arrested Development Video Game

Now that Arrested Development's fourth season has been out for months, you've certainly had time to watch the fifteen episodes, right? So spoilers are no longer a problem? Not that it matters too much, as the greatest recurrent themes about the characters came out long before the Netflix resurrection of the comedy.

Someone on the internet has come up with a fake game called Bluth Fighter and joking about Boyfights, the series of tapes that George Sr. did of his sons as children. It's only a short clip and just a few characters can be seen, but the likenesses are great, the mannerisms are spot-on, and the jokes are themed well. GOB does magic and uses a segway, Tobias is covered in blue paint and has a Carl Weathers tag-out, and even Tony Wonder being a playable character. I never really got into fighting games, though my brother and I did enjoy a WCW arcade game years ago.
What do you think? Would you play this game if it was real? Buy it?

Photo Recapping 2013 Comic-Con: Vehicles

"Vehicles" may sound like a strange category for a photo recap, but, trust me and the 130,000 people who were at Comic-Con, it's not. In fact, the variety of vehicles is rather extreme, from pedicabs to sports cars to ships. Below is a smattering of the different modes of transportation that we spotted this year! make sure to scroll down toward the bottom to see all of the superhero cars!

Once Upon a Time's third season, set in Neverland, decked out some pedicabs! Amy K. Bredemeyer

a front shot of the Once Upon a Time pedicab, complete with costumed bicyclists! Jonathan Bredemeyer

Hell on Wheels customized the light rail that goes right by the Convention Center! Jonathan Bredemeyer

Revolution decided to dress-up a shuttle bus! Jonathan Bredemeyer

another post-apocalyptic drama, Falling Skies had a bus of its own at an off-site activity rally! Jonathan Bredemeyer

Scooby-Doo is the passenger in this van! Amy Bredemeyer

inside Nerd HQ, they had their own promotion vehicle! Jonathan Bredemeyer

Superman had his car in blue, of course. Jonathan Bredemeyer

I loved the Justice League SUV, especially the individual headrests! Jonathan Bredemeyer

another group car shot! Jonathan Bredemeyer

a new-age Batmobile. Jonathan Bredemeyer

Green Lantern's color scheme caught me by surprise! Jonathan Bredemeyer

who could forget Aquaman? Jonathan Bredemeyer

last but not least, Flash! Jonathan Bredemeyer

the Jackdaw from Assassin's Creed IV. even video games got into the action! Jonathan Bredemeyer

a different kind of ship... this one was for a relay race of sorts that began at Skywalker
Ranch and went all the way to Comic-Con! Jonathan Bredemeyer

last but not least, and it may be the largest stretch of the definition of "vehicle,"
but here's the Despicable Me 2 blimp! Jonathan Bredemeyer

It is difficult to select a favorite, but I have to say that I really liked the pedicabs in comparison to years past, and the train really looked neat in the old-timey facade. We had also seen the Despicable Me blimp before (in San Francisco), but my sister asked for a picture so we snapped a few when it appeared. I think the ships were the most surprising, as there were a couple of others, too. In fact, it was surprising how often "nautical" came up this Con! More pictures coming soon!

Photo Recapping 2013 Comic-Con: Gaming

checking out the DuckTales game for xbox! photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

If you've met me in real life, you probably know that I really enjoy board games. I grew up playing them constantly with family, neighbors, and friends, and, after grad school, I've been part of several groups that get together on a regular basis to play. I also enjoy video games, though I don't really carve out too much time for those anymore. Still, I made time for both during Comic-Con and had a wonderful time doing so! Check out some of my adventures! The one above is me completely mesmerized by how beautiful the new DuckTales game is!

Over at Dick's Last Resort, an off-site event,
"Break Invaders," had world records being
attempted on several games, including "Fix It
Felix Jr." photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

Over at Dick's Last Resort, an off-site event,
"Break Invaders," had world records being
attempted on several games, including "Fix It
Felix Jr." photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

Over at Dick's Last Resort, an off-site event, "Break Invaders,"
had world records being attempted on several games, including
"Fix It Felix Jr." photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

this is what the Ps4 looks like! photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

near the DuckTales game, there was a bin set up of Scrooge's (stuffed) gold! photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

it looks SO different from the NES game! but SO awesome! by Amy K. Bredemeyer

the week before Comic-Con, Jonathan, our friend Jim, and I played a game of Settlers of Catan
so I could get an "action shot" for a contest. (take a closer look at my shirt!) this is the picture I
submitted... which, along with a short essay, won me a slot in the tournament! photo by Jim

near the end of the game. it's Star Trek Catan, which is really a nice adaptation! I didn't win,
but still got some great swag! photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

the winner from each game played in a finale with Wil Wheaton, who kicked butt. photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

At past Comic-Cons, I haven't really made time for games, and, honestly, for off-site events. This year we went to two parties and a few other off-site events, including the above tournament, and a screening for Black Sails, though we were too tired to stay by the time we learned we'd be seeing an 11:30pm screening instead of an 8pm! But, this about wraps up the gaming. Stay tuned for more photo recaps of Comic-Con!

Photo Recapping 2013 Comic-Con: The Costumes

Friday: me with Vanellope and Fix-It Felix! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Though we did do daily wrap-ups of the excitement that is San Diego Comic-Con (follow everything here), there's still so much more to share and say! I have at least six articles in the works (ranging from recaps and quotes to advance pilot reviews and analytical nitpicks) but I wanted to share some of the fantastic photos that were captured during the event. This is the second year that TheTalkingBox has had a separate photographer at the convention, and most of the images will be credited to him, though there are some that I took with my boring phone because I was in the right place at the right time! Of course, this only reinforces the idea that one person's cosplay interest is not another's, but hopefully you'll find something you enjoy amongst the two dozen selections below! So, without further ado, let's take a look:

Thursday: Wolverine, Batman, and Iron Man meet. At first I thought that
WAS Hugh Jackman! but he's not big enough. by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Thursday: Link sits in line. by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Thursday: a group of something! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Thursday: a group of superwomen! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Friday: probably the coolest mask I saw all SDCC! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Friday: Jessica Rabbit! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Saturday: a kid meets Iron Man AND Bumblebee! by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Saturday: a rare shot of half of the Rescue Rangers!
Gadget & Dale! by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Saturday: Ninja Turtles vs. Ghostbusters in a battle from the 80s! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Saturday: Princesses and their Plumbers. by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Sunday: an incredibly impressive Edward Scissorshands.
by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: toads and princesses come in all
shapes and sizes! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: The one and only Dick Tracy! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: you gotta watch some battling! They're so intense! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: I don't know what these are but they match!
by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: Sleepy Hollow's Headless Horseman. by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: Talk about attention to detail! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: so life-like I stopped in my tracks! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: Up characters were a popular this year! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: Wreck-It Ralph! by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Sunday: Another Wreck-It Ralph! by Jonathan Bredemeyer

Sunday: Wreck-It Ralph's Vanellope von Schweetz in
both forms: racer AND princess!! by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Sunday: Alvin, of The Chipmunks. by Jonathan Bredemeyer

There were thousands of other costumes, of course, but we couldn't capture all of them, nor were all the shots that great, thanks to other people always trying to get the same picture. Plus, we've all seen stormtroopers and wookies before, so I didn't include those, although we have them! Stay tuned for more Comic-Con articles and photo recaps to come!