POPULAR TABLE TOP GAME INSPIRES ANIMATED TV SHOW

Corvus Belli’s popular table top game Infinity, an intense wargame of counter-espionage set in a sci-fi, high-tech future universe, is the inspiration for a new animated television series courtesy of renowned producer/director Jay Oliva, the animator responsible for nine Warner Bros. films, including the two-part Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Produced by Lex+Otis Studios and TeamTO, the series – Infinity: Paradise Lost – features the vocal talents of Raffi Barsoumian (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Seal Team, The Code), Abubakr Ali (Grendel, Law & Order: Organized Crime), Emily O’Brien (Days of Our Lives, Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham), Nick E. Tarabay (Spartacus, Star Trek Into Darkness) and Roshelle Simpson (Gather by the Ghost Light). The show will feature an original score composed by Frederik Weidmann (Star Trek: Picard).

Infinity, the game and its animated series, finds mankind nearly 200 years into an alternate future where humanity has departed Earth and colonized multiple star systems. While there is a shared, albeit tense unity among these planetary factions, conflicts still exist as great nations attempt to maintain control of resources in order to further enhance their grip on power. Aliens are believed to have gone extinct in these star systems – until they begin to arrive. This is where Infinity begins.

“Most table top games are either big armies or smaller models, but Infinity is more like a skirmish game with tons of terrain, like you’re playing on a little diorama – and that visual side really drew me to the game and inspired the animation, Oliva communicated to ageekdaddy.com. There’s a cyberpunk aspect, but also a very Ghost in the Shell feel with holograms and futuristic weaponry. The influences include Dune and some classic sci-fi of the past. It all translated very easily to animation.”

Are you geeked to see a table top game being the basis for a new television show? The sci-fi wargame aspect of Infinity: Paradise Lost definitely has my interest piqued. For more interest about this upcoming science fiction tv series and the game sensation that inspired it, head over to infinitytheuniverse.com

PARTY AT THE SCIENCE CENTER

Science centers aren't just meant for just being used for school field trips. Leave the kids at home and have a fun outing at the Michigan Science Center's AFTER DARK party on Saturday, September 27 from 6 - 11 pm. The theme of this 21+ only event is THE MI-SCI GAMES. In honor of this summer's Olympic Games, attendees can compete against one another in racing through an inflatable obstacle course. The team from Hustle Flow Lab will be getting everyone warmed up providing exercise demonstrations and showing stretching techniques before people jump into the obstacle course. A fun way to get rid of some stress at the end of the work week with a light hearted workout.

If getting an aerobic workout isn't your thing, there are other games to play at this event. Quizzo will be hosting three trivia game sessions throughout the evening. Bring your Trivia A Game because these will be challenging to event the most seasoned bar trivia extraordinaire. Opal Grove Gaming will also be on hand to host people in playing some of today's most popular table top games. Table top games have seen a real resurgence since the COVID outbreak.

Plus, your ticket to the event provides access to all the museum has to offer, including the latest special exhibit, "Above & Beyond," planetarium shows, and an IMAX® Dome theater Laser Show. Sip on handcrafted cocktails, dance to the dynamic tunes of a live DJ from the Tod Everett Experience, and discover the excitement of exploring the museum's interactive exhibits. One free drink ticket is included with admission. 

Tickets are $45 per person. Click here to purchase tickets in advance online. For more information, go to mi-sci.org. If you love a good Halloween party, mark down on your calendar October 26 for the AFTER DARK: NIGHTMARE ON JOHN R STREET event at the Michigan Science Center. Their Halloween festivities are spooktacular. These AFTER DARK 21+ parties at the Science Center are a great way to have an educational and entertaining evening out on the town for kids at heart whether you are a single college student or parents looking for an out of the ordinary date night.

HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR 2024

Toy manufacturer Mattel made a stop on its HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR in the Motor City this weekend. Sponsored by Mobil 1 and Walmart, the event showcases real cars made to recreate the look of Hot Wheels and existing vehicles that served as the inspiration for being crafted into miniaturized diecast toy cars by Mattel. The HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR'S Motor City stop also had on display hotrods and other customized cars that local people could have judged to have their vehicles entered into a competition where the winner will be replicated into a 1:64 Hot Wheels diecast car that will be made available to add to toy collections. 

The Hot Wheels Bone Shaker hotrod was one of the most popular cars at the event. Every parent there was getting pictures of their children with this car. It really stood out!

Gearheads have to love the 1968 Corvette, the Midas Monkey, that Mattel commissioned Gas Monkey Garage to build. This car marked the first time that Hot Wheels had reached out to a tuner about building a car from scratch to be the inspiration for creating a diecast toy and used in promoting the brand. This is a sweet ride that any Gas Monkey fan will be geeked to get a close up look at.

My son's favorite car on display was an original Dodge Viper in mint condition. This is one of the few auto show concept cars that actually became a reality. Manufactured in Detroit the Dodge Viper is a great example of Motor City Muscle. It looks sleek and has the speed to match its appearance...a very nice ride!

My favorite car there was probably the least glamorous. A recreation of Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane's police car from the Dukes of Hazard television show. While most attendees weren't paying attention as they walked past it, I discovered the trunk was filled with autographs and memorabilia from the cast and crew of the Dukes of Hazard. I loved that show as a kid ... it was must see TV each week when a new episode aired! 

The next stops this summer on the HOT WHEELS LEGENDS TOUR are Chicago and Indianapolis before heading to Texas for some shows in September. Click here for more information about these events.

This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

SIXTH SCALE RECREATION OF ICONIC ARCADE FORTUNE TELLER MACHINE

Found at arcades, boardwalks, and carnivals, the animatronic mystic Zoltar predicting the future from his fortune teller booth has become beloved Americana. This cheesy yet iconic arcade fortune teller machine is a nostalgic reminder for many people of fun, carefree times on summer vacation gone by. From being a part of the Hollywood magic featured in the 1988 movie BIG to more recently being hyped by the Detroit Lions in a mockup featuring their personable coach Dan Campbell during the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, the Zoltar Fortune Teller has been entertaining people for years. Now thanks to New Wave Toys you can have your very own Zoltar Speaks Arcade Fortune Teller Machine to decorate your home or office.

New Wave Toys has crafted a sixth scale working replica of the classic Zoltar fortune teller. It includes all the same details and features of the arcade machines but at a fraction of the size & cost. Officially licensed by Characters Unlimited who own the trademark for Zoltar Speaks, this reproduction that stands 12.2" tall comes alive with animatronic mouth, eyes, and hand just like the original! Insert mini coins in this sixth scale Zoltar Speaks Replicade and it dispenses the same fortune card messages as the Characters Unlimited machines, just in a miniature format. While a full-sized Zoltar Speaks arcade machine sells for $9,400 dollars you can get yourself the New Wave Toys version for $150.

Features of the New Wave Toys Zoltar Speaks replica fortune teller arcade machine include:

• Accurate Replica of Deluxe Zoltar Speaks in 1/6 Scale (12.2in tall) 
• Fully Animated Head, Eyes & Arm 
• Mini-Coin Operated & Free Play Button Activated 
• Speaks All 16x Recorded Messages from the original Zoltar Speaks
•  Fortune Card Dispenser with All 55x Fortune messages from the original Zoltar Speaks
•  Included Attract Mode 
• Hand Painted & Quality Built with Premium Materials 
• Reproduction LED Cabinet Lighting Featuring Multi Color Changing Ball 
• 100-Day New Wave Factory Warranty

Are you ready to get your fortune told? This Zoltar Replicade LOOKS, SOUNDS, and WORKS like the World Famous Zoltar Speaks Fortune Teller Machine from Characters Unlimited. If you want one don't hesitate to buy it because these are sure to sell out just like the New Wave Toys arcade video game cabinet replicas do. I need to get one to go along with the Dragons Lair and 1943 video game Replicades I have in my shelfcade. Now if only they'd make a Dan Campbell Grit & Glory Fortune Teller Replicade for us Lions fans!

This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

DC SUPER HEROES UNITED

My family has had a lot of fun playing the tabletop role playing game collaboration from CMON and Spinmaster Games called MARVEL UNITED. There are a variety of box sets for this game system ranging from an Avengers themed core box to expansion sets focused on Spider-Man, Black Panther, Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy and the X-Men. We've had family game nights recreating battles from television shows like Netflix's "Defenders", Disney+ "She-Hulk", Disney+ "Ms. Marvel" and Marvel Cinematic Universe movies including Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania with the Marvel United gaming system. Now CMON and Spinmaster Games are expanding on the format by launching a DC SUPER HEROES UNITED variation of the game.

From now through July 31, 2024 they are crowdfunding the publishing of the game via Gamefound. Those who purchase the game through the crowdfunding campaign will have access to obtaining exclusive characters and game play accessories that won't be available when DC SUPER HEROES UNITED eventually becomes available from retail stores. Purchasing the game from retail will be slightly less expensive than the crowdsourcing route but doesn't include the extras, like a bonus box full of playable heroes and villains, that are going to be only available through investing in the Gamefound campaign. Most of the customized game scenarios I've played have involved characters obtained as rewards in crowdfunding campaigns; so I'll probably be making a pledge to get DC SUPER HEROES UNITED during this current Gamefound campaign. 

In DC SUPER HEROES UNITED, one to five players team up to take on the roles of Aquaman, Batman, Cyborg, The Flash, Wonder Woman and Superman to tackle the master plan of a villain. Villains included with these heroes in the core set that can be the super heroes adversaries include Lex Luther, the Joker, Darkseid and Cheetah. A comic book story is played out by utilizing decks of cards to complete goals and engage in combat.

Villains and heroes alternate adding their cards to the storyline. Heroes work together to coordinate strategies and attacks while villains are managed by an AI system of rules to compete with players. In the spirit of cooperation and teamwork that is necessary for players to win the game, a player not only can use the designated action moves on a card they played but also those posted on the card a teammate used just before them. 

The game isn't just a fight with the big bad guy though. Your team must overcome challenges before you can confront the primary villain of a game head on. Rescue civilians, defeat thugs, and eliminate threats. Then the battle really heats up! Fighting the boss villain is no push over but if it was the game wouldn't be that fun to play would it.

The game is recommended for ages 14+ but I've played it with my kids when they were twelve. It is a nice family game because parents and kids can equally enjoy the game and have fun playing together. An average game doesn't take all night either but can be played in around a half hour with minimal setup time. From my experiences with the Marvel United games, I absolutely recommend you check out DC SUPER HEROES UNITED either via the Gamefound campaign or when the game hits retail store shelves.

If you haven't participated in a tabletop gaming crowdfunding campaign, heed this word of warning. They will be heavily marketing the campaign using awesome looking images of the game pieces painted by very talented professional artists. The game pieces come unpainted. While there are numerous disclaimers about the game pieces not being painted it is impossible not to become captivated by their marketing images. In reality you will either be playing the game with unpainted pieces or paint them yourself with results that will be nowhere as nice as what you see promoted in the campaign. Be careful not to get hooked in to making purchases based upon awesome imagery that you most likely won't be able to replicate. Just saying!

This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES HOME VIDEO RELEASE DATES

When I saw 20th Century Studios' Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on the big screen back in May, found this science fiction flick to be visually stunning highlighting the extraordinary evolution of CGI compared to physical props of original 1968 Planet of the Apes movie that kicked off the franchise. So, I was geeked when the studio provided me with the 4K digital edition of the movie to promote the film's home entertainment video release. What a wonderful day that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was released today (July 9, 2024) in digital format on major online platforms including Movies Anywhere, Apple TV, Fandango at Home [formerly Vudu] and Prime Video to add to your home entertainment video library. Fans of physical media will also delight in knowing that it will be available in 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD with a home video release date for those formats of August 27.

Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise with this action- adventure spectacle. Set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, apes are living harmoniously as the dominant species — and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America [MPAA] and has a runtime of 145 minutes (2 hours and 25 minutes).

Bonus content included with the home video release of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes includes the following:

• Inside the Forbidden Zone: Making Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Join director Wes Ball, cast and crew as they expand the Planet of the Apes legacy for a new generation. Travel to the outdoor production in Australia, train at Ape School, and discover the practical and motion capture techniques in building a breathtaking Kingdom. 
• 14 Deleted/Extended Scenes with optional audio commentary by director Wes Ball *Bonus features may vary by product and retailer

Additionally, the 4K home video formats include “Inside the Lens: The Raw Cut,” a full-length alternative cut with a split-screen comparison between the final cut of the film and a version with unfinished VFX with optional audio commentary by director Wes Ball, editor Dan Zimmerman and VFX supervisor Erik Winquist. The never- before-seen alternate cut gives fans a unique opportunity to see the actors’ performances before the visual effects were completed.

A collectible limited edition SteelBook® with custom artwork by artist Dylan Cole will be available in the 4K Ultra HD disc format. For those people who haven't seen the previous films in the franchise there will be a special Planet of the Apes 10 film bundle available for $100 on Digital at select retailers. 

Certified FRESH by Rotten Tomatoes, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes swinging into homes will make for some entertaining family movie nights. The film has earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval for its cutting edge special effects that transport you into a realm of Hollywood magic providing a fun sci-fi adventure romp through the Planet of the Apes.

HARD BARGAIN GRAPHIC NOVEL KICKSTARTER

A Kickstarter campaign launched today that will run through July 25, 2024 to support the publishing of a supernatural thriller themed graphic novel written by Steven S. DeKnight and illustrated by Leno Carvalho. HARD BARGAIN follows a hard-boiled P.I. in 1940s Los Angeles who finds himself fighting not only the usual cadre of criminals and ne’er-do-wells—but also demons, monsters, and other malevolent supernatural beings—as he races to solve a deadly mystery before a horrific fate descends upon everyone it touches. Pledges range from $15 for a digital edition of the graphic novel to $140 for a printed collectors edition signed by DeKnight and Carvalho. 

Battling the forces of darkness is another day at the office for Frank Harding, P.I.—but his current case may just be the one that puts Frank out of business for good. As he investigates a case deeply connected to his own murky past—as well as L.A.’s all-too-real history of prejudice and discrimination—Harding is forced to reckon with the fact that the sins of one generation will always be paid for by the next. Combining the appeal of classic noir crime storytelling with a well-wrought fantasy world of monsters and magic, HARD BARGAIN pairs DeKnight's crackerjack storytelling with Carvalho's dynamic visuals to build a fast-paced, hard-boiled thriller that simultaneously reckons with the dark underbelly of bigotry, violence and revenge haunting gritty Los Angeles.

DeKnight got his start in the entertainment industry as a staff writer on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer before going on to write, direct, and produce on the series Angel, Smallville, and Dollhouse. He also was the executive producer and showrunner of season one of the Marvel/Netflix series Daredevil. DeKnight has also written Wastelanders comics for Marvel.

Leno Carvalho is a Brazilian comic artist and illustrator best known for his realistic and detailed style. Throughout his career, Carvalho has worked with many publishers on series such as Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special at DC Comics, Dean Koontz’s Nevermore and Bionic Woman at Dynamite Comics, The Rift at Red 5 Comics and Crusaders at Soleil, as well as The Source at Scout Comics.