SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS

 ** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

The newest installment of the popular children's video game franchise SKYLANDERS® arrived on store shelves this week!  Toys for Bob, the company that develops SKYLANDERS for distribution by Activision Publishing Inc., annually introduces new characters and elements to expand upon the game play continuously making it bigger and better than the previous installments. SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS allows players to unleash their imaginations like never before by for the first time giving them the power to customize and create their very own Skylander that can be played as a primary character in an all-new adventure that features compelling storylines, puzzles, battles, and a new lineup of heroes and villains.

Portal Masters, as SKYLANDERS players are known as, can utilize the game's Skylander Creator option to design their own personalized characters with an  extraordinary amount of options for available powers, abilities, catchphrases, appearances, and much more.  The make your own Skylander characters, which are called Imaginators, can be saved on Creation Crystals.  A Creation Crystal comes with the SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS starter pack and additional ones can be purchased separately.  Players can create one Imaginator character per Creation Crystal.

SKYLANDERS hasn't abandoned its Toys-to-Life figures, that have always been a sensation with fans of the video game franchise, for Creation Crystals though.  The game will also feature a variety of toy-to-life figures for a new character class called Senseis, that like the Creation Crystals, can be purchased separately from the SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS starter pack and incorporated into game play as primary characters.  Each Sensei is a master of one of 10 powerful Battle Classes (e.g., Knight, Sorcerer, Brawler and more). Being the master of these Battle Classes, only Senseis have the ability to unleash Sky-Chi – the ultimate Battle Class super move. Skylanders Senseis have a master-to-apprentice relationship with newly created Imaginator Skylanders. This is supported in-game through the Sensei unlocking of unique Imaginator weapons, the increase of Imaginator level caps, providing access to special areas in the game, as well as the unlocking of new Secret Techniques for Imaginators of the same class.



Skylanders Senseis include 20 new characters and 11 former villains, including Kaos and the return of Crash Bandicoot and Dr. Neo Cortex.  SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS also has an all-new Crash Bandicoot-inspired level -- Thumpin’ Wumpa Islands -- which is steeped in nostalgic gameplay that will be appealing, especially to moms and dads who many were probably kids themselves when Badicoot first appeared in a video game, for getting the whole family interested in playing together.  Thumpin’ Wumpa Islands is packed with TNT boxes, crabs, hazards, temple ruins, Wumpa Fruit, exploding crates and more. It also includes special Crash Zones that bring back the classic massive boulder chases from the original Crash games. The Thumpin’ Wumpa Islands level will be available to players who purchase the SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS Starter Pack featuring Crash Bandicoot for PlayStation consoles at launch and will be available as an add-on adventure pack for everyone else available during the holiday shopping season.

 This incredible box just arrived at our house! Activision generously sent A Geek Daddy a SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS starter pack along with a great selection of Senseis and Creation Crystals for my kids to have fun playing with. To say my kids are enthusiastic to start playing the new SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS video game would be an understatement!

SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS is compatible with PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Nintendo Wii U. Parents who have purchased toys-to-life figures for previous editions of the game will also be pleased to know SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS supports the 300+ character toys from all previous Skylanders games -- including Skylanders SuperChargers, Skylanders Trap Team, Skylanders SWAP Force, Skylanders Giants and Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure -- that kids can enjoy both as toys to play with in the real-world as well as characters they can use in the virtual game world.



For more information, please visit skylanders.com

DOCTOR STRANGE TRAILER & MOVIE POSTER

I've enjoyed following the adventures of Doctor Strange ever since flipping through the pages of Marvel's THE DEFENDERS comic books as a kid.  In these comics, the mystic wizard Doctor Strange led a super powered team consisting of the Incredible Hulk, Namor, the Silver Surfer, and a female Asgardian named Valkyrie, who could give Thor a run for his money in a duel, that took on extraterrestrial and supernatural threats to the Earth.  So I'm really excited that Disney's Marvel Studios is releasing an origin story movie featuring the Sorcerer Supreme that will arrive on November 4, 2016 at movie theaters across the United States.

The movie will tell the story of how Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange transforms from being a brilliant surgeon to becoming the world's Sorcerer Supreme after a tragic car accident ruins his medical career.  Doctor Strange travels the globe looking for a cure to restore his damaged hands from the car accident and while traversing through Asia encounters the Ancient One who teaches him to be a master of the mystical and martial arts.  Doctor Strange uses his new talents to take up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme setting up residence in a New York City mansion he calls the Sanctum Sanctorum and focusing his life on defending the world from dark magic, demonic intrusions and super villains.

Marvel Studios has just released a new trailer and movie poster to help build excitement for the movie.  Check them out below!



By the Flames of the Faltine!  Nobody is going to need to conjure up a spell to enchant me into going to this movie, I'm raring to go!  If you are as excited about going to see this movie as I am, or have no clue who this comic book character is and want to learn more, visit the official Marvel website or follow the movie's social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter for updates on DOCTOR STRANGE.

INJUSTICE 2 Super Hero Video Game Arriving In 2017

For fans of DC Comics super heroes, 2013's INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US from NetherRealm Studios is one of the most action packed and immersive video game experiences to date allowing players to engage in combative competitions featuring these characters.  Similar to the dream sequence shown in the recent Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice movie this fighting game also has Batman battling Superman in a dystopian future  INJUSTICE takes place in an alternate reality from the primary DC Comics fictional universe where the Joker has tricked Superman into killing Lois Lane and their unborn child.  Fueled with grief, Superman becomes a dictator over the world ruling the planet as its High Councillor imposing his will over all of subjected humanity.  Batman doesn't let this go on without a challenge and leads a resistance that also includes Aquaman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman.  I've spent a lot of hours having fun playing this game on my PlayStation 4 and its mobile version on my iPad so it was exciting to find out that a new and improved sequel will be arriving in 2017.

Available for Playstation 4 and Xbox One, INJUSTICE 2 will feature a massive roster of Super Heroes and Super Villains allowing players to create the ultimate version of their favorite DC Comics characters personalizing them with unique and powerful gear that can be earned throughout the game.  INJUSTICE 2 will allow gamers to take control of how their characters look, fight, and develop through a variety of game modes.  The game will continue the cinematic story introduced in INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US as Batman and his allies work to putting the pieces of society back together while struggling against those who want to restore Superman's regime.  In the midst of this chaos, a new threat appears that will put Earth's existence at risk.



To get INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US fans excited about the upcoming sequel, players of the mobile app version of the original video game can now unlock INJUSTICE 2 versions of Superman and Aquaman through its in-game Challenge Modes.  The mobile device version of the game is available as a free download on the App Store and Google Play.  It does contain in-app purchases but casual games can enjoy the game without spending money as I've personally had a lot of fun playing it without buying any enhancements or power-ups.

For more information, visit injustice.com or follow @injusticegame on Twitter.

THE ADVENTURES OF PAN

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

This week during bedtime instead of doing the normal story book reading routine with my 7 year old twins, we've been exploring a wonderful app called THE ADVENTURES OF PAN.  This app aimed for young readers between 6 and 8 years old allows children to participate in the telling of a magical tale through reading, engaging with interactive aspects on the screen and playing mini-games which help captivate the attention and imagination of young readers.  It is a whimsical story with wonderful graphics that has been a delight to read and my kids have looked forward to reading a new chapter every night.  Because there can be a dramatic difference in the advancement of literary skills from child-to-child in this age range, parents can choose to have their kids read along with the displayed text as a narrator tells the story or mute the sound to focus specifically on reading.  I really liked how each word of the story's text is highlighted as a narrator pronounces it.

THE ADVENTURES OF PAN follows the adventures of a panda named Pandora, who goes by the nickname Pan.  When Pan discovers she's not the orphan that the grandfather who has been raising her led her to believe, the fearless but reckless purple panda leaves her village to search for the parents she has never known.  As this trek begins, Pan befriends Chase, a warrior bunny, and Locke, an inventive fox who loves to create gadgets, who join the panda on her quest.  The trio of friends learn through a series of misadventures that Pan's parents are just missing but were captured trying to stop an ancient evil.  Now Pan, Chase and Locke must save the day while a band of obsessed ninja cats are constantly on their tails trying to stop them.

Pan's Story Trailer from Hullabalu on Vimeo.


Since its debut on iPad, THE ADVENTURES OF PAN has been releasing a new chapter, referred to as books, on iTunes every few months continuing the adventure.  It has been featured as both Apple's Editors Choice and Best New Kids App providing THE ADVENTURES OF PAN with some nice accolades. On May 26, 2016, app developer Hullabalu released Book 7: Han Awakening which will conclude Pan's saga.  Also beginning on May 26th, the app will also be available to use on iPhone in addition to iPads. So now app users can access Pan's entire adventure from either an iPhone or iPad.  Sorry Android users THE ADVENTURES OF PAN is currently an iTunes exclusive.

A nice way the app enhances the story is by sprinkling games and interactive features throughout each chapter of the saga.  For example in Book 1: The Fearless Beribolt, there is a boomerang training game in which users throw various items to try and dissolve as many clouds as they can before a timer runs down to zero.  My daughter really adored this mini game.  All together there are more than 100 fully-interactive cinematic scenes that children can manipulate to trigger a variety of special effects.

Another nice aspect of the app is how the artwork brilliantly pops off the screen at you.  This is due in part to all of the art being hand-drawn and painted. In fact everything involving the construction of the app including scripting, storyboarding, character design, voiceovers and engineering is done in-house by the Hullabalu crew.

From a parent's perspective, I appreciated that THE ADVENTURES OF PAN is very user-friendly when it comes to children being able to scroll through its story and use its interactive features.  Kids can tilt and touch their way through each of the seven books in the app at their own pace which was the intent of Hullabalu when designing the layout for THE ADVENTURES OF PAN.  Plus as the father of both a son and daughter, I liked how the story features a gender-balanced cast to encourage it being equally of interest to both boys and girls.

THE ADVENTURES OF PAN is a fun, cute, age-appropriate story that is great for enticing children to read but is also nice if you are just looking to entertain your children and want to let them view it as a cartoon.  I always appreciate quality apps that contain a combination of educational and entertaining elements that my kids will both enjoy and learn from so THE ADVENTURES OF PAN gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval.

LEGO introduces Classic Disney Minifigure Series

My kids love the blind bags that you can purchase at the store that contain a random LEGO minifigure and are always excited when I let them get one.  In fact they enjoy playing with these minifigures and the ones that came within the LEGO playsets they've gotten almost as much as they like building things with LEGO bricks.  Based upon how much my own children like minifigures, I'm pretty sure LEGO fans of all ages will appreciate that the toy company is launching a collection of Classic Disney character minifigures that can be purchased individually without having to buy a playset to get them beginning May 1, 2016.  I know my kids have often wanted to purchase individual DC Comics, Marvel and Star Wars LEGO minifigures but we couldn't get them without purchasing a specific playset so it is interesting that these characters are being made available for individual purchase and this is an opportunity you may not want to miss out on.

The available characters LEGO fans can pick up will include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck.

Plus characters from classic 1950s Disney animated movies such as characters Alice and the Cheshire Cat from Wonderland, Peter Pan and Captain Hook from Neverland and villain Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty.

Some minifigures will also be available from more recent Disney animated movie releases such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and  Lilo & Stitch.

Also never-before-seen in the LEGO world, Mr. Incredible and Syndrome from The Incredibles will be released as part of the Classic Disney minifigure collection.

Beginning May 1st these LEGO minifigures will be available at LEGO Stores and other toy retailers nationwide and online via shop.LEGO.com for $3.99 each.

History of Magic in North America

To help promote the newest movie set within J.K. Rowling's "wizarding world", Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them which is opening at U.S. theaters on November 18, 2016, the Harry Potter author is introducing four brand new short stories, one each day this week from Tuesday March 8 through Friday, March 11.  While the original Harry Potter saga was based in modern day Europe, Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them is set in 1920's era New York City.  These four new stories will provide some insight on this new setting within the wizarding world by looking at the history of magic in North America.

The four stories will provide readers with an overview of topics such as Ilvermorny (the Hogwarts school of the USA), Skin-Walkers (the first native American magic users), the  witch trials, and the Magical Congress of the United States of America (the New World's equivalent of the Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter stories).

These stories will be available to read for FREE on the Pottermore.com website.  A new story on each of the four topics above will be released each morning at 9am EST.  For more information about the upcoming movie, visit FantasticBeasts.com.

BIG HERO 6 animated television series coming to DisneyXD cable channel in 2017

I can honestly say that Walt Disney Animation Studio's 2014 animated motion picture BIG HERO 6 is one of my son's favorite movies and he has anxiously been awaiting news about a possible sequel ever since we went to see it at the theater.  He has all the action figure toys representing the film's cast, has spent numerous hours playing as BIG HERO 6's primary characters Baymax and Hiro characters on the Disney Infinity video game, and has watched the movie over and over again more times than I can count on the dvd we've added to our home video library.  So I find myself with mixed news to share with the boy after receiving an announcement from Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer at Disney Channels Worldwide regarding the future of Big Hero 6 which has a bit of bad news but also plenty of good news for fans of the movie and its characters.

Starting with the bad news first -- it appears there won't be a sequel arriving in movie theaters for BIG HERO 6 in the foreseeable future and maybe not at all.  The good news though is that the adventures of Baymax, Hiro and their aspiring superhero team as the cable channel Disney XD has begun production on a BIG HERO 6 animated television series for kids, tweens and families based upon the Academy Award-winning movie which was based upon a Marvel comic book of the same name.

"Our colleagues at Walt Disney Animation Studios have created a brilliant world, inspired  by Marvel, with vivid, unique characters," Gary Marsh said in his announcement. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to further develop these characters into a world class animated series -- full of fun, action and the kind of endearing storytelling that only Mark McCorkle, Bob Schooley  -- and Baymax -- can deliver."

Emmy Award-winning producers McCorkle and Schooley, creators and executive producers for the Disney Channel's globally successful "Kim Possible" series hope to create another popular hit as executive producers for the BIG HERO 6 animated series on DisneyXD.  Produced by Disney Television Animation, this new series picks up immediately following the events in the feature film, and continues the adventures and friendship of 14-year-old tech genius Hiro and his compassionate, cutting-edge robot Baymax. Alongside Hiro and Baymax on their journey are control freak Wasabi, scientist Honey Lemon, fanboy Fred and no-nonsense Go Go, who together form the legendary superhero team, Big Hero 6. As the new prodigy at San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, Hiro now faces daunting academic challenges and the social trials of being the little man on campus. Off campus, the stakes are raised for the high-tech heroes as they must protect their city from an array of scientifically enhanced villains.

While my son is going to be bummed that there isn't a sequel coming to the movie theater, I'm pretty sure he is going to be delighted by this new television series and looking forward to being able to enjoy continuing adventures of the Big Hero 6 team.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

When the original series of Harry Potter novels and movies came to a conclusion many fans thought that J.K. Rowling may be putting the popular character to rest which seemed to be confirmed with the upcoming movie "Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them" which takes place in the same world of wizards and witches the author created but doesn't include characters from the previous saga.  Well it appears now that the adventures of Harry Potter aren't over just yet.  A sequel is indeed in the works, but its story won't be told as a movie or a novel but rather through a theatrical play being performed at the Palace Theatre in London, England beginning on July 30, 2016.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts I & II is based upon an original new story concept by J.K. Rowling, its script was written by Jack Thorne and the play will be directed by Olivier and Tony award winner John Tiffany.  This tale will be considered as the official eighth story in the canon of the Harry Potter series and will be the first adventure to be presented on stage.  Understanding that Harry Potter is a global phenomenon and many fans won't be able to travel to London's West End (the United Kingdom's theatrical equivalent of Broadway) a digital and print book of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts I & II will be published on Harry Potter's birthday, July 31, 2016.

The book being released won't be a novelization as the prior publications in the series have been but rather will consist of the script for the new stage play used for its preview performances. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts I & II will have several weeks of preview performances where its creative team will rehearse and edit scenes before the production's official opening night.  So the script in the upcoming book and the one played out on stage may be slightly different.  Understanding that a Definitive Collector's Edition with the final script that will be used on opening night and beyond will also be published at a later date.  For those fans who can't wait to get their hands on a new book that will transport them back to the wizarding world of Harry Potter the Special Rehearsal Edition of the play's script being released on July 31st should still be a treat.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is one play presented in two parts, which are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening performances) or on two consecutive evenings.  Actors Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni, and Paul Thornley will lead the cast as Harry, Hermione, and Ron in a company of more than 30 people performing the play. Set designs will be by Christine Jones, costumers by Katrina Lindsay, music by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, special effects by Jeremy Chernick, illusions by Jamie Harrison and musical supervision by Martin Lowe.  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender's Playground Entertainment and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

So what future exploits are in store for Harry Potter? Readers and moviegoers last saw Harry waving off his children at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, at the conclusion of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child picks up the story at that moment.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

For more information about the new Harry Potter stage play and book or the upcoming motion picture "Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them" visit the official website for J.K. Rowling's wizarding world Pottermore.com

Zen Studios adds The Force Awakens to its line of Star Wars pinball video games

Most Saturdays I have an hour to kill while waiting for my daughter at the dance studio during her ballet lessons and often find myself spending the time playing the Star Wars themed digital pinball tables from Zen Studios that I've downloaded on my iPad.  There are a variety of games available representing the movies and televisions shows from the Star Wars saga plus a few digital pinball tables dedicated specifically to some of the more colorful characters from the sci-fi franchise.  In addition to imitating the play of traditional pinball machines these video games also add buzz and whistles like digital special effects and video to enhance their entertainment value.  Plus you don't have to keep stuffing them with quarters while you play which is nice.  I also have a few of these Star Wars pinball apps from Zen Studios on my iPhone which are nice to play around with when I have some down time during the day.

In addition to enjoying digital pinball on tables based off the characters and events in the first six Star Wars movies, soon players will be able to add The Force Awakens experience to their game play. On January 12, 2016 Zen Studios is releasing a Star Wars Pinball: The Force Awakens Pack which will have two new pinball tables featuring art, models, and sounds directly from the film and will be available on Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Mac, Windows 10, Steam, plus iOS, Android, and Amazon mobile devices.  The two new additions to Zen Studios video game pinball will be titled Star Wars Pinball: The Force Awakens Table and Star Wars Pinball: Might of the First Order which will allow players to choose whether they want to support the Light Side or the Dark Side of the Force.



With Star Wars Pinball: The Force Awakens Table players will team up with the Resistance and fight against the First Order alongside such heroes as Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron. It features all-new table-transforming environment mechanics that allow players to visit locations from the film and twelve action-packed story modes that incorporate some of the most thrilling moments from the motion picture into the game play.

Star Wars Pinball: Might of the First Order puts players in command of the First Order, tasked with extending its power across the galaxy.  This digital pinball table features an innovative two-level playfield where you must use a special ball-lock system tied to Kylo Ren to crush the Resistance, as well as the ability to control your own Star Destroyer with the help of a special magnetic upside-down ramp!

While it is nice to see Zen Studios adding The Force Awakens to their pinball table themes, as a player who already enjoys these video games I'm even more excited that they are also adding new mechanics and elements that will provide different game play experiences. Star Wars Pinball: The Force Awakens Pack will be available as a digital download for console, PC, and mobile device beginning the week of January 12, 2016.  Visit starwarspinball.com for more information.