So, you’ve got the perfect PC gaming setup with a huge monitor, tunable gaming mouse, RGB gaming keyboard, and of course a gaming PC with more cores than an apple farm. As you sit at your throne, you look to your side and your mouse is sitting on top of an old magazine. Don’t…don’t be that person. The best mouse pads for gaming are a huge step up from whatever substitute you’re using right now. While it’s probably one of the least expensive components in your gaming setup, it’s worth investing in a quality mouse pad. Your aim will improve, and so will your K/D ratio.
Author: Trafficblast
Pokemon Go Regi Trio Returning For A Limited Time
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Regigigas is finally making its debut in Pokemon Go next month, but before it arrives in EX Raids, you’ll have another chance to catch the other three Legendary titans. Regirock, Regice, and Registeel are returning to standard Raids for a limited time beginning November 1, and this time around, you’ll also have a chance of encountering their Shiny forms.
The three Legendary Pokemon will appear in five-star Raids until 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET on November 4, giving you only a couple of days to capture them. The three titans are known for their high defense stats, so to help you take them on, Pokemon that are effective against the Legendaries will appear more frequently in the game.
In particular, Geodude, Magnemite, Swinub, Aron, and Spheal will spawn more frequently in the wild. Meanwhile, Aerodactyl, Shuckle, Sneasel, Skarmory, Snorunt, and Beldum will be more likely to hatch from eggs, and incubators will be twice as effective as normal during that three-day span, allowing you to hatch eggs more quickly. You can read more about the titans’ return on the Pokemon Go website.
As previously mentioned, the Legendary Regigigas will appear for the first time in EX Raids later in the month, but if you don’t want to wait until then, you’ll have the option to encounter it early by purchasing an event ticket. This will give you access to a Special Research story event called “A Colossal Discovery.” The event takes place on November 2 from 11 AM to 7 PM local time and culminates in an encounter with Regigigas.
Unlike other in-game items in Pokemon Go, however, the event ticket cannot be purchased with Poke Coins–you’ll need to shell out $8 USD if you’re thinking of picking one up. This is the first time Pokemon Go has locked events behind a paywall; previous Special Research questlines were available for free to all players. If you don’t choose to get a ticket, you can still encounter Regigigas in EX Raids later in November, but you’ll need to receive an invitation to participate in those battles.
In the meantime, Pokemon Go’s Halloween 2019 event kicks off this Thursday, October 17. For a limited time, you’ll be able to encounter costume-wearing starter Pokemon in Raids, while a Pikachu wearing a Mimikyu costume can be found in the wild. The Legendary Dark-type Darkrai will also make its first appearance in Raid Battles as part of the event.
The Batman: Everything We Know So Far
We may have seen the last of Ben Affleck’s big screen Batman, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing plenty of the Dark Knight in the years to come. Not only are we getting a proper origin story for the Clown Prince of Crime in the upcoming Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix, but Batman himself is being rebooted once more as well with Robert Pattinson playing the Caped Crusader this time around. And now we know X-Men: First Class’ Zoe Kravitz has been cast as Selina Kyle.
Halo Infinite Dev Assures Everyone There’s ‘No Creative Dilemma’ At 343 After Lead Producer Leaves
Back in August, it was reported that Halo Infinite creative director Tim Longo left 343 Industries as part of a leadership shuffle. Over the weekend, Halo Infinite executive producer and lead campaign producer Mary Olson also left 343, inciting concern over the status of Microsoft’s next Halo game.
Now, an employee at 343 Industries has clarified what Olson’s departure actually means for the Halo Infinite project.
Over the weekend, various online posts began appearing on Reddit and Resetera reporting that Olson left 343. Given the fact that 343 announced Olson would take over the Halo Infinite Campaign team as lead producer, many wondered whether 343 was undergoing a leadership crisis. Following the speculation, Halo community manager John Junyszek decided to clarify Olson’s departure.
The Irishman Review – Gangsters, Guns, And Regrets
Martin Scorsese’s directing career stretches back more than five decades and spans a wide variety of genres, from dark dramas and mainstream thrillers to comedies, kids’ movies, biopics, and biblical epics. But for many viewers, it’s his violent and sprawling crime movies that define this most revered of directors. Classics such as Mean Streets, Goodfellas, and Casino have given Scorsese some of his most significant critical acclaim and commercial success and continue to influence filmmakers today. His latest movie, The Irishman, returns him to this world, but with some important changes.
When Scorsese’s uproarious The Wolf of Wall Street was released in 2013, it was notable that the movie seemed like the work of a younger filmmaker; the energy, pace, and sheer audacity of the film was not what you expect from a 71-year-old. Conversely, The Irishman feels like it has been made by an older man, in all the best ways. It’s a controlled, mature crime movie, the work of an experienced filmmaker taking a more reflective approach to familiar subject matter. It also reunites him with some of the actors who have become synonymous with his movies over the decades.
It’s based on the real-life memoir of Frank Sheeran, the titular Irishman played by Robert De Niro. The film spans many decades, and begins with the 80-something Sheeran, looking back on his life from the comfort of a nursing home. Sheeran is a former World War II soldier who is taken under the wing of Philadelphia gangster Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci). Bufalino is impressed by Sheeran’s quiet ruthlessness, willingness to follow orders, and ability to get things done without asking questions, and soon Sheeran is working as an enforcer and hitman for the mob. When Bufalino introduces him to notorious Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), Sheeran gets involved with the unions, at first acting as a heavy for Hoffa before being asked to run his own union chapter. But with the mob becoming increasingly involved with the unions, and Robert Kennedy pursuing an anti-corruption crusade against them, Sheeran finds himself caught in the middle.
The Irishman might not have the restless energy of Casino or Goodfellas, but it is unmistakably a Scorsese movie. The long opening steadicam shot down a corridor (albeit in a care home rather than a nightclub), immaculate period detail, the montages, the use of songs, the voiceover, the violence, the language–this is 100% a Scorsese joint. And for the first hour or so, we are in familiar territory. Sheeran becomes part of the gang run by much-feared crime boss Angelo Bruno (Harvey Keitel), and asked to perform various jobs, from sabotaging a rival cab company to performing a variety of bloody hits.
These scenes are highly enjoyable, and frequently very funny, and it’s great to see some of the old gang back together. Pesci came out of retirement for his role, and De Niro and Keitel haven’t appeared in a Scorsese movie together since Taxi Driver in 1976; there are also some strong supporting performances from the likes of Ray Romano and Bobby Cannavale. But it’s hard to escape the feeling that it’s all a bit safe; Scorsese does this sort of thing better than anyone, but frankly, we’ve been here many times before.
But as the story progresses through the decades, and the characters head through middle age to their twilight years, The Irishman becomes something deeper and more contemplative. The relationship between Sheeran and Bufalino marks the earlier sections, but it’s the one between Sheeran and Hoffa that becomes the movie’s driving narrative. Remarkably, this is Pacino’s first Scorsese movie, and he delivers his best performance in years, playing Hoffa as a charismatic and ambitious leader who is revered by the workers he represents, but is also controlled by a huge ego that ultimately becomes his undoing. Despite their differences, the fast-talking Hoffa and monosyllabic Sheeran become genuine friends, aging, old-fashioned men trying to stay afloat in a world that is moving too rapidly for them. The scenes between De Niro and Pacino are a powerful reminder why these two stars were such acting icons throughout the 1970s.
At 210 minutes, The Irishman is a very long film; as it shifts into its final section, a point where most movies would ratchet up the tension, the pace slows further. But far from dragging, it gains a power that makes it more than just another enjoyable gangster movie. It becomes a film about regret and reflecting on a long life to see how one’s actions have affected friends and family. Scorsese has always been fascinated by the themes of moral and spiritual redemption, and how his characters can reconcile their faith with their violent deeds, and in this regard, The Irishman is as potent as anything in his filmography.
Much has been made of Scorsese’s decision to use digital de-aging on his actors to allow them to appear as younger versions of themselves. There’s no denying that this technology has improved vastly over the past few years, but it’s not quite there; the first time we see “young” renditions of De Niro, Pacino, and Pesci is a little jarring–it’s extremely impressive but not entirely convincing. However, the eye quickly adjusts and the skill of the actors’ performances make up for any visual deficiencies. It’s certainly no less convincing than 46-year-old De Niro playing a man in his mid-20s in the early scenes of Goodfellas.
The Irishman is unlikely to be Scorsese’s last movie–the De Niro/DiCaprio-starring thriller Killers of the Flower Moon is on the way, and there’s a long-planned Theodore Roosevelt biopic waiting in the wings too. Nevertheless, it feels like a career summation, a mature and dignified work that could only be made by an older filmmaker able to look back on his life and his work. And while Frank Sheeran is left as an old man filled only with shame and regret, Scorsese proves that his powers as a filmmaker remain at full strength.
The Batman Has Cast Its Catwoman
The Batman has cast Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle, the alter ego of Catwoman, IGN has confirmed.
Deadline first broke the news that Kravitz will portray Selina Kyle opposite Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne in the reboot from writer-director Matt Reeves, which is scheduled for release on June 25, 2021. It’s notable that Warner Bros. announced Kravitz’s casting as “Selina Kyle” with no mention of Catwoman, but given how familiar fans are with the character’s secret identity – and rumors that Reeves’ new take on the Dark Knight will be a trilogy – it seems impossible to imagine that Kravitz won’t don the catsuit and whip at some point.
Pokemon Go Adding Regigigas Next Month, But You Can Catch It Early If You Pay
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A new Legendary Pokemon is coming to Pokemon Go very soon. The colossal Regigigas is set to debut next month in EX Raids, but if you can’t wait until then to catch one, you’ll have a chance to encounter it early–but only if you pay.
Niantic is introducing a paid ticket system that will give players access to a Special Research questline called “A Colossal Discovery.” By purchasing a ticket, you’ll be able to take part in a special story event that culminates in an encounter with Regigigas before it appears in EX Raids.
The Colossal Discovery event will take place on Saturday, November 2, from 11 AM to 7 PM local time. In addition to access to the event, purchasing a ticket will net you a Colossal Discovery medal, an Unova and Sinnoh Stone (used for evolving certain Pokemon from their respective regions), an exclusive avatar pose, and the ability to receive up to 10 free Raid Passes when you spin Photo Discs at PokeStops during the event.
The ticket will retail for $8 USD, and unlike other in-game items, it cannot be purchased using Poke Coins. This is sure to be a controversial addition to the game. Up until now, Special Research questlines have been available for free for all players, but this new ticket system locks an entire event behind a pay wall. You can read more about ticket, including details on how to purchase one, on the Pokemon Go website.
If you don’t decide to spring for a ticket, you’ll still be able to catch Regigigas in EX Raids later in November, but you need to receive an invitation to participate in those. Meanwhile, Regirock, Registeel, and Regice will return to standard Raid Battles from November 1-4, and you’ll have your first chance to encounter their Shiny forms.
That’s not the only Pokemon Go event on the horizon. This year’s Halloween event kicks off on October 17 and introduces costume-wearing starter Pokemon, Shiny Yamask, and specially themed Field Research quests. The Legendary Dark-type Pokemon Darkrai will also make its debut in five-star Raids.
Here’s How Long Little Town Hero Lasts
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Little Town Hero is the next RPG from Game Freak, the studio that brought us the massive Pokemon series. This game is a little smaller in scope, though, as you may expect from the little town name. Game director Masao Taya says he wanted to make it a smaller, more digestible role-playing game for adults who are pressed for time.
“Despite my love for this genre, I haven’t really been playing turn-based RPGs other than Pokémon as of late,” Taya told Nintendo Life. “Of course, becoming an adult has reduced the amount of time I can devote to games, but I believe that’s not all. RPGs are really time-consuming, and with how big the maps are, you can easily get lost and stuck in areas where you only get to battle weak opponents. That was a large part of the reason that I stopped playing as much.
“So with Little Town Hero, we’ve been careful not to prepare maps that are infinitely huge, or maps filled with opponents that can defeated just by spamming the attack button. Instead, we’ve aimed for an interesting battle system that really makes you consider how to go about defeating your enemy, each and every time.”
Taya says that Little Town Hero can vary based on how quickly players connect with its unique battle system. If you catch on quickly, it will be 10-12 hours. If not, it might be more around 15-20.
That’s still a good bit shorter than a lot of other RPGs. Pokemon games tend to be 20-30 for the main campaign, and much more if you aim to catch ’em all. Persona 5 is well over 100 hours.
Little Town Hero releases on October 16 on the Nintendo Switch eshop. Game Freak is also preparing to put out its next main Pokemon games, Sword and Shield, in November.
You Can Preorder Shenmue III for $49.94 Right Now
It’s been a long time coming, but Shenmue 3 is finally launching for PlayStation 4 and PC on November 19. This partially crowd-funded sequel, which arrives 18 years after the initial release of Shenmue 2, lets players explore an open-world version of rural China. You can rifle through drawers, take on part-time jobs, play mini-games, and much more. The game has reams of dialog and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. You can learn more details in our Shenmue 3 preview.
If you’re ready to secure a copy of the game for yourself, you’re in luck: Shenmue 3 is now available to preorder at numerous retailers. You’ll even get a preorder bonus for your troubles. Check out the details below.
Arrow’s Season 8 Premiere Sets Up The Crisis Crossover By Looking To The Past
The eighth and final season of Arrow, the show that launched The CW’s superhero universe, premieres Tuesday. With it comes not only the beginning of the end for Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and his team of vigilantes, but the first steps toward the upcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event. To do that, Arrow is revisiting its own past, as familiar faces reenter the picture.
It was previously revealed that among the characters returning for the Season 8 premiere were Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman), Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell), and Moira Queen (Susanna Thompson), none of whom have regularly appeared on the show in some time. In fact, the entire episode is structured in a way to take the audience back in time eight years to the show’s first episode. “I feel like this episode specifically is a love letter to the pilot and to the series,” executive producer Beth Schwartz explained to GameSpot and a small group of press after the screening.
In revisiting characters like Moira, Malcolm, and Tommy, Schwartz said the series can explore “what the character Oliver Queen/Green Arrow has meant to all of the other characters in the show and how he has affected everyone’s life.”
And while it’s unclear how these appearances are happening–the Season 7 finale saw the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) calling on Oliver to leave Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) and help prevent the upcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths–they won’t be the only familiar faces in Season 8. It was previously announced that Willa Holland would reprise her role as Thea Queen, while Colton Haynes revealed on Twitter he would appear as Roy Harper. They, along with even more returning characters, will help Oliver and the fans of Arrow get a sense of closure in the home stretch of episodes.
“The season is pretty much just our series’ greatest hits as well as a build-up to [Crisis on Infinite Earths],” Schwartz concluded.
Arrow airs Tuesdays on The CW.