IGN and Fathom Present: Star Trek: TNG Beams Back Into Theaters for Season 2's Blu-ray Release

On Thursday, November 29, at 7pm local time, Trekkers across the U.S. will have another chance to see Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew on the big screen with Star Trek: The Next Generation - A Celebration of Season 2, a one-night theatrical event showcasing the beloved series' ongoing restoration.

What's Star Trek: The Next Generation Like on the Big Screen? (Hint: Awesome.)

Presented by NCM Fathom Events, CBS Home Entertainment and IGN, this special event with feature two of the most popular episodes from TNG's second season: "Q Who?" and "Measure of a Man." As an added bonus, this version of "Measure of a Man" will be the first-ever extended cut of a Star Trek episode, and will boast an additional 12 minutes of never-before-seen footage. The event follows the great Fathom screening series that was held last summer to celebrate the release of TNG's first season on Blu-ray.

Not only that, but attendees will also be treated to a sneak preview of behind-the-scenes special features including a very special cast reunion, a documentary and an outtakes/bloopers reel.

Tickets are now available at FathomEvents.com, which also has a complete list of participating theaters. Additionally, the Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season Two Blu-ray hits shelves on December 4.

(And make sure you also listen to IGN's Scott Collura on the Transporter Room 3 podcast!)

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love by following @Max_Nicholson on Twitter, or MaxNicholson on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Star Wars: The Old Republic Goes Free Next Week

If you never bothered with BioWare’s Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO because you didn’t feel like paying a subscription fee, starting Thursday November 15 you can play for free. Without signing up for a subscription you’ll be able to play as any class and experience all the base game’s level 1 through 50 story content.

Naturally there are plenty of restrictions if you’re a free user. You can only join a few Warzones per week, for example, which are The Old Republic’s player versus player arenas. If, while leveling from 1 to 50, you feel like participating in more Warzones, you don’t need to subscribe. Passes to access content like this more frequently can be purchased individually. These passes can be gifted or sold to other players for in-game currency, so directly purchasing from BioWare isn’t the only method of acquisition.

Microtransactions like this can be made for a number of things, including mini pets, cosmetic items, bags of special items and Legacy system bonuses. Free players will also have their number of available character slots, item storage space, and ability to equip rarer gear restricted, and BioWare will implement ways to bypass those restrictions with paid purchases.

You’ll make these purchases with a virtual currency called Cartel Coins. These can be purchased with real money in packs from $4.99 for 450 Coins to $39.99 for 5500 Coins. If you already have an account, you can see if you’ve accumulated any free Coins so far by logging in on the official SWTOR site, clicking over to ‘My Account’ and then clicking ‘Cartel Coins’.

If you’re still paying a subscription fee for The Old Republic, BioWare says you shouldn’t expect much of a change on November 15 aside from a likely increase in the number of players running around on your server. If at some point you decide to stop paying a subscription fee, you’ll still retain ‘Preferred Status’, which means you’ll keep some of your subscription perks, including cargo hold storage access, access to chat, the ability to sprint and more ways to trade.

Also on November 15 BioWare will launch additional content in update 1.5, which among other features includes a new level 50 quest area called Sector X on Belsavis with a storyline that involves the Dread Masters. You’ll also be able to complete a series of quests that begins in Sector X to acquire the snarky assassin droid HK-51. While this content will be available to subscribers, free-to-play players will need to pay to see it.

Overall it seems free-to-play players will get access to a lot of content without paying anything, though the restrictions on equippable items and storage space seem pretty severe. We’ll have to wait until the full free system goes live next week to determine if free-to-play in SWTOR is actually fun or just an irritating series of reminders that you should pay real money to keep playing.

Source : ign[dot]com

First Look at the Trailer for Spielberg's Lincoln

Check out this preview of the new trailer for director Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. The trailer will debut during a Google+ Hangout on Thursday, September 13, 2012, at 4 p.m. PT, followed by a live chat with Spielberg and Lincoln cast member Joseph Gordon-Levitt:

Lincoln stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook and Tommy Lee Jones. The movie opens in limited release November 9 and then expands into theaters November 16.

Source : ign[dot]com

Torchlight 2 Gets a Release Date

Runic Games has announced that Torchlight II will release on Thursday September 20, 2012.

Company president Travis Baldree made the announcement on the official Torchlight II blog, meaning there's less than a month to go until the dungeon-crawling rival to Diablo III is available.

“

The official Release Date for Torchlight II is Thursday, September 20, 2012. Three weeks away!

"I don't think there's much else I could say that would interest you right now, so - the official Release Date for Torchlight II is Thursday, September 20, 2012. Three weeks away!" he said.

"We'll announce it 'more' officially and bigger tomorrow. You know first! Thank all of you for being an awesome and patient community, we look forward to getting this into your hands!"

Developed by the same creative masterminds behind Diablo I and II, the original Torchlight released in 2009 to positive reviews, though many criticised its lack of multiplayer support. As a result, the team have pursued peer-to-peer multiplayer for Torchlight II, and they plan to carry the knowledge derived from this experience with them as they begin work on the Torchlight MMO.

Torchlight II will be available both through Steam and in retail form in September.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Editorial Assistant and was obsessed with Diablo III for about a week. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

IGN Pub Quiz IV: Enter Your Team Now!

The much-loved IGN Pub Quiz is back - and this time it's personal!

IGN Pub Quiz IV:The Revenge will be taking place on the evening of Thursday August 23rd, 2012 at The Good Ship in Kilburn, North London with all the usual mind-bendingly tricky questions, ridiculous picture rounds, and prizes to be won!

Read all about the previous pub quizzes here, here and here if you want an idea of the sorts of questions that will be asked, and if you think you're up to the challenge, here's what you need to do to get involved!

Submit your team's interest in competing by sending an email with the subject line IGN Pub Quiz IV to ukcomps@ign.com with your team's chosen name and the names of all your team members (maximum 4 people) before 10am Monday August 13th.

We'll then pick the teams at random with the final details of the venue and times emailed to all the successful teams by Wednesday, August 15th. Unfortunately, space at the venue is restricted, but we'll try and accommodate as many teams as possible.

This event is strictly over 18s only. We hope you can join us for the best quiz yet!

Source : ign[dot]com

Nintendo Downloads of the Week (07.26.12)

It’s Thursday, Koopalings! That means it's time for another batch of downloadable goodies from the Big N. Whether your platform of choice is 3DS, DSi  or Wii, take a look at this week’s offerings below, then be sure to check back in the coming days for our thoughts on the best the eShop has to offer.

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3

Available on: 3DS (Virtual Console)

Price: $3.99

Publisher: Nintendo

Description: Things are really cookin’ on Kitchen Island. Wario has heard that the pirates have a giant golden statue of Princess Toadstool. After being kicked out of the last castle by his rival, Mario, he’s scheming to steal the statue. Help Wario collect treasure by smashing into objects and foes. Power-ups like the Bull Hat, Jet Hat and Dragon Hat will grant Wario new powers that he can use to his advantage.The more treasure you collect, the bigger the castle at the end of the game will be. Wario’s greed knows no bounds. Help him reach the ultimate prize!

Mole Mania

Available on: 3DS (Virtual Console)

Price: $2.99

Publisher: Nintendo

Description: Join Muddy Mole in a race to defeat the evil farmer, Jinbe. Work your way through each puzzle by pushing, pulling, or throwing black balls to defeat or trap enemies. Blast strategic exits and burrow into soft soil to tunnel your way through underground paths to the next action-packed level. Defeat the bosses and solve all of the puzzles in Jinbe Land to reunite Muddy Mole with his beloved wife and kids. You'll dig the fast pace and challenging fun of Mole Mania!

Planet Crashers

Available on: 3DS

Price: $9.99

Publisher: Ignition Entertainment

Description: An intern from the Academy, Jinkle-bottom, has been sent to deliver your orders: "Reports indicate an unknown evil has emerged from the darkest corner of the galaxy, with plans to snuff out the sun. The Academy is putting you on the job. Journey to the other side of the galaxy, and prevent the unimaginable from happening." Are you ready to take on the adventure of a lifetime?

Dot Runner: Complete Edition

Available on: 3DS

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Intense Co.

Description: "Dot Runner: Complete Edition" is a dot-eater action game in which dots that appear in dungeons must be devoured within the time limits.

Decathlon 2012

Available on: DSi, 3DS

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Cinemax.

Description: 10 games in one: 100 meter sprint, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 meter run, 110 meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and finally the exhausting 1,500 meter run. In each discipline you control your athlete simply with the stylus, but you won’t succeed without proper timing, speed, and managing your stamina. Results achieved in individual disciplines are stored in a table and compared with the best world scores.

World Heroes Perfect

Available on: Wii (Virtual Console)

Price: 900 Points

Publisher: D4 Enterprise

Description: This is the fourth installment in the World Heroes fighting game series, released in 1995. In this game, 16 figures from across history fight for the title of the world’s strongest. In previous installments, the amount of time you held a button down determined the strength or weakness of an attack, but that system has been removed in this game. In addition to a more orthodox fighting-game approach that enables weak, middle and strong attacks using different buttons, this game includes new elements such as the Hero Gauge, Extra Attacks and Guard Breaker Attacks.

That wraps it up for this week’s full releases. In other download news, 3DSWare title Colors! 3D has been selected as the Game of the Weekend, and will be available for the discounted price of $3.99 from now until Sunday, July 29 at 9:00PM (PST). Nintendo is also kicking of its Month of Mario promotion leading up to the release of New Super Mario Bros. 2 on August 19. First up is 3DS Virtual Console title Super Mario Bros., which will be available for the special price of $3.99 from now until Wednesday, August 3.

Until next time, Koopalings - game on!

Audrey Drake is an Associate Editor at IGN and a proud member of the IGN Nintendo team. She is also a lifelong gamer, a frequent banisher of evil and a wielder of various legendary blades. You can follow her wild adventures on her IGN blog and Twitter. Game on!

Source : ign[dot]com

PlayStation Network Maintenance This Thursday

According to the European PlayStation Blog, the PlayStation Network is set for “scheduled maintenance” that will occur beginning on Thursday, July 26th. The maintenance will last for 16 hours.

The times listed for Europe (BST) are 4pm Thursday afternoon through 8am Friday morning. That translates to 8am on Thursday through midnight Friday morning (PT).

During the planned maintenance period, the PlayStation Store will be down for all platforms, as will account management and registration. However, Sony does note that “if you wish to play online during the maintenance, then you may be able to do so if you sign into the PSN before the start of the maintenance window.”

The US PlayStation Blog has yet to comment on the planned maintenance period, but chances are this outage will affect the entirety of Sony’s worldwide PlayStation Network. However, we’re still waiting for confirmation on that front and will update when we hear more.

Colin Moriarty is an IGN PlayStation editor. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN and learn just how sad the life of a New York Islanders and New York Jets fan can be.

Source : ign[dot]com

Nintendo Downloads of the Week (07.19.12)

It’s Thursday, Koopalings! As many of you probably know, that means it's time for another batch of downloadable goodies care of the the Big N. Whether your platform of choice is 3DS or DSi  (no new console downloads this week, it seems), take a look at this week’s offerings below. And be sure to check back at the end of the month for our thoughts on the best the eShop has to offer.

Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters

Available on: 3DS (Virtual Console)

Price: $3.99

Publisher: Nintendo

Description: Angel Land is up to its halos in woes as mythical monsters are running rampant. Pit, the original Kid Icarus, must save the realm again. Armed with his trusty bow, he’ll zap the bad guys and find the Three Sacred Treasures hidden by Palutena. Only after this grueling training will he be strong enough to take on the dark forces behind Angel Land’s troubles. Pit will encounter old friends and new enemies – from helpful Centurions to the dreaded Eggplant Wizard – as he journeys from the depths of the underworld to the towers of the sky palace.

Tumble Pop

Available on: 3DS (Virtual Console)

Price: $2.99

Publisher: G-Mode

Description: Save the planet by defeating all the monsters in eight spooky worlds. Thanks to pollution and other global calamities, Earth is overflowing with strange creatures. It’s your job to exterminate all the monsters plaguing the planet, but you’ll need some real muscle to accomplish that task. Good thing you have a secret weapon: a turbo-charged vacuum cleaner. Hungry for even more action? Have no fear. You can create your own custom-built stages in Construction Mode.

The Phantom Thief Stina and 30 Jewels

Available on: 3DS

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Agetec

Description: The year is 2120, and humanoid robot helpers are commonplace, even among thieves. The Phantom Thief Stina and her pack of burglar bots are taking on Detective Sara and her robotic security team in a battle of wits! Heist all 30 jewels to complete the game and unlock the detective mode. Play as detective Sara and deploy her robotic security team to protect the jewels against the Phantom Thief.

Masyu by Nikoli

Available on: 3DS

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Hamster Corporation

Description: Masyu is a puzzle in which you draw a line through the spaces according to the rules. Learn the attributes of the black and white circles and you'll be able to play in no time. In Stage Clear mode, you progress by clearing puzzles one by one, and in Random mode, puzzles are generated at random.

Rabi Laby 2

Available on: DSi, 3DS

Price: $1.99

Publisher: Agetec

Description: The player controls both Alice and Rabi and must use their unique skills to escape. They will encounter interesting creatures, strange places and unusual puzzles, fueling their humor and challenging their wits. The goal for each stage is to safely navigate Alice to the exit door with Rabi’s help. Collect medals to unlock additional stages!

Petit Computer

Available on: DSi, 3DS

Price: $7.99

Publisher: Gamebridge

Description: Petit Computer is a programming tool that lets you create everything from music, to images, to your very own original games using an adapted version of the classic BASIC programming language. You can select commands and run programs using the Nintendo DS Touch Screen, and you can even share your creations via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

That wraps it up for this week’s full releases. In other download news, 3DS Virtual Console title Mario's Picross has been selected as the Game of the Weekend, and will be available for the discounted price of $2.99 from now until Sunday, July 22 at 9:00PM (PST). If you haven't played it, don't hesitate - this game is incredibly fun, and a total classic.

Until next time, Koopalings - game on!

Audrey Drake is an Associate Editor at IGN and a proud member of the IGN Nintendo team. She is also a lifelong gamer, a frequent banisher of evil and a wielder of various legendary blades. You can follow her wild adventures on her IGN blog and Twitter. Game on!

Source : ign[dot]com