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Jason Clement

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Everything posted by Jason Clement

  1. Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime is now enjoying his retirement from the company as of this week and, having just recently joined Twitter, he's shared an image of an epic painting that he received from The Game Awards' Geoff Keighley (and commissioned by artist Sam Spratt) to commemorate his time with Nintendo. The painting depicts Fils-Aime with his hands in the air as if he's manipulating marionettes as he's positioned over three of his most popular animated likenesses, as listed below. (From left to right in the painting) Reggie's Mii - which was most famously shown off during the reveal for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS Puppet Reggie (some would say "Muppet" Reggie) - whom made his memorable appearance in a Nintendo Digital Event during E3 2015 and was designed/crafted by none other than Jim Henson's Creature Shop. Robot Chicken figure Reggie - whom made his appearance during Nintendo's 2014 E3 Presentation, which the Robot Chicken creators created special segments for. In any case, the painting certainly is an epic sendoff for the beloved former NOA president, who is now retired with Nintendo currently at the top of their game (no pun intended) in the industry. Source: Twitter
  2. One of this year's most anticipated superhero games finally has a release date. Today Nintendo revealed that fans would get the opportunity to play as Marvel's most popular superheroes in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order on July 19, exclusively on Nintendo Switch (through both retail and the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch). The game's story pits Marvel's Finest against the villainous Thanos and his cohort, The Black Order, as they engage in a race to find the Infinity Stones before the latter can use them to unleash chaos on the universe. Along with iconic superhero mainstays like Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Spider-Man, and Wolverine, you'll also be able to play as other characters such as Black Panther, Deadpool, Doctor Strange, and even Spider-Gwen; all of which will have their own unique abilities and power sets. Also, in addition to playing through the story solo, you'll be able to play co-op with friends via local play or online play; the latter of which you'll need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership (which costs $20) in order to use. Despite the title's current exclusivity to Switch, it is currently unknown if this is a timed exclusive or a lifetime deal (Team Ninja is the game's developer). Square Enix's Octopath Traveler was exclusive to Switch upon its release last year but a Steam version of the game was announced recently, so we'll have to wait and see what happens with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3. Source: Press Release
  3. Jason Clement

    Obligatory - What are you playing right now!

    Tbh, I'm a little scared for Blizzard's future atm, especially after Activision finally made their first moves on putting checks and balances on them (with layoffs and such). Also, did I see that Overwatch is trending downward now (both in perception and sales)? Fortnite is really disrupting that whole scene, unfortunately for other developers. But yeah, if Blizzard doesn't knock it out of the park with Diablo 4, I really wonder what'll happen to them.
  4. Jason Clement

    What have you seen recently and what did you think?

    Saw Shazam last weekend. It was pretty good; DC is finally on a roll with their movies, even if I thought Aquaman was a little bit messy with its story and runtime yet still enjoyable. No story-specific spoilers here, but one of the cool things is that Shazam actually focuses more on the human drama element of the movie more than the superhero part; I'd say it's ultimately... 60/40 in that regard. The superhero parts aren't bad either (the villain is a lot better than I thought he'd be; Mark Strong really leans into his character here), but the film is obviously made stronger by Billy Batson's story as a boy who discovers who his true family is. All in all, it's a pretty strong superhero origin film, and one that actually builds up the villain from the start and gives them the screentime they deserve.
  5. Image & Form's upcoming title, SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech, has officially been dated for release and it's heading exclusively to Nintendo Switch's eShop (for the foreseeable future) on April 25th for $24.99 / €24.99 / £22.49. While the SteamWorld games are primarily known for action and platforming (and even tactical strategy!), SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is the developer's first foray into the world of RPGs. You'll lead a group of aspiring Steambot heroes in a world where steampunk meets high fantasy, with treasure chests full of gold, dragons, magic, XP, colorful worlds, and all of the usual good stuff that comes with the genre. Oh, and the turn-based battles are card-based as well. You'll craft your own battle deck from over 100 different punch-cards in order to take on your enemies. Also, if SteamWorld Quest sounds familiar to you, the game's title was originally leaked back in 2016 by way of a European listing. It would appear Image & Form has had this SteamWorld entry in the oven for a good while now! At any rate, you won't have to wait much longer to get your hands on the next game in the SteamWorld saga, so get ready for plenty of steam-driven RPG goodness coming your way soon. Source: Press Release
  6. Nearly a year after the final release of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero – Ultimate Edition, WayForward has announced that Shantae 5 is officially in development and expected to release later this year. No details have been revealed about Shantae's fifth outing just yet – apparently, even the name isn't set in stone yet according to WayForward's official Twitter account. However, the developer did reveal a piece of art and a tentative logo, which can be seen above. Shantae 5 will be released later in 2019 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and the recently announced Apple Arcade. Speaking of which, WayForward also revealed that a new title called Spidersaurs being developed exclusively for Apple Arcade. Not much is known about this title either aside from the fact that it is an action game being developed by the team that made Contra 4. One of the titular Spidersaurs can be seen in the first piece of art that was released with the logo as well. Spidersaurs is set to launch later this year on Apple Arcade. Source: WayForward (via Twitter - 1, 2)
  7. Jason Clement

    Obligatory - What are you playing right now!

    Haven't played it yet but I hear Anthem had a pretty rough start in its first few weeks? I'm wondering it'll be able to pick up like Destiny did.
  8. Rumors have abounded for quite some time that Google has been gearing up to spearhead the games industry via a streaming service but today the tech giant made it official at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Their new game service, Stadia, is being designed to run on everything from PCs to Android phones and Google Chromecast devices by means of streaming technology. Essentially, games played using Google Stadia will run on the company's own centralized servers, taking user input via the controller and sending back video and audio with no download or install (or patch/update) necessary. Google exec Phil Harrison demoed the process on-stage, showing a comparison between playing on Google's own Pixel 3 XL and what he referred to as the least powerful PC they could find; both worked equally as well. Google states that Stadia games will run as 1080p, 60 frames per second; also, 4K will be supported at launch, with plans for eventual 8K support. There's also a controller you'll be able to buy which connects over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth; among the usual face buttons, d-pad, and analog sticks, there will also be a capture button to save and share your screencaps/gameplay with others over social media. Also worth noting: Harrison and Head of Stadia Games and Entertainment Jade Raymond both confirmed that Google Stadia will have its own exclusive first-party games from their studio as well as in partnership with other developers. The only release window given so far for both Stadia and the controller is 2019. However, not everyone is as bullish on Google Stadia as the company is. The reaction on social media thus far is pretty split, with many showing their support for the news, and many also equally questioning its viability this early on. IGN's Max Scoville had some criticism for those who are writing off Stadia entirely before its release. But a few other Twitter users retorted back with a few realistic points of their own. While the idea of streaming games anywhere is highly appealing, it is a fact that broadband isn't readily available to everyone everywhere just yet, not only in the United States but in many countries around the world. The question is: can Google Stadia can take off regardless of that fact? We'll have to wait and see how things play out. Source: Ars Technica, Endgadget
  9. The classic Data East game Windjammers has had a massive resurgence in popularity in recent years, thanks to Giant Bomb raising awareness of the title during their many gameplay livestreams (you can check out the story behind that in this Waypoint article). So much so, in fact, that publisher DotEmu decided to grab the rights to re-release the original game and even produce a full-blown sequel. And while Windjammers 2 was originally announced in August of last year, we're only just getting our first official look at the gameplay in today's new trailer. Featuring some fast-paced, frenzied disc-flying action, the footage also provides a glimpse at the new players, abilities, and the game's gorgeous, hand-drawn visuals and animations. Check out the new trailer below. Windjammers 2 doesn't have a release date just yet but the game is expected to release in 2019 on Nintendo Switch and PC. Source: Press Release
  10. Many 3DS owners are likely familiar with Gunman Clive, a 2D action game with a Wild West theme that caught worldwide attention after it rose to the top of the Japanese 3DS eShop charts and was noted for its relatively inexpensive price ($1.99 USD) when compared to the game's high quality. The game’s developer, Bertil Hörberg, went on to develop a sequel and, more recently, the Gunman Clive HD Collection, which just released on Switch in January. Now Hörberg has revealed what his next project is, a game called Mechstermination Force. Like the Gunman Clive titles, this is also an action game though this time it has a unique twist: the gameplay is comprised of boss rush fights against giant robots. Hörberg describes it as a “mix of Contra and Shadow of the Colossus” and also mentions that the game is quite a lot bigger than the Gunman Clive titles, adding that this is the first of his projects where he’s hired additional people to help. Mechstermination Force is currently scheduled to release on the Nintendo Switch this Spring. Hörberg recently mentioned that the game has entered lotcheck (one of the last processes before a game releases, which involves certification) so expect a release date soon. Source: Press Release
  11. Jason Clement

    What have you seen recently and what did you think?

    I finished Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood recently and I gotta say, it's amazing. Possibly the best anime I've ever seen. The pacing is great and never lets up, and even the more character-centric episodes are really good. But man, the last 15-20 episodes are pretty dang epic. Also, its epilogue episode is also one of the best I've ever seen; I wish more anime (and TV shows in general) would dedicate an entire episode to what happens after the final conflict.
  12. Though Yacht Club Games originally were planning to release their final Shovel Knight campaign, King of Cards, along with Shovel Knight: Showdown (the multiplayer competitive mode), an amiibo 3-pack (featuring King Knight, Plague Knight, and Specter Knight), and a physical version of Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (the complete collection of every piece of Shovel Knight content in one package) on April 18, the indie developer has now announced one last delay for all of the content. The reason for this is because the team needs more time to polish off the gameplay and make sure everything is in tip-top shape before they're satisfied with the final result. As for the amiibo, Yacht Club Games mentioned that their functionality is tied to the launch of King of Cards, which means it only makes sense to release them when that campaign is ready to go. Due to all of this, Yacht Club Games is not announcing a new release date until they're certain of it, but insist that the delay should only push the release back several months. Here are a few other interesting tidbits that the team revealed: A new screenshot showcasing King of Cards reveals a brand new side-character named 'Traitorus,' who happens to be King Pridemoor's former advisor. Another King of Cards screen reveals what the world map looks like; quite a bit different from Shovel of Hope's. A new story screenshot shows Specter Knight rushing off to confront The Enchantress. King of Card's levels are shorter than previous Shovel Knight levels but are more numerous (with more than 30). At one point, Yacht Club wasn't sure if King Knight would fit on the 3DS due to his size, but that problem has since been solved. Words of Magic and 8-4 Games have helped translate the game into 9 languages now. In the meantime, stay tuned for a final release date for the rest of Shovel Knight's upcoming content. Source: Yacht Club Games
  13. Bleh, getting over a sore throat right now. Hope everyone else is doing well!

    Also, hi DarkCobra. Thanks for sticking around and keeping tabs on things here every now and then. Going to try and see if we can get some life back into the forum again sometime.

  14. Jason Clement

    heyo, not new just taking a swing by

    Your art is getting better over time. Nice job. Like DC said, it's neat to see you sticking with this.
  15. Last month, Nintendo's Damon Baker, who had become synonymous with the publisher's efforts to spearhead indie and third-party content, announced that he was leaving the company to take on a new role elsewhere. Today, Baker officially revealed on Twitter that he is now the new Head of Portfolio at Xbox. The rest of his tweet indicates that his role is still pretty much the same as it was at Nintendo, with him evaluating 2nd/3rd part content for Xbox's overall strategy. Still, a big congratulations to Baker on his move, especially as Xbox continues to make key moves that could indicate a brighter future for the console giant in the coming years as the next generation of gaming looms ahead. Source: Damon Baker (via Twitter)
  16. Nintendo's Shinya Takahashi dropped a bomb on unsuspecting Metroid fans today via a short video on the company's Youtube channel, saying that Metroid Prime 4 would be delayed and its development restarted. Takahashi stated that Nintendo was not satisfied with the current state of the game and that it has "not reached the standards" they seek in a sequel to the Metroid Prime series. Thus, the game is being handed over to the series' former steward, Retro Studios, and development will be restarted. Metroid Prime 4 was previously being worked on by Bandai Namco Singapore. When will we next hear about the game, then? Takahashi stated that "it will be a long road until the next time we [Nintendo] will be able to update you on the development progress," indicating that it could be years. The last new game Retro Studios completed was Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze in 2014, and it took about 3.5 years for that game to be finished after its predecessor, Donkey Kong Country Returns, released in late 2010. Considering Retro's average timetable for developing games, then, it seems likely that we may not see Metroid Prime 4 until 2022 at the earliest, especially if all previous development is completely scrapped. Former Retro Games Environment Artist Eric Kozlowsky revealed on Twitter that the company's former project may not be in production anymore if the studio has now taken on Metroid Prime 4 unless there are now two development teams. Retro had been rumored to be working on a racing title called Star Fox: Grand Prix, though the game had not yet officially been announced. In the meantime, legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto's famous words come to mind: "A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is bad forever." Source: Nintendo (via Youtube)
  17. It's been a long time coming but the the third entry in the Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is finally making its way to North American territories. However, unlike the first two games, which were published by XSEED, Trails of Cold Steel III is being published by NIS America instead. While some might be put off by this change due to the translation issues with Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (which NIS America also published in 2017), the publisher is attempting to nip this in the bud by mentioning that some of the localization staff that had worked on the previous two Cold Steel entries have returned for this one as well. Trails of Cold Steel III features a new Class VII led by "Ashen Chevalier" Rean Schwarzer, who is now an instructor at Thors Branch Campus. The story follows the cast as they journey into the Empire's recently acquired land and find themselves embroiled in another plot that could result in war or an even worse calamity. Also new to this installment is the "Break System"; expect to hear more about that in the lead up to the game's release. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is slated to release exclusively on PlayStation 4 in the Fall. Source: Press Release
  18. Digital versions of Nintendo's games seem to be showing up in more and more places for purchase these days and, as of today, Humble Bundle can now be adding to that growing list. Right now the selection features a mix of 40 different Switch and 3DS titles, from recent games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the Pokemon: Let's Go titles to even Virtual Console titles like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. All titles are selling at their full MSRP, and none qualify for charity contributions either. Nintendo titles are eligible for the $5 discount you get with Humble Bundle monthly subscriptions, but beyond that, there doesn't appear to be much of a difference from any other retail store (online or brick and mortar). Humble Bundle has not stated whether third-party and indie Switch and 3DS titles will be offered at some point, so hopefully we'll hear more regarding that sooner versus later. Source: Humble Bundle
  19. Fans of niche Japanese games publisher NIS America might be aware that the company had announced a console port of RPG Maker MV for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2019. Unfortunately, it looks like you won't be getting your hands on it anytime in the next few months. NIS America announced today that it is delaying the title due to ongoing issues with the development and that it won't release until later in 2019 now. No details have been given regarding the development issues, but suffice to say that porting a game to consoles isn't always a clear cut process. RPG Maker MV originally released on PC back in 2015 and features the ability to upload and share your RPG creations with others. This new console version is slated to have twice as many assets, including brand-new voices, music, and lyrics; making it the most comprehensive version of RPG Maker to date. We'll be sure to update you on a new release date as soon as it's announced. Source: Press Release
  20. Jason Clement

    Game of the Year 2018 - Jason's Picks

    2018 always had an uphill battle going for it. After all, how do you compete with an amazing year in video games like 2017 had? And yet, even though it predictably did not reach those lofty heights, 2018 still had its share of good video games. Especially indie games, which really seemed to get more of the spotlight thanks to a lesser amount of super high profile AAA games out on average. A few of the titles that didn’t quite make my list but deserve shoutouts include No Man’s Sky, which had a great update that added a lot of content and made the story way more meaningful. Surviving Mars is an excellent simulation game where you attempt to build and sustain your own colony on Mars. Swords of Ditto is a neat little game with a creative twist in that you play as a new hero in a changed world (100 years in the future) each time you die. Runner 3 is great fun and much improved from its predecessor. Miles & Kilo is a neat, 8-bit-esque runner that could almost be summed up as “Uncharted action setpieces if they were attempted on the NES.” And The Gardens Between is one of the most creative games I played this year that I didn’t get to spend quite as much time with as I wanted. But I digress. Here are my top 10 games of 2018. 10) Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido If I’m being completely honest, Sushi Striker almost didn’t make my list. I didn’t fully understand the nuances behind the gameplay until maybe about halfway through, meaning I was coasting on my knowledge of the basics until that point. That said, developer Indieszero did an admirable job creating something entirely new and fresh. Amidst the fast-paced (and admittedly stressful at times) puzzle gameplay there is a full-blown anime that has a completely ridiculous yet fun and self-aware story about sushi and a resistance that is fighting against an empire trying to control it. Sadly, Sushi Striker is likely a one-and-done deal since it didn’t sell well, but I’ll cherish my time with it as one of the more interesting chances taken in gaming lately. 9) Kirby Star Allies Star Allies is the first game since Kirby’s Return to Dreamland to really make me feel like a kid again. Having three allies fight alongside you seems like an unnecessary gimmick at first since Kirby titles aren’t usually known for their difficulty (at least not upfront). But HAL really found a way to make having four characters on-screen at once compelling, and it’s just plain cool to see Meta Knight or other series stalwarts fighting alongside Kirby (especially in boss battles). This might also be the most beautiful game in the series to date (Epic Yarn and Rainbow Curse aside), thanks to the increased capabilities of the Switch. Also, this particular entry has the most Dragon Ball Z-like ending ever and it’s something you need to see to believe. 8) Mini Metro Mini Metro is a great example of a game that’s simple to play, yet difficult to master. I love how simple it is; you literally drag your finger across the screen to create lines for trains. And... that's pretty much it. At first, you’ll have only a few trains to work with, but as both the city and your infrastructure grow, you’ll need to allocate your resources in such a way that you can meet the needs of all the people needing to get to their respective stops. I do wish the game had more achievements and was more goal-oriented, but the basic score attack mode is so addictive that I lose hours at a time just trying over and over to create the best train system I can. If you love strategy games, you can’t pass up Mini Metro. 7) Overcooked! 2 Somehow I didn’t play the first Overcooked! until shortly before 2 came out. I think it’s because I always viewed it as a multiplayer-only title and since I don’t have many other people to play with locally, well, you get the picture. However, the critical acclaim of the first original spoke to me and I was determined to play the sequel when it launched. And I couldn’t have been more wrong about it. Even as a single-player experience, Overcooked! 2 is a blast to play. You’ll need patience to master controlling two characters by yourself; just imagine it as a sort of relay race that goes on for a few minutes each time. Preparing each meal and keeping up with each order is fast and frantic fun, especially when combined with the way each level throws different curveballs at you and tries to impede your progress in different ways. Overcooked! 2 is easily a strong contender for the best co-op multiplayer game of the year; it’s that good. 6) Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom I grew up in a Nintendo household so I really had no experience with the Wonder Boy/Monster Boy series until last year’s excellent Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap. Playing through it made me feel like I had pretty much experienced all I needed to from that series, but boy was I wrong. Although Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom still feels like a SEGA Master System/Genesis game at its heart, it’s also a much more in-depth experience. It’s a happy marriage between Metroidvania and Zelda 2 with so much exploration, new skills and abilities, and puzzles to solve that it’s impossible for me not to love every moment of it. Cursed Kingdom is also gorgeous; I can now see why it took some 5+ years for this game to finally come out. All of the callbacks to previous games in the series, whether through new musical arrangements of older themes, visual nods, and cues also help make this one of the most memorable and charming games of 2018, if not a bit difficult in spots. 5) Octopath Traveler Going into 2018, I thought Octopath Traveler had real potential to be my favorite game of the year. Upon playing it, there are a few things that unfortunately prevent this, but I really can’t complain too much since most of the characters have compelling stories to tell and the game features one of the best battle systems and possibly the best soundtrack of the year. Octopath Traveler is that rare game I couldn’t put down because I just had to see what was next; hopefully its success means it won’t be too long before we see another entry. 4) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Super Smash Bros. Ultimate absolutely lives up to its name as the best Smash game to date. An insane 74-character roster (at least starting out) with great new additions (shoutout to King K. Rool in particular) gives this game tremendous replay value. It also offers some of the most entertaining, challenging, and creative fights I’ve played thanks to the new Spirits mode and World of Light, which acts as the game’s single-player campaign. We might not get another Smash for a long while now, but that’s okay because Smash Ultimate will be played for a long time to come. 3) Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion + Season 2 content With over 750 hours of game time and counting, Splatoon 2 is still my most played Switch title by far, and it’s gotten even better in its second year. The free updates that have been provided for the main game have added everything from new levels to new weapons and gear, great Splatfests, and even new Salmon Run stages. But let’s talk about Octo Expansion for a sec. To date, it’s the single best piece of DLC I’ve ever played. It’s what Super Mario Galaxy 2 was to its predecessor. Forget the main campaign -- the creative scope of Octo Expansion’s 80 levels is nothing short of incredible. Not every level is a winner, mind you, but most are thoroughly enjoyable. Octo Expansion also adds a great new piece of lore to the Splatoon universe with the Deep Sea Metro and all its weird inhabitants. If you thought Splatoon had a weirdly cool, urban vibe to it before, the DLC dials it up to 11. And the story and final boss make up one of the most memorable and unique moments in the series so far. If you’ve ever been a fan of Splatoon 2, Octo Expansion is a must-play. 2) Yoku’s Island Express Every year there is at least one game that resonates with me in a deep way, usually because it has a great atmosphere that I connect with. Yoku’s Island Express is that game in 2018. I can’t fully express to you why, but it hits all the right notes for me. The art style is superb, the characters are charming as heck, the gameplay is a wonderful marriage between Metroidvania adventure and pinball, and the plot is like something out of a Pixar film (even if it’s a bit anticlimactic in the finale). Even the soundtrack is possibly my favorite from the whole year, borrowing from more lighthearted Polynesian/Hawaiian fare to trip-hop and more; it’s wonderful. Heck, I even platinumed the game, which is only my second time ever. Yoku’s Island Express is an incredible debut for developer Villa Gorilla and I can’t wait to see what they do next. 1) Marvel’s Spider-Man I knew Marvel's Spider-Man was going to be a good game. Heck, I even imagined it’d be great. How could it not be after those incredible E3 demos, two years in the running? What I didn’t expect, however, was for it to completely shatter my expectations and give us the best cinematic Spider-Man story to date (save for Into the Spider-Verse, which just recently released at the time of this writing and is amazing, no pun intended). Spider-Man really is the complete package. It offers a fully-explorable New York, tons of sidequests and enemies to fight (too many, some would even say), lots of collectibles, and a combat system that is extremely fluid and well done. But at the end of the day, it’s the story that really makes the game special for me. To explain why would delve into spoilers, but there’s an emotional narrative that’s pulled off extremely well, and the climax and final battle are a huge payoff for the story arc that slowly builds throughout the game. This is the single best representation of Peter Parker as Spider-Man and, without a doubt, the best superhero game to date. Bravo, Insomniac Games.
  21. If you've regularly watched the various Nintendo Direct videos over the last few years then you're more than likely familiar with Damon Baker. He's been the face for presenting indie games on Nintendo consoles ever since Dan Adelman moved on from the role in 2014, and sadly, his time is also now coming to an end at the Big N. Baker announced his departure from the company on Twitter today, and while he gave no specifics on what lies next for him, he expressed excitement for the next opportunity as well as gratitude for the many developers, publishers, influencers etc. that he had worked with over the years. While Adelman was known for being the first point man at Nintendo who helped establish a platform and communication line for indie games, Baker will be remembered for his cheery disposition and sophomoric efforts in continuing that legacy on the 3DS, Wii U, and more recently, Nintendo Switch. There's no word yet on who his successor will be, but you can bet we'll be introduced to them in a Nintendo Direct (or at E3) during 2019. Source: Damon Baker (via Twitter) Are you sad to see Damon Baker leaving Nintendo?
  22. Steam has been king of the hill for more than a decade when it comes to being the number one digital distribution platform. But recently, the Valve-owned platform's dominance has been threatened by the slow withdraw of the industry's biggest AAA publishers as they moved to create their own digital platforms. Now things are about to get even more difficult for Valve as Epic Games has announced plans to create their own digital distribution platform, with an interesting twist that could disrupt the former's stranglehold on the industry. Dubbed 'The Epic Games Store', Epic's digital platform will split the revenue with developers in an 88/12 ratio, with 88% of the revenue going to the developer. This is a huge shakeup from the more traditional 70/30 model that Steam had been using, and could see developers favoring The Epic Games Store over Steam going forward. But how is this possible? In an interview with Game Informer, Epic co-founder Tim Sweeney stated that when they looked at the expenses of developing and running a digital store, they were negligible at a large-scale. Sweeney also noted that stores taking in 30% of the revenue were, in effect, marking up their costs by 300-400%, leading to an opportunity for Epic to lower that threshold so developers could take in more revenue. Also interesting to note: Epic will be waiving all fees that it would normally take in through its storefront for any developers that use the company's own Unreal Engine to develop their games, instead relying on revenue share from a small percentage of the games' profits due to the usage of Epic's engine. The store will also offer a free game every two weeks (funded by Epic themselves), perhaps taking a cue from what Humble Bundle and EA's Origin have done in the past. The Epic Games Store is slated to launch soon on PC and Mac with a number of curated titles, though the company does plan to open up the store to more titles and platforms over the course of 2019. And like Steam, it will also feature free-to-play games, support mods, and non-commercial games. Source: Gamesindustry.biz What are your thoughts on Epic launching their own digital storefront?
  23. Jason Clement

    Happy thanksgiving

    Do either of you guys increase your exercise output after Thanksgiving? I wonder how many people end up doing that in general.
  24. Jason Clement

    Cliff Bleszinski is done making games

    Famed game designer Cliff Bleszinski has had a good run in the game industry over the years, most notably having created the Unreal and Gears of Wars franchises. But earlier this year, his development studio, Boss Key Productions, was forced to shut down due to low sales of its game, Lawbreakers. While he initially mentioned in a Twitter statement (which has since been removed) that he'd be stepping away from games for a bit to focus on his family, Bleszinski appears to have changed his mind about ever coming back now. In a new tweet today, he responded to another Twitter user saying that he would never make another game again. The comment was made in reference to the other user's disappointment about Boss Key not refunding fans after Lawbreakers (and the studio as a whole) shut down. Bleszinski also reveals in the tweet that he paid employees' salaries, 401Ks, and their healthcare for months after the studio had folded so that they could care for their families. Of course, this doesn't mean Bleszinski couldn't change his mind about the industry sometime in the future, but it does appear that he won't be making any games anytime soon. Source: Twitter Are you surprised that Cliff Bleszinski doesn't want to create any more games going forward?
  25. Jason Clement

    What have you seen recently and what did you think?

    I was surprised by how much I liked Solo. So far, everything that has come out of the Original Trilogy era has been golden as far as I'm concerned (Episodes IV-VI, Rogue One, Solo). I'm hoping the next spin-off movie they do (if they do another one) is the Obi-Wan film.


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Sports games

Who does not love online sports games? Sports have always been a huge part of our lives since way back in Greece, where sports was a way to show who is the better one at physical strength. But today, sports are NOT just about physical strength anymore. Sports are the overall capacity of a human being to defeat their opponents through physical strength and ability of the mind to think fast. Play your favorite sports here and find fun and exciting online sports games that would surely get you all stirred up and thrilled. From ball sports, swimming, soccer games, contact sports to motor and vehicle sports. Find every sports game here!

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There will be no new Assassin’s Creed in 2016

assassins_creed-logoThe Assassin’s Creed fatigue is real… and even Ubisoft may be finally feeling it.

If you were expecting to hear an announcement for a major, new Assassin’s Creed title for launch later this year, that’s definitely not happening according to an Ubisoft Blog post that went live today.

The recently released Assassin’s Creed Chronicles trilogy is now available and the motion picture is still on track to hit theaters on December 21st, 2016, so fans can still get their fix if they want.

Read on for the message from the Assassin’s Creed team.

It’s an exciting time for Assassin’s Creed.

We’re only a few months removed from the debut of Jacob and Evie Frye, the stars of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. We’re proud of the talented team in Quebec City, and all of our studios around that world that took part in bringing the Victorian London adventures of our twin Assassins to life. We truly hope you enjoy playing Assassin’s Creed Syndicate as much as our studios enjoyed making it.

Also, we recently unveiled the first images of Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender in action as our lead Assassin in the upcoming Assassin’s Creed movie that hits theaters on December 21, 2016. Having already visited the set, we can’t begin to describe how surreal and exciting it is to walk the real-world halls of Abstergo, or see the intricate replicas of Assassin weaponry. We have an outstanding cast and crew that want to honor the rich lore of Assassin’s Creed and bring a fresh perspective to the ongoing battle between Assassins and Templars that’s fit for the big screen.

This year, we also are stepping back and re-examining the Assassin’s Creed franchise. As a result, we’ve decided that there will not be a new Assassin’s Creed game in 2016. Since the release of Assassin’s Creed Unity, we’ve learned a lot based on your feedback. We’ve also updated our development processes and recommitted to making Assassin’s Creed a premier open-world franchise. We’re taking this year to evolve the game mechanics and to make sure we’re delivering on the promise of Assassin’s Creed offering unique and memorable gameplay experiences that make history everyone’s playground.

We’ll have more to share on all of the above soon. In the meantime, we want to say thank you to our millions of fans around the world for your continued support.

Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate – Standard Edition – PlayStation 4 (Video Game)

Manufacturer: UBI Soft
ESRB Rating: Mature
Platform: PlayStation 4
Genre: adventure-game-genre

New From: $20.45 USD In Stock


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Daily Archives: November 16, 2016

Messi helps Argentina leapfrog Colombia in CONMEBOL

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Lionel Messi helped Argentina put last week’s loss to Brazil behind them with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Colombia in their World Cup qualifier match.

The Ballon D’Or winner set the tone for the game with a free kick, curled home magisterially off the bar. He then went on to assist with two more goals were laid sumptuously on a plate for his teammates. With a delightful cross, the Barca star took centre-back Davison Sanchez out of the game and gave Lucas Pratto the chance to head home La Albiceleste’s second.

And towards the end of the match, Messi robbed Jeison Murillo with a burst of acceleration and crossed for Angel Di Maria to complete the scoreline.

The victory was one of great importance against a dangerous opponent, who previously was above them by two points in the CONMEBOL table, and also lifting Messi’s team, recovering from two successive defeats, into fifth.

It was a necessary one as well, especially given that rivals Ecuador and Chile, both ahead of Argentina, won their respective matches. Defeat would have left the Argentines worryingly off pace, but victory meant that they are now just one point behind both rivals.

Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez led Chile to a crucial 3-1 home victory over Uruguay on his return from a hamstring injury suffered while on international duty.

Playing with his thigh heavily strapped, the Arsenal striker scored twice in the space of 16 second-half minutes before being taken off to a standing ovation on 84 minutes.

Edinson Cavani had put Uruguay in front after 14 minutes before the hosts hit back just before the half-time break through Eduardo Vargas’ header.

Sanchez then scored for the Copa America champions from the edge of the box on the hour mark before adding a second soon after – his 36th international goal – to leave him just one shy of Marcelo Salas’ all-time record for Chile.

Uruguay had a chance to pull one back and set up a grandstand finish, but Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo foiled Luis Suarez from the spot late on.

Spain’s late brace earns draw against England

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Spain scored twice in the closing moments to snatch a draw in the Wembley friendly.

England had taken control early through Adam Lallana’s early penalty, awarded when Spain keeper Pepe Reina hauled down Jamie Vardy just after eight minutes.

The Leicester City striker then followed up with a fine diving header from Jordan Henderson’s cross just after the break, giving England a solid lead

However, former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas’ superb curling finish in the 90th minute lit up Spanish hopes – and England allowed them to complete the comeback as Isco smuggled home a far-post finish between England substitute keeper Tom Heaton’s legs in the fifth and final minute of injury time.

Spain’s list of injured included, among others, Diego Costa, Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué and Sergio Ramos. Additionally, their No.1 David de Gea had been given the night off, and despite missing what amounts to the spine of their team Spain somehow made it work.

In fact, La Roja’s comeback was so late large parts of the crowd had already headed into the night, satisfied with what they had seen and unaware of the drama that was to follow.

The match would also end Gareth Southgate’s four-game tenure as England manager on a less than pleasing note. It was not the finish he would have expected – or wanted – after Spain’s late show, even as he asserts that he could handle the “big occasions”.

Djokovic defeats Raonic to enter ATP World Tour semi-finals

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Novak Djokovic confirmed his place in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals after narrowly edging out Milos Raonic 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5).

The subject of much speculation during a relative slump in form since June, Djokovic produced a more convincing and formidable presence at the O2 Arena.

And despite a fine performance from Raonic, the defending champion made it 21 wins from his last 22 matches as he looks to regain his World No1 position on ATP rankings.

“Other than a couple of loose service games, I thought it was a good performance,” said Djokovic after the game. “This definitely can serve as a great wind in the back for the matches to come.”

Raonic had lost all seven of their previous matches, and won just one of 18 sets, but managed 42 winners to 11 as he made the running for much of the two hours and 14 minutes.

Djokovic served well to save three break points in the first set and edged through a gripping tie-break when Raonic double-faulted.

The Canadian fell behind early in the second but twice recovered breaks of serve, and while the 17,000 spectators roared with every punch and counter-punch, Djokovic began to leak errors.

Raonic had a chance to level the set but snatched at a forehand, and Djokovic came through a second tight tie-break to clinch victory.

“It’s just hanging in there mentally, staying strong and believing that the opportunities will arise,” said Djokovic.

“When they do you have to capitalise. I think one or two points separated us today. It could have gone either way, this match.”

The five-time champion will also the first to go through to the last four of the tournament, as Raonic goes on to face Dominic Thiem for the other semi-final place on Thursday.


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Recovery Defense Attorney Providing the Best Possible Representation

Obtaining counsel and assistance for clients with alcohol and narcotics addictions and other special considerations

The Law Offices of Daniel P. Garrigan is a respected presence in the drug courts of Texas and provides specialized services to clients facing legal issues because of substance abuse in family law and criminal law cases.

This highly sensitive area of legal defense requires experience and in-depth understanding of addiction and the impact it can have on decision-making abilities. Attorney Daniel P. Garrigan helps clients in Dallas, Collin, Denton and Tarrant counties and throughout north Texas avoid serious criminal penalties by pursuing diversion programs. These programs place clients on supervised probation based on the idea that they need treatment, not jail time and penalties. Charges may be dismissed once the program is completed.

Relentless defender of your rights

The Law Offices of Daniel P. Garrigan is dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation for people charged with drug-related offenses in Texas. Practicing in Texas for more than 30 years, the firm defends clients accused of all types of state and federal drug crimes, including:

  • Drug trafficking
  • Drug possession
  • Possession with intent to sell
  • Driving under the influence of drugs
  • Prescription drug fraud
  • Conspiracy to sell drugs
  • Manufacturing of illegal substances
  • Sale of illegal substances in a school zone
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia

Your constitutional rights are Dan’s top priority. He is committed to analyzing every aspect of your case to find defenses against the accusations. He is not afraid to ask the tough questions that will get results for you:

  • Did the police have a legal reason to pull you over or search you?
  • Did a police officer coerce you into making a confession?
  • Was an informant involved in your arrest?

The answers to these questions can make all the difference in the outcome of your case and decide whether you will be spending your nights in a prison cell or with your family at home. By challenging the prosecution at every turn, The Law Offices of Daniel P. Garrigan provides the best defense for your money. By treating clients with the utmost respect, Daniel works hard to make sure that you are heard and that your rights are not disregarded.

Contact a recovery defense attorney in Dallas for reliable legal representation today

Call The Law Offices of Daniel P. Garrigan at (214) 219-1000 for your free initial consultation, or contact the firm online.


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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Review: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., "Pilot"

Season 1, Episode 1

Grade: B+

Verdict: In an experimental foray into extending its cinematic world to television, Marvel is mostly successful with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  Fans of the numerous comics which have told of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s various exploits may be a bit disappointed at the more light-hearted approach, but this is a series which anyone who loved last year's The Avengers should enjoy.  There are a few bumps along the road in this pilot in terms of some story issues, characters, and connectivity to the larger Marvel Universe, but it is overall something which Whedon, Marvel, and Disney can consider a success.  This episode gives us an interesting perspective on the Marvel Cinematic Universe that we have not truly gotten in any of the films.  With plenty of "Whedonisms" and references to Avengers characters, this is a good start to a series that still has some things to prove.

The announcement that Marvel would be launching a new television series focusing on the exploits of the secret government agency S.H.I.E.L.D., which had been an ever present aspect of all of its films, there was some expected hesitation from fans.  Avengers  writer/director Joss Whedon's involvement seemed to ease a few, but there were still utlimately a lot of questions surrounding whether or not what had been a source of so much economic success on the big screen could cohesively translate to television.  Though this pilot does not answer all of those burning questions, it at least gives us enough of a taste of what Whedon and Marvel are working on that we can most likely know what to expect.

Taking place after the events of The Avengers, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. follows Agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton) as his clearance is bumped up from Level 6 to Level 7.  With this promotion comes Ward's inclusion on a team of specialized agents hunting super-powered humans when they appear...as well as the startling information that Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) survived his apparent death at the hands of Loki.  Meanwhile, Mike Peterson (J. August Richards), a man recently given superhuman abilities, rescues a woman from a burning building, an event which will put him on a crash course with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s newest team.

Perhaps one of the biggest questions going into Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was just how the story would be handled.  Would this be a platform for Marvel characters who would never appear in film to have their place in the MCU?  How would the series address the continuously shifting continuity of the MCU as other films are released?  More importantly, would this show be formulaic or have a more sweeping, season-long story?  The answer to that last question would be...a bit of both.  Considering the set up we get here for the future of this series, it is very easy to see S.H.I.E.L.D. taking a more monster of the week approach until it can really get on its feet.  Depending on your personal taste in TV, this could be either a positive or negative direction.  In many ways, the story that unfolds in this pilot is very expected from what we have seen from S.H.I.E.L.D. in the Marvel films.  The biggest attempts at humor come from that fact that you have a secret organization with limitless resources, giving any writer semi-truck sized loopholes to write through.  Secrets aren't a bad thing by any means, but this approach does not work as well when your story is using the perspective of the place that keeps all the secrets.  Small hints are made at potential stories which could be stretched out throughout an entire season, but none of them are interesting enough at this moment to warrant the whopping 22 episodes this series has been given.

If there is one thing which Joss Whedon does exceedingly well, it's characters.  Surely, then, the characters would be this show's strong suit right out of the gate, right?  Well...not necessarily.  Clark Gregg's Agent Coulson is certainly the spotlight of this episode, and Gregg fills the shoes again very well.  Some hints are given about Coulson's muddled return that could prove interesting later on, which, unfortunately, makes him the most interesting character.  Not a good thing when the rest of your case is brand new.  The rest of this cast of characters is filled with a variety of cookie cutter people one would expect to find on your standard show like this (Your NCIS's and the like).  This is particularly true of Agent Ward, the character who is supposed to be our eyes into this world, a man who is written and played so flat in places that one wonders if Brett Dalton is actually made of paper.  You also have your mysterious Asian female stereotype being taken advantage of here (complete with kung-fu action!).  Whichever characters are not utter copies of things we have seen on other government dramas fall into what you may consider Whedonisms.  Agents Fitz and Simmons in particular feel like the typical quirky individuals we are used to seeing in anything touched by Joss Whedon.  It is a practice which can, frankly, grow very old very quickly.  Although Whedon gets points for making this team infinitely more diverse than what we saw in Avengers, one cannot help but wish we had some more characters with a comic book history to draw from to add a bit more newness and depth.

In addition to story, the cohesion of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was perhaps the biggest question mark surrounding this entire series.  For the most part, this episode handles its connectivity with the likes of Captain America and Iron Man with a ton of rapid fire references in the pilot's first 15 minutes.  The first few of these references are definitely appreciated, but, after about four or five, it starts to become such a contest of winks and nudges that one almost expects a character to face the camera and ask, "Everybody got that?"  Perhaps the biggest surprise of the episode is a reference to Extremis, the explosive technology seen just over 6 months ago in Iron Man 3.  It is in this reference that we not only get a general idea of when this show takes place, but it also gives us a taste of how the continuities of the films which backbone this series will be interwoven into the story of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  In the future, however, viewers will eventually grow tired of the references, instead demanding for more than just cameos of Maria Hill.  It seems unlikely this series could make it through a first season without a Nick Fury or Tony Stark appearance without disappointing fans.

Overall, this is a pilot which succeeds in what it sets out to do: show us how the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be translated to television, but also keep itself in its own corner of that world.  It is an action-packed hour that seems very much so like The Avengers condensed for television (complete with overly loud score).  One wonders how much ABC paid to make this pilot, and it is a particularly sticky element which could spell a premature ax for this series if the viewership doesn't stay.  Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. definitely gets more than a few things right its actors, premise, and most of its story.  It is more in some disappointing aspects of the story, the characters, and its over-reliance on Whedonisms where this episode does not really take off as it should.  On the whole, however, there is definitely enough here to make one want to watch what happens next...and perhaps, in television, that's all that really matters.
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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Comic Spotlight Review: Alien Vs. Predator: Fire and Stone #1

This review has slight spoilers, those looking to go in completely blind, tread lightly.

If you’ve read my review of Aliens: Fire and Stone #1 or heard our discussion about Prometheus: Fire and Stone #1 on the podcast, you know that so far we’ve very much enjoyed Dark Horse’s relaunch of the Aliens franchise. A week from today we’ll get the next installment, which throws the ritualistic hunters into the mix with Alien Vs. Predator: Fire and Stone #1, by Christopher Sebela and Ariel Olivetti. The crossovers between these franchises on the silver screen have been...let’s be generous and say pretty sub-par; does the comic do the epic battle between these two science-fiction creatures justice?

Unfortunately, it’s pretty hard to tell. That’s largely due to the ordering of these Fire and Stone books. With Prometheus and Aliens, they tied together well but were not dependent on one another. AVP follows Prometheus #4, which means it’s playing out a situation that doesn’t come out until December. And that connection is absolutely crucial–there are characters we know from the other two books, but what has happened to them is totally unclear, and most importantly there’s a villainous Engineer-esque monster after them that we have no clue whatsoever about. The issue focuses on Galgo and Francis trying to escape Elden, possibly an Engineer who somehow controls a group of Aliens. On top of it being utterly confusing, it’s unclear how he controls the Aliens, which seems to undercut one of the major themes of Prometheus, that even gods cannot control (or even survive in some cases) their creations.

Oh yes, and there are Predators there, too. It’s not made explicit why they are on this ship as well, but assumedly there will be some kind of showdown coming. For a book called Alien Vs. Predator, though, there’s not a whole lot of plot regarding either.

Fortunately, this first issue has one saving grace, and it’s a big one: Olivetti’s art is absolutely stunning. It’s not quite like anything I’ve seen before–a bit of Esad Ribic’s careful shading, but with a touch of impressionism in the right places. There are some interesting layouts, and he’s got a nice subtle way of making the characters/creatures stand out in an almost 3d sort of way by giving them more defined linework than the background. It’s really quite gorgeous, and saves the book for me.

I think there’s potentially a good story in here, and certainly the art is worth revisiting. At this point, though, it’s hard to tell where its going, or more importantly, what's preceded it. It’s a bit bizarre to 1) have this follow the end of one of the books it is tying into and 2) have it precede the actual Predator book, which releases October 22nd. There’s a fair chance that this story, which might be the last chronologically in Fire and Stone, might be a great capper for the tale, but at this point I don’t know why or how the Predators are involved or even what’s going on with the principle human cast.

Alien Vs. Predator: Fire and Stone #1 will be in comic shops on October 8th.

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Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole

Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole

February 5 - March 24, 2019
Gil Cates Theater

West Coast Premiere Musical
Written by Colman Domingo & Patricia McGregor
Directed by Patricia McGregor
Music Supervision by John McDaniel
Choreography by Edgar Godineaux
Tap and Additional Choreography by Jared Grimes
Featuring Gisela Adisa, Connor Amacio Matthews, Bryan Dobson, Mary-Pat Green, Dulé Hill, Ruby Lewis, Zonya Love, Brandon Ruiter & Daniel J. Watts

In this electrifying exploration into the soul of an American icon, Tony and Olivier Award nominee Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor imagine Nat “King” Cole as he faces the final Christmastime broadcast of his groundbreaking variety show and weighs the advice of his friend Sammy Davis Jr. to “go out with a bang.” Cole’s hit songs, such as “Nature Boy,” “It’s a Good Day” and “Smile,” underscore this boldly original homage to the renowned performer who struggled to break through America’s color barrier in the early days of television. A feast for the eyes, ears and soul, the musical incorporates lively choreography by Broadway veteran Edgar Godineaux and dazzling tap dance steeped in politics and pizzazz created by renowned hoofer Jared Grimes.

Reprising their roles from a sold-out run at People’s Light & Theater in Philadelphia, Emmy Award nominee Dulé Hill (West Wing; Psych; Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk) as Nat “King” Cole and Hamilton star Daniel J. Watts as Sammy Davis Jr. bring life to a play the Philadelphia Inquirer called “profound, ambitious, wide-ranging and dreamlike.” Like Cole himself, Lights Out promises to be “Unforgettable.”

In The News

Ovation Recommended by LA Stage Alliance

Review: For Nat King Cole in Lights Out, smiles on camera but ugly truths behind the scenes

Review: "Unforgettable... Dulé Hill is a study in finesse, capturing Cole's outer cool and inner blues."

Feature: Dulé Hill Brings An Icon To Life In Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole

Listen: Remembering Nat King Cole: Kurt Anderson interviews Dulé Hill on Studio 360

Review: ★★★★ "Dulé Hill is magnificent as Nat King Cole... Daniel J. Watts is electrifying as Sammy Davis Jr."

Review: "Dulé Hill’s mesmerizing, indefatigable star turn more than merits the standing ovation it receives."

Review: "Lights Out is spectacular entertainment... don't miss this show!"

Feature: Dulé Hill channels Nat King Cole, who met a racist world with songs of love, joy and grace

Interview: Colman Domingo and His Sly Deconstruction of Nat “King” Cole

Opening Night: About last night: Celebrating the 'unforgettable' play about Nat King Cole

Watch: Dulé Hill stars in Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole at Geffen Playhouse

Interview: Broadway’s Dulé Hill and Daniel J. Watts Reunite to Play Nat King Cole and Sammy Davis Jr. in this New Musical

Interview: Here's Why You Haven't Seen Colman Domingo Onstage Lately

Interview: Storyteller Extraordinaire Patricia McGregor Ruminates on Nat, Sammy, Dominique & Her 3 P's

Listen: Actor Dulé Hill discusses his role as Nat "King" Cole in Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole, how working on The West Wing and Psych strengthened his craft as an actor, and more on the Geffen Playhouse Unscripted podcast

Feature: Dulé Hill visits "The House that Nat Built" — Capitol Studios invites Dulé to their iconic Hollywood headquarters to record songs with Nat "King" Cole's original piano.

Interview: "It feels as if I'm on hallowed ground." — An interview with Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole actor Dulé Hill at Capitol Studios

Meet The Artists

A Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominated artist, Mr. Domingo’s plays include Dot (Samuel French), Wild with Happy (Dramatist Play Service) and A Boy and His Soul (Oberon Books), among others. He co-wrote the Broadway musical Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. His work has been produced by the Public Theater, Vineyard Theatre, Humana Festival of New American Plays, New York Stage and Film, A.C.T, Tricycle Theatre in London, Brisbane Powerhouse in Australia, among others. He is the recipient of a Lucille Lortel, Obie, Audelco and GLAAD Award. His theater career of over 26 years spans the West End, Broadway, Off-Broadway, Australia, France and regional theaters across America. The multi-hyphenate has two television series in the works for AMC and HBO, which he will executive produce and write. He stars in the Golden Globe-nominated film If Beale Street Could Talk and on television on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead.

PATRICIA McGREGOR (Playwright / Director)
Patricia McGregor is a director and writer from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. She has been profiled by The New York Times three times for her direction of world premieres. Recent credits include Place (world premiere at BAM Next Wave Festival), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Old Globe), Skeleton Crew (Geffen Playhouse), Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole (People’s Light), Skeleton Crew (Studio Theatre), Measure for Measure (The Old Globe), The Parchman Hour (Guthrie Theater), Hamlet (Public Theater), Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout Theatre Company), brownsville song (b-side for tray) (Lincoln Center Theater) and the world premieres of Good Grief (Center Theatre Group), Stagger Lee (Dallas Theater Center), Hurt Village (Signature Theatre), Holding It Down and Blood Dazzler (Harlem Stage) and The House That Would Not Stand (Berkeley Rep/Yale Rep). Other credits include A Raisin in the Sun, The Winter’s Tale, Spunk, Becky Shaw, Adoration of the Old Woman, Four Electric Ghosts and Nothing Personal. She served as tour consultant on J. Cole’s World Tour, directed the 24 Hour Plays on Broadway and staged readings for HBO’s writer’s Access program. McGregor is a co-founder of Angela’s Pulse and a Usual Suspect at New York Theatre Workshop. She was a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow at Yale School of Drama where she earned her M.F.A. and served as Artistic Director of the Yale Cabaret.

JOHN McDANIEL (Music Supervision)
John McDaniel is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning Music Director, Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator and Producer and is an Artistic Director at the Tony Award-winning O’Neill Theater Center. Recently he has directed Sondheim Originals at 54 Below, Piano Men at Birdland and HAIR in Concert at the historic Patchogue Theater. On Broadway: Bonnie and Clyde (Drama Desk Nomination for Best Orchestrations), Catch Me If You Can, Brooklyn (Producer and Orchestrator), Annie Get Your Gun (Grammy Award), Taboo, Chicago, Grease, Patti LuPone on Broadway and Company – the Original Cast in Concert at Lincoln Center. Television: The Rosie O’Donnell Show (two Emmy Awards). John has collaborated with Cab Calloway, Shirley MacLaine, George Burns, Joel Grey, Carol Burnett, Betty Buckley, Bette Midler and has guest conducted at 15 Symphony Orchestras across America, including five concerts with his hometown St. Louis Symphony. John received a B.F.A. in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University.

Now At The Geffen

Upcoming Shows & Events

. June 2019
May 2019
June 2019

Performance Info

This production contains adult language, theatrical haze and the smoking of herbal cigarettes.

90 minutes, no intermission.


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Friday, November 11, 2016

My Genealogy Friday - 11 November 2016

This was Veteran's Day, and I pretty much stayed home and blogged (wrote 9 posts today)..

*  Dropped Linda at the Y, home to read email and blogs, and posted Veteran's Day 2016 - Honoring My Heroes, then noted that 52 Ancestors - Week 150: #203 Maria Ursula (Von Ernest) Dinkel (1713-1793) posted.

*  Gathered up the Cox stuff and took it down there.  Back home within 15 minutes, should get a refund on the rest of the month.

*  Wrote New Records From Findmypast - 11 November 2016 and printed off my RootsMagic handour for SDGS on Saturday.  Got the wash done, had lunch.

*  Worked on the GRO order for Thomas Richman's birth record, and wrote Order England and Wales Civil Registry Certificates and PDFs Online.  Took my nap.

*  Online at 3 p.m. to read, add to the Best Of post, and wrote Family Tree Maker Software News Update and then This Week's We're Related Cousin Relationships.

*  Checked Facebook, and wrote the Surname Saturday post.

*  Went in for dinner at 5:30 p.m., watered the front plants, watched TV news, and read the paper.  Online at 6:30 p.m. to write the SNGF post for Saturday, then answered email.

*  Went in at 8 p.m. to watch the Aztecs basketball game and read my book.  Aztecs won 69-59 but had a hard time of it.

*  Online at 10:15 p.m. to write this post, and check Facebook.  Genealogy today was 9.5 hours.

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Thursday, January 26, 2017

My Genealogy Thursday - 26 January 2017

This was a stay-at-home genealogy day for me, but Friday won't be.  It was cool thism orning (42F at 7 a.m.) and sunny, and got up to about 65F in the afternoon.  clear as a bell, I should have driven to where I could see the snow on the mountains but I didn't.  I sure didn't advance the research ball today either - frustrating to waste so much time.  Drat.

*  Dropped Linda at the Y, home to read email and blogs, picked her up, we went grocery shopping, and home by 9:45 a.m.  Noted that 1686 Birth Record of Ledia White (1686-???) in Mendon, Mass.-- Treasure Chest Post #350 posted.

*  Added to the Best Of post, answered email, and checked Ancestry Hints.  Rested my eyes for 30 minutes, then had lunch.

*  Wrote Dear Randy: What Newspaper Search Engine Do You Use?  Checked Facebook, worked in FamilySearch Family Tree a bit using RootsMagic.

*  Downloaded the JoyFlips app and registered, then played with it a bit.  I'm still confused on how to do some of the tasks.  Looked at more Ancestry Hints.

*  Went in at 5 p.m. to watch TV news, eat dinner, read the paper, and wash dishes.

*  Online at 7 p.m. to read, add to the Best Of post, and work on the 52 Ancestors biography.  Got confused and did the father of the person but figured it out eventually.

*  Checked Facebook, and wrote this post.  Genealogy today was 9.0 hours.

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Former US Federal Reserve governor believes in central crypto currency

The former Governor of the US Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh believes in the potential of crypto currencies for central banks. In an interview with the New York Times, he praised the innovative power that these currencies would bring. According to Warsh, although digital currencies are currently affected by strong fluctuations in value, they could still be used to a greater extent with the help of more decisive research. He also brought the issue of the US Federal Reserve’s own crypto currency back into play. If he were still a member of the leadership, he would launch such a “Fedcoin”.

Usually it’s the voices from the end that make the loudest noise. Kevin Marsh, who held one of the twelve governorships of the US Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2011, also showed this last week. In an interview with the New York Times on Friday, he called on the U.S.

Federal Reserve to become more involved in crypto-currencies, contrary to its current direction

One such possibility would be the release of a crypto currency centrally controlled by the US authorities. Warsh is thus bringing the “Fedcoin”, initiated last year by the New York Federal Reserve, back into play. The current head of the central bank Jerome Powell, however, thinks little of crypto currencies.

If he were still part of the leadership of the Washington authorities, he would have long drawn attention to “the Fed issuing a Fedcoin,” Warsh said, “Not that this cash would displace and replace, but it would be an effective way to conduct monetary policy in the event of the next crisis.

According to Warsh, the world of central banks is divided into those who find crypto currencies either “cool” or “risky”. Nevertheless, central banks would have to make much more decisive efforts and exploit their potential.

For this to succeed and for digital currencies to become reliable means of payment, it would also be necessary to adapt the existing legal framework and integrate crypto currencies into its system.

“Congress has given the central bank a monopoly on money. And if the next generation of crypto currencies looks more like money and less like gold – and there will be less volatility associated with them, so that they do not become a purely speculative investment but reliable means of payment – I would not want anyone to take this monopoly away from me as a matter of principle, the 48-year-old predicts the US Federal Reserve’s coming control claims.

Already in March, the current lecturer at Stanford University had presented the advantages of Bitcoin in a guest article in the Wall Street Journal. Nevertheless it had reminded, all crypto currencies could end in the future worthless .

US Federal Reserve wants to use blockchain for payment transactions

In addition to crypto currencies, Warsh also highlighted the potential of the blockchain for central bank activities in a report published this week. As with interbank transactions, there are a number of application areas for which the US Federal Reserve can use the technology.

Unlike crypto currencies, this attitude does not contradict his former employer. This is because the current head of the Federal Reserve and former Warsh competitor Powell has already expressed several positive opinions on distributed ledger technologies in the past.

“At the moment we understand the blockchain as something that can have a decisive application in the payment traffic of the economy”, says Powell.

Until last year, Warsh himself was regarded as a hot contender for the post of chairman of the central bank. US President Trump, whom he had advised on economic issues prior to his election as president, was, however, a thorn in his side. In his opinion, Warsh was “too young to be taken seriously by the markets in the event of a renewed financial crisis”.

Observers found this reasoning inappropriate, as Warsh had already shared responsibility for the fate of the central bank during the 2008 financial crisis.


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Monthly Archives: February 2014

Product Development and Factors to Consider Before Custom / New Product Development

Product Development and Factors to Consider Before Custom / New Product Development 5.00/5 (100.00%) 5 votes

About Product Development

Custom Product Development” or generally known as “New Product Development” may sound simple, but it is the multifaceted process of designing, prototyping and manufacturing a new product from the scratch. To be honest, the designing and engineering phases involved in product manufacturing are truly complicated and beyond one’s imagination. It refers to a collective team effort among the major departments within the company, including, R&D, Operation, Marketing, and Finance. Under the hood of custom product development, each and every member of a product development company strives to find the set of innovative solutions to customer problems or customer needs.

Factors to Consider Before Initiating the Product Manufacturing

Generating New Ideas

Companies with a higher rate of success in custom product development make a concerted effort to produce a steady stream of new product ideas. All of these ideas undergo a thorough screening process, and many are discarded just before the potential winners are declared. Some ideas are left untouched because in management’s decision the need or problem they solve is not convincing enough to prompt customers to be highly motivated to make a purchase. The ideas that make it through the final manufacturing phase are those that offer customers something that is much more useful than anything offered in the market now. They offer user-friendly, understandable yet potent solutions. These are the products about which people remark: “I wish I’d thought of that!

The Test of Marketability

For companies, “What will be the price of the product?” is the key point of concern at the time of introducing the product. For example, if you are a company that deals with consumer products, then it can be quite expensive for you to bring your product to the mass market. Additionally, the average length of the sales process affects your product’s marketability, as well.

Now days, for some technology-based business solutions, a series of meetings and presentations are held prior the purchase decision is made. Therefore, for better marketability, companies should make sure that they have distribution channels in place, or can immediately establish them, to get their products in front of potential buyers. Companies that knowingly or unknowingly ignore this step are often frustrated with how difficult it is to get their products on major retailers’ shelves.

Evaluation of Feasibility

A product idea may be left untouched because its manufacturing duration would be too long or there are plenty of design hurdles that can hamper the overall development period. Delaying the launch of a newly developed product equates to lost revenue opportunities. Moreover, the manufacturing cost of the product should be taken into consideration with respect to the size of the market of the product. Spending $6 million to produce a product that will only return $2 million annually doesn’t make economic sense, as it will take years to recoup the basic investment.

One more feasibility issue is whether the company has the in-house team for product development so the gross margin will be ample enough to ensure profitability. If the manufacturing cost is too high, the price charged to the customers may be too high as well, which makes a product less competitive in the market.

The Decision to Proceed

After a thorough research, lots of meetings and hundreds of presentations, a company devises a product plan that forecasts the bottom-line profit the company is expecting to yield from the new product development. In case, if the prospective profit of the product to be developed is not up to the financial performance standard of other products in the company’s line, the judgment may be made not to proceed with manufacturing it. However, there are some strategic considerations as well. Acquainting a product may allow the company to reach a large new market for other products it produces, boosting revenue company-wide. At the end, custom product development can solidify the brand image of the company.

All of the above listed aspects unite together in the final decision of whether to give the new product development the green light and proceed with introducing it.

Why You Need A Professional Product Design Company?

Why You Need A Professional Product Design Company? 4.33/5 (86.67%) 3 votes

Not every entrepreneur or designer has the resources to make his or her product come to life. That’s where the industrial product design services come into the play. A product design and development company can take care of all the technical and practical factors of manufacturing a new product in your brain. Whether you want to develop a never before product idea, something brand new, or something like your business’s core product, all you need is a reliable product development partner that can execute the job more effectively and efficiently.

Working with a product design and development company brings you in touch with a group of people who have years of design and development experience across a huge scenario of varied industry types. Product Design Company such as GID in California has everything you need for your product design and development. It has skilled manpower and the latest technology, to deliver a cost effective solution for the bulk manufacturing process.

One of the key advantages of hiring an industrial product design service from a reputed firm is its expertise in transforming ideas from the nebulous stage to a fully functional prototype. Possibly, your brain might be flooded with the greatest money making ideas, but without the technical know-how and the contacts to turn your concept into professionally developed schematics and a functioning prototype; you will never get if off the ground.

An established product design company has the tendency to deliver industry standard plans and specifications that exemplify your concept in real materials. A product design company with years of experience is also capable of recommending the ideal materials and manufacturing processes to bring your concept to life in the most inexpensive and rational manner.

The ideas are yours, of course; but when you contact a product design and development company like “GID (Get it Done)”, you open all the doors to make those ideas come efficiently to life. Such companies don’t waste your time and money, and use the most suitable material and technology for rapid prototyping and for final development phase. A product design company can knock out all the time wasting and overspreading that takes place when a great idea meets a person with no experience in product design and product manufacturing.

A good product design and product manufacturing company will offer you with a full package that includes the aesthetics and brand design of your idea along with its working functions. The success and the long term profitability of your idea solely depend on the product design. In addition to manufacturing and technical design professionals, a product design firm will be there to offer helpful guidance on the appearance of your product. Instead of trying by yourself and risking your product idea, get in touch with a company that can help you get it right every time.

GID Company, California, can transform your basic design ideas into reality and offer great product design solutions through experts. Feel free to contact us at:

Plastic Product Manufacturing: Use the Best Way to Produce Plastic Products

Plastic Product Manufacturing: Use the Best Way to Produce Plastic Products 4.67/5 (93.33%) 3 votes

What is Plastic Product Manufacturing?

The plastic product manufacturing refers to the successions of steps necessary to convert raw oil and natural gas into desired products made from plastic like hoses, cups, pipes and much more. It is a complicated procedure that initiates with converting oil and other natural gas into hydrocarbon monomers that are later combined together in huge chains called polymer plastics.

On the basis of the kind of monomers assiociated together, the manufacturer can generate various types of polymer plastics, including high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). As soon as these plastic polymers are produced, the following stage in the process is to convert these simple polymers into desired consumer products. There are four sub-processes, which might be used to do this, and they are injection molding, rotational molding, extrusion molding, and blow molding. Every manufacturing procedure yields diverse type of plastic products.

Best Method to Produce Plastic Products

If you are into plastic product manufacturing, then what is the best process for the product development? If you don’t know, then here we will show you a process which can offer the best finished plastic products. Continue reading to know more about the process.

Latest Molding Systems are a Necessity

Have you heard about “Hot Runner Injection Molding”? Hot runner system is one of the best options for molding of plastic parts. With the help of this system, a manufacturing company can easily inject the molten plastic resin into the cavities of the mold to create precise products. Injection molding is a process, which can be performed using a variety of products, including, metal, glass, confections, elastomers, etc. The material is directly fitted into the heated and hot barrel and smoothly inserted into the mold cavity where it cools down and hardens as per the shape of the cavity.

Today, the use of a hot runner system has become a growing trend because it is one of the most efficient methods of molding different plastic parts. Additionally, it saves time and money, and the product manufactured using this technology is better in terms of looks and durability.

As a result of several advantages it offers, the dependency on the hot runner is increasing steadily across the globe. The basic investment in hot runner is certainly quite high, but to be honest, it is worth it. One must look at the long term benefits of this equipment. Since the hot runner is designed and manufactured in an independent manner, the lead times in the production stage are never affected.

Why We Advocate “Hot Runner System” for Plastic Product Manufacturing?

There are many advantages of adopting “Hot Runner System” for plastic product manufacturing that force us to advocate it as the best method for “Plastic Product Manufacturing”. Here are some of the advantages of hot runner injection molding:

1.    Better Efficiency and Enhanced Production Ratio:

It has been scientifically concluded that Hot Runner System has the ability that increases the level of efficiency, at the same time also enhancing the overall production rate. The product manufactured using this technology is free from any flaws; therefore, have a better market value. We also promote it because of its higher heating capacity. It is easy to use a hot runner mold. Since the equipment is pre-heated the molten product can be easily poured into the mold, and the temperature can be easily controlled.

2.    Better Quality of Operations

Hot Runner System is not only better at increasing efficiency and the production rate, but even the quality of operations presented by hot runner is very high when compared to a cold runner. It is one of the key reasons, why a hot runner mold is preferred over cold runner. The hot runner is a worthy investment and will definitely fetch excellent results in the long run.

3.    Obeys Industry Standards

With the advancements in the technology, the competition for using hot runner molds is increasing day by day. Since various plastic injection molding companies are increasingly realizing the benefits and importance of hot runner injection mold, the industry has defined a set of standards while manufacturing such hot runners. In return, this set of industry standards ensures the best mold without any defects or flaws.

Whom to Contact For Plastic Product Development in the USA?

You will find numerous local, as well as international custom plastic product manufacturing companies over the web, but no one can stand up to the level of creativity, technical stability, and experience that GID possess. Based in California, they are a leading product development company that serves to help other companies, organizations and individuals to develop its ‘one of kind’ and innovative new products.

They provide fully managed, low cost & high quality plastic manufacturing services to their clients in the United States and worldwide. They are in fact a one stop solution to all your product development requirements. Boasted with teams of product designers, qualified engineers and 3D CAD design experts, they are dedicated to help their clients to manufacture the finest product for their customers that can boost their brand.

Want to inquire about GID’s Plastic Product Manufacturing Service? Contact us @

How to Reduce Time to Market in Product Development?

How to Reduce Time to Market in Product Development? 4.00/5 (80.00%) 1 vote

GID is a product manufacturing company that assists its clients throughout the product development lifecycle, from product research and custom product development to quality assurance and maintenance activities. We also guide our clients in selecting appropriate technologies, platform and features before committing to any large financial outlays.

In today’s competitive world and stiff market conditions, smart entrepreneurs must carefully allocate every penny. Not only money, but even time is critical in any product development because, when you plan to develop a product or service, you cannot be sure that your competitor will not introduce a similar product before you do. Therefore, time will decide the success or failure of your product introduction to the market.

There are many ways by which you can reduce a product’s time to market. A few of useful ways to reduce the project time is listed below. The points / tips are a good sample of the most common approaches taken by experienced project managers to reduce the project’s time to market:

Incremental Development

Incremental design and development is essential in decreasing product’s time to market and must be considered as the primary tool when starting a complex project. By incremental development, you can pick a subset of the features of the product specification; you work on that subset, test it and weigh it. The product is shown to the customer and to all stakeholders for comment. Finally, you can choose to release this subset to the market or move to the next step and pick other features from the specifications and include them to the product.

The beauty of this approach is that at any phase, you have a product which is functional and could be released to the market. In addition, by showing the product to the customer, you get instant reviews at the end of every cycle in product development. With this method, there are no hidden surprises, and the development team and the customers are in sync throughout the product development lifecycle.

Testing and Re-evaluation

At the completion of every development phase, the product is tested thoroughly and prepared for the launch. This does not contradict the concept of continuous deployment. The product is constantly tested and evaluated. As time progresses, the product gets more and more polished and functional. At any stage of the development life cycle, the product can be shown to the customer or stakeholders for evaluation and feedback. The motto behind this evaluation, at the end of each lifecycle, is to determine whether the product is meeting the specification or not? Whether, new changes are required or not?

Regular testing and evaluation helps to reduce the risk of project failure or delay.

Cross Functional Teams

For the desired result in the limited period of time, the product development company should have different teams of experts, which includes R&D, manufacturing, marketing and engineering. Keep the size of the team as small as possible, because as the member of the team grows, its efficiency is reduced due to maintenance and management factors needed for larger teams. Increased number of members in a team also increase the chance of rivalries and politics, which you don’t need in your team.

Agile Methodology

Agile methodology is an old yet an effective product manufacturing concept. There are several advantages of agile methodology for product development and even the most renowned design and development teams in the market today are practicing agile methodology. In the latter, the product is divided into several phases or so called sprints. At the completion of each phase, the team has a functional product which could be launched to the market or be used as the platform for the next phase. Agile reduces time to market substantially for most product developments and as an added advantage, it decreases the manufacturing cost.

A complex project development takes a lot of time and resources to come to fruition. Time to market plays a crucial role in the success or failure or any product. By employing the above mentioned tips / steps, a product manufacturing company can reduce time to market, manufacturing cost, and can have a better quality of products for their customers.

For more information or for custom product manufacturing, feel free to contact GID at

Increase Your Business Revenue with Professional Yet Affordable Product Design by GID Company

Product Design
Increase Your Business Revenue with Professional Yet Affordable Product Design by GID Company 4.33/5 (86.67%) 3 votes

 Being a professional product design and research consultancy, we dream and breathe the world of industrial design, additive manufacture, and Medical Device Design. If you want to bring your idea / concept to life, then feel free to communicate with our professional product designers who will be happy to serve you.

Product Design Service in California:  Boost Your Sales Graph Vertically

Whether you are an individual, start-up, small, mid-sized company or a multinational brand, we are here to fulfill your product design needs and help you to turn your ideas into money yielding products. We carefully listen to every idea, as we personally believe that no idea is small.  Under the hood of GID Company, we offer services such as concept design, product design, applied industrial design, industrial design, product manufacturing and research, with, concept design, concept development, 3D printing and, not to forget rapid prototyping.

At GID Company, we understand the significance of ideal product design in the custom product manufacturing. Our professionals know how to bring the right ideas into products and products to the market. We are perpetual with our creativity and love to help our clients and partners, belonging to a wide range of industries, by helping them to design and manufacture their products and concept. You can hire our skilled and experienced product designers who have delivered product designs for customers in a myriad of markets and industries.

Different Product Design Phases @ GID Company

Thorough Research: Success and failure of a product development is directly proportional to the design of the product. Therefore, we take utmost care while devising a design for your concept. According to our product designers, a good industrial product design takes into account user needs, market forces, material processes, constraints and manufacturing requirements. For successful product manufacturing, we never compromise with any of these factors.

Concept Creation: Concept creation is the second phase of the product design and development wherein creative minds at GID Company act together. Based on the thorough research data, the creative minds at GID Company come up with the right, feasible ideas for every aspect of a design brief.

Concept Design Realization via CATIA:  This is a stage that links concept creation and product prototype development. The concept creation “Ideas” thought in the previous phase is realized in the form of feasible designs, and an attempt is made to transform that idea into something tangible. It is an important phase, in which a concept is turned into photorealistic representations for better understanding of features and functions. At GID Company, the viable designs are realized by CATIA V6, the most advanced 3D Virtual Design and Engineering Software available today.

Product Prototype Development:  This phase can also be referred as the backbone of new product development (NPD). It allows product design companies to test the performance and integrity of the design. Skilled and experienced brains at GID have an amazing ability to prototype almost everything, small or large in most materials using latest technologies. In fact, we are awesome at rapid prototyping.

At GID Company, we have a team of creative product designers, qualified engineers and skilled project manager to regulate product development at every phase. We are immeasurable with our creativity, and we keep on working until we manufacture a product that is world class and cost effective. For product success, we follow a unique stage-by-stage approach that allows our clients to work with us through the entire development cycle.

Our product design services in California cater for a wide range custom product designing and manufacturing requirements, meaning no job is too small or too big for us to be involved with. There’s absolute no harm in sharing your concept with us.

Why Not Get in Touch with Us? Let our team of product designers help you on your new and exciting product design and development journey. Let’s make it happen, Contact us at: or call us at +1-714-323-1052.


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Perfect weekend in Brighton!

Find the best Brighton Hotel deals!

Brighton Hotels

I went to Brighton with 3 wonderful girls that I met during my internship in New Romney. We wanted to explore a new city, and the choice fell on Brighton as we had heard so much nice feedback from people who had already been there. We were staying at a nice Brighton hotel with the perfect location. Our hotel in Brighton was in the centre of the main landmarks like the Brighton Pier and the West Pier. The Royal Pavilion and the and the Brighton Pavilion was not far away either, as it was in walking distance from our accommodation. The best thing with the Brighton Pier was that it had a fun fair there. You could do all sorts of fun fair activities and they also sold great snack food as crepes, ice cream and candy.

Our hotel was just across the road from the beach where there was a lot of bars and clubs. This was perfect for us as we also wanted to explore the night-life in Brighton. They had something for every type of interest when it came to music and opening times. There was a place that was open till 6pm which was kind of a meeting place for people who wanted to stay out longer. However, there was also a lot of clubs and bars in the town, so you should not be bored if you like to party.

Brighton is a town with a lot of young people as it is known to be a great student city. If it was up to me, I would have continued my studies in Brighton as this town has so much to offer. We met a lot of nice and friendly people. A popular thing to do is to sit on the beach with a bonfire for barbecuing and talk before or after the clubs have closed. However, one downside is that it is usually al lot of wind at the beach, so you should have some warm clothes with you if you are planning to sit there for a while.

You can also do a lot of shopping. There is a shopping centre and many other shops along the streets. If you are not up for shopping you can visit one of the many cafeterias or restaurants to have a nice meal and relax.

My friends and I really liked this city! I have spread the good words to all of my friends at home, and they are very tempted to visit Brighton now!


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Syracuse Planning Online JD Degree

Earlier this month, InsideHigherEd released news that Syracuse University announced plans to create a hybrid JD degree.

The institution hopes the American Bar Association and New York State will accredit [the program]. The program will be launched in partnership with 2U Inc., which helps colleges take their academic programs online and already works with five other colleges at Syracuse. Students in the J.D. program would receive much of their instruction online but would also take some in-person courses and participate in externships, according to a news release from the university.

Legal education has been slow to move online, as the ABA has taken a conservative stance in its approvals. In 2013 it gave William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law) authority to create a part-time hybrid program.

In 2012, 2U helped the law school at Washington University in St. Louis create a fully online master's degree in U.S. law. The law dean at WashU at the time, Kent Syverud, is now the chancellor at Syracuse.

This is the second school to create a hybrid JD program. It'll be interesting to see how many more jump on the bandwagon.

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