GeekSugar

Iron Man Review: It's All About the Flying

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:00:01 -0700

I'll admit it, I have a geek crush on Iron Man. And, I adore his geeky-but-hot alter ego Tony Stark, who has a lab straight out of every geeks' daydreams with computers, gadgets, and hot cars (most likely equipped with some high-tech GPS) galore. Even the phone he carries is totally geek chic!

So after loving the movie enough to make plans to see it a second time with some pals – and shell out another $25 bucks including popcorn – I was pretty excited to see what they had done with the game. Although it's no secret that I'm not the biggest fan of movie tie-ins since video games based on movies are usually complete crap, there are some silver linings to this title, but not many. The movie absolutely crushed the competition and pulled in another $50 million at the box office this past weekend, but unfortunately I doubt the game will be received as well as the film. To see what I mean, read more.

As you may be able to tell from the title of this post, it really is all about the flying. When Tony takes to the skies, it's one of the most exciting parts of the film, and is probably the best feature about this game. I could fly all day! But you gotta come down to earth eventually, and when you do, it gets a bit disappointing. The graphics are cool, but movements are clunky, and the foes are kinda useless.

These days, games are intelligent and the enemy has some sort of evasion tactics where it becomes challenging and hard to shoot at them. Take Uncharted: Drakes Fortune for example. Those bad guys are a tough bunch, making it hard to beat, yet, it's totally satisfying. Iron Man's enemies however, must be blinded by the shiny suit, cause they don't put up much of a fight. . . Which is a good thing if you want to blast through the game (but you may get bored).

And although the likeness of Tony and Yen-Sin are pretty spot on even when up close (and RDJ's voice acting really does lend a great touch), the rest of the outside world seems to be missing something. Unlike Mass Effect, where you thought the landscapes could stretch on forever, the distant views in Iron Man are not as impressive. Plus, when you go from superintuitive controls while flying and attacking enemies in the air, to awkward and clunky controls on the ground, it gets a little frustrating.

All in all, Iron Man is good for a rental experience, but I doubt that you will keep it for long. Unless you just can't get enough of the flying that is, which is totally understandable! Iron Man is out now - pick it up online.

Get Your Game On: May Releases

GeekSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:00:56 -0700

May is yet another month packed full of movie-to-game titles that I hope (fingers crossed) will be as awesome as the films are. I've been putting in mega OT with Mario Kart and GTA IV, and I hope to add a few more to my schedule this week to give you more in depth reviews so that you can make an informed decision on which ones are worth dropping some cash on! Which games are you looking forward to? Are they not on my list? Let us know which are on your must have list in the comments below!

**New Video Game Releases (May 2008)**
Why You'll Love It	Console/Price	Release Date
Iron Man - I got a sneak peek of the film, and I'm hoping the game is as jam packed with action as the movie! Plus, with Robert Downey Jr. lending his voice, the game should transition from the big screen just fine!	XBox 360,PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS, PC, $30 to $60	Out today! Get it online.
Speed Racer - The film of the same name starring Emile Hirsch takes to the small screen with this fast paced racing game. Bonus - you get to use the Wii Wheel!	DS and Wii, $30 and $50	Coming May 6.
Chronicles of Narnia - Prince of Caspian - The next installment of the Chronicles has the Pevensie children traveling back to Narnia, which is ruled by an evil tyrant in this movie tie in.	Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii, DS, PC, $30 to $50	Out May 15.
Wii Fit - Not only is it one of my May Must Haves, but it's on Fit's list as well! Wii Fit is finally hitting the shelves this month after much anticipation so you can work, balance, and sculpt your way to fitness, the Wii way!	Wii Fit, $90 with Balance Board	Work it out May 21.
UEFA Euro 2008 - Players from over 50 European soccer teams that are realistically modeled? Sign me up! Not to mention that this is one game that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, just as you are when Manchester plays Chelsea.	Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, $60	Out May 19.
Myst DS - The classic PC puzzle game from the '90s comes to the DS where you figure out puzzles to unlock a mystery on a deserted island. One of my all time faves when I first started playing games!	DS, $30	Get it on May 20.

More Iron Manliness!

GeekSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:00:34 -0700

I can't get enough of Iron Man previews - this older one was awesome, and so is this one below. Maybe it's the smoldering Robert Downey Jr. or the high-tech action sequences? Or maybe I'm projecting my excitement for the video game - but whatever, I know I'm seeing this on opening night (May 2^nd!). The best, geekiest line from these trailers so far? "I don't want to see this on your MySpace page!"

More Robert Downey Jr. Goodness in the Iron Man Game

GeekSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:00:17 -0700

I'm super stoked for this year's blockbuster, Iron Man to hit the big screen, not only 'cause Robert Downey Jr. is one of mine and Pop's fave leading men, but because the tech and gadget cameos are sure to put me in geek overload! If you haven't seen the preview, it's packed pretty tight with geeky goodness that I'm sure you'll enjoy, plus some pretty rockin' tunes that I wish they'd offer up on Rock Band!

Thankfully, the video game will be hitting the shelves on the same day as the movie release – May 2 – so you can go from theater straight to your home console without missing a beat. But the good news is Robert Downey Jr, Terrence Howard (Lt. Rhodes) and Shaun Taub (Yin-Sin) will be lending their voice talents to the game as well. Which consoles are getting in on the action? Find out when you read more

Everyone's invited to this party! Not only is the game coming to the big hitting PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, but newbies like Wii and PSP owners can play as well. Oh, and you DS lovers? No worries, you'll get the title too!

Source

Picture Perfect Tech: Cell Phones in Iron Man

GeekSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:30:05 -0700

This past weekend I finally checked out the big tech-filled blockbuster of the year - Iron Man! Robert Downey Jr. does a fantastic job playing super-brilliant inventor Tony Stark, who builds a high-tech suit of armor that can do just about anything and everything. Downey's friend and personal assistant Pepper Potts is played by the beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow, who also adorns some high-tech treats throughout the film. Being the geek that I am, I couldn't help but notice the cell phones that Downey and Paltrow used during this action-packed flick.

Pepper Potts was spotted with a LG-KS20, a thin sleek phone which boasts a 2.8-inch touchscreen, while Stark used the media friendly Verizon LG VX9400 to place a video call. Yes, lots of lovely product placement for LG, nonetheless, two chic looking phones.

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Oscar-Worthy Gadgets: Tropic Thunder's Tech Addiction

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:00:26 -0800

I love that Robert Downey Jr. was nominated for his role in Tropic Thunder - next to all these very serious roles, there's a "dude playing a dude disguised as another dude." Classic. So besides the hilarious performances by the cast (Hello, Tom Cruise!), technology took some very nice supporting roles throughout the film.

Not only did Matthew McConaughey's character have a Blackberry attached to his hip, but he played virtual Wii golf in his office on a very sleek flatscreen TV. And who could forget his quest to get Tugg Speedman a TiVo in his trailer? But Les Grossman's office is where the bling really lies. A pimpin' stereo system (perfect for dancing to, of course), his laptop, and multiple cell phones keep him connected and grooving to the pulse of the industry.

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Do Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, and Brad Pitt Google Themselves?

GeekSugar — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:11:03 -0800

Pretty much all of us "regular people" have Googled ourselves at one point or another. But what if you were so popular that a Google search could result in finding nasty rumors and horrible commentary about yourself that you wouldn't necessarily want (or need) to know? Such is the problem with celebrities Googling themselves. Recently, new Oscar nominees Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr., and Anne Hathaway participated in a round table where they answered the question of whether they had ever Googled themselves. Click through my slideshow to see who admitted to it and who denied it! Source and Source

View Slideshow ›

Behind the Scenes at ILM: The Making of Iron Man

GeekSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:00:52 -0700

When I took my tour of ILM studios a few weeks back, I was lucky enough to get some behind-the-scenes info on the special effects and animation that went into making Iron Man; straight from the guys who worked on it. Unfortunately for me that only made it harder to wait until I could own my very own copy of the Summer blockbuster!

A small group of us got a special Q&A session with Ben Snow (VFX Supervisor), Hal Hickel (Animation Supervisor), and Aaron McBride (Art Director, who by the way is pretty much John Krasinski's twin, but with longer hair - this made it very hard to pay attention), and got some fun details on the Iron Man suit, the flying sequences, and how cool it was to work with director John Favreau. To check out some geeky-but-fun facts from the film, just read more.

Although a full, tactile Iron Man suit was made for reference, they used visual effects for almost all of the scenes with Robert Downey Jr. in the suit.
Iron Man was chock-full of visual effects! ILM produced about 400 of the 800 visual effects shots in the film.
A bunch of the shots had to be filmed twice, once with the real Iron Man suit, and once as CGI.
John Favreau wanted Iron Man to fly the opposite way that Superman does: "Superman takes off fast and lands slow, if you think about it. He takes off really fast and always comes down for those soft landings. Iron Man is the opposite. He takes off slow and lands fast," which makes total sense with the weight of his suit!
The "Suit-Up sequence" (where those big arms place all of Iron Man's plates on Tony Stark's body) was completely CGI! They digitally placed Robert Downey Jr.'s head in to that scene.
John Favreau is one cool dude. Not only does Buzz think he was the perfect man for the job, but he's easy to work with as well. All three guys said it was refreshing to have the director ask for input from the crew, since it made the project more fun for them, and more of a collaborative environment.

I think it's a safe bet that there's going to be a ton of extras on the DVD, including the ILM test shot of Iron Man - the first shot they ever produced for the film. Needless to say, I'm leaving work today on a mission - to get my own copy of the movie, STAT! I have lots more information to share with you from my day at ILM, so stay tuned for some insider info on the making of Indiana Jones: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!

This Week on geek: Spring Has Sprung!

GeekSugar — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:17:23 -0700

We heard news that Madonna'a album will come out on cell phones before it hits stores
Lilpeadpod's marvelous Kindle Cake got two thumbs up from Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon!
We offered up guides to looking good behind and in front of the camera so you'll be ready for Spring parties
White must be in: We spotted lots of white phones on Lipstick Jungle
Get your Robert Downey Jr. goodness in the Iron Man Game
We took a special look at sex, love and digital communication (translation: everyone is obsessed with text messaging)
Then, we wondered: Is there such a thing as text etiquette
If you're a Gmail user you'll go google for our top 10 Gmail tips