by Stone Marshall | Aug 16, 2015 | Awesome Book News |
July’s NPD numbers are in and the world’s greatest detective has fallen to the might of plastic dinosaurs – with some caveats.
Batman, which took the lead last month, fell to number two as Lego Jurassic World took its place. If, however, you include console bundles that came with Batman: Arkham Knight, it’s a different story. Including those bundles – which the list below does not – places Batman in the number one spot. Minecraft, which has been on the NPD list for an impressive amount of time, rose up from number six in June all the way to number three this month. The biggest new release for July is Rory Mcilroy PGA Tour which came in at number six.
Here’s the full top 10 list for July. The platforms are listed in the order of sales, and do not include hardware bundles.
- Lego: Jurassic World (360, 3DS, PS3, XBO, NWU, PS4, PSV)
- Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4, XBO, PC)
- Minecraft (360, PS3, XBO, PS4)
- Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3, PC)
- Rory Mcilroy PGA Tour (PS4, XBO)
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited (XBO, PS4, PC)
- Destiny (XBO, PS4, 360, PS3)
- Mortal Kombat X (PS4, XBO)
- FIFA 15 (PS4, 360,. XBO, PS3, Wii, PSV, 3DS)
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3, PC)
The industry overall saw some dips and some increases. Sales across hardware, new physical software, and accessories rose by 5% representing a trend towards a flat rate of sales. New game release sales are down 5% from last month, but still represent a substantial increase compare to 2014. New-gen software sales are up an impressive 63% (likely thanks to Batman’s influence), but last-gen and handheld software is down 39% and 33%, respectively.
Hardware sales didn’t spike much this month rising only 2% compared to July 2014. New-gen consoles and handhelds are still seeing positive growth, but last-gen console sales saw a large drop at 56%. NPD also offered this interesting statistic: “After 21 months, combined Xbox One and PS4 hardware unit sales are close to 50 percent higher than the combined sales of Xbox 360 and PS3 after 21 months on the market.”
Sony offered a comment here about its PlayStation 4 sales, which are still going strong and in the lead thanks in part to Batman. Microsoft and Xbox One are keeping up though, and corporate vice president of Xbox marketing at Microsoft Mike Nichols wrote the following in a statement: “Xbox One and Xbox Live continued to see strong sales and engagement in July, with Xbox One sales in the U.S. up 44% over July 2014 and active global Xbox Live users (Xbox One and Xbox 360) up 22%.” Nichols’ statement also mentions the release of Windows 10, but does not offer any insight into its sales or popularity.
Our Take
The new generation of consoles is doing well for video games, better than I think many assumed it would considering the gap between graphical capability between this and the previous generation is the smallest it’s ever been. It’s impressive how well Batman continues to perform, but not nearly as impressive as Minecraft which seems to be on its way to be owned by every human being on planet Earth.
July 2015 NPD: Lego Jurassic World Overtakes Batman, Minecraft Won’t Go Away
by Stone Marshall | Aug 15, 2015 | Awesome Book News |
Since I still haven’t seen it in action with my own two eyes, I’m still baffled by the concept of 3D printing. In my head, I imagine it like the machine that makes those detailed masks in the Mission: Impossible movies. But it’s becoming more and more popular, and cosplayers have utilized it for some incredible things so far.
Here’s another awesome 3D printed piece that would work wonders for Spider-Man cosplayers: a spectacular mask created by Yuri Schuurkes from SpideyPlanet that’s a replica of the one from the Sam Raimi movie. The eyes lock in place with magnets, and you can check out photos and video of the assembly below. You can buy it for yourself on Shapeways.
Video: Make Your Own 3D Printed Spider Man Mask
by Stone Marshall | Aug 15, 2015 | Awesome Book News |
I think most of us expected that there was going to be a big surprising twist involving Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) and the Reverse Flash on The CW’s The Flash. I’ve read a few theories online, but according to Grant Gustin (Barry Allen), none of the theories out there are correct.
Even though that is Cavanagh wearing the Reverse Flash, costume I refuse to believe that he is going to end up being a villain. While talking to CBR, Gustin confirmed that there’s going to be a big twist we don’t see coming.
“Yes. There’s a twist with Harrison Wells and the Reverse-Flash storyline that no journalist has guessed — I’ve never seen it online. It’s going to I think really surprise everyone. And it’s an original twist to the character that doesn’t mess up the mythology.”
He also says the twist isn’t something you’ll be able to figure out by reading past comic books. That tells us that the series is going to venture into unexplored territory, which is fantastic! Who knows, maybe the big twist is that he really is the villain.
I love it when these shows get inventive and deliver something the fans aren’t expecting. He also talks about working with Mark Hamill, who is reprising his role as The Trickster from the original Flash series:
“It was amazing! It really was. It really was. Everyone grew up watching Star Wars. Everyone. Yes, I grew up watching Star Wars. It was surreal to meet Mark Hamill. He was amazing. He was so excited about being a part of this. He really busted his ass. No part of him just showed up and phoned it in. He delivered a really interesting character. And he’s so humble and grounded and easy to talk to.”
The Flash returns on March 17th, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the season plays out. If you have a theory about the Reverse Flash twist, let us know in the comments!
Grant Gustin Says No One Has Figured Out the Reverse Flash Twist Yet
by Stone Marshall | Aug 14, 2015 | Awesome Book News |
Captain America: Civil War is shaping up to be just as big as an Avengers movie, and there’s arguably more at stake, too: the film is going to tear the team apart from within and draw a line in the sand between Chris Evans’ Captain America and Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, forcing everyone to take sides in an ideological battle over superhero registration.
So who stands with whom? Potential spoilers ahead, but according to Heroic Hollywood’s sources, the teams are as follows:
- Iron Man
- War Machine
- The Vision
- Black Widow
- Spider-Man
- Captain America
- Falcon
- Ant-Man
- The Winter Soldier
- Hawkeye
- Scarlet Witch
Black Widow choosing Iron Man’s side is the only one I’d call a real surprise there, especially since it puts her in opposition to her longtime buddy Clint Barton. I wonder if her decision has anything to do with what happened to The Hulk at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron? Still, Cap’s team having one extra member seems like it’ll give them an advantage. I haven’t read the comic on which this is based, but I remember hearing about the fallout from it after it hit comic book stores; if the film sticks close enough to the comic, let’s just say some Marvel fans may be wiping away tears by the time the end credits roll.
What do you think about the team breakdown?
Team Iron Man and Team Cap Members Reportedly Revealed For Captain America: Civil War
by Stone Marshall | Aug 14, 2015 | Awesome Book News |
Earlier today we posted a photo of Deadpool hitchhiking to Comic-Con. We’ve now got five new images to share with you featuring the extended cast. The photos give us a look at T.J. Miller as Weasel, Ed Skrein as Ajax, Gina Carano as Angel Dust, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and Morena Baccarin as Copycat. There are also images of Ryan Reynolds in and out of his Deadpool costume.
An interesting note: he doesn’t have scars in the photo of him not wearing the costume. I assume that might be from some kind of flashback scene that we’ll see in the movie.
These photos come from EW’s Comic-Con issue (via Comicbook). Deadpool hits theaters on February 12th, 2016.
Five New Photos From Deadpool Feature Weasel, Ajax, Angel Dust, and More
by Stone Marshall | Aug 10, 2015 | Awesome Book News |
Yet another Hollywood power couple bit the dust on Tuesday as Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog announced their separation, conveniently setting a new dynamic for the upcoming “The Muppets” television show. USA TODAY
BEVERLY HILLS — Never underestimate the staying power of a pig.
Since conquering TV with The Muppet Show in the ’70s, the Muppets have never been too far from our screens, big and small. And now, come fall, they’ll be back on ABC in The Muppets — led, as usually, by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
The gimmick for this new series is that it’s a reality show taking us “behind the scenes” at Miss Piggy’s talk show, Up Late with Miss Piggy.
“We’ve been given unfettered access,” says producer Bill Prady, best known for The Big Bang Theory. “We tried to fetter it,” adds Kermit, “but it didn’t work out.”
And yes, of course, Kermit was on the panel at the Television Critics Association press tour. And he was asked about his relationship with Miss Piggy.
“Piggy and I have gone our separate ways romantically,” Kermit says. “I guess it’s just coming out in the press now. It can be tough to work with your ex. It can be tough to be the executive producer on your ex’s talk show, particularly when your ex is a pig.”
Can they get back together? “People change. So do frogs and pigs.”
For now, though, Kermit has moved on. His latest girlfriend is a pig who works for ABC. “I do have an attraction to pigs.”
Which brought forth Miss Piggy, who immediately began complaining about the chairs and the men’s lack of chivalry and the terrible way most of the critics dress. When she’s right, she’s right.
“I’m glad we’re broken up,” says Miss Piggy. “It’s going to be good for moi’s publicity. Now everyone’s going to be asking ‘Who is Miss Piggy snogging?'”
“Not asking,” says Kermit.
The goal with this show, says Prady, is to be “exactly the same and completely different” from the original Muppet Show. And that includes recreating the hidden-camera look of a reality show — even though it’s impossible to catch a puppet off guard or capture a puppet’s casual moment because, you know, they’re puppets.
“To the certain extent from a production side, this is a magic trick,” says Prady. “It’s going to this amazing world and getting it to look hap-hazard and casual.”
“This has been very cool for me,” says Prady, “especially since I began my writing career with Jim Henson and the Muppets.”
It’s Splitsville for Miss Piggy and Kermit
