http://www.reelz.com/movie-news/11794/steven-spielberg-promises-not-to-alter-e-t-or-raiders-of-the-lost-ark-for-blu-ray-release/

Does George Lucas have a good editor inside himself anymore?

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/08/50-years-ago-today-fantastic-four-1-changed-the-comics-world/

Four people hop into a space rocket and were doused with Cosmic Rays, giving them amazing abilities… and one gets pretty screwed by the deal.

Why is the Fantastic Four relevant? Aside from this being the first comic book series to capture what made this age of Marvel great, flawed heroes, my favorite Fantastic Four character is The Thing. He hardly has much to brag about. Unlike the other three, this poor bastard was permanently disfigured by the experience. His origin is the making of a super villain, and yet, he’s not one.

You know what’s also cool about this cover? No spandex.

I’ve learned, from great creators, to appreciate the Fantastic Four for being science adventurists and explorers.

It’s palatable how much sequential art and storytelling has had an impact on my career. Any time I create a storyboard, I’m applying learned techniques from comic books.

http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/07/27/games-consoles

I also don’t care much about hardware specs of consoles (aside from core ones like disc format for versatility for movies, HD space and as long as it includes wifi), because most serve as marketing talking points re-used in fanboy pissing contests. I’d like to meet the person that straight up bought a PS3 for the Cell processor.

A few things stand out as odd to me:

1) 1080p output, but the discs are a proprietary format. Will they contain less data capacity than a BluRay? Probably, but as Pat has said, it hasn’t helped PS3 much since cross-platform games rarely make use if that space.

2) Nintendo is no Apple. They cut tech and ports like the Eagles drop veterans before they stop getting old. This thankfully outputs 1080p, but they’ve got HDMI, component, composite and S-Video out? S-video!? Can’t believe that’s included. Even if it costs pennies on cost per unit, it’s worth scrapping. Composite users aren’t concerned enough about picture quality to even notice or know about an S-video improvement. That’s just silliness. Are the Japanese or Europeans THAT behind us in HD adoption or something?

3) Flash-drive storage, huh? I guess the $200 Xbox 360 units match Nintendo’s target demo, and external hard drives are cheap enough for hardcore local data storers. prices are dropping by the minute, so not a big deal, but Nintendo’s definitely not selling movies or other large, local content unless they suddenly learned cloud data management (yeah, no way).

4) Wii’s pointer and motion control seemed really cool, a nice change of pace and something different from dual analog as primary input. I guess I need new software examples to be impressed, because it’s got to be more than choosing your play in Madden secretly, local mutiplayer, or giving the TV over to the other family member while you continue on the controller.

They’ve tried the user-centered screen before with Gamecube and Gameboy Advance cables for a clever multiplayer version of Pac-Man and Zelda game. Dreamcast did it first. Large touchscreen input matched with dual analog and buttons gives you crazy amount of options, or lets you be casual as Angry Birds or as traditional as ever with a gimmick use of the touchscreen. I think it could serve to enhance hardcore game functions as much as casual, if not more so. PSP Vita is doing the same thing. Nintendo’s will be more affordable than a PS3 and PSP Vita, so Nintendo’s tablet touchscreen controller is a “dumber” device that’s dependent on the Wii U console to operate, while Sony’s two platforms are independent gaming units.

Certainly was an interesting E3. Lots more to read about upcoming software, which looks solid.