Gamertell

Title: Quark: The Complete Series
Price: $19.95
Release Date: September 2, 2008
Studio: Sony Pictures
Rating: Not Rated.
Pros: A relatively unknown sci fi parody TV series resurrected for home video for the first time. Hokey humor, cheesy Star Trek homages, blatant stereotyping and over-the-top acting make this so bad it’s funny.
Cons: Complete lack of extra features.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 80/100; B-; * * * out of five.

Yes, the name might be a bit confusing to some. This is not a desktop publishing application. This is not about subatomic particles. It is not even about a big-eared bartender from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Quark is, simply put, a disco parody of mid-’70s sci fi that’s so bad, it’s good…

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Oh yes. Don’t tell me you didn’t see this coming - Guitar Hero and Rock Band are the ultimate “I think I’m cool” rock star simulators, and reality show producers can smell success from a mile away. That’s right kids, Rock Band is about to have its very own rock star moment (wow, that’s meta) with the upcoming VH1 classic series entitled Rock Band 2: The Stars. Destructoid has the scoop on the new series, which will star Alice Cooper, Sebastian Bach, and 12 contestants who will live in a Real World-y mansion and compete with one another for the grand prize. Six short episodes are planned for your viewing pleasure.

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While gamers all enjoy video games with voice acting, they often tend to also take for granted the people behind the voices. Many times, the voice actor for a character isn’t even credited or listed, so people might just think someone sounds familiar, but not bother to confirm it.

Gamertell has compiled a list of 10 prolific, famous and noteworthy voice actors who have lent their talents to video games. Not all of the games that the following actors have appeared in will be mentioned, just a few of the more famous entries as well as significant roles in TV series.

Click through for the complete list…

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If you’ve been following Important Importables for a while, you might have noticed that I like to touch on not only games but game-related imports as well (or at least things from Japan that might interest gamers). Today’s column is one of those days.

Due to coverage of titles like Tokimeki Memorial: Girl’s Side 2nd Season, Otometeki Koi Kakumei Love Revo DS!! and Duel Love, Important Importables has acquired a few otome fan readers (fans of dating/life sims for women). I figured today’s column would be a good chance to highlight an anime episode that they’d enjoy - Ouran High School Host Club episode 4, “The Invasion of the Female Manager.” it has a hilarious storyline involving a devoted female otome fan, a club filled with otome stereotype guys and a series that is going to appear on DVD in the US in the coming months…

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Yeah, I got to see the BatPod and the BatCopter only a few weeks apart. In Ohio (USA), even. What’s the deal with that? The planets must be in some strange alignment.

The helicopter is sans bat wings but it has been painstakingly restored to its original condition so the owner could make a small fortune giving people the opportunity to sit in it for 2-3 minutes. Paying customers would be ready at the gate and, as soon as the copter landed, rushed over to get seated while the previous passengers rushed out. With such a quick turnaround it was about…

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Check out the gallery: BatCopter at 2008 Ohio State Fair

Title: Bleach Uncut Season 2: The Entry box set
Price: $39.99 (Amazon) - $80.99 (Barnes & Noble)
Format: DVD
Release Date: August 19, 2008
Company: Viz Media
ESRB Rating: Unrated
Pros: Episodes 21-41 uncut, English and Japanese voice tracks, English subtitles, production art, mini-poster, Ichigo sticker
Cons: Only basic extra features
Overall Score: Two thumbs up, 90/100, A-, **** 1/2 out of 5.

The second season of Bleach is arguably one of the best in the run of the series. While the first season,”The Substitute,” sets up the story for viewers and acts as an origin tale for the hero that is Ichigo Kurosaki, the second season, “The Entry,” gives viewers the opportunity to see what Ichigo is capable of and up against.

The best way to experience this, to understand the mechanics of the Soul Society and Soul Reapers, is to watch the uncut DVD box set in Japanese with English subtitles. Even though Viz Media has cast capable voice actors to give life to all of the characters, the introduction and personalities of the various Soul Reaper captains and vice captains are better captured by the original Japanese voice actors. Since Viz Media has also done a great job with translating for the subtitles, the DVD set is a joy to watch either way…

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Title: Birds of Prey: The Complete Series
Price: $29.95
Release Date: July 15, 2008
Publisher: Warner Bros. Television
Rating: Not Rated
Pros: The transfer is perfect and the addition of the entire web series, Gotham Girls, is terrific. A bit more palatable than when it originally aired thanks to Smallville.
Cons: The series remains as fault-filed as ever with some weak performances and some cheesy special effects.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 80/100; B-; * * * out of five.

With the recent resurgence of Bat-Mania thanks to the gritty and good Dark Knight movie, it’s a little surprising that Birds of Prey DVD release didn’t get a little more attention. Sure, the series didn’t quite make a full season but the relation to the Caped Crusader is unmistakable.

Click through for the full review…

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Hey sci-fi fans - it looks like Stargate is getting another series. Called Stargate: Universe, the new show is aimed more at a new generation of fans, and will take place mainly in space (hence the “Universe” part of the title. ICV2 has the scoop on the new series, which will be produced by Stargate vets Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, and will premiere on the Sci-Fi channel as a two-hour movie early in 2009, with episodes to follow in the summer.

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If you’re a Joss Whedon fan who still hasn’t purchased Firefly, and you happen to own a PS3, you may want to wait until November 11, 2008. The full Firefly series (only 14 episodes), is going to be released on Blu-Ray for $89.98. The Blu-Ray release will include additional episode commentary by Whedon and some of the cast and will also include a Firefly Reunion discussion.

The Blu-Ray Firefly set will also come with some extra features that will entertain fans. There will be two extra Whedon snippets, where Whedon tours the show’s set and where he sings the Firefly theme. There will also be a special piece called “Serenity: The 10th Character”, deleted scenes from episodes, outtakes and Alan Tudyk’s audition.

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We know that game tie-ins to a movie usually end in utter disaster. Ironically enough those games tend to sell very well despite their quality. Brash Entertainment knows that which is why they’ve published movie games including Jumper: Griffin’s Story, Alvin and the Chipmunks and Space Chimps. Brash’s latest endeavor moves beyond cinema adaptations and into television with a game based on the television show Prison Break which is scheduled for release in February 2009 on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Proof of the games existence came from an ad inside the Prison Break Season 3 DVD box set telling us all of…

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