ReportWire

Tag: Ken

  • K-POP HOTSPOT: August 2024 Comebacks & Debuts Roundup

    K-POP HOTSPOT: August 2024 Comebacks & Debuts Roundup

    [ad_1]

    August will always be one of the busiest months of the year for us. And the same goes for K-Pop groups! When we say everybody was in the studio this month, we mean everybody. But we’ll let you be the judge of that in our newest K-POP HOTSPOT!

    Have you caught up on all the comebacks we’ve covered already? Remember to check out comebacks from groups like Xdinary Heroes, Big Ocean, BANG&JUNG&YOO&MOON, AB6IX, LUCY, NMIXX, PLAVE, ZEROBASEONE, &TEAM, and LE SSERAFIM! And don’t forget solo debuts and comebacks by Yoon Sanha of ASTRO, EXO’s Chanyeol, and PENTAGON’s Jinho.

    We have SO many August K-Pop comebacks to cover, so let’s go over everything you may have missed!

    THIS MONTH’S NEWS

    You thought we would bombard you with music already, didn’t you? Before we get into the best part of the roundup though let us tell you some other exciting news! Do you miss BTS as much as we do? Then fear not Jungkook’s solo documentary JUNG KOOK: I AM STILL is hitting theatres on September 18th worldwide and you can find more ticket info right here. We are so excited to spend more time with our favorite maknae!

    Speaking of fun things to watch did you know EPEX just released their new and fun YouTube reality series The EPEX3? If you need some laughter and sunshine don’t be shy and follow this link. We are ready to binge this one at the beach with a cool drink to be honest.

    Well, we are almost done but we just wanted to let you know some news about our favorite boys from Omega X! Musically it has been a more quiet when it comes to the group but that doesn’t mean they aren’t booked and busy! Jaehan has put out an amazing OST, Yechan is booked and busy in not just one drama (Your Honor) but also a movie (Mad Dance Office) and our boy Hangyeom has been thriving with his fellow Jazz For You cast members during fan meetings. We are obsessed with seeing these boys thrive in their different career paths and can’t wait for more group activities either.

    With that being said let’s get into the music now shall we?

    RED VELVET

    We’re kicking off our August hotspot with a special single we’ll always hold in our hearts! Red Velvet celebrate their 10th anniversary (yes, 10th!) with ‘Sweet Dreams.’ Their special video compiles behind-the-scenes clips of Red Velvet recording the track, along with a collage of music video shots. It’s crazy to see just how far they’ve come in the last 10 years, and we’re emotional knowing we got to grow up with them.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RED VELVET:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    ONF

    Next up, we’re highlighting ONF‘s instrumental album, Infuse! While there aren’t any new songs in this comeback, we also wanted to celebrate their seventh anniversary with them. This 51-minute-long album features 15 instrumental versions of all their hits from 2017 to now. Our favorites are ‘Your Song,’ ‘Fly Me To The Moon,’ and ‘New World!’ It’s truly a masterpiece, and we hope to see this with more groups when they do compilations or best-of albums! 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONF:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    JEON SOMI

    If your summer playlist did not have JEON SOMI‘s ‘Ice Cream,’ was it even a summer playlist? “I’m like ice cream, Ah yeah, Ah yeah” has been ringing in our heads all month. Randomly singing and dancing? That was definitely us. Many of us have been melting over the summer from the heat, but this song cooled us down with its addictive tunes and lyrics.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JEON SOMI:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    INFINITE L

    Any time we get a release from our favorite INFINITE, be it group, unit, or solo, we’re there to hype it up. Member L dropped a solo album, one we’ve been needing for a while. Really, ‘What’s Not To Love’ about this release? The sweet, distinctive vocals carry us on a musical trip, from fun to emotional, and we are going along. If you ask us about our current favorite B-side pick, we’ll tell you it’s ‘Blue Summer.’ Maybe it’s because it matches the season with its fun atmosphere. Still, we definitely recommend you take a listen to the whole 24/7 tracklist.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INFINITE L:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | L’S INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    NCT DOYOUNG

    DOYOUNG of NCT really knows how to set off our nostalgia because his new single ’17’ made us feel all the feels. DOYOUNG sings about the simpler times when we were 17 years old, and they really were so good. We’re also in love with the instrumental version, and it’s a song we can play sitting outside and basking in the sun. If you need a feel-good song to clear all your troubles, ’17’ is it!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NCT:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | DOYOUNG’S INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    UNIS

    UNIS has just released their first-ever comeback since their debut in March! Their new single, Curious, features three songs we added to our playlists on the first listen. The title track, ‘Curious,’ is a pop rock banger about getting out of your comfort zone to be the best version of yourself. The electric guitar instrumentals are so satisfying. And the two B-side tracks are just as incredible, from the empowering ‘Datin’ Myself’ to the catchy ‘Poppin!’

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT UNIS:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    MIRAE SON DONG PYO

    Another new K-Pop single we’ve been replaying nonstop is MIRAE‘s Son Dong Pyo’s ‘Wave (2024)’ and his remake of the 2001 track. Truly the perfect song to bid summer goodbye, ‘Wave’ is an addictive track that sounds refreshing with Dong Pyo’s vocals and beautiful instrumentals. Plus, the music video visuals are everything! He killed all the high notes, and we can’t wait to hear more songs from him.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MIRAE:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | DONG PYO’S INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    LIGHTSUM

    LIGHTSUM is back again, and we have our eyes on them. The girls keep visiting our playlists with new songs, and, of course, we have already added ‘POSE!’ as well. Warning: This song is so fun; it will get you falling for them, and their sound will be even better if you haven’t already. Hear us out: new karaoke fave, perhaps? It is the perfect choice to sing and jump along with your besties.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHTSUM:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    BAMBAM

    Okay, we are absolutely jaw-dropped, mind-blown with BamBam‘s ‘LAST PARADE.’ That’s it; that’s our review. Just kidding, but really, are words enough to describe this banger? BamBam is tapping into a new, unexpected concept, and we’re eating it up. Our new location: 𝘉𝘈𝘔𝘌𝘚𝘐𝘚. Favorite side stops: ‘Mi Último Deseo’ and ‘Ball Like That’ having that tight grip on us.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BAMBAM:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PERSONAL INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | PERSONAL TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    CATCH THE YOUNG

    In case you didn’t know, we at THP have been fans of CATCH THE YOUNG since their debut! They’re back with their first single album, Dream It, and it’s been on repeat for weeks. The two tracks, ‘Dream It’ and ‘Wanna Be With You,’ make us feel like we can handle anything life throws at us. From the electric guitar and bass to drums, everyone gets a solo in ‘Dream It.’ And it’s so healing. Catch The Young slayed this comeback, and what more can we say?

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CATCH THE YOUNG:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    WAYV

    ICYMI, WayV has made their Japanese debut this month with The Highest, a six-track mini-album with no skips in sight! They’re proving even more that they sound good in any language. Honestly, we respect the hustle. WayV showed us a more edgy side with ‘Go Higher’ and ‘Tempo.’ But the vibey ‘Deep Ocean’ and anime soundtrack-esque ‘Bandage’ stole our hearts at first listen. Any day is a good day with The Highest playing in the background! 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WAYV:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    HYOLYN

    Mother is back to save the summer! Queen HYOLYN is back with an iconic summer single called ‘Wait.’ We’ve been obsessing over the groovy island vibes of this track. The choreography is killer, but we already knew Hyolyn would eat it up. What’s even more iconic about this song is that Hyolyn filmed it in the Philippines, which has officially moved up our bucket list! Have y’all seen the visuals?!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HYOLYN:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    FROMIS_9

    Next on our August K-Pop hotspot is fromis_9‘s third single album, Supersonic! If you’ve been sleeping on them, then this is your chance to stan! The title track, ‘Supersonic,’ is one of our favorite summer songs by far. Catch us singing the chorus at random times throughout the day. ‘Beat The Heat’ and ‘Take A Chance’ are such high-quality B-side tracks, too! These girls have really come into their own sound with this comeback, and we didn’t skip a single song.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FROMIS_9:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    HUI

    Did someone say collab of the summer? Because HUI and Kwon Eunbi‘s new song, ‘Easy Dance,’ is here to steal the show! We weren’t expecting such an iconic pairing, but their voices make so much sense together. As the title suggests, it’s an incredibly easy song for us to dance to and vibe along with. Their Waterbomb performance is one for the record books, and we can only imagine how hyped it would’ve been to see this song live! 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HUI:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | HUI’S INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

    KARD

    While we’re on the topic of iconic, KARD has returned after more than a year since their last comeback! Only weeks after celebrating their seventh anniversary, KARD starts a new era with their seventh mini-album, Where To Now? (Part.1 : Yellow Light). We’re SO here for it! ‘Tell My Momma’ as their title track is a brilliant move, and it’s a refreshing and romantic song about falling in love with someone so quickly and wanting to tell your mom about them. Our favorite B-sides are ‘Waste My Time’ and ‘SHIMMY SHIMMY,’ but the whole EP is worth a listen. Or 1092923838 listens. It’s up to you.  

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KARD:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    LUN8

    LUN8 also whipped up some good tunes for us this August with 𝘈𝘞𝘈𝘒𝘌𝘕𝘐𝘕𝘎. You know we love the boys in this house. How would we skip on ushering you to check out their new album and the title track ‘WHIP.’ You need one listen to be hooked, test it out, and tell us if we’re right. Listening to the title makes us take a step back and feel free from our daily worries. And if a title isn’t enough and you don’t know where to start with the B-sides, we highly recommend you check out ‘DELULU.’

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LUN8:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    LISA

    We love it when K-POP meets Latin Pop, and we’ve been truly blessed with ‘New Woman!’ K-POP queen Lisa and Latin Pop princess Rosalía truly soundtracked the end of our summer with this iconic collab. Intertwining electropop and EDM topped with metallic sounds, the song is super captivating. Rosalía’s verse truly brings in that twist that keeps us on our toes, yet it just works. We love it!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LISA:
    INSTAGRAM

    MIMIIROSE

    Our talented flowers, MIMIIROSE, dropped new music, and if you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s the nudge you need. We live for the vocals in that chorus of ‘The flowers swayed.’ A refreshing song about the worries we all experience at one point in life and the uplifting, encouraging message that everything will be alright because no flower blooms without being swayed a little bit. So, if you need that push to keep going and not give up, this is the release for you.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MIMIIROSE:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    SF9

    We’re getting fed all of August with these K-Pop comebacks! SF9‘s 14th mini-album, Fantasy, blew our every expectation out of the water. The title track, ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy,’ has taken over our brains with its addictive chorus and positive message. Don’t miss out on their B-side tracks, like ‘Just’ and ‘Melodrama.’ We really can’t stop listening to this EP. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SF9:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

    DRIPPIN

    The ultimate weekend anthem: DRIPPIN‘s ‘Weekend.’ We feel energized listening to this release. It’s giving us the bright, contagious DRIPPIN vibe and is perfect for that downtime we get after a busy week. Or even to prepare us for it. This comeback may be a single album of only three songs, but it has our hearts locked. We’re grooving to ‘Fly High’ any chance we get and are particularly obsessed with ‘TIME.’

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DRIPPIN:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    TAEMIN

    Can you smell this too? Yeah, that’s ‘Sexy In The Air’ You read that right; no other than our favorite boy, Taemin, graced us with his groovy and recognizable music this past month. We knew from the moment Eternal was announced that this one would be one for the books. Taemin proved yet again how he knows what suits him best, and even under a new company, he kept his signature sound. Songs you should check out from the album are definitely ‘Deja Vu’ and ‘Horizon!’

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TAEMIN:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TAEMIN’S INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE 

    ILY:1

    August is for the girl groups! We said what we said. ILY:1 delivers another stellar comeback with their third mini-album, illang:Firework! These girls are so underrated, and we’d love nothing more than to put everyone we know onto ILY:1. ‘illang (Firework)’ is a summer bop at its core, and their vocals never disappoint. ‘Ocean View’ and ‘I MY ME MINE’ are our favorite B-side tracks, and we’re blessed to get the instrumental versions for all four new songs.  

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ILY:1:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    9MUSES GYEONGREE

    Y’all don’t know Gyeongree’s new single album, Eternal Bloom, like we do. We’ve been waiting for 9MUSES’ Gyeongree to comeback for years, and she’s finally here! ‘Cherry’ is everything we’ve been missing in K-Pop, and it’s such a sweet and infectious song. The music video is absolutely adorable (and relatable). Gyeongree’s dreamy vocals also shine through in the B-side’ Butterflies,’ and we could listen to Eternal Bloom all day. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GYEONGREE:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    YOUNG POSSE

    YOUNG POSSE has proven time after time just how they’re bringing the fun and silliness back to K-Pop! With a GTA-inspired concept for their third mini-album, ATE THAT, we get four new songs that all hooked us during our first listen. The title track, ‘ATE THAT,’ and its music video had us crying laughing. And yes, they definitely ‘ATE THAT.’ We want to be in the room where they come up with ideas because everything is genius. YOUNG POSSE absolutely slayed their B-sides, but we expected nothing less from these girls. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUNG POSSE:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | MEMBERS’ TWITTER | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    MAMAMOO MOONBYUL

    Moonbyul has blessed us with another comeback after a successful FULL album in February and a concert tour this year! But we aren’t complaining! Starlit of Twinkle : Repackage has three brand new songs and the English version of ‘TOUCHIN&MOVIN.’ Her title track, ‘Is This Love?’ is a cute song about her “friend’s friend” who may be in love with a guy. And this song is not about Moonbyul, as she’s already made that clear. (*wink wink*) She’s such a meme, and we love her for it. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOONBYUL:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | MOONBYUL’S INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    LOVELYZ RYU SUJEONG

    Next on our K-Pop Hotspot is Ryu Sujeong‘s new English single, ‘White Dress!’ We can never get tired of Sujeong’s angelic voice; it’s just so soothing. In the music video for ‘White Dress,’ we see her strutting around the city in a wedding dress, shadowboxing, and playing guitar in the park. We now fully believe she’s an angel, and we’re expeditiously adding ‘White Dress’ to our wedding playlist. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RYU SUJEONG:
    INSTAGRAM | INSTAGRAM (2ROX) | YOUTUBE

    SUPER JUNIOR SUNGMIN

    This next K-Pop comeback may be a little different from what you’re used to hearing, but we love it! Super Junior’s Sungmin is back with a solo release: a trot song called ‘YO.YO.YO.’ And we definitely enjoyed it more than we expected. Sungmin’s voice is so well-suited for trot, and we were brought back to the early 2000s with this song! He contrasts the upbeat title track with the beautiful ballad, ‘Brilliant Days,’ and we’re beyond obsessed. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUPER JUNIOR:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    VIXX KEN

    VIXX‘s Ken, you never fail to bring us to tears with your voice. His gift mini-album, Consolation & Love, hits us right in the feels. The title track, ‘너에게,’ shows us why Ken is the reigning king of ballads. He hits high notes so effortlessly, and we’re truly honored that we can keep listening to his music. The simple music video for ‘너에게’ showcasing his live vocals speaks for itself. Ken even gave us a music video for his B-side, ‘Love Day,’ which was much more than we could ask of him. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KEN:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | KEN’S INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    NCT DREAM

    How is ‘Rains in Heaven’ NCT DREAM‘s first English single? Because we need more of these heartfelt songs! This healing track is a huge comfort to us, and we’re officially making it the highlight of our summer soundtrack. As long as the sun’s still out, we’ll play this song on our drives to nowhere with all the windows down. And we’re so jealous of everyone who’ll get to hear this song live on their tour.  

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NCT DREAM:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    JUN.K

    A Jun.K solo single wasn’t on our 2024 bingo, but we are here for it! ‘Paint This Love’ is a groovy R&B track about how love can ease your past troubles and create something beautiful from something painful. Jun.K sings as if our hearts and souls are canvases. His song is literally a work of art, and we’re so excited to hear his voice again. Now we’re off to find more metaphors for how at home ‘Paint This Love’ makes us feel. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JUN.K:
    INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    OH MY GIRL

    Just over a year after their last comeback, OH MY GIRL, AKA our summer queens, are back with their 10th mini-album, Dreamy Resonance! First off, the album art is absolutely magical. And second, the title track, ‘Classified,’ is exactly the type of dreamy fairy concept we’ve been missing. But the best part of this EP is the subunit B-sides. These duets are as lovely as can be, and we can’t pick our favorites even if we want to! 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OH MY GIRL:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    NCT JAEHYUN

    Guess who’s finally made their official solo debut? The one and only Jaehyun of NCT with his new album, J! And if his pre-release songs ‘Dandelions’ and ‘Roses’ were any indication, they’d tell us how high-quality and versatile this album is from start to finish. The music video for his title track, ‘Smoke,’ looks like it came straight from a movie. It warms our hearts to see Jaehyun going all out for this release, especially since it’s been such a long time. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JAEHYUN:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | JAEHYUN’S INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    NOWADAYS

    Our August hotspot has been a month for so many single albums, and we can’t stop listening! NOWADAYS has just released their second single, NOWHERE, and it’s banger after banger. The title track, ‘Why Not?’ is an upbeat dance track about how having a massive crush on someone feels. The music video has the best kind of energy, and we’re impressed by their charisma. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NOWADAYS:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    WOOSUNG

    Everyone say, “Thank you, Woosung” for making us cry! His new single, ‘Day That I Died,’ is a hauntingly beautiful song about losing the most important person in your life. And all you can do is replay the last moments you two had together. We want to know how Woosung captures so much raw emotion in his vocals. He sings with his soul, and we’ll keep this song in our heartbreak playlist forever. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WOOSUNG:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    CHUNG HA

    Our solo queen CHUNG HA is back with a brand new single! Who else is as hyped as us? ‘Algorithm’ reminds us so much of her ‘Roller Coaster’ era, IYKYK. The iconic cameos in the music video are everything, from Uhm Junghwa to Gabee! The chorus and choreography are too addictive. We need every club around us to blast this song immediately, and we’ll be throwing our own dance party with ‘Algorithm’ on repeat!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHUNGHA:
    INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

    DOHANSE

    DOHANSE shows us a new color of his music in his second solo EP, BLUESSOM. We already knew how versatile he is as an artist, but this mini-album only cements it. His signature punk rock sound still shines through. And the double title tracks, ‘Blue Night’ and ‘Milky Way,’ contrast each other incredibly. ‘Blue Night’ feels like a breezy summer night, while ‘Milky Way’ belongs in a morning motivation playlist. 

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DO HANSE:
    INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

    BANG YEDAM

    Our 2024 is now complete with Bang Yedam‘s comeback! He’s back with his second mini-album, GOOD ViBES, and we’ve already broken our replay button for this release. Not only did he write lyrics for all six songs, but he also contributed to composing and arranging each B-side track. His rapping in ‘We Good’ had our jaws on the floor because how can one man be so talented at everything? There’s nothing but good vibes in the EP!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BANG YEDAM:
    INSTAGRAM | PERSONAL INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE

    WEi

    It feels like the summer isn’t over with WEi’s ‘LOVE2YOU.’ This lovely single, filled with refreshing tunes and a music video with cool summery vibes, is the perfect end for the hot August days. But while it has a rather bright vibe, the song is about the feeling of missing someone special. The intense longing delivered by the boys makes this our new favorite single, no doubt. Just like summer, despite it sometimes being a bit too much with its scorching hot days, we will surely miss it once it’s gone. While it may not be the same feeling, ‘LOVE2YOU’ will give us some sentimental emotions over the warm season, as well.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WEi:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    ALEXA

    AleXa continues her journey through 2000s pop-punk nostalgia with her latest single, ‘Joy Of Missing Out,’ and this time, she’s preaching to introverts. In this edgy-sounding song, AleXa sings about the preference of skipping out on big events and busy crowds and why having a party for one is more fun. And honestly? It’s a complete mood!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALEXA:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    YVES

    Yves is back with a new digital single only a few months after her solo debut! ‘Tik Tok’ is a chill, lowkey song about taking your time. The music video looks like a travel vlog, and we love seeing Yves having fun and enjoying her time as a tourist. (Yves travel channel next?) Yves’ voice is so comforting, and we already can’t wait for her next comeback!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YVES:
    INSTAGRAM

    FIESTAR

    There is no better way to end our August hotspot than this. We couldn’t believe we got a FIESTAR reunion and comeback in 2024! We’re getting emotional listening to the 2024 version of their hit ‘You’re Pitiful.’ It hits even harder knowing the lengths Cao Lu went through to buy the copyrights of this song so they could remake it in time for their 12th anniversary. ‘You’re Pitiful’ is truly a timeless song!

    August K-Pop comebacks never fail to amaze us! And we sure had a stacked month for this K-POP HOTSPOT!

    What was your favorite August comeback? Which ones are you most excited about for next month? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us @TheHoneyPOP!

    Need more K-POP content? Don’t worry; we got you!

    [ad_2]

    thpmag

    Source link

  • Street Fighter VI Devs Talk About Monetization, M. Bison, And The Series’ First-Ever Guest Fighter

    Street Fighter VI Devs Talk About Monetization, M. Bison, And The Series’ First-Ever Guest Fighter

    [ad_1]

    It’s hard to believe that the most famous franchise in fighting game history has never had a guest character before. God of War’s Kratos has been in Mortal Kombat. Yoda was in Soul Calibur. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s roster is now home to more characters from outside the series than from within it. But Fatal Fury’s upbeat denim-clad, city-slicker Terry Bogard (who is also in Smash) will mark the first time someone from another franchise has been playable inside Street Fighter.

    The Week In Games: System Shock, Street Fighter 6, And More

    The news was announced at the Summer Game Fest showcase as part of Street Fighter VI’s season 2 reveal. In addition to the return of Street Fighter III’s Elena and series villain M. Bison, the game’s second year will also see Terry Bogart and the ninja Mai Shiranui join as well, the result of a collaboration with SNK that first got underway at back at Evo 2022, the fighting game event’s in-person return following the covid-19 pandemic. Fighting game illustrators Toshiaki “ Shinkiro” Mori and Eisuke Ogura created a crossover “welcome back” sign made up of characters from both Street Fighter and Fatal Fury.

    “It was a big hit and it was really exciting,” Street Fighter 6 director, Takayuki Nakayama, and producer, Shuhei Matsumoto, who are now the faces of the franchise, told me in an interview at Summer Game Fest conducted via a translator. Teams from both companies kept talking in the years that followed and it eventually culminated in the decision to bring Terry, essentially SNK’s Ken, to the rival franchise. What’s it like remaking an outside character inside the Street Fighter universe?

    “When incorporating non-Capcom or non-Street Fighter guest characters into this game, obviously [we] have to respect the IP and the characters and make sure that fans of those characters will appreciate it,” they said. While Terry and Mai will follow the same rules as the existing roster, the whole point of the collaboration in the first place is to also bring along their unique personalities and fighting game flair.

    Screenshot: Capcom / Kotaku

    Nakayama and Matsumoto demurred when I asked for specifics of what that might mean for their styles and move-sets, but stressed the team has some ideas it’s excited about. “Fatal Fury is a long running series for SNK. Characters like Terry also appeared in other games like King of Fighters, which is also a very long running series. The team who work on Street Fighter 6 are all big fans of fighting games in general, including games like Fatal Fury and King of Fighters. They have a lot of things that they want to incorporate, that people, that they think, that fans of Terry and Mai will like, and that’s something that they’re really putting a lot of energy into.”

    But before Terry and Mai arrive later in the year, players will get their hands on M. Bison, the crime syndicate boss who’s been a fan-favorite since Street Fighter II. Ryu killed him at the end of Street Fighter V, but as everyone suspected he’s back and looking weirder than ever. His new grizzled, tattered alt costume, a striking contrast with his traditional imperial uniform, has earned him the nickname “homeless Bison” from some, and a revamped arsenal of moves looks borderline broken.

    “In terms of his story and why he looks this way, this is something that you’ll get to learn more [about] when you play arcade mode and see him in World Tour when he’s out,” Nakayama and Matsumoto said. While it’s his comeback to the series, M. Bison’s new kit also marks the return of some old abilities in new forms. One of those is his ultra combo from Street Fighter IV which is now a super art in Street Fighter 6. Other moves play off the story and the crime boss’ new level of deviousness. That includes a back fist combo which plants a psycho mine on the opponent that explodes if M. Bison doesn’t get hit for a while.

    “It kind of adds this mind game-type aspect to his gameplay, and kind of forces the opponent to play in a certain way when that happens,” they said. The psycho mine also changes some of the effects and combos of M. Bison’s attacks while it’s active, changing the rhythm of the match as well. He’s also a hybrid charge and command input fighter, meaning some of his abilities require holding inputs while others are just simple sequences. His iconic Double Knee Press attack will now just be a “fireball motion” attack, for example, potentially making him a lot more appealing to more players.

    It’s poised to be another neat addition to a game that still feels like it’s in a honeymoon phase with fans. Following the disappointing launch of Street Fighter V, which was marred by numerous complaints and incomplete modes, Street Fighter 6 was a return to form for both the fundamentals and positive mood among fans. Despite being a fighting game rooted in a rich history of arcades and in-person competition, modern Street Fighter is as much a live-service platform as anything else. In May, Akuma arrived in the game by way of an event that was part Twitch Plays Pokémon and part MMO boss fight.

    Nakayama and Matsumoto pointed to all of the data they collect from players and the new ways they’re experimenting with online events to help the game evolve. ”We released this infographic that shows something like 20 billion matches that have happened over this past year, which is very surprising,” they said. “When we did the raid boss event with Akuma in the battle hub that was a big hit. That just made [us] realize there should be more opportunities to get people excited about events like that, that’s something [we] want to explore in the near future.”

    When they told me it’s easier than ever to see what players do and don’t like, I asked them if it ever felt like there was too much data and they wished they could go back to days when developers were more walled off from community feedback and behavior. “Honestly, not really,” they said laughing. “It’s really exciting to see everyone really have fun and play the game and seeing what what people are interested in.”

    One thing at least some players still aren’t always having fun with is Street Fighter’s aggressive microtransaction model. Every once in a while outrage bubbles up when Capcom asks players to pay for something they feel is particularly egregious, like color variants for costumes. There’s also no way to pay exact amounts for lots of the in-game purchases since players first have to buy arbitrary amounts of Fighter Coins that often leave them with left-over premium currency. Is the team happy with the current monetization?

    Giant Akuma appears in the battle hub.

    Screenshot: Capcom / Kotaku

    “I mean people seem to be very interested in purchasable content especially that associates with the actual characters in the Fighting Ground Mode,” they said. “And we see a lot of interest towards that so it’s something that we will continue looking into and seeing if there’s any new stuff that we can just…but in terms of the system it’s probably going to be as is.”

    Reading between the lines, it certainly seems like a version of what you hear from a lot of companies,which is that while lots of people complain about microtransactions, just as many if not more, grudgingly or even happily pony up the money for them. Perhaps the sea of player data the Street Fighter 6 devs have access to was also helpful in bearing that out.

    Despite containing just four new characters, the season 2 fighter pass is $30, half the price of the full game. But to sweeten the deal, the full game is currently 50 percent off to celebrate its one-year anniversary. M. Bison, meanwhile, arrives over the summer. But the most important part of Street Fighter 6’s legacy, and its potential future, may lie in more community experiments like the Akuma online event.

    “Street Fighter 6 gave [us] an opportunity to try out a lot of new things that [we’d] never done before in any other fighting game,” Nakayama and Matsumoto said. “With Street Fighter 6 [we] feel like [we] were able to see a resurgence of younger audiences who became interested in the game through alternate areas outside of just the fighting.” Hopefully that means more live events are planned for year two. The social experience of arcades was central to how many people fell in love with fighting games to begin with. Finding more ways to recreate that online could be the key to maintaining them.

               

    [ad_2]

    Ethan Gach

    Source link

  • Ryan Gosling Isn’t Just Ken

    Ryan Gosling Isn’t Just Ken

    [ad_1]

    These days, when Hollywood needs an A-lister to play a stuntman, it’s never a bad idea to follow a simple rule: Get the Gosling.

    The trend began in 2011 with the neo-noir thriller Drive, in which Ryan Gosling played a man known simply as the Driver: a stuntman by day and getaway driver by night. Armed with a scorpion bomber jacket that is both impossibly cool and nigh impossible to pull off, a brooding Gosling followed the film’s lead by letting the action do most of the talking. Then, in 2013’s The Place Beyond the Pines, Gosling starred as Luke, a drifter who makes a living doing motorcycle stunts for a traveling carnival before learning he has a son with his former lover. Once again, Gosling inhabits a laconic loner who yearns for more in his life, even if he doesn’t always have the words to express it. (There’s also plenty of real-life significance tied to the movie: It’s where Gosling met his partner, Eva Mendes.)

    While it’s been over a decade since Gosling last portrayed a stunt performer, he’s back in the saddle this weekend with The Fall Guy, the action comedy hailing from stuntman-turned-director David Leitch. With several large-scale action sequences anchored by practical effects, including one scene that broke a Guinness World Record for the most cannon rolls performed in a car, The Fall Guy is a love letter to one of Hollywood’s most underappreciated art forms. (Somehow, it’s still deprived of its own Oscars category.) As for Gosling, who plays aging stuntman Colt Seavers (side note: incredible name) as he chases down the missing star of a major studio movie, The Fall Guy is a noticeable departure from his previous roles within this niche profession. Colt is a charming daredevil, the kind of dude who flashes a smile and a thumbs-up before hurling himself in the direction of a helicopter. On the basis of one-liners alone, Colt has more to say than Drive’s Driver.

    That these stuntmen fall on opposite ends of the spectrum is also reflective of Gosling’s journey as an actor. After a circuitous route to stardom, Gosling has blossomed into one of Hollywood’s most intriguing leading men—someone who’s just as comfortable playing the life of the party as he is inhabiting the quiet weirdo lurking in the corner. And much like his intrepid hero in The Fall Guy, all signs indicate that Gosling is taking his career to thrilling new heights.

    For some viewers, their first exposure to Gosling was the ’90s revival of Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club, a variety series in which the young actor shared the stage with the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake. Gosling followed his stint with the Mouse House by landing the title role on the Fox Kids series Young Hercules, which was canceled after its lone, 50-episode (!) season. At this point, Gosling was ready to become a legitimate dramatic actor, but he didn’t find the transition easy. “It’s very hard coming from kids’ television to break the stigma,” Gosling told The New York Times in 2011, explaining how his agents dropped him for wanting to pursue more serious film roles. “All you have is a VHS tape of you humping stuff on The Mickey Mouse Club and wearing fake tanner and fighting imaginary sphinxes.”

    Of course, Gosling’s big-screen breakout did arrive with 2004’s The Notebook, which supplanted Titanic as the movie that touched the hearts of hopeless romantics around the world. (Gosling and costar Rachel McAdams’s acceptance of the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss, in which they re-created their characters’ magical smooch, was the best kind of pandering.) You can envision a scenario in which Gosling capitalized on his heartthrob status in the immediate aftermath—leaning into all those “Hey Girl” memes—but instead, the actor seemed to actively distance himself from it. How else can one explain Lars and the Real Girl, the quirky dramedy where Gosling plays a socially awkward dude who develops a romantic relationship with a sex doll? (It’s more heartwarming than it sounds, though it’s certainly not what you expect from the star of The Notebook.)

    But the road that’s led Gosling to his current standing as an A-lister was first paved by two disparate roles in 2011: the aforementioned Drive and Crazy, Stupid, Love. Whereas Drive saw Gosling embody a taciturn antihero, Crazy, Stupid, Love required the actor to play a quick-witted womanizer falling in love for the first time. Setting aside the undeniably electric chemistry between Gosling and costar Emma Stone—something they would rekindle in Gangster Squad and, most famously, La La Land—it’s Gosling’s comedic chops that feel like the movie’s biggest revelation. The chaotic third-act reveal that brings the ensemble together is as hilarious as you remember.

    Just as crucially, these movies were critical and commercial hits, proving that beyond The Notebook, Gosling could be a box office draw. And as a performer, Gosling showed he was capable of navigating two extremes: emotionally wounded lone wolves who use their words sparingly and protagonists in knockabout comedies who never take themselves too seriously. Gosling got plenty more reps with the former, though it wasn’t always smooth sailing: The actor reunited with Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn for 2013’s Only God Forgives, which is best remembered for being booed at Cannes. (Fellow Refn-heads, however, will agree that Only God Forgives kicks plenty of ass when appreciated on its own, self-indulgent terms.) But it’s also within this space that Gosling has delivered some of his most resonant work in big-budget cinema.

    Playing the protagonist in the legacy sequel to a sci-fi classic would be a tall order for anyone, but Gosling was more than up to the task in Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049. As the replicant known as K, who hunts down his own kind, Gosling infuses the character with a similar ambiguity to Harrison Ford’s protagonist in the original Blade Runner—only this time, it’s not a question of whether or not K is human, but how much he’ll divert from his programming. It’s a performance that fits right into Gosling’s wheelhouse—the glimpses of real emotion simmering underneath the surface carry so much weight—and makes him a worthy on-screen partner to Ford, who has long made a living out of inhabiting gruff heroes. (It was also apparent from the Blade Runner 2049 press tour that Gosling and Ford share the same dry sense of humor.)

    Gosling’s greatest performance to date channeled the same frequency, with one crucial difference: It was in service of playing a historical figure. In Damien Chazelle’s First Man, we follow Neil Armstrong (Gosling) from his early days as a NASA test pilot to becoming the first person to step foot on the moon. The film’s depiction of the moon landing is a stunning achievement in its own right, but what makes First Man one of the best blockbusters of the past decade is how it digs into the psychology of someone willing to put their life on the line. For Armstrong, who lost his young daughter to a brain tumor, the risk of perishing in space is better than staying at home to talk about your feelings, making him the perfect (and somewhat literal) embodiment of the Silent Generation. Again, Gosling is at his best when those emotions slip through the cracks—most powerfully when Armstrong drops his daughter’s bracelet into the Little West crater after taking one giant leap for mankind. Even if Gosling’s work in First Man didn’t get the attention of Oscar voters, make no mistake: He’s got the right stuff.

    But even as Gosling continues to excel at portraying emotionally inhibited men (or androids), audiences have enthusiastically responded to the actor’s embrace of his funnier side. Shane Black’s 2016 comedy The Nice Guys didn’t light up the box office, but it’s endured as the rare non-franchise film that has folks clamoring for a sequel. It’s easy to see why. Following dopey private investigator Holland March (Gosling) as he teams up with low-level enforcer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) to investigate a porn star’s disappearance in ’70s Los Angeles, The Nice Guys doesn’t just feel like a throwback to the buddy-cop movies of yesteryear: It can hold its own against any of them. A big part of that comes down to the dynamic between Gosling and Crowe, who make for entertaining foils, especially when Healy is tossing March around like a rag doll. (Sadly, Gosling has recently squashed hopes for a sequel.)

    But while The Nice Guys has more than earned its reputation as a cult favorite, its cultural impact is a drop in the bucket compared to Barbie’s. Alongside Oppenheimer, Barbie was the moviegoing event of 2023: a delectable, witty, and occasionally profound dramedy that touched on everything from feminism to existentialism to the patriarchy. And yet, it’s hard to deny that the film’s MVP was the himbo living in Barbie’s shadow. As the Ken whose occupation is, simply, “beach,” Gosling is a scene-stealing delight, fawning over Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) before his unrequited love devolves into a ridiculous caricature of toxic masculinity. (Shout-out to the Mojo Dojo Casa House.) Gosling’s unbridled Kenergy was so infectious that he didn’t just earn an Oscar nomination: He blew the roof off the ceremony performing “I’m Just Ken.”

    When an actor is having this much fun, who can blame audiences for wanting more of the same? Thankfully, The Fall Guy lets Gosling not only continue to flex his comedy chops amid explosive action sequences, but also play a genuinely charming romantic lead opposite Emily Blunt. (This is the Barbenheimer crossover nobody saw coming.) At this point in his career, it’s clear that Gosling has a lot of pitches in his acting repertoire, whether he’s pulling off slapstick comedy, brooding over inner turmoil, or ranting about the incomparable power of jazz. If moviegoers would rather see Gosling channel some of that Kenergy for the foreseeable future, so be it—just so long as we remember that he’s always been more than just Ken.

    [ad_2]

    Miles Surrey

    Source link

  • Here Are All the 2024 Oscar Winners

    Here Are All the 2024 Oscar Winners

    [ad_1]

    Poor Things
    Image: Searchlight

    After enduring the pandemic and a pair of industry-stopping strikes, Hollywood seemed extra jazzed about celebrating itself at this year’s Oscars. While there weren’t a ton of genre movies on the ballot—truly, last year’s Everything Everywhere All at Once sweep still feels rather validating—a few did find their way to the podium.

    What Should Fans Take Away from Imaginary?

    Most notably it was Poor Things leading the charge for genre, including a Best Lead Actress win for Emma Stone for her portrayal of Bella Baxter—arguably only rivalled by Oppenheimer, which took home the trio of big wins in Best Lead Actor, Best Director, and Best Picture. Barbie, amid a sea of discourse after nominees were initially announced earlier this year about perceived snubs, home only one win for original song out of its slate of nominations. Here are all the winners (plus their fellow nominees) from the 2024 Academy Awards. And may we just say, if Best Visual Effects winner Godzilla Minus One does get a sequel, we hope it makes it into more categories than its Best Picture-worthy predecessor.

    Best Supporting Actor

    • Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction)
    • Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon)
    • Winner: Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer)
    • Ryan Gosling (Barbie)
    • Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things)

    Best Supporting Actress

    • Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer)
    • Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple)
    • America Ferrera (Barbie)
    • Jodie Foster (Nyad)
    • Winner: Da’vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)

    Best Animated Feature Film

    • Winner: The Boy and the Heron
    • Elemental
    • Nimona
    • Robot Dreams
    • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

    Best Animated Short Film

    • “Letter to a Pig”
    • “Ninety-Five Senses”
    • “Our Uniform”
    • “Pachyderme”
    • Winner: “War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko”

    Best Costume Design

    • Barbie (Jacqueline Durran)
    • Killers of the Flower Moon (Jacqueline West)
    • Napoleon (David Crossman & Janty Yates)
    • Oppenheimer (Ellen Mirojnick)
    • Winner: Poor Things (Holly Waddington)

    Best Live-Action Short

    • “The After”
    • “Invincible”
    • “Knight of Fortune”
    • “Red, White and Blue”
    • Winner: “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”

    Best Makeup and Hairstyling

    • Golda
    • Maestro
    • Oppenheimer
    • Winner: Poor Things
    • Society of the Snow

    Best Original Score

    • American Fiction (Laura Karpman)
    • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (John Williams)
    • Killers of the Flower Moon (Robbie Robertson)
    • Winner: Oppenheimer (Ludwig Göransson)
    • Poor Things (Jerskin Fendrix)

    Best Sound

    • The Creator
    • Maestro
    • Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning
    • Oppenheimer
    • Winner: The Zone of Interest

    Best Adapted Screenplay

    • Winner: American Fiction (Cord Jefferson)
    • Barbie (Noah Baumbach & Greta Gerwig)
    • Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan)
    • Poor Things (Tony McNamara)
    • The Zone of Interest (Jonathan Glazer)

    Best Original Screenplay

    • Winner: Anatomy of a Fall (Arthur Harari & Justine Triet)
    • The Holdovers (David Hemingson)
    • Maestro (Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer)
    • May December (Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik)
    • Past Lives (Celine Song)

    Best Cinematography

    • El Conde (Edward Lachman)
    • Killers of the Flower Moon (Rodrigo Prieto)
    • Maestro (Matthew Libatique)
    • Winner: Oppenheimer (Hoyte van Hoytema)
    • Poor Things (Robbie Ryan)

    Best Documentary Feature Film

    • Bobi Wine: The People’s President
    • The Eternal Memory
    • Four Daughters
    • To Kill a Tiger
    • Winner: 20 Days in Mariupol

    Best Documentary Short Film

    • The ABCs of Book Banning
    • The Barber of Little Rock
    • Island in Between
    • Winner: The Last Repair Shop
    • Nai Nai & Wài Pó

    Best Film Editing

    • Anatomy of a Fall
    • The Holdovers
    • Killers of the Flower Moon
    • Winner: Oppenheimer
    • Poor Things

    Best International Feature Film

    • Io Capitano
    • Perfect Days
    • Society of the Snow
    • The Teacher’s Lounge
    • Winner: The Zone of Interest

    Best Original Song

    • “The Fire Inside” (Flamin’ Hot)
    • “I’m Just Ken” (Barbie)
    • “It Never Went Away” (American Symphony)
    • “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” (Killers of the Flower Moon)
    • Winner: “What Was I Made For” (Barbie)

    Best Production Design

    • Barbie
    • Killers of the Flower Moon
    • Napoleon
    • Oppenheimer
    • Winner: Poor Things

    Best Visual Effects

    • The Creator
    • Winner: Godzilla Minus One
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning, Part One
    • Napoleon

    Best Lead Actor

    • Bradley Cooper (Maestro)
    • Colman Domingo (Rustin)
    • Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers)
    • Winner: Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer)
    • Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction)

    Best Lead Actress

    • Annette Bening (Nyad)
    • Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon)
    • Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall)
    • Carey Mulligan (Maestro)
    • Emma Stone (Poor Things)

    Best Director

    • Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall)
    • Martin Scorcese (Killers of the Flower Moon)
    • Winner: Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer)
    • Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things)
    • Johanathan Glazer (Zone of Interest)

    Best Picture

    • American Fiction
    • Anatomy of a Fall
    • Barbie
    • The Holdovers
    • Killers of the Flower Moon
    • Maestro
    • Winner: Oppenheimer
    • Past Lives
    • Poor Things
    • The Zone of Interest

    What did you think of this year’s winners? Any favorite moments from the ceremony? Share in the comments below!

    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

    [ad_2]

    Cheryl Eddy

    Source link

  • Send Love Across the Stars With io9’s Nerdy Valentines

    Send Love Across the Stars With io9’s Nerdy Valentines

    [ad_1]

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Happy Valentines Day, you lovely nerds! io9’s favorite tradition on this most romantic day is back, with another round of pop culture gag cards to send to your sweetie from some of the last year’s highlights in sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and more. As always, our thanks to G/O Media art director Vicky Leta for bringing our punny missives to life.

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    Image for article titled Send Love Across the Stars With io9's Nerdy Valentines

    Illustration: Vicky Leta

    [ad_2]

    James Whitbrook

    Source link

  • So The Academy Clearly Didn’t Watch Barbie

    So The Academy Clearly Didn’t Watch Barbie

    [ad_1]

    Every year, Awards Season is special for one reason: we all come together in outrage against a very specific group of voters, and publicly shame them until we grow bored. The Golden Globes and Emmys are great predictors of who will be ultimately nominated for an Oscar…but this year, it appears that the Academy stopped watching movies altogether.

    When I woke up yesterday, I was bombarded by thousands of Tweets calling for the evisceration of the Academy after the 2024 Oscar Nominee list was revealed. It’s your modern-day mob mentality — and get your pitchforks ready, because there were quite a few notable snubs.

    • Hunky Charles Melton for May/December
    • Leonardo DiCaprio for Scorsese’s 10-hour epic Killers Of The Flower Moon
    • Greta Gerwig as Best Director for Barbie
    • Margot Robbie as Best Actress for Barbie
    • Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night Away” for Barbie
    • Saltburn, in general.

    Okay, so I was already up in arms about the lack of nominations for Jacob Elordi and Charles Melton. But nothing was more offensive than the glaringly obvious
    Barbie irony: the Academy chose to honor “I’m Just Ken” by Ryan Gosling in a movie created by women, for women, about the struggles of feminism in a male-dominated society.

    This is no hate to Ryan Gosling, who has owned his Ken-ergy in the best, candid way possible. He has supported his cast and uplifted its women during every single press event, red carpet, and personal statement. But the fact that they chose to nominate the one song about men taking over is laughable.
    Commenting on the lack of nominations himself, Gosling took to social media to say:

    “
    But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film…To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement,”

    Sure, Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” was nominated considering it’s a beautiful, haunting ballad that perfectly fits the film. But the Oscars have proven they’re Billie stans before by honoring her
    James Bond ballad. What about the two women who made Barbie possible? Who revived cinema and brought millions of moviegoers to the theaters dressed in pink? Who created a whole movement surrounding celebrating women after years of being told we should bring each other down?

    Barbie was a statistically bigger first-week success story than its release-day twin, Oppenheimer, and the biggest film of the year. Yet, no nomination for the director and face of the film. It’s almost like the Academy realized this movie was about them…

    Here’s the worst part: you don’t have to let them win if you don’t want to. To not even recognize Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig’s work and impact on the
    2023 cinemascape is like saying Taylor Swift didn’t dominate the music industry this year. It’s just a lie.

    So I will end this the way Taylor Swift would, with lyrics from “The Man”:

    “I’m so sick of running as fast as I can

    Wondering if I’d get there quicker

    If I was a man”

    [ad_2]

    Jai Phillips

    Source link

  • She’s The Man!

    She’s The Man!

    [ad_1]

    They’d say I hustled, put in the work

    They wouldn’t shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve

    What I was wearing, if I was rude

    Could all be separated from my good ideas and power moves

    Taylor Swift, “The Man”

    When
    Barbie premiered in July, women felt seen in the cinema — perhaps for the first time in a long time. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was more than a beginner’s feminist manifesto, but also a meditation on what it means to be both a woman and mother in today’s world. It was a gentle reminder that maybe we’re all just trying our best — and that our best is enough.

    It also encouraged women celebrate each other more.
    The Barbie effect had us all wearing pink, emulating Margot Robbie’s cowboy-chic style, and referring to men as our “Kens.” And with help from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, her friendship bracelets, and sense of community, women were winning. It’s the first year in history that women dominated the Billboard Hot 100 twice (thanks to Swift and her Midnights and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) album). Like I said, it’s a good year to be a woman.

    This celebration of women and our successes is long overdue, but the promising news is that it isn’t slowing down.
    Barbie’s feminist wave has shifted how we are accepting ourselves (and others) as women.

    So it’s no surprise that women are raking in awards this year too, dominating the Grammy nominations and more. We hail celebrities for all sorts of achievements: Patrick Dempsey is
    People’s Sexiest Man Alive (deserved), Taylor Swift is the world leader (they literally projected her welcome onto Christ the Redeemer), and Austin Butler is Best Elvis (because somehow we have multiple).

    And one of the buzziest celeb awards is run by
    GQ (short for Gentlemen’s Quarterly), whose “Men Of The Year” award is a highlight of every fall/winter. Similar to TIME’s 100 list, GQ likes to celebrate those who have taken the world by storm annually.

    This year, the recipient of the Man of the Year award is none other than
    Kim Kardashian…and they’re not wrong.

    Kim has been taking her empire to new heights in 2023: building on the 2022 launch of her
    SKKN-care line, breaking ground with Skims’ Men’s campaign, the Nipple Bra, and becoming the official partner of the NBA/WNBA, working on prison reform, filming The Kardashians on Hulu, starring alongside Emma Roberts in Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story as Siobhan Corbyn, I could go on.

    Calling someone “the man” has now become synonymous with “a winner.” Saying “you’re the man” is a sign of their success. And though this might have problematic roots, women are reclaiming the term — like the Taylor Swift song.
    And in the grand scheme of things: Kim Kardashian is the man.

    Some hard working men get the title alongside Kim in the
    GQ issue. The other MOTY honorees include Jacob Elordi (AKA Elvis #2, who’s starring in blockbusters like Sofia Coppolla’s Priscilla and Saltburn alongside Barry Keoghan), Buffalo Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin, designer-turned-filmmaker Tom Ford, and Travis Scott. But you have to admit that Kim hasn’t come up for air this year.

    It’s right there for us to see in episodes of
    The Kardashians: Kim flying from country to country for another event on her booked and busy schedule. She’s literally everywhere at once, officiating recently divorced Chris Appleton and Lukas Gage’s wedding, shooting countless magazine covers and promo shoots for her growing enterprise, opening a Skims popup here, and shooting an episode of AHS there.

    Is there anything she can’t do?

    Meet The Previous Recipients Of GQ’s Men of the Year

    Kim Kardashian is one of the few women to grace the cover of
    GQ’s Man of the Year edition. Technically dubbed “Tycoon of the Year”, acknowledging her business successes over the past few years (and for the gender neutrality of it all)- Kardashian joins a host of some of the most famous men in the world. Let’s take a look at the past five years:

    2022: Brendan Fraser, Andrew Garfield


    2021: Lil Nas X, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tom Holland


    2020: Megan Thee Stallion, George Clooney, Trevor Noah


    2019: Jennifer Lopez, Tyler, The Creator, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino


    2018: Michael B. Jordan, Henry Golding, Jonah Hill

    Women are normally recognized during the Men of the Year ceremonies, as it is a celebration of all people who emulated pop culture that year…however, no year has celebrated women quite like 2023.

    The Men of the Year Awards 2023 were held on November 15 at London’s Royal Opera House where cover stars like Jeremy Allen White, boygenius, and Kardashian were in attendance.

    Other female recipients included Megan Thee Stallion and Rihanna, who have paved their own paths in both the music and fashion industry. Rihanna with her Savage x Fenty inclusive lingerie line and Fenty Beauty has been changing the makeup and underwear game for a while now. Megan Thee Stallion is coming off a high-profile trial that she won against Tory Lanez, under immense public scrutiny, has become a figure for mental health and domestic violence while still creating hit records.

    It’s one of the most female-dominated
    GQ events we’ve seen, which is a pattern. The GRAMMY Award nominations just rolled out with so many female artists nominated, you’d think it’s a record. In the top three categories, female acts make up seven out of eight nominees.

    This year, women are the man. It’s an exciting, uplifting time where we get to celebrate with each other instead of tearing one another down. Kim K is just another example of the
    Barbie effect.

    [ad_2]

    Jai Phillips

    Source link

  • Photos: WeHo’s Halloween Carnaval returns for the first time since the pandemic

    Photos: WeHo’s Halloween Carnaval returns for the first time since the pandemic

    [ad_1]

    They were all there. Elvis, Ken and Barbie, cowboys, you name it.

    One of the wildest Halloween parties in Southern California was back in full force.

    West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval returned to a one-mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard for the first time since before the pandemic.

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    Joe Castro is somewhere among those heads as he joins thousands of revelers at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    A dancer performs in the shadows on stage along with a DJ.

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    A dancer performs in the shadows on stage along with a DJ. After a four-year hiatus, tens of thousands of revelers attend the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    An Uber driver dressed as Jack Skellington sits in traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard.

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    An Uber driver dressed as Jack Skelington sits in traffic on Santa Monica Blvd. as a long stretch is shut down for the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    A gaggle of "Slappy" dummies parades along Santa Monica Boulevard in support of R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" series.

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    A gaggle of “Slappy” dummies parade along Santa Monica Blvd. in support of R.L. Stine’s, Goosebumps series, joining thousands of revelers at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    The "Psycho Bunnies" join thousands of revelers at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    The “Psycho Bunnies,” join thousands of revelers at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    Daisy Cobos dressed as "Madame Leota," the witch from Disneyland's Haunted Mansion ride.

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    Daisy Cobos dressed as “Madame Leota,” the witch from Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion ride.

    Justin Marchert as "Squidward," plays a clarinet as Halloween revelers pass by.

    (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

    Justin Marchert as “Squidward,” plays a clarinet at the corner Hancock and Santa Monica Blvd. as Halloween revelers pass by.

    Brynna Holland with Alex Tomlinson dressed as a convict at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    Brynna Holland with Alex Tomlinson dressed as a convict at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    Thousands of revelers attend the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval after a four-year hiatus.

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    After a four-year hiatus, tens of thousands of revelers attend the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    Cowboys engage in a long kiss in front of religious protesters near the entrance of the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

    Cowboys engage in a long kiss in front of religious protesters near the entrance of the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

    [ad_2]

    Robert Gauthier

    Source link

  • Our Favorite Cosplay From San Diego Comic-Con 2023

    Our Favorite Cosplay From San Diego Comic-Con 2023

    [ad_1]

    Image: Mineralblu / Kotaku

    When it comes to incredible cosplay, San Diego Comic-Con always delivers, and this year was no exception. The event, which ran from July 20 to July 23 and took place at the famed San Diego Convention Center, brought fun panels, cool interactive experiences, and almost provided us with an unofficial GTA: San Andreas restaurant before Rockstar’s lawyers shut it down. But what about the cosplay?

    This will be the first Kotaku cosplay roundup without Luke Plunkett, and I hope he is proud of me for continuing on in his stead. I am, after all, the woman who wrote the brutal cosplay call-out story, as well as that one where I said Phil Spencer dresses like my dad going to get bagels, so I am somewhat qualified for the role. But Luke, we miss you.

    The video and photos brought to you today were all provided, as usual, by Minerablu (you can check out way more of his stuff on his Instagram page or on his YouTube channel). Click through to see The Fifth Element cosplays, The Last of Us looks, and much, much more.

    [ad_2]

    Alyssa Mercante

    Source link

  • Every Street Fighter Game, Ranked From Worst To Best

    Every Street Fighter Game, Ranked From Worst To Best

    [ad_1]

    Yep, Super Turbo takes the Street Fighter crown, at least in our book. Truth be told, this is highly subject to personal opinion, and I think any of the top six or seven games in our rankings could easily be number one for someone else. Perhaps for you…and that’s cool. Since Super Street Fighter II Turbo is our top pick, I’ll try to convey why it rules.

    For starters, it ended up being the ultimate evolution of Street Fighter II, the single most important fighting game the genre’s known. Capcom made two more attempts to follow up Super Street Fighter II Turbo, but as you’ve perhaps read by now, they had their own issues. This is the entry that stuck, and the one everyone still enjoys today.

    Super Turbo was the logical culmination of the journey Capcom started in 1991, incorporating everything its designers learned from The World Warrior, Champion Edition, Hyper Fighting, and even the underwhelming Super into one final, excellent game. It also brought its own innovations, like meter-fueled super combos, throw softening (“teching”), and even rudimentary air juggling.

    Characters, too, gained crucial moves that completed their movesets. Imagine Fei Long without his chicken wing, Ryu without his advancing fierce and overhead, Chun without upkicks, Gief without green glove, Honda without oicho. (You don’t have to, because Super exists.) The character balance wasn’t perfect, but was good enough to create consistently fun match-ups, and it was exciting when someone went on a streak with a low-tier like Cammy or T. Hawk.

    (And let’s not forget series mainstay Akuma debuted here, becoming the first tournament-banned character in FGC history.)

    All of the above, combined with the return of Hyper Fighting’s blessedly fast action, worked together to create short, intense matches largely devoid of gimmicks, instead focused on the 2D fighting basics of neutral, footsies, and zoning. Super Turbo was both fun as hell, and an excellent teacher of fighting game fundamentals.

    When I play Super Turbo with a similarly skilled opponent today it’s like we’re engaged in an alternate form of communication, a hidden language composed of attacks and retreats, reads and feints. Sometimes words aren’t needed, because our hands are saying everything through the screen. I’m always chasing that mental “zone” feeling in video games, and at its best, Super Street Fighter II Turbo gets me there like few others.

    While I’ve played and enjoyed most of the Street Fighter games, Super Street Fighter II Turbo is the one I’ll always go back to. I hold it in the same esteem as Doom, Super Mario Bros. 3, R-Type, Dark Souls…masterpieces that always remain relevant, and always have more to offer. — Alexandra Hall

    [ad_2]

    Alexandra Hall and Kenneth Shepard

    Source link

  • How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    [ad_1]

    Test your knowledge of the best-selling doll in the world by passing this quiz on Barbie.

    What is Barbie’s full name?

    What is Barbie’s full name?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Barbara Khalid “The Shoe Bomber” bin Laden

    Barbara Khalid “The Shoe Bomber” bin Laden

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    How old is Barbie?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Barbie is the oldest age in the entire world, 32.

    Barbie is the oldest age in the entire world, 32.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Who invented the Barbie doll?

    Who invented the Barbie doll?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    The doll was invented by Nikola Tesla during one of his many experiments with fake hair.

    The doll was invented by Nikola Tesla during one of his many experiments with fake hair.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What is a Barbie doll made out of?

    What is a Barbie doll made out of?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Hard vinyl, polypropylene, and industrial-grade goose semen.

    Hard vinyl, polypropylene, and industrial-grade goose semen.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Who owns Mattel Inc.?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    CEO Barbie.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    When is Barbie’s birthday?

    When is Barbie’s birthday?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Barbie was born on Mar. 9, 1959, and died on Aug. 3, 1986, from a speedball overdose.

    Barbie was born on Mar. 9, 1959, and died on Aug. 3, 1986, from a speedball overdose.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What is Barbie’s religion?

    What is Barbie’s religion?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Barbie was raised Catholic but converted to Islam after moving to Dubai in 2012.

    Barbie was raised Catholic but converted to Islam after moving to Dubai in 2012.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What is Barbie’s favorite color?

    What is Barbie’s favorite color?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Brown.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Why are Barbie and Ken’s genitals flat?

    Why are Barbie and Ken’s genitals flat?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Children were too disturbed by her duck-like corkscrew vagina and Ken’s pointed spiral penis.

    Children were too disturbed by her duck-like corkscrew vagina and Ken’s pointed spiral penis.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What is Barbie’s body count?

    What is Barbie’s body count?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Barbie has had four sexual partners over her lifetime as long as you’re not counting hand stuff.

    Barbie has had four sexual partners over her lifetime as long as you’re not counting hand stuff.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Where is Barbie’s hometown?

    Where is Barbie’s hometown?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Barbie was born in the fictional town and state of Willows, Wisconsin.

    Barbie was born in the fictional town and state of Willows, Wisconsin.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Who is Barbie’s boyfriend?

    Who is Barbie’s boyfriend?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    A plastic corncob skewer named Ricardo.

    A plastic corncob skewer named Ricardo.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Where does the name “Barbie’’ come from?

    Where does the name “Barbie’’ come from?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Barbie creator Ruth Handler named the doll after daughter Barbara Handler because she didn’t like her daughter very much and wanted to give her an impossibly beautiful standard to forever compare herself against.

    Barbie creator Ruth Handler named the doll after daughter Barbara Handler because she didn’t like her daughter very much and wanted to give her an impossibly beautiful standard to forever compare herself against.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    How many times has Barbie run for president?

    How many times has Barbie run for president?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Barbie has run for president eight times, but now she’s focusing on producing documentaries with her daughter Kelly.

    Barbie has run for president eight times, but now she’s focusing on producing documentaries with her daughter Kelly.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    How old is Ken?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Ken is both zero years old and billions of years old. Ken was not born and cannot die. Ken created us and will destroy us.

    Ken is both zero years old and billions of years old. Ken was not born and cannot die. Ken created us and will destroy us.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Why did Ken and Barbie break up in 2004?

    Why did Ken and Barbie break up in 2004?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Barbie broke up with Ken after he was recalled for containing potentially toxic levels of lead.

    Barbie broke up with Ken after he was recalled for containing potentially toxic levels of lead.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Who was Barbie’s rebound after Ken?

    Who was Barbie’s rebound after Ken?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Salman Rushdie.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Why did Barbie and Ken get back together in 2011?

    Why did Barbie and Ken get back together in 2011?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Barbie took Ken back after she realized she was 35 and had, like, three good years left to get pregnant.

    Barbie took Ken back after she realized she was 35 and had, like, three good years left to get pregnant.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Who is Barbie’s best friend?

    Who is Barbie’s best friend?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Christie, the first African American Barbie, though there has been tension between the two ever since Barbie’s “all lives matter” Facebook rant in 2018.

    Christie, the first African American Barbie, though there has been tension between the two ever since Barbie’s “all lives matter” Facebook rant in 2018.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What jobs has Barbie had?

    What jobs has Barbie had?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Fashion designer, flight attendant, astronaut, NASCAR pit mechanic, dogfighter, university provost, Italian mafiosa, and fishmonger.

    Fashion designer, flight attendant, astronaut, NASCAR pit mechanic, dogfighter, university provost, Italian mafiosa, and fishmonger.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Which is the bestselling Barbie of all time?

    Which is the bestselling Barbie of all time?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Totally Legs Barbie, which had upwards of 16 legs.

    Totally Legs Barbie, which had upwards of 16 legs.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What is Barbie’s favorite accessory?

    What is Barbie’s favorite accessory?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    The Pink Malibu Land Mine

    The Pink Malibu Land Mine

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What is the best pair of scissors for cutting off Barbie’s hair in a fit of body-hating rage?

    What is the best pair of scissors for cutting off Barbie’s hair in a fit of body-hating rage?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Fiskars 5-Inch Blunt-Tip Kids Scissors

    Fiskars 5-Inch Blunt-Tip Kids Scissors

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What’s the best way to attack another shopper in possession of the last Barbie doll the store has in stock one day before Christmas?

    What’s the best way to attack another shopper in possession of the last Barbie doll the store has in stock one day before Christmas?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Elbow to the gut, purse to the face.

    Elbow to the gut, purse to the face.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What was the most controversial Barbie of all time?

    What was the most controversial Barbie of all time?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Dead Rat Barbie, who was just a dead rat in a plastic box.

    Dead Rat Barbie, who was just a dead rat in a plastic box.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Does Barbie care for soup?

    Does Barbie care for soup?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Not particularly.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    How tall would a human being be if they were the same size as Barbie?

    How tall would a human being be if they were the same size as Barbie?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    11.5 inches.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What was Barbie’s name doing on the Epstein flight logs?

    What was Barbie’s name doing on the Epstein flight logs?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Look, Barbie regrets accepting those flights from billionaire financier Jeffrey Esptein. Barbie is very rich and very powerful, and because of that fact, she sometimes ends up in the same network as other very rich and very powerful people. It was a huge mistake to be on that plane, and Barbie never even knew him too well.

    Look, Barbie regrets accepting those flights from billionaire financier Jeffrey Esptein. Barbie is very rich and very powerful, and because of that fact, she sometimes ends up in the same network as other very rich and very powerful people. It was a huge mistake to be on that plane, and Barbie never even knew him too well.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    What is the name of the first Barbie doll to be in a wheelchair?

    What is the name of the first Barbie doll to be in a wheelchair?

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    Becky, who was bullied mercilessly by the other Barbie dolls.

    Becky, who was bullied mercilessly by the other Barbie dolls.

    Image for article titled How Much Do You Know About Barbie?

    You’ve Made It This Far …

    You’ve Made It This Far …

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Barbie, Baby!

    Barbie, Baby!

    [ad_1]

    Growing up as a girl, I played with all sorts of dolls: American Girl, Bratz, Polly Pocket, and of course, Barbies. I had the Dream House, the Dream Car, the color changing mermaid, and don’t forget about Ken. But as I aged, Barbie became a bit more problematic.

    Suddenly, we grew up and realized that Barbie wasn’t representing diversity (by any means) very well. She was dimensionally impossible, but she grew up as our role model! How could we spend our lives aspiring for blonde-haired, cinched-waisted, pink-loving Barbie if the girl selling the dream was unattainable?

    And then there were the controversial Barbies…1965 Slumber Party Barbie had a scale set to 110 pounds and a dieting book titled “How To Lose Weight” with the advice “Don’t Eat!” Not our role model promoting eating disorder culture!

    1965 Slumber Party Barbie

    Daily Mail

    Mattel was failing to realize that by making Barbie a doctor, lawyer, homeowner, extraordinaire, she truly was our role model as little girls. We were looking at these dolls potentially seeing what our future could look like. And if it meant being 110 pounds to have the Dream Car, that sends the opposite message.

    But there is no one I have more faith in than Greta Gerwig to do the injustices of Barbie justice. We have just under one month until Gerwig’s
    Barbie movie releases into theaters…on the same day as Christopher Nolan’s polar opposite Oppenheimer, which has started its own collection of memes for a double-header day.

    Barbie has already stolen the hearts of social media with perhaps the best marketing we’ve seen for a movie in a long time (barring the accidental chaos marketing of Don’t Worry Darling). We’ve gotten picturesque stills of BarbieLand, the Architectural Digest tour of the Dream House, hilarious trailers, and of course the iconic movie posters. The main message of the posters? Barbie (Margot Robbie) is everything, and he’s just Ken (Ryan Gosling).



    From the trailer we can tell that Barbie lives in her pink world with other Barbies and Kens, like Dua Lipa being Mermaid Barbie. But one day when Barbie throws her party (complete with synchronized dance and bespoke song), she lets a thought out:
    “Do you guys ever think about dying?” Party halts.

    Now that she’s contempating her mortality, things for Barbie become less than perfect: her heels touch the ground (gag) and she falls off her roof (gasp)..So she’s given a choice: return to her world (presented as a high heel) or go to the Real World and figure out what life’s really about (presented as a worn out Birkenstock). Unfortunately for Barbie, she has to choose the latter.

    In BarbieLand, she explains, “
    Basically everything men do in your world, women do in ours.” As for the Kens? “I honestly don’t know.” If you can tell the theme of this film so far, it’s that women are running the show.

    But what Greta Gerwig gets right with
    Barbie so far is that BarbieLand is impractical. In the Architectural Digest tour, Margot Robbie shows us how the pool is fake because there are no elements in Barbie’s world. She showers without water, has a fridge filled with decal food, and a lot, she admits with a laugh, is “not super practical, but nothing is for Barbie.”

    The success of the movie already is proving to be major. With Ryan Gosling’s fierce dedication to being Ken, you find it hard
    not to root for this movie in the box office. He’s given us quotes like “If you really cared about Ken, you would know that nobody cared about Ken” and coined the term “Ken-ergy.”

    On Jimmy Fallon, Gosling likened Ken to an un-cool accessory, saying that nobody really ever played with a Ken doll. “
    I was surprised how…some people were clutching their pearls about my Ken, as though they ever thought about Ken for a second. They never played with Ken! Nobody ever plays with Ken.”



    And we’ve already seen the blazing hot pink merchandise that has scattered stores. You can buy Barbie-inspired satin pillowcases, Barbie glassware, Barbie cookware. Our lives are suddenly immersed in our picturesque Barbie DreamWorld,
    but this time with a grown-up twist.

    We’re no longer emulating the Barbie look, per-se…but the Barbie Dream. It’s about female empowerment and uplifting others, becoming successful in your own way, and loving the color pink always. It’s more of the Barbie mindset than the Barbie body.

    With a star-studded cast consisting of Will Ferrell, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Emma Mackey, Kate McKinnon, and more…and an equally studded soundtrack with features from Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice, Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Charli XCX, Khalid, Lizzo, etc. This movie radiates power.

    As a lover of all things pink, I’m here for the Barbie collabs. Here are my faves to get you ready for the movie of the summer:

    Kitsch x Barbie

    Homesick Barbie Dreamhouse Candle

    Barbie x Barbie

    Bloomingdales Barbie The Movie Popup Shop

    [ad_2]

    Jai Phillips

    Source link

  • Street Fighter 6: The Kotaku Review

    Street Fighter 6: The Kotaku Review

    [ad_1]

    To say Capcom fumbled Street Fighter V is an understatement. SF5 launched in an incomplete state, going all-in on “esports” to the point that it shipped without even basic single-player modes, and the flat, offense-heavy combat came off so canned, so rote, that it almost felt turn-based. (Also, Ken had bananas for hair.) Years of patches corrected some of this (the bananas remain), but SF5 will always be a wounded animal in a series of apex predators. So Capcom had its work cut out for it with Street Fighter 6.

    Thankfully, Capcom’s latest take on the classic fighting series feels like it’s learned the right lessons from the last game’s drubbing. Street Fighter 6 both sets a stellar foundation for the next decade of Street Fighter’s competitive scene and gives the button-mashers among us something robust, if sometimes frustrating, to sink our teeth into.

    A return to first-class fighting

    Street Fighter 6 is a return to form, but the most pronounced upgrade is in how much it captures the spirit of its characters, both in and out of fights. Personality and swagger practically drip from this game. Consider the bumpin’ intros before versus matches. They create some striking and often hilarious contrasts, such as Ryu stoically walking toward the ring with determination while Blanka does cartwheels down the runway. Each character feels fully realized through their moveset, voice lines, and often-charming win screens—witness newcomer Manon’s, in which the elegant dancer smiles and waves for a photo as she’s deemed the victor. Where oftentimes Street Fighter V could feel sanded down and sterile, Street Fighter 6 oozes confidence, which helps make it as entertaining to watch as it is to play.

    Image: Capcom / Kotaku

    It would be easy to dismiss that confidence as style over substance, but it also bleeds into the way Street Fighter 6 plays. The game is flashier than ever, but its new mechanics make old characters feel fresh and new ones feel like meaningful additions. The most fundamental change comes in the new Drive Gauge system. Now the Super meter is just for your powerful Super Arts, and the Drive Gauge governs everything else. It fuels a number of tactics and maneuvers both old and new, and is central to every fight.

    For example, you can spend your gauge on a wind-up blow called Drive Impact, which is great for creating openings, and has armor to push out of endless corner combos. Drive Gauge also fuels Overdrive attacks (the new term for EX moves), which are more powerful versions of special attacks, like a fireball that can beat other projectiles or a faster lightning kick. You can also perform a Drive Parry, Drive Reversal (like an old Alpha Counter), and Drive Rush (cancel moves to extend combos). The Drive Gauge regenerates over time, but be careful not to let it fully drain, as that puts you in a devastatingly vulnerable “Burnout” state.

    Juri and Ryu are seen facing each other on a wooden bridge.

    Screenshot: Capcom / Kotaku

    On paper, the Drive Gauge making so many strategies universal—in contrast to the hyper-specialization of SF5’s V-Triggers—might sound like a flattening of Street Fighter’s diverse roster. For example, Ryu and a small handful of other warriors no longer have a monopoly on parries. Instead, I found it freed up design space for the aspects of each character that actually make them special to rise to greater prominence.

    The new characters are fresh, and so are the old ones

    I’m a long-time Ryu main (I’m a sucker for the beard, okay), and his Street Fighter 6 incarnation has the most filled-out moveset in quite some time. Changes like Hashogeki (a close-range, energized jab) no longer being tied to a counter, or the Denjin Charge (which powers up his fireballs distinct from any use of meter) opened my mind to new strategies after playing the character for years. Even after hundreds of matches in Street Fighter 6, I’m still learning new things about my main, and how foes I’ve faced plenty of times in other games are now different, and often more dangerous.

    Kimberly is seen smirking at something off-screen.

    Screenshot: Capcom / Kotaku

    On top of reimagining old faces, Street Fighter 6’s new additions are all forces to be reckoned with, some of whom I’m curious to see how the community reacts to in the coming months. Manon’s grappler moveset is complimented by a mechanic which makes her grabs more powerful with each successful use. (As you’d expect, you’ll want to keep your distance and rely on ranged attacks, lest you end up being used as an unwilling dance partner.) Kimberly’s a student of Guy, and not only is her spray-paint-enhanced ninjutsu playstyle vicious and agile, she’s a style icon who I want to be like when I grow up. JP, who steps into the main villain role now that M. Bison is gone, commands a fight with space-manipulating moves. While I’m still getting used to facing him, I always feel like I’m playing defense and reacting to how my opponent uses his incomprehensible magic to attack me from all angles.

    This is the kind of game I want to take online for months or even years to come, and thankfully, Street Fighter 6‘s online has been an effortlessly enjoyable experience thus far. Running around lobbies as my custom avatar, sitting at cabinets with friends, and welcoming passersby to join our queue makes online feel like as communal an experience as you can get in a digital space. Getting in and out of matches is pretty simple, and you can make menu-based private rooms with friends rather than entering the 3D public lobbies if you don’t want to deal with a rando interrupting you and your friend’s sessions. It’s also easy to spectate other players’ matches, and watch replays of the greats. Between both the beta and the final game, I’ve put over 20 hours into Street Fighter 6 online without much of a hitch. I had a few matches against players with worse internet than others, but broadly, my experience online has been pretty great.

    A group of players are seen standing in a Street Fighter 6 lobby.

    Screenshot: Capcom / Kotaku

    I can’t wait to watch pro players take advantage of these new characters and max out their potential, but I’m also interested to see how casual players take to them, because Street Fighter 6 does a lot to try and court the casual audience, from a simplified “modern” control scheme (specials come out of single button presses, at the cost of lower overall damage) to a surprisingly deep RPG-like mode that gives you a story to go along with all the punching and kicking. However, I’m not sure just how much a casual player who button mashes their way through arcade modes will jive with what the game has to offer unless they’re willing to put in time for the grind.

    We all live in a Street Fighter world

    One of the headline features of Street Fighter 6 is single-player World Tour mode, a story mode that lets you create your own character, interact with the primary cast, and run around its silly little world solving silly little problems. As far as fighting game stories go, it’s no Mortal Kombat or Injustice, but I can’t deny I was absolutely sucked into Capcom’s attempt to make Street Fighter feel like a world that actually exists, rather than just backdrops you fight in.

    World Tour’s character creator is one of the most robust I’ve ever recreated myself in, and as a short king, I loved how it let me not only be that in the game, but recognized it mechanically. My character’s a little guy, which means my kicks don’t have as much reach but my hurtbox is smaller. More often than not, character creators can feel like everyone’s dressing up the same two mannequins, but Street Fighter 6 really commits to letting you create who you want and letting them take up real space, literally and figuratively. You can create some real weirdos and the game doesn’t bat an eye, but you can also faithfully recreate yourself and have it be recognized.

    The actual story World Tour is built on top of is pretty light fare; you get your anime fighting rival and there’s some drama and talk of what “strength” means. That’s all fine and well, but I was genuinely surprised and delighted not by the story, but by the social elements in the gaps.

    World Tour lets you meet and train with each character in the main cast, and on top of learning their moves and grafting them together to make your own moveset, there are also social elements that let you develop a relationship with them. Straight up, this is the best part of World Tour. Some of my favorite Street Fighter 6 moments have been listening to Ryu recount old stories and learn how to text (he didn’t know smartphones were a thing). In general, most of the characters don’t have a ton of involvement throughout the main story, but the smaller stories that I passed through remain highlights of World Tour given that I’m not really enamored with its structure beyond that. (After you complete the story, there’s still side-quests and leveling up to do so you can take your character online, but getting to that point feels like a bit of a chore.)

    Ryu is seen talking to a fighter in front of a tree, saying "You want to get my contact inofrmation? For your ... Did you say smartphone?"

    Screenshot: Capcom / Kotaku

    Rise and grind

    For a while, I found World Tour frustrating because I was naturally trying to play it like a fighting game. You can run around a small open-world area and meet NPCs with their own problems and missions to send you on, but you can also challenge them to fights, and that part is where World Tour goes from a fun jaunt through the streets to a weird, often grindy and tedious exercise in button mashing. While World Tour’s fights are real-time action affairs they’re heavily governed by RPG-style stats. There are levels to gain and stats to juice, but even when you’re at or around the same level as a major boss, they still have more health and hit harder than you can.

    Whereas playing as the main cast online offered balanced fights that were quick affairs of outsmarting one another, World Tour fights often felt like wars of attrition in which I would have to laboriously wear down enemies who had bigger life bars and could cut mine in half with a quick combo. Instead of playing to my character’s strengths, I was spamming hadokens just to chip away at their giant health pools. The stakes often feel high, as retries are limited and only replenished by spending time walking through the world, making them a precious resource. You can use items to boost your power and heal during these fights, but it sure sucks if you burn the precious items and then lose anyway.

    Image for article titled Street Fighter 6: The Kotaku Review

    Screenshot: Capcom / Kotaku

    Across the board, World Tour’s combat felt arduous, whereas it felt effortless and rewarding in any other mode. I loved putting myself into Street Fighter’s world and interacting with characters I’d loved for years, but every time a big story moment came I dreaded having to confront another OP boss. World Tour contains some of my favorite things to come out of Street Fighter in years, but the unfair-feeling fights felt like vegetables I had to power through to get back to dessert.

    It’s a shame that the actual fighting is the worst part of World Tour, because it has so many cool ideas. Making a customized moveset full of different character’s attacks (à la Ace from Street Fighter EX3) feels like I’m keeping pieces of the people I’ve met throughout my journey. I love the idea of players creating their own builds and pitting their avatars against each other in the online lobbies, I just feel like World Tour leans so hard into the RPG framework that it loses a lot of the skill-based satisfaction that comes with getting better at a fighting game.

    If you’re the type who loves a grind and enjoys the prospect of wailing on a bunch of civilians to make numbers go up, this mode has that. If you want to play through some really fun stories featuring your favorite Street Fighter heroes and villains, that’s one of World Tour’s biggest draws. But if you’re interested in a tight, satisfying fighting game experience, World Tour isn’t quite that, and it sucks because a mode geared toward people who don’t want to be FGC experts shouldn’t so often feel frustrating and insurmountable for reasons that go beyond how fighting games typically play. I wonder if World Tour will put more casual fans off at least as much as it draws them in.

    Li-Fen and a fighter are seen standing in their combat poses.

    Screenshot: Capcom / Kotaku

    Despite my frustrations, I left World Tour with a greater appreciation for all the best parts of Street Fighter 6. It’s a sublime fighter that makes smart changes that honor what makes the series great. It’s also a full, complete game from the start, that won’t need to be fixed and extended with endless updates later. The game’s energetic street fights, bolstered by a filthy visual flair that feels down and dirty in a way the series hasn’t in years, makes it as fun to watch as it is to play. It’s style and substance. It’s depth and spectacle. Street Fighter got its soul back, and I can’t wait to see where Capcom takes it as the next generation of fighting games kicks off.

    [ad_2]

    Kenneth Shepard

    Source link

  • Street Fighter 6 Drops In June With Cool 2v2 Mode

    Street Fighter 6 Drops In June With Cool 2v2 Mode

    [ad_1]

    Image for article titled Street Fighter 6 Drops In June With Cool 2v2 Mode

    Screenshot: Capcom

    You may have already seen, but Street Fighter 6‘s June 2, 2023 release date leaked late in the day on December 8. Apparently Sony, whether accidentally or intentionally, published the date on the PlayStation Store, alongside three different editions that will be available come launch. Now, during Geoff Keighley’s The Game Awards, Capcom confirmed the date is in fact real. Mark your calendars, folks: Street Fighter is coming back next year.

    Street Fighter 6 – Pre-Order Trailer

    The Game Awards dropped a new trailer for Street Fighter 6 during the pre-show, where we saw fighters travel around the (digital) world: France, Italy, the United States, and the like. There were also some minigames, including bottle chopping, board breaking, and basketball blocking. Weird stuff. We also saw some new characters, such as the capoeira fighter Dee Jay and the gladiator brawler Marisa, alongside a cool-looking 2v2 mode where a player-created fighter and Ryu battled against two other fighters on the same screen at the same time.

    Street Fighter 6 is looking wild.

    The June 2023 release date slip-up was spotted on the PlayStation Store by Twitter users bestprosplay3 and SurpriseBum. It then proliferated on gaming forum website ResetEra, with preorder pages allegedly corroborating the date. There appear to be three editions of the game: Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate. The Standard Edition will apparently come with the base game, one outfit color for six unspecified characters, and “special titles and stickers.” The Deluxe and Ultimate versions feature the same stuff, with the only difference being the Deluxe packages the Year 1 Character Pass, whereas the Ultimate houses the Year 1 Ultimate Pass. Prices for these editions weren’t disclosed at the time.

    Read More: Street Fighter 6 Is A Fighting Game Newcomer’s Dream

    More than seven years after Street Fighter V came out in February 2016, Street Fighter 6 is Capcom’s latest entry in the long-running fighting game series. It’ll feature all the usual characters—Chun-Li, Guile, Ken, Ryu, etc.—as well as some new faces, such as the fire-fisted Luke and (my personal fave) the kunoichi Kimberly. There are some new elements introduced in the upcoming entry, too, including the combo-breaking Drive Impact move, a robust character creator you can use in the single-player open world, and the incredible training mode that actually teaches you fighting game lingo. It’s an exciting release I’m stoked to get whooped in.

    G/O Media may get a commission

    You don’t have to wait long to get your hands on the game. Yes, it does drop in June 2023, which is about six months away. But if you were part of Street Fighter 6‘s first closed beta, you can check out the second one that runs from December 16 to 19. Even if you didn’t get an invitation to play the first beta, you can still submit an application to get in on the second one through the game’s website. Two caveats here, though. The first is you must have a registered Capcom ID account. The second is that account must then be linked to whatever platform you’re applying to play on. Once you meet that criteria, and should you be selected, you will gain access to Street Fighter 6.

    If you weren’t lucky enough to be picked for access to the game’s second closed beta, however, you will just have to wait until Street Fighter 6 launches in full on June 2, 2023. The game will land on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.

     

    [ad_2]

    Levi Winslow

    Source link

  • Oklahoma sues federal prisons for inmate it wants to execute

    Oklahoma sues federal prisons for inmate it wants to execute

    [ad_1]

    OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma is suing the Federal Bureau of Prisons for custody of a state death row inmate whom the bureau is refusing to hand over, with the state saying the man’s scheduled execution cannot be carried out in December if he’s not returned soon.

    A federal lawsuit was filed Tuesday by state Attorney General John O’Connor urging that the bureau be ordered to transfer John Hanson back to Oklahoma by Nov. 9 from a federal prison in Pollock, Louisiana. That lawsuit, which also names three federal prison officials, has the support of Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler.

    Hanson, 58, has a clemency hearing set for Nov. 9. Unless clemency is recommended and granted by Gov. Kevin Stitt, the inmate is scheduled to receive a lethal injection on Dec. 15 for his conviction in the 1999 killing of an elderly woman.

    Mary Agnes Bowles, 77, was killed in a carjacking and kidnapping outside a Tulsa mall in 1999.

    The U.S. Justice Department under Democratic President Joe Biden — who has vowed to work to end the death penalty — announced last year that it was halting federal executions. That step came after a historic use of capital punishment under Donald Trump’s presidency, with 13 executions carried out in six months. The Bureau of Prisons’ refusal to turn over Hanson raises questions about whether the agency is using its power to deliver on the president’s political pledge.

    Hanson is serving a life sentence for numerous federal convictions, including being a career criminal, that predate his state death sentence.

    Attorneys listed as representing Hanson did not return phone calls for comment Thursday.

    Kunzweiler said he asked O’Connor’s support for the return of the inmate. The district attorney said he sought the attorney general’s help after his August letter requesting Hanson’s transfer was denied by the warden of the Louisiana facility as being “not in the public’s best interest.”

    The decision was “infuriating,” Kunzweiler said.

    “I’ve never in my 33 years as a prosecutor encountered this level of refusal to transfer an inmate from one jurisdiction to another,” Kunzweiler said.

    After being contacted by Kunzweiler, O’Connor sent a request for Hanson’s transfer to Bureau of Prisons Regional Director Heriberto Tellez in Grand Prairie, Texas, which also was denied.

    “As inmate Hanson is presently subject to a life term imposed in federal court, his transfer to state authorities for a state execution is not in the public interest,” according to the Oct. 17 letter from Tellez.

    Robert Dunham, executive director of the national Death Penalty Information Center, said he is unaware of the bureau previously declining to transfer an inmate to a state for execution. But he noted that such a transfer is not required.

    “The question here is, is this an abuse of discretion (by the bureau),” Dunham said. “It’s hard to make a determination about that because the letter doesn’t explain.”

    Dunham said it was not clear whether the refusal to transfer Hanson is related to the federal government’s halting of executions under the Biden administration.

    “Given Oklahoma’s history of botched executions, that’s an appropriate question,” Dunham said.

    The prisons bureau declined comment, citing the official’s previous responses.

    A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which represents the BOP, also declined to comment and said a response will be filed by the expedited Oct. 30 deadline set by the court.

    The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Texas because that is where Tellez is based, contends Oklahoma faces “imminent harm” if Hanson is not returned.

    “Oklahoma’s execution policy begins thirty-five days prior to the execution date” of Dec. 15, according to the filing. “The Oklahoma Department of Corrections must be able to initiate the process on Nov. 10, 2022, with Hanson in custody before that date.”

    The filing also argues that the federal government’s refusal to surrender Hanson usurps the state’s authority.

    “Defendants have also, in essence, lawlessly threatened to commute Hanson’s sentence to life imprisonment,” from the death penalty he received.

    Oklahoma has put to death six inmates since resuming executions in October 2021. The state had one of the nation’s busiest death chambers until problems in 2014 and 2015 led to a de facto moratorium. That included prison officials realizing they received the wrong lethal drug just hours away from executing Richard Glossip in September 2015. It was later learned the same wrong drug had been used to execute an inmate in January 2015.

    The drug mix-ups followed a botched execution in April 2014 in which inmate Clayton Lockett struggled on a gurney before dying 43 minutes into his lethal injection — and after the state’s prisons chief ordered executioners to stop.

    The state’s next scheduled execution, that of Richard Stephen Fairchild for the beating death of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son in 1993, is set for Nov. 17.

    ———

    Read more on AP’s coverage of executions: https://apnews.com/hub/executions

    [ad_2]

    Source link