batman

Porn maker sues 7,098 alleged film pirates

In a move sure to outrage both file-traders on BitTorrent networks and legal watchdogs, a well-known pornographer has filed a federal copyright suit against 7,098 individuals.

Axel Braun Productions filed the complaint Friday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, alleging that the defendants illegally shared the adult film "Batman XXX: A Porn Parody." The film was written and directed by Axel Braun and distributed by Vivid Entertainment, one of the country's best known porn studios.

In an interview about the suit with Xbiz Newswire, a publication that follows the adult-film … Read more

The 404 671: Where wait, Canada didn't have Netflix? (podcast)

Despite being an excellent location for bachelor parties, Canada is apparently a laggard when it comes to country-wide tech proficiency. Case in point: it just got Netflix. Our northern neighbors can now sign up for Netflix's streaming service for as little as $7.99 per month, which includes feature films from major film studios like MGM, Paramount, Universal, Sony, and more.

We applaud Canada for joining the streaming game, but the news has a catch: although they can access the content online through a computer, a Blu-ray player, and the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, Canadians still can't sign up for Netflix movie deliveries--it's just streaming, for now. However, they can get the first month free if they sign up now.

Two strange announcements from the world of video games: first, Christopher Nolan revealed that a video game based on "Inception" is in the works. That's all we know for now, but we're looking forward to zero gravity fight sequences...as long as game play isn't as difficult to follow as the film!

Next, the King of Pop is getting his own online game called Planet Michael. The game will be a massively multiplayer online role-playing game like WAR or Guild Wars 2 and will take players through multiple realms, each based on one of Jackson's famous albums.

Even better, Los Angeles-based SEE Virtual Worlds is offering the 3D game for free when it comes out in late 2011.

You still have time to win a pair of tickets to see "The Social Network" with The 404 next Tuesday, September 28. To enter, simply follow us @The404 and RETWEET THIS.

Yes, all you have to do is hit that "Retweet" button OR become a fan of The 404 Facebook Fan Page and you'll be automatically entered to twin. If you're a fan of us on Facebook already, you're already grandfathered in, so good luck!

Episode 671 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

The 404 645: Where no one will buy this (podcast)

During this year's Celebration V fan convention, director George Lucas announced that all six of the original "Star Wars" films will be released on Blu-ray in 2011 as a box set. The films and the much-criticized prequels were previously released as DVD box sets, but this is the first time fans of the series can see them in HD.

The Blu-rays will also include new documentaries, special features, and behind-the-scenes moments that both Jedis and Imperialists can appreciate. Lucas also announced the inclusion of a lost scene from "Return of the Jedi" that shows Darth Vader calling out to Luke as he builds the green lightsaber you see in the film. Good news, though: if you can't wait a year for the box set to come out, the clip is also available on YouTube--with George's approval, of course!

Good news for Android users: Last week Google re-released the app formerly known as Voice Search for its mobile operating system. The app is called Voice Search, and it lets you dictate text message, write e-mails, map directions, play music, and make phone calls--all without ever touching the phone. It's free, so we can't pick it apart too much, but once the initial "cool factor" wears off, we're not sure we'd ever use voice commands outside of a car. More importantly, when the heck is Angry Birds finally coming out for Android?

In line with today's Star Wars theme, check out these custom 404 Podcast squadron helmets made exclusively for our show by Props Guy Jim! Dedicated fans of the show will remember Jim's work with the Yu-Be-Gone Bug Spray, The 404 temporary tattoos, and, of course, The 404/Mattel hoverboard from "Back to the Future"!

Click through for more pics of the X-Wing helmet after the jump! Thanks Jim!

… Read more

The 404 639: Where we can do this the easy way or the hard way (podcast)

We almost lost Jeff last year to Batman: Arkham Asylum, the hugely popular video game based on the popular bat-mythology. Good news for gamers: The Dark Knight will return next year with a sequel called Batman: Arkham City. According to inside sources, Arkham City will debut on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC next fall, but you can watch the teaser trailer and even preorder the game right now!

Images of the next-generation Apple iPod Touch have been popping up on the Internet, and it looks like the next version will feature an updated camera with a LED flash … Read more

iPod Touch to get front-facing camera?

Links from Friday's episode of Loaded:

New iPod Touch getting a camera? Blackberry service off in Saudia Arabia Amazon opens Kindle bookstore in U.K. Amazon offering 1,000 albums for $5 Batman video game sequel title announced

The Dark Knight returns to consoles next fall

One of our picks for 2009 game of the year was undoubtedly Batman: Arkham Asylum. Satisfying gameplay, a near-perfect fighting system, references to almost all the characters in the Batman universe, and a fantastic cast easily made it the best Batman game ever made.

While we knew to expect a sequel to the new franchise, we were a bit letdown to watch E3 2010 come and go with no official announcement of when we could see the Dark Knight back in action.

Today we have word that Batman: Arkham City will hit Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in the … Read more

The 404 600: Where we join the Mager leagues (podcast)

Today is the 600th episode of The 404 Podcast, and we're celebrating the milestone with Andrew Mager, a close friend of the show and former CNET employee! He's in New York covering Internet Week for ZDNet and gives us the scoop on the latest face-melting announcements from the tech world, including the FUTURE OF PRINTING, with a little help from yours truly, of course.

But before we introduce the stories in today's rundown, some tragic news: After less than a week in action, Jeff's HTC Evo 4G has succumbed to his extraordinary ability to break electronics … Read more

The 404 592: Where this might have a virus (podcast)

While everyone else in the tri-state region spent Memorial Day weekend outside in 90-degree bliss, Wilson locked himself in his house for three days playing Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Wilson runs down his favorite elements of gameplay (immersive environments, challenging combat, and Mark Hamill) that roped him into what the industry calls "the video game bender."

Strangely enough, Jeff coincidentally had his own run-in with the winged rodent avenger while watching the 1966 film starring Adam West and Burt Ward as a very out-of-shape crime-fighting duo. No offense to West, but even Alfred would've looked more imposing in … Read more

What video game sequels get wrong

Film critics have decried the disease of sequel-itis since the Hollywood blockbuster era began more than 30 years ago. They bemoan the lack of originality, the reliance on popular themes and characters, and the sheeplike masses who flock to repeated installments of their favorite franchises. Video games have been onboard with the idea of sequels almost from the very start (remember Ms. Pac-Man?), but the idea of creating cash-generating franchises has taken on new importance in an increasingly hit-driven environment.

So, it's only natural for some industry watchers to bemoan the likes of Mass Effect 2, Halo 3, BioShock 2, Assassin's Creed 2, and others. But, judging from recent experience, the real problem is not that these games share too much with movie sequels, it's that they're not enough alike.

Having played nearly every notable recent and upcoming video game sequel, it's clear that the hubris of game developers and publishers is having a potentially audience-sapping effect--their unquestioned assumption is that you not only played the original game a new sequel is based on, but also finished it, and can clearly remember every plot twist up to two years later. This blindness to anything but the uber-fan audience is a disservice to the very mainstream game buyers who keep the entire industry afloat. … Read more