fight

I had always imagined that attendees at sci-fi conventions were peaceable sorts.

I know they turn up waving lightsabers and other implements of war, but I imagined that these served no greater threat to society than an elongated ball-finder at a golf course.

And yet word reaches me that fans of "Star Wars" were embroiled in a confrontation with aficionados of "Doctor Who" at a sci-fi convention in the U.K.

Alright, that word initially came from my religious reading of the Sun. But it is supported by reports from august organizations like the BBC.

It … Read more

At the risk of dating myself (again), I have extremely fond memories of playing the classic action game Karateka on my -- wait for it -- Apple IIe.

That was 28 years ago, heaven help me. The game's creator, Jordan Mechner, went on to develop the better-known Prince of Persia, but I remember being totally entranced by Karateka's then-amazing graphics and compelling damsel-in-distress storyline.

But would I want to play that same game today, even if it were perfectly emulated like that other '80s classic, Karate Champ? Frankly, no. I've never been a fan of arcade or … Read more

Every night is fight night in Gamevil's boxing title, Punch Hero (iOS | Android). Punch Hero is a cel-shaded arcade boxing game that packs plenty of action and customizable features. And best of all, it's free.

The fighting controls are pretty simple: tap the left or right side to throw a jab or swipe across the screen to throw a hook. You can also swipe diagonally to throw a slower but stronger uppercut to deal more damage. There are also dedicated roll buttons that players can use to dodge and counter attacks.

Punch Hero throws over a dozen fighters … Read more

Queue up "Eye of the Tiger" and get your head in the game; Gamevil's Punch Hero is a fast-paced free-to-play arcade boxer for Android. Punch Hero packs quirky graphics, responsive controls, and plenty of customization incentives to train to become the world champ.

Punch Hero is extremely easy to pick up and play: tap the screen to jab, swipe left/right to throw hook punches, or slide diagonally for uppercuts. Make sure to keep a microfiber cloth handy as that screen of yours will get pretty smudged. You can challenge the 20 or so fighters, each more … Read more

We seem to be getting more upset about what we see on Facebook than what we see in real life.

How else to explain events in Sacramento, Calif., that allegedly led to a 30-woman brawl resulting in two serious injuries and featuring at least a couple of baseball bats? (The two facts might be related.)

Officer Michele Gigante of the Sacramento Police told the Huffington Post that the spat seemed to have been spurred by a post on one man's Facebook page.

His wife allegedly wasn't fond of its salacious nature, which seems to have led to a … Read more

Embattled Yahoo reportedly has a new plan for keeping dissident shareholders at bay: pack its board with supporters ahead of an anticipated proxy fight with hedge fund Third Point.

AllThingsD reports that Yahoo leadership is beating the bushes for three more directors to fill the vacancies created in February when five of its 11 board members announced they wouldn't stand for re-election. Yahoo has already named two new directors -- former Rovi CEO and patent-litigation enthusiast Alfred Amoroso and former eBay exec Maynard Webb.

The struggling Web giant, however, is in a race against time. Last month, Third Point named an alternative slate of four candidates, … Read more

Activist shareholder Dan Loeb's Third Point has filed papers with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a proxy fight against Yahoo, bringing two heavy-hitting media executives with him to battle.

Third Point is nominating four candidates for board seats, including Michael J. Wolf, former president and chief operating officer of MTV Networks, and Jeff Zucker, former chief executive of NBC Universal. The Third Point slate is rounded out with Loeb and Harry J. Wilson, chairman and chief executive of a corporate restructuring firm, Maeva Advisors.

Since last year, Loeb has pressured beleaguered Yahoo for mismanagement, calling … Read more

In a recent interview, mixed-martial arts chief Dana White suggested that members of the hacktivist group Anonymous were "cowards" and "terrorists."

White, who helped found the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the nation's largest promoter of mixed-martial arts fights, then engaged alleged members of Anonymous in a debate via Twitter about his support for the controversial and now seemingly defunct Stop Online Piracy Act and the morality of hacking sites as a political statement.

According to a CNN report, Anonymous got the final word. Shortly after the debate, someone posted to the Internet White's social security … Read more

Don't mess with an angry mob of people waiting in line for a shiny new Apple product--especially if they've got produce on hand.

That was the lesson Apple's retail store in Beijing learned the hard way.

Bloomberg reports that those who had lined up for the iPhone 4S on its launch day in the country became incensed when the store did not open up for sales at the previously announced time.

According to the story, the 500 some person group began "pelting" the store with eggs, later transferring their rage to an unidentifiable "man … Read more