To all readers, please be aware that www.4TheGeekNU.com is under major re-construction and that is why things are a little slow around here. We are bringing you a bigger and better website with new functionality including a fully integrated forums section (bye bye BZBexchange.com) and other member services. Please be patient while these changes take place, and if you encounter any site problems during the next week, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Thanks for your understanding.

Kevin C

www.4TheGeekNU.com

EA has announced that Battlefield 1943 is the fastest selling day one and week one download-only game on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PlayStation Network. Overall since its launch on July 8th, Battlefield 1943 has sold over 600,000 copies on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and the PlayStation Network.


“We are honoured by the reception that the game has received so far,” says Gordon Van Dyke, Producer on Battlefield 1943. “Watching and participating in this non-stop multiplayer action has been a real treat for us and we can’t believe how fast our fans reached 43 million kills. We can now truly say that we have set a new standard for what can be done in the downloadable games category and gamers recognize the endless value that Battlefield 1943 provides for just $15.”

I must admit, while I’m not a fan of World War II games, but Battlefield 1943 is amazingly fun and highly addictive. With only a limited amount of maps available, this game screams DLC, and for once I would gladly fill EA’s coffers for more content. Please EA give use MORE!

And the winning comment for our Fifth Geek Give-Away is:

BZBexchange.com Member - Lobbyman

And their winning comment was – “My daughters's favorite Nancy Drew Book is: The Secret of the Old Clock.”

Congratulations for participating in our contest. For those who did not win this time, we also appreciate your participation. But don’t worry, a brand new Geek Give-Away contest begins soon, so you’ll have an all new chance of winning something great from us. If you want to know what our next contest is before it's posted here, visit us at twitter.com/4TheGeeknu

Electronic Arts and Dark Horse Comics have announced a new comic book series based on the Mass Effect franchise. In Mass Effect: Redemption, the story takes readers through the treacherous events leading up to Mass Effect 2 which opens with galactic hero Commander Shepard having mysteriously gone missing and left to fight for survival. What unfolds next will expose readers to new locations, aliens and extended storyline in the Mass Effect universe.


The Mass Effect: Redemption story is written by Lead Writer Mac Walters at BioWare. Walters is the script writer behind Mass Effect 2. He brings unique insight to the Mass Effect comic and nuance of the world within. The comic is scripted by John Jackson Miller (Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, The Invincible Iron Man) and drawn by Omar Francia (Star Wars Legacy). This first four-part series explores the exotic and dangerous future Milky Way of Mass Effect, revealing previously unseen locations, aliens, and enemies of this rich science fiction landscape.

“Fans of Mass Effect are going to be pleasantly shocked by the events in these comics,” says Mac Walters. “We worked very closely with Dark Horse to make sure this story was built in to the Mass Effect 2 arc, right from the ground up. Reading the series won’t just add to your experience of the universe, it will change the way you look at Mass Effect 2… and beyond.”

“Those familiar with Mass Effect are aware that it offers one of the deepest and most compelling universes in the history of space adventure,” says Dark Horse President and Publisher Mike Richardson. “We have a long history of successfully adapting properties such as Aliens, Star Wars, and Serenity into comics, and we feel that Mass Effect has tremendous potential with regard to graphic storytelling.”

The narrative in Mass Effect: Redemption picks up just as Commander Shepard disappears and is left without the support of the crew on the Normandy in the lawless Terminus Systems. Shepard must fight for survival, and will be assisted by close companion, Dr. Liara T’Soni, to come home alive. This story is sure to be a must-read for fans looking to fill the gap between the first and second game.

Mass Effect: Redemption issue 1 hits comic shop shelves on January 6, 2010.

Checkout the latest developer's diary from the upcoming Darksiders: Wrath of War game. The video shows how the title's gameplay and concepts was designed, plus you'll be treated to loads of new in-game clips from the single-player campaign. Darksiders is expected to be released on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation Q1 of 2010.

Checkout the latest two trailers of EA's Madden 2010, showing off the AFC North (Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers.) and the NFC East (Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins.) So far the game looks great and we are eagerly awaiting its release on August 14, 2009 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, and the Nintendo Wii.

Lots of news coming out the Taser camp this week. Yesterday we posted an article about Taser’s new XREP wireless shocking projectile and their Less Lethal Shotgun (LLS), and today Taser has unveiled their new Tri-Fire X3 cartridge. The newly designed cartridge allows three rounds to be fired at multiple targets without the need of reloading. In the video posted below (The footage is from a demonstration at the Taser offices), as long as the assailants are within range, 50,000 volts of debilitating electricity can be effectively delivered by a single user.

Below you'll find a cool clip from the International Conference on Field and Service Robotics, of professor Shigeo Hirose testing his new Batman inspired grappling hook system. "After modeling several different designs, Hirose settled on a pneumatic hook with a controlled launching winch and a braking spool to avoid tangling the rope. Once launched, the hook rotates because of its center of gravity and grips whatever's beneath it."


Click Here for Video.

Next week, Marvel Comics will be celebrating a major milestone with the release of The Amazing Spiderman issue #600. That's right our favorite webcrawler has finally reached the 600 mark and we simply cannot wait until its release. The 104 paged giant-sized issue will feature a surprise wedding ceremony, the man without fear Daredevil, and the return of two major characters including Spidey's nemesis Doctor Octopus and a very important person from Peter Parker's past.

With Marvel officially stating "there will be no-reprints" and few limited edition variant covers, this issue will be a welcomed addition to any comic book fan's collection. Amazing Spiderman #600 hits shelves July 22, 2009.

Brought to us by gametrailers.com, checkout the latest footage from Tekken 6, showing off a few combos and air juggles from the Jackie Chan inspired character, Lei Wulong. Tekken 6 is set to hit the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 later this year

During an MTV interview for the upcoming G-Force movie, Nicolas Cage discusses a few details regarding a possible reboot to the lackluster Ghost Rider movie franchise.

From MTV.com

"According to Cage, he’s still leaning toward a “Ghost Rider” movie that brings the skull-faced Marvel Comics hero to Europe for a team-up with Catholic Church. Oh, and there will be significantly fewer galloping horses and six-shooters in the follow-up film. “I would make it much less of a Western and more of an international story,” said Cage of the direction he’d take the character for the next film."

This is hands-down one of the greatest toasters we’ve come across. If you hurry over to StarsWarsShop.com you can pre-order your very own “official” Darth Vader Toaster. Branded with the official Star Wars logo, “the black ominous kitchen appliance easily leaves the mark of Vader's helmet in every yummy piece of toast”. While the pre-order price of $54.99 is a bit pricey, Vader toast seems like the perfect addition to any Star Wars fan’s morning breakfast.