Miitomo Launches in the U.S. on March 31

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March 29, 2016

Don’t miss out on being a part of a Nintendo first! On March 31, Miitomo, the company’s first-ever smart device application, is launching in the United States and several other countries. Miitomo is a free-to-start social experience that lets users spark one-of-a-kind conversations with friends in a whole new way using Mii characters. The app recently launched in Japan and was downloaded more than 1 million times in its first three days of availability, while achieving the #1 most downloaded free app status in both the App Store and Google Play storefronts.

“With Miitomo, Nintendo takes its first step into the world of smart devices,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “Miitomo brings the special Nintendo charm and polish that people around the world love to an entirely new format and audience.”

Getting started with Miitomo and being a part of this Nintendo milestone is easy: After downloading the application for free on the App Store for iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, along with Android devices, users create a Mii character and customize facial features like eyes and hair, as well as voice and personality. Users can also use the camera on their smart devices to snap a photo of themselves, which can be used to create a Mii, or they can simply import their Mii from their Wii U or Nintendo 3DS systems using a QR Code.

Once their Mii is ready, users can add friends who already have the app in person, or by linking the app with their existing Facebook or Twitter accounts. After that step is complete, it’s time to answer some questions! Miitomo creates conversations and turns discussions into a form of play by prompting users to answer all kinds of fun questions. How would you define your fashion style? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? If you were given ten grand to spend in one day, what would you do? The answers get shared among friends, sparking interesting conversations – part of the fun is discovering unexpected facts about your friends. When users hear how their friends responded to questions, they can give answers a “heart” or a written or picture comment.

To preregister for Miitomo, users can sign up for a Nintendo Account at https://miitomo.com before March 31 to receive an email when the app is ready to download. People that create their Nintendo Account and preregister before March 31 will also receive Platinum Points for the new My Nintendo rewards program, which will simultaneously launch with Miitomo. Aiming to be much more than a standard rewards program, My Nintendo is a comprehensive service that rewards users for interacting with Nintendo products and services in a variety of ways. Miitomo users who link the app to their Nintendo Account will be able to take advantage of My Nintendo to enhance their experience. Platinum Points can be earned by interacting with Nintendo apps and services, including Miitomo. Gold Points are earned when purchasing digital versions of games from Nintendo.com or Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Both Platinum and Gold Points can be redeemed for rewards like games, download content, in-app items and eShop discount coupons.

In addition to Miitomo and the My Nintendo program, Nintendo is also launching an enhanced Wii U and Nintendo 3DS shop on Nintendo.com on March 31 for users with a Nintendo Account to purchase digital games. Featuring an expanded catalog of more than 2,000 games, this digital store can be accessed on personal computers or smart devices. The shop serves as an additional purchase option to Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, with all purchases being sent directly to users’ Nintendo 3DS or Wii U systems for download. Users can now easily find and purchase games that are new, popular and on sale, as well as use filters to search by genre. Purchases of games from this site, as well as Nintendo eShop, will earn My Nintendo Gold Points.

For more information about Miitomo and My Nintendo, visit https://miitomo.com.

D23 Expo 2017 Coming to Anaheim July 14–16! Tickets on sale Soon.

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 28, 2016

All the magic and excitement of the past, present, and future of Disney entertainment will come together once again when D23: The Official Disney Fan Club presents D23 Expo 2017 at the Anaheim Convention Center the weekend of July 14–16. Each of Disney’s magical worlds will unite under one roof to celebrate what’s new and what’s on the horizon from theme parks, television, music, gaming, and films, including Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel.

Highlights planned for D23 Expo include the Disney Legends Ceremony, which honors the talented men and women who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy; an all-new exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives; D23 Expo’s costume contest, Mousequerade, showcasing the most creative designs by fans; the D23 Expo Emporium, where Disney fans can buy, sell, and trade Disney collectibles, memorabilia, merchandise, and more; and the D23 Expo Design Challenge. (Details on the Design Challenge and Mousequerade will be forthcoming.)

The 2017 Expo will feature a massive show floor full of immersive experiences and special opportunities to see what’s next for Disney around the world—and guests may run into their favorite Disney stars, characters, Imagineers, animators, and filmmakers. StagePass, the popular ticket distribution system that allows attendees to obtain guaranteed seats for some of Expo’s most popular presentations, and StorePass, which allows priority entry to select shopping venues at the event, will once again enhance the guest experience. Hall D23, the popular presentation and performance venue featuring more than 7,000 seats, will return, as will Stage 23, Stage 28, and Center Stage.

The fifth event follows the success of D23 Expo 2015, which drew tens of thousands of Disney fans for three star-studded days and nights. Guests were treated to appearances by such celebrities as Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Evans, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Dwayne Johnson and watched performances by Ne-Yo, Sabrina Carpenter, the cast of Teen Beach 2 and stars of Disney’s shows on Broadway. Guests previewed costumes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and were the first to hear about the new Star Wars-themed lands coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. They also enjoyed a look back at Disney’s rich history through extraordinary panels, presentations, and exhibits and discovered the newest entertainment, technology, and products coming from Disney.

Advance tickets for D23 Expo 2017 will go on sale at D23Expo.com beginning July 14, 2016. D23 Members will receive special pricing on both one- and three-day tickets to the event, which is open to the general public. D23 Gold and Charter Members will also be entitled to special benefits at the 2017 Expo. Gold Members will also have an opportunity to purchase the Sorcerer Package, which provides a host of special benefits and amenities. Ticket prices will be announced this summer.

The Book of Mormon is at Your Door – Open It

By

Joel Covey

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March 24, 2016

Ding-Dong! Hello. Did you hear that the outrageously funny Tony Award winning musical THE BOOK OF MORMON is preaching onstage right now at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa? Well, if you are still deciding, it’s only in town until April 3rd and only has limited number of seats left. Time is of the essence! The musical from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone that has been the talk across the industry since its inception just 5 years ago has gone on to stun and delight audience-goers everywhere. The Book of Mormon will have you laughing hysterically and leave you with a new take on what a musical can deliver.

If you haven’t heard anything more about this musical other than it’s wildly popular, it’s best be known that this is just as vulgar and politicly incorrect as one could expect from a South Park episode, containing explicit language that warrants cuts from the likes of Quintin Tarantino. You may want to check your prudish sensibilities before attending as Parker and Stone have created a no holds bar look at the Church of Latter Day Saints that will surely find someone to offend.

This unparalleled, insane musical comedy follows a pair of mismatched missionaries, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, that are sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. The Elders are forced into a mission location that’s going to be far more challenging than what they could have ever imagined. That’s all I’ll get into here as the unexpected helps lead to more laughter in this musical.

The Book of Mormon has a brand of humor that is very reminiscent of South Park storytelling. In no way is this a knock, as Parker and Stone actually have something I like to call intelligent shock-value comedy in which many of the jokes deliver a “I can’t believe they just said that” reaction quickly followed by a realization that the joke actually makes a lot of sense on a deeper level. The subtext of the musical and plot in its entirety is far more powerful than any one joke. This can often be seen in much of the creators past works where the end result usually tells a very valid moral to the story.

All this South Park talk has me worried some may be a little turned-off from wanting to see an onstage off-Broadway musical with South Park’s reputation. Let me be the first to admit that I was entirely wrong on on my perception of this musical. I had listened to the music several times over the past couple of years and thought to myself that it sounded very similar to the musical numbers featured in South Park episodes. Well, there is definitely a resemblance, at times, but the cast recordings do zero justice.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts - The Book of Mormon Company - The Book of Mormon - Photo by Joan Marcus — Segerstrom Center for the Arts – The Book of Mormon Company – The Book of Mormon – Photo by Joan Marcus

Not only does the incredible ensemble of cast members add something special to each song by their hilarious performances, but the songs were also written by Robert Lopez. Who? The same guy who composed songs for AVENUE Q and on the entirely opposite end of the sprectrum, The Disney animated film Frozen. This is where you insert that emoji with the smiley face with his hands on the side of the face with a shocked expression.

Seriously, The Book of Mormon features some excellent talent and a fitting fast-paced lively song collection. Elder Price played by Billy Harlingen Tighe was a delight and vocally perfect for the role. The character of Elder Cunningham, a socially awkward outcast will always have the challenging task to live up to Josh Gad, Olaf in Frozen, but AJ Holmes has managed to make this character entirely his own. I was concerned at first by his take, but his performance was solid throughout and delivered a vocal performance far better than his persona would gave off.

This production has a phenomenal group of talent with every single cast member delivering an amazing performance that were all worthy of a mention. Their enthusiasm throughout the entire production along with Lopez’s snappy and energetic songs have created a well-paced non-stop entertaining epic show.

Production value also continued to add to the show with great sets and scenic design, lighting was noteworthy, and sound was well mixed. The Book of Mormon contained it all that left everyone around me with such praise for the show. I seriously saw a lady jump up and down in her skirt and high-heals asking her man if they could see it again! Actively listening for others comments while walking out left me only hearing rave reviews.

I seriously went into The Book of Mormon expecting just some funny/shocking one-liners. What I got instead was a well-rounded, smart show with simply perfect performances, a great cast, a large production, great vocals, and sore cheek from so much laughter. Why did I not see this sooner?

THE JUNGLE BOOK Cast Special Shoot Images

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 21, 2016

Check-out these Brand new special shoot images featuring the cast of Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK. Featuring Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, Sir Ben Kingsley, Christopher Walken and Giancarlo Esposito, each image pairs the actor with their onscreen character.

Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, “The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray).

Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire. The all-star cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o as the voice of the fiercely protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito as the voice of wolf pack’s alpha male Akela.

“The Jungle Book” seamlessly blends live-action with photorealistic CGI animals and environments, using up-to-the-minute technology and storytelling techniques to immerse audiences in an enchanting and lush world. The wild adventure swings into theaters in 3D on April 15, 2016.

THE JUNGLE BOOK - Voiced by Idris Elba, Shere Khan bears the scars of man, which fuel his hatred of humans. Convinced that Mowgli poses a threat, the bengal tiger is determined to rid the jungle of the man-cub. "Shere Khan reigns with fear," says Elba. "He terrorizes everyone he encounters because he comes from a place of fear." Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. — THE JUNGLE BOOK – Voiced by Idris Elba, Shere Khan bears the scars of man, which fuel his hatred of humans. Convinced that Mowgli poses a threat, the bengal tiger is determined to rid the jungle of the man-cub. “Shere Khan reigns with fear,” says Elba. “He terrorizes everyone he encounters because he comes from a place of fear.”
Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

THE JUNGLE BOOK - Lupita Nyong'o voices Raksha, a mother wolf who cares deeply for all of her pups—including man-cub Mowgli, whom she adopts as one of her own when he's abandoned in the jungle as an infant. "She is the protector, the eternal mother," says Nyong'o. "The word Raksha actually means protection in Hindi. I felt really connected to that, wanting to protect a son that isn’t originally hers but one she’s taken for her own." Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. — THE JUNGLE BOOK – Lupita Nyong’o voices Raksha, a mother wolf who cares deeply for all of her pups—including man-cub Mowgli, whom she adopts as one of her own when he’s abandoned in the jungle as an infant. “She is the protector, the eternal mother,” says Nyong’o. “The word Raksha actually means protection in Hindi. I felt really connected to that, wanting to protect a son that isn’t originally hers but one she’s taken for her own.”
Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

THE JUNGLE BOOK - Kaa is a massive python who uses her voice and hypnotic gaze to entrance Mowgli. The man-cub can't resist her captivating embrace. "Kaa seduces and entraps Mowgli with her storytelling," says Scarlett Johansson. "She's the mirror into Mowgli's past. The way she moves is very alluring, almost coquettish." Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. — THE JUNGLE BOOK – Kaa is a massive python who uses her voice and hypnotic gaze to entrance Mowgli. The man-cub can’t resist her captivating embrace. “Kaa seduces and entraps Mowgli with her storytelling,” says Scarlett Johansson. “She’s the mirror into Mowgli’s past. The way she moves is very alluring, almost coquettish.”
Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

THE JUNGLE BOOK - King Louie is a formidable ape who desperately wants the secret of Man's deadly "red flower"--fire. He's convinced Mowgli has the information he seeks. "King Louie is huge--12 feet tall," says Christopher Walken, who voices the character. "But he's as charming as he is intimidating when he wants to be." Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. — THE JUNGLE BOOK – King Louie is a formidable ape who desperately wants the secret of Man’s deadly “red flower”–fire. He’s convinced Mowgli has the information he seeks. “King Louie is huge–12 feet tall,” says Christopher Walken, who voices the character. “But he’s as charming as he is intimidating when he wants to be.”
Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

THE JUNGLE BOOK - Akela is the strong and hardened alpha-male wolf who shoulders the responsibility of his pack. He welcomes Mowgli to the family, but worries he may one day compromise their safety. "Akela is a fierce patriarch of the wolf pack," says Giancarlo Esposito, who voices the character. "He believes the strength of the pack lies in what each and every wolf offers. He's a great leader, a wise teacher." Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. — THE JUNGLE BOOK – Akela is the strong and hardened alpha-male wolf who shoulders the responsibility of his pack. He welcomes Mowgli to the family, but worries he may one day compromise their safety. “Akela is a fierce patriarch of the wolf pack,” says Giancarlo Esposito, who voices the character. “He believes the strength of the pack lies in what each and every wolf offers. He’s a great leader, a wise teacher.”
Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

THE JUNGLE BOOK - Bagheera is a sleek panther who feels it's his duty to help the man-cub depart with dignity when it's time for him to leave his jungle home. "Bagheera is Mowgli’s adoptive parent," says Ben Kingsley, who lends his voice to Bagheera. "His role in Mowgli’s life is to educate, to protect and to guide. My Bagheera was military—he’s probably a colonel. He is instantly recognizable by the way he talks, how he acts and what his ethical code is." Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. — THE JUNGLE BOOK – Bagheera is a sleek panther who feels it’s his duty to help the man-cub depart with dignity when it’s time for him to leave his jungle home. “Bagheera is Mowgli’s adoptive parent,” says Ben Kingsley, who lends his voice to Bagheera. “His role in Mowgli’s life is to educate, to protect and to guide. My Bagheera was military—he’s probably a colonel. He is instantly recognizable by the way he talks, how he acts and what his ethical code is.”
Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Apple Introduces 9.7-inch iPad Pro

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 21, 2016

Apple® has introduced the all-new 9.7-inch iPad Pro™ — at just under one pound it features a new pro Retina® display with greater brightness, wider color gamut, lower reflectivity, Night Shift™ mode and introduces new True Tone® display technology to dynamically adjust white balance. The new iPad Pro delivers incredible performance with the 64-bit A9X chip that rivals most portable PCs, along with a four-speaker audio system that is twice as powerful,¹ new 12-megapixel iSight® camera for shooting Live Photos™ and 4K video, 5-megapixel FaceTime® HD camera, and faster wireless technologies. And iPad Pro includes support for the breakthrough Apple Pencil™ and a new Smart Keyboard™ cover designed to fit the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

“iPad Pro is a new generation of iPad that is indispensable and immersive, enabling people to be more productive and more creative. It’s incredibly fast, extremely portable, and completely natural to use with your fingers, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. And now it comes in two sizes,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has a new Retina display with True Tone technology, four-speaker audio system, blazing fast A9X chip, 12-megapixel iSight camera, 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, faster wireless, and support for Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. It is the ultimate upgrade for existing iPad users and replacement for PC users.”

“People don’t realize how much hand drawing is needed to produce computer animation,” said John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. “iPad Pro and Apple Pencil are the closest we’ve ever been able to get in the digital world to actually drawing on paper.”

Pro display
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro features advanced display technologies, including a True Tone display, which uses new four-channel sensors to dynamically adjust the white balance of the display to match the light around you for a more natural and accurate, paper-white viewing experience. The advanced Retina display is 25 percent brighter and 40 percent less reflective than iPad Air® 2, making content even easier to see indoors and out. It uses the same wider color gamut as the iMac® with Retina 5K display, delivering 25 percent greater color saturation¹ for more vivid colors. A custom timing controller, photo alignment and oxide TFT deliver incredible color, contrast and clarity. Night Shift in iOS 9.3 uses iPad Pro’s clock and geolocation to automatically adjust the colors in the display to the warmer end of the spectrum after dark and may even help you get a better night’s sleep.

Pro performance
The new iPad Pro is just 6.1mm thin and weighs just under one pound, yet delivers groundbreaking performance, connectivity and versatility so you can tackle the most demanding tasks wherever you go. The powerful A9X chip with third-generation 64-bit architecture provides performance that rivals many laptops and console-class graphics, while also delivering all-day battery life.² Ultrafast wireless connectivity keeps you connected wherever you go with 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO technology, support for even faster LTE Advanced with up to 50 percent faster cellular connectivity³ and the most LTE bands supported by any tablet.⁴ Now with Apple SIM embedded directly in the new iPad Pro, it’s even easier to connect to wireless data plans right from your device when traveling in more than 100 countries and territories.5

iPad Pro has an advanced 12-megapixel iSight camera sensor featuring Focus Pixels for fast focusing, an Apple-designed image signal processor, advanced noise reduction, third-generation local tone mapping and better face detection, all resulting in sharp, detailed images, 63-megapixel panoramas and Live Photos. A True Tone flash improves low light shots and document scanning. The new iSight camera shoots 4K video, making the new iPad Pro the perfect device to shoot, edit and share pro-quality video. The improved 5-megapixel, front-facing FaceTime HD camera makes the new iPad Pro perfect for videoconferencing or connecting with loved ones.

Pro audio
The four-speaker audio system provides powerful, clear and rich stereo sound for more than twice the audio output.¹ Built-in sensors automatically adjust and optimize the audio no matter which way you’re using it. iOS 9.3 also adds support for playing video encoded with Dolby Digital Plus audio streams with support for multichannel output using the Apple Lightning® Digital AV Adapter.

Pro accessories
Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, available for purchase separately, bring breakthrough levels of precision and utility to iPad Pro. Advanced sensors in Apple Pencil measure both pressure and tilt for a natural drawing, annotating and note-taking experience. A new Smart Keyboard is custom-designed for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, offering a thin yet durable keyboard that never needs to be charged or paired over Bluetooth and is easily foldable into a protective Smart Cover®. The new Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader and Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter make it easy to download photos and videos from a digital camera to iPad Pro, while a new Lightning to USB-C Cable and Apple’s 29W USB-C Power Adapter enable faster charging.

Pricing & Availability
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro comes in silver, space gray, gold and a new rose gold metallic finish, and starts at $599 (US) for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and $729 (US) for the 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model. Both iPad Pro sizes are available in offerings of 32GB, 128GB and a new 256GB capacity, the highest of any iOS device. For more information, please visit www.apple.com/ipad.

The 9.7-inch iPad Pro will be available to order beginning Thursday, March 24, from Apple.com, and in Apple’s retail stores, through select carriers and Apple Authorized Resellers on Thursday, March 31, in Australia, Canada, China (Wi-Fi models only), France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK, US Virgin Islands and the US.

Gameloft Releases New Game Disney Magic Kingdoms on Smartphones and Tablets

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 17, 2016

Gameloft, a leading digital and social game publisher, in collaboration with Disney, today launched Disney Magic Kingdoms for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android and Windows Phone. Players will live the thrill of their favorite Disney Park by embarking on a new adventure with Mickey Mouse and all his friends, as they endeavor on a mighty quest to restore the kingdom’s magic from evil powers.

Disney Magic Kingdoms allows players to enter the timeless world of Disney and experience magical moments of the Parks by building with fun attractions like Space Mountain, California Screamin’ and it’s a small world, and sharing spectacular moments with beloved Disney characters from DisneyPixar’s “Wall-E” and “Toy Story,” Disney’s “Tangled” and more.

“Disney Magic Kingdoms is a triumph in both beautiful visuals and authentically inspired design that showcases everything beloved about the Disney Parks,” states Gonzague de Vallois, Senior Vice President Publishing at Gameloft. “We are delighted to provide Disney fans a new way to explore the Parks and interact with Disney characters and villains in a game which ties together 90 exceptional years of Disney in an adventure that takes us back to where it all began.”

Disney Magic Kingdoms is now available on the App Store, Google Play and Windows Store.

App Review 'Disney Build It: Frozen'

By

Robert Rivera

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March 16, 2016

Disney Build It: Frozen; the latest mobile gaming app let’s kids build their very own versions of Arendelle, from the award-winning Walt Disney Animation Studios’ motion picture “Frozen”, in the form of snow globes. (see trailer below)

The game is a simple sandbox style game suitable for all ages. Buildings are built and customized instantly, since there is no waiting for buildings to be built as well as no energy system implemented it is easy to become occupied for hours while creating your snow globe.

In total there are five areas that players are able to build in, the game starts out with Elsa and her location of the North Mountain. Other unlockable locations through extra in-app purchase include Troll Valley, the Forest, Arendelle Town, and Arendelle Castle.

Each location also unlocks characters which roam around the snow globe and occasionally trigger mini-quests in which the character will ask for a building and for it to be customized a certain way. When a mini-quest is completed, adorable Snowgies spawn and become the population for your snow globe.

In addition to Snowgies, completing buildings and quests will also spawn snowflakes which become various items to accent the snow globe; such as puddles, snowmen, and trees.

App features include:

Build in five locations from the film: the North Mountain, the Forest, Troll Valley, Arendelle Castle and the town of Arendelle.
Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff will play, dance, ride and even celebrate along with players.
Customize buildings with different colors, roofs, chimneys and more to unlock magical snowflakes.
Make snow globes special by adding lakes, mountains, rocks, trees, puddles and snowmen.
Go on mini-missions to build favorite Frozen characters’ palaces, castles, towers, amphitheaters and more.
Unlock Snowgie and Marshmallow surprises.
Build a collection of snow globe creations—and then shake them up to see an Arendelle snowfall.

After building their world, players can tap the camera to take a flying tour over their creation. Players who have an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus can use 3D Touch to activate flythrough mode or Quick Actions to instantaneously jump into a specific snow globe.

Disney Build It: Frozen is available for download for $3.99 on the Apple App Store (http://bit.ly/1RRUgCC), Google Play (http://bit.ly/1YyLagR) and for $4.99 on the Amazon Appstore (http://amzn.to/24T8Ot4). Additional packs with new buildings, characters and props can be purchased for $1.99.

Disney Crossy Road Comes To Mobile

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 16, 2016

Today Disney and Hipster Whale announced that Disney Crossy Road is coming soon to mobile devices. The new game, which is based on the original Crossy Road game from Hipster Whale that has been downloaded more than 120 million times to date, will take players on an 8-bit endless adventure with more than 100 of their favorite Disney and Pixar characters.

Watch the Teaser Trailer below:

Disney Crossy Road lets players hop through nine different Disney and Pixar-themed worlds, each with their own unique 8-bit music.

Sneak Peek of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood

By

Robert Rivera

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March 15, 2016

Recently, Socalthrills had the opportunity to experience a Sneek Peak of Universal Studios Hollywood’s newest addition, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with a guided tour seen through the eyes of Alan Gilmore, Supervising Art Director for WWoHP and Art Director for the film series. This inside look shared a lot of insight into the new area as well as what guests will experience when the new area opens on April 7.

More than five years in the making, and inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” has been masterfully recreated at Universal Studios Hollywood and will be faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including Hogwarts castle which will serve as its iconic focal point.

There is a high level of quality that can be felt throughout the WWoHP. This creates a seamless blend of original movie props and other props made specifically for the area. Alan also mentioned, the use of original set props was to give guests the unique opportunity to touch and experience the same things the actors did while on set.

From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the whimsical look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” will transport guests of all ages to the very places they read about in the stories or watched on the silver screen. We will have more info and a full review coming in April!

Alan Gilmore, Supervising Art Director for WWoHP and Art Director for the film series.

The Walking Dead Attraction Opening at Universal Studios Hollywood in Summer 2016

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 13, 2016

This summer, fans can venture into the post-apocalyptic world of The Walking Dead at Universal Studios Hollywood in an all-new, year-round attraction.

Follow in the survivors’ footsteps for a fully immersive journey, using both animatronics and live performers — the next best thing to actually being on The Walking Dead.

The attraction’s landscapes, special effects, props, staging, costumes and makeup were all created in collaboration with the show’s award-winning production team, including executive producer and director Greg Nicotero.

Marvel's Captain America: Civil War – Trailer 2

By

Robbie Bulus

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March 10, 2016

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in twocamps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Frank Grillo and Martin Freeman, with William Hurt and Daniel Brühl.

Anthony & Joe Russo are directing with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Nate Moore and Stan Lee are the executive producers. The screenplay is by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Get ready to pick a side and join the nonstop action playing out on two fronts when Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” opens in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2016.

An Unforgettable Houseboat Vacation

By

Greg Aragon, Writer Greg's Getaway

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March 9, 2016

There was a beautiful calm on Lake Mohave as we eased the pontoon into Owl Point Cove to board our houseboat for the weekend. We had just cruised about 20 miles down the Colorado River from the base of Hoover Dam, and I was ready to climb aboard the vessel and settle into an exciting, new adventure.

Stretching 70 feet long, the two-story houseboat boasted four bedroom cabins, two bathrooms with showers, a full kitchen and dining room, and a sports deck with barbecue, Jacuzzi and waterslide. It also came with a jet ski tied alongside. We rented the boat from Forever Houseboats (www.foreverhouseboats.com), which has a fleet of them in marinas throughout California and Nevada, as well as a couple in Utah and Missouri. Our boat is stationed in Cottonwood Cove Marina, a few miles from Laughlin, Nevada.

The Forever Houseboat trip begins at the base of the Mighty Hoover Dam

Once aboard the ship, I unpacked in my cozy cabin then hit the waterslide to cool off in pristine Lake Mohave. It was a spectacular 90-degree day and the water was refreshing and super clear. I could see down at least 10 feet. When I emerged from the water and saw my own houseboat sitting there in the cove, I knew it vacation time.

After cooling off, I joined my shipmates in the dining room for sandwiches and cold beer. I then took a hike in the rocky hills behind the boat. While trekking above the lake, I got some great aerial views of Lake Mohave and the surrounding area.

Lake Mohave, created in 1951, lies near present-day Laughlin, Nevada, and Bullhead City, Arizona. It is a reservoir formed by Davis Dam on the Colorado River, which defines the border between Nevada and Arizona. The lake, which sits 647 feet above sea level, starts at the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River and runs to the Davis Dam. The lake and adjacent lands that form its shoreline are part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

There are many hidden and deserted coves to explore along Lake Mohave

The lake, which encompasses 28,260 acres of water, is still kind of a hidden treasure among boaters. With its myriad secluded coves, sandy beaches and deep clear water, it is perfect for all kinds of aquatic activities.

Back on the houseboat, I cooled off again with a trip down the waterslide, then took a shower and had a nap inside my cabin. Small, yet efficient, the cabin featured a full bed, lots of drawers and closet space, a flat screen TV, and a window to let in the fresh desert air.

When I awoke I soaked in the Jacuzzi and then untied the Sea-Doo jet ski and cruised around the lake, bouncing on waves, investigating coves and waving to other boaters. For dinner we barbecued chicken on the boat’s back patio and dined outside as the sun fall behind the mountains.

There is nothing like a soak in the Jacuzzi while aboard a houseboat

As I drifted to sleep on my first night, I thought about what a wonderful getaway a houseboat can be for family and friends. It is both an intimate vacation and a wide-open, natural adventure. The experience can be summed up pretty good with the words on the Forever Houseboats website: “Houseboat vacations are all about charting your own course. Your schedule is quickly reduced to the calm quiet of sunrise, and the colorful sunset over the lake. Days again become your own. Night skies return to the way we all remember them away from the cities – glittering with stars and inky black.”

A ride on the jet ski also makes a fun afternoon

Forever Houseboats offers a variety of boats, from economical and easy-to-navigate craft that are perfect for a family of four, to luxury models that sleep an entire crew of 10 to 12. Spring is a perfect time for a houseboat adventure. For more information on renting a houseboat and current specials, visit www.foreverhouseboats.com, or call (800) 255-5561.

Socalthrills.com

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An Unforgettable Houseboat Vacation

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