Games

A recently deleted video, originally shared by the UK tabloid The Sun (and spotted by Wizarding World Direct), gave viewers a peek at Diagon Alley, the famous shopping street for wizards in the Harry Potter universe. This location is hugely significant in the series, marking Harry’s first real introduction to the magical world after discovering who he truly is. The street’s design in the upcoming remake closely resembles the look from the Harry Potter films, featuring vibrant buildings that add a magical touch to a classic 19th-century English setting.

Fans love the “Viewer Mail” episodes of Family Guy because they’re a chance for the show to playfully make fun of itself using ideas supposedly submitted by viewers, all while presenting a series of funny, self-contained stories. The latest season brings back this popular format for the fourth time with “Viewer DMs,” which includes parodies of The Lord of the Rings, the classic Oregon Trail game, and a humorous look at what a spin-off show starring Quagmire might be like.

After a long wait, The Matrix series returned in 2021 with The Matrix Resurrections. Directed by Lana Wachowski, the film sparked a lot of debate among fans and critics. Surprisingly, Resurrections offered a commentary on the franchise itself and how Warner Bros. handled it, while still including the familiar references and Easter eggs that fans love. Despite receiving mixed reviews, a fifth Matrix film is in development, and three current fan theories about its plot are considered more compelling than the story presented in Resurrections.

The Sega Saturn was a powerful console when it launched in 1995, featuring 2 MB of RAM, 1.5 MB of video memory, and dual processors. While those specs seem modest today, they were cutting-edge at the time. During its relatively short time on the market, rumors circulated about a planned graphics upgrade that would have significantly increased its power. This upgrade potentially could have extended the Saturn’s lifespan and made it a stronger competitor – Sega had successfully used a similar strategy with the 32X to keep the Genesis relevant. After 31 years, these rumors have finally been confirmed as true.

A somewhat obscure spin-off game called Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner: A’s Test Server is getting a re-release on PC and Nintendo Switch, but currently only in Japan.

According to Acclaim CEO Alex Josef, the Harlem Globetrotters are known for both amazing basketball and fun entertainment. Their new game aims to capture that energy, paying tribute to classic arcade basketball games while also attracting a new generation of fans. The game, Super Basketball Classics, offers responsive controls, memorable characters, and easy-to-learn gameplay, bringing the excitement of the Harlem Globetrotters to gamers and sports enthusiasts everywhere.

Here is an overview of the game, via Interabang Entertainment:

Here is an overview of the game, via Akupara Games:

Here is an overview of the game, via Twisted Works:

It’s tempting to make fun of the more optimistic parts of science fiction, or point out how it differs from darker, more realistic stories. But doing so misses the point of the genre, which encourages us to be hopeful. And what better way to explore sci-fi than by starting with fun, accessible films – especially those from a fantastic animation studio like Pixar? Here’s a ranking of Pixar’s four sci-fi movies.