Toronto Thumbs

Review
Strike Suit Infinity

“Stay on target. Stay on target.”

Who likes mechs? Ah. I can see that a fair number of you like the idea of being able to pummel the crap out of things housed in the relative safety of a giant robot. Now how many of you would like to kick some butt in a transforming space mech? Yes, I thought so. Well, partners: gather around and let me tell you about the little purchase that you are about to make called Strike Suit Infinity by Born Ready Games.

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Reviews
Django Unchained
Blu-ray

We gave away movie passes for Django Unchained at the end of last year. While I am notmally one that does not buy into the Academy Awards, I have to admit that I felt a twinge of regret for not having seen the film, as it managed to grab Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. Luckily, a second chance arrived in the form of the Blu-ray combo pack, and so I happily spent time enjoying the disc and its contents. If you are a fan of Quentitn Tarantino, then you will definitely love this movie. If you aren’t, you may be surprised at how much of the film that you will be able to sit through – and still enjoy most of it.

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Novel Ideas
Birdsong

While watching an episode of QI a while ago, English comedian Alan Davies mentioned a book by English author Sebastial Faulks called Birdsong. I got it for Christmas and recently started and finished reading it (I actually finished reading it on Vimy Ridge Day). This story is fantastically written, and has remained in my mind all week. With so many videogames centered on war, I thought that it would be only fitting to recommend this book to our readers.

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Reviews
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Blu-ray

Over ten years ago, Peter Jackson put his name on two maps¹ when he created his film adaptation trilogy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. It was an impressive piece of cinema, and the transfer to Blu-ray made it even better (thanks to a few tweaks). Now, we are in the midst of another adaptation of Tolkien’s works with Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy. The first film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, has come and gone in our local movie theatres; but the Blu-ray release allows us to relive the awesomeness at home.

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Dx3
Microsoft Advertising Xbox Challenge

Dx3 has come and gone, and Toronto Thumbs managed to sneak in for an afternoon to witness the awesomeness that was the Microsoft Advertising Xbox Challenge. A number of Canada’s top digital agencies competed against one another to create a Movember campaign using Microsoft media platforms. The catch? They only had about 24 hours to get this stuff done. The prizes were pretty amazing; but what I really enjoyed was the creativity and the inclusion of a console platform – something that is getting more and more traction practically every day.

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Reviews
Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2013

Before Ubisoft’s Your Shape series debuted on the Kinect, it kicked off for the Wii with a very active program and a nifty camera. I suppose that its primary competition was the Balance Board-powered Wii Fit. Now, Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2013 marks the return of the franchise to Nintendo – without the camera or Balance Board. With touch-screen capability using the GamePad and some interesting value-added features, Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2013 is a good choice to help you get into -and stay in- healthy shape; but there are some conditions attached to this claim – such as being honest with yourself.

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Upcoming Events
DX3

We love games and gamers. We love to cover the people that code and create. But there are those who are behind the scenes (and sometimes very much out in front) that work in slightly different spheres. I am referring to, of course, the dark arts of digital marketing, advertising and retailing. Like it or not, these concepts not only exist in the gaming sphere – they sometimes drive some of the very games you love; and they generate dollars and ideas to promote what’s coming down the pipe. Dx3 is a trade show that brings publishers, agencies, retailers and brands together to shake hands, chit-chat, and otherwise plan world domination. There are exhibits and presentations about all kinds of products and concepts – and it’s a great place to go to understand how some of the work in the industry gets done – and how it might effect people that you are friends with.

Gaming is not really an exclusive part of the event – but it is inexorably linked to the progress of the concepts discussed. You should check it out.

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