The press received an invite today for a press event on October 23, via Apple. A source close to BSR, met a few people this week who have been previewing a “stripped down iPad model”. Looks like we’ll be seeing that iPad mini sooner than later. This is a perfect strategic launch for Apple with Windows 8 on the horizon, and the slate just around the corner. Check back on the 23rd we’ll be giving you the scoop as it comes!

I’ve been working (with the preeminent comedian Marcus) on the audio book for my collection of short stories called Man Against the Future.

I’ve placed three of them up on Youtube and they all seem perfect for the season

First is a werewolf story called “A Pistol Full of Silver” (which also appears in a new collection of similarly themed stories I published on Amazon and Barnes and Noble just in time for Halloween called Curse of the Werewolf):

Then we have a zombie story called “Hatchet:”

And the last one is the story of a vampire hunter called “The Hero and the Horror”

(And don’t forget to hit my writing website for more frequent updates about stuff like this: Bryan Young Fiction.)

Today many were treated to a new Google Doodle with a boy named Little Nemo as he journeyed through Google-Land. To many this may be the first time seeing the boy named Nemo, but for me this is just a blast from my past. Little Nemo was created by Winsor McCay 107 years ago when he was featured in the comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland.

But there is a reason why I wanted to be the one to cover this one today. When I was 8 my parents got me a Nintendo, and in the years before the Super Nintendo came out I had a total of 8 games. One of those games was “Little Nemo the Dream Master.”

This game had Nemo jump into bed and adventure through eight very hard levels in his own dreams. He could feed candy to different animals that would then help lend him powers. He could ride on the back of a lizard or inhabit the body of a frog. This game helped shape my childhood and pushed me to search for more Nemo stuff. I’ve read much of the original comic and have watched the Japanese film.

Most recently while watching Cabin in the Woods with my friends I caught a glimpse of someone reading it and I got really excited. No one else in the room knew the reference so I told them about all the dream imagery inside. Nemo went on some fantastic journeys through dreamland and I invite you to check out google’s homepage today and look at some of the Nemo stuff they leave for you to check out.

There hasn’t been a ton of information about the last in Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost’s Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy  but this poster still gets me all kinds of excited. The film is set for release October 25th 2013.

Another roundtable discussing a Bond film in our 30 days of 007 countdown!

Thunderball might be the first, true over-the-top action spectacle of a blockbuster in the James Bond series. Hot on the heels of Goldfinger, Thunderball seeks to up the ante on the entire series. The climax of Goldfinger had a private army fighting the world’s governments, how do we one up that? We do the same thing but under fucking water. No one will ever be able to top it… unless they had like… ninjas invading a volcano or something…

There’s a lot to love in Thunderball, and there’s certainly a reason that it’s the highest grossing of the James Bond films of all time, if you adjust for inflation, anyway. It has SPECTRE at the height of their evil, working hard to pull off their most daring heist yet: stealing nuclear bombs from the British government. Their plan is sound and the only thorn in their side is the inadvertent meddling of everyone’s favorite double-oh agent.

We’re going to have another roundtable chat about it with the other Big Shiny Robot!s and I, Swank, will start.

Swank-mo-tron: First off, lets get the bad out of the way. The dubbing on the villain isn’t as good as the dubbing on Gert Frobe in Goldfinger, and let’s be honest: Number 2 looks more like Chef Boyardee or something than a Bond Villain. And SPECTRE is literally an organization of mustache twirlers. As much as I love the scene where they’re reporting their ill-gotten gains to Number 1, it feels like a bloody cartoon.

Citizen-bot: I think it hurt my perception of that scene because I saw Austin Powers before I saw Thunderball, so I can only think of Will Ferrell as Mustafa in this scene. But in this incarnation Number 1 seems more sociopathic than a genius. I was caught off-guard, as even in the later, more campy Bond movies the villains at least inspired some menace– and I guess you need the gravitas of Donald Pleasance to really pull it off? I mean, I guess stealing nuclear weapons to hold the world hostage is menacing, it just seems a little. . . pedestrian? At least compared to, say, irradiating the world’s gold supply, or unleashing a virus that will wipe out an entire species. And Number 1 was nowhere near as interesting as later Blofeld incarnations.

Swank-mo-tron: I joke that the climax is only a game of one-upsmanship from the last movie, but playing the final battle out completely underwater with SCUBA gear gives it an unsettling feeling. Everything is in slow-motion almost and anyone can die with the most simple knick of an airtube or penetration with a spear gun. Like most, I’ve imagined being terrified by drowning and the climax here is weighted with all of that dread.

Citizen-Bot: Yeah, but it also struck me as sort of hokey. I kept hearing Joel, Tom Servo, and Crow remarking how it was lucky all of the SPECTRE people had standard issue black scuba suits and the British Navy uses orange and blue ones. That being said, there’s a reason this won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. These underwater action scenes look gorgeous, and if I haven’t mentioned it enough already, you need to see this in hi-def. The Blu Ray transfer of this is spectacular and the crystal-clear Caribbean water never looked so amazing. Speaking of dread, I’m not as scared of drowning as I am of sharks. That scene in the pool gets me every time.

Swank-mo-tron: That scene in the pool is great. Another thing I really like about this film is some of the iconic imagery that just screams James Bond: particularly the moment with the spear gun, where Bond is romancing the girl on the beach and shoots the bad guy with the spear… I can’t think of many moments more badass than that in any Bond film.

More-than-a-sex-machine: While it’s far from my favorite Bond, I have a major soft spot for this one because James is more of a bastard here than usual. Especially when he uses Fiona Volpe as a human shield, and then plunks her down in a chair and says “Do you mind if my friend sits here? She’s just dead”. I mean, what the fuck?! It just adds a whole new dimension to the character’s inherent misogyny and his sociopathic tendencies.

Swank-mo-tron: And who didn’t love Q in a Hawaiian shirt?

Citizen-Bot: No one. And not only that, but I have to point this out if you don’t. Anyone else see the possible nod to the rebreather apparatus Bond uses in Star Wars? I’m not the only one who thinks the things Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan use in Phantom Meance don’t bear a striking resemblance to this bit of gadgetry? If so, that makes two Bond movies possible homages in the Star Wars prequels so far. (the other being from Dr. No).

Swank-mo-tron: I did see that, and we know that Indiana Jones was the Lucas/Spielberg answer to James Bond, so it’s not too far off base, I’m sure.

Swank-mo-tron: As far as a final judgment on this film, I’d go with 3 martinis of 4. It’s upper-tier Connery Bond, but it’s not his best.

Citizen-Bot: Agreed. 3 martinis.

Come back tomorrow for Citizen-Bot’s take on You Only Live Twice… How could they possibly top the underwater army battle?

Tonight is the night you’ve all been waiting for, the return of The Walking Dead.

The season premiere launches and will bring us, hopefully, to the prison which we were so fiendishly teased with at the end of the last season.

This is the first season with no input from show creator Frank Darabont, so we’ll see how well the show holds up. I’m hoping it’ll all turn out just fine. Judging by the trailer, it’s going to be torture to watch, but in a good way.

There are plenty of things to be excited for. The biggest things would probably be the prison, Michonne, the Governor, and the return of Merle Dixon.

It’s going to be agony of the highest order, but isn’t that what The Walking Dead is all about?

Hopefully, those of you local to Salt Lake City will be able to join us at Brewvies Cinema Pub to watch the premiere episode (and each of those thereafter) on the big screen.

As a bonus for readers of Big Shiny Robot!, here’s a zombie story I wrote and Marcus (the preeminent comedian) recorded. If you like it, grab the whole book it comes from.

The entire audio book should be available by the end of the month.

In the meantime, enjoy:

This was unveiled earlier today at NYCC. It looks like Marvel is trying again to catch up to DC with their animation department.

And maybe The Clone Wars has spoiled me from digital animation.

Here’s the official synopsis:

This is the ultimate Marvel Animation Studios Super Hero team-up starring iconic Marvel characters, Iron Man and Hulk. Audiences will enjoy an adrenaline rush as they see their favorite Super Heroes as never before in this all-new groundbreaking Marvel CG-animation movie experience available only on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital platforms. Marvel’s Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United is an incredible pairing of Hulk’s brute strength and Iron Man’s high-tech intellect. Presented in the mighty Marvel manner, their combined force is unstoppable in this feature-length original animated adventure.

The Best Free Gaming Apps for PCs

Whether you’re unwinding at home or passing the time on your thin and light laptop, game apps for your computer give you quick access to your favorite games, directly in your web browser. The best free apps include:

Super Mario World

A classic that never fails to entertain, the original Super Mario Brothers game is fun for players of all ages. Discover hidden worlds and collect coins, just like the Nintendo blockbuster.

Governor of Poker 2

Poker fans will love to take a seat at this virtual poker table, whether they’re playing a quick hand for fun or getting in some free practice before hitting the live poker tables at the casino.

Free Online Games

This app from Triple Games is a must for any casual online gamer. Choose from hundreds of popular games from every genre and enjoy the action in your browser.

The Best PC Apps for Serious Gamers

If more intense PC games are what you prefer, there are several apps that can make your experience even more enjoyable. Be sure these winners are installed before your next gaming session.

Raptr

A sort of aggregator for gamers, Raptr integrates with chat and gaming clients to keep you in touch with everything. News feeds, game achievements, and community driven content are always at your fingertips.

Core Temp

When you’re in the middle of an intense game, the last thing you want is lags and performance issues because of your CPU temperature. Core temp will keep an eye on all of your processors so that you don’t have to.

MSI Afterburner

Your gaming habits could put a strain on your sound and graphics cards. MSI Afterburner gives you an easy way to monitor your settings and maximize your computer’s performance, particularly when it comes to your favorite games.

The Best Game Apps for Tablets

Tablet owners have an ever-growing selection of game apps to choose from, including both free and paid versions. Take a look at these top picks.

Grand Theft Auto III

Just like its console predecessor, Grand Theft Auto for tablets features rich graphics that take full advantage of your tablet’s performance. The touchscreen controls are quite impressive, promising hours of GTA enjoyment wherever you are.

Towers N’ Trolls

Fantasy fans will love this tower defense game. Explore ten different worlds, all with completely unique environments and complete 65 different levels. Best of all, this app is free!

Rage of Bahamut

A live trading card game (TCG), this app is a highly addictive battle game with intriguingly creative game play. It has also remained the top grossing Android app for more than seven consecutive weeks.

It doesn’t matter what type of game you enjoy, you’re sure to find an app that will always keep you in the action, whether it’s the best game apps for your tablet or tools to keep your PC in top gaming health.

Natalie Bracco is a freelance writer and an amateur baker. When she’s not busy in the kitchen, you can find her writing about technology, travel, food and finance. Follow her on Twitter @nataliebracco.

Argo tells a dramatized version of a true story from the Iran hostage crisis from 1979-1980. After granting the Shah asylum, the Iranians stormed the American embassy and took all of the diplomats working there hostage… …save six who ducked out a back entrance and found themselves living in hiding at the Canadian embassy. The CIA is tasked with sneaking these diplomats out and the best plan they can come up with involves a science fiction film.

Directed (and starring) Ben Affleck might be one of the most effective thrillers I’ve seen in a movie theatre in a long time. His sense of pacing defies the logic of time, as this film clocks in at over two hours but never feels long at all. The character acting in this film is across the board phenomenal, but the standouts (other than Affleck) are clearly Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, and Alan Alda.

The period setting sets the tone and the atmosphere at brings us into a world that shouldn’t seem as far away as it is. The sets and looks of the characters were pitch perfect, and the way it was utilized in the filmmaking reminded me of Steven Spielberg in Munich and the way the story was assembled reminded me of a Spielberg take on Alfred Hitchcock.

There are not enough good things I can say about this film.

Geeks will absolutely adore it. Not just because it’s a great film, but because it drops well placed geek references constantly in a way that’s natural to the story and the time period and doesn’t ever once make you roll your eyes. Each of them makes you smile. From Jack Kirby’s cameo to the Spielberg-like use of Star Wars action figures, it’s all a pleasure. From Planet of the Apes and Battlestar Galactica to Star Wars and the Muppets, we’re dangled into a world that gives us a snapshot of what popular geek culture was like at the time and I’m not sure anyone but a geek like Ben Affleck could have given it to us.

And that Hollywood sci-fi culture he shows us is such a stark contrast to the revolution going on in Iran and the things people live through there. This film is political thriller at its finest, offering us a commentary and a window into why Iran hasn’t been a friend to us in a long, long time.

Affleck is a fantastic filmmaker and every bit as good as an actor. He throws us right into the deep end of this pool and we’re rewarded for learning to swim.

I know he’s had a bad rap over the years, but it’s time to forget about all that.

His filmmaking career has proved that all is forgiven. And go see Argo. Now. It had me leaning forward, struggling to breath for the last hour… And I knew how it ended. It’s that well put-together.

The live-action webseries, Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, continues this week with episode 2!

Last week’s first episode wasn’t exactly eventful, but it was by no means bad – in fact, it was quite good. I really appreciate that the Helbing brother are actually doing some character development before jumping into the action, because as we all know, if we care about these characters before the mayhem begins, it will hold more of an impact.

Episode 2 continues to follow young cadet, Thomas Lasky, as he goes through his training at the academy. Again, not a whole lot of action over the course of this episode, but a lot of great character development. We find out that Lasky has some emotional angst due to the death of his brother and the expectations set forth upon him from his commanding officers because of his mother’s legacy. One small comment about his family in the Mess Hall sets Lasky off, attacking another cadet. Lasky isn’t left alone to deal with his issues though as another cadet, Chyler Silva, offers him companionship and support. To add to Lasky’s obstacles, he seems to be having a poor physical reaction to the cryo-sleep process, causing visible marks on his body along with some weakness. Episode 2 leaves us with a bit of a cliff hanger during a game of capture the flag in which Lasky has volunteered to lead his squad, which we will have to wait a week to find out more on.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the production value I’ve witnesses over the first two episodes of Forward Unto Dawn. Director Stewart Hendler has a solid grasp on how a Halo live-action film should look and feel, the actors are extremely talented young men and women, and the sound, lighting and all other ambient aspects are exactly what I’d expect from a live-action entry into this franchise. I may be hung for this comment, but so far this series reminds me a lot of one of my other favorite sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica, which I intend as a very high complement. There is a lot of dramatic elements impacting our characters right now and the brooding sense that all hell is about to break loose is palpable. I am absolutely hooked.

As the good Senador noted in his review of the first episode, and I mentioned here, action-wise there isn’t a lot going on but there is a great story being set up, so don’t be deterred. I can’t express how much I am looking forward to these young cadets being thrown into some action, and knowing that Master Chief is going to enter the fray at some point has got me salivating for the next episode already. I know a lot of us Halo fans have been hoping for a live-action movie for years now, but honestly, this web series is filling that void, and then some thus far.

If you haven’t jumped in to Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, I highly recommend you do so. If you are a fan of the Halo series – or hell, just a fan of good sci-fi – I highly recommend getting on board now, because I think we are being set up for a great ride over the coming weeks.

You can check out Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 2 over at “>Machinima’s YouTube channel!

Be sure to check out our review of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 1, along with our interviews with Master Chief himself, Daniel Cudmore and the Frank O’Connor of 343 Industries!