Welcome to the Jungle (or the new media spec)

This is officially the new media spec.

Originally a blog encompassing a variety of media types such as music, animation, and web culture, there is now a renewed focus on video games. The team has expanded beyond just myself and includes passionate gamers and media connoisseurs that will cover console, PC, Mac, and mobile gaming. You will still see other media articles from time to time, but media spec will be the place for getting your video game fix both current and classic.

Expect some growing pains along the way as we work out all the kinks, but look forward to some exciting times ahead. Expect to see some introductory posts from the other media spec members sometime soon as we get this ball rolling.

Cheers.

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media spec Relaunch Coming Soon

You may have noticed a lack of posts in the last month or so. I have been re-evaluating the blog and my overall intentions and goals for it. In attempts to get media spec more focused, content will shift towards video game content and away from other topics. All previous posts in music, animation, or other general topics will still be available, but video games will be the main theme. Topics will cover both PC and console gaming, including all major consoles and handhelds. The current layout is a temporary transitional look until the blog is fully relaunched.

If you want to contribute to the blog with your general ideas, improved layout, or become a contributing writer, e-mail me at redskyy@mediaspecblog.com vocalizing your interest and what you can bring to the site. I hope to have the new media spec up by the new year, so keep a look out.

Cheers,
Redskyy

UPDATE (12/13/08): The relaunch of media spec is still on target for January 2009 with a new expanded writing team and tons of exciting new content. Please pardon our dust as the layout is getting ironed out in preparation. Watch this space for more details!

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First Early "Review" of Live Action Dragonball Movie

The release of Dragonball is still about five months away, but the hype and criticism continues to mount. After the promotional trailer was leaked, it was received with mixed reviews. The highly touted special effects have yet to be added to the trailer or movie, but it looks like they are already scheduling for additional filming. They have been scouting for males between the ages of 20-70 and fluent in Nepalese or Tibetan. The official trailer has been delayed to December 12th, 2008, possibly to coincide with The Day The Earth Stood Still. The movie is still slated to hit Japan on March 13, 2009 with a North American release soon to follow on April 10. The above footage shows a short teaser clip from a Japanese TV program called NHK, briefly displaying the dragonball and Goku's gi.

Ain't It Cool News reader Don reports having supposedly viewed an early release of the movie before special effects and score. His writing style and lack of sources doesn't lend him much credibility, but they are interesting looks into what the movie could turn out. You can click the link for the full story, but here are some interesting tidbits. Just as a warning, there is a bit of cursing present.

Action - I wasn't expecting the action scenes to be as awesome as they were. Simply put the best thing about this movie. The last action scene of Goku vs. Picollo are simply amazing and when picollo takes out his huge fucking ass sword with weird rectangle shape tablet attached it at the tip of sword and slamming it on goku was fucking awesome. Lot of blowing shit up, super cool flying scenes, awesome ki blasts. This fight scene was around 13-15 minutes long. There are other small action scenes that are fun and entertaining with slo mo but nowhere as good as the picollo vs. goku scene.

Justin Chatwin as Goku. This guy surprised me a lot. I really didn't like him when they casted him as goku but he did a damn good job in the acting department and he nailed the KAMEHAMEHA line.

Story - Dragonball fans will be dissapointed with some of the changes they have made with stories and characters etc. Krillin isn't in the movie, Tien isn't in the movie too. High school setting for the first 22-23 minutes was so not needed but ah well typical hollywood garbage of adding bullshit like that.

Chow Yun Fat as Master Roshi - I was dissapointed with this. I wanted the fucking perverted roshi who fucking grabs breasts and asses like in the anime but alas all of that is fucking gone. Also he acted like Mr. Kesuke Miyagi. You know what I mean. The lines he spoke were fine but I felt he was uncomfortable in the movie. Very dissapointed.

Full Review...

It's hard to discern if this review is authentic or not, as many of these points could be easily made up. It sounds like they're trying to keep the spirit of Dragonball while modernizing the story and keeping it relevant to Hollywood standards. A big focus seems to be on the action, so hopefully it will maintain that high energy while still feeling like a DB fight. Some of the things he points out sounds a bit superficial, but he does seem to be a Dragonball fan.

Overall, it's still too early to tell how the movie will turn out. It hasn't exactly been receiving positive press, but maybe this review is an indication that it won't be a complete disaster. The reception the film receives both Japan and North America should be very interesting to see.

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Early Live Action Dragonball Teaser Trailer Leaked

Before viewing the above leaked trailer, let me preface it with a few comments. This leaked trailer was created strictly for a brand licensing expo and potential Licensing & Merchandising partners, so it mostly just introduces the look, style, characters, and other elements of the movie way before special effects and CGI have been integrated. Things like music clearances and talent approvals have not been pursued yet, and you can immediately tell this leaked trailer was made for general, informative purposes. The official trailer will feature more action, energy, and visual effects that many have expected to help portray the feel of the Dragonball series. With that said, some of my previous comments about the movie seem to hold some weight while they take things in an interesting direction.

Goku is played by Justin Chatwin, mostly known for his role as Robbie in War of the Worlds.


This trailer doesn't answer many of the questions people have, but it is one of the first solid looks at the treatment and style outside of leaked set pictures. The questionable changes remain intact, like Goku's (Justin Chatwin) ethnicity, him starting out in high school, and the more serious atmosphere. One of the first things I gained from the trailer was the tone and attitude director James Wong was trying to achieve. While the original Dragonball series was lighthearted and had a distinct Asian style, the movie goes in the opposite direction. The trailer comes off as serious and very Americanized. I was hoping for something along the lines of producer Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle instead of a modern day version of the Jackie Chan/Jet Li team-up flick, Forbidden Kingdom. The setting doesn't sit well with me, especially with scenes that show a little too much of its modern day trappings. Perhaps the CGI effects can help with blending the ancient and futuristic environments, but the atmosphere doesn't feel quite right. Since Master Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat) received a large spotlight, that helped show the changes made to the character. While his perverted nature may not sit well with families, he appears far too serious and a little too young for the role. The look of Lord Piccolo is an interesting take, but I will reserve judgment until there is a full image of him.

Lord Piccolo is played by James Marsters, who appeared as the evil Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

It is evident which audience they are trying to appeal to with this movie. Many DB fans will watch it regardless of its quality, but it will be a harder sell to non-fans. The Dragonball series has gained a somewhat poor reputation in the US for its drawn out storylines, long fight scenes, and at times, lack of substance. Many had generalized anime as being just like Dragonball Z. Although DB is more of a comedy/adventure and much different than its successor, it was probably wise for them to take a mainstream standpoint with the movie. The music score has been a controversial subject with DBZ's localization, but the film score is looking positive. Composer Brian Tyler (Rambo, Eagle Eye) is apparently a big fan of the series and looks to capture the sweeping, epic, fantasy feel of the original anime and of Wong's adaptation. The official teaser trailer was supposed to premiere alongside Max Payne on October 17th, but has since been pushed back to later this year to allow for more editing and special effects.

There are still a lot of unknown details, but dbthemovie.com is a great source for cast and crew information, news, and an informative FAQ. With the movie releasing in North America on April 10, 2009, there is still over six months to finalize and polish. The internet community has been very vocal in its opinion of the Dragonball movie, but perhaps they can pull out a few surprises in this first iteration of their planned trilogy.

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Mountain Dew Launches Voltage Kick-Off Event Contest

The winner of the DEWmocracy Mountain Dew contest has already been crowned and Voltage took the top spot over Supernova and Revolution. To usher in the new flavor, they're holding a contest at DEWmocracyVoltage.com to allow people to submit their own ideas with accompanying images or video on the best way to introduce the new flavor to the masses. The winner will win a trip for two to see the kick-off event live while two runner-ups will win a year's supply of Mountain Dew. The contest runs until October 14th, and a panel of judges will grade submissions based on originality, creativity, and relevancy to the Mountain Dew brand. The chosen kick-off event will take place when Voltage officially hits the market between December 2008 and January 2009. While all of this fanfare surrounding the product launch sounds like a little much, it's a great way to maintain excitement about the brand and elevate Voltage above their numerous limited edition flavors.

Dolly B's idea includes a New Year's style party in Times Square with a Voltage bottle taking place of the ball and AC/DC performing "High Voltage" as the theme song.

The contest officially launched on September 17th, but I have seen very little promotion or hype about it. Since voting ended, it seems like they haven't done much press to announce Voltage's win and upcoming introduction to market. The idea of allowing consumers to pick the kick-off event is fun, but ideas thus far either sound a little weak or very generic. Given the image and background of Mountain Dew, the winner will most likely include some sort of huge launch party with live bands, extreme sports, and celebrity endorsements. Browsing through the submissions, the list was fairly short. While there were a handful of "featured" ideas, there were hardly any others to be found. Browsing by state had very little to offer, but the contest only did just start. Although video submissions are encouraged, many of the ideas simply show a picture with their idea. Hopefully the volume of ideas increases before the contest ends.

When Mountain Dew originally announced a forthcoming contest to help introduce Voltage to the people, I was expecting it be more than a simple picture/video submission with description. I like that the contest is open-ended, which leaves much potential without restriction. The lack of promotion is a little worrying, with only a small volume of submissions viewable on the site more than a week after launching. But with two weeks still left to go, there's still plenty of time for fun and unique kick-off event ideas.

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Google Chrome Enters the Internet Browser Market

Google isn't new to innovation or stepping into new markets. Their Gmail e-mail service, Adsense advertising program, and purchase of YouTube are just a few examples of their smart business practices and forward-thinking mindset. They are just about universally praised for their company work ethic and various products, and now they're entering the crowded internet browser market with their open-source project, Google Chrome. Borrowing features from popular browsers such as Firefox, Safari, and Opera, they combine it all into one simple, easy-to-use interface that keeps things basic and low-key. Although it's only currently available for download to Windows XP and Vista users, it is still in development for other operating systems. You can read their informative web comic to find out why they decided to develop a browser and a more detailed look at its inner workings, but here is a brief list of some of its features.

One Box For Everything
Web search. Web history. Address bar. Suggestions as you type. One unified box serves all your browsing needs.

Dynamic Tabs
You can drag tabs out of the browser to create new windows, gather multiple tabs into one window or arrange your tabs however you wish -- quickly and easily.

Crash Control
Every tab you're using is run independently in the browser, so if one app crashes it won't take anything else down.

Application Shortcuts
Use web apps without opening your browser. Application shortcuts can directly load your favorite online apps.

Safe Browsing
Google Chrome warns you if you're about to visit a suspected phishing, malware or otherwise unsafe website.

One of the biggest differences with Google Chrome compared to other browsers is the amazing speed difference. The change is noticeable compared to its competition, which should please consumers who are using slower machines or anyone that wants a faster browsing experience. Everything loads much faster because each tab is loaded as its own separate process as well as improvements like its new Javascript engine. It even comes with its own task manager to allow users to see what is taking up the most memory and terminate them. But unlike its competition, Chrome takes a minimalist approach to its user interface and features. Rather than bloating the browser with tons of extensions, cluttered tool bars, or other options to slow things down, everything is pretty simple. But like Google's homepage, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Their new tab features are really nice, being able to seamlessly move them in a new window and back without skipping a beat.

Most of their advertised features have already been done before in other browsers either as a built-in component or a third-party extension. Their smart address bar was a much touted feature in Firefox 3, although Google modifies it slightly to utilize its search engine capabilities. Safari is also capable of detaching tabs into new windows, although it is not capable of reattaching them. They also have a custom start page that has large thumbnails of most visited pages, recent bookmarks, recently closed tabs, and other similar information that looks very similar to Opera's Speed Dial feature. Incognito mode is also just another phrase for private browsing. But Google has acknowledged all of their competition for laying the groundwork for all of these great features, which is better than just outright stealing.

Only time will tell how Google Chrome will evolve and if it will resonate with consumers. Competition is a never a bad thing and should inspire Mozilla, Microsoft, and all of the others to improve their product. The fact that their browser is open source is great for users that want to tweak and experiment with the code. Google always keeps things nice and simple, and Chrome is no different.

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Pokémon Peril: The Introduction

"When you're a kid and get your first bike, you want to go somewhere you've never been before. That's like Pokémon. Everybody shares the same experience, but everybody wants to take it someplace else. And you can do that."

--Satoshi Tajiri, creator of Pokémon

Pokémon.

You know you loved it at some point. Whether you played the games religiously, collected/played the Trading Card Game, watched the show, or stole your friend's handheld every now and then at school, just about every kid in the 90's got their hands on this game at some point. Even if you weren't a dedicated fan, it wasn't hard for anyone to see the effect it has had on popular culture and how collecting and battling creatures could be fun. For some, the games were nothing but a fad, and the allure to “catch 'em all” faded after the first and second generations. Despite this, there were many hardcore fans who felt that the games still had much to offer.

More than ten years later, Pokémon has shown its endurance as a franchise, and continues to gain new fans, currently holding 5 places in the top 20 best-selling console games of all time between the different and newer versions of the game. Unfortunately, fans of the original series have little to look forward to, and the franchise has become stagnant. It seems as if the company wishes to cater to its constantly renewable audience, and is always targeting the same initial age group of kids. Innovation in the games has become a joke, and the only real changes are more annoying than enjoyable improvement.

With that, I would like to introduce a 5-piece segment that focuses on the following elements of the series, including new elements that I feel have been taken in the wrong direction or unnecessarily added, old aspects that have allowed the games to maintain their success, and some suggestions on how Nintendo and The Pokémon Company can please fans.

These are some of the topics that will be covered:

• Graphic Styles/Movement
• Storylines
• Battle System
• Trading System/Global Trade Station (GTS)
• The Anime Series

It is my goal to relate to others that enthusiasts of the original series are still interested in seeing new ideas for future games. In addition, it is also my hope that some will see Pokémon from an adult point of view, rather than the stereotypical childish cash cow that Nintendo has outwardly embraced. We may only see new evolutions of Pokémon for now instead of steps towards evolution of the franchise, but there is always potential that fan outcry may have some effect.

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Mountain Dew Voltage Officially Declared Winner

For anyone who saw the standings before voting closed, the winner should come as no surprise. Since the polls closed July 31st, it was inevitable that Mountain Dew Voltage would take the win as the next official flavor. Described as having a raspberry citrus flavor with ginseng, it definitely had the strongest Dew impression, if not my favorite flavor. Mountain Dew Revolution simply tasted like a weaker berry-flavored version, which paled in comparison and didn't really have a strong taste. Mountain Dew Supernova had an okay strawberry flavor, but it felt more like a generic soda rather than a Dew brand. I was slightly disappointed with all three drinks, but the best one did win in the end. Read my full thoughts here.

In order to continue the momentum of Pepsi's successful marketing campaign, they were originally going to announce a new contest to allow consumers to decide how the new flavor was going to be "introduced to the people". It looks like they delayed this event until next month, which is a bit of a let down. Hopefully this new kick-off event will actually solidify Voltage's place in the Mountain Dew line rather than being seen as another random limited edition flavor. That most likely means that it won't be seen in stores until this new contest is decided, which is unfortunate. Perhaps the anticipation will build up even more excitement. There isn't much left to do at DEWmocracy, but the forums are open and you can still create a Voltage ad with their video maker. I still can't help but be disappointed by the lack of at least an announcement to get people excited or interested.

For better or worse, Mountain Dew Voltage will stand alongside the original flavor, Code Red, LiveWire, and Baja Blast as the official line of active brands. Pepsi did a great job of allowing the consumers to decide their next flavor, as previous attempts either tasted mediocre or felt too gimmicky. While they possibly could have done better, Voltage isn't a bad soda and it should be interesting to see where they take things from here.

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Mountain Dew Voting Is Over

After much deliberation and campaigning, the voting booths have officially closed at DEWmocracy.com and a winner has decided. The polls were pretty lopsided to begin with, as Voltage had a commanding lead in every state. Whether this speaks for the poor quality of Supernova and Revolution or some crazy conspiracy theory, the announcement of the winner on August 18th is going to be pretty obvious. While I personally felt that all three were mediocre, Voltage had the strongest Dew flavor. They have been hit-and-miss in their "limited edition" flavors, with only LiveWire becoming an official part of the line after a string of limited summer releases.

Mountain Dew Voltage had dominated the polls when voting began in June 2008.

Although voting has closed, their Video Maker is still up and improved. The tool allows you to create your own 20 second video via preset visual effects, video clips, images, and audio tracks, which you can then send to friends or make a new one. While it is a bit shallow, they've added a few new items to use and it is a little fun to mess around and create your own Mountain Dew ad. And with the success of their DEWmocracy campaign, they're going to announce a new contest soon to decide how the winning flavor is going to be "introduced" to the people. It's a nice change to allow the consumers to have such a hands-on role in product testing and marketing, but it feels like a bit of a gimmick. But regardless, this has been a great way to revitalize interest in the brand as well as stimulate sales.

Unless there's a major upset with some lost votes or ballots, the winner has been pretty much decided. Hosting a new contest is a good way to continue the momentum and show that Voltage isn't just another limited edition flavor that will be gone in a couple of months. The official message board is still open, so you can still predict your winner and get a head start on that marketing contest. Expect more once the winner is announced and details are unveiled.

UPDATE: The polls are in and a winner has been declared. Read more about it here.

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The Dark Knight: More Than A Super Hero Film

You've heard the hype, excitement, and anticipation surrounding the sequel to Christopher Nolan's amazing origin story and film series reboot, Batman Begins. With the Joker teased in the final moments of the movie, there has been a frenzy since Heath Ledger was controversially cast as the quintessential Batman villain. Previously known for his role in the award-winning Brokeback Mountain, he quickly silenced doubters by portraying the Joker like never before. His tragic death earlier this year has only solidified the early positive reactions to his performance, magnifying the already huge buzz for The Dark Knight. But the movie is so much more than any one performance. With District Attorney Harvey Dent making his debut, the gradual downfall of the corruption and evil brought about by the mob bosses, and seeing Batman evolve as the stakes get higher, the Joker is but one piece that ties everything together. With Nolan's realistic vision of Batman, Batman Begins presented a story that defined who Bruce Wayne is, the fall and hopelessness of Gotham City, and the reason Batman came to be. The Dark Knight takes everything further, putting the sequel beyond the boundaries of the superhero movie genre and into much deeper, darker, and thought-provoking areas that make it a true classic in every sense of the word.




Batman Begins was a great film, giving an accurate and realistic portrayal of the mythos that has not been seen in live action depictions for a while. After the abysmal Joel Schumacher films, Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, Nolan stepped in and made everything right again. With an amazing cast featuring the likes of Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman, there were only a few minor problems and issues that prevented Begins from truly reaching greatness. The original character and created love interest, Rachel Dawes was one of the sore points of the film. With a very thin personality, little chemistry between her and Bruce, and the poor portrayal by Katie Holmes, the role was recast with the much better actress, Maggie Gyllenhaal. And with the introduction of Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, Eric Roberts as mob boss Sal Maroni, and Heath Ledger as the Joker, The Dark Knight only gets better. Picking up not long after the end of Batman Begins, everything hits the ground running. You can immediately see the effect Batman has had on Gotham, the change and hope Harvey Dent is bringing, and the very real criminal shift that the Joker is causing about and continuing. Every character is spot on, from Jim Gordon to Alfred to the much improved Rachel Dawes. Just about every problem many people had with the first film was remedied and made better by tenfold.


There were so many things to like about The Dark Knight, it's difficult to find a negative point. Most, if not all of the actor reprisals truly outdid themselves the second time around. They all felt even more in character, like they really found their groove. Rachel Dawes made an amazing turnaround, going from poor plot device to a real character. And the one character who may end up flying under the radar is Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent. Most know him as the villain Two-Face, most famously played by Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever. However, Two-Face is not a typical villain and is perfectly shown here. While many sing the praises of the many dimensions and richness of Batman or the Joker, Harvey Dent has his own past and history that is just as deep and tragic.
As the new District Attorney for Gotham City, he leads the crusade against mob bosses like Sal Maroni and the incarcerated Carmine Falcone that has controlled the city for so long. His passionate speaking and court savvy, possible love, and overall attitude leads him on a journey not unlike Bruce's path in the first film. His campaign slogan, "I Believe In Harvey Dent" perfectly sums up his drive, dedication, and his overall outcome. The infamous scene by the bat-signal with Dent, Gordon, and Batman are just one of the few touches that takes The Dark Knight that extra step into greatness. While all the hype and excitement is surrounding Heath Ledger's performance, I think Aaron Eckhart's role as Harvey Dent will surprise many.

With so much pressure and anticipation for one of Ledger's final roles, it was almost impossible to conceive that he live up to that hype. While his untimely death may cause some to see the Joker through rose-colored glasses, he truly does draw and demand attention that is really awe-inspiring. Much different from Jack Nicholson's version in the original 1989 Batman film or even Mark Hamill's version in the animated series, Ledger shows this dark, twisted, yet humorous Joker that is so unique and right. He ushers in this new kind of criminal, different from the mobs and petty thugs that littered the streets. As Batman, Jim Gordon, and Harvey Dent lead the charge in the war against the mob, the Joker brings an entirely new element to the table that is pure anarchy. Heath Ledger's performance was truly astounding, with so many subtle nuances and details captured perfectly and vividly. He perfectly shows why Batman and Joker are eternal enemies and shows the beginnings of that never-ending fight against this new crime element that the Joker ushers in. The Joker's lack of typical criminal motives and his twisted nature shows why he's different from the rest of them. Ledger's undisputed portrayal shows why the Joker is unofficial and unspoken leader of Batman's rogues gallery of criminals and the amazing imprint he will put on the Batman mythos to come.


While the state of Gotham is gradually improving after Batman Begins, the dark, grittiness and corruption are still very prevalent. As Bruce really absorbs the role and responsibility he's undertaken, he starts to question himself, the life he's living, and the hope that is still alive in the city. The unspoken alliance between Dent, Gordon, and Batman echoes throughout the film, with repercussions felt with every step. The duality and contrast of concepts such as light and dark, good and evil, & pure and corrupt fit very well here, with very different ideals and senses of justice present in many characters. The Dark Knight analyzes the human concept, one of inherent good, moral duty, and making the right decisions. The themes and concepts in this film go way beyond that of a typical comic book movie or even a Hollywood blockbuster. It's more than an action flick, more than a love story, and more than a super hero film.

The Batman character and mythos has remained an enduring classic for so many years, and it really feels like it has been reborn with director Christopher Nolan's vision and the hard work all of the actors have put forth and redefining these timeless characters. The Dark Knight transcends its fantasy trappings and tells a tale full of despair, real human emotion, and thought-provoking themes and concepts. Heath Ledger has left an indelible imprint on the series that not only epitomizes the Joker but displays why Batman has remained a symbol and a true legend.

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The Live Action Dragonball Debacle

From left to right: Bulma (Emmy Rossum), Mai (Eriko Tamura), Chi Chi (Jamie Chung), Goku (Justin Chatwin), and Master Roshi (Chow Yun-Fat).

You don't want to stare, but you just can't look away. That pretty much sums up the overall feelings surrounding the new live action Dragonball film, coming April 10, 2009. Despite the lack of a trailer or even an official synopsis, there are already too many things wrong with the adaptation to even count. Retelling the second half of the original adventure series, Dragonball, teenage Goku discovers his heritage and seeks out the seven legendary Dragonballs before the evil Lord Piccolo can use them. With the help of Bulma, Chi Chi, Master Roshi, and a cast of others, he must train and defeat Piccolo before he takes over the world.

The production crew at least sounds decent, with director James Wong and producer Stephen Chow taking the reins. Wong, known for his work on The X-Files and Final Destination, rewrote the script after the movie was officially greenlit in 2007. Chow's major US releases, Shaolin Soccer and Kung-Fu Hustle have a comedic action tone and a bevy of special effects that wouldn't be out of place in Dragonball. As for the actual casting, the choices are questionable at best. War of the Worlds actor Justin Chatwin plays Goku, which doesn't fit at all given the character's very Asian persona. Buffy star James Marsters will play Lord Piccolo, better known as the original King Piccolo in the anime and manga. Chow Yun-Fat, closely associated with filmmaker John Woo and best known in the US for his role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, plays mentor as Master Roshi. Outside of Lord Piccolo and Master Roshi, the rest of the cast seems to be a mixed bag. Phantom of the Opera actress Emmy Rossum and Real World cast member Jamie Chung play Bulma and Chi Chi, respectively, which could turn out decently if written and portrayed correctly. But with original characters being created and liberties being taken (more on that below), there isn't too much hope for a credible and faithful version.


One of the most important parts of an adaptation is being faithful to the source material. While Dragonball Z received a poor reputation of slow development and lacking substance, the original Dragonball series had a fun, adventurous tone with action, humor, and a varied cast of characters. The direction the movie is headed doesn't look so good. First of all, it is completely disregarding Goku's adventures as a child and starts Goku as a teenager. This is somewhat understandable, seeing as it would be more difficult to tell the entire Dragonball story in a single film. But one of the biggest flaws already evident is that Goku is a high school student. The proper time period can be debated, but his character and personality cannot. He has always been known as young, naive, and uneducated, since he was raised in the wilderness by his surrogate grandfather, Gohan. His inquisitive nature, naivety, misunderstandings, and lack of "book smarts" has been chronicled throughtout his childhood and even through adulthood. With original characters being created to be his high school classmates, it looks like the story will take a more present-day tone while still keeping the futuristic nature of the civilization.


They seem to be taking liberties with the story, which can be seen in the female-dominated movie poster. Good friend Bulma and love interest Chi Chi can be seen heavily featured, with minor slapstick villain, Mai repurposed to be Piccolo's ally. The glaring omission of major characters and fighters such as Krillin, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu are immediately noticeable, although Yamcha manages to make it in. Attempting for a more serious tone, the anthropomorphic creatures and comedic relief have been omitted well. The character design choices are also very questionable. The majority of this is due to odd casting, but the hair and facial features of Goku, Bulma, and Master Roshi are much different. While there's only so much they could fit into one movie, it looks like they are placing their focus in accordance for a stereotypical hollywood movie rather than trying to be faithful to the source material.

It may be too early to write off Dragonball, but it's not looking so good. General expectations are mixed, with some voicing that it doesn't look or feel like the source material. With mostly just the casting list, a rough plot line, and leaked set pictures to go on, perhaps things will turn around in post-production. Even if you're not a fan, it's going to be really hard to look away come April 2009.

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Revision3 Gets It With Internet Television Programming

User-generated video sites like YouTube have helped move the Web 2.0 social movement and changed the way media networks, companies, and programming operate. As broadband connections continue to expand, the Internet has become the new standard for radio, TV, and other traditional forms of media. Revision3 is one of the first companies to take advantage of this, creating and delivering original, broadcast-quality shows through multiple distribution platforms such as BitTorrent, iTunes, YouTube, streaming flash video, and various downloadable formats.

Revision3 was first founded in 2005 by former TechTV personalities after the network was bought out by Comcast’s G4 network. As the programming direction shifted and production moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles, co-founder Kevin Rose was one of the first to capitalize on the Web 2.0 movement and the hole left by TechTV and created the social news website Digg.com. He and other TechTV alumni and industry names such as Jay Adelson, David Prager, and current Rev3 CEO Jim Louderback helped create Revision3, a true TV network for the web. Producing daily and weekly original programming, the company and its show list has grown and improved. With a passionate and vocal community, they both have worked together to refine the network into what it is today. Former hosts of The Screen Savers, Alex Albrecht and Kevin Rose headline the programming with Diggnation, a weekly tech/web culture show discussing the top stories on Digg.com.

Alex Albrecht (left) and Kevin Rose of Diggnation were former hosts of the TechTV show, The Screen Savers.

Unlike traditional TV networks, the online community has had a big hand in programming and quality. While the shows follow a strict release schedule, the on-demand nature of the network allows convenient viewing times whenever desired. Since the company has deep roots in the tech/web industry, original shows like Tekzilla and Systm keep the spirit of TechTV with product reviews, computer help, tech tips, and both simple and complex Do It Yourself tech projects. Diggnation co-host Alex Albrecht also helps deliver the geek news series The Totally Rad Show. Topics include movies, video games, comic books, and more as they offer their insight and opinions. Revision3 also covers a wide variety of topics, such as the digital art program, PixelPerfect, behind the scenes of music culture and magazine content in XLR8R TV, and the all-female modern culture show, popSiren. This is only a handful of the line-up, which has something for almost everyone. Like other TV networks, there will be shows that won’t appeal to everybody. But with the extensive and experienced background of its hosts, producers, and crew, most of the shows have a very authentic and professional feel to them that you wouldn’t necessarily get in other online videos.

Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV.

They not only produce original programming, but have also acquired other web shows for the network. Scam School has host and magician Brian Brushwood showing the ins and outs of social engineering in bars and on the streets. Epic Fu also makes it return from hiatus to re-debut Revision3, which has been described as “The Owner’s Manual For The Web”. Most recently, they just announced the addition of Wine Library TV to Revision3. Host and everyman wine connoisseur Gary Vaynerchuk brings his unique take and reviews on wine, making it more easily accessible and understandable for those who don’t have a more ‘refined’ palette. While the network may have started with its core tech/web viewers, it is gradually expanding to include programming that will appeal to a wide audience.

Revision3 is a great merger of online video sensibilities and TV quality programming. Its ad support is handled very well, delivered in a non-intrusive way and feature related products and services. The show distribution methods offer many choices for the viewer, embracing file-sharing clients like BitTorrent while offering streaming video services and downloadable options in just about every major file format. No matter your viewing preferences, Revision3 may have just what you’re looking for.

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Firefox 3 Browser Adds Great Improvements

If you haven't heard about Mozilla's latest project, they have been hard at work on Firefox's next version. With very rigorous beta and release candidate stages, Firefox 3 has officially been released today and now available for download. Firefox has always shown its worth over other internet browsers, but now they just take it to the next level. I've been using the browser since the beta stages, and it has shown some impressive improvements. I will highlight some of my favorite features below, but you can see the full release notes for all of the changes made.

Improved Performance
View Web pages faster, using less of your computer’s memory.

Smart Location Bar
Find the sites you love in seconds—enter a term for instant matches that make sense.

Platform-Native Look & Feel
Browse with a Firefox that’s integrated into your computer’s operating system.

Customization
Firefox has the most ways to customize your online experience specifically for the way you use the web. There are more than 5,000 Add-ons, and the new Add-ons Manager allows you to find and install them directly in your browser.

Security
Control the level of scrutiny you’d like Firefox to give a site and enter exceptions—sites that don’t need the third degree. Customize settings for passwords, cookies, loading images and installing add-ons for a fully empowered Web experience.

And this only scratches the surface of the many improvements they have made. One of the biggest complaints about Firefox 2 was its memory usage and speed, and it has seen a major boost for all operating systems. They have also created native versions for all major operating systems, which allows for an improved experience for everyone. The Smart Location Bar makes searching and bookmarking so much easier, allowing you to search for keywords in your favorite sites and cookies. Add to that more robust and customizable security settings and improved add-on features, and you get the best internet browser yet.

If you haven't tried Firefox or still prefer other browsers, then I encourage you to at least try out Firefox 3. With so many improvements and new features, you can customize your browsing like never before. And with so many add-ons, extensions, and themes available, you can create your own personalized browser. If you're still using built-in OS browsers like Internet Explorer or Safari, Firefox can be a very nice complement or become your primary browser of choice.

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Mountain Dew Campaign, Voting Begins

Just as one campaign is ending, another one begins. While Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has officially clinched the Democratic presidential nomination today, Mountain Dew has officially started their campaign and voting for the next Mountain Dew flavor. With online forums, various campaign tools, and a "Recruiter" ranking system, this special summer election looks to heat up quickly.

The actual Mountain Dew coloring for all three flavors are much darker and bolder.

After registering at DEWmocracy.com, you're allowed to vote once per day, recruit friends to vote and gain "Recruiter" points, and post in the online forums. Voting ends on July 31st, so there is still plenty of time to have your voice heard. Campaign tools include e-mail templates, online posters, and more for each flavor. Although voting has only just begun, the majority of states show Voltage in the lead with 40% or more of the votes. The standings between Supernova and Revolution are much closer, although states such as Connecticut and Hawaii show a much closer race for the top spot.

Rather than a single vote system, the multiple voting process allows you to change your mind if your opinions change throughout the summer. All three flavors should now be available in stores everywhere, so make sure you try them out and post your thoughts at DEWmocracy.com and here as well.

UPDATE: The polls are in and a winner has been declared. Read more about it here.

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Vote For The Next Dew

In case you haven’t been keeping up on the latest news about Pepsi’s Mountain Dew soda, they have been looking for the next big flavor. After special tie-ins with Halo 3 to create Game Fuel, one of the latest marketing plans was an expansive online experience that allowed consumers to create the next big Mountain Dew flavor. As the dust settled, the three finalists will be officially sold in June and people can vote and campaign for their favorite flavor. They have been hit-and-miss with their other Dew brands, as Code Red, LiveWire, and Baja Blast are the only ones that remained a permanent staple. LiveWire was formerly a limited edition summer flavor before they permanently added it a couple years ago, and Baja Blast is currently exclusive to Taco Bell restaurants. While Pepsi is really pushing the marketing at DEWmocracy.com, let’s take a look at how each flavor stacks up.

The first flavor is called Revolution, ‘Dew infused with wild berry fruit flavor and ginseng’. It pretty much tastes the way it looks. The color is actually more of a light shade of blue, but that doesn’t help the supposed berry taste. Mountain Dew is known for its signature flavor, and Revolution simply doesn’t have it. It tastes like a generic caffeinated soda with no real outstanding flavors. It is reminiscent of your average energy drink flavor but without the extra kick or caffeine that is associated with it. This was the first one I tried, and I couldn’t help but be disappointed.

Voltage was next, which is described as ‘Dew charged with raspberry citrus flavor and ginseng’. The color is a darker shade of blue, which is a good indicator of the flavor. You could actually taste the berry, unlike Revolution. I am not a big fan of raspberries or their flavor, but this wasn’t bad. You could probably call it “Code Blue” and the name wouldn’t be completely out of place. The flavor isn’t overwhelming, but enough to give it a unique taste. I was impressed with Voltage more than Revolution, but it still didn’t leave a strong enough impression to necessarily warrant this as the next Mountain Dew flavor.

I saved Supernova for last, as I had the highest hopes for this one. Called ‘Dew with a blast of strawberry melon flavor and ginseng’, it seemed like the best of the bunch. With a pinkish-red color, it sounded like you couldn’t really go wrong with strawberry. The closest comparison I could make to this is a weaker version of Strawberry Fanta. It somewhat kept its Mountain Dew flavor, but it didn’t really stand out to me. The taste wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t extraordinary, either. After being a little disappointed with the first two, perhaps I set my hopes too high. Or it might be because I’m slightly partial to strawberry flavor. Either way, it didn’t really give me a strong desire to vote and campaign, either.

Overall, all three could have been better. I expected more, especially since the consumers supposedly had a more hands-on role in creating them. If I had to pick one, it would be close between Voltage and Supernova. While I think Voltage had the better overall Mountain Dew flavor, Supenova’s less Dew-like strawberry flavor has me on the fence. They should at least be tried, so you can take on your consumerist duty and vote. While they aren’t supposed to be available until June, I have seen them on sale at Wal-Mart at only 2 for $1. If you try them, be sure to leave your opinions here and tell me what you think.

UPDATE: The polls are in and a winner has been declared. Read more about it here.

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This Is The Media Spec

Welcome to the Media Spec.

I have been a regular on forums under a couple different handles, but I have not tried my hand on a non-personal blog. A couple people suggested I try it, and here comes Media Spec. I hope to concentrate on music, video games, and animation, giving my insights, opinions, and reviews on news, products, and the respective industries.

If you have any suggestions or comments, please leave them here. This should be interesting.

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