Fun STAR TREK Parody of FROZEN Song

My Disney Princess crazed daughter was begging me the other day to take her to see the “Sing Along” version of the movie FROZEN the other day, I am really amazed how my 5 year old has the lyrics to the song LET IT GO memorized, and as I was looking online for show times stumbled across a really well done parody of my little girl’s favorite song that brought a smile to this Geek Daddy’s face.  A Toronto-based musical group called Debs & Errol have put together a very well done STAR TREK parody of LET IT GO based on the signature line of Captain Jean Luc Picard “Make is So.”  Check this out:

Debs and Errol have a youtube site which features 61 parodies, covers, and original songs.  Two of my favorites are their tribute to the Peanut’s Linus & Lucy and a STAR WARS parody of Cindy Lauper’s “Time After Time” titled TIE AFTER TIE.  These two singers do a very talented job in providing enjoyable performances through the creation of a “geek” musical niche to market themselves and have some fun with their music. 

For more information about Debs and Errol check out their website, DEBSandERROL.COM, which also features a comic strip that profiles the comedic group's adventures with the music industry and their travels on the comic book & scifi convention circuit promoting their CD and website.

LEGO and STAR WARS combine for fun starfighter game

A new game app for mobile devices was launched this week titled LEGOS: Star Wars Micro Star Fighters.   It is a vertical scrolling shooter game that lets the player pretend they are flying one of six vehicles from the Star Wars universe.  You blast your way through hostile terrain destroying enemies and collecting LEGO studs.  I bought the game for .99 cents and found it to be a fun distraction but it really isn't a lengthy detailed game with only 18 levels simulating  visits to just four planets from the Star Wars movies:  Geonosis (Episode II), Yavin (Episode IV), Hoth (Episode V) and Endor (Episode VI). I didn't notice any in-app purchase options in the game which I appreciated (HATE THOSE) but you can upgrade your ships or open other bonus features by collecting LEGO blocks and studs through game play.  Once you've collected enough LEGO blocks you can also open DARK SIDE campaigns that provide additional scenarios & game play.

The game play reminds me of the old school shooter 1941 and combining that layout with the Star Wars story makes the game somewhat nostalgic with a cool retro vibe.  The graphics on the game are simplistic yet very well done without the LEGO theme overwhelming or distracting the playing experience.  What really impressed me was the soundtrack...the music sounds great and made me feel like I was sitting in a movie theater listening to the Star Wars score.  The controls are very EASY making it great for kids to be able to play or for adults to pull out on their iphone during a lunch break.  You simply control the ship you are flying with your finger moving it around the screen...simple as that.  If you are looking for an indepth game experience this will probably be too short and dull for you, but if you are looking for a game you can play for just a few minutes at a time on an iphone or ipad I believe you'll really enjoy this.  Hey for .99 cents I felt it was a pretty darn good game....and hopefully they will add some free updates with new levels and vehicles down the road.

Check out this trailer to see the gameplay:

CLICK HERE to buy LEGO STAR WARS MICROFIGHTERS.  Sorry I don't know if it is available for android though you'd think all things Star Wars would be also accessible for Droids.

DC COMICS GOES STEAMPUNK

Keep in eye out this February for some interesting artwork coming from the folks at DC COMICS.  During the month of February twenty of their most popular titles will have steampunk themed variant covers.  What is steampunk?  Steampunk is a fantasy genre that is somewhat a combination of science fiction with the Wild West.  Essentially it presents a futuristic world where technology never advanced beyond the steam powered era of the 19^thCentury British Victorian era or American Wild West.  Steampunk features lots of retro-futuristic images, in other words futuristic clothes, tools, machines and so on as the people of that time period would have envisioned them using the capabilities of that era.  

The stories themselves in these issues won’t be steampunk this promotion just involves providing variant covers…so it is a gimmick to sell some extra comic books during the month of February by the publisher.  That being said, if you appreciate cool, unique artwork these are some comic book covers you absolutely should keep an eye out for.

Here are a few samples of the upcoming steampunk variant covers:

Aquaman #28 variant by Richard Horle

Batman and Robin # 28 variant by Matteo Scalera

Batman/Superman # 8 variant by Tommy Lee Edwards

Earth 2 # 20 variant by Dan Panosian

Flash # 28 variant by Howard Chaykin with colors by Jesus Aburtov

Justice League #28 variant by Dan Panosian

Interested in actually reading a steampunk inspired comic?  You may want to check out FREE COMIC BOOK DAY which will be providing a sample of STEAM WARS, a Star Wars themed steampunk story.

A not so long ago, in a galaxy relatively close by began an epic struggle on a world seized in the grip of an evil Victorian empire.  Only a ragged alliance of rebels oppose the emperor and his black guard, but hope is fading.  While fleeing from the steam-driven war machines of her imperial pursuers, Duchess Imoen stumbles across the home of the last Dragoon: the legendary storm foil warriors of ancient lore!  This new (but strangely familiar) steam-fantasy epic will give thrills that haven't been felt since 1977!

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY is on May 3, 2014.  On the first Saturday in May each year participating comic book retailers provide comic books for FREE to anyone who visits their store.  To find a participating location or for more information about this event visit www.freecomicbookday.com

Actress Scarlett Johansson Banned From SuperBowl

Well she's not actually been banned from being at the game, but the SodaStream ad featuring actress Scarlett Johansson has been banned from airing during the television broadcast of the SuperBowl.  SodaStream, which manufactures machines that allow people to make their own carbonated soda beverages at home, planned on having Johansson seductively pitch their product during a tv commercial on FOX's broadcast of the big game.  Fox has banned the advertisement from airing though.  Check it out:

FOX claims the advertisement is too HOT for TV, but not because of any sultry scenes.  Rather the commercial breaks a network rule of not letting products criticize competitors, at least ones that have also purchased ad time, in commercials during the SuperBowl broadcast.  So they yanked this SodaStream ad from the game night commercial rotation because Johansson ends it with "Sorry Coke & Pepsi". 

Hmmm I do believe though that I've seen Pepsi & Coke poke fun at each other in their ads before during the game.  Could it be that the network didn't want to touch another HOT topic when it comes to this advertisement, the potential flare up from special interest groups that don't like the company SODA STREAM.  SodaStream's machines are build and imported to the United States from Israel, which wouldn't be a big deal except that the manufacturing facilities are located in contested territory of the West Bank and therefore made the business a target of criticism by some Arab advocacy, charitable, and constituency groups.  Scarlot Johansson has already been publicly criticized for her endorsement of this company by several of these groups. A conspiracy theorist might take from this that maybe rather than the content of the commercial being blocked but rather the NFL and FOX wanting to stay clear of any association to this Mid East conflict. Of course I'm not a conspiracy theorist so that is probably nonsense ... or is it?  

The ban of the SodaStream ad was probably a good thing though because their "SuperBowl" tv commercial really isn't very good and it is probably getting more attention now than it would have from airing during the big game because of the controversy.  This has been a controversy filled week for the actress who was also involved with complaints from women's issues and health care advocacy groups criticizing the newly released Captain America movie poster.  Critics contend Johansson's portrayal in the poster was photoshopped to give her an un-naturally small waist and argue that this markets an unhealthy societal image for women and girls.  What do you think of the poster?

When you see advertisements for products during the SuperBowl or posters for movies do you look at the bigger picture regarding issues like have been brought up with these two marketing pieces or do you just focus on the products being promoted in the ad?  Something to think about as we're about to be flooded with promotional messages on February 2nd as every marketer that has an opportunity tries to grab a second of your attention during the biggest television viewing audience of the year to make an impression for their client.