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When I heard Sony was creating a movie movie based on the on-again-off-again villain/antihero Venom, I was ecstatic. Venom is my favorite Marvel character, and I don’t want the less-than-spectacular Spider-Man 3 to be his/their (pronouns are so confusing when you talk about two symbiotic entities acting as one) only movie. While I am overjoyed that the character(s) is finally getting the recognition he/they deserve, assuming the movie is actually good, I am concerned about one specific creative decision: the lack of Spider-Man in the movie.

Yesterday, during the world premiere of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige told Variety that Spider-Man will not appear in the upcoming Venom movie.

“No, I think the folks there are making a great ‘Venom’ movie,” explained Feige, “and I don’t know much about it, but I know they’re off to a good start with Tom Hardy.”

My problem is Venom is inextricably linked to Spider-Man, as he/they are a dark reflection of Spider-Man and what he could have been if he ever succumbed to evil. Furthermore, almost every one of Venom’s powers (such as web-slinging, super strength, and wall-crawling) is copied directly from Spider-Man. In fact, his/their most dangerous power is the ability to bypass Spider-Man’s iconic spider-sense, which works similarly to ESP.

Since the Venom movie will take place in the same universe as Spider-Man: Homecoming (which takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is separate from the previous two Spider-Man movie franchises), it will act as an origin story. Since Spider-Man is literally Venom’s origin, the movie will likely run into a hurdle when it tries to explain why Venom has all of Spider-Man’s powers. The writers will probably have to use a clunky exposition dump instead of an organic “show, don’t tell” scene. Given Marvel’s track record with movies, I am confident the writers will provide an extremely plausible and convincing explanation, even though showing Spider-Man during the explanation would be more effective from a cinematography and storytelling standpoint. Still, Marvel’s downright addiction to having characters from one Marvel movie cameo in another makes Spider-Man’s absence, especially in a movie that centers around his arch-nemesis, feel like a bone-headed decision; it’s like making a movie about War Machine without a cameo by Iron Man/Tony Stark. Maybe I’m just being a nitpicky fanboy, because Spider-Man cameo or not, I still look forward to the Venom movie when it releases in 2018, and I wish the movie’s star Tom Hardy (Inception, Mad Max: Fury Road) the best of luck.

All you have to do to get my attention is talk about video games, technology, anime, and/or Dungeons & Dragons - also people in spandex fighting rubber suited monsters.

Gaming

Documentary Explores the Making of the Highly Praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for PS5

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Square Enix has launched a captivating documentary series that explores the intricate process behind the creation of the highly praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. In the first episode, titled “Shaping the World,” the developer delves into the process of reimagining the expansive PS1 map of the original game into a vast sandbox for the PS5. The film includes personal stories shared by directors Naoki Hamaguchi and Tetsuya Nomura, as well as other important members of the team.

This reimagining of the all-time PlayStation classic was truly enjoyable. In our review, we praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for its ability to enhance the already impressive combat system of Remake. The game truly shines in its portrayal of an iconic RPG setting. If you have a deep appreciation for the original PS1 game and found enjoyment in Remake, then Rebirth’s character-focused adventure will surely captivate you from start to finish.

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Gaming

Gran Turismo 7 for the PS5 and PS4 shows continuous improvement

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While Sony may not classify Gran Turismo 7 as a live-service game, the team at Polyphony Digital certainly approaches it with a similar mindset. The game continues to impress with every new update, and although v1.44 may be smaller compared to previous versions, it still manages to enhance the already extensive content of this simulation racer.

The update, now available worldwide, introduces three new cars: the Audi R8 Coupé V10 Plus ’16, the Lamborghini Urus ’18, and the Toyota GT-One (TS020) ’99. Furthermore, it introduces three fresh events to World Circuits, an extra menu to conquer in the GT Café single-player campaign, and a collection of livery stickers inspired by the upcoming Highspeed Étoile anime, set to debut next week in Japan.

If you’re not already acquainted with Highspeed Étoile, you can watch a trailer right here. “Sony has announced that a collection of 26 stickers, consisting of 8 title logos and 18 main character stickers, will be made available for a limited time,” stated Sony on the PS Blog. In addition, Fukushima will be included as a backdrop in the title’s beloved photography mode.

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Gaming

TopSpin 2K25 appears to be a standout title in the recent PS5 and PS4 gameplay showcase

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This author has consistently praised the realistic portrayal of tennis in TopSpin 4. After more than a decade, we are thrilled to witness the release of TopSpin 2K25, which expands upon the success of its renowned predecessor. This gameplay video provides a comprehensive overview of the features discussed in our recent preview while also incorporating relevant footage to enhance understanding.

The series’ swing system sets it apart from arcade-style games like Virtua Tennis, as it requires players to charge up their shots in a different way. In order to succeed, timing is crucial, and fortunately, a new meter above your player will assist you in achieving that. Surfaces have their own distinct characteristics, such as clay, where you’ll experience a noticeable amount of sliding.

The game ensures that every player has a distinct set of animations, adding a touch of individuality to each competitor. The courts, found in all Grand Slams, possess a remarkable amount of individuality and charm. It is mentioned in the video that with each in-game season, players can expect a plethora of additional content, such as animation packs. This indicates that there will be plenty to anticipate even after the game’s initial release.

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