Forms of entertainment have long been blamed for a myriad of predicaments.  Violence and sex in video games have been the talking point for the many Helen Lovejoys of the world, but even as we strive for realism the issues tend to bore me.  It isn’t because I don’t think they aren’t issues, I just believe that they are blown way out of proportion with far too much misinformation being spouted by supposed “experts.”  Heck, video games deform our skeletons!  By the way, so does carrying your book bag on one shoulder and various forms of hard labor.  There is at least one issue I do get behind though, weight gain.

Weight gain from hobbies – either viewing TV and movies, sitting on the computer, playing video games or crocheting – is a bit more clear cut than how sex and violence may or may not affect us.  The calculation is a simple breakdown of time and how much energy we burn.  If we aren’t exercising as much as we used to because of some life change, then we aren’t burning the same amount of calories.  If we continue to eat the same amount, then poof, added blubber.  The issue is fairly personal to me because I was the freakishly skinny guy in high school.  I graduated at 5’8″ weighing an amazing 125 lbs.  Yes, that skinny.

I am a realist.  It wasn’t World of Warcraft’s fault at all, but my own.  Not only did I exercise less during that time frame, but I ate poorly.  Shoveling whatever quick-to-cook food I had available into my pie-hole with reckless abandon became a favored activity. In short, there were a variety of life changes.  It certainly had its consequences.  I did need about 15 of that 35 lbs to be at my correct weight, but the kind of weight I gained was the horrific trans-fat, saturated-fat, high sodium kind.  To combat this, I created a rather stupid, yet easy regiment for myself during WoW’s common downtime.  Through the course of a raid I would try to bang out the following basic, Jack Lalanne approved, exercise regiment. Continue Reading

Granted, we Hounds haven’t covered Lost Saga all that much. Actually, if memory serves me correct, we haven’t covered the MMO fighter from WeMade Entertainment at all. I’m not quite sure if that’s a shame, oversight, or reasonable, but it doesn’t really matter because the publisher just caught our attention.

Over the weekend the US arm announced the title’s latest patch, which slips dynamic content into the MMO fighter. The “relaunched” beat-em up, in the vain of Dungeon Fighter Online, didn’t reserve a minor patch to rekindle existing user interest. No, no. The patch includes 15 new characters across the gauntlet of history, scifi, and folklore. There’s an additional four maps and much more planned for subsequent patch.

Of real interest is the details behind one of those new characters. WeMade added the first of its planned licensed fighters, Iori Yagami, the star of The King of Fighters and participant of SNK vs. Capcom.

Now in open beta testing, sign up for Lost Saga on the official website. Check out the relaunch trailer and additional media after the cut.

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The reveals just keeps coming for Infinite Crisis. Just a scant few days after the reveal of the multitude of Wonder Womens to be made available in the multiverse Turbine Entertainment returns to the universe of Batman to reveal a pair of his leading ladies. Your standard Poison Ivy and Gaslight Catwomen will be joining the roster of the upcoming F2P DC Comics MOBA.

Oh, and let’s not forget that other bit of big news from this week, closed beta! Turbine Entertainment announced that the title will be heading to its closed beta testing phase next Wednesday, May 8. Interested parties (everyone?!) can sign up at the official website.

Poison Ivy is a hybrid character capable of providing dedicated support through healing and speed buffs to allies and debuffs to foes, or a vicious AoE damage dealer capable of keeping target’s within her pain range. The former thief from steampunk Gotham, Gastlight Catwoman is a melee assassin that relies on stealth. She may sound a lot like Nightmare Batman, but the feline friend has her own twist.

Past the cut are the trailers for the two loveliest ladies of the Batman universe. Continue Reading

Definitely file this one in the “Well, that was fast” category. Infinite Crisis has gone from a stealth announcement to a closed beta date faster than a teenage breakup. The fine folks at Turbine Entertainment find it appropriate to push its foray into the MOBA genre with only a small handful of superpeople currently detailed in any capacity. Players interested in taking Nightmare Batman or Green Lantern for a spin will have a chance starting next Wednesday, May 8.

Currently, your only opportunity to score early access is the old fashioned way, signing up at the official website. Don’t worry, we’re working on getting our dirty mitts on some keys for the community.

To celebrate the super fast closed beta testing phase of Infinite Crisis, Turbine Entertainment released that dandy of a picture. In it, you’re viewing the multitude of Wonder Womens present in the multiverse of the Infinite Crisis saga.