Month: March 2021

They’re more than meets the eye

It’s been over a decade since the first Transformers movie, directed by Michael Bay, hit theaters back in 2007. It introduced a new generation to the massive alien robots that transform into cars, jets, tanks, and other vehicles. Throughout the franchise, the Autobots (good guys) have been repeatedly pitted against the Decepticons (bad guys) for the fate of the universe, with six total films in the franchise.

With that many movies comes a slew of unique robots and the variety of things they can transform into. It should come as no surprise that, ultimately, the Transformers franchise is the story of good and evil playing out over and over, with the good side emerging victorious every single time. Given that, we decided to put the spotlight on the Autobots. These intergalactic heroes have battled the force of evil and saved humanity time and again, even when humans made it clear they wanted nothing to do with the massive robots.

Take a look at our breakdown of every Autobot in the live-action franchise–and a ride based on the movies–thus far. And when you get to the end of the list, don’t worry too much. While we haven’t had a new film since 2018’s Bumblebee, there will surely be another Transformers movie at some point. After all, the series has made nearly $5 billion worldwide at this point, so there’s certainly still interest in the property.

Optimus Prime

First appearance: Transformers

As the leader of the Autobots — and the most popular Transformer — it’s no surprise that Optimus Prime has been around since the beginning. He doesn’t get much airtime in the newest film, though.

Optimus Prime transforms into a semi-truck.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Bumblebee

First appearance: Transformers

If Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobots, Bumblebee is the heart. In the first three films he served as a guardian to Sam (Shia LaBeouf) and speaks through songs and pieces of dialogue played through the radio. Throughout the film series he transforms into various models of the Chevrolet Camaro.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Jazz

First appearance: Transformers

Jazz was second-in-command to Optimus Prime and transforms into a Pontiac Solstice sports car in the first movie. He is killed in a fight with Megatron, making him the first Autobot casualty in the film’s franchise.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Ironhide

First appearance: Transformers

Ironhide is a weapons specialist who transforms into a GMC TopKick truck. After the death of Jazz in the first movie, he becomes second-in-command to Optimus Prime.

Ironhide dies in the third film, Dark of the Moon.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Ratchet

First appearance: Transformers

The medic of the Autobots, Ratchet transforms into a Hummer H2 ambulance. He is killed by the Cybertronian Lockdown in the fourth film, Age of Extinction.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Sideswipe

First appearance: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Sideswipe — who transforms into a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray — plays a major role in Revenge of the Fallen and Dark of the Moon. There’s no mention of the character in the first or fourth installments of the series, however.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Jolt

First appearance: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Jolt — who transforms into a Chevrolet Volt — only appeared in the second movie and was used as a way to promote the electric vehicle. Though the bot helped to save Optimus Prime in Revenge of the Fallen, he was never mentioned again.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Skids and Mudflap

First appearance: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

These two, who originally transformed into ice cream trucks, played small roles in the second film. The bulk of their appearance in Dark of the Moon was cut for time, though they do make a cameo in it.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Arcee, Chromia and Elita-One

First appearance: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

This trio of female Autobots transform into motorcycles — a Ducati, a Suzuki and an MV. They were originally set to debut in the first film, but don’t make an appearance until the sequel. They die in the film’s final battle. Arcee later appears in a different form in Bumblebee.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Jetfire

First appearance: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Portrayed as an older robot who uses a cane to walk, Jetfire — who transforms into a long-range jet — turned his back on the Decepticons to become one of the good guys. In the end, he sacrifices himself to save Optimus Prime.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Wheelie

First appearance: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Perhaps the silliest of the Autobots, Wheelie transformers into a radio-controlled truck. Like Jetfire, he was originally a Decepticon before changing his ways. While it was believed the character died during Dark of the Moon, it’s been confirmed Wheelie will return for The Last Knight.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Brains

First appearance: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Brains, another former Decepticon, transforms into a laptop computer. In Dark of the Moon he is shown to be close friends with Wheelie, with the two of them ultimately saving the day. He appears again in Age of Extinction but his status as of the end of the movie is unknown.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Mirage

First appearance: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Mirage speaks with an Italian accent and transforms into a Ferrari. Though it’s believe he survived the final battle in the third movie, he is never seen again. The actor who voiced Mirage, Francesco Quinn, died shortly after the film’s release.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Wheeljack

First appearance: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

A scientist with an Irish accent, Wheeljack transforms into a Mercedes-Benz and helps the Autobots by creating weaponry for them. Before the end of the film, he is executed by a Decepticon named Soundwave. A younger version of Wheeljack appears in Bumblebee.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

The Wreckers

First appearance: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

This trio of Autobots are brash, loud and vulgar. They all transform into NASCAR stock cars and work with the government. They only appear in Dark of the Moon so far.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Sentinel Prime

First appearance: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

The mentor of Optimus and the original leader of the Autobots, Sentinel Prime transforms into a fire truck. Obsessed with returning his home planet to its former state, Sentinel turns traitor and sides with the Decepticons, but is ultimately defeated.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Hound

First appearance: Transformers: Age of Extinction

He has a beard, smokes a cigar, and transforms into a tactical truck. Hound becomes the weapons expert of the team after the death of Ironhide in Dark of the Moon.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Drift

First appearance: Transformers: Age of Extinction

The former Decepticon, modeled after samurai warriors, is a rare triple-changer. He can transform into a Bugatti Veyron, as well as a Cybertronian helicopter. Drift has a friendly rivalry with Bumblebee in the films. In The Last Night, he appears with a new design and color scheme.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Crosshairs

First appearance: Transformers: Age of Extinction

Crosshairs transforms into a Chevrolet Corvette and acts as both a sniper and paratrooper for the Autobots. During Age of Extinction he forms a bond with Scorn of the Dinobots, nicknaming him Spike.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

The Dinobots

First appearance: Transformers: Age of Extinction

The Dinobots are the Legendary warriors of Cybertron. Grimlock, the leader (seen here), transforms into a mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex. Strafe becomes a Pteranodon, Slug a Triceratops and Scorn a Spinosaurus.

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Trench

First appearance: Transformers: The Last Knight

This towering Autobot helps fend off the Decepticons in this film. Its alternate form is that of a Caterpillar excavator tractor.

Bulldog

First appearance: Transformers: The Last Knight

This aging Autobot is shown as suffering from dementia and had been around since it fought in World War I, primarily using its auto form of a tank.

Canopy

First appearance: Transformers: The Last Knight

We don’t actually see Canopy in his auto form. In the movie he’s introduced as hiding in the rubble in Chicago and ultimately gives his life saving children.

Cogman

First appearance: Transformers: The Last Knight

Cogman is essentially a robot butler to Sir Edmund Burton in this movie, doing tasks for him like fetching Mark Wahlberg’s character. He’s also the size of a normal human, much smaller than many Transformers.

First appearance: Transformers: The Last Knight

If ever there was a junkyard Transformer, it’s Daytrader. The massive bot is essentially a junk trader that also has plenty of fight in him.

Dragonstorm

First appearance: Transformers: The Last Knight

Turning into a car is one thing, but Dragonstorm is a flying, fire-breathing, three-headed dragon. What’s more, it’s the alternate form of two Transformers that combine together.

Hot Rod

First appearance: Transformers: The Last Knight

While this particular Autobot first appeared in the toyline for Transformers: Dark of the Moon, it wasn’t until The Last Knight that he actually made it on screen. He also later appeared in Bumblebee.

Lieutenant

First appearance: Transformers: The Last Knight

Lieutenant is another of the elderly Autobots introduced in The Last Knight. His bot mode is that of an old fighter plane and he ultimately dies in the movie.

Mini Dinobots

First appearance: Transformers: The Last Knight

Age of Extinction has Dinobots, so The Last Knight took that idea to the next level and made them tiny and adorable. Honestly, there’s not much more to them than that.

Sqweeks

First appearance: Transformers: The Last Knight

Mini Dinobots weren’t cute enough. Obviously, this movie needed an adorable scooter that turns into a bumbling robot.

Cliffjumper

First appearance: Bumblebee

Cliffjumper escaped Cybertron amid the attack by the Decepticons. However, the evil bots later traced him to one of Saturn’s moons, where he crash-landed. When he wouldn’t give up Optimus Prime’s location, he was killed.

Brawn

First appearance: Bumblebee

While Brawn didn’t last too long, the character is seen in the opening battle for Cybertron in Bumblebee, fighting the Decepticons alongside his fellow Autobots.

Evac

First appearance: Transformers: The Ride

While you haven’t seen Evac in the Transformers movies, this Autobot is definitely canon. He’s the hero of Transformers: The Ride, which you can experience at Universal Studios theme parks.

(Image Credit: Universal Studios)

Some users logging in to HBO Max to watch Tom & Jerry: The Movie got quite a surprise. For some that launched the movie on Monday, they were instead met with an accidental showing of Zack Snyder’s four-hour cut of Justice League–a movie that is not out until March 18. This news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which noted images from the movie appearing on Twitter.

While several people online noted that they were able to access the film, and THR even confirmed it was able to access the film, it appears the problem has since been fixed. So if you were one of the few that got to watch even part of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, consider yourself lucky.

For the rest of us, there are only 10 more days of waiting before you can see the movie properly. In the meantime, several character trailers are being released, covering each member of the superhero team. Thus far, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Aquaman have each gotten a character spotlight, with only Cyborg left to go.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Niantic is holding another Incense Day event in Pokemon Go this Sunday, March 14. The event will run from 11 AM to 5 PM local time and gives players more chances to catch Beldum and certain other Steel- and Psychic-type Pokemon.

Beldum in particular will be plentiful during the event. The Pokemon will appear more frequently when you use an Incense, and you’ll have an increased chance of encountering a Shiny Beldum. On top of that, if you can evolve Metang (Beldum’s evolved form) into Metagross during the event, it will automatically know Meteor Mash, a move it could previously only learn during the Beldum Community Day.

In addition to Beldum, the following Steel and Psychic Pokemon will be drawn to Incense during the event:

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Now that we’ve reached the end of WandaVision, our eyes are looking to the future. We know what’s coming next for Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and have some hints about what could become of Vision (Paul Bettany). What about Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), though? While her story was wrapped up in “The Series Finale,” there could potentially be more to her story.

Be warned, the following contains spoilers for the final episode of WandaVision. Speaking to the New York Times, Hahn was asked about whether another project featuring Agatha is in the works.”I have no idea,” she said. “They keep it really tight.” However, it’s something Hahn is definitely interested in. “I want to,” the actress admitted. “Now that I have a taste of it, I’m like, ‘ahh.’ I really, really love it.”

If nothing else comes from the character, though, Hahn is pleased with the conclusion to Agatha’s story. In the finale, her powers were absorbed by Wanda, who left her essentially trapped in the reality of Westview, stuck in her sitcom role as the nosy neighbor.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

DC’s Wonder Woman: Earth One saga is nearly complete, and IGN has an exclusive preview of the third and final graphic novel in the series.

Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 3 reunites writer Grant Morrison and artist Yanick Paquette for one last Wonder Woman epic. In this climactic chapter, Queen Diana is forced to lead the charge in defense of her homeland as Max Lord’s army of robots invade Themiscyra. Can Diana remain a force for love and peace when she’s forced to become the warrior her mother designed her to be?

Get a taste of what’s coming and see Diana interacting with Artemis by checking out the slideshow gallery below:

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For those not familiar with the Earth One line of graphic novels, they’re simialr to Marvel’s Ultimate Universe imprint in that they reimagine and modernize familiar heroes for a 21st Century audience, with some heroes changing more drastically than others. The Wonder Woman books offer a fairly unusual take on Diana and her world, as they draw heavy inspiration from the original Golden Age Wonder Woman comics and the themes of bondage and subservience that were so prevalent in the work of creator William Moulton Marston. The first volume even drew controversy for its depiction of Diana being the daughter of Hercules, a choice even Morrison admitted he “struggled” with.

“In this particular story I wanted that tension,” Morrison told IGN in 2016. “I wanted that push and pull, and I wanted Diana to be a bit more impure in the sense that, yeah, there is a little bit of masculinity that has been put into her. Originally, Hippolyta does it just for the reasons that Hercules’ DNA will then go on to destroy women, and there would be no more sons, as Hippolyta said. So it’s actually kind of an act of revenge. Diana is used as revenge on the battlefield, which to me seemed much more this sort of thing that people could relate to. She’s a character who’s so pure and so perfect that it seemed like we needed that little bit of dark in the character to give her a chance to grow and to think about things and change.”

Vol. 2 further shook up the Wonder Woman mythology by depicting long-time DC villain Doctor Psycho as a supervillain pickup artist and a critique of toxic masculinity.

“Part of it was my revenge on having seen [this level of manipulation] actually done to someone. You can see the narcissist type, the sociopath type and how easy it is for them get to people — people you wouldn’t even imagine could be that manipulated by anything,” Morrison told IGN in 2018. “It’s a very real problem for young people in the world. There are people out there who are quite willing to use these techniques so I kind of wanted to draw attention to it, but, you know, on the Wonder Woman scale where the guy is a supervillain. I wanted to put these paragon of femininity up against that threat and see how she deals with it — because even paragons of intelligence and grace I’ve watched having real trouble with people like this. Here are the techniques. If you see anyone using these techniques against you, the warnings should go off.”

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You can check out IGN’s review of Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 1 and Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 2. DC is also finally releasing the third volume of Batman: Earth One in 2021, which will introduce a very different version of Two-Face and shed more light on this Bruce Wayne’s ties to the Arkham family.

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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Ubisoft has released the patch notes for the latest Rainbow Six Siege test server update. The update is live in the test server now, fixing a few bugs in the game.

Of note, the update addresses some issues tied to Aruni, Siege’s newest defender operator that was added in December 2020’s Operation Neon Dawn expansion. Aruni can erect a laser grid over doorways and windows with her Surya Laser Gate, denying an attacker operator’s entry and destroying projectile gadgets.

The update fixes a bug that was causing Surya Laser Gates to appear deactivated if players were over 20 meters away, which messed with the plans of both defenders and attackers. Additionally, a bug has been fixed that was causing Surya Laser Gates (as well as Kaid’s Rtila Electroclaw) to incorrectly pulse when disabled by Thatcher’s EMP Grenade or seen via IQ’s Electronics Detector.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

It’s been a little while since Fall Guys has gotten any new content, but that’s set to change. Developer Mediatonic announced in a tweet that it will reveal a trailer with the release date of the game’s upcoming Season 4 on March 15. Additionally, Mediatonic said it will activate double Fame Points around that time, though we don’t know for how long.

Fall Guys has been in the news quite a bit recently, especially following the announcement that Fortnite developer Epic Games has bought Mediatonic, further expanding its family-friendly battle royale empire. Based on a cryptic tweet, it appears that Season 4 is going to take the egg-men of Fall Guys into the future, though what exactly that means remains to be seen.

Mediatonic also recently announced that Fall Guys is coming to Nintendo Switch this summer, as well as Xbox, the next phase of its stated goal to get Fall Guys onto every major platform. The most recent content update added a new level and more costumes to the game.

Master Chief actor Pablo Schreiber has said he won’t do an impression on the Halo TV show, suggesting he won’t try to replicate Steve Downes’ iconic voice from the video game series.

Writing on Twitter, Schreiber said, “I don’t do impressions, I play characters.” He said the video games focus on Master Chief the super-soldier, but the TV show will provide more depth and insight on the man under the helmet, John.

“I don’t do impressions, I play characters. While everyone knows the Master Chief, this show is an opportunity for all of us to get to know John,” he said. “Thank you for your kind words. We are all working incredibly hard to bring something to the screen that everyone can get behind.”

Continue Reading at GameSpot