News has been relatively sparse lately, so I figured I’d trim away the Weekend Wrap-Up for the time being and just lump it in with Monday’s(early a.m. Tuesday, really) reports.

This cool? Or do you like having something to read on Monday morning? Speak out!

1. The Allspark has a bevy of new TransFormers news going, chiefly related to… what else? Merchandise. (Hey, it DID start as a toyline, after all.)

   The first item of note is the new “Minor” Optimus, a Bump n’ Go movie Optimus who does a dandy Professor X impersonation when in robot mode.

   Additionally, the prototype movie Starscream toy has been bought, and turned into a gallery for your perusal, complete with a version of what the face should look like without the paint splotch.

   In addition to all that, we have a double-helping here as we get to see not only movie Ratchet in packaging, but a new role-play toy as well, known as “the Optimus Prime Battle Rig Blaster.” It is made of win.

2. In non-movie TransFormers news, new TF Classics are showing up at US retailers, including the eagerly-awaited “Battle for Autobot City” two-pack featuring Ultra Magnus and Skywarp, recolors of Classics Optimus Prime and Starscream, respectively.

   For more Classics fun, you can check out the Constructicon giant Devastator, as well as some new Mini-Cons.

3. And of course, I had to save the best for last.

   We know about “Classics” Soundwave, a reissue of the original with Laserbeak and Ravage, and the Titanium version which has met with lukewarm fan reaction.

   Now, we have the ultimate modern incarnation of Soundwave, a TRUE Robot In Disguise, as this “Masterpiece” Soundwave transforms into a fully-functional MP3 player!

   “Soundwave is available in two colors, the traditional blue color scheme and also an all white color scheme in honor of the iPod. Soundwave’s cassette door opens to reveal a Mini SD card reader (Mini SD card is not included).

   The MP3 player will function in both cassette mode and robot mode. We expect this figure to be slightly smaller than the G1 Soundwave so it can fit comfortably in your pocket.”

   For $99.99, it doesn’t sound like too bad a deal, though one has to wonder if it can store any songs out-of-the-box.

4. Hey, remember Brian Augustyn, the writer of the Mega Man comic book by Dreamwave?

   If you’ve been at all curious what he’s doing these days, it seems he’s become Editor-In-Chief of Markosia Publishing.

5. Whups, back over to TransFormers for just a tick: if you get TV-tropolis in Canada, then it may interest you to know that Ben Yee, creator of BWTF.com creator and frequent TF-creator consultant, will be on Fanatical on January 30th.
6. Yesterday proved to be a good day for Nintendo’s Virtual Console, as The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past joins Nintendo’s legacy lineup.

   Between this, the original, Twilight Princess, and the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it feels like Link is establishing an immediate dominance on Nintendo’s latest.

7. Press The Buttons reports that IGN has had a little hands-on time with Sonic and the Secret Rings, including new videos.
8. It’s been awhile since we’ve heard anything about Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for the Wii. Fortunately, GameSpot and Ed Boon have reunited to tell us how things are going.
9. Going to GDC? If not, a number of you are probably going to wish you were once you see who’s going to be there…

   …this isn’t open to the public by any chance, is it?

   Also, thanks to onNintendo, we’ve got a link to the 1999 address by the same individual here.

10. Sounds like the possibility of a fourth Spider-Man movie has just been increased significantly.

    But will the new script, by the same writer of the original film and the upcoming Indiana Jones 4, be enough to woo Tobey, Raimi, and Kirsten back?

11. Speaking of Indy 4, looks like Sean Connery is considering it.
12. Remember when we reported on that guy who lost the Lose Weight Exercise with Wii Sports workouts?

    Seems he’s keen on becoming Nintendo’s version of Jared.

13. GameDaily says that Hideo Kojima is strongly interested in the XBox 360, as well as developing for the PC and Wii, but didn’t mention porting Metal Gear Solid 4 to Microsoft’s console.
14. Is the end of $60 next-gen gaming nigh? According to the general manager of EA in Australia, yes.

    Thank God, if so.

15. PS3 price reductions?

    “Nuh-uh,” says SCEA chief Jack Tretton.

    “I think the consumers that get their hands on a PlayStation 3 clearly see the value and not only want to buy one for $599, in some instances they’re willing to pay ridiculous prices to buy one on eBay,” Tretton said.

    “O rly?” sez Joystiq.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 at 4:35 am and is filed under The Daily 'Shroom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.