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NFT: The New Next-Gen

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We live in a world dominated by virtual consumption. Whether you are into gaming, movies, or knitting, it is hard to avoid contact with some form of a digital community. Planet Earth is consumed by this form of technology which has no end in sight. When it comes to gaming specifically, there are a number of factors that drive gamers: adventure, relaxation, stress-relief, and an avenue that has real estate of its own – collecting.

The standard “gamer” actually does not exist – shooters, role players, platformers, nostalgia seekers, or Fortnite celebrities – gamers often transcend the boundaries of genres. We see undying allegiances to gaming companies such as Nintendo or Sony and inexplicable emotional ties to games from decades past. Whatever the case, there lies an audience of consumers who may not even fit the true bill of what a “gamer” is.

Collectors are seen in the world over in every light and hobby known to man – and video games are no exception to this rule. We’ve seen entire YouTube channels dedicated to nostalgia, where a well-known “gamer” shows off not only a Dragon’s Quest 11 gameplay on the PS4 but his collection of Dragon’s Quest 1-10 and replicas of the Hero Sword to millions of viewers. Sometimes, collecting can even turn into its own form of gaming – and this is where the market for coveted gems gets driven up even more.

So, without further ado, welcome to the world of NFTs, or non-fungible-tokens. NFTs are digital goods that exist on a digital ledger called blockchain. Each NFT represents a distinctive digital item, deeming it non-interchangeable. NFTs can represent a wide array of materials such as art, video, audio, and video game items. Each NFT is unique and its ownership can be precisely tracked.

For years people have had such an emotional attachment to physical entities, be it a Mickey Mantle baseball card or a one-of-a-kind piece of art. The market for rare items has survived in a world of physical seclusion, and this is now being turned upside down as the world faces a conversion to virtual materiality. Physical isolation in the age of COVID has only accelerated the transition to virtual existence. Digital media has never had much assignable value because it was always so easily duplicated. In allowing people to enumerate an official copy of a piece of art, NFTs finally give value to digital goods that used to have none.

Digital technology has had its fair share of criticism over the years, and NFTs have been closely associated with Bitcoin, the system used for cryptocurrency. But the $1.5 billion NFT transaction volume in the first quarter of 2021 alone speaks volumes about its transition to the mainstream.

Games that are using NFTs are not very large in abundance currently, but with the craze ascending on a near-daily basis, it seems unlikely that the market will stay small for long. The video game industry in the US alone accounted for over $60 billion USD in 2020. This signifies that not only is it beyond profitable but also that it begets growth beyond the norms of major consoles.

It’s not hard to conceptualize the full potential for a gaming-NFT intersection. One such instance of this is an NFT-based game, titled The Sandbox. Gamers can purchase plots of a virtual sandbox as an NFT in the game, allowing everyone to be the landowners they never were. The game sold $2.8 million worth of product just in the month of February alone and is said to be worth over $35 million by its creators. The growth of this market is rapidly expanding.

Collectors are driven by the rarity of an item and this is what truly gives such value to NFT items. Imagine having one-of-a-kind Legend of Zelda images or the original sketch of a video game character such as Cloud Strife. These things would hold immense value, and with a world that is diving headfirst into digital reality, it seems the reality is NFTs are the new way to level up.

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Rick and Morty Season 7 Trailer Debuts New Voice Actors

Rick and Morty Season 7 trailer debuts a new voice actor for the characters.

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Rick and Morty Season 7 trailer debuts a new voice actors for the characters.

“We want the show to speak for itself,” explained an Adult Swim insider. “We believe in the strength of the season and our new voices and we want to preserve the viewing experience for fans.”

The network is keeping the names of the actors confidential until the season premier. And yes, there will be two different voice actors, one for Rick and one for Morty.

The Hollywood Reporter

Plot:

After having been missing for nearly 20 years, Rick Sanchez suddenly arrives at daughter Beth’s doorstep to move in with her and her family. Although Beth welcomes Rick into her home, her husband, Jerry, isn’t as happy about the family reunion. Jerry is concerned about Rick, a sociopathic scientist, using the garage as his personal laboratory. In the lab, Rick works on a number of sci-fi gadgets, some of which could be considered dangerous. But that’s not all Rick does that concerns Jerry. He also goes on adventures across the universe that often involve his grandchildren, Morty and Summer.

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Entertainment

10 Cozy Films For This Fall Season

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Fall has officially arrived, which only means one thing….the start of my favorite season! Time for you to bring out your sweaters and jumpers grab a hot drink and a snuggly blanket this weekend to settle down and watch some all-time classics which make you feel immersed in the moment of this Autumn/Fall season.

Autumn in New York [credit: MGM]

10. Autumn in New York (2000)
Well, you cannot get any more of an Autumn feel than this film as it is literally in the title itself! While the film will have you baffled with its plot line and complexities. The atmosphere of New York in the fall accompanied by the score of the music may have those who are criers like myself burst out into tears.

9. Legends of The Fall (1994)
Anthony Hopkins playing Brad Pitt’s father will surely draw many viewers to watch this film. However, the rural countryside of Montana is notable with regard to the film even though the overall movie might be leaving you feeling a bit low afterwards.

8. A Tale of Autumn (1998)
A french rom-com set in Autumn with the idea of how you would basically be forming your friend’s dating profile in this day in age so they have a fall boyfriend. Regardless of the scenery, I do love how this displayed a beautiful portrayal of friendship.

7. Far From Heaven (2002)
Personally Julianne Moore Oscar worthy performance! Todd Haynes strikes this film from the get-go with its colour palette with the various shades of red, yellow and orange displaying the depths of Autumn. However, that is not the only depth this film has with its themes and plot line making you realise it was truly ahead of its time.



6. Hero (2002)
Everyone who has seen this film knows your mind instantly goes to the fight scene between Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung) and Moon (Zhang Ziyi). What makes this completely impactful for a fight scene is the rustling sound of the leaves against the sound of the blades of their swords. The entire scene will guarantee to make you feel like you are in a snow globe that is based in Autumn as the leaves are swooshing with the movement of the fight.

5. All That Heaven Allows (1955)
Sometimes you need to really not listen to your kids and go with your heart. What a beautiful melodrama set in fall and winter with the theme of social collision. The performance by Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman is noteworthy to bring the moments of feelings at certain points.

4. Dead Poets Society (1989)
“O Captain, My Captain” this film is one of my favourite Robin Williams performances to date he is known for playing carefree characters like this one, and here you truly see his compassion and passion from the character translate into the boys. The importance of poetry is not only displayed by the storyline but how poetry is translated into the scenery behind the characters making you feel the crisp fall air.

3. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
It is officially time to bring out that white sweater! Yes, this movie is note worthy of a fall tradition each year questioning can two people really be friends after a nightstand. This romcom alongside my favourite season is the reason why it’s so high on the list. Oh to have someone declare their love to me realising they want to spend the rest of their life with me.

2. Good Will Hunting (1997)
A notable performance by Robin Williams as always. How with the complexity of the character themes still hold out to be beautifully written by Matt Damon during his time at Harvard. This has to be considered a fall movie not only because of the setting of the premise during the film but even its poster! Especially getting emotional after Robin Williams passed away the fans would write quotes from the film around the famous wooden bench at the Boston Public Garden as a tribute.

1. Fantastic Mr Fox (2009)
“We’re all different. Especially him, but there’s something really kind of fantastic about that, isn’t there?” As someone who has grown up by Roald Dahl this adapted screenplay by Wes Anderson does not fall short (see what I did there!). This stop-motion animation will hold a close place in my heart with the vivid imagery of autumnal tones to bring out the beautiful works of characters.

photo credit: Good Will Hunting [credit: Miramax], Hero 2002 [credit: Miramax]

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Batman

Why Michael Keaton is the Best Batman

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I know that it’s been a little while since “The Flash” came out in theaters, but I got to say that after seeing the movie again on Max, I think that it’s clear to say that Michael Keatonis the best actor that has played the Caped Crusader.

Keaton played the hero in the Tim Burton-directed superhero flick way back in 1989. Many fans were skeptical of the controversial casting but were happy to have him in the film after it was released and welcomed him back for the sequel in 1992.

Here is why Keaton reigns supreme as the comic-book hero.

HE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR “DARK” BATMAN

Batman 1989 [credit: Warner Bros.]

 

Before Michael Keaton, the only thing that fans had for Batman was Adam West on the 1960s tv series and while the series had its moments, they seemed more campy than actually dark. West had a more comical take on the character which might have been fine for the 1960s but it doesn’t really honor the source material.

Keaton brought the character into darker territory and allowed Batmen after him to run, but only after he had to walk in the batsuit and it was a breath of fresh air to see it.

 

HIS ORIGIN STORY IS MORE TRAGIC

Batman 1989 [credit: Warner Bros.]

 

In the original comics, Bruce Wayne’s parents are killed by the criminal Joe Chill. And the tragic event is what made him the caped crusader. That is a great origin story, however, the 1989 film changes a few things.

In the Tim Burton movie, Jack Napier a.k.a., the Joker kills Wayne’s parents. Albeit, this is before Napier becomes the Joker  but it makes for a great connection as to why Batman has such a true and deep disdain for the Joker, thus making their hero-villain dynamic more palpable to watch.

 

HE TOOK ON A KRYPTONIAN WITHOUT KRYPTONITE

The Flash 2023 [credit: Warner Bros.]

 

If you haven’t seen The Flash, spoiler alert because Keaton’s Batman takes down the kryptonian Nam-ek in the coolest and briefest showdown in the DCEU, where Batman grapples the Kryptonian by the neck attaching bombs to him and finally knocking the alien to the ground with a final explosion.

Keaton can rest easy knowing that he was the only Batman to knock down a Kryptonian without Kryptonite. Not even Affleck could attest to that.

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