So, the first SF IV footage has been revealed via the 1up.com Video Blog Show.I'm fully aware that this footage is of the game in it's early stages...so it's worthless to be super critical. Thus far I think it's looking pretty good. Animation is pretty fluid. Backgrounds are vibrant. And the 3D graphics do a pretty decent job of staying true to the 2D gameplay.But I am a little concerned about the character designs.You can feel a lot of the original Street Fighter 2 character designs in these 3D interpretations of Ryu and Ken...but Capcom appears to be trying a little too hard to make their characters "American" in style. Ryu and Ken have a little too much of the "Flintstone" neanderthal and "Gears of War" football players on super-steroids look going for them. I'm glad that this look hasn't affected the fast and fluid gameplay...but it's all a bit too over the top.After seeing this all in motion I'm a little scared to see their design for Chun Li. PLEASE don't make Chun Li into Chyna (from WWE)!!! I dig the big thighs...but her face and upper body needs to feel feminine.Overall, it's been fun following the revelations of this game. I find myself playing more SF2, SF Alpha, and SF3 3rd Strike in anticipation for SF IV!

My buddy let me borrow his copy of the documentary "Just For Kicks". I'm far from being a shoe fiend...but I do love myself a nice pair of Nikes. Since I've been playing basketball since the age of 5, Nike Airs have been as much a part of my childhood as the Nintendo Entertainment System and Transformers.I remember very clearly my first pair of Air Jordans (the white and cement gray Air Jordan 4's...my mom bought those!)...and the feeling that I was being ripped off when I spent my hard earned cash (actually it was a bunch of money given to me by my Aunts and Uncles in Japan) on some white, red, and black Air Jordan 6's.I think those $125 Air Jordan 6's traumatized me and my wallet because from that point forward, I was purchasing year old Nike Airs at the Sportmart and Big5 stores at a fraction of their original price.These days I'm sporting the Nike Zoom BB's in Black with Orange laces. I'm not sure if it's appropriate fashion off of the courts...but they've provided me with the stability, light weight, and touch of style that I like to add to my b-ball game. The only minus I've found with these shoes is the black dye of the shoes tends to bleed onto the "super fresh" bright orange laces after a few intense sessions of basketball (or if you have super sweaty feet!).Anyways, here's a nice clip from "Just For Kicks" that breaks down the Run DMC/Adidas connection (I didn't know how deep the connection was) and a pic of my current pair of Nikes:Want to ball with MPB? Looks for the heavy set Hapa sporting these:

I'm growing to like the new "Dark Knight" trailer. The new take on the Joker is an intriguing one...as it seems to be an Americanized version of Kakihara from the manga and movie "Ichi The Killer".I'm surprised that more people don't see the connection between Takashi Miike's "Ichi The Killer" and Batman. Ichi is obviously some geek boy version of Batman. Kakihara is the Yakuza answer to Joker. It was all a disturbing take on the Batman mythos interlaced with morbid plays on violence and otaku culture.I think it's cool and clever that Christopher Nolan and "The Dark Knight" team found a clever way to bring bits of "Ichi The Killer" back to Batman. I just hope that there isn't any Joker tongue cutting scene..."The Dark Knight Trailer"Kakihara From "Ichi The Killer"

Ho ho ho!

Since it'd be super lame for me to give all of my friends and family Muttpop Toys for Christmas, here's a sampling of goodies that I'll be giving as presents...Amanda Visell's Pink Elephant is amazing! Amanda and Munky King really outdid themselves with this one. The articulation is subtle and clever (Drunky's head, elephant's nose, tail and feet). They did an excellent job of capturing Amanda's dry brush technique and the woodblock aesthetic of her custom toys. They even put magnets on all 4 corners of the elephant and Drunky McSkunky's butt to make sure Drunky firmly stays on top of the Elephant. One of my favorites of 2007.Gama-Go Deathbot looked cool in pics but I fell in love when I got my hands on him. The design is perfect for a wood toy. I really like the off color white they painted him in...it gives the toy an older feel. I was tempted to get the rarer Suit version but got the better designed regular edition. He's the perfect size to play with, the wire arms, legs, and neck have limited poseability...but you can get a decent amount of stances from them if you diligently loosen them up.Ghost Land Mini Figures are adorable and affordable. A nice stocking stuffer at $15 a piece that comes in a very attractive tin package. Brian Flynn's designs are super clean and the Japanese produced crystal clear vinyl is beautiful.Pink ElephantDeathbotGhost Land Mini Figures (Pic Stolen from Rotofugi)

I'm mildly interested in this upcoming film. I love Mignola's Hellboy comics. I didn't like the first film. And I really loved Del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth".I'm positive that part of my dislike for the first Hellboy movie was my strong affection for Mignola's comic. Having read Hellboy for years...I always imagined a Hellboy movie being patterned after Samurai films...where you have beautiful serene scenes of silence interrupted with brutally savage monster fights.The first film was anything but that.I really need to try and watch the first film without that comic geek prejudice...Anyways, this new trailer looks a bit like Hellboy 1 with some Pan's Labyrinth monsters and a touch of Blade 2. The new monsters look very slick...but the film's general look reminds me a lot of the first film.Either way, I'm sure to check it out when it's released next year. Good or bad, I'm certain that Del Toro and his team will build the film with love and sincerity.