Skylanders SWAP Force ready for Disney's challenge (preview) | A+ ...

For the first time in its short history, the Skylanders franchise faces a serious challenge. The game that was a pioneer in combining action figures and video games now faces a 600-pound gorilla with the launch of Disney Infinity in August. So how is Activision competing?

They?re building on the foundation that developer Toys for Bob laid out and coming out with Skylanders: SWAP Force. This time around, Vicarious Visions is at the helm and the team there improved on the engine they built for the series. SWAP Force features a graphical boost and new gameplay wrinkles for the characters, most notably the ability to jump.

^{Rattle Shake is one of the newest characters in the Skylanders universe.}

PROTECTING THE CLOUDBREAK ISLANDS: As for the story, it has a Saturday morning cartoon feel as Lord Chaos once again sets his sights on Skylands. He creates a new contraption called the Evilizer that apparently makes things evil. He wants to head over to the Cloudbreak Islands where there?s a mystical volcano that erupts once every 100 years. The natural wonder restores the magic in Skylands. His maniacal plan resembles what happened the last time the volcano was active.

Back then, the SWAP Force defended the landmark from another villain with a similar plot to harness the power of the volcano. The team of heroes got caught in the explosion and they developed the power to swap tops and bottoms. That?s how Activision introduces the latest advancement in its figurines.

Design producer Michael Graham said it plays to the strength of the series. He said Skylanders has always tightly tied the fiction and the toys together. The backstory makes players believe that the action figures contain living breathing heroes that only come alive through the portal. And that?s how Skylanders is differentiating itself from Disney Infinity ? by capitalizing on the bonds kids have built with each toy.

^{There are magnets in the Skylanders action figures that let players switch them out so they stay connected.}

KEEPING AHEAD OF THE PACK: ?It was only a matter of time before others jumped in,? Graham said, mentioning Nintendo, Rovio and Disney. ?We were the first though. We created that magical blend between the physical and video game world.?

The customization of the Skylanders SWAP Force plays into that philosophy. It lets players create their own hero. Whenever they switch out the bottoms and tops different heroes with different names are created. Wash Buckler becomes Stink Buckler or Magna Charge transforms into Magna Blade.

Graham said it takes a lot of work animating the different combinations so they can fire weapons, jump across platforms and move naturally. Moreover, the updated figures also requires a new portal. The old peripheral won?t work with the new title because it can?t read the different RFID chips attached to each half of the toy. And with up to 250 combinations that?s a lot of information to read and decipher.

^{Magna Charge is one of the new characters in the game.}

SUPPORT FOR OLD FAVORITES: As for previous toys, they?ll still be compatible with Skylanders SWAP Force. This time around, Vicarious Visions raises the level cap to 20. In addition, there are new versions of old favorites such as Stealth Elf in the Series 3 of the toys.

The game even supports Giants. The large creatures can jump and move around the world like any other hero, but as an added benefit, they can open secret Giants Vaults in the game.

Lastly, the SWAP Force characters have their own bonus missions that they can access. They?ll need certain bottoms to open up the areas and they?re filled with bite-size challenges that are fun to play. In a Bounce Zone, I had to use the coils of Rattle Shake to jump from platform to platform to get to the end.

The rewards for finishing the zones include hats that offer stat bonuses for heroes. There are also special and legendary treasures that can let players customize the hub world and offer global buffs that essentially change the game.

^{Here are three sets of SWAP Force figurines.}

PRICE POINT: Because players will need to get a new portal, Skylanders SWAP Force will be sold as starter packs, so it?s going to be pricier than Skylanders: Giants. The Starter Pack will include Stealth Elf Series 3 and two SWAP Force heroes ? Wash Buckler and Blast Zone. Individual SWAP Force toys will be sold for $14.99.

It?ll be interesting to see if the allure of Disney Infinity will attract Skylanders young audience or if that crowd will stick with heroes who may not have the name recognition as Mickey Mouse but they?ve built a bond with. We?ll find out when the game is released Oct. 13.

Images courtesy of Activision

---

Want to know what Gieson Cacho is playing? Follow him on Twitter.

Source: http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2013/08/01/skylanders-swap-force-previe/

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Kerry visit casts Pakistan more as partner than pariah

The tumultuous relationship between the US and Pakistan is moving in a more positive direction after worsening for years.

By Jeremy Ravinsky,?Correspondent / August 1, 2013

US Secretary of State John Kerry, right, meets with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad, Pakistan Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013. Kerry was meeting Thursday with top Pakistani leaders, hoping the U.S. can open a new chapter in Washington's often testy relationship with Islamabad.

Jason Reed/AP

Enlarge

On an unannounced visit to Islamabad late Wednesday, United States Secretary of State John Kerry has moved one step closer to rekindling talks of a strategic partnership with Pakistan. The visit is the first by a high-ranking US official since the election of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in May.

Skip to next paragraph Jeremy Ravinsky

Correspondent

Jeremy Ravinsky is an intern at the Christian Science Monitor's international desk. Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Jeremy has lived in Boston for a number of years, attending Tufts University where he is a political science major. Before coming to the Monitor, Jeremy interned at GlobalPost in Boston and Bturn.com in Belgrade, Serbia.

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The negotiations come after years of strained relations between the two countries over the 2011 raid which killed Osama bin Laden, the US?s use of drone strikes, and Pakistani support for Taliban forces fighting in Afghanistan.

But there are hopes for a stronger US-Pakistan relationship under the guidance of Mr. Kerry, who has strong ties to Pakistan, and Mr. Sharif, who many believe can solve some of Pakistan?s political and economic troubles.

The announcement that talks would resume was made after Kerry met with Sharif and other high-level Pakistani officials over issues ranging from Pakistan?s economic and energy woes to the security situation in Afghanistan as US-led NATO forces prepare to withdraw in 2014, reports the BBC. Kerry said the talks were ?constructive,? leading analysts to see this as a turning point for tenuous bilateral relations.

The relationship between the two countries hit a low point in 2011, when US Navy SEALs?killed Osama bin Laden after raiding his secret hideout, reports the Washington Post. Talks shortly afterwards between then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Pakistani officials produced little and were ultimately suspended.

Anti-US sentiment in Pakistan has also been stoked by US drone strikes on Pakistani territory, which killed an estimated 2,800 people in Pakistan between 2002 and 2013, including 366 civilians. In 2011, a US military strike killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, leading Islamabad to close down vital supply routes into Afghanistan. The supply routes have since reopened, and drone strikes have decreased ??though they are still a point of contention.

And Pakistan?s tacit support for Islamist insurgent groups, such as the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, operating in Afghanistan has irked many in the US.

However, both the US and Pakistan see normalizing relations as within their best interests right now, reports Reuters.

Both sides are now keen to overcome the grievances and start afresh, a shift in priorities they hope is possible with a new government in Pakistan and a new secretary of State in the United States.

With Pakistan's economy badly in need of support and the United States keen on smoothly withdrawing most of its troops from neighboring Afghanistan next year, both sides will see positives in repairing the relationship.

The security situation is of vital concern to both sides, particularly as US military forces are preparing to wind down operations in Afghanistan next year. According to Voice of America, Pakistan has promised to act as a mediator between the Afghan government and the Taliban and to help facilitate peace in the conflict-ridden country. Meanwhile, Kerry has stated his confidence that an agreement will be reached that will see the extension of US troop presence in Afghanistan, reports the BBC.

Both Kerry and Sharif are well positioned to improve relations between their countries. Kerry has a long history with Pakistan, and officials there know and trust him. Kerry was instrumental in passing the Kerry-Lugar-Berman aid package in 2009, which pledged $1.5 billion a year to Pakistan through 2013. According to The Christian Science Monitor, prior to his appointment as secretary of State, Pakistani officials were optimistic about the prospect of Kerry replacing Ms. Clinton.

And Sharif?s return to government after two stints as prime minister in the 1990s has many hoping that Pakistan is on the road to recovery.This year's election was Pakistan?s first to see a civilian government hand power to another civilian government, marking a democratic milestone for the country.

And he has already made attempts to improve the country?s economy by accepting a $5.3 billion aid package from the IMF, despite some domestic opposition to it and Sharif?s ideological opposition to external interference, writes the New York Times. The move both encourages American investment and demonstrates that Sharif can negotiate pragmatism and ideology.

And more importantly, Sharif has shown increased commitment to cooperate with the US on cracking down on militants, reports Reuters.

Pakistan itself has seen a spate of attacks against its military and civilians by the Pakistani wing of the Taliban since Sharif was sworn in on the back of promises to talk to the insurgents rather than fight them.

Speaking alongside Kerry, Sartaj Aziz, Sharif's adviser on foreign affairs, appeared to harden that position, saying his government might resort to the use of military force after all against the Taliban.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/1dhLkrKBb_I/Kerry-visit-casts-Pakistan-more-as-partner-than-pariah

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Zimmerman traffic stop cop accused of taking iPhone shot

Would an officer take an iPhone shot of your license?

(Credit: Fox 4 DFW Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

A uniform can give you a sense of power.

Yet when power meets fame, is power tempted to record the event for posterity?

This curious thought has come to those who examined police dashcam footage of a traffic stop last Sunday, where the accused speeder was George Zimmerman, the man acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin.

The stop happened in the city of Forney, east of Dallas. And many believe that they hear the sound of an iPhone taking a picture as the police officer is in his car examining Zimmerman's driver's license.

As Fox 4 in Dallas-Fort Worth reports, the officer is to be questioned as to why an iPhone shot might have been taken -- presumably of Zimmerman's license.

Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

The police say that it is somewhat normal for officers to take photographs in order to show superiors specific things. But what would need to be shown in this case?

The suspicion here though is that the officer couldn't help but take a personal shot, not thinking that the sound would be picked up by the dashcam mike. Many also hear the sound of "unlock" and then typing on a keyboard.

Some might conclude that the policeman may have been texting the image.

The local police say that the officer isn't being investigated, but will be questioned when he returns to work on Saturday.

There are so many who, in positions of responsibility, simply cannot help themselves when confronted by fame of whatever kind.

Certain magazines that are found in supermarkets are said to pay nurses for secretly taken, highly tasteful images of dying celebrities.

These are, presumably, taken on personal cell phones.

But, as Google, Facebook, and the NSA have taught us, once a file exists, there is no knowing where it might appear.

Attorney Pete Schulte told Fox 4: "The only issue that's going to come about is if that information was shared outside of the law enforcement community."

More Technically Incorrect

Clearly, the details of George Zimmerman's driver's license would be of interest to many -- both supporters and detractors. What if they suddenly appeared in a mysterious manner on some enthusiastic Web site?

Schulte offered that most police department policies don't actually have specific rules about Twitter and Facebook and what is or isn't permissible for officers to do or feature on those sites.

Will the officer be asked to have his personal iPhone searched in order to reveal any texts that might have been sent during the traffic stop?

There might be a certain irony in that. Civil liberties groups are fighting the insistence of some police forces who believe that cell phone searches by police should be legal.

For example, one bill proposed in New Jersey would allow the police to examine your cell phone without a warrant, should you have been involved in an accident.

Oddly, as CBS News reports, the officer in the Zimmerman case didn't recognize him. It was Zimmerman who explained who he was.

Perhaps the officer might have texted fellow policemen, as if this was the highlight of his day. Perhaps more will be revealed after he is questioned.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57596838-71/zimmerman-traffic-stop-cop-accused-of-taking-iphone-shot/?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TechnicallyIncorrect

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Road-rage killer of 2 truckers executed in Texas

HUNTSVILLE, Texas ? A former financial analyst with a history of disruptive behavior was executed Wednesday for the road-rage shooting deaths of two truckers in the Dallas area 15 years ago.

Douglas Feldman, 55, received lethal injection for gunning down Robert Everett, 36, of Marshfield, Missouri, and Nicholas Valesquez, 62, of Irving.

Feldman mimicked the announcement a judge or jury makes when announcing a verdict, using the names of his victims and declaring he had found them guilty of crimes against him.

"I have sentenced them both to death. I personally carried out their executions," he said in a loud voice, adding that he carried out their executions in August 1998.

"As of that time, the state of Texas has been holding me illegally in confinement and by force for 15 years," Feldman said. "I hereby protest my pending execution and demand immediate relief."

He appeared very nervous, breathing quickly and his feet twitching under a sheet. As the drug began taking effect, he grimaced twice, took a few deep breaths and began snoring. Then all movement stopped.

Feldman was pronounced dead 13 minutes after the lethal drug was injected at 6:28 p.m. CDT.

Feldman's attorney, Robin Norris, filed a clemency petition with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles that was turned down Monday. Multiple courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, earlier rejected his appeals on Feldman's behalf.

Multiple courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, earlier rejected his appeals on Feldman's behalf.

Feldman, from Richardson, was riding his motorcycle the night of Aug. 24, 1998, and said Everett, driving an 18-wheeler, cut him off on a Dallas County freeway so he took out his 9 mm pistol, pulled up alongside the truck cab and shot him. Feldman testified at his capital murder trial that he was still angry about 45 minutes later when he spotted Valesquez, a gasoline tanker driver filling a Dallas service station, and shot him.

"A security camera catches him shooting the man in cold blood," Jason January, the former Dallas County assistant district attorney who prosecuted him, said. "Several counties were frightened as this unidentified motorcyclist was out acting like 'The Terminator.'"

Feldman was arrested more than a week later, after shooting and wounding a man at a fast-food restaurant and driving off. A bystander saw the shooting and reported his license plate number to police, who tracked him down and found Feldman with two pistols and nearly 300 rounds of ammunition. Ballistics tests confirmed one of the guns was used in all three shootings.

"It feels wonderful to cause their death and to watch their pain," he said in one of 81 letters he wrote to a former girlfriend while awaiting his trial. The writings from the magna cum laude Southern Methodist University graduate were introduced into evidence.

"God forbid I ever had my finger on the button to launch a nuclear explosive device because I guarantee that I would wipe as many of these bastards off the face of the planet as I am able!" he said in another letter.

Without remorse, he also acknowledged the killings while testifying at his capital murder trial.

Evidence showed he got into trouble as a juvenile, had drug possession and selling issues and wound up in state custody. He also had robbery and drug convictions.

While in prison, records show Feldman racked up 136 disciplinary cases, including one for ripping out the phone in a visiting cage where death row inmates are interviewed by reporters. Texas prison officials subsequently refused him media access.

The day before the fatal shootings, evidence showed he shot up a Volkswagen dealership where he once had some work done.

"His statement just showed more of the heart of the man," John Everett said after witnessing the execution of his brother's killer. "Very dark and very evil and very unremorseful."

"I was 12 when it happened," Robert Everett's daughter, Emily, said. "Now I'm grown, married, with kids, and my dad didn't get to see any of that. I feel my dad finally has justice after 15 years."

Feldman became the 11th prisoner executed this year in Texas and third this month. At least seven other inmates are scheduled to die in the coming months in the nation's busiest capital punishment state.

Source: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/db254d503d9c4e3ea25f27800593ec11/US--Texas-Execution

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Starbucks Takes Home Google?s High-speed WiFi Service, Dumps AT&T

Starbucks is dumping AT&T in favor of Google to improve internet speed on 7,000 stores across the country.

JULY 31, 2013, 8:40 PM.?+Carlo Raphael Diokno.

Search engine giant Google will soon provide free Wi-Fi access on Starbucks replacing AT&T, and the process will take place in the next 18 months. The popular coffee shop has decided to ditch AT&T in favor of Google, claiming that 7,000 company-operated Starbucks stores in United States will receive Google?s service. According to Google?s new blog post, Google-connected Starbucks stores will enjoy 10 times faster internet speed and stores located at Google?s Fiber City will get 100x internet speed improvement.

?Google has long invested in helping the Internet grow stronger, including projects to make Internet access speedier, more affordable, and more widely available,? says Kevin Lo, the search giant?s?General Manager of Google Access. ?The free Internet connection at Starbucks has become an important part of many communities over the years,? he adds.

Read More:?Starbucks Bets On Wireless Charging.

Apparently, Google wants the internet to be faster, more reliable and covers more market because more users on faster internet will give Google?s advertising services a boost in revenue. For starters, ads on Google with images and ?special effects? will appear faster on web pages with better internet speed, and it makes sense that Google would want Starbucks stores to access the internet faster.

Lo on his blog post said that a customer on Starbucks will know the faster network ?is ready once a ?Google Starbucks? SSID appears on the customer?s smartphone, tablet or laptop?s web browser.?

Image source: Starbucks Press Release.?

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Source: http://www.popherald.com/news/starbucks_google_partnership_wifi_27996/

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Silver Bay Golf Course standings

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Source: http://topics.areavoices.com/2013/08/01/silver-bay-golf-course-standings/

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'The Big Bang Theory' actress visits Springfield for wedding

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Source: http://www.news-leader.com/article/20130731/NEWS01/307310121/1264/RSS

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