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queenarrow · 7 years ago

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To Preface: I don’t normally like what CBR.com has to say about Arrow, but this article makes some good points to think about.

by Hannah Collins

The CW’s flagship Arrowverse series has soldiered on through six seasons since its debut in 2012. As the show that launched an entire DC TV multiverse, it still holds a special place in loyal fans’ hearts. But as ratings for the current season continue to drop (aside from the “Crisis on Earth-X” crossover special), the sentiment among some longtime fans is that Arrow has run out of steam and should get the axe.

Since joining Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl have consistently beaten the green archer in the ratings battle. Although there has been no confirmation yet from The CW that any Arrowverse series will be renewed, the president of the network has indicated all of them are likely to return. This begs the unavoidable question: How, and when, did things go so wrong for Arrow, and what can the series do to prove that it’s still the show this fanbase needs?

Let’s cut straight to the hard question — do we really care about any of the new additions to Team Arrow? Despite Oliver steadily building up a capable support team around him — Diggle, Felicity, Black Canary, Arsenal and Speedy — the first four seasons of Arrow still felt very much focussed on a gruff, lone avenger archetype. This format shifted dramatically in Season 5 when “The” Arrow officially became “Team” Arrow, with the induction of new recruits Curtis Holt (Mister Terrific) Rene Ramirez (Wild Dog) Evelyn Sharp (Artemis) and Rory Regan (Ragman.) By Season 6, the roster shrank back down to just Mister Terrific and Wild Dog, adding Dinah Drake as the new Black Canary. After a poorly received Season 4 finale, it wasn’t surprising that the writers felt a radically new direction was needed to inject some more life back into the show. Unfortunately, the payoff just hasn’t worked. We’ve had nearly two full seasons to warm up to Team Arrow and, compared to the way that “Team Flash” sparks off one another, the newer series regulars still leave us cold.

For a show that grapples with the morality of corporal punishment, Arrow is very precious with its main characters. Laurel Lance’s death was sufficiently shocking, but that feeling has since been significantly lessened by the regular appearance of her Earth 2 doppleganger. The Season 5 finale also raised the stakes by threatening to literally blow most of the cast away. In the end, the only major fatality was Malcolm Merlyn, who was really just a loose end for the show to tie up by that point anyway. The rest of the team escaped virtually unscathed, save for a concussion that kept Thea out of action for most of the following season.

The concept of death being an ever-revolving door is something inherited from the show’s source material so Arrow perhaps shouldn’t shoulder all the blame. But both of these examples read as the show trying to have its death cake and eat it too, which is especially frustrating when its also proven capable in the past of keeping its dead buried. (i.e. Tommy Merlyn) Without the permanence of death hanging over our main characters as they do in other fantasy action series’ like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, the stakes are never high enough.

Speaking of Malcolm Merlyn, another of the most persistent problems plaguing Arrow is that it seems to live or die by the strength of its villains and not its heroes. The most poorly received seasons, four and six, correlate directly with lukewarm villains, and vice versa with the stronger ones. With the rights to use fan-favorite Deathstroke now off the table for the foreseeable future, this might be even more of an uphill battle for the show.

By far the hardest thing for Arrow to try and fix, however, is the competition it faces from Netflix’s mature Marvel shows. The Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow largely escape this issue by virtue of leaning more heavily into sci-fi and fantasy than The Defenders-verse does. But, Arrow‘s street-level, grittier tone makes it a direct rival, and it often struggles to measure up. Given the show has to appeal to a younger audience this isn’t completely its fault but it often feels like its falling between two stools — not tough enough for adults and not fun enough for kids.

It doesn’t help, either, that Arrow keeps flirting with the kind of social and political commentary — drug addiction, gun control, political corruption, journalistic ethics, etc. — that Netflix’s Marvel shows are able to dive far deeper into. The worthy exception of Quentin Lance’s battle with alcoholism aside, Arrow frequently under-bakes these hard hitting themes that could strengthen it. For instance, Oliver’s relationship with Channel 52 reporter Susan Williams felt like it was leading to something explosive, not to mention timely, given the ongoing conversation about the role that the media plays in politics. Rather than a bang, however, it concluded with a fizzle. These are opportunities Arrow can’t afford to miss the target on anymore.

Arrow, even at its worst, is not a bad TV show, per se. And, like its former-playboy hero, it still has a shot at redemption. In terms of the villain problem, obviously consistency is key. The Rogues Gallery team-up is an exciting prospect, but with Malcolm Merlyn and Deathstroke gone, Arrow could benefit from replacing them with other minor returning villains in the way that Gorilla Grodd and King Shark are used in The Flash, rather than limiting fan favorite bad guys to one episode or one season runs.

The latest incarnation of Team Arrow seems to be on hiatus at this point in Season 6, so perhaps it’s time to consider, as we edge closer to a possible Season 7, whether that hiatus should be a permanent one. It sounds cruel, but a character “cull” might be a necessary way to stop the series feeling overstuffed with personalities who aren’t pulling their weight. This may, of course, seem like a bit of a cop out, so alternatively, if Team Arrow are here to stay then stronger characterization needs to be prioritized.

This is where Arrow could learn a lot from The CW’s longest running genre show, Supernatural. The sole reason Supernatural has survived so long is because the viewers fell in love with the characters, meaning weaker seasons slip by more easily because, to its longtime fans, tuning in has more to do with catching up with “old friends” than it is about the story those friends are part of.

The key to this for Arrow is to make more room for “downtime” episodes, which again, is something Supernatural has been very successful at. We don’t necessarily need as much “filler” as the latter show is sometimes guilty of, but one or two episodes in the vein of the bachelor party episode from the current season of The Flash, where our super-serious heroes and heroines can cut loose could really help us connect more with them. “Side quests,” like Oliver helping Slade Wilson track down his estranged son, are too heavy in tone to really count towards this. At the moment, aside from the bright spot of Oliver and Felicity’s wedding party, it feels as though Team Arrow works 24/7, both as heroes and civilians, and their relationships — aside from romantic entanglements — still come across as oddly formal. Team Flash, on the other hand, have a strong familial bond and the kind of zippy banter you might hear across the dinner table from your own family.

There’s still life left in Arrow but currently it seems like its fading fast for its fed-up fans. Despite all of its problems, it would be a shame to see The CW’s flagship Arrowverse series completely sink but, at the moment, it seems like anything less than a Lazarus pit-strength rebirth won’t be enough to save it.

#arrow #arrow season 6 #season 6 #tv: arrow #arrow reviews

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jillmckenzie1 · 5 years ago

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Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at The Ogden

The Ogden has announced another fire lineup next weekend guaranteed to get you your funk fix. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong is headlining September 15th and 16th, bringing the best of both coasts with them. They’ll be joined by Lespecial on Friday night for a late-night groove fest. Saturday night will be a dance party of epic proportions with Portland’s Yak Attack.

Photo credit: Dave Decrescente

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong is a four-piece funk/jam band from Baltimore, Maryland. Hatched in a dorm room in 2009, they’ve spent the last decade racking up over a thousand shows in 44 states. Propelled by a relentless work ethic and a style as infectious as the bird flu, they’ve established a dedicated fan base dubbed “the flock.” Whether they’re playing an outdoor music festival or a small-town bar, their live shows are incredible. Their music is a rhythmic blend of jazz, funk, and psychedelic rock, delivered with irresistible enthusiasm. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong has shared stages with huge names like Marcus King, Karl Denson, members of Vulfpeck, The Revivalists, Umphrey’s McGee, and the String Cheese Incident to name a few. When they aren’t on the road, the band’s migratory patterns are typically limited to the practice space and studio. They put out a constant stream of fresh, inventive material. You can see their explosive new single, “King Kong.” For these guys, it’s not about the nest egg. They do it for the flock.

Lespecial is a heavy future groove trio from New York and Connecticut. Carving their own path across multiple genres, they’re fearlessly pursuing a synthesis of musical idioms that will continue to inspire them. The group consists of Luke Bemand on bass, Jonathon Grusauskas on guitar, and Rory Doland on drums. In addition to these instruments, all of the band members take turns on percussion, synth, sampler, and vocals. The result is an experimental mix of hip hop, funk, indie rock, and electronic beats. Their diverse influences and experimental nature create a super unique sound and style. Lespecial is known for throwing in uncommon time signatures and strange inventive rhythms. They go heavy on the synth and keep a strong base line to hold it all together. Their first album, Playonbrother Sessions, was released in 2011. They followed that with the EP Ceremony in 2013, and two more albums, Omnisquid in 2015 and Cheen in 2017. Lespecial creates music that doesn’t underestimate the audience and leaves room for head banging and hip swaying alike.

On Saturday, Pigeons will be joined by Yak Attack. The electronic group was founded in Portland in 2013. They’ve been making waves across the northwest with engaging live shows and songs that instantly connect with new audiences. Their music is a mix of jam, funk, jazz, and electronic, best described as “organic electronica.” Yak Attack plays and records everything completely live on real instruments, and they’re often joined by a world-class roster of guest musicians. The result is a push and pull of intricate compositions and raw improvisation. Their latest album, Safety Third, dropped last year, and they’re currently recording their fourth full length album.

The Ogden has you covered on that funky stuff all weekend. You can catch back to back nights of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong with Lespecial’s synth magic on Friday and Yak Attack’s organic electronica on Saturday. Tickets are on sale now. For more info check out The Ogden Theater.

from Blog https://ondenver.com/pigeons-playing-ping-pong-at-the-ogden/

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miketendo-64 · 6 years ago

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Hot on the heels of dataminers and Nintendo outing SMITE for Switch this week, now it’s Hi-Rez’s turn to make it official as part of their line-up of reveals from the annual Hi-Rez Expo all three segments regarding SMITE, Paladins and Realm Royale can be seen here, followed by the official announcements:

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SMITE Announces Nintendo Switch Release, New Characters and Arena, and Free Bundle

Titan Forge Games reveals cross-platform play and progression, and Reveals King Arthur and Merlin at HRX

Titan Forge Games announced SMITE is coming to Nintendo Switch during their keynote at Dreamhack Atlanta. The team also presented the studio’s exciting plans for SMITE in the coming year, including the introduction of new characters King Arthur, Merlin, Egyptian Gods Horus and Set, and the inclusion of the World Serpent, Jormungandr. Along with a new platform and characters, Titan Forge is working towards cross-play and cross progression. SMITE Releases on Nintendo Switch: SMITE will be coming to the Nintendo Switch– making SMITE the only multiplayer battle arena on four platforms. Closed beta begins on January 24th, 2019. Players can gain access to the closed beta by purchasing the SMITE Founder’s Pack in the Nintendo eShop. Contents include the Ultimate God Pack (which includes all current and future playable characters,) 400 Gems to purchase skins, Dashing Deceiver Loki, and Dragon Empress Scylla, which is only available for a limited time in the Founder’s Pack. Players can pre-purchase the Founder’s Pack on November 16th. “The Titan Forge team is excited to bring SMITE on Switch,” said Richard Yu, Brand Director.

“We rallied together to ensure that the game runs and feels as good on the Switch as our other platforms, whether you’re playing docked or undocked on the couch. We can’t wait to introduce SMITE to a new generation and provide veterans a new way to play the game we love.” Cross-play, cross progression introduced in SMITE: In 2019, Titan Forge continues to improve and add quality of life features to the SMITE experience across all platforms. SMITE fans and developers are excited about the biggest feature: cross platform play and progression. Yu said, “We’re not just developers; we’re also gamers. So we love the idea of cross-play and cross-progression.” Soon SMITE players will be able to access all of their content and progress across platforms and be able to play with their friends on PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Heroes from a Faraway Land… Titan Forge announced SMITE’s 99th and 100th playable characters: the legendary King Arthur and the archon mage, Merlin.

“Reaching God 100 is a key accomplishment for SMITE,” said lead game designer, AJ Walker. “We wanted something that was different but would fit within SMITE’s rules of mythology and legendary characters. That’s where we landed on King Arthur and Merlin the Wizard.

For Arthur, we’re going for a new style of melee combos and fluid action animation for Arthur, something that we have never done before in SMITE. To represent Merlin’s mastery of all things magic, he is a Mage that can change between 3 different stances, mastering 3 different magical elements.

We’re excited for players to get their hands on King Arthur and Merlin. Next year, our evergrowing roster of iconic and unique characters will have more additions and surprises!”

Enter the All-New Arena: SMITE’s most popular mode, Arena, now takes place in a brand new map. The conflict between Hera, the Queen of Gods, and Bellona, The Goddess of War, comes to life in the new Arena. Redesigned from the ground up, this new map presents an updated art style, improves gameplay clarity, and introduces a new foe, the Minotaur.

This tanky behemoth will lead the attack on the opposing base The new Arena map went live during the keynote for players to experience at home. Publisher Weekend & Black Friday Sale: To celebrate the launch of the new Arena map, SMITE is offering a free Arena Bundle to players on all platforms for a limited time. The Arena Bundle unlocks seven iconic Gods and a divine set of skins.

Players can also get the Ultimate God Pack for a discount, and save on gems to purchase skins during the Black Friday sale on all platforms.

Cross-Platform Play, Progression, Comes to Paladins

New feature part of ambitious Season 2, focused on incredible content, improved quality, and community building

Cross-platform play and progression will be coming to the hit hero shooter Paladins, developer Evil Mojo Games announced at the annual Hi-Rez Expo on Friday.

“We want to break down the barriers that stop friends from playing together on PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch,” said Chris Larson, Hi-Rez Studios General Manager. “And we are technically ready to support cross-play on other platforms as the opportunity arises.”

The new initiative will allow players to access all of their content and progress across platforms. Players will also be able to play with and against their friends, regardless of input method, if they so choose.

Cross-platform play and progression will be a major feature of Paladins’ upcoming Season 2, which is focused on content, quality, and community:

Frequent, major content updates every month

A strong focus on storytelling, with a consistent narrative that runs throughout the year

The launch of a community-elected player council, the Assembly of Champions

A new initiative to improve quality, called The Hunt –

New community-requested features, like clans, in-game tournaments, and post-game commendations

Imani, the Last Warder, is Paladins’ most ambitious champion yet

Evil Mojo Games announced Paladins’ 40th Champion Imani, a dragon-summoning mage, as an example of their new commitment to content and storytelling.

“Imani embodies, as a character, what Paladins is as a game,” said Garrett Martini, Evil Mojo Games Lead Designer. “She combines the shooting elements of modern games with the magic of Paladins’ fantasy world. And she summons a massive dragon, which is just cool.”

Imani, the Last Warder, is Paladins’ most ambitious champion yet. This Damage champion wields the elements of fire and ice, casting powerful spells with impactful, martial arts-inspired motions. She surfs through the air on ice, propelling herself with fire. And when she uses her ultimate ability, Imani summons a massive player-controlled dragon, breathing frostfire down upon her foes.

Imani’s release concludes an ongoing story arc, “Dragon’s Call,” which stretches back to early August. And her appearance kicks off this season’s storyline. Each month, Paladins will release a new major update, the story will progress, and the Realm will evolve — Just like a new issue of your favorite comic book.

Assembly of Champions. A democratically-elected player council

Paladins players will play a role in the game’s evolution during Season 2, thanks to the new Assembly of Champions. This democratically-elected player council will assist Evil Mojo in the continuous development of Paladins by representing the community’s interests across multiple platforms and demographics. Elected delegates will sit for one year and represent the community in regular scheduled meetings with each other and with Paladins developers. Applications are available now; visit [URL] for details.

Lastly, Paladins will focus on improving quality throughout Season 2 with The Hunt: a new initiative focused on process improvements and polish. Patch 2.01 will enter public test servers on December 17, giving the Paladins team more time than ever to hunt out and squash bugs. Evil Mojo is also expanding their programming and QA teams, and devoting 20-40% of each development cycle to polish.

To welcome new players to Paladins and share Season 2 with them, Paladins is offering a free Starter Pack to players on Steam and PC for a limited time. The Starter Pack unlocks Paladins’ four newest Champions free, along with a skin and voice pack for each champion. The Paladins Starter Pack DLC is available free on Steam, or will be unlocked automatically for all players on PC who log in between Nov. 16 and Dec. 15.

Realm Royale Enters Console Closed Beta

Crossplay, PvE elements announced at Hi-Rez Expo

Realm Royale burst onto the scene when it entered Early Access Alpha earlier this year, and it’s easy to see why. The unique, class-based Battle Royale gameplay makes every encounter feel fresh and unique. Even in an Alpha state, the game captured audiences and drew the attention of major streamers and content creators. Hi-Rez Studios was amazed by the early response from players as over 4 million unique players joined in the first few weeks of Early Access on Steam. Now, the game is ready to expand its reach to new platforms while at the same time bringing new and interesting game elements to Realm Royale.

“At first, we struggled to find the soul of Realm Royale. But with the community’s undying dedication to this amazing game we have made a lot of progress over the last couple months,” said Rory Newbrough, Creative Director of Heroic Leap Games, the game development studio that makes Realm Royale.

Console Closed Beta: After several months of testing and customizing the game for the console experience, Heroic Leap is proud to announce that Realm Royale is now in Closed Beta on Xbox One. The studio quietly started ramping up access key distribution last week.

“ To be honest, when we entered Alpha with Realm Royale we were caught completely off guard by the reception the game had in such an early state. While the game had a fun foundation, it still had a long way to go in order to provide a lasting experience for our players. The game was not yet ready for the next step. Now, we are entering Closed Beta and we can’t wait to hear your thoughts,” Newbrough said.

The studio plans to expand the Closed Beta to PlayStation 4 very soon.

Crossplay: During console Closed Beta, Realm Royale will enable crossplay between PC and Xbox players, allowing friends to stay better connected. Allowing crossplay early will also allow for higher quality matches made even faster.

The Future of Realm Royale: Heroic Leap has new surprises for fans as they continue to expand the world of Realm Royale. PvE monster fights and in-world objectives are all possible expansions for 2019. The first such in-world creatures will be released during HRX weekend! [when.] Introducing the Loot Goblin – a treasure-hoarding goblin that hides within the map. When players come near the goblin it will spring up in surprise and attempt to escape. Taking down the goblin rewards players with all its treasures.

“With the introduction of world creatures like the Loot Goblin comes limitless potential for this massive world, and we can’t wait to talk more about it,” Newbrough said.

Realm Royale is honored to participate in the Steam Publisher weekend for the first time. Players will receive a free bundle just by logging into Realm Royale on Steam for a limited time.

Should after all this, you still want to see the entire key note presentation, you can do so right here:

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Source: Hi-Rez PR

Hi-Rez Highlights: SMITE for #NintendoSwitch, Paladins Tweaks & a Console Closed Beta for Realm Royale Hot on the heels of dataminers and Nintendo outing SMITE for Switch this week, now it’s…

#Hi-Rez Studios #news #Nintendo Switch #Paladins #Realm Royale #SMITE

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