In the past few years, video game conventions have managed to take great strides to become a heavy presence in the convention and event field. With PAX, and later PAX East, and eventually smaller but more tight-knit cons like MAGfest and Gencon, video games have been getting a lot of venue attention. Eventually, gaming media giant Screwattack decided to create their own event called SGC (Screwattack Gaming Convention) Started in 2009, it was in their own words – “We don’t think of SGC as a “convention” but moreso as a 72 hour gamer slumber party.”.

Unfortunately, after the second SGC in 2010, funding the event became too hard and the venue did not return for 2011 or 2012. However last month, Screwattack posed the idea of bring SGC back with the help of Kickstarter. If 100K was raised in the month timeframe, SGC would be able to rise again and offer another fun gaming event for all to enjoy. However, the campaign started slow and suffered from a slight lack of publicity and details as to how the money raised would be spent to make SGC come to life.

Surprisingly, however, it became Cindrella story of sorts, since within a 12-hour period, not only was the gaming fan community able to rally together and raise the remaining 30k in funds that was missing from the original goal, the goals was actually succeeded by an additional 20k.

Sadly, they couldn’t make the goal of 300k that would ensure Stuttering Craig would cosplay as Chun-Li the entire con. A heavy loss indeed.

Welcome to the Powet Top 5, where we explore the top (and bottom) 5 items we think are relevant to any of a variety of topics that span the imagination. Sit back, read, and respond.

Artificial intelligence or AI as it’s known for short describes the minds of robots, computer systems, pretty much software. This intelligence is the basis for some of our favourite sci fi characters. This is not a list of the best AIs. This is a more specific list of only the best AIs with AI in their name. How common is that? Very common, as it would turn out. Are all of these intentional? Hard to say for sure but I think most of them are.

Keep reading to see my top 5 favourite artificial intelligences with A and I in their names.

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Zac, Adam, and Cap tear into a man who can’t draw feet, another Kingdom Hearts game, a too enthusiastic guy who hunts for toys, and the celebrity cartoons of the 80s and 90s.

This is all about legacy. Rob Liefeld’s legacy. Disney legacy. Hulk Hogan’s legacy.

There is homework in this episode. When you hear the assignment, please leave a comment. I’m not going to type what it is right here because that would be cheating (somehow). Also I honestly forogt what I said and its been now 2 days since we recorded the episode when I’m writing this post. So I’ll be interested to read the responses having forgotten the question. I hope I didn’t make this up in my head right now.

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Direct Link:Powetcast 131: Celebrities Impersonated

Continue on for related links, show notes, and the exit music.
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Looks like Parkinson’s has claimed another of Hollywood’s greats.

The L.A. Times today reported today that actor Bob Hoskins announced his retirement today after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. If you don’t happen to know Hoskins (and if not, shame on you; you’re a bad geek), then perhaps the movie titles Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Hook, Brazil and Super Mario Bros. might ring a bell.

Hoskins turned 70 later this year, and follows after other renowned geek-beloved actor Michael J. Fox for retiring from the acting spotlight after being the most well-known actor who brought spotlight to the serious ailment that is Parkinson’s. (Fox later came back to acting several years after retiring, but has been no-less active in the fight against the disease and raising awareness about it)

We wish Mr. Hoskins well with his retirement and for his future.

Grandpappy shows us how to limber up our most important gaming appendages. Avoid serious finger-sprain with these tried-and-true exercises for training your game!

Famicom Dojo is delivering one video per week for the rest of the summer! We’ve already launched the “On the Go” segment covering the AppBlaster, and will be releasing the first installment of another new segment “Train Your Game” and a new Denshimail before the month of August is out. Exciting, no?

Keep watching Powet.TV every Wednesday (or your money back) for new episodes of Famicom Dojo and other great Powet.TV series!

Catch up on Season 2 at FamicomDojo.TV, and don’t forget to subscribe to the weekly Famicom Dojo Podcast for news about games and behind-the-scenes commentary about the new upcoming episodes.

Did we really need another re-release of Final Fantasy IV? That’s debatable, but when the package is this good, why not? Final Fantasy IV The Complete Collection is (for now at least) the definitive re-release of the Super Nintendo classic. Not only does it contain a graphically updated version of the base game (with the ability to switch between the original and remixed soundtracks), it also contains all the episodes of Final Fantasy – The After Years, the downloadable sequel to FF IV, and an intermission chapter. So if you’re one of the 15 people who never played the game before in your life, or if you weren’t sold on the original WiiWare release of The After Years, this is your chance to grab the most complete version of the 16 bit classic. At least it will be until next time Square-Enix decides to re-release it.

With Batman hitting movie theaters this week, this week’s Lost Classic takes a look at one of the gaming adaptations of another DC icon, Superman. The Death and Return of Superman is a beat em up based upon the controversial storyline of the same name. While it probably isn’t saying much, this is arguably the best game starring the Man of Steel. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment (who would later go on to make some little known game called Diablo) and published by Sunsoft, TDATOS is a solid, if generic, adaptation of the comics. Taking control of Superman, you battle your way through Metroplois until you are taken down by Doomsday. From then on, each level will have you in control of one of the four substitutes, each having their own playstyle. Eventually, SUpes will be reborn, and you’ll be back in control of him. Many of the scenes from the comic are reenacted in game form, particularly the destruction of Coast City. While there isn’t much setting it apart from other brawlers, it’s a solid title featuring Superman. How many other games featuring the Man of Steel can you say the same thing about?

Mattel has hosted their annual Mattypalooza panel at SDCC 2012. We got a look at whats left for the year on MattyCollector.com, along with several sneak peaks of what is on the horizon for next year. See a pretty extensive summary with images after the jump, in addition to video of the panel itself!

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