One of the biggest video game publicity events is happening this week at the E3 Media & Business Summit in Los Angeles. That means lots of gaming news, updates and a sick amount of eye candy.

Microsoft held their press conference today and capitalized on the recent news that the Xbox 360 will get a price drop ($299 for the 20-gigabyte hard drive). They boosted interest in the console by showing off some impressive new games and Xbox LIVE features to be released this fall.

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IMAGES COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

If you’re psyched for The Dark Knight (July 18) and you want to see Batman like you’ve never seen him before, check out Batman: Gotham Knight, a six chapter movie that blends beautiful anime with powerful storytelling — all surrounding one of the darkest and most legendary comic book heroes.

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SOLID SNAKE AKA OLD SNAKE FROM MGS4. ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF KONAMI.

Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is not just a video game, it’s a masterful blend of beautiful cinematics and fluid gameplay.

Packed full of amazing action, stunning graphics, fantastic characters and an incredibly rich story, MGS4 offers an unparalleled sense of immersion in a sci-fi shooter’s paradise.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

Warner Bros. has created a new website to promote Batman: Gotham Knight, the direct-to-DVD (and Blu-ray) anime. According to the website, the DVD will feature “six standalone chapters, each with stylish art from some of Japan’s greatest anime visionaries, weaved together into a larger story that follows Batman through his transition from beginner to The Dark Knight.” The website includes an amazing trailer, production videos, a gallery of photos, wallpapers and more. Batman: Gotham Knight will hit stores on July 8 and The Dark Knight will hit theaters on July 18. I can’t wait!

A STREET FIGHTER IV SCREENSHOT SHOWS M. BISON AND RYU SCRAPPING IT OUT. ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF CAPCOM.

We all knew it was coming (or at least hoped), but Capcom has confirmed Street Fighter IV will be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and even the PC. No release date has been set, but the highly-anticipated fighter will be available for home consumption sometime after its release in Japanese arcades this summer.

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In Arizona, it’s always convention season for us otaku (that’s Japanese for fanboys and -girls). Stay tuned to Nerdvana for the latest in upcoming local conventions — and don’t forget to send me your con notices, you deadbeats!

Like this one: Saboten-Con is an anime convention on Memorial Day weekend (May 24-26) from the folks who brought us Phoenix Cactus Comicon. It will be held at the Crowne Plaza Phoenix hotel at Interstate 17 and Peoria Avenue. [MAP] (more…)

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT KIRCHHOFER/TRIBUNE

After tapping comic books for creative ideas with box office success, Hollywood has turned its attention to anime as a new source of inspiration and revenue. Adapting Japanese animation into live action will definitely pose a serious challenge for filmmakers as American audiences are not used to its nonlinear storylines, fantastic characters and unique visuals.

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If you just can’t get enough anime (and who can?), head out to Samurai Comics in Phoenix for an Anime Fest noon to 7 p.m. Sunday (May 4) at the shop, just north of Camelback Road on the west side of Seventh Street.

In addition to nonstop anime viewings, here’s what they have in store:

Noon: Ramen Warrior - Exercise your iron stomach in this ramen-eating contest!
1 pm: Manga Showdown - Draw the best picture using a secret theme and win a prize!
2 pm: Anime Pictionary - Team up with other otaku to beat others in this Pictionary-like game!
3 pm: Anime Charades - Act out clues to help your team win the game!
4 pm: Iron Cosplay - What glorious costume can you complete in thirty minutes armed with only fabric, duct tape, and scissors?
5 pm: Anime Name That Tune! - Test your knowledge of anime music!
5:30 pm: Costume Contest sign-up begins
6 pm: Costume Contest - Your cosplay could win you free tickets to Saboten-Con! (more…)

Four action figures based on the Spike TV show Afro Samurai were released this week. Created by DC Direct, the characters Afro Samurai, Kuma, Ninja Ninja and Justice are brought to life with amazing detail and capture the style of the hit anime in every possible way. The scale of each figure is also impressive, ranging from 7 to 8.25 inches tall. If you’re not familiar with the show, Afro Samurai (played by Samuel L. Jackson) is an epic tale of a black samurai’s hunt for Justice (played by Ron Perlman) who murdered his father. Composed by famed artist RZA (from the Wu Tang Clan) Afro Samurai blends traditional Japanese culture, funky technology and hip-hop to create a brutally fresh experience.

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Welcome Japan’s answer to Beowulf.

While American audiences were blown away by last year’s epic CG gem Beowulf, Japanese animators have created their own visual masterpiece with Appleseed: Ex Machina, an action-packed, techno-driven, sci-fi thriller. Appleseed: Ex Machina, the sequel to 2004’s Appleseed, breaks new ground with its next-gen, computer-generated animation and ramps up the stylish action with the help of producer John Woo.

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