Watchmen is one of comic books’ seminal works. Alan Moore’s story is still constantly discussed today, decades after its release. For as long as comics are an art form Watchmen will be heralded as a turning point. That’s what makes today’s announce from DC so big an controversial.

Starting this summer, DC will release new stories set in the Watchmen universe. There will be seven prequel mini-series under the banner Before Watchmen. A single issue titled Before Watchmen: Epilogue will also be released. Here are the seven series and their creators.

RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner

Each issue will also contain a two page backup called CURSE OF THE CRIMSON CORSAIR.

I’m not completely sure how I feel about this new project. One of the things I love about comic books is the collaborative story telling. Seeing the different directions writers take a series or how different artists portray iconic characters is great. Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, X-Men and more wouldn’t be as amazing or relevant as they are today without the many creators who have worked on them. DC has gotten some amazing talent to work on these books. I’m not sure I can pass up a Darwyn Cooke written, Amanda Conner drawn book.

I can also see why many will despise the very idea of these prequels. Watchmen was a self contained story. It had a beginning, middle, and end. It doesn’t feel like a story that needs to be expanded. These mini-series will not only have the burden of simply being good comics but they will also constantly be compared to Watchmen. That is a lot scrutiny for any comic book series to be under. DC has an uphill battle proving that these stories will make the Watchmen universe better.

Source: DC Universe The Source

In Unnecessary Analysis I’ll spend way too much time and much to much effort in coming up with random theories about inconsequential things in video games. Our first entry will be Link’s famous enemy, the Octorok.

Let’s start with the Octorok’s name. The ‘rok’ part is easy. These creatures are famous for their ability to spit rocks out of their mouth with great velocity and accuracy. The subtraction of the ‘c’ from ‘rock’ could be because pronunciation, ease of spelling, or no reason at all. The ‘octo’ part of the name is more interesting. While there are many different pictures of octorok’s, many of them show a creature with four legs. The prefix ‘octo’ means eight. Since the octorok couldn’t have gotten its name for having eight legs it must have gotten it for its resemblance to an octopus.

A Octorok looks very similar to an octopus but with a few exceptions. According to the above photo the suction cups on a Octorok are on the top of their arms, not the bottom like an octopus. They also have a proboscis looking mouth while the octopus has a beak. Despite these and a few other differences they look very similar. This similarity with the octopus must be the reason for the octorok’s name which means that octopuses (which I found out is the correct way of pluralizing octopus) exist in the Zelda universe. It seems strange that, with octoroks all over the place in nearly every Zelda game, octopuses would be discovered and named first.

Let’s return to the Octorok’s rock shooting ability. There are a few reasons why they might have evolved that ability. First and foremost would be hunting. For octoroks that live on land, this ability would be great for hunting. The Octorok’s narrow mouth means that their diet must be made up of small animals. Their rocks could easily stun or kill small mammals or birds. They would have to have great eyesight to be accurate. Their cousins, the octopus, have great eyesight as well. Another similarity to octorok, some species of octopuses use tools.

Although the rock shooting ability is great for living on land, it would be far less effective for those that live in water. Perhaps they come to the surface and hit birds with their rocks.

The last aspect of the Octorok I’ll discuss is their relationship with Link. Why do octoroks attack Link? It can’t be for food. Their mouths are far too narrow to eat Link. They could just run from Link, but they stubbornly stand their ground and attack.

One option would be that they have young nearby. Many animals will fiercely protect their babies. This is a long shot though because what are the odds that every octorok you encounter would have just had babies.

Another option is that they are protecting their territory. A strike against this theory is that Octoroks don’t attack each other. Why protect their territory from Link but not from other Octoroks?

The simplest idea is that it usually works at scaring off predators. Octorok’s might be used to other animals and humans running away from their rock shooting. Maybe they expect Link to run away and when he stands his ground they don’t have any other strategy.

There are many aspects of the Octorok I haven’t touched; their different colors, why some look extremely different from other, the fact that some shoot bombs instead of rocks, and more. Hopefully though, you’ve learned something fun about a useless subject! If you have any theories or suggestions for what to analyze next, leave a comment.

Source: Zeldapedia

Over at Game Informer they have the information hook up for the upcoming XCOM: Enemy Unknown. No, not the first person shooter based on the classic XCOM games. XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a strategy game that’s much more in line than with the classic. While I would love a video showcasing some gameplay, Game Informer has the next best thing. They have a series of pictures and descriptions that step by step break down an encounter with some alien enemies. I didn’t realize aliens were just as mad about rising gas prices as us humans. Check it out here.

Hopefully my alien killing operations go as smoothly as that one. I’m excited for the wealth of options that look to be available. Grappling to higher ground, engineering new equipment, taking cover, blowing up cover, flanking, equipment abilities, unit abilities and more.

XCOM the shooter has been delayed till next year but Enemy Unknown is still on track for a release this fall.

Source: Game Informer

Guild Wars 2 is one step closer to being in the hard drives of gamers. Today ArenaNet announced on their blog, that the Guild Wars 2 closed beta will “aggressively ramp up” in size starting in March and April. That will lead to Guild Wars 2′s release later this year. I know my fellow Asura Necromancers are excited that the wait is nearly over. For those not familiar with Guild Wars 2, it’s an upcoming MMO that wants to break free of the genre’s conventions. Guild Wars 2 will have action oriented combat, a more natural quest system, and no monthly fees. Plus it’s beautiful. Check it out in action below.

I’ve never been able to get into an MMO. Even MMO’s that seem geared directly at me like Star Wars The Old Republic or DC Universe Online haven’t gotten me very interested. Guild Wars 2, though, has me anxiously awaiting it’s release. You can get information on the game at it’s official website.

Hopefully EA is making a game both fans of the classic and newcomers alike can enjoy. If not, you can always pick up the original game on Good Old Games for only $5.99.

Source: Joystiq

There’s bad news for fans of some DC comics this week. Six titles will end at their eighth issue. Blackhawks, Hawk and Dove, Men of War, Mr. Terrific, O.M.A.C., and Static Shock have been cancelled. There isn’t only bad news though. For fans of the characters in these books, DC has said some will find their way into other books. Also, DC has announced six new titles to replace the cancelled books. Here they are according to DC Universe: The Source.

BATMAN INCORPORATED – Writer: Grant Morrison. Artist: Chris Burnham. The acclaimed ongoing writer of ACTION COMICS, Grant Morrison, presents a fresh take on BATMAN INCORPORATED, in which the Batman brand is franchised globally in preparation for a major international threat.
EARTH 2 – Writer: James Robinson. Artist: Nicola Scott. The greatest heroes on a parallel Earth, the Justice Society combats threats that will set them on a collision course with other worlds.
WORLDS’ FINEST – Writer: Paul Levitz. Artists: George Perez and Kevin Maguire. Stranded on our world from a parallel reality, Huntress and Power Girl struggle to find their way back to Earth 2. Perez and Maguire will be the artists on alternating story arcs.
DIAL H – Writer: China Miéville. Artist: Mateus Santoluoco. The first ongoing series from acclaimed novelist China Miéville, this is a bold new take on a cult classic concept about the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers to become a hero.
G.I. COMBAT – Writer: J.T. Krul. Artist: Ariel Olivetti. Featuring the return of a classic DC Comics series, THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT, along with rotating back-up stories and creative teams – including THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, with writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and THE HAUNTED TANK, with writer John Arcudi and artist Scott Kolins.
THE RAVAGERS – Writer: Howard Mackie. Artist: Ian Churchill. Spinning off from TEEN TITANS and SUPERBOY, this series finds four superpowered teens on the run and fighting against the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.

I’m most excited for World’s Finest. Power Girl was one of my favorite books before the New 52 and I’m glad she will be back. Dial H and G.I. Combat also sound interesting because of how different they sound from most super hero books. Hopefully these titles find more success than their predecessors.

With slick platforming and a killer art style, Dustforce hits Steam next week on January 14th for $9.99. Developed by Hitbox Team, Dustforce’s fast paced platforming reminds me of N+ but the style is all it’s own. No one would have guessed a janitor could look this cool.

Check out a video of the gameplay.

I was a janitor for a few summers and I don’t remember double jumping, beating up dusty monsters or having awesome ninja moves. It was mostly waking up early, moving desks, vacuuming and cleaning windows. Maybe I was doing it wrong.

Source: Rock, Paper Shotgun

If anyone out there wants to put some of their own creativity into a video game, you’re in luck. Runic Games is having a contest in which you can submit designs for a set of armor for the upcoming Torchlight 2. The winner will have their armor set put into the game. Hurry though, the contest has had its deadline extended, but only until Monday Jan. 9, 2012.

If my drawing ability had progressed past the 3rd grade I would be all over this contest. How exciting would it be to deliver the killing blow to a boss and his minions and see the armor that you designed pop out of their bloody carcass. Ok, that was a little more graphic than it needed to be but you get the idea. To read the rules and enter go right here.

Boy

Boy from Boy and his Blob. He wants to shed his “family friendly” status.

Giant Spider

Giant Spider from Skyrim. He may be a bit small but he promises he can bulk up by molting.

Boulder

Boulder from Indiana Jones. After years of failure he thinks he’ll finally be able to crush the main character.

Little Girl

Little Sister from BioShock. This would actually be a more family friendly project than she is used to.

Mario

Solid Snake. Shave that beard, throw on some blue overalls and he’s all set.

Luigi

Dudley. Green, blue, gloves, mustache? Check, check, check, check.

Peach

Zelda. She has the regalness down and can be kidnapped with the best of them.

Daisy

Lara Croft. Hopefully she’ll be comfortable wearing more than short shorts and a tank top.

Yoshi

Turok Raptor. It’s female so she’ll lay eggs too.

Toad

Aladdin. Change the vest color and put on Sultan’s hat and he’s perfect.

Shy Guy

Splatterhouse’s Rick Taylor. Well… they both have red on them.

Bowser

Andy Serkis. After Gollum and King Kong playing Bowser should be no problem.

Piranha

Plants VS Zombies’ Chomper. Chomper has idolized Piranha so the role would be an honor.