Apple Launches Reserve and Pick Up Retail Service

Apple has launched a new Reserve and Pick Up service ahead of the holiday shopping season that allows customers to reserve products online for pick up in one of Apple’s retail stores. Included in the service are all models of iPod, and most Mac computers; curiously missing from the reservation system is the Apple TV, while the iPhone link simply pops up a message promoting the iPhone Gift Card. All iPods and laptops are also available for gift wrapping. No charge is applied at the time of reservation; instead, customers must pay in the store when picking their items up between December 15 and 24.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Lands In Stores On 11/10/09

The countdown is officially on.  The most anticipated game of the year, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, lands in stores on 11/10/09.  More than 500 Best Buys and 4,200 GameStops nationwide will be hosting midnight launch events next week. 

Old Navy + Lego Rock Band = Good Deal

Another sweet Black Friday deal.  Clothing retailer Old Navy will be giving away free copies of LEGO Rock Band with every $20 purchase.  They’ll also be giving away free guitar controllers with any purchase of Rock Band 2.

It’s all part of “Gobblepalooza,” the company’s post Thanksgiving sale with “3 days of rockin’ deals” for fans of affordable yet fashionable clothing… and music-based rhythm games.  A weird promotion, but a free game is a free game. (Written by Nick Creature)

Play Halo On Your PS3…Well…Kinda

The Blu-ray edition of the Halo Legends anime project is scheduled for release on February 9, 2010.  Halo Legends assembles some of the finest talent in Japanese animation to explore the mystery and action of the Halo universe.  The Blu-Ray will collect eight anime episodes which showcase a stunning range of visual styles and shed new light and epic perspective on Halo lore.

The impossible union of the Microsoft exclusive Halo and the Sony-developed Blu-ray will not only arrive on the same day as the Halo Legends DVD release, but it will also contain an exclusive overview of the series through the events of Halo 3. (Written by Nick Creature)

 

Stephen King Piece To Appear in McSweeney’s Issue 33

Stephen King has written a piece about the 2009 World Series that will appear in McSweeney’s issue 33 due in December.  This issue will be designed as a Sunday edition sized newspaper called the San Francisco Panorama and will feature news, comics, a pull out magazine and contributions from over 150 writers and artists.  The newspaper can be preordered HERE for $16 and you can read more about this exciting issue and see additional images HERE.

Despicable Me Trailer

Opening on July 9th, the 3D animated comedy is voiced by Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Danny McBride, Miranda Cosgrove, Jack McBrayer, Mindy Kaling, Jemaine Clement and Julie Andrews.

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal’s new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me. Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

Coraline DVD Gift Set

Universal Home Video has revealed artwork for DVD and Blu-ray releases of a Coraline Gift Set. Each will be available to own from the 8th December. As well as including the previously available Collector’s Edition of the film with 4 pairs of 3D glasses, each giftset will include a limited edition book “Getting Things Right” in which director Henry Sellick gives his thoughts into the inspiration process and production of Coraline, and limited edition Coraline postcards.

Inglourious Basterds DVD

Universal Home Video has announced 1-disc DVD, 2-disc DVD and 2-disc Blu-ray releases of Inglourious Basterds for the 15th December. The only extra material on the 1-disc DVD will be extended and alternate scenes, the Nation’s Pride film, and domestic and international trailers. The 2-disc DVD and Blu-ray releases will include all that, along with a Roundtable Discussion with Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt and film historian/critic Elvis Mitchell, featurettes (“Making of Nation’s Pride”, “The Original Inglorious Bastards”, “Rod Taylor on Victoria Bitters – the Australian Beer”, “Quentin Tarantino’s Camera Angel”), a conversation with actor Rod Taylor, a gag reel, a Film Poster Gallery Tour with Elvis Mitch, a poster gallery, and a digital copy.

Kmart Black Friday Game Deals

Walmart isn’t the only store slashing prices on video games this month.  Kmart’s promising some big Black… err… Blue Friday deals as well.

Kmart’s day-after Thanksgiving sale prices include an Xbox 360 Elite bundle featuring the racing game Pure, Lego Batman, and a free copy of Halo 3: ODST for $299.   There’s also a Nintendo DSi bundle with 5 free games and a $25 Nintendo coupon for $170.  They also have some pretty sweet savings on new games.  For $39.99 you can pick up Dragon Age: Origins, Brutal Legend, and soon-to-be-released Left 4 Dead 2.

Not bad at all.  The best part is that these are just highlights.  There’s a ton of deals in the actual print ad.

Here are some select pages:

 

Walmart Confirms Weekend Gaming Deals

Today, Walmart’s website confirmed the rumor we reported yesterday  about one of the best Xbox 360 deals you’ll probably see all holiday season.

Listed among the one day in-store specials for this Saturday, Nov. 7, is an Xbox 360 Arcade console for $199 that comes with a $100 gift card.  Other deals include discounted TVs, a Blu-ray player, DVD player and laptop.

More interesting, though, is that sources are saying that this weekend’s one-day sale is just the first of weekly sales hitting Walmart in the lead up to Black Friday.   Be on the lookout for future deals, which hopefully will include some more epic gaming price cuts.

HERE is the link to the official page. (Written by Nick Creature)

I Be Au Sm T-Shirt

Let your geek flag fly with this cool new t-shirt ($18) from Threadless.  Order it HERE.

 

Apple To Release Limited Edition Beatles Stereo USB

Following the September 9th (9-9-09) debut of The Beatles’ digitally re-mastered catalogue on CD, Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are pleased to announce the worldwide release of a limited edition of only 30,000 Beatles Stereo USB apples ($280) on December 8^th.

The exquisitely crafted, apple-shaped USB drive is loaded with the critically acclaimed re-mastered audio for The Beatles’ 14 stereo titles, as well as all of the re-mastered CDs’ visual elements, including 13 mini-documentary films about the studio albums, replicated original UK album art, rare photos and expanded liner notes.  

A specially designed Flash interface has been installed, and the 16GB USB’s audio and visual contents will be provided in FLAC 44.1 Khz 24 bit and MP3 320 Kbps formats, fully compatible with PC and Mac.   

 

Attention Walmart Shoppers: Rumored Gaming Deals This Weekend

Walmart may or may not be selling an Xbox 360 Arcade system with a bonus $100 gift card for $199 this Saturday.  Keep in mind that the 360 Arcade unit is hard drive free, but it’s a great bargain nonetheless when you throw an extra hundred bucks in the box.

The retailer may or may not also be selling a Sony BluRay player for $148 and a 46-inch Panasonic Plasma television for $788.  This rumor came from a tipster that emailed various press outlets and included an image from Wal-Mart’s computer system showing all the deals that are rumored to hit this weekend.  As with any rumor, make sure to take this with a grain of salt until we can verify it.

Since gaming news is still going through the baby steps phase here on The Fire Wire, a rumored deal like this might be a chance for those who don’t yet own a console to come on in and test the water… or at least get you thinking about it.

We’ll keep you posted on all game related deals as we continue the inevitable death-march to Black Friday.  We’re good like that. (Written by Nick Creature)

 

The Best Travel Gadgets of 2009

Time magazine ranks 25 of the world’s best travel tech gadgets HERE.

Stephen King reads from Under the Dome

Comics iPhone App

Carry over 450 comics in your pocket with the Comics iPhone App (free). The app comes with 70 free comics and uses the new, in-app purchasing system so you can browse and buy hundreds of comics from nearly two dozen publishers, including Marvel, for $2 each. Once you’ve selected a comic to read, the panel views flow naturally, simulating how your eye would move across the page. You can also zoom in on any image, or rotate to landscape mode automatically to get the best fit for each panel. Download it free from iTunes.

New Game Releases For Nov. 1 – Nov. 6

It’s Monday so that means it’s time to get some play.  If last week didn’t put a dent in your wallet, this week’s list is here to give it the old college try.

The big headliner is Dragon Age: Origins.  Embrace your inner nerd.  Put down that twelve-sided dice and pick up a copy of the game that’s sure to scratch a twenty year-old D-n-D itch.  The creators of last year’s epic sci-fi adventure Mass Effect set out to prove that their path to the stars was truly forged on the edge of a sword by taking us on a trip to the magical dark ages of serpents and sorcery.  Day one has downloadable content already available on Xbox 360.   

Star Wars is back to prove how far it can push the boundaries of a licensing deal with two titles: a re-packaged, slightly cooler version of The Force Unleashed on consoles and a new Battlefront on the handhelds.

Finally, Lego Rock Band and Band Hero both let the kids get in on the act of playing fake music by keeping up the continuing the assault of new rhythm games.

Here’s the full line-up with more than 60 titles dropping this week.  Not sure I really want to know what Buck Fever is, but I’ll probably find out the hard way.

Sunday (Nov. 1)
Doc Louis’s Punch-Out!! (Wii)
Rabbids Go Home (DS, Wii)

Monday (Nov. 2)
This Is Vegas (PS3, PC, 360)
Style Savvy (DS)
Dreamkiller (360)
Need for Speed: Nitro (Wii, DS)
Playmobil 2 Pack (PC)

Tuesday (Nov. 3)
Academy of Champions (Wii)
Band Hero (Wii, PS2, 360, PS3, DS)
C.O.P. The Recruit (DS)
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (DS)
Dora the Explorer: Dora Puppy Playtime (DS)
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom (Wii)
Dragon Age: Origins (PC, 360, PS3)
Dragon Age: Origins – The Stone Prisoner (360)
Dragon Age: Origins – Warden’s Keep (360)
Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked (Wii)
Hooked! Again: Real Motion Fishing (Wii)
Imagine: Babyz Fashion (DS)
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (PSP, PS2)
Jewel Master: Egypt (DS)
Jurassic: The Hunted (360, PS2, PS3, Wii)
Lego Rock Band (360, Wii, DS, PS3)
My Baby 1st Steps (DS, Wii)
Ni Hao Kai-Lan: New Year’s Celebration (DS)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 (360, PS3)
Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron (DS, PSP)
Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition (PS3, PC, 360)
Ultimate Party Challenge (Wii)
We Cheer 2 (Wii)
WireWay (DS)

Wednesday (Nov. 4)
Yoga for Wii (Wii)
Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders (DS)

Friday (Nov. 6)
We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Wii)
Buck Fever (Wii)

And just a quick reminder to all bargain hunters: Target is running a buy two get one free deal on all Wii games this week only.  Scoring three top titles for the price of two is always a good thing.  (Written by Nick Creature)

Black & Decker Ready Wrench

Having a big tool set is all well and good, but when you can have the most popular sockets on hand in just one tool, why bother? The Black & Decker Ready Wrench ($30) offers exactly that, with 16 of the most popular sockets — in both standard and metric — on rotating heads on either end of the tool, ready to replace both one- and two-inch deep sockets. With a rubber grip for added comfort, it’ll let you save the big tool set for those really tough jobs — like assembling Ikea furniture.

Read Stephen King’s New Short Story, “Premium Harmony”

Read Stephen King’s new short story from the New Yorker magazine about a fight between a husband and wife while they are driving to a convenience store HERE.