Beverly Hills Cop is an interesting film series.  Originally developed for Sylvester Stalone as a tough and gritty action film, when Stalone backed out Eddie Murphy backed in.  The result?  Much of the comedy in the original is improvised by Murphy, giving the series a decidedly different “feel” to it.  The series is also unique in that many consider the second film, which features much more of Murphy’s strong suit in humor, to be the best in the series.

However, Beverly Hills Cop 3 was a sad note to go out on and now there is word of a part four coming.  Murphy is, of course, back, but this time behind the camera will be Rush Hour’s Brett Ratner.  The film is currently slated for a 2010 release date, but it should be interesting to see how Ratner tries to update the franchise.  Cop is one of those decidedly 1980s film series, at least in tone.  How well one can translate that for today’s audiences will be interesting to see.

Nintendo may catch lots of flack for bringing gaming to the casual market, but their methods have certainly not fallen on death ears.  While the DS was far from the first touch-screen device, it was one of the first mass-market commercial ones.  It has since been followed up by Apple’s iPhone and a slew of other touch phones.  Now, Microsoft is getting in on the party.

Microsoft recently previewed some of the tech for their Windows 7 OS (one can hardly wait for Windows X OS) and the big hoopla seemed to be over the addition of multi-touch capability.  If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s essentially the same tech in the iPhone.  Not only that, many of the demos shown (rotating and resizing photos, zooming in on maps) are ripped directly from the iPhone’s interface.  So, great, Microsoft rips off Apple again, right?  What does it have to do with gaming?  Plenty.

The DS has been incredibly successful by any standard in consumer electronics.  Right now, it fairly easily dominates the portable gaming market over Sony’s PSP.  Additionally, Nintendo’s Wii may not dominate the home console market, but that seems to only be because they can’t produce enough units for customers.  As it is, Nintendo looks prone to dominate this console generation in both the home and handheld market.

Meanwhile, Apple and Microsoft both continue to fight it out in the cell phone/PDA, OS, and set-top box markets.  With recent news that Sony and cable companies were looking to make the cable company provided set-top box obsolete, there seems to be even more incentive for companies such as Sony, Microsoft, and Apple to make their box the dominant leader.  Still, touch-screen televisions are a ways off, but for the other two fronts this new technology holds great promise.

In a few more years, you will likely see touch-screens in all cell phones and laptops.  Even before Windows 7 launches computer manufacturers are going to want to tout Vista systems as “Windows 7 compatible.”  Apple has already built some experience with the iPhone and so are even more likely to launch touch-screen laptops in the near future.  So with most, if not all, computers and cell phones packing touch-screens, what does this mean for games?

The DS has been rather hit or miss with touch games.  Some, such as Kirby’s Canvas Curse, have utilized the feature extremely well.  Others, such as parts of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass have failed miserably with its use.  Apple has shown some early games using its touch screen, including a very impressive demo of Super Monkey Ball.  More games are sure to follow, but why?  What does touch screen bring that traditional control methods do not?

In the case of Kirby the difference was obvious.  One could attempt using a joystick to draw a path on screen, but surely a more direct approach allows for more precision.  Even with a mouse, there is still some disconnect between user and the screen.  The possibility arises for strategy titles that are entirely touch interface based.  Imagine controlling a sub game as fast as you can reach portions of the screen.  No more laborious labeling of keyboard shortcuts, as it could all be done much faster with direct input from your hands than even a mouse.  Such systems also allow for some form of tactile feedback, so that touching a button would feel, as least somewhat, like touching a button.

The importance of Windows 7 is that it makes such tech standard in computing, assuming Apple leads or follows-suit.  Game companies will not have to worry about adoption of such tech (like with physics processors), because after a few years anyone purchasing a new computer will have it built in.  That means Nintendo’s DS no longer becomes the odd innovative duck, but instead the standard for much of new game development.  Of course, just because the tools are there doesn’t mean every game will use them, but it does mean more effort will be put into how to effectively use them.  In the long term, this is good news for gamers as new control methods become standardized for multi-platform titles.  In the short term, get ready for a bumpy ride that DS fans are already used to.

In what seems to be one of the longest waits in gaming history, word has finally come that a sequel to Beyond Good and Evil is coming.  Not only that, but a trailer has come along with it.

Now, the trailer isn’t too much to get excited about, but the sequel is.  While many make cries of “too much hype” for the original, many others consider it one of the best games of the last console generation.  What will the new title do with the game’s very-Zeldaish gameplay?  No word as of yet, but the trailer does seem to possibly hint at more open world game play than the first even featured.

Highlander may often be referred to as a “cult” hit from the 80s, but with four film sequels, a cartoon series, an anime movie, two video games, and two live action series–it’s hard to argue it’s not a bona fide franchise.  And while the upcoming remake of Highlander may not generate the same interest as this fall’s Star Trek remake, that doesn’t absolve it from trying hard to be good.  The following five tidbits should help the franchise find its footing again.

Ignore all previous continuity, or lack thereof

While the term “remake” may seem to make it clear that the previous films will be ignored, you can never be too sure.  While many fans will scoff at any writing off of Connor or Duncan, the truth is that both of their tales have become too convoluted to carry on.  In fact, the original Highlander film wrote off the possibility of any sequels and the franchise has suffered trying to write around that gaping plot hole ever since.

Simply ignore it.  Pretend those films, cartoons, etc. never happened.  Start the franchise truly anew.  However, that may lead to a few issues.

Do not ignore the core ideas of Highlander

While it may be fine to pretend the events of the original Highlander universe never happened, it will be much more difficult to rewrite the rules in the new film.  The producer has said he’d like to add more back story and “prequel” elements.  That sounds an awful lot like more flashbacks, which is one of the key ingredients in the series.

So, that’s fine, but tampering with other things really isn’t.  For one, the holy ground rule is essential to the idea of Highlander.  It gives the concept soul and hints at some greater meaning to it all.  Along with that, the TV series’ idea of the Watchers was very much liked by most, and it would be sad to completely toss that aside.

Embrace the past

As noted in the previous point, the producer seems to be hinting at many flashbacks.  That’s good, as Highlander gets much of its appeal from its time-sweeping storyline.  Take away the Renaissance fair-style flashbacks and you lose a lot of fans.

Doubt that?  Just search sometime for the number of fans who dress up like Highlander characters.  The cosplay quotient is fairly high.  Still, a diversity of locations would benefit the new film.  The series showed everything from feudal Japan to lavish French interiors.  Don’t limit the background to just the highlands of Scotland.

God save the Queen

Whatever you do, it just wouldn’t be Highlander without the Queen soundtrack.  You can remix it or use it in inventive new ways, but it needs Queen just like Flash Gordon does.

Spend some time on the sword fights

If you have seen Highlander: The Source (and you shouldn’t), then you know one of the biggest letdowns were the sword fights, or complete lack thereof.  You can’t have Highlander without people fighting with swords, and you might as well not have that if you can’t make them entertaining.  Bring in the best choreographers you can find and spend some real time working on the fight scenes.

Do not simply try to cover up for bad fight scenes with quick cutting and special effects.  Highlander isn’t really an action franchise as much as it is a romance.  But when you do turn to action, make sure it is top notch or else you’re pitching nothing but a romantic drama in kilts.  Even Mel Gibson knew better than that with Braveheart.

Getting a tattoo, for most people at least, is sort of a big decision.  It’s one of those life long decisions that isn’t easily taken back (and somewhat messily if so).  It also has evolved as a way of making a statement about a person.  A person stamp indicating the bearer’s soul, or something like that.

Still, despite the hip factor of tattoos, there are some which can be instant turn-offs to the opposite sex.  Below are five of the worst offenders.  Getting the below tattoos might speak to your inner soul, but it might speak louder to potential dates, screaming, “Run away!”

Video game characters

Sure, it might be nostalgic to have Super Mario plastered across your back, but what does it really say about you?  You like video games?  The Xbox 360 beside your television and the Nintendo DS in your back pocket say the same thing.  Do you think you are Super Mario?  One would hope not, especially if you’re reading too much into the whole “mushroom” thing.

The bigger problem is the video game characters signal “nerd” to most people who see them.  That’s fine if you’re fine with limiting your dating possibilities to the “nerd” subgroup, but for those who are not it’s best to avoid.  Fair or not, that is still how most people would view a huge Mario and Yoshi riding across your thigh.

The devil

Look, maybe you are a tough as nails biker out looking for a fight.  Maybe, but then you likely aren’t reading this article in the first place.  Since you are, it likely means one of your favorite past times isn’t stirring up trouble at Rolling Stones concerts.  For anyone but those folks, and maybe firemen and soldiers the devil simply is laughable.

What’s the message you are trying to send by placing Satan’s face on your shoulder?  That you’re as tough or as mean?  No, you’re not–that’s already been established.  Maybe you worship the devil?  Maybe, but Jesus, Moses, and Mohammad are no better choices.  It says less about your soul and more your desperation to prove you’re something by drawing pictures of it on yourself.

The name of an ex

This one should be obvious.  Yes, there is the romanticism of permanently branding yourself with the name of your significant other.  Wait, strike that last part.  There is nothing romantic about that.  Instead it seems to signal a sort of sad co-dependency you share.  That’s made even worse when you’re no longer with that person.

The worst thing you can ever do in a relationship is completely subjugate yourself.  A tattoo of the other person’s name is the adult equivalent of your mother writing your name in your underwear before camp.  It signals that left to your own devices you would lose track of whom you belonged to.  You’d be better served by instead getting their favorite flower, animal, or line of poetry tattooed in honor of them.

Anything to do with a band

It can be guaranteed said band thinks far less of you than you do of them.  See the above rule.  Buy a t-shirt or a second copy of their new CD instead.

Someone’s face

The obvious problem with getting an actual face tattooed on you can easily relate back to one of the issues listed above.  Less obvious, at least to some, is that a face is generally meant to look one certain way–the way the person looks.  With Mario or the devil there is some artistic interpreting to be done.

So, in about ten years when you’ve put on a few pounds, that face is going to look bloated.  Not just bloated, but horribly distorted depending on the amount of weight gained.  Compare that to Mario who looks kind of funny the fatter he gets.  Jack Johnson, on the other hand, begins looking kind of scary.  This may not be so much a concern for the immediate future, but if you think you might be on the market again, it’s probably to keep one face per body.