Matt Braly Takes FAMILY FORCE V on Tour Across America This Summer 

Posted on 05/28/2025 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Important info for American Library Association Expo & Conference 2025, which we will be attending can be found below.

Praise for Family Force V:  

“An explosive start to a promising new series that deserves a place on library shelves.” – School Library Journal

“An action-packed adventure that’s full of heart.” – Kirkus Reviews

LOS ANGELES 05/28/2025 – Skybound Comet and Image Comics today announced the Family Force V Book Tour, a nationwide tour this summer in support of the Young Adult graphic novel about your new favorite alien fighting family by Matt Braly (Disney’s Amphibia) and artist Ainsworth Lin. 

Family Force V: Book One is available in comic book shops today and will be available everywhere books are sold beginning June 10 from Skybound Comet, the original graphic novel imprint aimed at Young Adult (Ages 12+) and Middle Grade (Ages 8-12) audiences, but sure to captivate readers of all ages. Full of action and charm, Family Force V promises to be your next graphic novel obsession. 

“I am so excited for my first ever book tour and can’t wait to get Family Force V in the hands of as many readers as possible,” said Matt Braly. “Hopefully this is just the start of many adventures for the Shiraki family!!” 

In celebration of the release of the highly anticipated graphic novel, the Family Force V Book Tour will kick off this weekend in Los Angeles and will continue through the end of June with tour stops in major cities across America, ending with special appearances at ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia.  

“It’s time for Moon Trooper Summer!” said Alex Antone, Editorial Director at Skybound. “Matt & Ainsworth have created a truly special book with Family Force V, and we can’t wait for readers to fall in love with the entire Shiraki family.”  

Matt Braly’s in-person appearances will include book signings and at many stops, insightful conversations with Braly and a roster of special guests that include Wendy Xu (Mooncakes, The Infinity Particle) and Tabrizia Jones, Young Adult Senior Librarian for The New York Public Library.

Full details of each appearance are listed below. 

  • Saturday, May 31 – Los Angeles, CA  
  • Collector’s Paradise Pasadena  
  • 11:00am – 2:00pm PT  
  • Young Adult Day Book Signing with Matt Braly and Ainsworth Lin 
  • Monday, June 23 – New York, NY  
  • Books of Wonder 
  • 6:00pm – 8:00pm ET  
  • Wendy Xu in Conversation with Matt Braly + Book Signing 
  • Tuesday, June 24 – Washington, D.C. 
  • Fantom Comics  
  • 6:30pm – 8:30pm ET  
  • In Conversation with Matt Braly + Book Signing 
  • Wednesday, June 25 – Baltimore, MD 
  • Dreamers & Make-Believers  
  • 12:00pm – 3:00pm ET  
  • In Conversation with Matt Braly + Book Signing
  • Friday, June 27 – Philadelphia, PA  
  • Brave New Worlds 
  • 7:00pm – 8:30pm ET  
  • Dual Book Signing with Tillie Walden (Clementine Book Three)

Saturday, June 28 & Sunday, June 29 – Philadelphia, PA  

ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition 

Pennsylvania Convention Center  

Appearing at Skybound booth (#506) and other activations for badge holders, including:  

  • We Control Our Own Fate: Great Expectations in Graphic Novels Panel  
  • Saturday, June 28, 9:30am – 10:20am ET  
  • Whether it be fate, destiny, or expectations from others, the universe has a lot of opinions of how we should live our lives. Despite that, the characters in these graphic novels grab their destinies by the horns, regardless of the trials they face. Brian “Smitty” Smith, Faith Erin Hicks, Matt Braly, and Tillie Walden discuss crafting stories for a wide range of readers, the road to embracing ourselves, audience Q&A, and more! Moderated by Tabrizia Jones, Young Adult Senior Librarian for The New York Public Library.  
  • GNCRT’s 2025 Magical Comics Tea 
  • Saturday, June 28, 1-00pm – 3:00pm ET  
  • Come join the Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table for the upcoming 2025 Magical Comics Tea! Visit with creators and other comic loving library staff as we hear about upcoming titles and projects from your favorite publishers. Dress up as your favorite tea-time character (hats are especially encouraged) or just come as you are and share in the comics camaraderie! 
  • Family Force V ALA Signing 
  • Saturday, June 28, 3:30pm – 4:30pm ET 
  • Please visit the Skybound booth (#506) where Matt Braly will be signing copies of Family Force V.  
  • Family Force V ALA Signing 
  • Sunday, June 29, 11:30am – 12:30pm ET 
  • Please visit the Skybound booth (#506) where Matt Braly will be signing copies of Family Force V. 

In Family Force V, fighting alien kaiju with your family on a Friday night is a totally normal part of being a teenager…right? Well, it is for Maise who, despite her protests, must continue the family legacy of keeping the world safe, all while trying to get good grades, impress her crush, and balance extracurriculars. But when tragedy strikes, Maise is forced to figure out how to be herself when she feels destined to be someone else for not only her family, but the world. 

The Skybound Comet slate also includes the upcoming release of Clementine Book Three (ISBN: 978-1-5343-9737-8 | SRP $14.99), the highly anticipated and heart-wrenching finale of the Eisner-Award nominated YA trilogy by Tillie Walden (On a Sunbeam, Spinning), coming in June 2025; TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever – Meet Ballpoint (ISBN: 978-1-5343-2799-3 | SRP $12.99), the start of a new OGN series about the misadventures of the bot who is mightier than the sword by Brian “Smitty” Smith (Pea, Bee, and Jay) and Marz Jr. (Void Rivals cover artist), available July 2025 for Middle Grade Readers; and Pizza Witch (ISBN: 978-1-5343-2796-2 | SRP $16.99), the graphic novel that cooks up a delicious world of magic for a wide range of readers by Sarah Graley (Glitch, Our Super Adventure) and Stef Purenins (Our Super Adventure), coming in September 2025. 

Family Force V (ISBN: 978-1-5343-4033-6 | SRP $16.99) is available TODAY at comic book shops and at booksellers, along with digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

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“Set Sail for Adventure!” – Trident’s Tale Out Now for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation Platforms

Posted on 05/22/2025 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

‘Tis truly a pirate game. Scavenge, get lost at sea, fight at your peril. I’m barely in having come to my first boss battle at sea which is obscenely difficult. I have enjoyed everything prior to it despite many flaws. – P-CS

“Yar har, fiddle de dee! Want to become a legendary pirate matey? 3DClouds have a game for thee…”

Thursday, 22nd May 2025 (MILAN, Italy): Independent studio 3DClouds is delighted to announce that their colourful and bombastic third-person pirate action game Trident’s Tale (priced at £24.99 GBP / $24.99 USD / €24.99 EUR) is out now for Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One platforms.

To celebrate this exciting launch 3DClouds has released a brand new trailer for Trident’s Tale which summarises the game’s key pillars of discovery, combat, customisation and crew management. Take a look here:

Just in case you’ve never heard of this bountiful pirate experience before, Trident’s Tale is a single-player adventure set in a vibrant and colourful magic-infused world, starring aspiring pirate Ocean and she embarks on an epic journey to discover riches and fortune. In the 15-hour single-player campaign players will be able to explore a massive open world full of islands inspired by the Carribean, meet and recruit a wide array of eccentric characters to their crew and take part in compelling combat on both land and sea.

Known for family favourite licensed titles such as Transformers: Galactic Trials, Paw Patrol World and more, 3DClouds is self-publishing and self-funding Trident’s Tale which is being designed from the ground-up to be accessible for players both young and old.

Check out a breakdown of all of Trident Tale’s key features below:

  • Explore a Vast, Living World: Discover a sprawling ocean filled with diverse islands, each with its own secrets, treasures, and challenges. Uncover hidden dungeons, solve cunning riddles, and loot rare treasures to power up your crew.
  • Command Your Ship, Rule the Seas: Take the helm in dynamic naval battles, where every cannon shot and maneuver counts. Upgrade and customise your ship to suit your playstyle, and engage in epic cannon duels against rival pirates, sea monsters, and more!
  • Build Your Legendary Pirate Crew: Recruit a colorful cast of characters, each with unique abilities, and personalities. Level up your crew, unlock powerful skills, and create the ultimate pirate team.
  • Fight for Survival: Use your blade, magic, and firearms in exhilarating land combat, complete with special abilities and thrilling boss encounters.

Trident’s Tale is available to purchase and play starting today on PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, and will be heading to GOG.com in the near future.

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INDIE3 is Almost Here: Clemmy’s BIG (Best Indie Games) Summer Showcase 2025!

Posted on 05/22/2025 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Here are some early teasers for the June 3rd Showcase and accompanying Steam event + co-streaming requests are now opened!

22 MAY 2025 – We’re about to enter a summer full of hot indie game news and to kick things off on June 3rd, is Clemmy’s BIG (Best Indie Games) Summer Showcase 2025. Lovingly nicknamed #INDIE3 by fans of the channel.

The event makes a return after last year’s success, which saw well over a thousand applicants and 150 hand-picked indie games, and this year there will be even more. This is, as the title indicates, the BIGgest indie game celebration of the summer!

Indie Games big and small will be showcased, spanning the entire range of genres. Here’s a small sample of some of the publishers confirmed to participate:

  • Kepler Interactive
  • Playtonic
  • Toge Productions
  • Neon Doctrine
  • Yogscast Games
  • Owlcat Games
  • Fangamer
  • Fireshine Games
  • META Publishing
  • Mythwright
  • PQube
  • Hype Train Digital
  • …and many more!

But you want to hear about games, right? Right! We’ll have world premieres, new game announcements, big updates to existing ones, 1.0 release date confirmations and release window announcements. Want some Titles? Of course you do! Here is a sampling:

  • Truckful
  • Outbound
  • Let’s Build a Dungeon
  • Alkahest
  • Into The Grid
  • OFF
  • Breathedge 2
  • Ruffy and the Riverside
  • Katanaut
  • Kingdoms of the Dump
  • Nova Hearts
  • Cattle Country
  • Dreams of another
  • Hotel Barcelona
  • Pirates Outlaws 2: Heritage
  • Anomaly President
  • ….and again: many more (seriously, there are so many!)

BIG Summer Showcase (INDIE3) Announcement Trailer:

The 2025 Showcase will go live on YouTube on June 3rd, at 8AM PT/ 5PM CET and it leads the way for a week-long celebration on Steam with a dedicated Steam sale page for participating games.

You can find last year’s Steam event here:
​store.steampowered.com/curator/26397247/sale/BIGSu​mmerS​howca​se202​4
​And view last year’s Showcase here:
​youtu.be/acKDyXtGFA0?si=bwXXV8m8fFNMKzAQ

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Copycat Finds a New Home on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Soon!

Posted on 05/20/2025 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Looking to adopt a new indie catventure on your console on May 29th?

15 MAY 2025 – After a Very Positive reception from close to 2000 user reviews on Steam and over 50.000 copies sold, Copycat is looking to find a new home on consoles. Whether you’ll nestle your furry new companion in a cozy (X)box, or reward them with a treat on ps ps ps PS5, one thing is certain: Copycat will win over your heart!

Copycat is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on 29 May 2025 and it will cost $14.99 USD (regional pricing may vary).

It’s a short emotional catventure about love, loss, and identity, told entirely from a cat’s point of view. Guided by a nature-documentary narrator, you’ll prowl through sunlit backyards and shadowy alleys in a heartfelt journey to rediscover what “home” truly means.

Here are some quotes full of praise from the PC release:

“Copycat is a masterpiece of narrative-driven gaming.”
​- Rectify Gaming

“A story of love, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds that make us feel at home, anywhere.”
​- Overage Gaming

“Caused massive torrent of feelings.”
​- Game Whisper

“Copycat is a game about loss, heartbreak and finding a place to call home even when it feels like there isn’t one. This is one of the best games I’ve played in 2024.”
​- Thumb Culture

“An experience that will stick with you for a long time.” ​
​- Checkpoint Gaming

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UMAMI’s Cozy Food Puzzles Are a Mouthwatering Bento Box for the Sou

Posted on 05/16/2025 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Wholesome Food Puzzle Game ‘UMAMI’ Will Be Serving Up Fun on PC in 2025

Tidy, tinker, and play with your food in upcoming indie game debut 

Sheridan, WY – Indie developer Mimmox is delighted to reveal its debut title, the cozy 3D food puzzle game, UMAMI! The studio is cooking up something wholesome and relaxing, and will be ready to serve up a plate later this year. 

Watch the UMAMI announcement trailer:

Dive into the delectable world of puzzle delights in UMAMI, where a multi-course meal of 15 cozy scenes awaits. In 15 handcrafted and hand-painted dioramas, you’ll affix wooden blocks to a 3D board, rotating, tinkering and testing their placement.

Build mouthwatering dishes including improbably fluffy pancakes drenched in syrup, toothachingly sweet depictions of sugary snacks, and a hearty stack of onigiri made with fresh ingredients. Solve these puzzles and restore dishes made by friendly faces such as Chef Bumblebake, Chef Sushiba, and cooking couple Chefs Honey and Cuddle. 

UMAMI is as nourishing to play as these dishes would be to eat. The game is designed to be a soothing and satisfying experience, with puzzles featuring no timers, no pressure, and no warnings of wrong moves. In this stress-free space, play and discovery are the goal, and the dioramas are packed with flavour and secrets such as adorable animals to pet and collectible cards.

Key Features of UMAMI

  • Looking Good Enough to Eat: Each of the game’s 15 dioramas is hand-painted and has been lovingly crafted by the team’s five artists, including experts in hand-painted textures, environment modelling, and detailed illustrations. 
  • The Secret Ingredient is Love: A love for cozy and cute experiences, that is. This is a game that allows players to relax, unwind, and escape into a whimsical and welcoming world of foodstuffs. 
  • Tinker, Baker, Gourmet, Pie: From tantalizing breakfast dishes and gourmet lunches, to lavish burgers and towers of pastries, the puzzles feature a range of foods to satisfy every taste.

UMAMI will be released later in 2025 on PC via Steam. A demo will also be playable as part of Steam Next Fest (June 2025).

The game will be available in 27 languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (Traditional and Simplified).

For more on UMAMI, follow developer Mimmox on X (Twitter), Bluesky, and join the official Discord.

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FX’s Adults To Host “Suds And Sounds” Events in Los Angeles and New York City Next Week

Posted on 05/14/2025 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

“Suds and Sounds” will flip the script on adulthood with DJs, coffee, cocktails, bodega snacks, tarot readers—and yes, free laundry too. 

FX’s Adults premieres on Wednesday, May 28 at 9pm ET/PT on FX. All eight episodes streaming the next day on Hulu. 

WATCH THE OFFICIAL ADULTS TRAILER

Los Angeles, CA (May 13, 2025) – Adulthood may not be what you expected, but who says it can’t be? In anticipation of the series premiere of FX’s Adults, FXis giving laundromats the ultimate glow-up with “Suds and Sounds”shaking up the daily grind and turning routine into revelry, May 20 in Culver City, Los Angeles and May 22 in Sunnyside, Queens New York. The day/night events will feature DJs and musical performances. 
The series follows a crew of chaotic-but-trying twenty-somethings attempting to figure out how to be “adults.” What’s more adult than having to do your own laundry? (Answer: nothing.) But whoever said laundry had to be a drag clearly never pre-gamed at a laundromat. 

By day [9am-5pm]: “Suds and Sounds” is about remixing the routine. From morning until evening, guests will score an Adults-branded laundry card loaded with one free cycle, coffee, and bodega snacks on the house to fuel your day, vending machines with surprise drops, a one-card tarot pull for a quick energy read, and live DJs soundtracking your spin cycle all day long. 

By night [7pm-10pm]:the energy in the laundromat shifts and the party kicks into high gear. Lights down. Music up. Sounds curated by some of the most sought-after artists and DJs. Guests can expect vending machines with Adults-branded ‘laundry lifesaver’ giveaways, bodega snacks, impromptu Polaroid photoshoots, bar service with cocktails, mocktails, and beer, and dance-floor therapy. 

WHEN:Los Angeles – Tuesday, May 20 (9am-5pm | 7pm-10pm)New York City – Thursday, May 22 (9am-5pm | 7pm-10pm) 
WHERE:Los Angeles: The Laundry Room (Culver City – 4400 S. Slauson Ave.)New York City: Laundry Bee (Sunnyside, Queens – 4008 Queens Blvd.)

Posted in Conventions, Events & Expos, Events, TV and Movies | Comments Off on FX’s Adults To Host “Suds And Sounds” Events in Los Angeles and New York City Next Week

SOLD OUT! Skybound & Image Announce Second Printing for Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1 by Robert Kirkman & Ryan Ottley

Posted on 05/08/2025 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

The Best Superhero Comic in the Universe Sells Out One Week Before Debut 

The new Battle Beast comic, an actual continuation of the INVINCIBLE series is absolutely wonderful. I look forward to the collected edition and maybe one day seeing it in animated form. For now, here is a press release about a second printing because of demand before the book hit stands next week.

LOS ANGELES 05/08/2025 — Today Skybound and Image Comics announced that the record-breaking Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1, which has orders of nearly 400,000 copies worldwide, has sold out at the distributor level one week before its debut and will return with a new printing featuring three all new covers.

 The most anticipated new comic book series of the year comes from co-creator/writer Robert Kirkman (Void Rivals, The Walking Dead) and co-creator/artist Ryan Ottley (The Amazing Spider-Man), reuniting the longtime Invincible creative team for the first time since 2018. The second printing of the debut issue will be available at comic shops on Wednesday, June 11. 

To meet demand for this historic issue, Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1 will return with three all new covers, each by a different superstar artist – Ryan Ottley, Jason Howard, and Ryan Sook! 

“I can’t decide which is more shocking, the fact that we sold nearly 400,000 copies of our first issue or the fact that we’re rushing back to print so soon! It’s absolutely bonkers,” said Robert Kirkman. “Battle Beast is a character near and dear to my heart and the story Ryan and I are telling in this series will expand readers’ understanding of him in some very unique and intriguing ways. It’s great to know it’s going to be enjoyed by so many people!” 

“It’s all pretty overwhelming to see Invincible get to a point where a side character can have an insane sellout like this. But this is Battle Beast we’re talking about here!” said Ryan Ottley. “Battle Beast has always been one of my favorite characters we created in Invincible, and this series is now quickly becoming one of my favorite Invincible Universe stories.”  

“It’s a testament to the demand of this character combined with Robert and Ryan’s hard work to not only crush sales expectations on #1 but then also sell out BEFORE the issue comes out,” raved executive editor Ben Abernathy. 

Perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike, the new ongoing series promises to reveal the secret story of crowd favorite Battle Beast in what is the most demanded Invincible story of all time! 

Cursed with an unquenchable thirst for violence that threatens those he loves, Battle Beast searches the universe for the one warrior mightier than him…so that he may die before harming anyone else. But even in a universe of mighty Viltrumites like Invincible and Omni-Man, it seems that no one may be able to stop the galaxy’s deadliest warrior…unless he does the unthinkable. 

Created by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, Invincible #1 debuted to critical acclaim on January 22, 2003. Ryan Ottley joined soon after on issue #8 in late 2003 as the new series artist and contributing creator. Throughout its fifteen-year run at Image Comics, Invincible not only continued for a historic 146 issues, but also spawned multiple spin-off series and even an inter-company crossover with a certain friendly neighborhood superhero. In 2021, the Invincible animated series arrived on Prime Video and quickly became one of the most popular new streaming series, earning praise worldwide for its fresh storytelling. With a third season currently airing, Invincible remains a cornerstone of the pop culture landscape that continues to grow in popularity every year. 

The critically acclaimed adult animated series co-produced by Skybound Animation and Amazon MGM Studios recently wrapped its third season and has a fourth on the way. Invincible is available exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world. Each season of the animated series received “Certified Fresh” rankings on Rotten Tomatoes and the show was awarded Rotten Tomatoes’ Golden Tomato Award for Best Animated Series in 2023. Invincible follows 17-year-old Mark Grayson as he inherits his father’s superpowers and sets out to become Earth’s greatest defender, only to discover the job is more challenging than he ever imagined. 

Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1 Second Printing (Lunar Codes Below | SRP: $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. 

  • Battle Beast #1 Second Printing Cover A by Ryan Ottley (Lunar Code: 0125IM940) 
  • Battle Beast #1 Second Printing Cover B by Jason Howard (Lunar Code: 0125IM941) 
  • Battle Beast #1 Second Printing Cover C by Ryan Sook (Lunar Code: 0125IM942)
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JONASCON 2025 (A Belated Mission Report)

Posted on 05/06/2025 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Back in March, I went to the American Dream Mall in New Jersey to attend JonasCon. This was my second trip to the Dream, having first gone for a Game Changer Wrestling show. After I first registered and was unable to procure definite floor space for the concerts arranged in the Dreamworks waterpark or the Ice rink, and then also got locked out of even purchasing $200 VIP tickets, I considered completely skipping the event. I decided it was a good excuse to discover what travelling to the mall via bus from Port Authority in Manhattan NYC was like, as I had booked a nearby hotel and driven in from home in Queens NYC with a friend the first time. My biggest selling point from the moment it was announced was the return of All American Rejects for one set (as they were joining Jonas on tour and releasing new music soon). However, the idea of a big immersive event of any kind inside a mall was also exciting. Again, FREE, although with merch to buy if one desired. Some stickers promoted on the website as available caught my attention, but I never found them on location.

Now let me take you back to that day exactly. Getting to the mall was so easy and really inexpensive even if just going on any regular day for a few hours, but especially if you got there super early to spend a day at the fairly expensive but worth it indoor water park or even a whole weekend and enjoying the food and other excitement of the mall. Of course I didn’t have a plan for when I would be leaving but it’d before the last bus out.

Once at the mall it was a madhouse before the mall even opened, hell before the event officially started. I feel really lucky I got there as early as I did, got a lay of the land, and discovered other than the free day at the water park I missed out on, I didn’t need VIP or floor tickets to get a good view of the two other stages and especially the one stage AAR would play at later. Had I gotten there later I may have never figured this out. It was fun walking around and seeing what they put up for Jonascon and what they did a hardcore job with and what they went minimalistic for. The Jonas mini-golf course for instance renamed the holes after songs but still for all all intents and purposes was just Angry Birds Golf with barely a paint job. They did go all out for the mini-stores though and some pop-ups.

They also went big on the mini-museum with instruments, clothing, ephemera and more. That is what I took the most photos of and am happy to share.

One my favorite photos I took with consent from parent and youngster was this young lady coaxed into trying on a Jonas coat and it basically fitting her. Meaning them teen Jonas boys were small small small.

I wanted a FULL experience from JONASCON so I indulged a little and got what was definitely an overpriced but very yummy meal from the “pop-up” menu of the Jonas Brother’s owned Nellie’s Southern Kitchen at Marcus Live! The biscuits, butter and jam were the best part but the chicken and dumplings and banana pudding were both tasty, just not as tasty in value as the price, but adding in the limited availability during the one day event, unless one goes to Vegas and North Carolina made it all worth it.

While at the mall I also enjoyed the mall and bought beef jerky from the Jerky store, cookies from BANG! and some THC and mushroom product that was overpriced cause MALL but I cut a good deal with the clerk and got some freebies and stuff I maybe wouldn’t even know to seek out on my own so the interaction itself was worth it especially since yes… I did get to see Jonas perform and ALL AMERICAN REJECTS. Now yes. I said it was a madhouse… and boy was it.

Still I had a plenty good viewing of AAR and they performed a bevy of the hits. Sadly they didn’t play Sweat or Send Her to Heaven, opting for the classics like Swing, Swing and Dirty Little Secret but it was awesome and I was satisfied and very happy I went. I actually rushed to the bus home after feeling like I might collapse soon having been out since I think around 7 AM? I can’t recall. I just knew I had had enough for the day and nothing would top AAR at that point other than getting to hang out with them or the Jonas Bros or Big Time Rush and that wasn’t going to happen so…

You may have seen many reports or maybe none, I don’t know about people who bought VIP sort of being ripped off or fans upset that the multiple sets played Jonas Brothers had different songs but trying to get from one venue to another while also shopping for merch and checking out the interactions was near impossible. This too would be my experience. I am glad I didn’t get a wristband or pay for VIP, but that is because I know how to make things work for me, YMMV but JONASCon was a fun fun day for me and I’ll always remember it (probably).

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Ludonarracon 2025 Part 2

Posted on 05/03/2025 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Here I shall mini-review demos and/or full games in Ludonarracon 2025. (Be “advised” I am using a press access edition of the event, so not all games or demos mentioned will be playable for you, but you can still wishlist and/or buy them).

Ludonarracon runs till May 5th so you have plenty time to check these games and the sales out still.

Keep Driving: There is definitely a story here of taking the road and finding adventure, but it is burdened by being quite the difficult and at times unforgiving strategy game. Before even making it to the first town I could rest in I basically lost all energy on the road, fell asleep on the side, woke up and lost energy again encountering a tractor in my way. For a Narrative the game system needs a lot more balance, but even if the narrative was minimal, balance of encounters definitely needs reworking. This is one to keep an eye on, but I hope the devs are still actually working on it.

Compensation Not Guaranteed: A very fun demo of an upcoming Papers, Pleasesque. The art, world and characters introduced are fantastic and as long as it stays zen like and not add speed rounds but just more things to look at and the weird twist in the dreams I think we have a gem of something new here.

The Horror at Highrook: First let me state that I love the gothic supernatural setting, the familiar but tropic group coming together to solve a mystery at a creepy manor. The art is also amazing, reminiscent of Mike Mignola and John Paul Leon to my eyes. That said I don’t think this type of game is made for my thinking. After I completed the introductory tasks I felt completely lost. I didn’t know how to unlock rooms or use certain cards. I was just befuddled. That doesn’t mean it isn’t well done, I just needed a little more hand holding. You on the other hand, especially those who play TTRPGs or card games will be in paradise.

A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe: Wonderful cartoon art displaying a personality trait many can relate to or understand wrapped in a visual logic puzzle. Worth trying your hand at and seeing how you vibe.

inKOBINI: You only get a taste in the prologue but I feel this is a zen style game with fun little explorations in to life and never truly a stressfull feel on running the shop. Fix labels, check supplies, very serene and not feeling like actual “work” but instead idle devices to keep iccupied while “reading” simple tales of everyday people.

Usual June: Based on the demo this is the kind of game I love. Third person action adventure with interesting art, quirky characters, fun and not too complicated but not too easy combat, lots of exploration and a big story. Which is also what it promises. I will be keeping my eye on this cause ghosts, mystery, weirdness. The only thing I’d add was a jump button, there aren’t enough Psychonauts like games out there! I also hope they optimize the game a lot before release, my rig had trouble but didn’t feel like it should. I may need to play this on console.

More to come before the end of the Festival!

Posted in Video Games | Comments Off on Ludonarracon 2025 Part 2

98° RELEASE SURPRISE NEW SINGLE

Posted on 05/01/2025 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

NEW YORK, NY (April 29, 2025) –  Ahead of their highly-anticipated new album, Full Circle, available next week via XOXO Entertainment Corp., 98° dropped a surprise new track “Stranger Things (Have Happened)” today in anticipation of the full-length studio record. Full Circle isa blend of past and present, the record features five brand-new tracks alongside re-recordings of their biggest hits, giving the group full ownership of the songs that helped define late ‘90s and early 2000s pop.

Jeff Timmons shares “The song is a nod to the wildly popular Netflix series Stranger Things, and like the TV show combines old with the new, mixing vintage synth sounds with modern production, while also showcasing smooth melodies and the lush harmonies 98 Degrees is best known for. The fans are going to LOVE IT!”

LISTEN TO “STRANGER THINGS (HAVE HAPPENED)” HERE

Managed by the legendary Johnny Wright and Joe Lilak at Wright Entertainment Group, 98° has sold over 15 million albums worldwide, earning eight Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, four Top 10 singles, and a No. 2 smash with “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)” in 2000. Their signature harmonies and R&B-tinged ballads became anthems of an era, from “The Hardest Thing” (No. 5, Billboard Hot 100) to “Because of You” (No. 3, Billboard Hot 100, Platinum-certified), securing their status as one of the most successful vocal groups of their time.

Unlike their peers, 98° wasn’t manufactured by a label—they formed organically, built their fanbase from the ground up, and defied the pop industry’s formulaic mold. Their commitment to staying authentic and adaptable has kept them a force in music for decades. As they prepare to take Full Circle on the road, they are proving that longevity in pop music is about taking control of your own history.

98° will kick off their album release with a series of live events and in-person signings:

May 10, 2025  Barnes And Nobel In-Store Autograph Signing, NY
May 30, 2025  SM Mall Of Asia Arena, Philippines
May 31, 2025  SM Mall Of Asia Arena, Philippines
June 27, 2025  OLG Stage, Niagara Falls, ON
July 25, 2025  Grey Eagle Casino, Calgary, AB

Full Circle is available Friday, May 9 on all digital streaming platforms, LP vinyl, and CD.

Posted in Music | Comments Off on 98° RELEASE SURPRISE NEW SINGLE