Urban Mercury

thedrunkenmoogle:

nintendrunk: Marshmallow Vodka Kirby

Ingredients (makes 3):
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin powder or agar powder for vegetarians
1/4 cup + 3 oz. chilled marshmallow vodka
1/6 cup cold water (2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons)
1/2 cup sugar
1/6 cup light corn syrup
2 large egg whites at room temperature
Small pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup corn starch
Vegetable shortening
Food coloring

Directions: Hold on to your warp stars! This recipe is a bit complex.

1. Combine the powdered sugar and corn starch together in a bowl;
2. Coat the insides of both the tops and bottoms a spherical ice cube molds (such as these) with a thin layer vegetable shortening, add some of the powdered sugar/starch mixture and shake so that the inside surfaces of the mold are well coated; return any unused powder to the bowl and set aside to use later;
3. Sprinkle the gelatin or agar powder over 1/4 cup of cold marshmallow vodka in a bowl;
4. Attach a candy thermometer to a small saucepan; add the water, sugar, and corn syrup.  Stir the ingredients a few times then turn the stove to medium-high;
5. Using the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites in an electric mixer on slow until frothy, then add a touch of salt;
6. Once the syrup mixture gets to about 210°F, turn the speed on the electric mixer up to fast;
7. After the syrup gets to 245°F, carefully pour it into the mixer;
8. As the egg white and syrup mixture is whipping, add the agar/gelatin and vodka;
9. Add the vanilla extract and 4-5 drops of red food dye; continue whipping until the outside of the mixing bowl is cool and the mixture has grown 2-3 times its original size;
10. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the greased and powdered bottoms of the molds (there should be enough for 3, but the molds come in sets of two - so maybe make 2 Kirbys and 1 Ditto?) to the fill line, packing it down gently; add the mold tops and store at room temperature;
11. Once the marshmallows are set (6+ hours) take the Kirbys out of their molds and coat them lightly in the leftover corn starch/powdered sugar mixture;
12. Fill a culinary syringe with about an ounce of marshmallow vodka (2 tablespoons) and inject it a little bit at a time into one of your Kirbys at various depths; refill and repeat with the other marshmallows (inject in rough or uneven parts of your marshmallows rather than on the smooth parts);
13. The marshmallows might leak a little bit so store them on a paper towl on top of a plate until they’re relatively dry;
14. Take a pinch of the corn starch/powdered sugar mixture and add a splash of water and a drop of red dye; mix it with a spoon, then use a toothpick to apply Kirby’s cheeks; do likewise for his eyes but with 2-3 drops of blue dye; and
15. Serve on a yellow cocktail napkin cut into the shape of a warp star.

A note from the creator: 

“Hiiiii!”  This is our take on a Jello shot.  The marshmallow recipe is based on this one, which is great as it is… but then we found a way to make them look like Kirby and fit about a shot’s worth of vodka into each 2.5 inch marshmallow.  Inhale them! Copy Kirby’s drunk & friendly ability!  Spit them at your enemies!

The description above worked with unflavored gelatin; if you’re using a vegetarian substitute, you may need to make certain small adjustments.

Created and photographed by Nintendrunk. Thanks for the submission!

theomeganerd:

Batman: Arkham Origins & Blackgate Game Informer Details & Official Announcement

Game Informer Details:

Batman: Arkham Origins is set on Christmas Eve, years before Arkham City and Arkham Asylum, where mob boss Black Mask has it in for Batman. And he’s not the only one. Top super villains from the DC Comics universe are out to catch the world’s greatest detective. And even cops have joined the manhunt. Batman’s goal is to find out why Black Mask wants him dead, and to prove to the good cops that he’s on their side.

The game will offer a familiar combat system with “new layers, new opportunities, new tactics,” and new enemy types.

The Batwing will make a return, but Batman won’t control it directly. It will figure into story sequences and acts as a universe-appropriate form of fast travel.

New to the game is a remote claw similar to the Grappler in Just Cause 2. Batman can target two objects and fire out a claw. One claw will hook to the first object and another onto the second. Batman can then pull both objects together. Tactics for which this can be used include knocking enemies together, slamming heavy objects into foes, etc.

The predator-like sequences, where Batman swings from perch to perch, glide kicks, strings guys upside down, etc. will return.

Half of the game is made up of ‘Old Gotham’. Though there is an entirely new area of the game, across the bridge, called ‘New Gotham’, which is described as much classier and with much taller skyscrapers. The new zone is also said to double the size of the game world.

Players will be able to dismantle a hacked tower network, which consists of towers emitting a jamming signal preventing the Batwing from flying into the area, meaning fast travel is not an option. It also stops Batman’s sensors from placing points of interest on the map. Tower take-downs vary and require all of Batman’s skills. Some can be taken down quickly and easily, while others require upgrades.

The game will offer “Crime in Progress” moments where Batman can, for example, save cops from a group of thugs, etc. This, among other activities, will earn Batman experience points and respect from the Gotham City Police Department.

A “Most Wanted” system will allow players to go after villains outside of the main storyline. These missions can be tackled as you discover them .

Some missions will offer upgrades. If you had a tough time with a certain mission, Batman’s butler Alfred might offer you a new gadget.

A new “Dark Knight” system will provide the player a string of tasks that slowly increases in difficulty as they progress through the game. This won’t replace challenge mode, however.

Arkham Origins is in development at Warner Bros. Montreal. The series’ original developer, Rocksteady Studios, is working on another project, which is currently under wraps. According to the magazine, though, a Warner Bros. Montreal sequel would carve a unique territory for Rocksteady, if it ever decided to move forward in the Arkham series timeline.

Batman: Akrham Origins Blackgate (PS Vita, 3DS)

Batman: Akrham Origins Blackgate is a 2.5D, Metroid-style Batman game for PS Vita and 3DS in development at Armature, the studio behind the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection on PS Vita, who were put in charge as they’re familiar with that gameplay style.

The game is set after the conclusion of Origins on consoles. At the Blackgate Penitentiary, located on an isolated island, a prison uprising has occurred. Batman ventures to the facility to put a stop to the riot.

The game features a 2D animated Batman moving through a side-scrolling game world where he’ll battle enemies, pick up new gear, travel through interconnected passages, and learn prison secrets.

Unlike the console Arkham games, Blackgate does not focus on leveling up abilities. Instead, it stays true to the formula of its sub-genre. All of his improvements will come through pick-ups and upgrades. The team wanted to give players a greater sense of collection.

The game is mostly set on a 2D plane, though it will take advantage of the three-dimensionality offered by the environments. Batman will explore, fight, and interact in both the foreground and background. For example, Batman can grapple up to a gargoyle on a background balcony from the foreground.

Combat is similar to the console Arkham games. It uses the Freeflow combat system, and button taps are used to attack, counter, and use gadgets. Gadgets include the Batarang, to stun enemies or hit distant objects, Line Launcher, to cross wide gaps, and a variation of the Explosive Gel, which allows you to shoot from a launcher onto spots around the screen, enabling ‘entertaining’ take-downs like chandelier dropping.

Batman will be able to see the sight lines of his enemies to know whether they can see him or not.

Blackgate is split into various sections, each accessible once you figure out a way outside the prison. There are no save rooms as you can manually save at your leisure. The game uses a modern checkpoint system, and you can defeat its bosses in any order. Similar to the console games, it will also have a detective mode—if an enemy is green, he hasn’t seen you, if he’s red, he’s onto you. This mode can also be used to uncover secretes, clues, and analyze situations. 

Official Announcement:

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Announces Batman: Arkham Origins

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, the next instalments of the blockbuster Batman: Arkham videogame franchise. Batman: Arkham Origins will be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 system, the Wii U system, and Windows PC. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate™ will be available for the Nintendo 3DS handheld system, and PlayStation Vita handheld entertainment system. Both titles are scheduled to release worldwide 25th October, 2013.

Developed by WB Games Montréal, Batman: Arkham Origins features an expanded Gotham City and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, the first two critically acclaimed games of the franchise. Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, the game showcases a young and unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight. As the story unfolds, players will meet many important characters for the first time and forge key relationships.

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is a 2.5-D game developed by Armature Studio that brings the Batman Arkham experience for the first time to Nintendo and Sony handheld systems. A companion game to Batman: Arkham Origins, players can continue the storyline of the console version and discover more details of the Dark Knight’s past. 

“Batman: Arkham is a huge triple-A videogame franchise and we are delighted to expand the experience with Batman: Arkham Origins,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “WB Games Montréal has an incredibly talented team building upon Rocksteady’s award-winning gameplay and technology to deliver a deep, immersive, quality experience fans will love.”

“WB Games Montréal is honoured to have the opportunity to create Batman: Arkham Origins, a new chapter in this amazing franchise” said Reid Schneider, Vice President and Executive Producer, WB Games Montréal. “We are huge fans of the franchise and are committed to creating an experience that offers players more of what they love, as well as the chance to play as a younger Batman within a fresh storyline and expanded world.”

laughingsquid:

‘The Matrix’ Condensed into 60 Animated Seconds

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