By: Arthur ‘Arturis’ Orneck

The X-Box’s juggernaut flagship franchise, Halo, is going back to its roots in the upcoming title, Halo: Reach. Set in the year 2552, a few short months before the events of the first Halo game, H:R sets the stage for the fall of the final human colony on planet Reach, and the player gets to take on the role of one of the final six soldiers alive to defend it. Fans of Halo’s established brand of run‘n’gun frantic First Person Shooter action will feel right at home defending your ground against the Covenant in the single player campaign, but we all know that it is the rapid paced multiplayer action where the Halo series really shines. Details are still coming in on what new weapons, vehicles and abilities gamers can look forward to in this installment, though already confirmed are armor upgrade systems for active camouflage and the ability to sprint through battle. Those who have already purchased Halo: ODST will have a chance to try these out first hand when the multiplayer beta test launches on May 3^rd.

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The success of Avatar has spawned a new era of movie making. Granted, 3-D movies have been around for a while, but with massive technological improvements they’re increasing in popularity quickly. Avatar perfected the art of optical motion capture technology, fusing animation with real life actors performing the actions and stunts of the characters. Although the actors themselves aren’t nominated at this year’s Oscars, I have a feeling that will change in the future as this type of technology will be used more and more frequently. There are approximately 48 3-D feature films set to release in theaters this year alone! The next to take the stage is Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, which hit iMax theaters Friday March 5, 2010.

Moviemakers and Manufacturers alike are rushing to bring the experience to theaters and our living rooms. CES 2010 highlighted a plethora of new 3-D models. Most notably was Panasonic, who showcased a massive 152 inch Plasma 3D TV. Their award winning 52 inch won a CES award and is hitting shelves this May. However, the price tags are hefty, prices range from $3,300 to $8,999! It will be interesting to see how quickly consumers convert to 3-D technology as the recession has tightened the grip on the wallets of many.

Are you excited about the influx of 3-D movies? How fast are you looking to upgrade your current TV for one with 3-D technology?

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At CowBoom, we think the most important Oscar category is the Sound Mixing category. Perhaps, it’s a tad overlooked in comparison to the other categories but without the sound mixers your favorite films wouldn’t be half as good as they are! In the spirit of sound mixing, we’re giving away a set of Bluetooth headphones to one lucky contestant who guesses the right sound mixer for the award. Submit your entry by Saturday, March 6^th in order to qualify! You can either submit your answer by commenting on this post or sending it to contest@cowboom.com

Sound Mixing Nominees:

• Avatar: Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson

• The Hurt Locker: Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett

• Inglourious Basterds: Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano

• Star Trek: Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin

• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

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Welcome to CowBoom’s Giveaway of the Day!

It’s simple, follow the steps below for a chance to win!

• Register for a CowBoom account here.
• Sign In and comment on the daily blog question.
• One lucky comment will win a $25 Best Buy Gift Card!

Please click here for Terms and Conditions.

Welcome to CowBoom’s Giveaway of the Day!

It’s simple, follow the steps below for a chance to win!

• Register for a CowBoom account here.
• Sign In and comment on the daily blog question.
• One lucky comment will win a $25 Best Buy Gift Card!

Please click here for Terms and Conditions.

Remember walking into one of those cool boutiques with the unique yet eloquent home décor items? Remember glancing at the price tag and feeling a jolt when you realize it’s way out of your price range? Well, rest assured! We’ve done a little research and found a few cool “how-to’s” that will spark your creativity and add style to your pad. Spruce up your home with these low budget décor ideas.

1. Make your own night light in a matter of a few steps via instructables.
2. Enjoy drinking vino and recycling the bottles? Try making a nifty lamp using one as the base via planetgreen.
3. Add some pizzazz to your stomping ground with a crafty and colorful homemade rug via instructables.
4. Remember the negatives you used to get back from developing your old film? Turn those extra ones into a cool privacy screen on a door or window via lifehacker.
5. Another way to reuse those wine bottles… Turn them into cups! The same can be done for glass Pellegrino bottles etc. via lifehacker.

Welcome to CowBoom’s Giveaway of the Day!

It’s simple, follow the steps below for a chance to win!

• Register for a CowBoom account here.
• Sign In and comment on the daily blog question.
• One lucky comment will win a $25 Best Buy Gift Card!

 

Please click here for Terms and Conditions.

Welcome to CowBoom’s Giveaway of the Day!

It’s simple, follow the steps below for a chance to win!

• Register for a CowBoom account here.
• Sign In and comment on the daily blog question.
• One lucky comment will win a $25 Best Buy Gift Card!

Please click here for Terms and Conditions.