Fully Charged: Don’t miss Kung Fury (it’s free!), and Halo 3: ODST storms Xbox One

Kickstarter film Kung Fury released

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Here’s an uncommon scenario: Kung Fury was funded via Kickstarter early last year, and then was just released for free online before the weekend. Even wilder is the film itself, a neon-soaked, totally bewildering tribute to ’80s action films. It follows a karate-kicking cop who travels back in time to defeat Hitler, but accidentally finds himself in the Viking Age. Enough said!

The 31-minute film is drawing raves for its immense style and over-the-top tone, and although releasing the film for free might seem like a mistake, we think they’ll do just fine on ad views: it’s already racked up more than 9 million YouTube views in a couple days, plus it’s on Steam and other international platforms.

Join the party now. Or at least watch the ridiculous David Hasselhoff music video released in April, which itself has more than 12 million views.

[Source: YouTube]

Halo 3: ODST hits Xbox One

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When Halo: The Master Chief Collection suffered extended online issues after the launch late last year (and sadly, well into 2015), Microsoft and 343 Industries decided to reward players’ patience with a rather significant addition: an upgraded port of the single-player campaign from 2008’s Halo 3: ODST, the Xbox 360 side story to the main shooter series.

And it finally launched over the weekend as an add-on to the Collection for Xbox One. If you played The Master Chief Collection between 11 November and 19 December last year, you should have a free download code in your Xbox One inbox. Otherwise, you can purchase the add-on for just $5, which is well worth it for one of the franchise’s best campaigns.

[Source: Xbox Wire]

Google Calendar killing SMS notifications

Do you still get a text message once a month/week/whenever from Google Calendar about some recurring event? If so, be sure to find another way to get your reminders: Google announced that the functionality for average consumers will be killed on 27 June, since most users have smartphones and/or other means of getting alerts.

However, Google Apps for Work, Education, and Government users will continue to receive SMS alerts as desired – because they’re paying for that luxury. Everyone else, use your phones.

[Source: Google via Engadget]

Tron 3 isn’t happening anymore

Earlier this spring, we heard that Tron: Legacy co-stars Olivia Wilde and Garrett Hedlund were coming back for a third entry, along with director Joseph Kosinski – and they even had a likely shooting location of Vancouver.

But now, The Hollywood Reporter says that Disney has decided not to go ahead with the project, although no particular reason is given as to why. Legacy did well, but wasn’t a huge hit or a critical darling, so perhaps the studio would rather chart a different course ahead. Still, it’s surprising, since the Legacy characters are being turned into toys and added to Disney Infinity. Maybe the timing just wasn’t right.

[Source: The Hollywood Reporter]