With the recent announcement of the Thundercats movie, I am happy to direct you to a wonderful PSA (thanks, YouTube) from the 80s in which Snarf and Lion-O remind you kids to stay off the liquor. Give me sobriety beyond sobriety!
Oh, and let's not forget that He-Man is also on the fast track to become a "major" motion picture. Can Silver Hawks be far behind? Or Crystar? How about Rock Lords? Oooh! Perhaps even Rainbow Brite Unleashed? Well, we can dream!
This trend speaks to my theory about cyclical cultural phenomena: as the "tastemakers" of our culture, AKA the entertainment executives, come of age and get into a position of influence, they quickly reach into the entertainment experiences of their collective childhoods for ideas. Hence: retread films from the 80s. Just you wait...in ten years, we'll be seeing Tamagochi: The Motion Picture, starring a craggy Shia LaBeouf.
Hollywood is really a creative wasteland, isn't it?
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Halo Clix
If you're like me, you're a geek. And if you're a geek, you might like comic books. And also board games. And maybe collectible minature games? Oh God, does that get too geeky for you? It does for me...sort of. See, I spent some time obsessed with HeroClix, the collectible miniatures game from Wizkids that lets you play as your favorite superheroes. Well, now...behold:
That's right, Wizkids is going to launch Halo ActionClix some time later this year. (I spotted a little blurb on Joystiq and then went right to the source.) So maybe you're a geek, and you like video games. And collectible miniatures. Then, boy howdy, are you in luck, Mr. Geek!
That's right, Wizkids is going to launch Halo ActionClix some time later this year. (I spotted a little blurb on Joystiq and then went right to the source.) So maybe you're a geek, and you like video games. And collectible miniatures. Then, boy howdy, are you in luck, Mr. Geek!
Monday, June 04, 2007
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Aviella: Hilton Head
This is a great picture of Aviella that I took during our recent trip to Hilton Head:
I have not posted pictures of her in almost six months! (Lazy, lazy, daddy.) So I am in the process of creating a new album, since her current one is so dated and crappy. I published this one picture using the new version of Picasa. More to come!
I have not posted pictures of her in almost six months! (Lazy, lazy, daddy.) So I am in the process of creating a new album, since her current one is so dated and crappy. I published this one picture using the new version of Picasa. More to come!
Friday, May 25, 2007
New MMOG Nation
GSW's excellent "MMOG Nation" column has moved to a new home on the 1up network. Now entitled Massive Update, it contains a lot of choice news and interesting tidbits about the MMO multiverse. Such as: Mattel's new Barbie MMO!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
An Endorsement of Licensed Games
Last week, I picked up a copy of the PS2 version of Peter Jackson's King Kong for the PS2, which is the "official game of the movie". I had recently watched the film again, which despite its faults, has some of the best action sequences ever put on celluloid. (Specifically, the battle in the insect pit is just about one of the coolest/scariest/awesomest things ever.) So when I saw the game for ten bucks at Best Buy, I decided to check it out. The game has a stellar pedigree, with both Peter Jackson and Michel Ancel (Rayman, Beyond Good and Evil, etc.) directly involved in the design. Sounds great, but don't most "offical" movie tie-in games suck balls? Not always, rabbit. Try King Kong for yourself, I'm sure Best Buy still has copies. All I can say is: wow. Again, the low expectations thing wins again: the game totally blew me away. It's sort of a mish-mash of action, survival horror, FPS and beat-em-up. The atmospherics are amazing, the level design is clever, and just about every sequence has something that makes you lean forward in your chair. (The monsters are especially cool!) The game is basically a bunch of action setpieces strung together...in many ways, just like the movie. Though the story is a departure from the film narrative, it doesn't matter or take away from enjoyment of the game. In fact, it gives you a newfound appreciation of how carefully thought out Peter Jackson's film environments are, and how this attention to detail translates directly to the game world.
I thought to myself, how is this possible? This game came and went as quickly as the movie. And what did the critics have to say? (Turns out, they really loved it, much to my surprise.) When it comes to licensed games, the critics can't win...if they give a movie game a good score, I simply assume they are doing the mouthpiece work of the movie studio. If they give the game a bad score, well, they quickly reinforce what we already know: licensed games suck!
But do they? As King Kong proves, not always. In fact, I would wager that a good licensed game can stand head-and-shoulders above any original IP out there. The problem is that games featuring licensed characters are usually a quick cash-in for the game publisher, providing a low-risk opporunity to get a decent return on their investment. (Kids' titles are particulary guilty of this crime, probably because kids have even lower expectations than grown-ups.) If the profit is virtually guaranteed, what is the company's motivation to spend money on the front-end to make a good game? Unfortunately, not much...
But then again, look at King Kong. The game is excellent. I have no idea if this translated into sales, but I have to assume it did. Isn't cash the best motivator around? Make a good game, and the audience will come. Is it really that simple? The stigma associated with licensed games is unfortunate, as many people (myself included) will turn up their nose at an "officially licensed" product and move on to something else. But as franchise lovers, aren't we all dying to play a great Batman game, or Battlestar Galactica game, or Transformers game? Wouldn't we buy them by the truckloads if they were actually any good? I would say, without a doubt, YES. Audiences are already invested in the characters and settings of licensed properties, and for good reason: they are usually much more interesting than original IP. However, when the licensed games fail to live up audience expectations (as they so often do), players get used to the disappointment and quickly move on. Let me give a personal example: having really enjoyed the X-Men action RPGs from Activision, I finally checked out Marvel Ultimate Alliance recently. Though the opening cinematics are spectacular, the game under the hood is simply awful. Not only is the battle system repetitive, but the characters are remarkably interchangeable. And the story? Wait a minute...I'm fighting Winter Soldier and Radioactive Man on a SHIELD Heli-Carrier? You make no sense. Goodbye.
(Granted, I think Activision bit off a little more than they could chew with that game. All those characters!)
What I keep returning to is: quality control. To make licensed games better, bring the production in-house. As the mighty "old media" entertainment companies become bigger and bigger, with more pronounced interest in digital media (read: games), I think we will see this happening more in the future. LucasArts is a great example: though I know many of their Star Wars titles are licensed out to third-party development houses, they keep a clampdown on the quality of the games. By and large, this works. Generally speaking, the majority of Star Wars games are pretty good, with the occasional clunker here and there -- but some are real winners. (No one can hit it out of the park all the time, and sometimes a base hit on the PSP is all you really need.) Audiences love a good game based on their favorite comic/movie/TV show, so why can't the publishers see that delivering on this promise equals a win-win situation for all?
On a personal note, our Cartoon Network game is being produced internally (but being developed in Korea). We can give it the kind of attention that no third-party ever could, and I think players will see this when the game releases. And hopefully, we will all reap the rewards!
(Damn, that was a ramble.)
I thought to myself, how is this possible? This game came and went as quickly as the movie. And what did the critics have to say? (Turns out, they really loved it, much to my surprise.) When it comes to licensed games, the critics can't win...if they give a movie game a good score, I simply assume they are doing the mouthpiece work of the movie studio. If they give the game a bad score, well, they quickly reinforce what we already know: licensed games suck!
But do they? As King Kong proves, not always. In fact, I would wager that a good licensed game can stand head-and-shoulders above any original IP out there. The problem is that games featuring licensed characters are usually a quick cash-in for the game publisher, providing a low-risk opporunity to get a decent return on their investment. (Kids' titles are particulary guilty of this crime, probably because kids have even lower expectations than grown-ups.) If the profit is virtually guaranteed, what is the company's motivation to spend money on the front-end to make a good game? Unfortunately, not much...
But then again, look at King Kong. The game is excellent. I have no idea if this translated into sales, but I have to assume it did. Isn't cash the best motivator around? Make a good game, and the audience will come. Is it really that simple? The stigma associated with licensed games is unfortunate, as many people (myself included) will turn up their nose at an "officially licensed" product and move on to something else. But as franchise lovers, aren't we all dying to play a great Batman game, or Battlestar Galactica game, or Transformers game? Wouldn't we buy them by the truckloads if they were actually any good? I would say, without a doubt, YES. Audiences are already invested in the characters and settings of licensed properties, and for good reason: they are usually much more interesting than original IP. However, when the licensed games fail to live up audience expectations (as they so often do), players get used to the disappointment and quickly move on. Let me give a personal example: having really enjoyed the X-Men action RPGs from Activision, I finally checked out Marvel Ultimate Alliance recently. Though the opening cinematics are spectacular, the game under the hood is simply awful. Not only is the battle system repetitive, but the characters are remarkably interchangeable. And the story? Wait a minute...I'm fighting Winter Soldier and Radioactive Man on a SHIELD Heli-Carrier? You make no sense. Goodbye.
(Granted, I think Activision bit off a little more than they could chew with that game. All those characters!)
What I keep returning to is: quality control. To make licensed games better, bring the production in-house. As the mighty "old media" entertainment companies become bigger and bigger, with more pronounced interest in digital media (read: games), I think we will see this happening more in the future. LucasArts is a great example: though I know many of their Star Wars titles are licensed out to third-party development houses, they keep a clampdown on the quality of the games. By and large, this works. Generally speaking, the majority of Star Wars games are pretty good, with the occasional clunker here and there -- but some are real winners. (No one can hit it out of the park all the time, and sometimes a base hit on the PSP is all you really need.) Audiences love a good game based on their favorite comic/movie/TV show, so why can't the publishers see that delivering on this promise equals a win-win situation for all?
On a personal note, our Cartoon Network game is being produced internally (but being developed in Korea). We can give it the kind of attention that no third-party ever could, and I think players will see this when the game releases. And hopefully, we will all reap the rewards!
(Damn, that was a ramble.)
Friday, May 18, 2007
Black Temple
Here's a new WoW something-or-other with orcs and stuff. I guess a few people will be interested!
Thanks to Katie for the head's up.
Thanks to Katie for the head's up.
Sony to Buy Club Penguin?
Many online sources are reporting that Sony is looking to purchase Club Penguin for as much as $500M. Yes, that's 500 MILLION DOLLARS.
Gasp!
Gasp!
Friday, May 11, 2007
Lara Croft Meets GameTap
GameTap is doing some pretty cool stuff for the upcoming Tomb Raider Anniversary release, including offering Tomb Raider Legend as part of their service. Check out this trailer for an upcoming documentary:
Exclusive GameTap Tomb Raider Documentary Trailer
And here's further proof that sex sells: "The first time in history when all the Laras have been gathered together." Hallelujah.
Exclusive - GameTap Tomb Raider Models Trailer
There are also some animated shorts in the works, and other cool stuff, so stay tuned. Thanks to Gideon for the links.
Exclusive GameTap Tomb Raider Documentary Trailer
And here's further proof that sex sells: "The first time in history when all the Laras have been gathered together." Hallelujah.
Exclusive - GameTap Tomb Raider Models Trailer
There are also some animated shorts in the works, and other cool stuff, so stay tuned. Thanks to Gideon for the links.
Friday, May 04, 2007
NYT <3 LOTRO
Seth Schiesel of the New York Times loves Lord of the Rings Online. Seriously? Turbine should be creaming their jeans over this review...it's about as gushing as it gets.
I just installed my copy this evening after work and intend to take a spin through Middle-earth some time this weekend. Wish me luck!
I just installed my copy this evening after work and intend to take a spin through Middle-earth some time this weekend. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Gamefly Totally Sucks
Let's just get this straight right now: Gamefly, the "Netflix for games" rental service, is terrible. I've been a subscriber for a number of years, and amazingly, Gamefly has actually gotten WORSE over time. Yes, they have always had slow turnaround on shipping. But when I first joined, you could pretty much always get the games you wanted, even if you had to wait a while. These days, I wait 2-3 weeks for a game to be registered as a return, and about as long for a game to arrive. Plus, their sale selection, which used to be pretty good, is now remarkably limited. (Madden '06 for $7, people!) And the new releases, which used to be fairly easy to get, are now impossible to obtain. God of War II? Forget it. Super Paper Mario? Keep dreaming.
Here are some stats: Diddy Kong Racing DS returned and reported missing after 2 weeks. (They miraculously found it.) Disney's Meet the Robinsons shipped 4/14, still not yet arrived. (And this game was my fourth choice.) Flatout 2 purchased for $12 a few weeks ago, still hasn't arrived. Oh, and last I checked, there was a "short wait" for just about every game in my rental queue. Wow, that's really worth the $28/month. Looking forward to getting the Pokemon DS games some time in July...
(If you don't know me and think my taste in games is questionable, keep in mind that I'm checking out kids' titles on purpose.)
Put it this way, I don't even pay for Gamefly out of my own pocket (it's a work expense), and I still want to cancel. The enthusiasm couldn't be lower, people.
Here are some stats: Diddy Kong Racing DS returned and reported missing after 2 weeks. (They miraculously found it.) Disney's Meet the Robinsons shipped 4/14, still not yet arrived. (And this game was my fourth choice.) Flatout 2 purchased for $12 a few weeks ago, still hasn't arrived. Oh, and last I checked, there was a "short wait" for just about every game in my rental queue. Wow, that's really worth the $28/month. Looking forward to getting the Pokemon DS games some time in July...
(If you don't know me and think my taste in games is questionable, keep in mind that I'm checking out kids' titles on purpose.)
Put it this way, I don't even pay for Gamefly out of my own pocket (it's a work expense), and I still want to cancel. The enthusiasm couldn't be lower, people.
New Beastie Boys
Good news/bad news: New Beastie Boys album coming soon! It's called THE MIX-UP. It's all-instrumental. So forgive me if I remain skeptical...
Tracks:
1. B For My Name
2. 14th St. Break
3. Suco De Tangerina
4. The Gala Event
5. Electric Worm
6. Freaky Hijiki
7. Off The Grid
8. The Rat Cage
9. The Melee
10. Dramastically Different
11. The Cousin Of Death
12. The Kangaroo Rat
Word to your mommy.
Tracks:
1. B For My Name
2. 14th St. Break
3. Suco De Tangerina
4. The Gala Event
5. Electric Worm
6. Freaky Hijiki
7. Off The Grid
8. The Rat Cage
9. The Melee
10. Dramastically Different
11. The Cousin Of Death
12. The Kangaroo Rat
Word to your mommy.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Roll Out
Hey, so Activision just launched the Transformers game website. It certainly looks badass. Just like the movie, of course, which promises to bite your nuts (and bolts) off!
Activision does really good "epic" stuff with these licenses...I just started playing Marvel Ultimate Alliance on the Wii and the production value is certainly there. Whether the game has much substance is up for debate...I assume the same will be true for Mr. Prime and friends.
Activision does really good "epic" stuff with these licenses...I just started playing Marvel Ultimate Alliance on the Wii and the production value is certainly there. Whether the game has much substance is up for debate...I assume the same will be true for Mr. Prime and friends.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
We Are 8-Bit
Joystiq has very kindly posted images from the gallery opening of this year's "I Am 8-Bit" installation. Some great stuff in there. Love Karnov!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Guild Wars Expansion and Sequel
NCSoft announces a new Guild Wars expansion for later this year, and a full-on sequel soon after. Wowzers, I had no idea a free MMO could do so well and get so much content in the pipeline. Then again, Guild Wars is really the only MMO I ever truly enjoyed. And I guess they are selling copies! Nice work.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Player Haters
So I just saw a post on GameSetWatch about the Acclaim MMO import, Dance Online. As I previously posted, these Acclaim MMO titles have clearly gone the "cheapie" route when it comes to localization and, more specifically, culturalization. See below:
Typos aside, this goes a long way toward proving my point: culturalization is the sleeping dragon when it comes to importing games from Asia. Culturalizing, in terms of a definition, is the process of making content changes above-and-beyond the basic relanguaging of a game for other territories. For example, some Asian countries are -- shall we say -- a little more "liberal" with reagrd to low camera angles and teenage undergarments. Therefore, a little sensitivity (and work) is required when bringing an Asian game to a more "prudish" land such as the United States.
Sure, it seems so easy! Grab some games from Korea! They make so much money! They are so awesome! Until you realize..uh-oh! There are not a lot of black people living in Korea, and therefore, black skin is considered an "extra feature" in their games. Whoops!
In all fairness, the story goes on to say that Acclaim is offering the "African-American upgrade" for next-to-nothing in the item shop. C'mon, guys. If you're gonna import these titles without understanding their content, and then try to prop them up with limited changes in order to make a quick buck, you're gonna have to deal with the raminfications of your laziness. Boo on Acclaim!
Black is an EXTRA feature. It makes your person look unique, so that is an EXTRA feature. Therefore, you having to PAY for it. (Or ask a friend to pay for it).
Typos aside, this goes a long way toward proving my point: culturalization is the sleeping dragon when it comes to importing games from Asia. Culturalizing, in terms of a definition, is the process of making content changes above-and-beyond the basic relanguaging of a game for other territories. For example, some Asian countries are -- shall we say -- a little more "liberal" with reagrd to low camera angles and teenage undergarments. Therefore, a little sensitivity (and work) is required when bringing an Asian game to a more "prudish" land such as the United States.
Sure, it seems so easy! Grab some games from Korea! They make so much money! They are so awesome! Until you realize..uh-oh! There are not a lot of black people living in Korea, and therefore, black skin is considered an "extra feature" in their games. Whoops!
In all fairness, the story goes on to say that Acclaim is offering the "African-American upgrade" for next-to-nothing in the item shop. C'mon, guys. If you're gonna import these titles without understanding their content, and then try to prop them up with limited changes in order to make a quick buck, you're gonna have to deal with the raminfications of your laziness. Boo on Acclaim!
Monday, April 16, 2007
ATHF on XBL
To celebrate the launch of their movie, the Aqua Teens will be on Xbox Live playing Uno with fans. Uh...okay!
Who: Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Time: 7-8:30 P.M. ET/ 4-5:30 P.M. PT
Game: UNO
Gamertag: ATHFGWF
Be warned: the milkshake cheats.
Who: Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Time: 7-8:30 P.M. ET/ 4-5:30 P.M. PT
Game: UNO
Gamertag: ATHFGWF
Be warned: the milkshake cheats.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
God of Bore?
I might as well jump on the bandwagon and post a link to actionbutton.net's no-star God of War II review. Take it for what you will...attention-grabbing negativity or a fanboy call-to-arms. At least it is intelligently written and has no spelling errors. Make sure to read the comments.
(I haven't played the game, yet, so I choose to remain neutral.)
(I haven't played the game, yet, so I choose to remain neutral.)
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Zombies On The Brain
I can't stop thinking about zombies...I'm reading World War Z, I've just subscribed to Image's Walking Dead, zombies haunt my dreams...and I cant get 28 Days Later out of my head.
Well, 28 Weeks Later is coming out soon, and there's a Resident Evil sequel on the way as well. (Let's hope it is better than the above.) And I just heard about a new version of "The Plague" starring James Van Der Beek! Whee! Brains!
Well, 28 Weeks Later is coming out soon, and there's a Resident Evil sequel on the way as well. (Let's hope it is better than the above.) And I just heard about a new version of "The Plague" starring James Van Der Beek! Whee! Brains!
2 Moons
Open the bloodgates...Acclaim's Korean import 2Moons promises to be spilling lots of the red stuff.
I tried Bots and I thought it was a big snoozefest. Maybe 2Moons or their martial arts MMO 9Dragons will fare better. As soon as I have some free time (yeah, right) I'll try them both.
I think Acclaim has done quickie localization and virtually no culturalization, so it will be interesting to see if these products can compete in the fast-paced, dog-eat-dog world of MMOGs. Check out the Gods & Heroes trailer Kotaku posted here if you don't believe me.
I tried Bots and I thought it was a big snoozefest. Maybe 2Moons or their martial arts MMO 9Dragons will fare better. As soon as I have some free time (yeah, right) I'll try them both.
I think Acclaim has done quickie localization and virtually no culturalization, so it will be interesting to see if these products can compete in the fast-paced, dog-eat-dog world of MMOGs. Check out the Gods & Heroes trailer Kotaku posted here if you don't believe me.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Don't Meet the Robinsons
Despite Toonzone's positive review of Disney's Meet the Robinsons, I found the movie to be pretty hard to stomach. Yes, the animation was nice and YES, the production design and general visual direction were both quite amazing. However, the whole is not equal to the sum of its parts. Wait, you mean SEVEN writers couldn't get this thing off the ground? Nope...I guess they needed to hire a few more -- seriously, if Disney aimed to suck out all that which was cool and beautiful and quirky about William Joyce's book and replace it with a whole lot of noise, well, they did a bang-up job. (Not sure if Mr. Joyce was involved in the film, but I'd be pretty PO'd if I were him.) The unusual characters and retro designs are sidelined by a mundane plot and a stupid "twisteroo" ending, not to mention the ADD-theater aspect to the proceedings once the movie (finally) arrives at the Robinson abode. Poop!
So much good here, but so much wasted...just further proof of my theory that a film's quality is indirectly proportional to the number of its writers.
So much good here, but so much wasted...just further proof of my theory that a film's quality is indirectly proportional to the number of its writers.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Lord of the Puffs?
The Internet reports that Peter Jackson is making the live-action PPG movie. Riiiiight...thanks to Mario for the tip!
Cultural Currency
This recent Gamasutra feature discusses the use of brands as "cultural currency" as they relate to the issue of in-game advertising. The author suggests that designers can in fact think of brands as tools in their toolkit. As he writes in his conclusion:
While this sounds great in theory, in practice I am relatively confident that players will still view in-game advertising as exactly what it is: something to enhance the bottom line, not something to enhance gameplay.
However, I do think there are creative ways to bring advertisers to your game, and this is a point of discussion for our team as you read this!
You can use advertising to exploit cultural preconceptions about known items that then serve as a kind of shorthand for aspects of your game world. And that sort of attitude turns the tables on in-game advertisers, making advertising a tool in the hands of the designer, rather than one in the hands of the brand, agency, or network.
While this sounds great in theory, in practice I am relatively confident that players will still view in-game advertising as exactly what it is: something to enhance the bottom line, not something to enhance gameplay.
However, I do think there are creative ways to bring advertisers to your game, and this is a point of discussion for our team as you read this!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Penguins FTW!
Per my earlier post about Club Penguin and Webkinz, see the latest edition of MMOG Nation on Game Set Watch for a more gamer-centric perspective on massive games for kids.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
GTA NYC
Oh, yeah...Rockstar posted a teaser trailer for GTA IV. I'm not the biggest GTA fan in the world, though I did love most of the 40 hours I put into San Andreas before I got totally frustrated and bored. However, this new one -- the first one on next-gen consoles and taking place in a seemingly real NYC -- has me totally stoked!!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Ultimate Ultima Blog
Joystiq reports this totally awesome blog project. One man, nine games, and a single quest: play through all the original Ultima games from start to finish, and blog about it. Amazing! Even better? The blogger's name is Ophidian Dragon...and he's unemployed! But, as Mr. Dragon notes in his introduction, he is not trying to get through the games as fast as possible or play more than 6-12 hours/week. Mr. Dragon is nothing if not a sensible dragon. (And presumably with a few other responsibilities in life, like finding a job.)
Seriously: I poke fun. But props to you, Ophidian! I'm going to try and follow your exploits and live vicariously through your adventures in Britannia. I, myself, only completed Ultima III back in the day...and just barely. (Hell, I've only ever touched Ultimas III-V.) If you can make it through all of these games and live to blog about it, you will have my highest geek respect. Good journey, sir, and watch out for the orcs.
Seriously: I poke fun. But props to you, Ophidian! I'm going to try and follow your exploits and live vicariously through your adventures in Britannia. I, myself, only completed Ultima III back in the day...and just barely. (Hell, I've only ever touched Ultimas III-V.) If you can make it through all of these games and live to blog about it, you will have my highest geek respect. Good journey, sir, and watch out for the orcs.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Holy LEGO Game!
Sweet...a LEGO Batman game is coming from the same guys who brought us the LEGO Star Wars games.
Via Cynopsis:
I actually can't recall a good Batman videogame since the old Genesis days. (Unless you count the "Rise of Sin Tzu" -- which wasn't technically "bad" or "good" but rather simply "blah".) Funny that it takes the LEGO version to make Batman interesting again. We'll see, we'll see. I have high hopes. Been playing "LEGO Star Wars II" and it's damn fun.
Via Cynopsis:
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games have inked a deal that will result in the release of LEGO Batman: The Videogame for next generation/current game console platforms and PCs in 2008. Under the deal Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will serve as the North America publisher for the game title, including all sales and distribution functions as well. In the game, player will be able to explore the interactive LEGO version of DC Comic's Gotham City as its characters Batman and Robin, while fighting and capturing evildoers of course.
I actually can't recall a good Batman videogame since the old Genesis days. (Unless you count the "Rise of Sin Tzu" -- which wasn't technically "bad" or "good" but rather simply "blah".) Funny that it takes the LEGO version to make Batman interesting again. We'll see, we'll see. I have high hopes. Been playing "LEGO Star Wars II" and it's damn fun.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
OMG Steampunk Star Wars
Dave's Long Box points us to one of the coolest Star Wars things I've seen in quite some time: Steampunk Star Wars!
Who's up for some Gothic Vampire Star Wars next? That would be a hoot! Darth Vader sucks your blood and turns you into a stormtrooper.
Who's up for some Gothic Vampire Star Wars next? That would be a hoot! Darth Vader sucks your blood and turns you into a stormtrooper.
Monday, March 26, 2007
More MMO
A few choice articles in the mainstream press worth looking at:
CNN Money talks Webkinz and Club Penguin and why stuffed animals and flightless waterfowl are both stickier than YouTube. (See chart.)
BusinessWeek profiles Maple Story and mentions Sony Home while still falling upon the journalistic cliche of "Hey, they met in the game and got married in real life! And then they got married in the game!"
Nerds!
CNN Money talks Webkinz and Club Penguin and why stuffed animals and flightless waterfowl are both stickier than YouTube. (See chart.)
BusinessWeek profiles Maple Story and mentions Sony Home while still falling upon the journalistic cliche of "Hey, they met in the game and got married in real life! And then they got married in the game!"
Nerds!
What I'm Watching, Playing, Hearing, Reading
As an avid consumer of all things media en masse, I am pleased to report that I have recently had a lot on my plate to enjoy. Sure, there are always good TV shows to watch, movies to see, games to play, etc. -- but there's also a lot of crap out there, making it challenging to find the good stuff. Since I don't have all the free time I used to have, getting stuck with a stinker is often a big disappointment. Fortunately, the last few weeks have been host to a parade of fun happy goodtimes, and I've been itching to report my findings here:
Movie: 300 -- Oh, you would be a fool indeed if you missed this one in the theater. I'm not saying it was Shakespeare or anything (even though Frank Miller would probably like you to think so), but what a spectacle! Really just one of the best recent examples of pure cinematic entertainment. The director (Zach Snyder?) uses the medium to its full advantage here...might I say that it is one of the finest comic-to-film translations ever? I might, rabbit. I might. Oh, and the giant rampaging rhino is totally historically accurate, too!
Movie: The Illusionist -- Where did the filmmakers go wrong? I ask this question because somehow this movie was ignored as a "best of 2006" entry. Was it even noiminated for any awards? I haven't a clue, but it should have. Another fine piece of entertainment...great cast, beautiful production design and cinematography, an airtight script, I could go on. Even the gimmicky ending was brilliant! And Jessica Biel is hawt! Seriously, this was like a little character play/mystery starring four actors, a old theater and the city of Vienna. Just perfect. What happened?
Game: Titan Quest -- Kill. Loot. Repeat. An action RPG of the finest order. The developer, Iron Lore, (I believe) was the toast of GDC, receiving kudos from their fellow developers at the "choice" awards. Deservedly so. What a great game. The item management is fun, not tedious. The voice acting is good, not annoying. The weapons and powers are familiar, yet original. And it's like playing in your very own Harryhausen movie. What could be better?
Game: Rogue Galaxy -- Okay, I just don't have the time to slog through a Japanese RPG. But this one is worth the effort. It was a little slow to get going, and the learning curve is rather steep. But I'm having a lot of fun with it. And the storyline, characters and cut-scenes are actually entertaining! Gadzooks! If anything, the co-op AI of your party members is pretty weak, making the real-time battles a little unfair at times. But I am enjoying the weapons and abilities and switching between characters. And the graphics! Why buy a PS3? Seriously.
Television: Battlestar Galactica -- I stayed up past my bedtime to watch the final two episodes of season three last night. This is a damn fine show. and the producers really know how to leave us hanging! Season four can't come fast enough. I'm reading the blogs...everyone thinks we've seen four of the "final five" Cylons, but I'm not convinced. Theories from clever viewers suggest that our "watchtower" friends are not Cylons at all. Seriously, could Tigh be a Cylon and keep his dignity? Doubtful. Starbuck's return was also welcome, and expected. Hopefully the rumor of a mid-break summer movie will help with the agony of waiting...
Movie: Idiocracy -- Okay, the movie doesn't really live up to the brilliance of its premise, but there are so many LOL moments here. "Excape!" The House of Representin'. Law degrees from COSTCO. And so on and so forth. Mike Judge should make more movies.
Comic: The Walking Dead -- Chris lent me the first five trades, and I am hooked. You know how like at the end of a zombie movie, you want to know what happens next? This comic tells you.
MC: Royce the 5'9" -- So I got the album "Death Is Certain" when I was in San Fran, and I can't stop listening to it. This guy is criminally overlooked, but then again, maybe he should stay underground. I think his busted friendship with Eminem might have actually been a good thing. Cold raps, indeed!
Book: Cartoon Modern -- An amazing overview of 1950s animation, when people started smoking dope and listening to jazz and getting all freaked out, man!
Movie: Monsters, Inc. -- Okay, an older movie, but Aviella can't stop watching it. (And as a result, neither can I.) Having now seen the thing about a dozen times, I can say without a doubt that it is tied with "The Incredibles" as PIXAR's finest hour.
Okay, I'm done. I really have to get to work now.
Movie: 300 -- Oh, you would be a fool indeed if you missed this one in the theater. I'm not saying it was Shakespeare or anything (even though Frank Miller would probably like you to think so), but what a spectacle! Really just one of the best recent examples of pure cinematic entertainment. The director (Zach Snyder?) uses the medium to its full advantage here...might I say that it is one of the finest comic-to-film translations ever? I might, rabbit. I might. Oh, and the giant rampaging rhino is totally historically accurate, too!
Movie: The Illusionist -- Where did the filmmakers go wrong? I ask this question because somehow this movie was ignored as a "best of 2006" entry. Was it even noiminated for any awards? I haven't a clue, but it should have. Another fine piece of entertainment...great cast, beautiful production design and cinematography, an airtight script, I could go on. Even the gimmicky ending was brilliant! And Jessica Biel is hawt! Seriously, this was like a little character play/mystery starring four actors, a old theater and the city of Vienna. Just perfect. What happened?
Game: Titan Quest -- Kill. Loot. Repeat. An action RPG of the finest order. The developer, Iron Lore, (I believe) was the toast of GDC, receiving kudos from their fellow developers at the "choice" awards. Deservedly so. What a great game. The item management is fun, not tedious. The voice acting is good, not annoying. The weapons and powers are familiar, yet original. And it's like playing in your very own Harryhausen movie. What could be better?
Game: Rogue Galaxy -- Okay, I just don't have the time to slog through a Japanese RPG. But this one is worth the effort. It was a little slow to get going, and the learning curve is rather steep. But I'm having a lot of fun with it. And the storyline, characters and cut-scenes are actually entertaining! Gadzooks! If anything, the co-op AI of your party members is pretty weak, making the real-time battles a little unfair at times. But I am enjoying the weapons and abilities and switching between characters. And the graphics! Why buy a PS3? Seriously.
Television: Battlestar Galactica -- I stayed up past my bedtime to watch the final two episodes of season three last night. This is a damn fine show. and the producers really know how to leave us hanging! Season four can't come fast enough. I'm reading the blogs...everyone thinks we've seen four of the "final five" Cylons, but I'm not convinced. Theories from clever viewers suggest that our "watchtower" friends are not Cylons at all. Seriously, could Tigh be a Cylon and keep his dignity? Doubtful. Starbuck's return was also welcome, and expected. Hopefully the rumor of a mid-break summer movie will help with the agony of waiting...
Movie: Idiocracy -- Okay, the movie doesn't really live up to the brilliance of its premise, but there are so many LOL moments here. "Excape!" The House of Representin'. Law degrees from COSTCO. And so on and so forth. Mike Judge should make more movies.
Comic: The Walking Dead -- Chris lent me the first five trades, and I am hooked. You know how like at the end of a zombie movie, you want to know what happens next? This comic tells you.
MC: Royce the 5'9" -- So I got the album "Death Is Certain" when I was in San Fran, and I can't stop listening to it. This guy is criminally overlooked, but then again, maybe he should stay underground. I think his busted friendship with Eminem might have actually been a good thing. Cold raps, indeed!
Book: Cartoon Modern -- An amazing overview of 1950s animation, when people started smoking dope and listening to jazz and getting all freaked out, man!
Movie: Monsters, Inc. -- Okay, an older movie, but Aviella can't stop watching it. (And as a result, neither can I.) Having now seen the thing about a dozen times, I can say without a doubt that it is tied with "The Incredibles" as PIXAR's finest hour.
Okay, I'm done. I really have to get to work now.
Friday, March 23, 2007
GDC Best Of
The CMP Games Group has been kind enough to post a sizzle reel highlighting the "best moments" of GDC. Not much there, but riding the escalators was definitely awesome! I'll never forget you, escalators.
And in case you didn't make it to the conference, these were the top-rated sessions from the show, as determined by attendee evaluations.
1. Writing Great Design Documents, Damion Schubert (Lead Combat Designer, BioWare Corp.)
2. Exploration: From Systems to Spaces to Self, Clint Hocking (Creative Director, Ubisoft Divertissements)
3. Painting an Interactive Musical Landscape, Koji Kondo (Manager of Sound Group, Nintendo Co., Ltd.)
4. High-Def Outdoor Environments, Michael Khaimzon (Crytek)
5. Rethinking Challenges in Games and Stories, Ernest Adams
And in case you didn't make it to the conference, these were the top-rated sessions from the show, as determined by attendee evaluations.
1. Writing Great Design Documents, Damion Schubert (Lead Combat Designer, BioWare Corp.)
2. Exploration: From Systems to Spaces to Self, Clint Hocking (Creative Director, Ubisoft Divertissements)
3. Painting an Interactive Musical Landscape, Koji Kondo (Manager of Sound Group, Nintendo Co., Ltd.)
4. High-Def Outdoor Environments, Michael Khaimzon (Crytek)
5. Rethinking Challenges in Games and Stories, Ernest Adams
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Putting the "Comic" in "Comic Books"
Merrill directed me to this funny article entitled "Top 15 Unintentionally Funny Comic Book Panels".
While not technically a panel, this Superman cover was always one of my unpolitically correct faves:
Oh, comic books! You were so racist!
While not technically a panel, this Superman cover was always one of my unpolitically correct faves:
Oh, comic books! You were so racist!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
PR Blunders
Not sure where I found this, but Games Radar has posted a very entertaining article about recent PR goofs coming out of the games industry.
Now, if someone could cause a major metropolitan city to fold under the threat of a supposed bomb scare, that would be a real gem.
Now, if someone could cause a major metropolitan city to fold under the threat of a supposed bomb scare, that would be a real gem.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Imagical
Hilarious. Just after posting "Look Around You" I stumble upon this awesome video, thanks to the wonderful Atari Age website. It's a television program called "Enterprise" from the early 80s, and it's all about the making of the game "Atlantis" for the Atari 2600:
Not a bad game, by the way. Part 2:
What's so hysterical is that everything that "Look Around You" satirizes is right here...for realz! Part 3:
Not a bad game, by the way. Part 2:
What's so hysterical is that everything that "Look Around You" satirizes is right here...for realz! Part 3:
Look Around You
Chrissie recommends a hilarious British comedy series entitled "Look Around You" -- a fake, 70s-style late night magazine show that plays it straighter than a frat boy on spring break.
This one happens to be about computers, games and inventions, but there are quite a few others:
I love the vegetable orchestra system!
This one happens to be about computers, games and inventions, but there are quite a few others:
I love the vegetable orchestra system!
Monday, March 12, 2007
LEGO MMO
So I'm back from GDC. Still gathering my thoughts, while putting together business cards in little piles on my desk. One thing I will say: them game nerds like to hear themselves talk. A lot.
Surprise of the conference? Sony keynote beats Nintendo keynote in a photo finish!
Anyway, while we were out in San Fran, Chris sent us a note that LEGO has announced an MMO, to launch some time next year. Schwing.
Surprise of the conference? Sony keynote beats Nintendo keynote in a photo finish!
Anyway, while we were out in San Fran, Chris sent us a note that LEGO has announced an MMO, to launch some time next year. Schwing.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Penguin Dreams
Check out this hilarious column about Club Penguin from this month's Wired. Once again, a mother of two entertains with her article about online games! Will wonders never cease?
Best quote: "Why is there a black puffle named Fax Machine in my igloo?"
I don't know, dear. I don't know.
Best quote: "Why is there a black puffle named Fax Machine in my igloo?"
I don't know, dear. I don't know.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
POTCO A-Go-Go
Very interesting preview of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Online that is certainly worth a look. Sounds like Disney is doing a lot of things right, but it remains to be seen how the fully-featured game is really going to play. I still wonder if people (kids, especially) truly like pirates enough to want to play in a world completely dedicated to their antics...even if Voodoo is involved. And what's the deal with gambling mini-games in a kid's title?
On a side note, the article is written by a woman. And not just any woman, but a MOM. How often do you see THAT?
On a side note, the article is written by a woman. And not just any woman, but a MOM. How often do you see THAT?
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Gahhh
How does one go from relaxed and happy to be back at work to completely overwhelmed and stressed within a 24-hour time span? Crap. Well, that was fun while it lasted.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Ahhh
So I just got back from a very relaxing week on the beach, and even though it sucks when vacation is over, I'm pretty psyched to be back in the office today. My job is pretty awesome, I think!
Anyway, you need to check out the new "Gadget Game" called Loco Motion, which uses your webcam as an input device (not unlike the PS2 EyeToy). Nice work, Brad and games team!
Anyway, you need to check out the new "Gadget Game" called Loco Motion, which uses your webcam as an input device (not unlike the PS2 EyeToy). Nice work, Brad and games team!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
We're On It
Cartoon Network has posted a bunch of information about its 2007 upfront presentation here. The new shows look great, although I must admit that I'm most excited for the MMOG!
Friday, February 09, 2007
Ubi to Make Movies
I get a lot of PR updates from game publishers, but most of them are boring game announcements. This one from Ubisoft, however, was really interesting!
This takes game makers right into the realm of film makers. Though it is similar to what we've seen from the CGI Final Fantasy flicks, this seems on a much grander scale. Wow! It will be cool to see what comes out of this studio. Assassin's Creed looks like dynamite on a plate.
Today at a press conference in Montreal, Canada, Ubisoft is announcing that it will create a new CGI movie production house within its Montreal studio and it will significantly expand its video game development operations in the region. In partnership with the local government, Ubisoft will create 1,000 additional positions by 2013, 500 of those positions will be within the new CGI studio.
The new CGI studio's mission will be to produce short digital films based on Ubisoft's video game properties. Work on an eight-minute short film inspired by Assassin's Creed is already underway.
This takes game makers right into the realm of film makers. Though it is similar to what we've seen from the CGI Final Fantasy flicks, this seems on a much grander scale. Wow! It will be cool to see what comes out of this studio. Assassin's Creed looks like dynamite on a plate.
Virtual Coinage
In the words of Cyndi Lauper, "Money changes everything." If you have any interest at all in virtual economies or world design, check out this great column on GameSetWatch.
Yes, buying virtual goods is big business, but how big seems rather nebulous. From a designer perspective, it's annoying to think that people want to simply use cash to get higher level characters and loot as opposed to playing your game. From the column:
Ultimately, for me it's about third parties (who had nothing to do with your game) making hay off of your hard work. Why can't game publishers set up their own RMT businesses and undercut the gold farmers? From what I've been reading, some companies might be gearing up to do just that.
Yes, buying virtual goods is big business, but how big seems rather nebulous. From a designer perspective, it's annoying to think that people want to simply use cash to get higher level characters and loot as opposed to playing your game. From the column:
I know a lot of folks are rushing through Burning Crusade to get to 70 ... but aren't these games supposed to be about having fun? Isn't the time and hard work of these developers something to be enjoyed rather than circumvented?
Ultimately, for me it's about third parties (who had nothing to do with your game) making hay off of your hard work. Why can't game publishers set up their own RMT businesses and undercut the gold farmers? From what I've been reading, some companies might be gearing up to do just that.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Voice Actors <3 Video Games
Check out the super talented voice cast from Billy & Mandy discuss making the game. Actually pretty interesting if you like the show!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Ukulele!
Check out this cool profile of pal Flynn DeMarco, creator of the fab-u-lous Gay Gamer website.
(And no, I'm not gay...but I play one on teh internets.)
(And no, I'm not gay...but I play one on teh internets.)
Friday, February 02, 2007
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
G4: Brilliant or Just Pandering?
How about this promo for an upcoming episode of G4TV's "The Block" --
Actually, I believe G4 is, in fact, steezin' for a reason. They need viewers. Bad.
You know things are gonna get snow-meltingly hot when the Vivid Girls check into The Block! Check out the no-holds barred action as porn stars Kayden Kross, Brea Lynn and Cassidey visit the snowboarders' hotel for a steamy photo shoot.
But it's not all snowboarding, hot-tubbing, partying, and posing for the Vivid Girls: Things go off the rails quick when an adult-video vixen falls for Michael! The sparks are gonna fly, homie.
As always, we're steezin' for no reason up on The Block. Don't miss it.
Actually, I believe G4 is, in fact, steezin' for a reason. They need viewers. Bad.
Monday, January 29, 2007
For Whom the Phone Rings
Sad, funny or both? Check out these Metallica ringtones for some truly hilarious (and downright depressing) examples of exactly what a band sounds like when it exchanges the final vestiges of its dignity for cold, hard, cash. Yes, the guys who brought you "Battery" and "The Four Horsemen" now bring you, "Hey, this is James from Metallica. I'm in your purse. Answer the phone!"
(Thanks to all the Jillies for the laughs!)
(Thanks to all the Jillies for the laughs!)
Tyra on WoW
Incredible video here of a segment from the so-bad-it's-good Tyra Banks talk show. Watch as a young man chooses his young bride and infant daughter over his World of Warcraft account. Good choice, dude!
What's so amazing is that there is no talk of moderation. Gee, maybe 40 hours a week is not what a young father should be spending with ANY activity, much less an evil video game? But games are so stigmatized, it's time to shred the CDs! Take that, video games!
(Of course, they should have had the poor guy ceremoniously uninstall the game from his hard drive instead of shred the discs. But that wouldn't have been good TV, now would it?)
In my favorite episode of Tyra's show, she takes some people who have irrational phobias (clowns, ovens, styrofoam) and makes them face their fears in the most seriously straightfaced manner possible. When clowns arrive to prance around the stage to the tune of scary, scary music, I nearly fell out of my chair. Now THAT'S good TV.
What's so amazing is that there is no talk of moderation. Gee, maybe 40 hours a week is not what a young father should be spending with ANY activity, much less an evil video game? But games are so stigmatized, it's time to shred the CDs! Take that, video games!
(Of course, they should have had the poor guy ceremoniously uninstall the game from his hard drive instead of shred the discs. But that wouldn't have been good TV, now would it?)
In my favorite episode of Tyra's show, she takes some people who have irrational phobias (clowns, ovens, styrofoam) and makes them face their fears in the most seriously straightfaced manner possible. When clowns arrive to prance around the stage to the tune of scary, scary music, I nearly fell out of my chair. Now THAT'S good TV.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Target Targets Gamers
In case you don't play Maple Story (and Dear Lord, why wouldn't you?), there's some pretty sweet in-game advertising to be found in the little burb of Kerning City:
I guess Target is interested in going after potty-mouthed prepubescent cosplayers. Makes total sense. When one gamer saw me (in screenshot, above) standing next to that nifty Target kiosk, he proclaimed, "hahahahah he wants noob lewtlololol!"
I guess Target is interested in going after potty-mouthed prepubescent cosplayers. Makes total sense. When one gamer saw me (in screenshot, above) standing next to that nifty Target kiosk, he proclaimed, "hahahahah he wants noob lewtlololol!"
Justify My Love
A kindly gentleman (and game designer) by the name of Chris Avellone has done a very good job of sorta explaining what exactly it is that I do on a daily basis. Perhaps I cannot, in good faith, debate the merits of the Battlestar Pegasus over those of the Nostromo*, but I can tell you which member of the Ponypuff Princess club is Asian, and which one is African-American.** As Avellone so succinctly puts it:
Amen, brother. Now back to more cartoons and TV and things. What was Samurai Jack's first cousin's name, again?
*I know some dudes at Comic-Con who can probably settle this debate
**Lee Lee is Asian and Mee Mee is African-American
So my advice for any aspiring members of game development is pretty simple. If you’re a nerd, keep being a nerd.
Amen, brother. Now back to more cartoons and TV and things. What was Samurai Jack's first cousin's name, again?
*I know some dudes at Comic-Con who can probably settle this debate
**Lee Lee is Asian and Mee Mee is African-American
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
8-Bit Operator of Pocket Calculator
My nerdometer went into overdrive upon seeing the news of this upcoming album from Astralwerks. Chiptune covers of Kraftwerk? It's like music geeks and game geeks made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sign me up! Releases on Feb 6.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Top 5 Retro
The dudes over at Hardcore Gamer bring us a special retro issue this month! (As of this post, it's not up on their site yet, but I'm sure it will be soon.) Thankfully, the editors eschew the predictable accolades for their "Top" lists, instead asking their contributors to each pick five of their favorite games that don't usually make those "Best Of" issues. Some great examples include Impossible Mission for the C64, The Adventures of Lolo on the NES, and even Night Driver for the Atari 2600! These were just some of my faves, and if you're a classic gamer, probably some of yours, too.
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to choose my obscure "Top 5" -- so here they are, in no particular order...
1. Beyond Castle Wolfenstein (Apple IIe) - This game didn't just have an amazing objective (kill Hitler) but incredible gameplay, too. Sneaking into Hitler's base, stealing uniforms and passes, bribing guards...this was sophisticated stuff on an Apple IIe, and made for a tense experience way beyond anything available at the time. Not to mention randomly generated maps and synthesized speech: "Halt! Vassus pass!" (German for, "Stop! Let me see your pass!") And when you shoot the guys at the desks, they fall down dead in such definitive fashion, you feel like a total badass. Sam Fisher could learn a thing or two from this game!
2. Super Dodgeball (NES) - From the same crazy Japanese dudes that brought us River City Ransom, another game that might as well be on this list. But for now, let's look at Super Dodgeball, a game that is still fun to play today and has yet to be duplicated. Sure, they put out an upgraded version for the GBA, but it just didn't capture the magic of running up to the line, jumping high in the air, and pelting your enemies with a ball that moves so fast it turns into a frisbee. And at the end, fight shadow versions of yourselves! What could be better than that?
3. Elevator Action (arcade) - This game ate so many of my quarters. At the time, when most arcade games were simply about "clearing levels" Elevator Action crafted a simple scenario that any young kid could truly get behind: You're a spy. Break into the office. Steal the files. Kill the bad guys. Escape. Agent 17 (Codename: Otto) had very limited animation, but just crouching down and firing your gun felt so cool that you could do it all day long. Marvel as the enemy bullets just graze the top of your skull! Man, it's cool to be a secret agent. I'm so glad the pharmacy next to the shoe store had this game, because I could play it while my little sister looked for new Mary Janes with my mom.
4. Pressure Cooker (Atari 2600) - I try not to miss any opportunity to extol the virtues of this Activision classic. Objective: build the burgers to order. Ingredients are as follows: onions, lettuce, tomotatoes, cheese. Once properly constructed, deliver burger to appropriate conveyer belt. Repeat. The game starts out simple and gets pretty crazy. The music is awesome. And it was designed by Garry KITCHEN! How appropriate is that? I think this gem was overlooked as a Burgertime clone, but it's really so much more than that. Fire up Stella (or GameTap) and give it a go. And check this out: when you get an ingedient you don't want, send it back by bouncing it off your belly!
5. Diddy Kong Racing (N64) - My controversial point of view is that this racer was actually superior to Mario Kart 64, at least as far as single player goes. I poured hours and hours into this title, and never actually defeated the final race. As I recall, it was excrutiatingly difficult...you had to make an impeccable run and make not one mistake. In any event, the game was really well done. Nice graphics, funny characters, awesome music, unlockables, and a feature that was truly a design feat: once beating the tracks with the default vehicle, you could go back and race them with another vehicle, such as a plane or a hovercraft. This opened up new pathways and items. How Rare managed to balance this, and still make it fun, I have no idea. I recently noticed that a DS version of this game is coming out soon, so maybe it will get its overdue props.
Top Five Runners-Up: Wacky Races (Dreamcast), Double Dragon II (NES), Ice Climber (NES), Archon (Apple IIe), Gorf (arcade).
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to choose my obscure "Top 5" -- so here they are, in no particular order...
1. Beyond Castle Wolfenstein (Apple IIe) - This game didn't just have an amazing objective (kill Hitler) but incredible gameplay, too. Sneaking into Hitler's base, stealing uniforms and passes, bribing guards...this was sophisticated stuff on an Apple IIe, and made for a tense experience way beyond anything available at the time. Not to mention randomly generated maps and synthesized speech: "Halt! Vassus pass!" (German for, "Stop! Let me see your pass!") And when you shoot the guys at the desks, they fall down dead in such definitive fashion, you feel like a total badass. Sam Fisher could learn a thing or two from this game!
2. Super Dodgeball (NES) - From the same crazy Japanese dudes that brought us River City Ransom, another game that might as well be on this list. But for now, let's look at Super Dodgeball, a game that is still fun to play today and has yet to be duplicated. Sure, they put out an upgraded version for the GBA, but it just didn't capture the magic of running up to the line, jumping high in the air, and pelting your enemies with a ball that moves so fast it turns into a frisbee. And at the end, fight shadow versions of yourselves! What could be better than that?
3. Elevator Action (arcade) - This game ate so many of my quarters. At the time, when most arcade games were simply about "clearing levels" Elevator Action crafted a simple scenario that any young kid could truly get behind: You're a spy. Break into the office. Steal the files. Kill the bad guys. Escape. Agent 17 (Codename: Otto) had very limited animation, but just crouching down and firing your gun felt so cool that you could do it all day long. Marvel as the enemy bullets just graze the top of your skull! Man, it's cool to be a secret agent. I'm so glad the pharmacy next to the shoe store had this game, because I could play it while my little sister looked for new Mary Janes with my mom.
4. Pressure Cooker (Atari 2600) - I try not to miss any opportunity to extol the virtues of this Activision classic. Objective: build the burgers to order. Ingredients are as follows: onions, lettuce, tomotatoes, cheese. Once properly constructed, deliver burger to appropriate conveyer belt. Repeat. The game starts out simple and gets pretty crazy. The music is awesome. And it was designed by Garry KITCHEN! How appropriate is that? I think this gem was overlooked as a Burgertime clone, but it's really so much more than that. Fire up Stella (or GameTap) and give it a go. And check this out: when you get an ingedient you don't want, send it back by bouncing it off your belly!
5. Diddy Kong Racing (N64) - My controversial point of view is that this racer was actually superior to Mario Kart 64, at least as far as single player goes. I poured hours and hours into this title, and never actually defeated the final race. As I recall, it was excrutiatingly difficult...you had to make an impeccable run and make not one mistake. In any event, the game was really well done. Nice graphics, funny characters, awesome music, unlockables, and a feature that was truly a design feat: once beating the tracks with the default vehicle, you could go back and race them with another vehicle, such as a plane or a hovercraft. This opened up new pathways and items. How Rare managed to balance this, and still make it fun, I have no idea. I recently noticed that a DS version of this game is coming out soon, so maybe it will get its overdue props.
Top Five Runners-Up: Wacky Races (Dreamcast), Double Dragon II (NES), Ice Climber (NES), Archon (Apple IIe), Gorf (arcade).
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Super Deluxe
Out in the world of broadband entertainment, Super Deluxe has quietly planted its comedy flag between the buttcheeks of online America -- having launched just yesterday. I don't know if it is funny, yet. But it sure is live! Check it out.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Wowee
Here is a great little think piece on the positives and pitfalls of WoW. Oh, and by the way, Joystiq reports that some dude in France already reached the new level cap of 70, a mere 28 hours after the release of the Burning Crusade expansion. Wow, indeed.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Borat Bunnies
Staying fairly topical, the Starz bunnies have just done Borat with some pretty ticklish results. You know, it's not like the funniest thing ever or anything, but the bunnies consistently make me laugh every time. It must be the squeaky voices.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
When In Rome
Katie recommends this excellent Gamasutra article about localizing popular brands for different areas of the world. Frankly, it's somewhat terrifying!
Q: Do you know what they call Darth Vader in France?
A: Dark Vador (with Cheese)
Also found while reading above: Acclaim is pulling a phoenix act, and they're developing free MMOs (supported by ad revenue). Gamasutra has this interview with Howard Marks, new chief of Acclaim Games.
Q: Do you know what they call Darth Vader in France?
A: Dark Vador (with Cheese)
Also found while reading above: Acclaim is pulling a phoenix act, and they're developing free MMOs (supported by ad revenue). Gamasutra has this interview with Howard Marks, new chief of Acclaim Games.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Game Trailers
Speaking of Apple, did you know that you can watch game trailers on Apple's site, in addition to the movie trailers? I had no idea.
It's-a Me, Moneybags!
Joystiq reports that Nintendo has raised its 2007 profit estimates to $1.5B, an increase of 28% (!!!) over previous estimates. That is a lot of gold coins, my friends.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Monday, January 08, 2007
College Saga
This is an absolutely hilarious live-action spoof of Final Fantasy. Well done, Mark Leung!
Wii Music Player
Many game sites have been reporting on the Finetune Music Player built specifically for the Wii Opera browser. With big, dumb buttons and a Wii-friendly interface, the app is extremely smart. (I'm listening to it at work right now, and it works pretty good in Explorer, too.) It will be interesting to see how many online businesses create Wii-enabled portals for their content. I know the porn sites are all over it...at least that's what I hear. No, really.
The "radio" feature is currently down due to high demand, but you can check out their "Best of 2006" playlists in a number of different genres.
The "radio" feature is currently down due to high demand, but you can check out their "Best of 2006" playlists in a number of different genres.
Turner Online
Last week, the Wall Street Journal offered a pretty comprehensive report on Turner's online strategies. Why GameTap was not worth a mention is somewhat confusing, but overall, an interesting read.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Dark Tower Flash Game
Holy crap. For all the fogeys out there, you will be amazed by this Flash version of 80s electronic board game Dark Tower. Kudos to whoever made this! The only thing missing is the whirring of the Dark Tower's internal motor...but who's complaining?
Friday, January 05, 2007
More Rogue Galaxy
First off, the official US site for Rogue Galaxy is pretty lame, but there's a silly little Flash game to play that, once completed, allows you to sign up for a Rogue Galaxy demo disc and a shot at some other prizes. Whee! I wasted at least 45 minutes playing the stupid thing. Sony Marketing: 1, Matt: 0.
More interestingly, IGN has posted a new promo video with information on the characters in the game. I predict that "jungle queen" Lilika (pictured above) will be a big hit with the cosplayers! You should also check out Hardcore Gamer's cover story about Rogue Galaxy, which whets my appetite even further. I want this game!
More interestingly, IGN has posted a new promo video with information on the characters in the game. I predict that "jungle queen" Lilika (pictured above) will be a big hit with the cosplayers! You should also check out Hardcore Gamer's cover story about Rogue Galaxy, which whets my appetite even further. I want this game!
Games in 2007
Dean Takahashi has a very nice (and extensive) blog post about what to expect from games in the coming year. One word: Spore!
More Retro
My friend Jason is hunting for a handheld game he used to have when he was a kid in the 80s. I am trying to help him figure out what it was called. During my search, I found another awesome retro site called Handheld Museum that has pics and info about nearly every obscure electronic toy from the 1970s and 80s. Remember Hit and Missile? That was my shit, yo!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Go, Go Gadget Retro!
I stumbled upon a really cool blog today called Retro Thing, which features an assortment of old and out-of-date gadgets, including (but not limited to) toys, video games and a random hodegpodge of trinkets from days gone by.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Johnny Dollar
This is a guy I befriended via telephone many years ago when I was working at MTV. George Darrow, AKA Johnny Dollar, was a rockabilly cat in the 50s and 60s. Now he lives somewhere in Pennsylvania, where he still sings and records.
I'm telling you, though Johnny clearly has a few screws loose, he is a charmer and a gentleman -- not to mention a total holdover from another era. The original track entitled "I Hate Your Guts" is a true gem. Irwin Chusid's world of outsider music is calling!
In any case, Johnny called me out of the blue right before the holidays. Somehow, he found me! Crazy...I just got his new tape in the mail.
I'm telling you, though Johnny clearly has a few screws loose, he is a charmer and a gentleman -- not to mention a total holdover from another era. The original track entitled "I Hate Your Guts" is a true gem. Irwin Chusid's world of outsider music is calling!
In any case, Johnny called me out of the blue right before the holidays. Somehow, he found me! Crazy...I just got his new tape in the mail.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Bing Bang Buy
Although I only have one product for sale, my Cafepress shop is finally up and running! Check it out, and buy a bumper sticker while you're at it. You'll be glad you did!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
VF5 on X360
Sony takes a bit of a hit with this announcement today:
People were wondering if VF5 would be a Sony exclusive. Now we know. Will this help move more Xboxes in Japan?
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (December 21, 2006) – SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced that the highly anticipated arcade fighting game, Virtua Fighter™ 5, will make its way onto the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system.
People were wondering if VF5 would be a Sony exclusive. Now we know. Will this help move more Xboxes in Japan?
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Rogue Galaxy
Man, I thought this game was coming out sooner. Rogue Galaxy is a little over a month away, and IGN has posted a 15-minute game intro movie (in three parts) that showcases the game's cool setting and high production value. Not to mention some delicious combat.
The same company behind Dragon Quest VIII, Level 5, is responsible for Rogue Galaxy. The character designs and voice acting seem to be on par with that awesome game, so I'm hoping for something similar here. Why buy a PS3 when your PS2 is still so viable? And we're not just talking new games; used PS2 games are now going for super cheap to make way for the current gen crop. And God of War II isn't even out yet! This PS2 baby still has some serious life in her.
The same company behind Dragon Quest VIII, Level 5, is responsible for Rogue Galaxy. The character designs and voice acting seem to be on par with that awesome game, so I'm hoping for something similar here. Why buy a PS3 when your PS2 is still so viable? And we're not just talking new games; used PS2 games are now going for super cheap to make way for the current gen crop. And God of War II isn't even out yet! This PS2 baby still has some serious life in her.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Blue Dragon
Joystiq reports that Microsoft's Blue Dragon title debuted at #4 on the Japanese software sales charts. This is a nice little win for Microsoft, especially considering the apathy I witnessed in Tokyo regarding the game. But over the last few weeks, we've been seing the interest in Blue Dragon growing as Japanese launch drew closer. Now it's obvious that there's some significant desire for the game. Questions: a) is the game any good? and b) will it sell X360s? I guess we will see. But look for Dragon Quest IX (the other series with Akira Toriyama character designs that has "dragon" in the title but isn't "Dragon Ball" or "Dragon Ball Z") to kill the hell out of everything in Tokyo when it comes out for the DS. I want it!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Bigger Sausage
From my inbox this morning:
Sigh.
Yo dude
You Love Big tits? But Girls love big ramrod!
If you don't have one - GET ONE!
Not only a larger sausage will make you feel better, it will make you look better!
Get a months supply and see the difference!
No Pumps! No Surgery! No Exercises!
100% Guaranteed Safe Results Or Your Money Back!
Sigh.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
New Mass Effect Video
BioWare has posted a new video that reveals some cool details about the upcoming Mass Effect. For instance, the combat system looks pretty robust and action-packed. And, boy, are those eyeballs reflective! Yes, this is the game that will sell me on the X360.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Mission in Snowdriftland
Nintendo is on a roll...with a snowball. Check out Mission in Snowdriftland, a winter-themed web game that seems to come out of nowhere. I love the purple protoplasm dude with glasses!
Friday, December 08, 2006
Hilariious
An entire site devoted to things broken by flying Wii remotes! TV's, windows, glasses...you name it. Fantastic.
Thanks to Gary for link!
Thanks to Gary for link!
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Wii Play
And you thought Wii tennis was fun?
This is from Wii Play, a game already out in Japan. (According to IGN, it shipped with an extra remote, for multiplayer.) Ping pong, billiards, air hockey, tanks, a whole bunch of stuff. When can Wii get our hands on this, Nintendo?!?
This is from Wii Play, a game already out in Japan. (According to IGN, it shipped with an extra remote, for multiplayer.) Ping pong, billiards, air hockey, tanks, a whole bunch of stuff. When can Wii get our hands on this, Nintendo?!?
Wee Wii Reviews
The Wii continues to bring the good grin fun times. Not only am I trading Miis with my friend Mark, but I'm enjoying the hell out of some Zelda. Here are remarks on some of the other launch titles that I've played/got my hands on:
Rayman Raving Rabbids: Believe the reviews. This is NOT a Rayman game. It is a collection of mini-games -- which range from so-so to fun -- starring bizarre rabbit creatures. The rabbits themselves are hilarious: half-homicidal/half-retarded fuzzballs with great animations and SFX. Haven't played much of the game, but it's frustrating that you must unlock the mini-games in single-player before you can play them in multi-player. (Not good for parties!) The mini-games themselves use the Wii controls to varying degrees of success. Coolest by far are the on-rails "plunger shooting" levels, which combine the best aspects of the game (funny characters with pick-up-and-play game design) for smiles galore. Raving Rabbids is fast food, albeit high quality fast food. Nice to look at, fun to play, a good showcase for the Wii...ultimately forgettable.
Excite Truck: TOTALLY fun. The driving is a cartoony, physics-bending experience, which makes the decision to depict the trucks realistically all the more bizarre. But whatever. Go wild with insane jumps, tricks and turns. The controls take a bit of getting used to, but work great. Be warned: this game is HARD. Like, even the early levels are tough. Much better in multiplayer, where the odds are smoothed out. Here is an awesome design decision: the truck that comes in first doesn't always win the race. Players collect stars as they go through the track, by performing tricks, good jumps, etc. Granted, you get a lot of stars for coming in first, but if you can accumulate more by racing well, you can still win. Makes for a real challenge that balances skill with speed.
Trauma Center Second Opinion: I did not play this game on the DS, but I can see how it would work perfectly with that platform. It also works great on the Wii. This is a hospital/surgery sim with a soap opera storyline. The oh-so Japanese narrative hysterics are bad to the point of entertaining. As for gameplay, you will be surprised how quickly you can get into it. The game is really just an exercise in muscle memory and sequence memorization; the surgery theme is only a motif. (The gameplay mechanic could easily work with cooking, or construction, or manufacturing radioactive isotopes, whatever.) The fun comes in when you have to remember complicated sequences while working against the clock (stressful!), all while using the Wii remote to slice, move, suture, etc. Our group was entertained for hours. But I wouldn't buy this game. Note: the graphics are poor.
DBZ Tenkaichi 2: Wow. This game is good. It feels like you are playing a DBZ episode. The graphics are solid and the character selection (over 100 characters) is insane. If you're a DBZ fan, you will LOVE this. The Wii controls are a bit wonky, and I assume this is a result of multi-platform development. (You can also play the game with the retro controller.) I've played previous DBZ fighting games, most of which were mediocre to decent, but this one really captures the kinetic vibe of the show. I may just pick this one up.
Well, back to Zelda. And Red Steel. (I still stand by my assertion that this game is not as bad as everyone claims it is. Grab a bargain copy when you can. I hear a sequel is on the way.) Oh, and let's not forget Wii Sports -- make sure you try the training mode in bowling! You can try to knock down 100 pins at once!
Rayman Raving Rabbids: Believe the reviews. This is NOT a Rayman game. It is a collection of mini-games -- which range from so-so to fun -- starring bizarre rabbit creatures. The rabbits themselves are hilarious: half-homicidal/half-retarded fuzzballs with great animations and SFX. Haven't played much of the game, but it's frustrating that you must unlock the mini-games in single-player before you can play them in multi-player. (Not good for parties!) The mini-games themselves use the Wii controls to varying degrees of success. Coolest by far are the on-rails "plunger shooting" levels, which combine the best aspects of the game (funny characters with pick-up-and-play game design) for smiles galore. Raving Rabbids is fast food, albeit high quality fast food. Nice to look at, fun to play, a good showcase for the Wii...ultimately forgettable.
Excite Truck: TOTALLY fun. The driving is a cartoony, physics-bending experience, which makes the decision to depict the trucks realistically all the more bizarre. But whatever. Go wild with insane jumps, tricks and turns. The controls take a bit of getting used to, but work great. Be warned: this game is HARD. Like, even the early levels are tough. Much better in multiplayer, where the odds are smoothed out. Here is an awesome design decision: the truck that comes in first doesn't always win the race. Players collect stars as they go through the track, by performing tricks, good jumps, etc. Granted, you get a lot of stars for coming in first, but if you can accumulate more by racing well, you can still win. Makes for a real challenge that balances skill with speed.
Trauma Center Second Opinion: I did not play this game on the DS, but I can see how it would work perfectly with that platform. It also works great on the Wii. This is a hospital/surgery sim with a soap opera storyline. The oh-so Japanese narrative hysterics are bad to the point of entertaining. As for gameplay, you will be surprised how quickly you can get into it. The game is really just an exercise in muscle memory and sequence memorization; the surgery theme is only a motif. (The gameplay mechanic could easily work with cooking, or construction, or manufacturing radioactive isotopes, whatever.) The fun comes in when you have to remember complicated sequences while working against the clock (stressful!), all while using the Wii remote to slice, move, suture, etc. Our group was entertained for hours. But I wouldn't buy this game. Note: the graphics are poor.
DBZ Tenkaichi 2: Wow. This game is good. It feels like you are playing a DBZ episode. The graphics are solid and the character selection (over 100 characters) is insane. If you're a DBZ fan, you will LOVE this. The Wii controls are a bit wonky, and I assume this is a result of multi-platform development. (You can also play the game with the retro controller.) I've played previous DBZ fighting games, most of which were mediocre to decent, but this one really captures the kinetic vibe of the show. I may just pick this one up.
Well, back to Zelda. And Red Steel. (I still stand by my assertion that this game is not as bad as everyone claims it is. Grab a bargain copy when you can. I hear a sequel is on the way.) Oh, and let's not forget Wii Sports -- make sure you try the training mode in bowling! You can try to knock down 100 pins at once!
Monday, December 04, 2006
PS3 vs. Wii
Last week, the Wall Street Journal weighed in on the Sony vs. Nintendo debate, and came up with a shocking realization: "For mainstream users, who lack the skill or patience or interest for complex videogames, the Wii is the way to go. For hard-core gamers, the PS3 will be the one you want, but only if you are willing to part with a lot of money."
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Donk!
There's a beer I tried over Thanksgiving from Belgium called Corsendonk. It was delicious! Beer Advocate gives it a good score. Silly name, though!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
When Game Ads Go Bad
This hilarious series of bad game ads is brought to you by writer Scott Sharkey and the folks at 1up. My favorite is the tagline for Crossfire on the Genesis: "Crash Them To Pieces!"
Wii Are Online (Sort Of)
On Sunday night, I tried to get my Wii online. It easily found my router (Linksys), but could not connect to the Internet. I followed Nintendo's support suggestion, and upgraded the router's firmware last night. (Like I know what the fuck that means.) Eureka! It worked. The Wii found that pesky Internet and started downloading system updates. Gee, that download was slow...oops, Wii have lost the connection. Try again later, please!
Apparently, Nintendo's servers are getting crushed by traffic. Couldn't they have seen this coming?
Apparently, Nintendo's servers are getting crushed by traffic. Couldn't they have seen this coming?
Monday, November 27, 2006
Wii Deliver(s)!
The Nintendo hype machine promised to deliver an awesome gaming experience for everyone, and from what I can tell, they are positioned to do just that.
I got my hands on a delicious new Wii (thanks, Danny!) over the holiday wii-kend, and in one word: AWESOME. Even though I have been to multiple gaming conventions over the past year, I never actually got to play the Wii until Thanksgiving Day. Needless to say, it is everything that you have already read in countless blogs and magazines: intuitive, fun, revolutionary, simple, amazing. And don't just take my word for it; my in-laws had a blast playing Wii Tennis and Wii Bowling, and they wouldn't know the difference between an Octorok and a Goomba! Even my mom bowled a strike in Wii Bowling on her first try.
This goes a long way towards proving that an unthreatening interface, combined with elegant desgin, can bring new people into the gaming fold. Isn't this precisely what Nintendo has been talking about? I was skeptical at first, but now that I've played it, I'm a beliiver.
Here are some thoughts about the games I've tried:
Zelda: You just can't improve on the perfect formula, and this is both a good and bad thing. Twilight Princess does justice to its esteemed pedigree, making it a must-buy. If I were to quibble with anything here, it's that the game doesn't really take much advantage of the new controller. This is probably explained by the fact that the title was originally developed for the Gamecube, and is in fact coming out for that platform early next year. So I can't imagine the headaches if Nintendo really went full tilt with the Wiimote interface. But that aside, this game is just superb. Perfect controls (the aiming works great), awesome story (despite the familiar light/dark world hokum), lush graphics (enough bloom lighting already!) and that quintessential Nintendo magic -- Zelda has it all and then some.
Wii Sports: The best launch title ever? Not only is this game a great showcase for the Wii controller, but it does an amazing job of bringing new gamers to the proverbial table. Sure, baseball is way too simple, but does my mother-in-law want to worry about complicated fielding maneuvers? (The game performs these automatically.) Even boxing, which has been getting some lukewarm response, is really fun despite the unreliable controls. The true standouts are bowling and tennis, the latter of which is so much fun, you could probably play it for hours with your friends. I can't even imagine simultaneous four-player matches! You could OD on the Wii madness.
Red Steel: I've only played a little bit of Red Steel, but I enjoyed it. Yes, the controls are a bit goofy. But I look at it as a good start. Frankly, FPS games have become so cookie-cutter that I'm just pleased to try something different. The real challenge is preventing arm fatigue, something I've also heard about in response to Call of Duty. Even though your character in Red Steel probably looks like a total nutjob as he flails his gun hand around all over the damn place, the game is still a good time experience. Ubisoft, as usual, delivers top-notch production value and some really great (if only half-realized) ideas. I look forward to seeing this genre evolve on the Wii in the next six months or so.
That's it for now!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Sony: Uh-Oh
Well, the New York Times is decidedly underwowed by the PS3.
You have to take complaints about the online service -- which has just launched and is free -- with a grain of salt. But the games are another matter. On the tube, G4's X-Play program gives the PS3 launch titles lukewarm to subpar reviews, while the Wii launch titles recieve nearly universal praise.
Sure, I'm a Nintendo loyalist, but I think Nintendo is offering a very different product than either Sony or Microsoft. That said, it seems like the PS3 will have an uphill battle through 2007 if it hopes to beat out the 360 in North America.
Measured in megaflops, gigabytes and other technical benchmarks, the PlayStation 3 is certainly the world’s most powerful game console. It falls far short, however, of providing the world’s most engaging overall entertainment experience. There is a big difference, and Sony seems to have confused one for the other.
You have to take complaints about the online service -- which has just launched and is free -- with a grain of salt. But the games are another matter. On the tube, G4's X-Play program gives the PS3 launch titles lukewarm to subpar reviews, while the Wii launch titles recieve nearly universal praise.
Sure, I'm a Nintendo loyalist, but I think Nintendo is offering a very different product than either Sony or Microsoft. That said, it seems like the PS3 will have an uphill battle through 2007 if it hopes to beat out the 360 in North America.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Pii.U.
Well, no Wii for this guy.
I'm disappointed, but I can't say that I'm too upset. I know I'll be able to get one eventually. If nothing else, I'm pissed at Sony, Nintendo and the retailers for calling this thing a "launch". If I can't have a reasonable expectation of getting your product without having to get up at 4 am or placing myself in a situation that might get me shot, your product really isn't available, now, is it?
(Go into Target and check out the lovely Wii display, which reminds consumers how Nintendo's new console is THE hot item for Christmas! Then look at the empty display case -- tumbleweed -- and wonder what the fuck they are smoking.)
Footnote: what a stupid, greedy, consumerist bunch Wii are. Even more depressing that I'm a part of it. Can I have my console, now?
I'm disappointed, but I can't say that I'm too upset. I know I'll be able to get one eventually. If nothing else, I'm pissed at Sony, Nintendo and the retailers for calling this thing a "launch". If I can't have a reasonable expectation of getting your product without having to get up at 4 am or placing myself in a situation that might get me shot, your product really isn't available, now, is it?
(Go into Target and check out the lovely Wii display, which reminds consumers how Nintendo's new console is THE hot item for Christmas! Then look at the empty display case -- tumbleweed -- and wonder what the fuck they are smoking.)
Footnote: what a stupid, greedy, consumerist bunch Wii are. Even more depressing that I'm a part of it. Can I have my console, now?
The Great Beyond
I had the pleasure of seeing Kid Beyond open up for Imogen Heap last night at the Tabernacle (thanks, Benjy!). You ought to check this guy out. He builds songs, via a sampler, in realtime on stage -- using only his voice. And the guy is like the best beatboxer I have ever seen. Check him out on YouTube, sideways!
As for a gamer connection, Kid Beyond actually performed some of the vocals on Guitar Hero II.
As for a gamer connection, Kid Beyond actually performed some of the vocals on Guitar Hero II.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Cartoon Network Korea
Cartoon Network is live in Korea!
From the release:
Good thing the Koreans like them some MMOs!
From the release:
Launched on November 11, 2006, Cartoon Network is a 24-hour kids' multi-genre entertainment network in Korea which brings together a unique mix of new and recognized programming to Korean kids and their families. Languaged in Korean, the Network provides a diverse mix of quality content drawn from acclaimed production companies from around the world including Japan, Korea and Cartoon Network's own library -- the world's largest cartoon library consisting of more than 14,000 Warner Bros., MGM, Hanna-Barbera and Cartoon Network Originals series and shorts. Cartoon Network is a joint venture between Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and JoongAng Ilbo (JAI).
Good thing the Koreans like them some MMOs!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
PS3 Launch Line-Up
A local Kotaku writer reports about lines for the PS3 at a local Atlanta Best Buy. According to the post, pretty much everyone there is planning to resell their new console on eBay. I love the kid who is going to sell his "to help pay for college" -- you know, they have jobs in book stores for that, dude.
At the very least, this console launch stuff is ridiculous, and at the worst, downright anger-inducing. It's just like those ticket scalpers who buy concert tickets in bulk and then resell them at higher prices to the fans who just want to go see the show at a reasonable price. It crushes my spirit, and it makes me mad. Simple as that. Isn't there a better way to do this?
I like the reader who comments that Sony should just sell the consoles directly on eBay. I'll do one better: fuck eBay. And fuck Best Buy, Toys R Us, EB and all the other asshole retailers, for that matter. Just sell the damn thing on Sony.com. The fulfillment costs can't be that much more than shipping the damn thing worldwide on boats and trucks. But what do I know? Of course, you'd have greedy bastards lining up online, too.
Don't buy a new console for a marked-up price on eBay. Just don't!
At the very least, this console launch stuff is ridiculous, and at the worst, downright anger-inducing. It's just like those ticket scalpers who buy concert tickets in bulk and then resell them at higher prices to the fans who just want to go see the show at a reasonable price. It crushes my spirit, and it makes me mad. Simple as that. Isn't there a better way to do this?
I like the reader who comments that Sony should just sell the consoles directly on eBay. I'll do one better: fuck eBay. And fuck Best Buy, Toys R Us, EB and all the other asshole retailers, for that matter. Just sell the damn thing on Sony.com. The fulfillment costs can't be that much more than shipping the damn thing worldwide on boats and trucks. But what do I know? Of course, you'd have greedy bastards lining up online, too.
Don't buy a new console for a marked-up price on eBay. Just don't!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Game Journalism Roolz
Kotaku points to an interesting piece in the Escapist about games journalism. More of a roundtable discussion than anything else, it features some of the smartest dudes in the biz. Self-indulgence quotient: remarkably low.
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