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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)