tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70749092024-03-07T18:09:28.367-05:00Stacking the DeckEver wonder what the life of a pop culture journalist is like? Well, like all the best zoo exhibits, this is your chance to see one up close and personal in a pseudo-natural environment. Come on in and check out what I'm thinking, what I'm working on, what's happening in the industry, and whatever other unique adventures happen along the way.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.comBlogger326125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-72244052110050687942015-07-19T00:10:00.000-04:002015-07-19T00:10:07.328-04:00Why I Finally Stopped Sending the "Call" of Duty to Voicemail ... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, I've got a bit of a confession (of sorts). You all know by now that I'm an avid gamer. I also love all different types of games. That also includes the FPS genre. I mean, I've been hooked on Halo since the start, I'm digging Destiny, and I even had more late night Doom, Heretic, Quake, and Unreal matches than I care to remember. There was even one time I had a business meeting with someone WHILE we were playing Unreal Tournament.<br />
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All that being said, I've managed to stay relatively clear of the Call of Duty franchise for quite a while. Yes, I'd cover announcements, info, etc., and I'd keep everyone informed, but I don't even remember the last CoD game I had in my personal library. Admittedly, I got turned off of the whole thing years back with the overly competitive and toxic "gung ho" nature of people I kept seeming to run into in the multiplayer. Eventually, I just walked away from it and ended up staying away.<br />
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These days, part of me has felt like I've just been out of it too long. So many people that play CoD have played for years. Even those newer to it still manage have a die hard dedication to the franchise that would put most marriages to shame, committing hours upon hours and days upon days to it. Meanwhile you've got people like me ... the guy who always says that the MOST important part of the game isn't the winning or the losing (though yes, I DO enjoy some competitiveness myself), but rather having fun. <br />
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See, to me, sure I want my team to come out on top, but I'm generally okay if we're not. In Crucible on Destiny, I've had plenty of matches where I've ended up at the top of the heap, and plenty where I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. Either way, though, I have fun (well, except when I'm killed with Thorn over and over and over ... but that's a different story). In my CoD experience from the past, there's no other way to say it other than people took it WAY too seriously. I play games to unwind and relax ... not to end up MORE angry and stressed than when I started.<br />
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Then came Advanced Warfare ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnZWP5t6_mH4hgAFEYHnFoGWiXMQmMcWbzaS4xBLFiAy3sHLlTreCi2FB2BysF5oci8973jUsG-mFrgD_iOIOAfmhGox9bxP1mZDxXj-Ge-SUz4JaF0oR5Dulm943Wpq56e49BA/s1600/2680170-7952273022-3t2hF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnZWP5t6_mH4hgAFEYHnFoGWiXMQmMcWbzaS4xBLFiAy3sHLlTreCi2FB2BysF5oci8973jUsG-mFrgD_iOIOAfmhGox9bxP1mZDxXj-Ge-SUz4JaF0oR5Dulm943Wpq56e49BA/s320/2680170-7952273022-3t2hF.jpg" width="320" /></a>Okay, I'm a tech geek ... and I'm a sucker for injecting some extra scifi in my shooters. Even now, I STILL play the hell out of Titanfall and Halo on the Xbox One, and Destiny on the PS4. I'll dive headfirst into multiplayer on those (you kind of have to with Titanfall) without a second thought. So when Advanced Warfare came out, I was SERIOUSLY tempted to give it a go. After all, the hi-tech goodies were right up my alley. Even so, I STILL couldn't bring myself to jump into CoD again right away. So I let it slip by and ended up playing more of the other games in my wheelhouse ...<br />
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... until this weekend.<br />
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I happened to stumble across an ad for Wal-Mart (which is surprising in and of itself, considering how little I go there if I can help it). Wal-Mart was selling Call of Duty: Advance Warfighter Gold on the PlayStation 4, new, for $29.00. Keep in mind, that's the game that's still currently selling most places for $50-60 new AND, being the Gold version, the $15 Havoc DLC pack ... for $29. It's amazing how something like that can tip the scales of temptation. I might have convinced myself I wasn't going to dive back into CoD after all these years and potentially throw away $50-60 ... but THIS was a deal too good to pass up. So I made my way to Best Buy (remember what I said about not being a fan of Wal-Mart when I can avoid it?), and they price matched the ad ... plus hey, I got extra Reward Zone points.<br />
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As I write this, the game's update and DLC have just finished downloading, and the game should be ready to go. It'll be interesting to get back into the swing of things and see how it goes. Either way, it should be fun to give things a whirl. Besides ... ZOMBIES IN EXO SUITS!!<br />
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... AND Bruce Campbell?!? (yes, I know it's part of the later DLC I still have to buy, but it's frikkin' Bruce Campbell)<br />
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Okay fine ... I'll answer the "Call". I'll keep you posted on how my "reenlistment" goes.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-70357853073706310312014-12-04T16:31:00.000-05:002014-12-04T16:31:25.423-05:00Just who is The Flash's 'Harrison Wells'?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay Flash fans, here's my quick two cents' worth regarding Harrison Wells. I'll be the first to say that I'm not 100 percent sure of anything, but if you were to push me on the issue, I'm thinking more and more that he's going to end up being a revised version of Rip Hunter.<br />
<br />Why would I lay odds on this? Well, keep reading and hitch a ride on my train of thought.<br />
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See, first and foremost, Rip Hunter has been focused on preserving the timeline, which is something we've already seen Harrison obsess over. One of his major focal points has been the future newspaper article with the headline "Flash Missing: Vanishes in Crisis" ... which is a blatant nod to Barry's sacrifice to stop the Anti-Monitor in the original Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline. Another, more subtle nod, comes from the side story's headline, "Red Skies Vanish". In the DC Universe, red skies always seem to be a precursor to some catastrophic, multiverse spanning event. Hell, the upcoming Convergence event is already being foretold with the same red skies. So, in the DC "Berlantiverse" (which is a moniker I'm going to take credit for making up right now ... unless it's discovered someone beat me to it), it's possible that "Harrison Wells" (yes, I'm thinking it's an "H.G. Wells"/time traveler pseudonym) knows that for his future to continue, he has to ensure the creation of the Flash, and guide Barry to his ultimate fate.<br />
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None of this is new speculation to other DC Comic fans ... but here's another potential piece of the puzzle. Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg were already working on the development of a TV series based around another popular time-traveling DC superhero, Booster Gold. In interviews, it was even mentioned that the show (being developed at the time for SyFy) could exist within the Berlantiverse's Arrow series. With Berlanti and Kreisberg having already developed the Booster Gold character and working on fitting him into the Arrow world, it would be a shame for that work to go to waste. If only there was another show, in that same universe, which dealt with issues of time travel. A place that could begin to lay the foundation for a potential appearance (and maybe even spinoff?) by Booster Gold. OH WAIT!! There IS a show set in the same universe that has already started dealing with time travel issues and laying the foundation for a potential Booster Gold appearance: The Flash. And let's not forget that Booster and Rip don't just share their time-hopping hobbies with one another ... they also share a branch on ye ol' family tree. In the comics, Rip Hunter is the son of an older Booster Gold. The two had been working together to maintain the timestream right up until they seemingly vanished after Flashpoint (which, coincidentally, was brought about by the actions of the Flash). However, with DC's new multiverse focused event, Convergence, coming up quickly, Booster and Rip are showing up again ... though lately it's hard to tell exactly which side Rip Hunter is on.<br /><br />It makes sense that Harrison Wells could turn out to be Rip Hunter. Rip has had no problems getting his hands dirty for what he believes to be the greater good. Meanwhile, over on The Flash, we've seen Wells more than willing to do the same in order to protect Barry and the future that the Flash represents. Of course, the writers could end up throwing viewers a huge curve and turn Wells into Zoom, a New God (another rising theory), or hell ... maybe he'll turn out to be Mister Mxyzptlk for all we know. Realistically, there's no reason Wells HAS to end up being ANYONE from the comics, just like Caitlin doesn't HAVE to end up becoming Killer Frost and Cisco doesn't HAVE to end up becoming Vibe (thankfully). The writers can tinker around with things to their hearts' content, so long as the fans stay entertained.<br /><br />But if we end up seeing an episode titled something along the lines of "A Rip in Time", then I'm calling it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-20383108518796249212013-12-19T17:43:00.002-05:002013-12-19T17:44:46.767-05:00Unified Game Concept<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIVHhcUOwMd6BZXRIfi0O7IZueegw3eYRjbnmL-ISN_MvbrTbO59ZCqS2udTpJPCgk-M5HMCehSVP63Mr0J87adckQ9yYXZchEV8A_9Ch3TR3ZP6B-W9n6ZqOv-Trazq5sjJkxA/s1600/Secret_Wars_II_Vol_1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIVHhcUOwMd6BZXRIfi0O7IZueegw3eYRjbnmL-ISN_MvbrTbO59ZCqS2udTpJPCgk-M5HMCehSVP63Mr0J87adckQ9yYXZchEV8A_9Ch3TR3ZP6B-W9n6ZqOv-Trazq5sjJkxA/s320/Secret_Wars_II_Vol_1_1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
It's been too long since I've posted here and so I figured it was about time for me to put together a little something. Lately, I've had a lot of thoughts and ideas regarding the video game industry. Some of them have been pretty serious, like the state of video games media (and how to work on improving its flaws, both real and perceived). Some have been immediate and opinionated, like thoughts on the launches of both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ushering in the true next-generation of gaming (sorry, Wii U fans). Then there are some like this one ... think of them as flights of fancy and random epiphanies. Today's thought? What would happen if a video game company took a cue from the comic book industry? <br />
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Let me explain ...<br />
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<a name='more'></a>If you know much about me, you know that I'm a huge comic book fan. Comics have been a part of my life since I was a little kid picking up issues of Daredevil and Ghost Rider on road trips shuffling between parents for holidays, summer vacations, and the like. Growing up, I started reading more comics with more superheroes. The X-Men, Captain America, Cloak & Dagger, etc. [Ed. Note: First, yes, I loved Editor's Notes like these in the comics. Second, I DID read DC Comics too, but I'm sticking with Marvel for the purposes of this example.]<br />
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Like a lot of kids my age reading comic books, I thought one of the coolest things to happen was when some sort of random threat brought together the characters from the different books to team up against a common foe. It could be a simple one-shot team-up or a short story arc. It didn't matter. What mattered was seeing how these characters who I usually read about in their own stories happened to come together for a greater good. The best of these stories, as a kid, was when Marvel released the Secret Wars miniseries. Sure, the whole thing was designed around trying to sell toys to kids, but in the eyes of a certain eight-year-old future writer, it was Hamlet, The Illiad, and Great Expectations all rolled into one ... and considering I WAS eight at the time, it's not like I'd really read those other books yet anyway. And don't even get me started on how my mind was blown when Marvel's G.I. Joe and the Transformers comic mini-series came out, putting two of my favorite toys/cartoons/comics together in the same world as well. Heck, Spider-Man even made a guest-appearance in the regular monthly Transformers comic. Simply put, I was in awe of the fact that all these fantastic characters lived in the same world together. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJa5y1k6e0VoP4piIsQTUd7u2Lemh5HHs_Rlk_dMZVt10pGbP1zFJR5a4aBNdX5LndJT-56c55H48O3-QHFhitHYcVg09MqE-HFWm2D4x2EaCSHO18qfGu8ojvwV6rxruhzSuvQ/s1600/the-avengers-movie-assembled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJa5y1k6e0VoP4piIsQTUd7u2Lemh5HHs_Rlk_dMZVt10pGbP1zFJR5a4aBNdX5LndJT-56c55H48O3-QHFhitHYcVg09MqE-HFWm2D4x2EaCSHO18qfGu8ojvwV6rxruhzSuvQ/s320/the-avengers-movie-assembled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fast forward to more recent times, and the idea of these grandiose characters still living in a common world and crossing paths is more prevalent than ever. It's a formula that's worked for decades in comic books and is now making waves in the film/television industries. In fact, the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is built around this sort of crossover. The Iron Man flicks gave us Nick Fury and later Black Widow, while also introducing us to Agent Phil Coulson. The Incredible Hulk had a Tony Stark cameo. Thor showed us our first glimpse of Hawkeye. And Captain America ... well, Cap gave us a little more Fury. Each of these movie franchises could have sufficed on their own, but Marvel had the foresight to plan something bigger ... and boy, did we get bigger when Marvel's Avengers flick rolled around. And hey, guess what? It was a success!! All these characters coming together worked, and fans had a blast. Then, at the end of the movie, they all went their separate ways for a new set of solo adventures ... at least until the next big threat brings them all together again. <br />
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The idea of a singular unified setting for stories ... a consolidated universe ... has been a huge facet of the comic industry since its early days. The idea that Hero A from one book could show up in Hero B's story to team-up and fight Villain C at any given moment kept readers on their toes and eager to see what the writers would come up with next. Of course, this paved the way for MASSIVE crossover events too, like Crisis on Infinite Earths, Secret Wars, Inferno, Armageddon 2001, etc. Eventually, other publishers got in on the action, with Dark Horse's Comics' Greatest World, Valiant's Unity. IDW even found a cool way to bridge the gap dividing its multiple licensed franchises with Infestation, which saw a zombie outbreak spill over into the worlds of Ghostbusters, G.I. Joe, Transformers, and even Star Trek.<br />
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Right about now, you might be asking "Where's he going with this?" Of course, some of you might have already figured it out (especially due to the title of this blog post). Thinking about the comic book universes and the characters' occasional interactions with each other made me start to ask what would happen if a game studio/publisher decided to build on this creative model? What if someone decided to build a unified world (or worlds) for their characters to interact with? I know, it sounds like it could be a huge stretch (and a definite creative risk), but think about it for a second. You could have huge epic space titles tied to ground-based smaller urban thrillers tied to comedic goofball offerings, and still build a cohesive universe. Look at Marvel, whose books include the likes of Guardians of the Galaxy, Daredevil, and Deadpool. It's a world where someone like Squirrel Girl can share a page with Wolverine or Captain America and no one bats an eye. Best of all, the effects aren't usually self-contained ... the ripples are felt throughout the stories.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPjO_JU19UxqeGoTr4CFd5vx-QCcwHF_6RdePo1SiS3WPtIoR99M2cS6yJ4W56QH6azMNIXqwDN5dmga4YhthU6mv8wbeTsk7ODKoP4esLEYZc2-I6WpqWTPRhYElaeP4JoHB8g/s1600/newUploads_2012_0604_1a70bafbbce68bd19dc1919a11e17105_120604_4pmPST_WatchDogs_screen1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPjO_JU19UxqeGoTr4CFd5vx-QCcwHF_6RdePo1SiS3WPtIoR99M2cS6yJ4W56QH6azMNIXqwDN5dmga4YhthU6mv8wbeTsk7ODKoP4esLEYZc2-I6WpqWTPRhYElaeP4JoHB8g/s320/newUploads_2012_0604_1a70bafbbce68bd19dc1919a11e17105_120604_4pmPST_WatchDogs_screen1.JPG" width="320" /></a>Now, imagine for a second that some of your favorite video game studios could pull something like this off. Keep in mind that what I'm talking about in this scenario isn't simply a one-off bit of fan service. Yes, I know there are oddball crossovers (like Nintendo's recently announced Hyrule Warriors or Capcom's Project X Zone), but those are not generally in-continuity tales and they're certainly NOT part of a unified story. Instead, I'm talking about multiple characters, tied together through narrative threads, building both self-contained AND linked plots. Right now, Ubisoft could be laying the groundwork for this very idea. In the latest Assassin's Creed game, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the modern day portions take place in the offices of Abstergo Industires. While exploring the offices, players can find multiple references to ctOS and Blume ... the security software that's the key element of Watch Dogs and the company that created it. Also, there's a reference to the player's boss at Abstergo taking a business trip to Chicago, the very city in which Watch Dogs takes place. Sure, it might be (and likely is) nothing more than just a couple of Easter Eggs tossed in for the heck of it, but what if it isn't? Also, it wouldn't take too much work to retcon a couple of minor things to connect both of these games to other Ubisoft hits, like Splinter Cell. Or maybe have a past Assassin run across the Prince from the Prince of Persia reboot? <br />
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The point is, these titles could tie together, but still be left separate from one another until some cool creative idea arrives. Like a great comic book crossover, the seeds could be planted here and there to build a unified world, and then left to germinate over time. Then, as in comics, there could be some greater threat pop up or some threads that are woven together could ultimately come together to create a tapestry that would put all of these diverse and distinct characters into play with a common goal. The crossover could draw interest from gamers who might be on the fence about other titles, and the inevitable collected edition could be an extra source of income for the publisher, much like trade paperbacks are for the comic world. Hell, for that matter, the publisher could even release the "crossover" in episodic format, with each chapter bringing together different characters.<br />
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I'm not saying that this idea isn't without its flaws. Developmental delays could severely affect the flow of the overall story arc(s), and a design change in one game could force a design change in the crossover titles as well. Which leads to another issue ... if there's change in comics, usually rewrites or last minute tweaks can be patched in quickly. Plus, since most comics are published monthly and have a lead time of normally three months or so (particularly due to printing schedules), publishers can get relatively quick feedback from the audience. Game designers, though, are usually locked into their creative sandbox for much longer, and don't know how the audience, on the whole, will react until it's usually too late to change all that much. And in this model, if one chapter of the story fails to click with the audience, publishers run the risk of losing a chunk of their audience with the remaining parts of the story. It's a double edged sword. You want to draw the audience into a grander scale of an experience, but if you stumble along the way, you might lose them for good, much like watching people file out of a movie theatre halfway through the show.<br />
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Despite these potential pitfalls, I still think that exploring the idea of a unified narrative and creating a single universe for multiple games has way too much potential to ignore. It's a big budget gamble, but then again, so was a unified Marvel Cinematic Universe, and look how that paid off. Now Fox, Sony, and even Warner (with its DC Comics lineup) are playing Catch Up to get their own slices of the big box office pie. Like the Marvel movies, creating something like this for a video game environment will take a substantial chunk of time, money, and dedication to the project ... as well as that dreaded blind leap of faith ... to pull something like this off, but if a company like Ubisoft is willing to take the ball and run with it, it's hard not to imagine gamers going along for the ride.<br />
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So what do YOU guys think would make for a good unified game universe? Which titles/characters could you see working in the same world together?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-47365202473953127452013-09-13T02:09:00.004-04:002013-09-13T02:09:55.168-04:00So what's the deal with the shoes?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpbMKhhH0rvPcF_bmMDEUAZTwNiXPj_DC_uV6xdf3edq7hnzh-RKyqMZlXXWBmYl4lNj9sRnPZJhHBO3qPmAz6WKJbP5dxaEVG0vKqQGxC_WbryDYB12UKlGKm9_LhfowxZ12w/s1600/305644_10151317723743274_1019143901_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpbMKhhH0rvPcF_bmMDEUAZTwNiXPj_DC_uV6xdf3edq7hnzh-RKyqMZlXXWBmYl4lNj9sRnPZJhHBO3qPmAz6WKJbP5dxaEVG0vKqQGxC_WbryDYB12UKlGKm9_LhfowxZ12w/s320/305644_10151317723743274_1019143901_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It started as a joke ... and then turned into a philosophy of sorts.<br />
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Odds are pretty good that if you're reading this, you either stumbled me in one of the most random Google searches ever OR maybe you've actually heard of me and my writing. I'll hope for the later to feed my ego, but settle for the former to keep that same ego in check. Either way, it's pretty much a crap shoot as to whether or not you've ever seen my face. And if you have, especially anytime in the past year, you might have also noticed my feet ... particularly my shoes.<br />
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Well, like most other things in my life, there's a story behind that.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Honestly, the whole thing started out simple enough. I needed new shoes. Nothing fancy, just new shoes. And they had to be comfortable. Hey, in my line of work, I may be sitting in front of the computer a lot typing, but there are times I've got to clear a couple of football fields worth of space in just a few minutes when moving from meeting to meeting at shows. So I made a quick trip to Target. Yes, I just said "Target". Hey, I've gotten some damn good stuff there, including a former favorite pair of red Converse. But I digress. I made a quick trip to Target and found some shoes. And since I tend to put a beating on the footwear, I decided to pick up an extra pair, only they didn't have the same color. So, at the end of my little excursion, I wound up with two pairs of the exact same style of shoe ... one pair red, and the other blue.<br />
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The story would have probably ended there (and been a lot more boring) if not for one of my closest friends, Marcia Webb, co-founder of <a href="http://www.themommygamers.com/" target="_blank">The Mommy Gamers</a> [There's a plug for ya, Marcia]. Somehow, during one of our brainstorming sessions on taking over the world, she noticed the red shoes and commented on them. When I told her about the second pair, she offhandedly (and quite sarcastically) said, "You should mess with people and wear one of each." I decided "Why the hell not?" and figured it's be good for a chuckle or two. Plus, if people on the street noticed it, I'd certainly stand out a little more while working. It was also fun to come up with witty (or smartassed, depending on who you ask) comebacks when asked about it. "Funny, I've got another pair almost exactly like these." "Can't you tell? My feet are in 3D!!" "They look the same shade of grey to me." And so, the joke started. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtSr8RgyYUrEww7aWJWiszwXZSYDl0Su5FJqzh2SuJ-YBq4kdtCCa1Wl5UMWt7IhcyjNccE39hyPpkEpFxDfvQYcNLMsyzPQfrPTZ0qvP0YOtF7h56dp-dHsFWMuDd36CTyFkcA/s1600/20130802_174748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtSr8RgyYUrEww7aWJWiszwXZSYDl0Su5FJqzh2SuJ-YBq4kdtCCa1Wl5UMWt7IhcyjNccE39hyPpkEpFxDfvQYcNLMsyzPQfrPTZ0qvP0YOtF7h56dp-dHsFWMuDd36CTyFkcA/s320/20130802_174748.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
But then, over time, the "joke" grew and mutated into something more than a funny punchline and a cheap grab for attention. It became a sort of pseudo-signature for me. It was something unique to me and it was also a constant. Better still, I found a sort of Zen in it. Good and bad, dark and light, highs and lows, yin and yang ... it was a reminder of extremes, that they're part of the greater whole, and that you can still move where you need to be through those extremes. It sounds strange to say that I found bit of direction by looking at my feet. Actually, that sounds like something you'd read in a fortune cookie. Doesn't make it any less true, though.<br />
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Plus, hell ... they looked cool.<br />
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Eventually, as with many things in life, the shoes reached the end of their lives. It was time to replace them with something new. I decided to go back to the Converse because a) they're comfortable and b) they're iconic. Of course, by this time, I've kinda gotten attached to my quirky Zen approach to my shoes. So it was a matter of finding a similar mix and match. Looking at the picture here, you can see I did pretty good, finding two pair that are virtual negatives of each other. The whole yin and yang motif is still there and it still reminds me of the extremes in life and give me one little unique feature to stand out and be remembered. <br />
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And trust me, in MY business, it really does pay to be remembered.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-82530637901202617602012-07-15T14:31:00.000-04:002012-07-15T14:31:45.072-04:00Quick Post-Con UpdateOkay, so I'd planned all kinds of updates and such from Comic-Con for the blog, but things don't always go according to plan. Unfortunately, there was no WiFi anywhere around my hotel room that was available to use, and even the WiFi at the show floor was spotty at best. Still, I was running around for the duration, checking in with folks, trying out new goodies, getting some inside scoop on upcoming projects in games and comics, and even talking to a couple of people about the development of my own projects. There's plenty to do to keep me busy next week.<br />
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Right now, I'm in the San Diego airport waiting for my flight home (thank you SAN for free WiFi). I figured I'd post this quick update and let you guys know I'm alive and well, and planning to do an in-depth update after I get back to FL and get settled in.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-79046424840727373382012-07-11T17:32:00.000-04:002012-07-11T17:34:45.750-04:00Comic-Con: The Adventure Begins ... er ... Is Delayed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqni_dd_lendiLeZ4mNQCsRjZRVXmpeygUymql4PCC-8kNcG_98DjriLgo644hxq-YQEZLntlTTLnnWYAyLgM5UhtK7wUfTqvtFWz1BYl_r9EUHkmRQwWahZtSe56U3hpcL0U3w/s1600/Victorville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqni_dd_lendiLeZ4mNQCsRjZRVXmpeygUymql4PCC-8kNcG_98DjriLgo644hxq-YQEZLntlTTLnnWYAyLgM5UhtK7wUfTqvtFWz1BYl_r9EUHkmRQwWahZtSe56U3hpcL0U3w/s200/Victorville.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Okay. So right about now, I SHOULD be doing that last minute triple and quadruple check before heading to the airport and catching my flight to San Diego. And I WOULD be doing that ... if things were going according to plan.<br />
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<b>*SPOILER ALERT*</b> They aren't.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I'd already checked in online for my flight and everything showed as on time and I had my printed boarding passes in hand, so I figured I was good to go. Right about then, my phone rang. It was Delta calling. I didn't get to the phone in time, but I did call back immediately. Apparently, there was a delay in the first leg of my flight. Instead of flying out at 6:48p, a maintenance issue caused the flight to be delayed until 7:40p. That wouldn't be such a bad thing if not for the fact that the delay meant I would be getting into Minneapolis with less than ten minutes before my next flight was scheduled to take off to San Diego.<br />
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Well, sonofa ...<br />
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Anyway, I talked with the rep at Delta (who is apparently a bit of a closet geek herself) who agreed that landing ten minutes before the next flight leaves is cutting it way too close. After all, by the time the plane lands and I can get off the plane, that ten minutes would likely be eaten up. So, since it was Delta's issue, they offered me a couple of options. The first option involved booking the next flight out of Minneapolis ... which apparently meant staying overnight in the coziness of the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport for around seven hours and twiddling my thumbs. Option #2 involved me taking the first flight out of Jacksonville tomorrow morning (5:45a), hitting ATL for a couple of hours, then catching the next flight to San Diego and arriving at 9:45a. I chose Option #2. On the upside, I DID get a small travel voucher for my trouble (especially since the Delta rep felt guilty for my Comic-Con adventures delayed tomorrow).<br />
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It's a little frustrating and throws a bit of a monkey wrench into my early Comic-Con plans (still have to pick up my badge), but I'm going to try and think positive about it. Basically, I was already getting in late tonight anyway (11:50p) if things had gone as planned, so at best, I'd have been at the show at 8:30-9a to pick up the badge. This way, at most, I'll be thrown off by maybe an hour or two max. (See? This is me crossing my fingers)<br />
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Anyway, this isn't the way I thought my first Comic-Con update would go ... but it IS still an update.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-65495954607470311162012-07-11T11:17:00.000-04:002012-07-11T11:17:11.212-04:00"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more ..."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYz-qQ2nhC-cTCA0Cq8Fss4spGbj9Q0POMR9myxrop6_dF6jsWpNXQY36qNHqgPEVvWaiDetg5s2f4H2wKz8TAriHSJLDTlNF3nK-rZPUEqrTuYcdpry4MQGFTP6DX3rXB2gcAA/s1600/Comic-Con-Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYz-qQ2nhC-cTCA0Cq8Fss4spGbj9Q0POMR9myxrop6_dF6jsWpNXQY36qNHqgPEVvWaiDetg5s2f4H2wKz8TAriHSJLDTlNF3nK-rZPUEqrTuYcdpry4MQGFTP6DX3rXB2gcAA/s200/Comic-Con-Logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Y'know, lately my mantra has been the above line from Shakespeare's Henry V. It seems like every time I turn around, I'm digging in my heels, setting my stance, and giving one more hefty push forward on something or other. Whether I'm developing a new project or fleshing out an existing one, every morning I'm waking up, getting my first cup of coffee, dusting myself off, and diving right back into the trenches. If you're looking for an example, you don't need to look any further than this year's Comic-Con.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
First, let's start you off with a little bit of the history behind my relationship with Comic-Con. My first trip to the show was back in 2001, when I flew out to San Diego to help out with CrossGen Comics' presence at the show. It wasn't the first time I'd been to a convention by any means. After all, I'd done Dragon*Con and MegaCon on a semi-regular basis, working with publishers and just as a fan. However, Comic-Con was a different beast altogether. After that first trip, I was hooked. And so, for eight years straight (2001-2009), I was a staple of the Comic-Con floor. Whether I was there helping to manage the lines at the CrossGen booth that first year, or later helping to film segments for Greedy Productions' Electric Playground and Judgment Day television shows, or covering the show myself for outlets like GameSpy and Crispy Gamer (among others), when Comic-Con was in session, I was somewhere in the thick of it.<br />
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All that changed in 2010 ...<br />
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If you've follow me (or read this blog) for any length of time, you might remember that 2010 is the year my mother passed away. Admittedly, dealing with the fallout from that, emotionally and financially, took precedence over taking the trip to Comic-Con that year. And so, the "streak" came to a close. If you've never been to Comic-Con, one thing you might not realize is that the show has gotten so big that if you're planning to go (especially on your own dime), you generally need to start making plans the year before. Hotels fill up quick, flights in/out of San Diego skyrocket in price, and badges to the show are harder to come by than those salacious Polaroids of Bigfoot and E.T. on the broom closet after that one New Year's Eve office party at Area 51. Keeping that in mind (the logistics of going to the show ... not the Polaroids), it's not hard to understand why everything that happened in 2010 also affected my ability to go to the show in 2011 as well. It was now two years in a row I missed out on Comic-Con ... a new "streak" I really wasn't too keen on.<br />
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Now we come to 2012. Sure I was going through the motions of heading out to Comic-Con this year (verifying my press credentials, checking on rooms, talking to PR reps about what they'll have at the show, etc.), but I really didn't expect to make it again. One of the curses of freelancing is that, many times, I've got to cover my own trip and expenses out of pocket for things up front. While I generally do enough work while I'm AT the show to more than recover the cost, that pesky front loading of out of pocket expense leaves the budget screaming at me until well after I've come back home. Hey, money's tight for everyone these days and I'm no exception. Still, like I said at the start of this post, I'd dug in my heels and gave a hefty push to get the momentum rolling to get to Comic-Con again. Thankfully, this time, I had a little extra help from some great friends to get the ball rolling.<br />
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Which leads us here ...<br />
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As I sit here typing up this blog entry, people are already descending onto the pop culture Mecca that is Comic-Con International 2012. And yes, folks, after a two year absence, so will I. Since my flight had to be booked last minute I'll miss out on the Preview Night festivities, but starting first thing tomorrow, I'll once again be back on the show floor covering as much of the event as possible for a number of different places. I'll be covering comics, video games, film, television, and just about every other bit of pop culture goodness SDCC has to offer. Not only that, but I'm also working on the development of my own IP, as well as helping with the upcoming re-launch of another series (more on that later).<br />
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Right now, my PLAN is to also include coverage of my adventures at the show right here on the blog. I'll have my tablet with me for the duration of the show, and I'll try posting the occasional bits or pieces here and/or on my Facebook and Twitter accounts in between meetings and assignments. I'm also planning a substantial "post con" wrap-up here after I fly back on Sunday. So keep checking back with me. I won't go so far as to say that checking in with me will be the next best thing to being there (hey, I'm ONLY one person ... even if I AM frikkin' amazing), but I'll definitely help you to get your pop culture fix while I'm gone.<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-57803279695054865992012-03-08T16:11:00.001-05:002012-03-08T16:20:59.400-05:00Cooking up a new idea ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Take a look at this picture I put together and tell me what pops into your head ...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4T0cH27J6N26DyYUIIbLOvhWPmUr9JAzZUMtFzXJyGF5XXFfQipsv9clMPI0XB6L2BDYxB2vhOx0B54ZNDtlhSKO0Vv5AOCg4DfP48JUDo7nnFCm6OjuA6cL45KeXqLTP_LH1Q/s1600/Teaser-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4T0cH27J6N26DyYUIIbLOvhWPmUr9JAzZUMtFzXJyGF5XXFfQipsv9clMPI0XB6L2BDYxB2vhOx0B54ZNDtlhSKO0Vv5AOCg4DfP48JUDo7nnFCm6OjuA6cL45KeXqLTP_LH1Q/s400/Teaser-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you find yourself torn between playing a video game and grabbing some lunch/dinner/etc.then it's done its job well. See, there's a story behind this ... and an idea. Now I've decided it's time to share and to put the call out to you guys for thoughts, comments, and maybe a little role as a guinea pig. Curious? Read on ...<br />
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<a name='more'></a>A couple of years ago I was having a conversation with a friend of mine, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/OnceUponaThyme">Alicia</a> (a.k.a. Harley from the Sarcastic Gamer Pink podcast). She was talking about trying to add some sort of video segments to the SG site to help generate traffic. Right about that time, I'd had an idea about writing an article for a food or gaming magazine with some fun quick recipes for gamers to make. Since Alicia is a chef/caterer, I suggested that to her as a possible series of videos. She liked the idea and wanted to run with it. Occasionally, it would get close to being filmed, but unfortunately circumstances kept creeping up and the idea ended up getting mothballed.<br />
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Now we fast forward to a few months ago. If you know me, odds are pretty good that you also know I love to cook. Mind you, cooking is usually something I do for fun, and I've had no sort of "training" whatsoever. Well, every once in a while, I'd revisit the idea of doing something to combine my love of cooking with my work in video games. Eventually, the idea evolved into something more interesting, more fun, and admittedly, more challenging. <br />
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Instead of putting together some quick Game Night finger food recipes, I started thinking about putting together cool and unique recipes INSPIRED by specific video games. I'm not talking about taking some sugar cookie, cutting a triangle slice out of it, and saying "Ta-da!! It's Pac-Man!!". Instead, I want this food to be a little more intricate, like you might get at a restaurant, but still keeping things simple enough to make at home without a lot of complex preparations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXOxbMmkMflYJrnEdVswC0dr0UPv4ANSoZSR15FfwOZklrrFk1mJWopksAHVZ2SDDPjp1fbA34dT4nj-WFVh0xFE4cbFi14e4UyZEv2T9TIOBBvIKxNl47r-0RL9AcLeo6VMUXg/s1600/Uncharted_fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXOxbMmkMflYJrnEdVswC0dr0UPv4ANSoZSR15FfwOZklrrFk1mJWopksAHVZ2SDDPjp1fbA34dT4nj-WFVh0xFE4cbFi14e4UyZEv2T9TIOBBvIKxNl47r-0RL9AcLeo6VMUXg/s320/Uncharted_fish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For example, if you're a fan of Naughty Dog's <i>Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception</i>, you probably remember the scene at the left. While in Yemen and tracking down the lost city, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iram_of_the_Pillars">Iram of the Pillars</a>, Drake gets ambushed by goons in a street market and can defend himself with a handy fish (earning the player the "He's Gonna Need A Sturgeon" trophy in the process). It's a fun scene that strikes a chord with gamers and made for a perfect little bit of inspiration for a meal. In this case, my thought was a Middle Eastern dish called "Samak bi Tahini" ... basically fish in a tahini sauce. A little research and a couple of "test kitchens" later, and presto ... a tasty, easily replicated entree dish based on the exploits of Nathan Drake in <i>Uncharted 3</i> was ready to go. Add a few little trivia bits and a possible developer comment or two and you've got a recipe for a fun new video game related project (yeah, I went the bad pun). If you want to try the recipe for yourself, just check in later ... it'll be one of the first to go up when the project goes live.<br />
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Which leads me to the part where all of you come in. Talk to me ... tell me your thoughts on what you'd like to see. What games do you think deserve the culinary treatment? Would you like to see 'em one at a time via semi-regularly scheduled articles? Collected together at once in a book? (And yes, folks, I know I could do the articles and then collect them into the book.) Also, how many of you are willing to try out the recipes for yourselves? Heck, is this something you'd even see yourself checking out? I want your feedback.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-65639003601899964612011-12-30T18:07:00.001-05:002011-12-30T18:30:30.466-05:00Say what you mean and mean what you say ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMb2jE_gct57ldmlRTycIYtEinheULRZhHmmAlhCpgGu8RMWcLM8ZS-f2D55eR7inPekF0Z3AUMbjWAJ87ZQqWgldnr000xVluvRmYWj60yAOogQ9wqXFnMYXSYbcib8CS4ppYFA/s1600/selling-out-is-the-new-keeping-it-real1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMb2jE_gct57ldmlRTycIYtEinheULRZhHmmAlhCpgGu8RMWcLM8ZS-f2D55eR7inPekF0Z3AUMbjWAJ87ZQqWgldnr000xVluvRmYWj60yAOogQ9wqXFnMYXSYbcib8CS4ppYFA/s320/selling-out-is-the-new-keeping-it-real1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Let me start off this post by saying that I don't ever expect everyone out there who reads my stuff to agree with everything I have to say. I know, I know ... big shock, right? Seriously though, I'll be the first person to tell you that when it comes to editorial or review articles, they're simply one person's opinion of a given subject at a given time. In my time as a writer, I've had people criticize my reviews because they thought I gave something too low OR to high of a score. And hey, I'm okay with that. A lot of times, I'll even try to engage people and let them know that what I try to do is to express my thoughts on the subject, explain my praise and/or criticism, and that I try to look at things through the eyes of the audience ... though it's going to be filtered through my own experiences.<br />
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All that being said, I stand by what I say and I value my reputation as a writer. What's been pissing me off lately, though, is what seems to be a trend of writers willing to compromise their integrity for the sake of simply ruffling a few feathers and cashing in on the almighty traffic of hits. Let me explain ...<br />
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<a name='more'></a>If you've followed me at all, you know that I've written for a number of different outlets over the year. Once upon a time, while contributing to one of these outlets, a conversation took place that still sticks with me. One of the other writers (and before anyone asks, no ... I'm going to name the outlet OR the writer) thought it would be a great idea to trash a game that was, at the time, receiving universal praise. This review wasn't going to be written as a joke or a parody, but presented as a real review of the game and carrying the support of the outlet. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2-S3lwQth4LfOuFvDSv6SjoPlq0MaZomqSHjU6RvIJA3jzeDVEVlcd0c-UBP6_8NVGuUNBqJjWSfc4-5ftwraUpsVyaFVE-JyWmcfBY5WDvWf38sqLiMqyzFPBN2WjuHWtthqA/s1600/20110119_093753_SX20-TRAFFIC2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2-S3lwQth4LfOuFvDSv6SjoPlq0MaZomqSHjU6RvIJA3jzeDVEVlcd0c-UBP6_8NVGuUNBqJjWSfc4-5ftwraUpsVyaFVE-JyWmcfBY5WDvWf38sqLiMqyzFPBN2WjuHWtthqA/s320/20110119_093753_SX20-TRAFFIC2.jpg" width="320" /></a>Now, if the writer in question had genuinely believed in what they were writing, I might have disagreed with the piece, but I'd have stood by the person's right to present their honest opinion. The problem is, this writer specifically said that the article was being written for the sole purpose of driving more traffic to the site. The idea behind it was that as word spread about the review, it would spark a fire with fans who would, in turn, fan those flames with the obligatory "Look at this crap X had to say about Y!!" with a conveniently attached link to said article. And I'll be damned if that's not exactly what happened. The writer was center stage in the spotlight, the outlet was getting a huge spike in traffic, and all it cost was integrity. Of course, since this was all behind the scenes, no one else had to be the wiser.<br />
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Flash forward a bit now. Time had passed and everyone had since moved on to other projects. This particular day, I'd stumbled across some recent online posts from that writer. In these posts, the writer was relishing in the fact that a new review was about to be posted and that the flaming was about to begin. Once again, this writer had found a game that was well-received and decided to knock it down a more than a few pegs. True to form, people flocked to the article, expressed their contempt (and sometimes rage) at the piece, and spread the link around like wildfire. Once again, the writer ended up in the spotlight and the outlet got a huge spike in traffic. This time around, the writer was even bragging about of all the different names they were being called. Now, there were a couple of posts from people supporting the writer's review and the praising their critical scoring. Unfortunately, I'd had a front row seat to this drama once before, and I didn't really care for this remake either. Y'know, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this writer really DIDN'T care for the game this time around. Maybe the review WAS an honest and forthright opinion. And maybe it just so happened NOT to correlate with the rest of the writer's peers. I just can't buy it, though. It's too much of a coincidence. It's like they say, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQlq0fnE8iLvAkjdadtUhxlN02e_cX8rWewJe8PgUIM5zW2dLAHNmkjaEEnHpjThUjujNlY5Mqz_Nk4w14Uf2LvmS29hqpFWhz3eXycMXIbW_mecTuiupCWdotAnPajHEPWjz5Q/s1600/off-target.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQlq0fnE8iLvAkjdadtUhxlN02e_cX8rWewJe8PgUIM5zW2dLAHNmkjaEEnHpjThUjujNlY5Mqz_Nk4w14Uf2LvmS29hqpFWhz3eXycMXIbW_mecTuiupCWdotAnPajHEPWjz5Q/s320/off-target.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
That experience admittedly left me a little more jaded about my chosen profession as well. I'm not saying that everyone in the industry needs be some sort of hive mind and speak in a uniform voice. Hell, I can run through a long list of games, movies, music, etc. that I've liked or disliked which doesn't necessarily conform to the majority opinion. However, when I see an article that goes SO far off the mark from the majority while simultaneously baiting its audience for a reaction, I can't help but be suspicious of the real motivation behind it. Are these writers truly expressing a unique opinion? Or are they just trolling for traffic? If it's the former, then more power to them. I'm all for putting their thoughts and opinions out there, especially if they're willing to stick by their guns. But if it's the latter, then these people are nothing more than "master baiters" getting their jollies by toying with their audience, stroking their own ego, and beating whatever shred of integrity they might have.<br />
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As upset as I am with those people who are quick to trade in their integrity for a little boost in ratings, it's NOT the norm. Over the years, I've been lucky enough to work with some plenty of great and talented writers and editors whose opinions I genuinely respect. These guys and gals bust their asses every day to make sure that their audience is both entertained and informed. This is definitely a case of a few bad apples. Unfortunately, every time some yahoo pulls a stunt like this, it tarnishes the reputation of the industry as a whole and makes it harder on the rest of the professionals to maintain the trust of the people. <br />
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Like I said at the start of this piece, I don't expect everyone out there to always agree with everything I've ever said or ever will say. I'm sure there are plenty of times I've colored outside the lines, so to speak, and raised the ire of some people. I'm know I'm not the most well-known writer out there, and I'll be the first person to say I'm not the most talented writer out there either. But I've always stuck by my words, and I've damn sure never created a controversy just to drive traffic ... and I never will. At the end of the day, it's pretty hard for me to shave if I can't stand to look at myself in the mirror. And my integrity is worth a hell of lot more to me than a few extra hits on a site.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-90275277246678577892011-11-27T22:29:00.001-05:002011-11-28T03:07:15.693-05:00When did we stop just having fun?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv44tptI5i1aXvNCfZLCKEtUsmkZaCk-xPuZdOYvSi5cCaDkn79LrqQbaW6s2acSK7cdJMNm5Av9KwfXYUhKURs46A5CFmdZ9-mXpFhRTJ1ma4zFTlFU_dcyPj8NctGJie9hhkBQ/s1600/smiley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv44tptI5i1aXvNCfZLCKEtUsmkZaCk-xPuZdOYvSi5cCaDkn79LrqQbaW6s2acSK7cdJMNm5Av9KwfXYUhKURs46A5CFmdZ9-mXpFhRTJ1ma4zFTlFU_dcyPj8NctGJie9hhkBQ/s1600/smiley.jpg" /></a>About a week ago, I posted a quick little monologue on Facebook asking when we stopped just having fun and being entertained. At the time, I was frustrated at a lot of different reviews I was seeing online of everything from games to books to movies. I was reading article after article in which this thing or that was being nitpicked to death, only to never actually answer the big question ... "Is it any fun?"<br />
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I'll be honest, at the time, my post was just meant to be me venting a little bit of steam. Well, I was surprised at the response that quick post got, so I've decided to expand on the thought a little bit here.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>For those of you that might have missed it, here's what I had to say on Facebook that got this ball rolling:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>I want to know when we seemed to stop just having fun and enjoying ourselves? Why are "guilty pleasures" considered guilty? Y'know, I've seen plenty of near perfect projects from a technical standpoint that were no fun whatsoever ... but more importantly, I've seen plenty of games that were buggy as hell, but I've had a blast playing. People seem to forget that the key component in "entertainment" is to ENTERTAIN!! And so goes my rant o' the day ...
</i></blockquote>
Whenever I read a review that picks everything apart from a strictly technical standpoint, it bugs the hell out of me. It's frustrating to me personally because, as you should know by now, one of the many hats I wear as a writer is that of an entertainment "critic". See, my problem is that when you're talking about entertainment, at the end of the day what people want to know is whether or not they're going to enjoy themselves. When a critic spends too much time focused on the technical aspect of things and forgets about the actual entertainment value, he's not doing his audience any real service. I'm not too full of myself to say I haven't been guilty of this in some reviews I've written. I'm sure I've fallen into that same pit from time to time. But on the whole, I genuinely try to put myself into the mindset of the audience and to decide if they would ultimately leave the experience feeling entertained.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHuu41nGJBm7Wzdux-6_STGbosIU7PxiSa2uV-9PnrG5ncDvEcj2p3IKENf-wBBEigk4a1dvgFHON-Dbd60vJ3C1jI4iGhpFeP2e2Em40FQYbfJgYBkGnNacmPyTG1UJMq1RSFA/s1600/park_mickey_02.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHuu41nGJBm7Wzdux-6_STGbosIU7PxiSa2uV-9PnrG5ncDvEcj2p3IKENf-wBBEigk4a1dvgFHON-Dbd60vJ3C1jI4iGhpFeP2e2Em40FQYbfJgYBkGnNacmPyTG1UJMq1RSFA/s320/park_mickey_02.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Y'know, for the past couple of weeks, the two video games I've played the most are <i>Uncharted 3</i> on the PS3 and <i>Kinect: Disneyland Adventures</i> for the 360. Yeah, I said it ... I've been having a blast playing "Dude Raider" and running around a virtual theme park. In one game, I'm traipsing around the globe, hunting treasure and dodging bullets in an action-packed cinematic adventure that could hold its own stacked against any summer blockbuster Hollywood has to offer. In the other game, I'm a little kid running around Disneyland, shaking hands with Mickey Mouse, dancing with Cinderella, and flying with Peter Pan. These two games are completely different, but their common thread is that they're both a HELL of a lot of fun to play. <br />
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Would either of these be considered "perfect" games from a technical standpoint? Absolutely not. In <i>Kinect: Disneyland Adventures</i>, the controls can sometimes be ... umm, let's just call it "less than precise". And once, my character's arm actually seemed to snap in half at the elbow. Meanwhile over in <i>Uncharted 3</i>, poor Drake has been running into a few problems of his own. There have been a couple of times I got stuck in the environment or couldn't get my AI cohorts to get out of my way. Also, I love the multiplayer in <i>Uncharted 3</i>, but until very recently, I spent almost as much time trying to connect with the servers and sync data as I did actually playing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPpmYejBEPxbjaU6jlSzcnNcrmymYz8k7pqLJrlucrt9J4z6u6pVm7jOBNRzvnEBsFR63oflqg5nKHf8QReUbyRoLHoddDTK5mZZRC3fWfqngvkXDoO_2upvisHjzp1YIbKH1HQ/s1600/yemen_drake.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPpmYejBEPxbjaU6jlSzcnNcrmymYz8k7pqLJrlucrt9J4z6u6pVm7jOBNRzvnEBsFR63oflqg5nKHf8QReUbyRoLHoddDTK5mZZRC3fWfqngvkXDoO_2upvisHjzp1YIbKH1HQ/s320/yemen_drake.png" width="320" /></a>So yes, both of these games have their "flaws", but to be perfectly honest, none of them were ever bad enough to take away from the overall entertainment value of the games. Would I recommend these to others? Without a doubt. In fact, <i>Uncharted 3</i> is one of my personal top Game of the Year candidates. You can pick away at it all you want, find a little bug here or a tiny nuisance there, but the fact remains that the game is an epic story and a great experience from start to finish. And just so <i>Kinect: Disneyland Adventures</i> doesn't feel left out, keep in mind that even with its problems, I'm a guy in his thirties running around like I'm eight years old again, posing for pictures with Goofy and riding a bobsled down the Matterhorn. If a game can bring out your inner kid like this, regardless of your actual age, well that truly is a special kind of magic.<br />
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I may have used these two specific games as examples of the point I was trying to make, but I'm sure you've got your own examples. Maybe it's that copy of <i>Spaceballs</i> you watched over and over so often that you've got the script memorized. Maybe you secretly think of yourself as a true Pokemon master because, yes, you really DID catch 'em all. Or maybe on your way to work, you're rockin' out to the new LMFAO CD and letting the world know that you ARE sexy and you DO know it. My point is, while <i>Spaceballs</i> would never be considered Oscar caliber cinema, Pokemon hunting will never appear on the Outdoor Channel, and LMFAO still makes people think of dancing gerbils ... all of these things are still fun. And there's no reason for these "guilty pleasures" to actually make you feel guilty. <br />
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I think it's well past time that some entertainment critics got their heads out of their collective asses, loosened up, and learned to have a little fun again. Instead, they get so wrapped up in finding every little thing wrong and trying to outdo each other, they forget about their audience ... and what their audience wants. People aren't always looking for the next <i>Citizen Kane</i> ... sometimes, <i>Killer Klowns from Outer Space</i> is just what the doctor ordered.<br />
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So ... what keeps YOU entertained?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-83302817061006471172011-10-14T15:45:00.002-04:002011-10-14T15:45:19.777-04:00Just paint a target on my back ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNcRLweWJ9t-vu9KE8cZaUaUYdlwZWrybg0knkv-JaHA6xyank5YZvKsxUDs-I0acLx_CuyFBd_zeUv1BwpopH7aaM6DSuGHmpRtSdVo6n3UfS6irKzwEwgG_xhLwGj6YwMBpTw/s1600/5628340547_d1b85cf1d0_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNcRLweWJ9t-vu9KE8cZaUaUYdlwZWrybg0knkv-JaHA6xyank5YZvKsxUDs-I0acLx_CuyFBd_zeUv1BwpopH7aaM6DSuGHmpRtSdVo6n3UfS6irKzwEwgG_xhLwGj6YwMBpTw/s320/5628340547_d1b85cf1d0_z.jpg" width="320" /></a>Earlier this week, I finally started spending some time in the early access multiplayer for <a href="http://www.naughtydog.com/">Naughty Dog</a>'s latest globetrotting and relic hunting adventure, <i><a href="http://www.naughtydog.com/games/uncharted">Uncharted 3</a></i>. Now, I could go on and on about how much I'm looking forward to the next chapter in Nathan Drake's story, and about how the game looks and plays so far ... which is something I'll probably do in a later post. But this particular post isn't so much about <i>Uncharted 3</i>, as much as it's about the realization that I generally suck at competitive multiplayer ... and how I've finally decided that I'm okay with it.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Let me start off by saying I've never been a stranger to competitive multiplayer games. I still remember long nights at the nearby internet cafe playing marathon sessions of <i>Quake</i> and <i>WarCraft II</i> with the owner and some friends until the wee hours of the morning. Maybe it's just me looking through the veiled fog of fifteen years' worth of history, but I'd swear that back then I was more than capable of holding my own against any and all comers. I won't say I was the best by a long shot, but I still think I was pretty damned good. Now, a decade and a half later, I tend to get my ass handed to me, gift wrapped with a nice pretty bow attached, within seconds of logging into most multiplayer games. Whereas I used to be in the top ranks when playing games, I'm now happy if I manage to fight my way into the middle of the pack.<br />
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What the hell happened?!? Am I missing a step or getting rusty? Have casual games robbed me of my competitive edge? Worse yet ... *GASP* am I too OLD to be competitive anymore? Actually, I've decided that while there might little bit to all of that ... there's a hell of a lot more to none of it. Confused? Allow me to elaborate.<br />
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There's a classic saying that goes something along the lines of "Old age and cunning will overcome youth and enthusiasm every time." Unfortunately, in video games, that's not always the case. See, over the years, I've come to realize that my play style has evolved into a more methodical style versus the more reflexive twitch-based style that seems to be the norm in most multiplayer shooters these days. I was reminded of this when playing <i>Uncharted 3</i> after finding a spot and just watching people through the scope of my Dragon Sniper rifle for a few rounds. If the few moments I had before someone inevitably found me an emptied a clip or five into me, I saw a lot of the same ol' "tactics" I've seen time and time again. Things like players running around each other in a close quarters do-si-do of death or players doing their best impersonation of a troop of kangaroos on pogo sticks. That's when I started to realize that I'm just a little too grounded in my thinking ... no pun intended.<br />
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That's not to say there aren't games where being a little more sneaky isn't an advantage. The first that comes to mind is <i>Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood</i>. That's a game where stealth and strategy is rewarded more than an itchy trigger ... and it's a game I still kick ass at too. See, I play a game like Uncharted 3 or Halo or, hell, just about any other multiplayer shooter on the market, and I try to use too much in the way of real world thinking and cunning versus over the top tricks. That being said, it doesn't mean I don't have a hell of a lot of fun with these games. Hey, I may come in near the bottom of the pack, but there's something I find oddly rewarding about my score. Because of how I'm wired to play, I feel like I really worked to earn my points ... and I don't let it get to me anymore when I'm taken out. <br />
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Maybe I do run around with a target on my back, and maybe I'll never get that big sponsorship deal with a major gaming league, but hell ... I have fun doing what I do and playing how I play. As long as you're not there griefing and being a prick, you're more than welcome to shoot me as often as possible in a game. It's all about having fun.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-14478791269505141662011-10-03T01:49:00.002-04:002011-10-03T01:49:35.038-04:00@Gamer Issue #13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The start of another month means yet another issue of Best Buy's awesome <a href="https://www.atgamermagazine.com/">@Gamer Magazine</a>. Of course, another issue of @Gamer means that another chance to check out a little bit of video game coverage from a certain video game journalist we all know and love. Plus, this marks the debut of an extra little goodie in the magazine that we'll hopefully see more of in upcoming issues. More on that later.<br />
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For now, though, let's take a quick peek through the pages of this month's issue of @Gamer and see what sorts of cool and interesting stuff you'll find inside. Afterwards, if you haven't already done so, make plans to head out an pick up a copy from your nearest Best Buy ASAP. Or better yet, head on over to the <a href="https://www.atgamermagazine.com/">@Gamer website</a> and get yourself signed up for a one-year subscription so you don't miss a beat.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Let's start with the obvious. Right up front on the cover, you can see there's coverage of the latest chapter in the life (and past bloodlines) of assassin Desmond Miles, courtesy of Ubisoft's upcoming release, <i>Assassin's Creed Revelations</i>. Executive Editor (and damned good game journalist), <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/vidgames">Andy Eddy</a>, hops into the Animus and gives fans a peek at new toys (Ezio's hookblade), new settings (Constantinople), and new multiplayer components. Other previews in this issue include <i>Metro: Last Light</i>, <i>Hitman: Absolution</i>, and a meaty preview of Blizzard's upcoming juggernaut, <i>Diablo III</i>. The @Gamer crew isn't just about the games we play, though. They're also all about the hardware you'll be using to play. In that vein, Steve Klett and the rest of @Gamer crew bring a new round of Gear reviews to the October issue. This time, they're taking a look at the ASUS VG236 23" LCD 3D display, Razer's Naga line of mice, Power A's Batarang 360 controller, and all sorts of other fun hardware.<br />
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Still need more reasons to pick up the magazine? Well, how about some good ol' fashioned cash in your pockets? Every issue of @Gamer so far has come packed with more than $100 in coupons ... and this issue is no exception. Say you want a (Human) Revolution? You can get the new <i>Deus Ex: Human Revolution</i> game for fifteen bucks off. Want to game in style with some <a href="http://www.gunnars.com/">Gunnar Optiks</a> eyewear? Pick up a pair of Phantom or PPK at Best Buy for $20 less than regular price. Looking forward to getting in some zombie bashing with Frank West in <i>Dead Rising 2: Off the Record</i>? @Gamer's got you covered with a $10 off coupon this issue. And that's just a few of the deals in this issue of @Gamer.<br />
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Don't worry. I haven't forgotten about the actual game reviews this month. In fact, take a look at this shifty looking guy, whose cartoon likeness finally makes his first appearance in the Review Crew intro of @Gamer:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGcxKioR0oC2V_nvlP2E6xuW1_039AhsTe436pE1i_mUExtn3cVazGwQYTrvsklseqrvCp6mpTuGMWJsYgsIDwOonbTD6dS81ZKrkMgnOHL1JQ343-5A9J-sa1-h8CIRGxwP6og/s1600/blockhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGcxKioR0oC2V_nvlP2E6xuW1_039AhsTe436pE1i_mUExtn3cVazGwQYTrvsklseqrvCp6mpTuGMWJsYgsIDwOonbTD6dS81ZKrkMgnOHL1JQ343-5A9J-sa1-h8CIRGxwP6og/s320/blockhead.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
Yup ... that's me, or rather @Gamer's stylized version of yours truly. Although I've been writing for @Gamer for some time, there's something fun about seeing this little guy finally pop up in the mag. This month, I tried out SEGA's Rise of Nightmares survival horror game for the Xbox 360, as well as Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked for the 3DS. Of course some of the guys handled a few of the other titles this issue, such as <i>Star Fox 64 3D</i>, <i>FIFA Soccer 12</i>, <i>Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine</i>, and a little title you might have heard of called <i>Gears of War 3</i>.<br />
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I'm only scratching the surface of the stuff packed into @Gamer this month. Is this some blatant self-promotion on my part? Umm ... yeah. But the truth of the matter is, I'd be bragging about the magazine even if I WASN'T writing for it. Of course, it naturally makes things better by having my charm and wit tossed into the mix. (Yes folks, that's just a wee bit of teasing on my part and no, I'm NOT actually that full of myself). The fact is that Future US and Best Buy have put together a great magazine for video game fans, and I'm genuinely honored to be working with all the amazing talent there every month. <br />
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So what are you waiting for? Go out now (or soon, depending on what time it is that you're reading this) and hit up your closest Best Buy for the latest issue of @Gamer. It's more than worth the $4.99 investment.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-58009239071650808662011-10-02T23:38:00.001-04:002011-10-02T23:38:50.380-04:00PCP Game Review: Marvel Super Hero Squad Online (PC)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXZ9fdq20g75A3svKlrs8HRdYHDgwPRz_RylbwpWHnI0rUaSzuRsYrM1GHnMrmF8C-vn8YXpMBWr-vL5SL9g31NNC1LHaLRibo71z__d48GdFxcTGtjzrl8l0iswxJJTRFDVxOw/s1600/superherosquadonline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXZ9fdq20g75A3svKlrs8HRdYHDgwPRz_RylbwpWHnI0rUaSzuRsYrM1GHnMrmF8C-vn8YXpMBWr-vL5SL9g31NNC1LHaLRibo71z__d48GdFxcTGtjzrl8l0iswxJJTRFDVxOw/s320/superherosquadonline.jpg" width="320" /></a>In case you're just tuning in here, there's something you guys should know about me. I am a self-professed and unapologetic comic book fanboy. Marvel, DC, IDW, Dark Horse ... it doesn't matter. I love the art, the writing, the characters, and pretty much everything about the medium. Heck, before I got into this whole writing shtick, I even managed a couple of comic book shops. <br />
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Because of this "fanboy" mentality, whenever I see a new movie, TV show, or video game coming out based on a comic book, I kinda feel obligated to at least check it out and see if it's any good. So when <a href="http://www.gazillion.com/#/home">Gazillion Entertainment</a> and <a href="http://www.amazingsociety.com/">The Amazing Society</a> released the kid-friendly, free-to-play MMO based on Marvel Comics' <i>Super Hero Squad</i> ... well, who was I to pass up a chance to "Hero up!" and save the day?<br />
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<a name='more'></a>If you haven't heard of Marvel's <i>Super Hero Squad</i> before now, it's basically a kid-oriented, tongue-in-cheek, super-deformed version of the Marvel universe. All your favorite heroes and villains are here in "Super Hero City", but without all the doom and gloom you might find in the pages of the Marvel Universe proper. Instead, everything here is bright, colorful, and (best of all of kids) fun. Even older comic fans can get a kick out of the series, as the characters parody their more grown-up counterparts in all kinds of goofy ways. Apparently, it's a formula for success too, as the <i>Super Hero Squad</i> franchise has been developed into a hit toy line, television series, comic books, and a handful of console games to boot.<br />
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Although <i><a href="http://www.heroup.com/">Marvel Super Hero Squad Online</a></i> is being touted as an MMO game, it doesn't really fit into the traditional mold of an MMO. You're never going to pull together all the forces of the Marvel Universe in epic 50-man raids, or call in your guild mates for a multi-hour instance. Instead, <i>MSHSO</i> is more like a casual sort of getaway to have fun in shorter bursts. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of Sony Online Entertainment's free-to-play game, <i>Free Realms</i>. Both titles are essentially set up as large hubs to interact with other players while competing in a variety of small missions or minigames. While <i>Free Realms</i> currently has more meat on its bones in terms of content, it's also had a two year head start on <i>MSHSO</i> ... and it doesn't have the Marvel Comics stable of characters at its disposal either.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MEadi-NCyF1xVyEPt5nlBoMcIYP_R26cNMUY88NjRlZ0teqxo4aaERvO2LV80cvuRIFuD08Uh2B6G6_b58mj-8fDDDiizh6U_K18nc1GdvHiSRLsu_jKgjCH_fDztUr7RvY6OQ/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MEadi-NCyF1xVyEPt5nlBoMcIYP_R26cNMUY88NjRlZ0teqxo4aaERvO2LV80cvuRIFuD08Uh2B6G6_b58mj-8fDDDiizh6U_K18nc1GdvHiSRLsu_jKgjCH_fDztUr7RvY6OQ/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After signing up for a free account, newcomers to <i>MSHSO</i> will work their way through the obligatory tutorial sections, which teach the basics of the game's mechanics and how to navigate the menus. After going through the motions, the player is give an initial squad of four characters: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclops_(comics)">Cyclops</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ms._Marvel">Ms. Marvel</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_(comics)">Falcon</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Grimm">The Thing</a>. Players can switch out on the fly, earning experience, coins, and tickets for completing Missions and winning Card Games against different opponents. There are also a few Arcade games that players can compete in to earn some more loot. XP will help level up whichever active character you're currently using, coins (gold and silver) are used to purchase new goodies from the shop, and tickets are used for a large prize wheel to earn more cards, items, or (most likely) coins. <br />
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The bulk of your time in <i>MSHSO</i> will likely take place outside of the main hub in either Missions or Card Games. Missions are action-based beat 'em up battles which pit heroes against a slew of bad guys trying to pull off whatever happens to be the scheme du jour. Players click on whatever henchmen they come across, picking up the occasional power-up along the way, while avoiding incoming enemy attacks. Missions are usually broken up into three stages, with the final stage culminating in a boss fight against one of the mainstay supervillains of the Marvel Universe (such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabretooth_(comics)">Sabretooth</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystique_(comics)">Mystique</a>, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Octopus">Doctor Octopus</a>). Players earn medals based on their performance in each mission, with higher medals earning more XP, coins, and tickets. Missions can be played solo or, if you feel like doing a comic-style team-up, with up to three additional heroes.<br />
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As fun as the Missions may be, my personal favorite part of <i>MSHSO</i> is the Card Game. Maybe it's got something to do with all that time I spent in comic shops playing collectible card games, but there's something about spending time tweaking out a deck of cards and going mano a mano with another player to see who's built around the better strategy. The game here is pretty simple to learn, with the ultimate goal being to whittle away the other player's cards, knocking him out of action. There are card game missions which can tweak the initial setup of matches, with some opponents starting with larger or smaller decks or with certain cards already in play. It's fun to see the animations whenever a card is put into play, as you get to see the characters on the card in play execute their attack against your opponent. And whenever you get tired of playing against the computer, you can always pit your deck building skills against other players logged into <i>MSHSO</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkdnvtlaAMjdng9PZCe-N6O8AfR_bhZRYm4Xqv-pamHOcKgo8vnvA1RQnDytNIC5joU6bjDqolCNkcx5WjCSE3ZIPUL4k15Aa3cEADu_LprV2ttXIFAeWyl_jzZoGaDMTZkG7bg/s1600/MSHS-ONLINE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkdnvtlaAMjdng9PZCe-N6O8AfR_bhZRYm4Xqv-pamHOcKgo8vnvA1RQnDytNIC5joU6bjDqolCNkcx5WjCSE3ZIPUL4k15Aa3cEADu_LprV2ttXIFAeWyl_jzZoGaDMTZkG7bg/s320/MSHS-ONLINE.jpg" width="209" /></a>Where the Marvel Super Hero Squad starts to falter is in its relatively light amount of actual free-to-play content. I understand the desire to generate revenue for the game, and the desire to leave gamers wanting more ... but this is barely even an appetizer. For example, you'd better like the four initial characters available, because it's going to me a long time before you earn enough coins to buy anyone new. This is compounded by the fact that most of the game's extras (including extra Missions, cards, and characters) have to be purchased with the extremely hard to get gold coins vs. more easily obtained silver coins. Plus, certain characters are only accessible to players who maintain a "Jr. Shield Agent" subscription. You might buy a character as an Agent during a trial period, investing a lot of time and effort into building up his XP, only to have that same character vanish from your lineup if you let your subscription lapse. I've never been a big fan of this business model, as you have already paid for a specific item (in this case, a Marvel character) once ... but then keep paying for the right to keep using it in the game. Hopefully, in time, Gazillion and The Amazing Society will see fit to bulk up on the amount of free-to-play content, and not penalize players who have tried out the subscription features.<br />
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All that being said, Marvel Super Hero Squad Online is still a fun experience for young comic book fans (and those that are just young at heart). It's a simple but addictive experience that's definitely worth checking out at least once. Just be ready to shell out a little extra dough if you expect to get the most out of the game.<br />
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<b>FINAL SCORE: B </b><br />
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<u>Game Info: </u><br />
Publisher: Gazillion Entertainment<br />
Developer: The Amazing Society<br />
Genre: Survival Horror<br />
Platform: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC<br />
Multiplayer: MMOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-68617474386447953012011-10-02T23:38:00.000-04:002011-10-02T23:38:31.340-04:00Extra Content ...Just a quick little post here to let everyone know that I've started up a second blog, <a href="http://popcultpov.blogspot.com/">PopCult POV</a>. PopCult POV is a collaborative blog I've set up to cover all manner of pop culture goodies. Comics, games, movies, TV, books, food ... it's a wild mix of interesting and fun topics. Because of this, I might not be posting here QUITE as much as I had been before. To make up for it, I'll occasionally do a little cross posting here of articles I write over there, and adding an extra tag/label to point it out.<br />
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Be sure to let me know your thoughts ...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-9609193877618774602011-09-09T16:09:00.000-04:002011-12-30T17:41:03.440-05:00A "GD" boycott on Grant Morrison and Action Comics?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKz6Ey1n6ssPXXpHpUXJCJHLwDvaKciPtuJVY9jx5dygQtvUJnS_YhSO8b4zQVbhcwjksCMbNEAMlt9b_AHntQ8CFUFeOs7Ki23mOi0sPCTCYnssZjk0lWfkIQLgo3giRrzF01Q/s1600/ac_cv1_ds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKz6Ey1n6ssPXXpHpUXJCJHLwDvaKciPtuJVY9jx5dygQtvUJnS_YhSO8b4zQVbhcwjksCMbNEAMlt9b_AHntQ8CFUFeOs7Ki23mOi0sPCTCYnssZjk0lWfkIQLgo3giRrzF01Q/s320/ac_cv1_ds.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
Every once in a while, I stumble across a story that, due to the sheer ridiculously absurd nature of it, starts to give me a migraine. This morning, it was <a href="http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/09/retailer-boycotts-action-comics-morrison-over-perceived-blasphemy/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">a piece at Comic Book Resources</a> reporting that a North Carolina comic retailer was launching a boycott of DC's new <i>Action Comics</i> series and its writer, Grant Morrison. So what sort of pernicious plot could have possibly been perpetrated in the pages of this periodical to provoke such a passionate proposition? (Ahh ... alliteration. Gotta love it.) It's all because of a single panel that, according to Jeff Lamb, owner of aptly named Asheboro, NC comic shop, The Comic Conspiracy, shows DC's newest version of the Man of Steel in a blasphemous light.<br />
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Is Morrison's Superman flying around Metropolis spewing out bile and hate in the "New 52"? Not quite. In fact, not even close. Instead, the panel in question doesn't even have Supes uttering a single complete word. Instead, it's just two little letters that have riled Lamb up as "a slap in the face to Superman, Christians and Superman creators Siegel and Shuster!!"<br />
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<a name='more'></a>It's safe to say that the DC Universe has been turned upside down with in the post-Flashpoint continuity. Characters have been de-aged, marriages have ended, the dead have returned to the land of the living, and some characters have been blinked out of existence. Despite these changes, the DC heroes are still heroic and the Last Son of Krypton is still one of the good guys. Unfortunately, Superman's latest weakness had nothing to do with a little green radioactive rock ... it's a seemingly innocent literary device called "onomatopoeia".<br />
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In <i>Action Comics</i> #1, Superman is put through his paces as only he can. Hey, the book does have "Action" right there in the title. During one particularly action packed scene, Supes gets shot by no less than an artillery shell fired from a tank. While something like that might've left smoldering bits and pieces of the Average Joe strewn all about the landscape, Superman takes the blast full on, knocking him for a loop with a grunted "GD" popped into a word balloon for effect. Lamb claims to believe that the "GD" word balloon was an abbreviated way to have Superman say "God Damn", or something to that effect.<br />
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To that, I say, "Huh?" (Which, by the way, would technically be yet another example of onomatopoeia ... depicting a confused bit of exasperation by me)<br />
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On the Facebook page for his store, Lamb wrote:<br />
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"I deal with books like <i>Crossed</i> and <i>The Boys</i>. I accepted gay characters being introduced into a children specific book like Archie Comics. I however am getting very tired of having comic writer's liberal agendas force fed to me. Mr. Morrison has stepped over my line. If I have to stand alone on this... I will."<br />
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He went on to post that, "The boycott stands. All orders for <i>Action Comics</i> #2, as well as any other books written by Grant Morrison will be cancelled as soon as Diamond Comics opens it's offices today. I ask my customers to understand as best they can. I understand that it's only a comic and it's not the real world, but I feel that as a Christian I have to draw the line somewhere."<br />
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Lamb's opinion is that Superman was created to be "the 'perfect' superhero. Unblemished." He then went on to say, "It grieves me to see a liberal Scottish schmuck like Grant Morrison take these liberties. I'm sorry, Superman would NEVER take God's name in vain."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeJgeiZmyMzcdXTbFrr3qJmvTXWOJ-4KzSxfS42IAQxsG2nCzDNoy4AmOsRHc8UxBbUd3pFU6XG6bEZc2cnY91y40j8fku_igVTufYALKCgmVs8FRfIQPlzmoJP4f9oj0-uvxOw/s1600/action1-gd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeJgeiZmyMzcdXTbFrr3qJmvTXWOJ-4KzSxfS42IAQxsG2nCzDNoy4AmOsRHc8UxBbUd3pFU6XG6bEZc2cnY91y40j8fku_igVTufYALKCgmVs8FRfIQPlzmoJP4f9oj0-uvxOw/s320/action1-gd.jpg" width="320" /></a>Wow ... all of that from a simple "GD"? To me, it read simply as a grunt uttered from the force of getting HIT BY A FRIKKIN' TANK SHELL!! It's not any different than when I write "UGH" to represent an exasperated frustration. It was a sound effect ... nothing more. No sinister motive or political agenda being pushed in any way. And I'm not alone in this thinking. Aside from the vast majority of people who've commented on the issue already in other outlets, you know who ELSE thinks it was just a sound effect? Umm, how about the guy who wrote it ... Grant Morrison.<br />
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Earlier today on the official DC Universe blog, The Source, the "controversy" was <a href="http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/09/09/superman-and-the-gd-controversy/">addressed directly</a>, with Morrison stating via email:<br />
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“It should go without saying that the offending panel and caption, a mere ‘GD’, is a sound effect grunt – to suggest Superman’s breath being forced through gritted teeth – much like ‘DHH’, ‘GNUHH’ or the many others used throughout this book and in general in the comics business. It’s not in any way representative of God or a curse.”<br />
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It pains me that it seems people just want to read WAY to much into things sometimes. It reminds me of a quote attributed to Freud. "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." And in this case, sometimes a grunt is just a grunt.<br />
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I'll be perfectly honest ... I have some questions about whether or not this whole thing was just a publicity stunt dreamt up by Lamb. Despite all the holier than thou rhetoric earlier in the day and all the buzz the story got from the comic newswire, in light of Morrison's response, Lamb now says that "The boycott is lifted. Once again my apologies to Grant for the unwarranted name calling." I can't help but wonder if Lamb ever actually got around to making that call to Diamond early this morning to cancel those standing orders on <i>Action Comics</i>, as he claimed he would "as soon as Diamond Comics opens".<br />
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There's an old saying that claims there's no such thing as bad publicity ... but sometimes, it still can leave a bad taste in your mouth.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-62052010464711423382011-08-27T01:40:00.000-04:002011-08-27T01:40:58.035-04:00Under the Radar: Firearm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMeWtpSlv7R2ESqf3_Nq1qtBrEF9jqxD24ahvRLK5dIN5UNLfC-Zhtlfiv9luXx0SOEo5kh11LR1NZy2jOM6jqTJfhvANcOnSmOJyPW8PcCQZRL4oegeO1vmKgGjVddINt0cv5Q/s1600/firearm0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMeWtpSlv7R2ESqf3_Nq1qtBrEF9jqxD24ahvRLK5dIN5UNLfC-Zhtlfiv9luXx0SOEo5kh11LR1NZy2jOM6jqTJfhvANcOnSmOJyPW8PcCQZRL4oegeO1vmKgGjVddINt0cv5Q/s320/firearm0.jpg" width="208" /></a>When it comes to comic books, I'm often asked what my favorite series/character/etc. is. Hmm ... well, I like a LOT of comic books and characters. <i>Iron Man</i>, <i>Green Lantern</i>, <i>Ghost Rider</i> (both Johnny Blaze and Dan Ketch), Witchblade, Daredevil, Hellblazer ... I could go on and on. I've got a lot of fond memories growing up with various superheroes and supervillains, and I still love making weekly trips to the comic shops to see all the new stuff. I'm also lucky enough to work in a field where I get to follow all sorts of cool comic books projects.<br />
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What can I say? I'll forever be a comic book fanboy. But when it comes to my personal FAVORITE series? Well, it's probably one you'd never expect and may not have even heard of ... which naturally makes it the perfect choice for this Under the Radar piece.<br />
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It's <i>Firearm</i>, a relatively short-lived series from the now defunct Malibu Comics' Ultraverse line. And this is why you should try to find it in the back issue bins of your closest comic shop.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>First, I think you need a little background on the whole "Ultraverse" thing. Back in the early 90s, the comic industry was booming and everyone wanted to get a piece of the action. In that time, fans saw the birth of Image Comics (<i>Spawn</i>, <i>WildC.A.T.S.</i>, <i>Youngblood</i>) and Valiant (<i>X-O Manowar</i>, <i>Magnus: Robot Fighter</i>, <i>Turok</i>). Well, Malibu Comics wasn't about to be left behind ... and so the Ultraverse was born. The characters of the Ultraverse were all unique in their own right, from the Superman archetype who was actually a 13-year old boy to the actor-turned-superhero icon Hardcase. And right smack in the middle of it all was Alec Swan, a.k.a. Firearm.<br />
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</div><div>In a world filled with superpowers, Alec Swan was just a private eye trying to get by. Okay, so maybe he was a little more than just a regular guy. While Swan didn't have superpowers, he had a hell of a lot of training, first as a soldier in the British Special Boat Service and then as an agent for a covert government agency known simply as "The Lodge". After one particular mission with The Lodge goes south, Swan quit the agency and relocated to the States to start a new life as a private investigator. While Swan thought he could finally settle down a bit, fate (and some excellent writing by James Robinson) had other things in mind. Whether he was fighting for his life against a group of cannibalistic Ultras, breaking into a government facility to rescue a missing teenager who just so happened to be one of the most powerful characters in the Ultraverse, or facing off against a demonically possessed Ultra trying to release a dark god, Swan always happened to find himself in the wrong place at just the right time.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RGS-U7Cd1c5RukTwZrmaZxdkW4Tk8U7Ico77pdGI4bkcJFgAvss_GRGHmWW1dlmY68-p9UwkHUfIFMx3dMkfcBp8G_5BokqlkygTbVuGqJS-kXUNgxHQOW0goKpYSueNHcNkew/s1600/ultra_firearm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RGS-U7Cd1c5RukTwZrmaZxdkW4Tk8U7Ico77pdGI4bkcJFgAvss_GRGHmWW1dlmY68-p9UwkHUfIFMx3dMkfcBp8G_5BokqlkygTbVuGqJS-kXUNgxHQOW0goKpYSueNHcNkew/s320/ultra_firearm.jpg" width="209" /></a>Eventually, Swan found himself in a cat and mouse game with a serial killer known as Rafferty. Like Swan, Rafferty was well-trained in combat and had a disdain for those with supernatural powers. However, Rafferty found joy in killing off these "Ultras", and in taunting Swan, challenging Swan to stop his murderous machinations. The Rafferty Saga crossed over into a number of Ultraverse titles, with Rafferty hunting down Ultras and Swan hot on his heels. It made for a great read and culminated in an epic battle between the two.</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>Firearm</i> lasted for a total nineteen issues (#1 through #18, plus a limited edition issue #0 that came packed with a live-action 30-minute "film" telling the first half of the story). What made the book so great for me was the superb scripting by James Robinson. I grew up reading classic pulp detective stories from the likes of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, and for me, Robinson was right up there with them. I could actually picture Alec Swan, Philip Marlowe, and Sam Spade all sharing a round of drinks and comparing stories. Of course, in comics, it's not just the words that matter, but the pictures as well. And regular artist Cully Hamner did an amazing job telling Swan's stories.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Sadly, after Marvel bought Malibu in 1994, the end of the Ultraverse wasn't far behind. Adding insult to injury, due to the way that the original contracts were written, it's not likely that the Ultraverse will ever make a return under the Marvel banner. On the upside, Robinson was able to wrap things up nicely in the end ... giving the book a proper "Swan" song, but in a way that still left things open for an eventual return, should the stars ever align correctly. In the meantime, though, you can't go wrong tracking down the back issues of this cool modern take on the classic pulp stories.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-43209837630330854792011-08-25T16:40:00.000-04:002011-08-25T16:40:40.209-04:00Under the Radar: Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion (3DS)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA6qbahv4TNUlQ5zYwTrHOqT40x88cwItMaAfJP_gLStbepZQNHetVb19txt95dw-_CdTELIsUp3fh4UUPGNKdF45LofQDg9fVsKlsVKUSR_b5Cp150UjoZoEsuw7NXNt7CAbkg/s1600/cartoon-network-punch-time-explosion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA6qbahv4TNUlQ5zYwTrHOqT40x88cwItMaAfJP_gLStbepZQNHetVb19txt95dw-_CdTELIsUp3fh4UUPGNKdF45LofQDg9fVsKlsVKUSR_b5Cp150UjoZoEsuw7NXNt7CAbkg/s200/cartoon-network-punch-time-explosion.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So I've decided to work on a new semi-regular segment for ye ol' blog here, titled (as you can see) "Under the Radar". One of the things about my job is that I see a deluge of different properties coming out all the time. Video games. Comic books. Movies. DVDs. The truth of the matter is that there's simply SO much stuff out there, that inevitably things are going to slip by unnoticed and under appreciated. Sometimes you might stumble onto a quick blurb about one of these hidden gems early on, only to remember about it far too late, after it's already been exiled to the realm of the bargain bin, or worse, faded into obscurity and out of existence completely. Well that's where these "Under the Radar" segments will come in.<br />
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First up in "Under the Radar"? Crave Games' recent 3DS brawler, <i>Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion</i>.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I'll admit something to you guys that you might not already know. I'm still a big kid at heart. Big surprise, right? Even though no one in their right mind would ever mistake me for a kid anymore, I still have fun during my free time flipping channels and watching cartoons. Hey, I grew up on everything from mainstays like <i>G.I. Joe</i> and <i>Transformers</i> to more obscure oddities like <i>Turbo Teen</i> and <i>Centurions</i>. <i>Tiny Toons</i>. <i>Bonkers</i>. I watched 'em all. And so it's only natural that I still get a kick out of watching Cartoon Network and shows like <i>The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy</i>, <i>Samurai Jack</i>, and <i>Dexter's Laboratory</i>. So when I first heard about a 3DS game akin to <i>Super Smash Bros.</i>, starring the eclectic cast of characters from a range of Cartoon Network hits ... I was sold.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKFqvhu4OJjIO42JSo0TC8cLTWU6yYepy6A4RLoLPSAuTpBLV0JxMjnr5TzA7LUKWGqzeV5L9kwBN8ok8GxRzbcYJwAdbegR5N3_5chDIGGvW9bD52euAROTQweSnz2c7yS4wNQ/s1600/204900_145689552165066_129706030430085_269738_3530786_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKFqvhu4OJjIO42JSo0TC8cLTWU6yYepy6A4RLoLPSAuTpBLV0JxMjnr5TzA7LUKWGqzeV5L9kwBN8ok8GxRzbcYJwAdbegR5N3_5chDIGGvW9bD52euAROTQweSnz2c7yS4wNQ/s320/204900_145689552165066_129706030430085_269738_3530786_o.jpg" width="320" /></a>Well, I WOULD have been sold ... if I hadn't already been preoccupied with other games and such at the time. Plus, I'll be honest, the game's $40 price point (which seems to be the de facto MSRP for new 3DS releases) cooled my enthusiasm a little bit. I still can't really understand why there's a $10 price difference between the MSRP of DS and 3DS titles. Eventually, I kinda forgot about <i>Punch Time Explosion</i> ... until a sale at Best Buy this week reminded me of it. In case you missed it, Best Buy marked a handful of its 3DS titles down to $19.99 from the usual $39.99 this week. And yep, <i>Punch Time Explosion</i> is one of the games on sale. So a quick trip to Best Buy and $20 later, I was firing up my 3DS and taking <i>Punch Time Explosion</i> out for a whirl. And you know what? I'm glad I did.<br />
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Like I said earlier, <i>Punch Time Explosion</i> is essentially a <i>Super Smash Bros.</i> style brawler which takes its material (fighters, stages, powers, etc.) from the stars of various Cartoon Network shows. There are basically two main gameplay modes: Story and Battle. The Story Mode plays like your basic platform experience, with players making their way through the Cartoon Network Universe in a quest to uncover the source of a breakdown between the dimensional barriers that usually separate their respective worlds. It's paper thin as far as plotlines go, but it's an excuse to get all these character together. Plus, the narration from the mysterious Announcer (hysterically voiced by Space Ghost himself, George Lowe) is well worth sitting through the bridges between levels. Story Mode is your basic platform experience, broken up by the occasional first person shooter or survival wave segment. This part of the game starts off really slow ... but just when I was ready to throw in the title, things picked up and before long I was hooked.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyv9H7Nie8T0voFHW9mZoWc-szCNm4kzXFh4hyj2nhpRNWa7uxnlffp4tz62CKE95Y_NaJjSWSliaLE9_YCyPxR-ZuphiJBR7qlLMvvyvxmXdROCDsKeLrh_Pr4i9W6d_TDeWPQ/s1600/cn-pte-3ds-all-screenshot-announcement-vilgax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyv9H7Nie8T0voFHW9mZoWc-szCNm4kzXFh4hyj2nhpRNWa7uxnlffp4tz62CKE95Y_NaJjSWSliaLE9_YCyPxR-ZuphiJBR7qlLMvvyvxmXdROCDsKeLrh_Pr4i9W6d_TDeWPQ/s320/cn-pte-3ds-all-screenshot-announcement-vilgax.jpg" width="320" /></a>After making my way through the Story Mode for a while, I jumped into Battle Mode for a few rounds. This is your classic brawler mode, where you can pick your favorite character and take on one to three opponents in fast and furious fisticuffs. <i>Punch Time Explosion</i> supports download play, so you can still play your friends even if they don't have a copy of the game themselves. And if you don't have any friends immediately available, you can still play Battle Mode against up to three CPU opponents. One this that bugged me a little bit is that the characters I had unlocked in Story Mode were nowhere to be seen in Battle Mode. Apparently, those are unlocked separately by winning a set number of Battle Mode matches. Just keep in mind, you'll have to win about 75 matches in order to unlock everyone in Battle Mode. So don't expect to beat up your buddies as C****** P***** anytime soon.<br />
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With no <i>Super Smash Bros.</i> coming to the 3DS anytime soon (it was announced, but development had not started on it at the time), if you're jonesing for a button mashing throwdown, <i>Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion</i> is a fun way to get your fix. I'm a little disappointed that the game doesn't have any other 3DS features like Street Pass or Spot Pass and it doesn't have any online gameplay, but it's still a blast to play. I'll admit that I'd probably still have a hard time recommending the initial $40 retail price for the game, but as I found out this week, you can easily find it for $30 less. And at that price, it's definitely worth checking out.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-13487683466405108652011-07-29T16:07:00.000-04:002011-07-29T16:07:40.708-04:00IT'S ALIVE!! ... and in 3D!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTodCT387RNAb8OTyBjFz5AW8Wb53khwq35c0bPCRtM1SPXJ_frOi7DnQSfZdr9xmrKdwhkVWWlauY9xMghMEHilrMlfpey8ZBecTcBvPL0oCCD3eecuUdQ0rZE1AKDY6iieVkMA/s1600/hardware_blue.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTodCT387RNAb8OTyBjFz5AW8Wb53khwq35c0bPCRtM1SPXJ_frOi7DnQSfZdr9xmrKdwhkVWWlauY9xMghMEHilrMlfpey8ZBecTcBvPL0oCCD3eecuUdQ0rZE1AKDY6iieVkMA/s200/hardware_blue.png" width="200" /></a></div>So the big bit of video game news going around this week has to be Nintendo's surprise announcement that, less than six months after the retail debut of the 3DS, the portable system will be getting a hefty price cut come August 12th. For gamers in the US, the 3DS price will drop from $249.99 to $169.99, a whopping savings of $80. To put that in a little more perspective, if you were to rush out right now and pick yourself up a <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nintendo+-+Nintendo+DSi+XL+(Burgundy)/9760139.p?id=1218168160266&skuId=9760139&st=dsi%20xl&cp=1&lp=3">DSi XL from Best Buy</a>, you'd be paying the same amount as you would if you wait just a couple more weeks for some glasses-free 3D action.<br />
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That's kind of a big deal, but that's not all ...<br />
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<a name='more'></a>So what about those of us "early adopters" who decided to pick up the 3DS at launch? Is Nintendo giving us a great big middle finger ... in 3D? Actually, no. If you have picked up a 3DS prior to midnight on August 12th (that's 11:59p on Aug. 11th, for those checking their clocks) and logged into the system's eShop at least once, you're automatically going to be registered into Nintendo's "Ambassador" program. <br />
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What exactly does that mean? Well, here's the explanation straight from Nintendo:<br />
<blockquote>1. Starting Sept. 1, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES™ Virtual Console™ games at no charge and before they are available in the Nintendo eShop to the general public. These games, including <i>Super Mario Bros.</i>™, <i>Donkey Kong Jr.</i>™, <i>Balloon Fight</i>™, <i>Ice Climber</i>™ and <i>The Legend of Zelda</i>™, are slated to become paid downloadable games, but Ambassadors get them early for free. Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost.<br />
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2. By the end of 2011, Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. These include games like<i> Yoshi's Island</i>™: <i>Super Mario™ Advance 3</i>, <i>Mario Kart™: Super Circuit</i>, <i>Metroid™ Fusion</i>, <i>WarioWare™, Inc.: Mega Microgame$</i> and <i>Mario vs. Donkey Kong</i>™. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors, and Nintendo currently has no plans to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3DS in the future.</blockquote>So basically, if you've already picked up a 3DS (or plan to before the price drop), Nintendo plans to load you up with no less than 20 free classic games. Seems like a pretty good deal to me, actually. You want to know why? Because, to be perfectly honest, I still think I've gotten my money's worth out of the system after having paid the original price.<br />
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Okay, let me start off by saying that the whole "glasses-free 3D" is a pretty nifty (yeah, I said "nifty") little gimmick. I do like the way it can add some depth to the portable experience. BUT, much like a deep fried Twinkie, I don't want it all the time. In fact, there are some times when the overall experience is actually better WITHOUT the 3D on at all. Don't believe me? Go check out <i>Dead or Alive: Dimensions</i> sometime (it's probably still running in the demo unit at your nearest retailer). Sure, the game is fun with the 3D on, punching, kicking, and throwing in a nice, 3D 30 frames per second. But turn off the 3D and that puppy runs at a smooth 60fps, looking every bit as good as DoA4 on the Xbox 360.<br />
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See, while the 3D is fun, it's not the main reason I like my 3DS. What people don;t seem to realize is that the 3DS is more than just ... well ... a DS with 3D. Things like the StreetPass and SpotPass features give me a reason to carry the system around with me. I'll admit it ... for a while, I was tweaking out my team of figures in <i>Super Street Fighter IV 3D</i> and heading to stores just looking to swap data with people. It's goofy, sure, but it's fun. And in <i>Dead or Alive: Dimensions</i>, it's always cool to fire up the game and see what new costumes or Showdown matches have downloaded since the last time I played. Even the Play Coins, earned by just carrying the system with you when you walk, have earned me some fun little goodies in games like <i>LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars</i> and <i>Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D</i>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wasurdMnHd6dALSJu26dgW6CC0CLtJA7Xl4ypM7isoChHtKL5i5PzUHstgeT3RjVVcGeiny6ZQCMTWnD2ZWf3PIDqtL7OcwcVuT6emqKfobHsDHlUEUnEkirD5SYoLar2wAHxQ/s1600/Netflix_3ds_image_610x475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wasurdMnHd6dALSJu26dgW6CC0CLtJA7Xl4ypM7isoChHtKL5i5PzUHstgeT3RjVVcGeiny6ZQCMTWnD2ZWf3PIDqtL7OcwcVuT6emqKfobHsDHlUEUnEkirD5SYoLar2wAHxQ/s320/Netflix_3ds_image_610x475.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Right now, though, one of my favorite features has got to be the ability to watch Netflix through my 3DS. Yeah, I know a lot of laptops, phones, tablets, etc. also offer a portable way to watch Netflix, but I don't necessarily feel like dragging my laptop or even a tablet everywhere I go. And as far as my phone? Umm, yeah. I'm a journalist/writer so I'm usually using my phone to actually ... well ... communicate. Nothing's worse than trying to watch a movie than to have to go back and forth with texts, emails, or phone calls interrupting every five minutes. With the 3DS, I can just pop the system into my pocket and, in my downtime, hook up to a wifi signal and watch a quick show or two. And let's not forget that there's still the very real likelihood of Netflix offering streaming of 3D movies. With the number of Netflix enabled 3D televisions out there, it's a matter of "sooner" rather than "later".<br />
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Even with all of this, I've glossed over other features like the (admittedly lower resolution) 3D camera, the music player, the eShop for downloadable games, backwards compatibility with the DS, the new Nintendo Video, and the Nintendo Zone stuff. The fact is, the 3DS is a pretty strong piece of hardware and well worth its price ... especially after the price drop takes effect in a couple of weeks.<br />
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Now, as much as I'm gushing over the 3DS, I'm not blind. The system has its share of flaws. Aside from things like a wobbly hinge and low res camera, there's simply a matter of support for the platform. I mean, where are the games? Sure, there are some gems out there. Super Street Fighter IV 3D. Dead or Alive: Dimensions. Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. But where are the other big breakouts? I'm hoping (and I'm betting Nintendo is hoping as well) that with the price cut getting the 3DS into more gamers' hands, support for the console will ramp up accordingly from third party developers.<br />
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Who knows what the future has in store for the 3DS? Will it overcome these growing pains and push forward as a strong, viable handheld gaming experience? Or will it quietly fade into the sunset? I don;t have the answer, but I sincerely hope it's the former. The 3DS is a lot more than just a gimmick. It's a solid piece of hardware that simply needs the opportunity to shine. Here's hoping the upcoming price cut will do just that.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-20828153850120318082011-07-22T19:02:00.000-04:002011-07-22T19:02:06.393-04:00Batman: Arkham City gets a little "Ghul"-ish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NmxKjxOsLynmN041dRxq4bgGULngEfQAJppIjTq67Cje5deTQyAEuy6Pz8ZvleL-y9wFJYVOW9Jrutj3qffRKVn3il7mW4JQ0OwVF-vjBJYili7tpsWb2vDeaDkdFIZREThZaQ/s1600/Talia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NmxKjxOsLynmN041dRxq4bgGULngEfQAJppIjTq67Cje5deTQyAEuy6Pz8ZvleL-y9wFJYVOW9Jrutj3qffRKVn3il7mW4JQ0OwVF-vjBJYili7tpsWb2vDeaDkdFIZREThZaQ/s320/Talia.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>Earlier today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment released <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ew_PODcHes">a new trailer </a>for <i>Batman: Arkham City</i>, showcasing the in-game appearance of Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin. The trailer also showed a surprise appearance of Solomon Grundy.<br />
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Well, just when you think that they couldn't cram any more into the Arkham City experience, it was confirmed today at Comic-Con that Talia al Ghul will be making an appearance in the game as well.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
For those of you out there asking who the heck Talia al Ghul is, here's the quick lowdown. Talia is the daughter of Ra's al Ghul, one of Batman's oldest and most dangerous foes. Under the guidance of her father, Talia has become a strong warrior in her own right, even leading the legendary League of Assassins in Ra's al Ghul's absence. Although she's fiercely loyal to her father, she's also fallen in love with Batman ... a feeling the Dark Knight has reciprocated many times despite their circumstances. In fact, in the current DC Comics continuity, Batman even fathered a child with Talia: the current Robin, Damian Wayne.<br />
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So what role will Taila al Ghul play in Arkham City? And does this mean that her father (or even her son) are far behind? Who knows? But considering that Talia is still rumored to pop up in Christopher Nolan's upcoming Bat flick, <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>, it's a safe bet that she'll do just fine under the light of the Bat-Signal all by herself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLijVRXThb4iVp8rvewmaZpcHJmSYvbgJCdq-0PZj_JNvE7xVRaCoH6n-KIp_AKtp8fh3CB2X-NeDF_wfwCSLKXczmutW_8ul0FYNIHp6jGpcLaraaUud1iiiJmEmo6_Xu1IXxg/s1600/Stana_Katic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLijVRXThb4iVp8rvewmaZpcHJmSYvbgJCdq-0PZj_JNvE7xVRaCoH6n-KIp_AKtp8fh3CB2X-NeDF_wfwCSLKXczmutW_8ul0FYNIHp6jGpcLaraaUud1iiiJmEmo6_Xu1IXxg/s200/Stana_Katic.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Giving a voice to Talia al Ghul in Batman: Arkham City is Stana Katic, best known as Detective Kate Beckett in ABC’s popular series (and a personal favorite show of mine) <i>Castle</i>. Katic's no stranger to dealing with superheroes either, having played as the superpowered spy Hana Gitelman in NBC's <i>Heroes</i>.<br />
<blockquote>“Talia is such a complex character and it was great to voice her in Batman: Arkham City,” said Katic regarding her role in the game. “I was amazed at all the detail put into the project and it’s great to see how excited the fans are about the game.”</blockquote>Batman: Arkham City will be available in North America beginning Oct.18, 2011, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-78928643240793505032011-07-21T23:41:00.000-04:002011-07-21T23:41:38.335-04:00And I'll form the head!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5Mr4ljxVMNUeGp-pclRBzllFDSzTgqZSPGNEVmrK1t2tODpSMh-1UGM6etUFL-kTWNWLhs4AEV1tm-B8FDCBBKF4sLYhcM5mrB2ER02MiC_GxKBrd6qpah7e_tZMR-bcjxV-BQ/s1600/voltron586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5Mr4ljxVMNUeGp-pclRBzllFDSzTgqZSPGNEVmrK1t2tODpSMh-1UGM6etUFL-kTWNWLhs4AEV1tm-B8FDCBBKF4sLYhcM5mrB2ER02MiC_GxKBrd6qpah7e_tZMR-bcjxV-BQ/s320/voltron586.jpg" width="320" /></a>Assuming you didn't giggle like a little schoolgirl at the title of this post, you can probably guess that this one's all about the coolest cat(s) to ever defend the universe ... none other than the Voltron Force. Just in time for Comic-Con, word has come out that the studio behind <i>Scott Pilgrim vs. the World</i> and the upcoming <i>Cowboys & Aliens</i> flicks has optioned the feature film rights for <i>Voltron</i> from World Event Productions, with plans to develop the property into a new live-action project headed for the big screen.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>According to today's announcement from Relativity Media’s President of Worldwide Production, Tucker Tooley, the live-action film will be produced by Atlas Entertainment’s Roven (<i>The Dark Knight</i>) and Richard Suckle (<i>The International</i>), along with Kickstart Entertainment’s Jason Netter (<i>Wanted</i>). World Events Productions’ Ted Koplar (<i>Voltron Force</i>) will executive produce, with a script penned by Thomas Dean Donnelly (<i>Conan the Barbarian</i>) and Joshua Oppenheimer (<i>Sahara</i>).<br />
<blockquote>“For nearly three decades, Voltron has captured the minds of a nostalgically loyal and rabid fan base and has long been considered a hotly-pursued project. We are beyond excited World Event Productions and Atlas Entertainment have placed their trust and faith in Relativity to bring this coveted property to the big screen, and usher in a new generation of devoted fans.” - <b>Tucker Tooley, President of Worldwide Production at Relativity Media</b></blockquote><blockquote>“It’s incredibly gratifying to officially announce the development of the live-action <i>Voltron</i> movie this week, given its recent resurgence and the start of Comic-Con." - <b>Roven, Co-Founder, Atlas Entertainment</b></blockquote><blockquote>"I know there's been a lot of rumors and speculation about this movie, so it's great to finally confirm to all the <i>Voltron</i> fans everywhere that we're coming for them." - <b>Richard Suckle, Producer at Atlas Entertainment</b></blockquote>So, now that we know a Voltron live-action flick is FINALLY officially in the works, let's hear who YOU think the studio should like at in terms of casting? Anyone you think would be perfect at Keith, Allura, Lance, Zarkon, Lotar, or Haggar? Sound off and toss out your <i>Voltron</i> suggestions.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-30921969313239278342011-07-21T22:56:00.000-04:002011-07-21T22:56:17.776-04:00Beware my power ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEtGbwB1RB3miq8Tb65w459sMNXyV9m-L8Q12M63bH_MqjoELDVjTIRtdoBdpH_LXYsP-cgzrFQhe4uxtY2GFYqGds6-lFEJZlcvU_sgpfaB6yxYQrGk3Ku9glK6ReDK2-NP9qw/s1600/dc_scr_icnact_starlabsalert_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEtGbwB1RB3miq8Tb65w459sMNXyV9m-L8Q12M63bH_MqjoELDVjTIRtdoBdpH_LXYsP-cgzrFQhe4uxtY2GFYqGds6-lFEJZlcvU_sgpfaB6yxYQrGk3Ku9glK6ReDK2-NP9qw/s320/dc_scr_icnact_starlabsalert_002.jpg" width="320" /></a>If you know me (or you've been following this blog much), you probably already know that I'm a BIG fan of <a href="http://www.dcuniverseonline.com/"><i>DC Universe Online</i></a> from Sony Online Entertainment. Hell, I've got both the PC and PS3 versions of the game, and I play both on a regular basis. The game is simply a blast to play, and you can't help but actually feel like your hero (or villain) is an active part of the DC Universe. Well, at Comic-Con this week, SOE is showing off the game's first DLC expansion back, "Fight for the Light". As a longtime fan of Green Lantern, I was already stoked about this before the show. Now? I'm just itchin' to join the Corps. <br />
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If you think I'm just blowing smoke and you happen to be at Comic-Con, head on over to Booth #4436 and check in out for yourself. For everyone else, read on to learn what you'll be getting when "Fight for the Light" goes on sale later this Summer.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>"Wait a minute, David. Did you just say 'goes on sale'? Hasn't the DCUO content been free so far?"<br />
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Well yeah. If you've been playing <i>DC Universe Online</i> before now, you've probably taken part in some of the game's regular content updates ... things like taking on the dual personalities of Two Face or putting a halt to Catwoman's thieving ways (for a little while, at least). But "Fight for the Light" is a lot more than just a standard content update. This is a true expansion, adding a whole new power set for players to save the day (or rule the night) with. Plus, there's a lot of other new content available to those who decide to shell out the $9.99 for the expansion.<br />
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Just take a peek at these new additions:<br />
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First up is the new S.T.A.R. Labs area. A cornerstone of all things science-related in the DC Universe, S.T.A.R. Labs has long been a target for some of the more hi-tech villains. Well, you can't get much more hi-tech in DCUO than the big baddie of the game, Brainiac. And now, with the arrival of the different Lantern Corps, Brainiac believes that S.T.A.R. Labs, and the experimental equipment stored inside, is the key to harnessing the power behind the Lanterns' rings. In order to prevent this from happening, players on both sides must call a tenuous truce, as the Green and Yellow Lantern Corps are forced to team up and throw a hard light monkey wrench into Brainiac's plans by bringing those devices back under S.T.A.R. Labs' control.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9gW3PhXUx3gnDTR8UoJvyXP2APMPxVF7jFi4Mi0PI6ysNj6tW8MEoob88dc43dbQHr76RmJty4Ecshyphenhypheny0QlxGF-zCjv_mD_eWvczkyZ8wB3CBP9NmiKFIcKo74T96bnMKt9Zlg/s1600/dc_scr_grpact_coastcity_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9gW3PhXUx3gnDTR8UoJvyXP2APMPxVF7jFi4Mi0PI6ysNj6tW8MEoob88dc43dbQHr76RmJty4Ecshyphenhypheny0QlxGF-zCjv_mD_eWvczkyZ8wB3CBP9NmiKFIcKo74T96bnMKt9Zlg/s320/dc_scr_grpact_coastcity_006.jpg" width="320" /></a>Next, players will travel on to Coast City, the home of Earth's first (and arguably best) Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. Here, players have to fight their way to Ferris Aircraft and take on the seething rage of Atrocitus and his Red Lantern Corps. This isn't just a battle to save Ferris Aircraft, though. The stakes are much higher, with all of Coast City and even the whole of the universe at risk.<br />
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From there, players will leave Earth behind and take a trip to the planet Oa, the home of the Guardians and the main base of operations for the entirety of the Green Lantern Corps. Deep within the walls of the Sciencells, the Corps watches over the most dangerous criminals in the universe. It's here that heroes will join with Guy Gardner to stop a prison break that threatens to release the most feared prisoners the Green Lantern Corps has ever faces. Of course, on the other side of the equation, players with a more villainous streak will fight alongside Sinestro as he attempts to break out the Corps' greatest foes to recover the evil Lyssa Drak and her knowledge of the Book of Parallax. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OOIZ-GWuS65ydPrjA-AKKhy3rSE_bl_ljnWwj2uoS0ybeJ38OqybY-iPQdnfzla5HG9TqX7Qdf6cMcQuOdo-JywDCq_sm7DyaJMh4xQUyKeR8uRkhCp1QRseA9kDoeugWL2UQQ/s1600/dc_scr_grpact_coastcity_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OOIZ-GWuS65ydPrjA-AKKhy3rSE_bl_ljnWwj2uoS0ybeJ38OqybY-iPQdnfzla5HG9TqX7Qdf6cMcQuOdo-JywDCq_sm7DyaJMh4xQUyKeR8uRkhCp1QRseA9kDoeugWL2UQQ/s320/dc_scr_grpact_coastcity_003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As cool as all that is, it still pales in comparison to the expansion's biggest new addition, the ability to wield the power of the Lantern Corps. "Fight for the Light" add a seventh power set for players to use: Light. Players will have a whole new toolbox to play with as they create new heroes and villains with the ability to channel hard light constructs, or transfer these new abilities to their existing characters. <br />
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Whether you have the willpower to overcome, you have great rage in your heart, or you have the ability to instill great fear, there's a reserve Lantern Corps ring waiting with your name on it when you pick up the "Fight for the Light" expansion to DC Universe Online on the PC or PS3 later this Summer for $9.99.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-75421998724353855832011-07-21T18:15:00.000-04:002011-07-21T18:15:22.552-04:00Will Spock get a flight ring?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZHXZbpg4lPZUO7G9Qq40kcgmlIBRZbsxRG2xx4mXUOeB6qRwEgS1XHqomRJAS5NnquQlqmoNpED4mLQ2OWQdNRf3q9ervarhK0_uTaMzh7i5t6H7oXA3uTBIqv-T9VxogLyL5A/s1600/ST-LOSH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZHXZbpg4lPZUO7G9Qq40kcgmlIBRZbsxRG2xx4mXUOeB6qRwEgS1XHqomRJAS5NnquQlqmoNpED4mLQ2OWQdNRf3q9ervarhK0_uTaMzh7i5t6H7oXA3uTBIqv-T9VxogLyL5A/s320/ST-LOSH.jpg" width="210" /></a>More interesting news out of Comic-Con today, as we learn that the Starship Enterprise is taking a bit of a detour from its original five year mission in order to warp straight into a brand new voyage ... this time straight into the heart of the DC Universe and an encounter with a certain group of 30th century Legionnaires. That's right. Earlier today, IDW Publishing announced its first-ever crossover with DC Comics, courtesy of the upcoming six-issue miniseries, <i>Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes</i>, beginning this October.<br />
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Don't worry, continuity buffs, no one is trying to shoehorn the entirety of the Star Trek mythos into the DC Universe proper (or vice versa). As we all know, both groups have done more than their fair share of dimension hopping over the course of their respective histories, and this will be no exception.<br />
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So, what's in store for both groups of space faring adventurers?<br />
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<a name='more'></a>According to IDW, <i>Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes</i> begins with the crew of the original NC-1701 USS Enterprise beaming down to a planet's surface, only to discover that it's not the place they intended to be ... or even the right universe. Meanwhile back at the Hall of Justice (sorry, just always wanted to say that) ... a group of Legionnaires from the era of the classic "Great Darkness Saga" story arc are unceremoniously dumped from a time sphere into this same unfamiliar version of the 23rd century. Things are familiar, but decidedly different here. Instead of the United Planets or the Federation, there's now the "Imperial Planets of Terra, an empire focused on war and conquest. Other threats include classic LOSH and Star Trek foes like Khunds, Klingons, Borg ... all of which are also not quite as they should be.<br />
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<i>Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes</i> will be written by Eisner nominated writer Chris Roberson (<i>iZombie</i>, <i>Superman</i>), with art provided by Jeffrey and Philip Moy, both of whom have tackled the Legion and Star Trek in other forms. Phil Jimenez will provide the standard covers over the course of the entire series, while variant covers for each issue will be offered from classic Legion of Superheroes artists such as Keith Giffen, Steve Lightle, and Mike Grell, as well as IDW mainstay and Best Artist Eisner-nominee Gabriel Rodriguez (<i>Locke & Key</i>) and others.<br />
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Seriously though ... can you imagine Spock with a Legion flight ring? I mean, it's only logical ... right?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-82766908795678717402011-07-21T16:47:00.000-04:002011-07-21T16:47:59.828-04:00Where does he get those wonderful toys?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FNu_D9PfALW4nbtMiKvQAX7mxXn_65DrhNbeEn8W3QRBDIBFRFm-x1bpM7O-0T981JtkuJKJ9hIbTALoSfg7E1BR3yftPF8fZUcA8pz6Y8hBmZQ1z62a1DCh4ddAQict1WFQHA/s1600/impostorsLogo_f.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FNu_D9PfALW4nbtMiKvQAX7mxXn_65DrhNbeEn8W3QRBDIBFRFm-x1bpM7O-0T981JtkuJKJ9hIbTALoSfg7E1BR3yftPF8fZUcA8pz6Y8hBmZQ1z62a1DCh4ddAQict1WFQHA/s200/impostorsLogo_f.png" width="200" /></a>With Comic-Con in full effect, it's no surprise that everyone is talking about how the comic book industry is making its mark in other media. And when it comes to video games, especially those based on popular comic book franchises, well let's just say that you'd better damn well have your act together otherwise these fans will rip you apart. One game on everyone's mind at Comic-Con this year is <i>Batman: Arkham City</i>, from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Rocksteady Studios. It's pretty much a given that <i>Arkham City</i> is going to be big ... but what about that OTHER Batman game currently in development? You know, the one from Monolith? The guys behind <i>F.E.A.R.</i>, <i>Tron 2.0</i>, and both <i>Condemned</i> games? The one that's a first person shooter starring a bunch of Batman and Joker wannabes?<br />
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You mean you haven't heard of <i>Gotham City Impostors</i> yet?<br />
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<a name='more'></a>There's an old saying that goes, "When the cat's away, the mice will play." Well, apparently the same thing happens when the Bat is away as well. Only instead of mice, you get some batsh-t crazy loons (pun intended) who decide to use Gotham City as their personal battlefield of good versus evil. Loosely based on the Batman: Impostors story arc in <i>Detective Comics</i> #867-870 (written by David Hine, with art by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens), the game pits teams of Batman and Joker wannabes (dubbed "Guardian Bats" and "Jokerz" in the comics) in 4-on-4 battles. This isn't the usual Bat Family or Rogues' Gallery though. Instead of hi-tech, well trained superheroes (or supervillains) like Nightwing or Bane, you've got guys like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4FnExVxMSOHTHwyaCoDMk5sO1KWeE5GbeNkWaEF6dCg-EWd-Cmfo6o6SMRzNzqzeLDR-PXEet1ZJCU_SsEa5Swv8hZPTssWRAlf22_uBiHay5ZNw2E7y27d8vxlGn1ZgyxwbPQ/s1600/243012_233877876627694_224001614281987_1155215_3096030_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4FnExVxMSOHTHwyaCoDMk5sO1KWeE5GbeNkWaEF6dCg-EWd-Cmfo6o6SMRzNzqzeLDR-PXEet1ZJCU_SsEa5Swv8hZPTssWRAlf22_uBiHay5ZNw2E7y27d8vxlGn1ZgyxwbPQ/s400/243012_233877876627694_224001614281987_1155215_3096030_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It's like cosplay gone seven shades of wrong ... and armed to the teeth. Players can customize their characters' costumes, weapons loadout, etc. for a unique presence in the game. Sure, you'll look like someone who's outgrown their Underoos, but it's that same over-the-top feels that somehow makes the idea of a Batman shooter just seem to work. It's like some sort of warped love child between the Dark Knight and <i>Team Fortress 2</i>. And if you need any more convincing, just take a peek at the game's official trailer, which went live just as Comic-Con started:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8_brw2P9TEA/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8_brw2P9TEA?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8_brw2P9TEA?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
I'll be posting more about the game as it becomes available, but this is shaping up to be one of those offbeat titles that you'll kick yourself for missing out on. Make sure it doesn't slip under your radar when it comes out for Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows PC next year.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-64245074321026676312011-07-21T14:58:00.000-04:002011-07-21T14:58:18.666-04:00A long time ago on a 360 far far away ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBANsIXUyV615vCPAhp8VAZb-xkEAEyu-LpthQM8AwJHJFrc4FWO2WIQ2DOh4IIKGerPovw700fTmNU4SvpxgDY0plcmi0b5CLFt5mG2hmTiY-2NZBGnuZ0nagYinIGmPtxmWdlw/s1600/KSW+Bundle_US_ENES_GroupShot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBANsIXUyV615vCPAhp8VAZb-xkEAEyu-LpthQM8AwJHJFrc4FWO2WIQ2DOh4IIKGerPovw700fTmNU4SvpxgDY0plcmi0b5CLFt5mG2hmTiY-2NZBGnuZ0nagYinIGmPtxmWdlw/s320/KSW+Bundle_US_ENES_GroupShot.jpg" width="320" /></a>There's no shortage of interesting news coming out of Comic-Con this year. And I'll be honest, there's WAY too much for me to cover it all. I'll be doing what I can here and there in between assignments too, so I can update this blog with those little personal bits that I come across which seem pretty cool.<br />
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This particular tidbit falls squarely into that "I Think It's Cool!!" category. What is it? Why, it's a Star Wars Xbox 360!!<br />
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While hyping the upcoming release of Kinect Star Wars, Microsoft and LucasArts announced that they'll be releasing a special, limited edition Star Wars themed Xbox 360 console. The new console, promoting the new motion controlled Star Wars game, is geekdom at its finest for Star Wars fans. <br />
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The console will set you back about $450, but you'll get your money's worth out of the package. For starters, you get this cool R2-D2 inspired Xbox 360 console, complete with a 320GB hard drive for storage, that looks like you could have just picked it up off the back of a Jawa's Sandcrawler:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeO1NW9eCC1aEnanwdcKy2v1Au2qzYZpXOJiwvjYdYg03xhoQ7nE8YHKNhdUfA32O4-EhxobsjX6eWLv8kk6czXksclXmjD2XZeKIuetCqyfnlqWKBtRdWIJEsiPdpxyu1sBZyHw/s1600/KSW+Bundle_Console_34_Right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeO1NW9eCC1aEnanwdcKy2v1Au2qzYZpXOJiwvjYdYg03xhoQ7nE8YHKNhdUfA32O4-EhxobsjX6eWLv8kk6czXksclXmjD2XZeKIuetCqyfnlqWKBtRdWIJEsiPdpxyu1sBZyHw/s320/KSW+Bundle_Console_34_Right.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>Much like the Halo themed Xbox 360 before it, this R2-D2 console will include custom sound effects when powering the system on and off.<br />
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And of course, where everyone's favorite astromech droid is, it's a safe bet that a certain protocol droid isn't too far behind. Sure enough, the bundle also includes this golden C-3PO inspired controller for all your gaming action:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMYXHPUJEW4ZPI-1N9YBp7CS3ZhargNa2oB2JqQks9aDqMslN1ct67sOfA04kxCUmRyteAvOX5fr_QDbPcXK73MwOXxzjL3LueqMQQqVZRX2FsDVUQ2twbXy8S5DCB7oBDln1kQ/s1600/KSW+Bundle_Controller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMYXHPUJEW4ZPI-1N9YBp7CS3ZhargNa2oB2JqQks9aDqMslN1ct67sOfA04kxCUmRyteAvOX5fr_QDbPcXK73MwOXxzjL3LueqMQQqVZRX2FsDVUQ2twbXy8S5DCB7oBDln1kQ/s320/KSW+Bundle_Controller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Rounding out the package, the bundle will include a Kinect sensor (in a matching white instead of the stock black color), a wired headset, a copy of Kinect Star Wars AND the obligatory Kinect Adventures games, and some sort of exclusive downloadable content.<br />
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So far, I haven't heard of an "official" release date for the console, but with the game due out this November, I'd expect to see this released before the end of the year, and most likely in time for those last minute Christmas shoppers.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7074909.post-15148545764619204842011-06-29T12:50:00.000-04:002011-06-29T12:50:39.901-04:00"Saving" the day?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCbeUAPzQEph5t9sIf7FiYfyLqz5fTyEIqYksYc8W3XzRisHDja6ay-aJnOxo615IFL0R4yGLg8eO0EzaMIuU3y88blwDToq_Th7hyphenhyphent75Rdtxe7_zsJPD6T_uAFwPB3wHwBtX-g/s1600/RE+Mercenaries+3D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCbeUAPzQEph5t9sIf7FiYfyLqz5fTyEIqYksYc8W3XzRisHDja6ay-aJnOxo615IFL0R4yGLg8eO0EzaMIuU3y88blwDToq_Th7hyphenhyphent75Rdtxe7_zsJPD6T_uAFwPB3wHwBtX-g/s200/RE+Mercenaries+3D.jpg" width="200" /></a>Considering it's been a couple of weeks since I've posted anything new to the blog (sorry guys), I was getting myself all geared up to write some deep, thought provoking, insightful post into the my world. THEN I just got ticked at a silly little issue and decided to rant instead. The issue? Why the hell is everyone up in arms over <i>Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D</i> inability to reset a player's saved data? I've seen gamers declaring their utter disgust at Capcom over this matter that you'd almost think the company had become a new member of the "Axis of Evil". I mean, seriously, people. Is this really enough of an issue to get up in arms about?<br />
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Okay, in case you missed what all the hubbub is about, here's a quick rundown ...<br />
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Since before the release of the 3DS, Capcom has been hyped up bringing the Resident Evil series to the 3DS, starting with <i>Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D</i>. If you've played either <i>RE 4</i> or <i>RE 5</i>, you're probably already familiar with the concept behind <i>The Mercenaries</i>, as it's already been included as an unlockable minigame in both in both of those titles. Basically, it's a quick run-and-gun race against the clock to kill as many zombies as possible before a timer runs out. Bringing that experience to the 3DS handheld, Capcom added more characters, more customization, more maps, local and online play, and oh yeah ... a demo of <i>Resident Evil: Revelations</i>. Still, people seem to be hung up on the fact that in the instruction manual for the game, it says "Saved data on this software cannot be reset" ... meaning that if you buy the game used, you're stuck with whatever progress the previous owner had completed before trading the game in. To which I respond, "And the problem with this IS ... ?"<br />
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Here's why I don't understand what's got a few vocal gamers so pissed off. If this had bee some sort of deep, moving RPG and you couldn't restart the game from the beginning to relive the experience, I might be upset. If there was some key element that might have been missed and the game left you with no way to go back and rectify the issue, I might be upset. But the thing is, <i>Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D</i> is NOT a role-playing game. It doesn't even have a story. Here's the game in a nutshell:<br />
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<ol><li>Pick a character</li>
<li>Pick a few skills and weapons</li>
<li>Pick a mission (yes, folks, every mission IS replayable)</li>
<li>Kill as many zombies as you can before time runs out</li>
<li>Beat your high score and MAYBE unlock more goodies</li>
<li>Wash. Rinse. Repeat.</li>
</ol>Now, I'm not saying the game isn't any fun. Hell, I've had a blast with it, personally. And the Duo (co-op) play is fun too. Sure, it's not perfect, but it's high on my 3DS list right now. But having said that, at its core, <i>Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D</i> is basically an arcade experience in the palm of your hand. And all this bitching and moaning about being stuck with your (or if you buy it used, someone else's) save data seems pretty ridiculous. After all, WHAT exactly, are you missing out on? The WORST case scenario for someone who picks the game up used is that, horror of horrors, you get a copy with stuff already unlocked and a handful of high scores for you to try and beat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjabJJS2aabYlo4G9Lu7Hi7eW776-nA7Rv52gjR3POReO-DRlEMnauYLzR9tYBfV_mxRrl0ZEI1vlzhXl3DW8hLUQIUQgYTnsvyHMQhqZGQc3AedwebUiPKz0wt3G3TidUw2RGGw/s1600/RetroArcade5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjabJJS2aabYlo4G9Lu7Hi7eW776-nA7Rv52gjR3POReO-DRlEMnauYLzR9tYBfV_mxRrl0ZEI1vlzhXl3DW8hLUQIUQgYTnsvyHMQhqZGQc3AedwebUiPKz0wt3G3TidUw2RGGw/s200/RetroArcade5.jpg" width="200" /></a>That's it? That's what people are yelling about? Hell, I know people who will go out of their WAY to find a used game that already has content unlocked ... *cough* <i>Pokemon</i> *cough*. I liken it to the days of yore (Read: the '80s) when I used to spend my free time camped out in the local arcade, feeding the electronic beasts a steady diet of quarters cashed in from my weekly allowance. If someone beat my high score, I kept playing until I earned my way back up to the leaderboard. I damn sure didn't complain to the owner and expect him to let me unplug the machines and reset everything just to soothe my bruised ego.<br />
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When all is said and done, does it really matter that you can't reset the saved data in <i>Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D</i>? Does it actually change the experience in any way, shape, or form? If so, I don't see how. Sure, if you buy the game used, you might not get that fleeting moment of accomplishment from earning a medal or unlockable that someone who owned the game before you might have. But if that's something important to you, then just buy the damn thing new and do it all yourself.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00957295042066441558noreply@blogger.com0