Why I Finally Stopped Sending the "Call" of Duty to Voicemail ...

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.

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.

Just who is The Flash's 'Harrison Wells'?

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.

Why would I lay odds on this?  Well, keep reading and hitch a ride on my train of thought.

Unified Game Concept

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?

Let me explain ...

So what's the deal with the shoes?

It started as a joke ... and then turned into a philosophy of sorts.

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.

Well, like most other things in my life, there's a story behind that.

Quick Post-Con Update

Okay, 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.

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.

Comic-Con: The Adventure Begins ... er ... Is Delayed.

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.

 *SPOILER ALERT* They aren't.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more ..."

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.

Cooking up a new idea ...

Take a look at this picture I put together and tell me what pops into your head ...

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 ...

Say what you mean and mean what you say ...

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.

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 ...

When did we stop just having fun?

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?"

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.

Just paint a target on my back ...

Earlier this week, I finally started spending some time in the early access multiplayer for Naughty Dog's latest globetrotting and relic hunting adventure, Uncharted 3.  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 Uncharted 3, 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.

@Gamer Issue #13

The start of another month means yet another issue of Best Buy's awesome @Gamer Magazine.  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.

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 @Gamer website and get yourself signed up for a one-year subscription so you don't miss a beat.

PCP Game Review: Marvel Super Hero Squad Online (PC)

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.

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 Gazillion Entertainment and The Amazing Society released the kid-friendly, free-to-play MMO based on Marvel Comics' Super Hero Squad ... well, who was I to pass up a chance to "Hero up!" and save the day?

Extra Content ...

Just a quick little post here to let everyone know that I've started up a second blog, PopCult POV.  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.

Be sure to let me know your thoughts ...

A "GD" boycott on Grant Morrison and Action Comics?

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 piece at Comic Book Resources reporting that a North Carolina comic retailer was launching a boycott of DC's new Action Comics 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.

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!!"

Under the Radar: Firearm

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.  Iron Man, Green Lantern, Ghost Rider (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.

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.

It's Firearm, 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.

Under the Radar: Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion (3DS)

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.

First up in "Under the Radar"?  Crave Games' recent 3DS brawler, Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion.

IT'S ALIVE!! ... and in 3D!!

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 DSi XL from Best Buy, you'd be paying the same amount as you would if you wait just a couple more weeks for some glasses-free 3D action.

That's kind of a big deal, but that's not all ...

Batman: Arkham City gets a little "Ghul"-ish

Earlier today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment released a new trailer for Batman: Arkham City, showcasing the in-game appearance of Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin.  The trailer also showed a surprise appearance of Solomon Grundy.

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.

And I'll form the head!!

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 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the upcoming Cowboys & Aliens flicks has optioned the feature film rights for Voltron from World Event Productions, with plans to develop the property into a new live-action project headed for the big screen.