Have Blogathon? Will Travel!

house of wax VPOK, screw this damn hot as the sun under the sun weather. it is KILLING my productivity a bit too much. Well, I have a ton of notes for posts, but when I read them, my brain starts baking up like a Sunday ham (“Got any ham? Ham, ham, ham…”). Anyway, I think it’s a case of familiarity breeding contempt here. Or in plainer English – I’m working so much on my own stuff that I think I need a little challenge. All this heat is making me nuts, but I think I can contribute something to another or three of those fancy movie “blog-a-thon” thingies I’ve been seeing pop up.

I submitted to one already (see, see!) and I think I’ll get a nice kick in the pants if something new tickles my Fancy (which is picky as hell, aren’t you, Fancy? Yes, you are! Yes you are!). So, that’s where you come in, fellow talented typists of pedigree. I’d cook up my own blogathon, but I’m already project heavy here. That said, I do have a bunch of already written Random film of the Week and Random Film of the Week(end) plus a few other reviews on the site that might do for a new airing out link elsewhere. I can also write up something custom for an event (no wedding speeches, birth or bris announcements – let’s keep things in the ballpark where I have a chance of hitting something).

Anyway, feel free to let me know if you know of or are in fact, hosting one of these shindigs and I’ll gladly contribute. I just signed up for one that happened to pop up on another (and much bigger deal than my) blog as I was writing out this post(you can join the fun there as well!), so that’s one down – more to go…

Earth Defense Force 4 Gameplay Videos: Bigger, Better, Faster, MORE.

(thanks, GameEmpireHD!) 

My own copy of the game is in transit from Play-Asia, but there are some folks who picked up the game in Japan and are posting videos galore to show off some of the new features and the updated visuals. Here are a few from Game Empire HD that range from short to medium lengths and show a few of the classes in action. I’m a bit more methodical in how I play an EDF game, so seeing all those pickups left lying around at the end of those stages is a bit distressing. Then again, I’m gathering the person playing is trying to blast through the game as quickly as possible just to get as many videos up as possible.

That said, I did notice all of the videos posted so far are played on Normal mode. Personally, I always blaze through Easy first when playing an EDF game just to get it out of the way, earn a bunch of armor and new weapons plus whatever bonus is gained for completing the game on that difficulty level. That and it’s the best way to see what’s coming on the harder difficulties without struggling with too much dropped on my head at once. OK, I think I have about a week or so to wait, so let the countdown commence…

Pacific Rim TV Spot #7 (Plus!): Another Smash Hit From Kaiju Goo Goo…

Only a few days left before this stomps into theaters, so yes indeed, the ad and future Blu-Ray/DVD bonus features are rolling out bit by bit. I haven’t been following any merchandising on this film at all, primarily to keep me from buying every Jager and Kaiju I can lay my eyeballs on to fill that shelf space I don’t have (hey, nearly every inch of free space has a game in it or nearby). But don’t let that stop YOU from blowing a chunk of your last paycheck or three if you see something that grabs you.

Er, of course… if that something grabbing you is a few hundred feet tall, you can throw all the money you want at it and not much will happen at all. Hell you don’t have THAT much shelf space anyway…

Hey, part of that last sentence rhymed! No charge for that instant poem (as usual)…

Review: Spelunker (Virtual Console)

spelunker_artPlatform: Nintendo Wii U (also on Wii, 3DS)

Developer: Tozai Games

Publisher: Tozai Games

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Official Site

Score: A- (90%)

Still going strong after 30 years, Spelunker is one of those great games that gets a lot of love and hate for what it puts you through. On one hand, it’s a challenging game packed with treasures to grab and a satisfying sense of accomplishment each time you clear a level. On the other hand, it’s a REALLY and infuriatingly challenging game thanks to “the weakest action hero in the history of gaming”, and yes, that’s a selling point of this gem, folks. If you’re no fan of trial and error, the combination of this terminally frail dude, the need for pinpoint control and collecting air supplies scattered around the levels while avoiding death from everything from a VERY short fall to the small assortment of enemies will have you screaming at your TV within seconds…
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