Star Trek: Into Darkness International Trailer #2: Going Around The World With The Enterprise

Posted on March 21, 2013 by geelw

And the hits just keep on coming in this latest international trailer for Star Trek: Into Darkness. In fact, there are a bunch of these up on the official Star Trek web site that are all slightly different for each territory. I’ve always found that a tad strange, but that’s why I’m not a PR person, I guess. Anyway, the film certainly looks like it’ll be pretty relentless and gloomy where it needs to be, but I’m holding off any ACTUAL judgments until my butt is parked in a comfy movie seat. Some of the more Horta-headed fans of the Trekkie and Trekker varieties want the slower-paced style back from the original series, TNG and the other shows, but given that trailers for blockbusters condense events and are SUPPOSED to be thrilling, I’m betting the film does do some of what’s expected foe those die-hards when all is said and done. As usual, folks… we shall see…

Hating Aliens: Colonial Marines? Well, It Could Be Better (or Worse) With A Bit of Retro Perspective…

Posted on March 21, 2013 by geelw

ACM_PS3 Given the critical drubbing that Sega’s Aliens: Colonial Marines has gotten across most of the Internet-verse, some gamers are still feeling the urge to play something that feels closer to James Cameron’s 1986 film than what ended up on store shelves. Well, allow me to assist in this matter (sort of). Track down a working Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum and MSX and a copy of Electric Dreams’ 1987 game, Aliens or the rather interesting (and free) PC remake over at Derbian Games and see what was scary to gamers of that era. Continue reading →

Inventist, Your Swerver Quad Skates Make Me Want to Go Broke (In All The Right Ways)…

Posted on March 20, 2013 by geelw

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Hmmm. $395 is a bit steep for a cheap guy like me, but I saw these awesome feet-wheels at Toy Fair and immeduately wanted to take them for a test drive. I used to roller skate a bit in the 80’s (no, it wasn’t a disco thing, silly!) and early 90’s, but stopped once I actually broke a pair of old-school skates during a parade I was in (no, it wasn’t that type of a parade, silly!). Anyway, those slick Swever Quads promise with a “patented lean-to-turn design” that according to the official site “allows for increased stability when skating forwards or backwards, and more freedom of movement.” Hmmmm. They do look nice with jeans, yes?

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Well, no “Hmmm.” at all actually, as I’ve seen Inventist’s other products in action including the amazing Solowheel, which makes me crack up because I think of that old BC comic strip (which is STILL running, I just found out – just not in any NYC papers from what I’ve seen) and that “original” solo wheel cooked up by Thor back in the day. OK, so I’m mandated to get a gaming angle here by the other side of the brain, so here you go: a play through of the classic and slightly related to this post Commodore 64 game from 1983 called B.C.’s Quest for Tires. Hmmm… (again?) perhaps that NEXT Solowheel video can be a “remake” of the game? THAT would be really cool. Weird and funny as hell, but cool nonetheless…

(Thanks to Christian Liepold and his YouTube Channel for that video, by the way)

Defiance Ark Hunter Chronicles 5: Risk Versus Reward, Indeed…

Posted on March 20, 2013 by geelw

How amusing that this week’s DEFIANCE AHC has this particular title. It also seems that’s the collective hive mind thinking of some MMO and shooter fans who somehow STILL don’t “get” this game after MONTHS of footage, previews and information that’s NOT leaked out in dribs and drabs by some “crafty” PR drone, but put up by Trion Worlds and syfy themselves. I still see posts calling this a “Halo” clone, a FPS, or asking if it has traditional MMO click and wait gameplay. Some people love the air in their bubbles, I guess. Personally, they just give me gas. Anyway, the game is fast-paced, fun and will probably surprise some of the jaded types. The only bit of confusion I see that’s a b it pesky for Trion is some think the game is offline as well when it’s not. I still think it SHOULD have an offline solo and co-op game (which would make it PERFECT for fans of Sandlot’s Earth Defense Force games), as well as get a Vita version with the same features. But perhaps we’ll see some other developer give that a go if the series takes off and there’s high interest in taking it to that level. As always… we shall see…

A Friendly 10 Minute Reminder From Sony…

Posted on March 20, 2013 by geelw

Yeah, I figured Sony would be condensing that big PS4 meeting down to a “Hey, you better remember THIS!” video at some point, so it’s good to see that they still want your almighty gaming dollars sent their way. That said, I hope to hell they’re paying VERY close attention to Electronic Arts’ recent follies and fumbles with the new Sim City game and how ANYTHING even remotely similar happening with PSN or any digital content not getting into the paws of waiting consumers in 100% working order will be taken as Sony not being ready for prime time. We want to play our games offline and private FIRST and foremost, people. Forcing patches and updates on us, “always online” nonsense or other junk, then making crap excuses for any of it won’t do well for the PS4. Get it done, do it right and make sure we can play WHEN WE WANT TO, and you’ll be able to sleep better at night. As in it’s very hard to sleep with angry people with torches (or cell phones and tablets displaying torches, as this IS the 21st century, y’know) outside your window once a system hack somewhere reveals every SCEA exec’s home address…

Deadly Premonition Director’s Cut Random Screenshot of the Day: Exercise!

Posted on March 20, 2013 by geelw

OK, so I’m a bit obsessed with this game but so it goes when it’s so damn bizarre, scary and funny all in one. Rather than run a gallery of what’s on the Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut PR page (because that’s just too easy!), I’m picking one screen per day from the folder and writing something stupid about it just for fun. I’m also writing this post randomly as well, so what I just called “stupid” may end up on another plane entirely (kind of like the game, which is hard to describe, but dips into its own vat of weird when it’s least expected).

Anyway, Francis York Morgan (our hero) and local sheriff with the bad-ass leather hat George Woodman do some bonding with one of the usual questions guys getting to know each other who just so happen to be working together on a particularly gory series of murders ask each other. Hey, anything to break out of the monotony of finding a new corpse, right? Ah, Greenvale – where the coffee’s black and amazing and the murderers very creative in how they display and dispatch their kills.

Did I mention Francis York Morgan has a kind of creepy imaginary friend who he talks to in the game? No? Well, that’s why YOU need to be thinking about playing this one. Back tomorrow with a new screen and oddball commentary. PS3 only, April 30, 2013. Pre-order NOW from GameStop or Amazon if that’s your thing. Tell them SWERY65 (on the right) sent you. No discount if you do, but perhaps someone will think that’s cool on the other end of that Internet line you’re talking on…

Game of Thrones Season 3 Enemies Trailer: The Friend of My Enemy Is Probably Not Surviving The Season…

Posted on March 20, 2013 by geelw

I was going to use “Keep your friends close and your enemies six feet under” as the title of this post, but I flipped a mental coin (hey, I may be just about broke this month, but I do have some change of mind left) and that other one won out. Anyway, it’s almost here and doesn’t look as if will disappoint much, if at all. Then again, a good episode of GoT SHOULD be disappointing once it’s over simply because you didn’t want it to end and you’re left with your eyes and mouth wide open because something really innnnnteresting happened that you least expected. Well, that’s better it happens in the show than in real life… unless it’s the Publishers Clearing House van pulling up and you’d forgotten all about that stupid sweepstakes you filled out while half-drunk on some wine one late night…

Review: MUD FIM Motocross World Championship (PS3)

Posted on March 20, 2013 by geelw

MUD_TPCOVERPS3_3D_Eng_Fr_10-2_011013 Platform: PS3 (also on Xbox 360, PC)

Developer: Milestone

Publisher: Namco Bandai Games

# of Players: 1 (Online 1 – 12)

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: C+ (79%)

While it’s not without its flaws, MUD FIM Motocross World Championship manages to be a fun and fairly lengthy romp through the wild world of moto-x that mixes in arcade-style controls with some light to medium simulation elements. Veteran developer Milestone, known for its SBK bike race series and some pretty solid road and rally racing games, tackles this particular motor sport with relish as well as making more of an attempt to cater to a younger X Games fed audience and the results are mixed overall. More emphasis on reality (and more top US riders for the fans here in North America) would have been a better focus, as some of the “cool” bits feel a wee bit too forced. While there’s indeed a blast to be had here offline or on, the game can’t quite straddle both arcade and sim worlds and appeal to those who may have wanted a few more (and better) options. Continue reading →

Toy Fair 2013: Flip2BFit and Bakari Will Put A Forever Spring In Your Step…

Posted on March 20, 2013 by geelw

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flip2bfit Even though I know a few folks who’ve lost weight using WiiFit, Let’s Dance, Zumba or other video games, the fact is, these aren’t for everyone. In general, not enough people in the US exercise and eat right period, video game consoles aren’t in every home for any number of good reasons and some people need a bit more motivation than taking the relatively expensive way out of buying more devices that they probably won’t use once they’re unpacked. That said, adding some sort of play to one’s exercise routine is a great thing and that’s where Heather Parisi and her all ages fitness games Flip2BFit and Bakari come in. Sometimes, a good old fashioned board or card game is the way to go for anyone looking to shape up with kids they don’t want glued to the TV or a device when they should be concentrating on a few important things like diet and exercise…

Continue reading →

Defiance: New Alien Sightings Make For A Spring Workout Plan…

Posted on March 20, 2013 by geelw

More looks at syfy’s upcoming series DEFIANCE in a quickie alien preview. As noted earlier, this is really looking like it’ll be a show worth running home to see each week, provided you LIKE running home or running before you catch a favorite TV show. Hey, it’s SPRING and you could use to lose that winter fat, buddy. Yeah, me too, but I work at home, so I’ll need to run around the block a few times (or back from the library which is about 1/2 a mile from home) or the Starbucks with the better internet connection about 1.2 miles away. OK, I’ll “walk quickly”, as I don’t run for anybody and I’m certainly not going to run for office, even if it’s at home…

Woo. That’s cyclical humor at its finest, folks! I’ll be here all week – 2 shows nightly, 2 drink cover. Don’t forget to tip your server!