Random Film of the Week (Corporate Edition): Rollerball

Posted on December 7, 2012 by geelw

So, I’m looking over the notes for my Prometheus plot dissection (which probably won’t be as critical as my picking apart of The Thing from a few months ago), and that fun GE robot ad pops up. While writing up that last post about it, I got to thinking about a few of my sci-fi flicks that had evil corporations running things unto the ground for the purposes of profit and proving class struggle is a useless pursuit.Oh, what a fun time that was (he said, depressingly).

Norman Jewison’s excellent Rollerball was one of the first films that popped into my head (along with Soylent Green and Logan’s Run in case you’re interested) and amusingly enough, it just so happens to have popped up on cable recently. For the younger crowd out there, stay FAR away from the truly terrible 2001 remake and check out the darker, more violent and surprisingly deep 1975 original.

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GE’s “Robots on the Move” TV Spot: Electric Nostalgia (With A Few Missing Parts)…

Posted on December 6, 2012 by geelw

Nice. I usually hate these well-funded evil corporate spots, but GE has done two nicely nostalgic ones featuring classic cartoon characters (I think that was last year) and now this wonderful spot featuring too many classic to current robots from a few too many films, TV shows and other places. I hope there’s a “making of” video out there that has longer looks at some of my favorites. Of course, a few (well, more than a few) are missing (no Star Wars droids? And hey, a Twonky would have been too FANTASTIC, but oh well). Hmmm, now that I think about it, a longer version with some not so good ‘bots (HAL 9000, Roy Batty, perhaps David from Prometheus) would make for a nice in-joke in Ridley Scott’s upcoming Blade Runner follow-up…

The 7 Wonders of Crysis 3 Teaser Makes Me Wonder If I Can Afford to Actually Play It…

Posted on December 6, 2012 by geelw

Crytek’s phenomenal PC games have always demanded the ultimate in hardware, and the upcoming Crysis 3 will most certainly be no different. While specs haven’t been announced just yet, I’m betting the harder core fans of the developer’s shooters have already updated their forum signatures with their new system specs (ha ha). Anyway, when you have a film director (in this case, Albert Hughes) making a series of online videos using the game engine and they’re looking as incredible as the teaser shown above, well… it’s time to start thinking about a new PC.

Hmmm, I understand humans can function with a single kidney and I don’t really need a few other body parts… so maybe (just maybe) I can actually play the game when it’s all done and in stores. Then again, I’m not a big graphics hound, so I’ll hold out for a console version. Yeah, yeah, I know – but hey, they’re made for a few reasons, one of which is to expand a game’s user base by allowing us poor folk to play (and become fans of) some really spectacular shooters. So, there (nyah!)…

Star Trek: Into Darkness Teaser Trailers: Oh My!

Posted on December 6, 2012 by geelw

Hmmm. Nice teaser for the upcoming J.J. Abrams Star trek sequel – as usual, the Japanese trailer gets a few extra seconds of cool stuff. It looks like the delays and secrecy are going to pay off significantly for Trek fans, so let’s hope the film is not only better than the last one, it’s got more going for it than explosions and stars in assorted states of looking up at stuff. All kidding aside, I have to say I’m impressed but wary as almost every film I’ve seen this year has disappointed me in tiny to significant ways. Anyway, I’ll shut up and wait for a plot synopsis and scenes I can pore over for more detail. Of course, if there’s a Shatner cameo, I’ll lose a bet and have to listen to that Transformed Man LP for 24 hours straight. Eeek. Then again, I’m still not sure what’s more brain-warping to listen to – that or Leonard Nimoy’s equally oddball “Highly Illogical”. If you haven’t heard either, go look them up… but don’t say i didn’t warn you…

Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD Is Vita Bound – That’s A Buy Right There, Folks…

Posted on December 6, 2012 by geelw

Excellent. In case you missed it back on the original Xbox and last year, on the PS3 as a PSN download, well, here you go. Oddworld Inhabitants is getting Stranger’s Wrath out on Sony’s portable and I say it’s a buy because it’s still one of the best games you’ll ever play thanks to its innovative gameplay elements combining FPS and third-person action/platforming) along with a strong story that’s funny and touching. Oh yeah, and that Stranger is quite a likable fellow for being a bounty hunter and all. And the game is pretty darn long for what it is. And it sure looks mighty pretty in HD. And a whole lot more “ands” too. Keep an eye peeled for it soon enough…

Jack the Giant Slayer Trailer: Well, It’s Got to At Least LOOK Better Than The Original…

Posted on December 6, 2012 by geelw

Whee! Another repost (but with some additions) – hey, I’m busy, so if you read this on the old blog already, sorry ’bout that! To those who haven’t yet – enjoy!

Hey, I’m old enough to remember seeing the original 1962 flick on TV a few times during the late 60’s and early 70’s, but even then, I thought it was pretty cheesy when it came to the special effects. That was thanks to seeing almost all of Ray Harryhausen’s best work by that time in much better films and noting my my smart little head right away that the “special” effects in Jack weren’t up to snuff. Hell, Alexander Korda’s classic1940 film The Thief of Bag(h)dad beats the original Jack by a few miles in terms of sheer visual punch. Anyway, some who view this trailer are crying “sacrilege!” or claiming Warner Bros has RUINED their childhood memories, but I say this new coat of CG paint might at least be a better film in terms of looks. OK, and acting as well, as I never could stand Kerwin Matthews as a lead. There was something about him was so wooden that the effects in the fantasy films he was in were more compelling (well, except for the ones in the original JtGK). We’ll see about the story and all that in a bit, I suppose…

DmC Eye of Dante App: Some Are Still Kicking Capcom Around For Mere Marketing

Posted on December 5, 2012 by geelw

Oh, the internet can be a nasty little place for trying to push a product sometimes. Case in point, poor Capcom’s otherwise interesting app promoting the upcoming DmC through a bit of gameplay and site-hopping. If you go to the YouTube page and read the comments (which isn’t advised if you like your brain not flipping around in your head), they’re pretty mean and mostly not about the actual app. Ah well – I say if Ninja Theory’s new game coming out next year is good, all this green hot bile will dissipate like dust in the wind. Of course, the anti-DLC crowd is still not to be assuaged, so there’s always that fire to deal with…

THE SIMPLE Series For Wii U: The Family Party – D3 Knows Its Japanese Audience

Posted on December 5, 2012 by geelw

Nope, it’s not a sign of a new console’s premature apocalypse when the budget-priced releases start popping up. In Japan, D3 Publisher is well-known as a producer and publisher of a lower-priced games lineup for a few consoles called THE SIMPLE series, so it was only a matter of time before they started getting games done and shipped for Nintendo’s new system. This one’s a compilation of 35 family friendly mini-games and I’m gathering will do well because D3 has figured out that sticking a ton of content onto a disc and getting it out during the holidays (December 20) at an affordable price point (about $30) will net them a decent profit no matter what reviewers will say. The chances of this coming out here are pretty slim, but it would be a nice surprise if it did in some form or another.

This Ni no Kuni Behind The Scenes Video Will Make You Want To Make Games…

Posted on December 5, 2012 by geelw

…Or hell, at least want to buy a PS3 just so you can play THIS one. Personally, I love this video because you can see the passion as well as dedication the team at Level-5 put into the project (and boy, do they have some nice offices in Fukuoka), with a “little” assistance from Studio Ghibli, of course. Kids, remember to show this to your parents so you can prove that all that time you spend in front of the TV will lead to something other than the need for glasses or contacts, a lust for caffeinated beverages and the occasional bandage to cover up those blistered thumbs.

Sony’s Holiday Strategy Seems To Be Go All Nintendo On Its Fan Base…

Posted on December 5, 2012 by geelw

I wasn’t going to say anything snarky initially, but I overheard a hilarious conversation yesterday that definitely kick-started this post. Basically three kids were arguing about Sony “copying” Nintendo’s hugely popular Mario Kart games with Little Big Planet Karting (above) and the Super Smash Bros. series with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (below). Granted, if you actually play the games you’ll see that both do certain key things differently, but on the surface, yup – shameless, aren’t they? I had to laugh because while they all were wrong in that way kids who no not a thing about how games are made are, a few nails were indeed hit on the head. Granted, Sony’s other first party stuff has been pretty solid and there’s more greatness to come in 2013. But for this brief, not so shining moment, the Nintendo fanboys and girls out there actually have a genuine gripe that can’t be easily brushed away. Well, at least the two games are good*, so that saves them from a bit of the batting about they’re getting in some corners of the internet…

*”Good” being entirely objective term, as we all know Mario Kart is the gold standard here. LBPK is a wee bit problematic on a few fronts, but the driving and blowing stuff up works OK.