La Petite Parade: Because You Need A Decent Laugh Once In A While…

Posted on July 25, 2012 by geelw

I haven’t seen this vintage cartoon in ages, so thanks to a friend I ran into a few weeks back and a conversation we had about Harveytoons, here you go. I bet that version of the parade music the matchmaker sings in his hilarious complaint to the Minister of Parades gets stuck in your head after watching this. You’re welcome.

Oh, by the way (or: memo to the crazy people who watch too much cable news and believe what’s said about foreign countries), French people aren’t really like this at all. So don’t go looking at this as a “historical” document or anything like that.

-GW

Hyper Princess Pitch: This Royalty Needs No Rescuing, That’s For Sure…

Posted on July 24, 2012 by geelw

I know a few people out there who can’t stand most Mario or Legend of Zelda games because they’ve outgrown them or never really got into them at all, but somehow, Hyper Princess Pitch is right up their alleys when I point them to it. Granted, Nintendo hasn’t made a game like this (and probably never will), and yes, the game owes more to Smash T.V. and Robotron that any mascot character classic. The story is silly fun with our heroine going after a bad Santa and his gift-giving ways (try not to take what’s here out of context, as it’s SUPPOSED to be goofy). Heck, you can suplex enemies when you’re not running around with a brick, rainbow or freeze launcher and there are bonuses galore for those willing to take the time to unlock them. Yes, you can use a keyboard to play this, but a dual analog gamepad is very highly recommended. Get this one for FREE (as in absolutely nothing) here and check out some of Remar Games other fun retro styled projects (all made with the Game Maker program) while you’re at it.

WRC 3 Trailer Makes Me Jumpy In All The Right Spots…

Posted on July 24, 2012 by geelw

If you know me, then you know I love a good rally game. WRC 3, headed to the PS3, Xbox 360, PC and Vita this year (well at least outside the US), absolutely looks like something I’ll want to play. Granted, since no one bothered to release the other two current-gen WRC titles in the U.S. of A., I’m a bit annoyed about that little issue (I’ll need to import the PS3 versions when I can find them cheap enough). From my poking around online as soon as I saw this trailer, it looks as if UK gamers will see this one in October, but I’m hoping a smart US publisher can snap this up at some point. Milestone has put out some fun racers over the years, but thanks to a new graphics engine and what’s looking like more attention to detail, WRC 3 could be the best game yet in the series. At least for the current console cycle, as Evolution Studios set itself the task of making the PS2 home to aome of the best rally games on a console with its five WRC games (only ONE of which was released stateside, boo! Thank goodness I also have a Japanese PS2 here). My fingers are officially crossed for a US release (retail, PLEASE), so let’s see what happens…

The Man of Steel Teaser Trailers: Snyder Does Malick. Or Something Like That…

Posted on July 24, 2012 by geelw

I’m gathering Zack Snyder has been listening hard to criticisms leveled against his films and some elements of his directorial style certain vocal fans dislike. Either that or he’s been watching Terence Malick’s exquisitely mind-blowing The Tree of Life one too many times while eating bowl after bowl of Corn Flakes and reading a Ralph Lauren catalog shot by Bruce Weber. Anyway, these new Man of Steel teasers manages to be vague, impressive and inspiring all without coughing up a single spoiler or explosion. That said, I’m hoping the final film has a wee bit more color in it, as this sort of bleached out look in movies is fading fast (har har). With plenty of time to go before the Summer 2013 release, here’s to more revealing and intriguing future trailers that don’t give away a thing while managing to be equally thrilling.

Random Film Of The Week: (The) Hideous Sun Demon

Posted on July 24, 2012 by geelw

OK, this week’s selection was relegated to a simpler internet search after my usual “secret” selection method (flipping through a big movie encyclopedia or DVD catalog and randomly pointing at a title on whatever page I stopped on) left me with a few too many controversial choices (Targets, Joe and Badlands came up on the first three pages I dropped a finger on) that, while great movies worth seeing, aren’t exactly films I want to go over at this point. So, I’m substituting a favorite “B” movie that’s awful and hilarious with a nice left hook for you sun worshipers out there who can’t seem to catch enough rays.

Hell, it’s been hot enough these past few weeks that I should have added this flick about a month or so ago. Anyway, the plot about a scientist who ends up turning into quite a crispy-faced creature doing no good things to the general populace after radiation exposure is pretty far out there, but you can say that about most 50’s sci-fi and horror flicks. This one works for me because it tries to play as serious and even gets away with it for a bit, but you’ll be smirking along soon enough…

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Video Game Appreciation 101: Wii Library Update (New Additions)

Posted on July 23, 2012 by geelw

A few new (and used) titles for the collection, mostly thanks to some trades and a few others snapped up at really cheap prices. of course, I haven’t even finished all of these (my time machine is still busted), but have played enough of each to offer buy or bust recommendations. Then again, something I don’t like might be something you may fall over backwards over – that’s one of the more interesting things about gaming for you, right?
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Random Indie Game Of The Week: Cavern of Doom

Posted on July 22, 2012 by geelw

Most of the popular RPG Maker games out there are the usual Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest clones of assorted quality (terrible to truly inspired masterworks), but Cavern of Doom manages to take retro to an even more nostalgic level. Imagine an actual turn-based RPG made for the Atari 260- and you get the idea. If you love the blocky graphics old Atari home games had, CoD will get you smiling as soon as you see it in motion. the guy who made this gem, bobthebobish, clearly has a great sense of humor as you’ll see when you’re playing the game. I love how his chunky sprite monsters, simple use of color and even more straightforward dungeon mazes all tickled the proper nerves while the more modern turn-based combat appealed to my JRPG loving side. There’s also a cool upgrade system where you buy new skills with gained experience, a necessary thing as the game can be quite tough if you move too quickly through the dungeons. A sequel of sorts was in the works, but real life has halted progress on it for the time being. Anyway, CoD is ONLY about a 3 MB download, it’s FREE and if you happen to like the art style, you’ll get a kick out of what’s here even if you’re not big into the genre.

EDF 4: It’s The Little Things In Life That Keep Me Happy…

Posted on July 19, 2012 by geelw

Well, this is cool. Yes, it’s only a teaser site for now, but Sandlot has been very, very busy this year (and that’s very, very good). I’m betting we’ll see more about this one come this year’s TGS, but even if it’s a total no-show and that show, I can wait.

That and hey – D3Publisher of America should be making sure 2013 is a big, bug-packed (in a good way) EDF year for gamers. With enough time to generate the proper hype, I’d bet we’ll be seeing a sleeper steamroll some of the games that cost more to promote than what EDF 4 is costing to make…

Splinter Cell: Blacklist ‘Pop-Up’ Video: Ubisoft Might Want To Shoot A Few Of The More Irate Fans, Too…

Posted on July 18, 2012 by geelw

Boy, try and make a new game in a hugely popular series without dragging along EVERY element from previous entries and watch the more stick in the rear fans fearful of change scream and struggle as if they’ve been tossed into a burlap sack, then the back of a moving black van. Maybe Michael Ironside was unavailable, wanted too much money or hell, wanted to move on from the character he originally voiced for a bunch of games. Maybe Ubisoft wanted someone “younger” sounding for this installment. Eh, whatever. all this reminds me of is how things often work out in Hollywood in terms of sequels. Keeping in a Tom Clancy vein, how about that Jack Ryan? Anyone?

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Hey, Let’s Burn A Bridge Today!

Aside

OK, time for me to get into trouble for telling the truth. One of the worst things about gaming these days: publishers that keep going out of their way to whip developers into making games specifically to generate high professional review scores on the hugely flawed aggregate site, Metacritic. Of course, this plan is annoying for a few too many obvious reasons, but let’s add in the monkey wrench of high-profile reviewers who don’t bother to get to or even through some of the games they’re sent and that ticks me off even more. Especially when I put in a request for a game and get turned down because the PR folks handling it ran out of copies or don’t think I’m “big” enough to warrant a reviewable. Gee, thanks, but at least it will get played, I say. It may take me a while to post a review, as I prefer to finish a game before writing about it, but it”l get done.

OK, I’d be a LOT less annoyed if I was getting paid for what I do on a regular basis. But still, this stuff gets my brain boiling in my skull a bit more than it used to. Hell, I respect the medium and the people who work in it too much to be that jaded, so it would be nice to be able to contribute my two cents like any other site. OK, rant-less rant over. Back to reality for a bit…