Oh, You Kids! GTA V on the Xbox 360 Requires An Installation/Play Disc Swap. Oh, The Horror!

Posted on July 3, 2013 by geelw

Yes, there’s another (not really) big-deal barn-burner on some internet boards about the Xbox 360 version of Rockstar’s upcoming guaranteed blockbuster Grand Theft Auto V coming on two discs (the PS3 version is on one Blu-Ray) and requiring a mandatory 8GB install (just like the PS3 version). Of course, anyone who’s played a retail PC game anytime in the past decade or so is used to games coming on multiple discs and yes, there have been a few Xbox 360 games this generation that had separate data install and play discs. So, I’m clearly not seeing the problem here about a ONE TIME disc change. Of course, if you got conned into buying that lower priced 360 with the measly 4GB HDD and you’ve not yet gotten around to buying an external drive yet, you may want to hop to that before the game ships out. Go on now, shoo!

Oh, by the way: don’t get mad at Sony for thinking ahead on the Blu-Ray thing at all. Blame Microsoft for diving into HD-DVD feet first and then ditching the format (even for games!) when it failed to catch on with anyone but early adopters and those who weren’t going to buy a PS3 or other new movie player because they had no intentions of re-purchasing chunks of their collections. Oh, by the way… that game in the photos that’s NOT looking like GTA V? That’s PHANTASM for the Japanese Sega Saturn. It’s a port of the 1995 Sierra On-Line PC game Phantasmagoria and as you can see,came on EIGHT discs (one more than the PC version). You can get it on gog.com (it’s on sale for half price for the next day or so!) if you’d like to try it out. It’s flawed, but well made and a bit creepy where it counts. Anyway,let me get my grumpy old ass back into the 21st century before my lumbago pills wear off…

Twisty Tuesday Takes Its Toll… Tomorrow’s Time to Tackle Trouble!

Posted on July 2, 2013 by geelw

(Thanks, SpaceComics!)

Feh. Between the rain, humidity and the library being shut today (well,at least they’re supposedly updating their “technology” so perhaps the connection speed will be a bit less laggy than it’s been these last few months?), it’s be a hell of a slog trying to work. Well, I did get a formerly busted computer up and running and some stuff shipped out that needed to get on its merry way before tinkering around with a new game for a bit and starting up a small bit of artwork before rolling in here to post. Anyway, like the fold-able female in this clip, I need to be more flexible about certain things so I can just get more stuff DONE that I’d like to do. I got a nice kick in the pants thanks to Henry Miller’s 11 tips on writing (and NO, I’m not going to write like him, silly – I like his takes on inspiration and getting stuff done) and between that and some other kicks to the noggin and other parts (ouch!), I think I’m a bit more energized for the remainder of the week…

Kaiji Remedies vs. Middle-Earth Memories (No Sides Chosen Here)…

Posted on July 2, 2013 by geelw

Well,if you were chasing after me with an axe or something, I’d lean more towards Pacific Rim than The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, but that’s only because that first Hobbit didn’t knock me off my toes (although it was entertaining). I’m a longer-term kaiju fanatic anyway, so Del Toro’s mechs and monsters epic gets the automatic not. Reviews I’m skipping ENTIRELY on this one, but I’ve seen a few tweets and other overly social media posts spilling a few positive beans about the final version. Good for you, ya lucky bums and your free passes, grrrr! Then again, I have two passes to see Turbo on Saturday (and no one to drag to the theater at 10am), so I guess that means I’m moving up in the world (or at least sideways… slowly)

Personally, I really, REALLY liked it better when people only gabbed about this sort of stuff to friends in person or on an old rotary phone. This always connected string-less tin can crap is the pain of the ages sometimes…

Random Film BUY of the Week: Shout Factory Gets The Producers Back on Stage!

Posted on July 2, 2013 by geelw

Well, not back on Broadway, bubbeleh… but as a Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack for you to buy and own. Thank you, Shout Factory!! Anyway, I say you ab-solutely need a copy of The Producers: Collector’s Edition because it’s PERFECT for those crappy days any time of the year when you want to pop something laughing. or those great days where you want to pop something laughing. Oh,and that that *new* Drew Friedman cover? Gorgeous! I say shaddup and buy this if you haven’t seen it yet (sure,sure – the play is funny, but the film is better and cheaper, I say!), then round up some of your friends and invite them over for a nice laugh or a hundred. Of course, they’ll be bringing food. There’s ALWAYS food when you want to have a little get-together, right? You want to come over too? Sure, sure – just call me, and I’ll make a nice chicken (plain, in the oven!)…

The Walking Dead: 400 Days Trailer: Creeping Up On You Faster Than You Thought…

Posted on July 2, 2013 by geelw

…as in “BOO!” it’s on PSN (and PC and Xbox Live) right now (and at ONLY five bucks, it’s a MUST buy) waiting to lurch onto that PS3 or Vita as soon as you snap up a copy and download it. The caught me and a few other folks off guard because we thought Telltale might be saving this one up for a late summer or even fall release, but yes indeed, it’s out now and that’s awesome. Especially for me as a big Vita user (as the Vita needs all the great games it can get and although short, this one’s definitely in that Game of the Year territory based on all I’ve been reading). I guess now it’s all about finding something to cower under while playing that’s not going to roast me alive in this summer heat. Well, I guess I could play at night when it’s cooler.. but then I’d be looking over my shoulder every five seconds for any sudden movements…eeek. Eh, we’ll see, I guess… Off to find a coin to flip and decide what to do (it’s too hot to think straight today!)…

Humor: So Wrong, But You’ll Laugh (I Bet…)

Posted on July 2, 2013 by geelw

I was going to blank the lettering out on this old comic book cover and add some really awful text, but all you need to do is look at this image VERY carefully and read the balloons as-is to get a huge laugh. It shouldn’t take more than a minute for the slower of you out there to pick up what’s off here. Let’s just say that doc works fast, huh? Everyone else – give yourself a pat on the back or something.

OK, I’m going to bed. The weather has been too hot, too rainy, too humid and too annoying, so I’m a a very, VERY rare mid-grey mood. That won’t last longer than a day, as I did also just find out I’m getting something cool in the mail in about two weeks. Whee! but for now, bleh. I’m off to pass out and have dreams about strange floating people or something like that. Hmmm, I think I’m going to knock them out of the air with my flyswatter and charge them admission for breaking into my personal amusement park, grrrr…

Oh, if you don’t get it – feel free to take a swing below in the comments. I may not ever let you know if you’re right, but we’ll see what happens…

Motorbike: DO Try This At Home (You’d Get Quite Hurt Anywhere Else)…

Posted on July 1, 2013 by geelw

Sony finally gets another stunt-bike game onto PSN, but unlike the otherwise fun Urban Trial Freestyle, bakno Games’ super-cool looking PC, Mac and Linux game Motorbike has a track edit function that allows for the creation and sharing of those doom-packed courses you’ll be up all night constructing. Of course, even in this video the game looks fun (and painful to those poor digital riders!) and you also get the choice of two female avatars here (something missing from UTF as well). I’d say that the only real drawback to this one is it’s not Vita compatible (whaaat? Boo!), meaning there go my illusions of taking this on the road or elsewhere out of doors unless I strap a TV and PS3 to my chest (or finally buy a decent smartphone!). Oh well… it’s all for the best, I suppose- it’s like I want to miss a subway or bus stop because I was in the middle of a 720-degree flip and wanted to try and stick that landing as my nose or butt got jammed in a set of closing doors (Ouch!). Hmm.. I wonder what a nose cast looks like? Or a butt cast, for that matter…

CE Week 2013: Grip & Shoot Makes Many Apps a Snap!

Posted on July 1, 2013 by geelw

If you own an iPhone, you’ve taken pictures with it and if you’ve taken pictures with it, there are those shots you’ve missed or mucked up because you could have used an extra hand or one less finger sticking into the resulting photo. Or perhaps you’ve handed your phone to a total stranger and asked him or her to snap away, only to watch them fiddling away trying to find the right button (no, not EVERYONE owns an iPhone, folks). Well, if they don’t simply smile,tip their cap and make a run for the hills with your phone, that is (hey, I’m in NYC, so this tends to happen, according to the authorities)…

Ladies and gentlemen, Ben Zajeski feels your pain. He’s the Project Engineer behind the amazing Grip & Shoot, a three-piece system that Apple needs to think about making a standard issue accessory. This genius device turns that iPhone into a MUCH better still and movie camera and also allows for may other apps to be used in a more natural way without fear of dropping that pricey phone. Created for the iPhone 4S or 5 (which fits snugly into a special case which then attaches to the Bluetooth-enabled Smart Grip handle) and simple to set up, this one’s another product that needs to be in the hands of as many iPhone users as possible. You can also detach and use the bottom of the grip handle with a tripod for the ultimate in stability (no more shaky-cam movies!) as well as use any other case as long as it can fit onto the Smart Grip handle.

It’s another one of those great accessories that as soon as you get your hands on it, it not only feels perfect, it makes you wonder why the heck Apple didn’t include something like it with any previous iPhone iteration. Without a case, a plain iPhone can get a bit slippery to hold onto, which is a huge issue many users have with the phone when taking pictures or playing games. Speaking of playing games, Grip & Shoot has an open API that’s developer friendly and yes indeed, if that’s up your alley you’re welcome to sign up and join the party before this thing takes off and becomes huge. While it’s currently not yet available for sale, it will be soon and yes, you should boogie on over to the product site and then here to sign up.

Monday Got You Down Again? Call A Cab & The Brothers Will Bring You Up!

Posted on July 1, 2013 by geelw

Yeah, that rain outside stinks today! It certainly slowed my productivity down considerably. Anyway, you had a REALLY crappy day at work, right? Well, I wish I’d posted this earlier…(sorry!). Anyway, here’s some Stormy Weather for you, complete with possibly the best classic tap routine on film from The Nicholas Brothers. If you’re not energized and bouncing around the room by the end of this, you may want to ring up an undertaker. Yeah, you can dance around the room, you know. Only the cat is watching and it really doesn’t give a hoot… unless you’ve forgotten to feed it and it’s looking at you funny.

Can The Conjuring Scare Up (and Out) an Audience? Let’s See Now…

Posted on June 30, 2013 by geelw

I’d say it’ll be one of those big weekend gross horror flicks that tapers off to a whisper around week four or five for a few reasons. ONE: The Amityville Horror/Paranormal Activity/Exorcist-style format is VERY played out unless you’re one of those suckers who continually gets scared by these sorts of “horror” flicks. TWO: “Based on a True Story”? Yeah, right. All that means is a room full of writers over a period of time condensed a newspaper clipping or TV news item to even barer bones before padding it out with assorted jump scares and maybe some minor gore effects, creepy music and noises on the soundtrack to get a specific rating. THREE: Speaking of that rating… That “R” rating better mean I’m under the couch and chewing the carpet up, not snoozing through some hokey faux parapsychologists and another easily debunked “ghost” story. Yeah, I said couch, as I refuse to see any modern horror movie these days with a too-easy to squeal and squeak audience that saw the same damn sort of movie two weeks ago or earlier and acts as if that same “BOO!” shock effect is something they’ve never seen in their short attention spanned lives.

That and the dopes who talk at the screen and/or yell at people for doing so make it far more entertaining to flush that ticket money down the nearest toilet…