Gallery: Applied Design @MoMA (1 of 3)

Posted on March 3, 2013 by geelw

And here you go in case you can’t make it to the very cool Applied Design show here in NYC (or if you’re a total cheapskate but have an eyeball for art): a bit of a walk-through in image and movie form. Some of these pics and vids are shot by me, some by artist Linda Dennis who tagged along for the experience (and got to play Pac-Man again for the first time in a long while and Tetris for the first time ever. Too bad the Pac-Man had a “ringer” joystick (which means no one but someone who can work with that thing like it is will make it to the kill screen, which isn’t a short process, mind you). Enjoy! There may be a test later (but I doubt it). Bonus points if you spot yours truly in any of these pics. Trying to stay semi-anonymous on the Internets these days is a total pain in the neck… but I guess I’ll need to get used to it…

More images and a short video below the jump (and more to come tomorrow)…

Continue reading →

Pac-Man Is Harder Than It Should be @MoMA’s Applied Design Show…

Posted on March 2, 2013 by geelw

Yes, it’s the Namco arcade classic, but the version at the show is a bit lame because the joystick isn’t too responsive. Er, tilt your head or watch this on a mobile phone for best results. Anyway, I kept sucking hard at the game but it wasn’t ALL my fault. Right after I got my paws on this machine with the funky as hell joystick that made for QUICK losing battles against Pinky, Blinky, Inky and Clyde, Local NY1 News Tech Beat reporter Adam Balkin stepped up and… proceeded to be as bad as I was at the game. Well, everyone I saw play this didn’t last long, but I think that’s planned in the exhibit in order to keep that ONE guy or gal really good at the game from being a total jerk and play for hours on those free credits…

Hmmm… I should have given Adam my business card, but eh, we’ll meet again at some point…

Toy Fair 2013 Is Rolling Up With Too Many Treats…

Posted on February 6, 2013 by geelw

Yes indeed, it’s that time of the year again, folks? So, what are YOU doing this weekend? Me, I’ll be getting tired feet and big eyeballs checking out some of the newest toys and games for you guys and gals to drop that disposable income on this year and next. Of course, I may even let you in on some of the cooler stuff I see in a post or three, so stick around for that. Oh, the things I have to put myself through to keep you kids entertained…

Lost Planet 3 NYCC Panel: Watch and Learn (Once Again!)

Posted on October 24, 2012 by geelw

Spark Unlimited is really pulling out the stops to make Lost Planet 3 the best game they’ve done to date. This prequel has been getting some way out of place hatred from some who aren’t yet hip to the fact that the game doesn’t replace the LP they know with something new and different at all – it just sets up the world and events the other games will jump off from. Anyway, take a gander at this presentation from New York Comic Con which covers a few fun development facts including the great motion capture work that’s going into the final product. From the brief demo I played a few months back, it’s looking like the single player story will have memorable characters and plenty of exposition that could make this the most interesting game in the series for those who love a tale told well. The action’s not bad, either.

EVENT! EA’s Soccer & Speed Tour Rolls Into New York City Sept. 28-30

Posted on September 27, 2012 by geelw

Soooo, what are you doing this weekend? If you’re around NYC or are popping in for a bit, you can play two of EA’s upcoming titles and maybe WIN some cool prizes with your gaming prowess. Out of nowhere, a truck rolls up (through a mysterious cloud of smoke optional), opens up and *BOOM!* the gaming gets underway. Playable versions of Need For Speed: Most Wanted (Criterion’s spectacular return to form with a crazy amount of cars and seriously fun multiplayer content that should make any Burnout fan keel over with joy) and FIFA Soccer 13 (depending on who you ask, arguably the best footie game on the market), are headed around the town for three days:

WHEN & WHERE:

Sept. 28, 3 PM – 8 PM: Upper 90 (697 Amsterdam Avenue New York, New York)
Sept. 28, 9 PM – Midnight: Genesis Bar (1708 2nd Ave #1, New York, New York)
Sept. 29, 10 AM – 1 PM: Legends (6 W 33rd St. New York, New York)
Sept. 29, 2 PM – 6 PM: GameStop (2322 Broadway and 85th St. #1, New York, New York)
Sept. 30, 9 AM – 9 PM: Upper 90 (359 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY)
Will I show up to beat some of you into submission or lose terribly to the better man or woman? I’m not quite sure just yet, as I still have a pile of work to get to here. But who knows? Oh, I’d probably lose to anyone at FIFA, as I like watching more than playing. But as for NFS: MW? I did win one journalist’s tourney at an EA press event a while back, so I can at least hold my own at that game.

Babycastles Summit Updaaaate! Tix On Sale, List Of Fun Stuff Grows Bigger…

Posted on August 17, 2012 by geelw

Wow – it looks like this will be quite the major event for those ironic hipster doofus types who think they’re the coolest beans on the block as well as actual gamers who want to show up and beat them (at a GAME, not in real life, silly!). Check out the huge list of speakers, bands and other fun, fun stuff (and don’t forget to purchase some tickets!) HERE.

What Is QuakeCon? A Video Primer Of Sorts For People Like Me…

Posted on August 12, 2012 by geelw

Yeah, that’s right… I’ve never been to a QuakeCon, as it’s always been way out of my budget and I’m not the biggest PC gamer out there (unless it’s some vintage vault classic, super fun indie stuff or RPGMaker epic that’s worth raving about), so that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Still, I’ve been to a few East Coast tournaments (that World Cyber Games held here in NYC a bunch of years back and some other fun events), so I know that things get really fun and really crazy in a good way for fans of id Software’s games. Eh, one day I’ll get out west again, so perhaps I’m not a total loser. Hell, I do need a decent vacation. after not having one for ages..

Babycastles Summit Update: A More Pretty Version…

Posted on August 3, 2012 by geelw

Hokay – for those of you who wanted a visual aid about this big event, all you need to know is below the jump. Back in a bit with more game-related goodies… Continue reading →

Babycastles Summit Update: Tickets Now Available (You Should Go If You’re In the NYC Area!)

Posted on July 31, 2012 by geelw

Well, THAT was fast! Tickets for the Babycastles Summit are NOW on sale here and yes, you should go if you’re in NYC and have even the faintest interest in gaming. getting the chance to interact with one of the guys behind Katamari Damacy should be enough to get you out the door, but there will also be a few other fun things to see and do.

That is all. Off to change the banner for August, as I have no idea what to do, image wise. Too much stuff going on!

EVENTS: Babycastles Is Bringing Keita Takahashi To NYC. Maybe You Can Help Make A Game With Him.

Posted on July 31, 2012 by geelw

OK, I’m feeling a bit lazy, so consider this an audience participation post (or my idea of performance art). Please pretend to see an arty image somewhere in this post, as I didn’t add one. Of course, clicking on the link below will make your eyeballs happy, as you get a nicely animated official site to pore over with the same details below:

BABYCASTLES SUMMIT

WITH KEITA TAKAHASHI
IVAN SAFRIN
KAHO ABE
NEIL FRIDD

Brought to you by:

NYU GAME CENTER
CITE Game Innovation Lab

KEITA’S FIRST VISIT TO NEW YORK CITY!!!!

✌ THREE DAYS OF ✌
BANDS ✌ WORKSHOPS ✌ TALKS

Inspired by Keita’s kid-friendly play-scape designs and Anna Anthropy’s book, “Rise of the Videogame Zinesters: How Freaks, Normals, Amateurs, Artists, Dreamers, Drop-outs, Queers, Housewives, and People Like You Are Taking Back an Art Form”

Our goal is to inspire and encourage people who didn’t think they could make games to make games.

Babycastles will be building four video game play-scapes designed by Keita Takahashi In association with Kaho Abe, Neil Fridd and Ivan Safrin. They will be on display and available for play throughout the summit at the Museum of Art and Design in 2 Columbus Circle.

NICE HAIR

The Babycastles summit is a three-day series of talks, panels, bands, hands-on workshops and custom video game installations designed by Keita Takahashi , game designer of Japan’s Katamari Damacy. The summit will be hosted by the Museum of Art and Design from August 24th through the 26th as part of the “Fun Fellowship”.

Ticket Info Coming SOON as well as BANDS AND TALKS INFO
ALL AGES