So, what’s up with FBI Special Agent Francis York Morgan (just call him York!) today you ask? well, as you can see, the man NEEDS a car. Badly. Not because he’s got a line on that axe-wielding Red Seeds Killer, mind you. He got some spectacular news not too long ago and really wants to take a little drive out of Greenvale for a bit. Why? Well, dear reader… he just found out that there’s not a single video game shop in that sleepy, scenic little town and there’s a little something he needs to pick up for himself for when he’s finally got some down time. Hey, everyone needs a hobby and yep, York’s got a few of them. He loves good coffee, a ton of movies (good, bad and otherwise), pretty ladies to chat with over good coffee, some odd music and video games. And ladies, he’s sort of single the last time I checked. Well, save for Zach, his mysterious invisible friend who tags along with him and who he talks to on occasion. Sure, he’s quirky like that, but I bet YOU have a few things that you do when no one is looking that are a bit on the unusual side… Anyway, toss that man some keys, please – he’s got a long drive ahead of him.
You, on the other hand don’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home if you’ve already pre-ordered a copy of Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut, coming exclusively to the PS3 from Rising Star Games. Featuring over 100 improvements from the original, Upgraded HD visuals, PlayStation Move and 3D TV support, optional DLC that extends the gameplay, plus MORE. I say pick up two copies and give one to that jaded gamer you know who’s always whining about the games he likes being too short or more of the same or both. Once that pal fires this one up, he’ll want to become a permanent resident of Greenvale. Er, I’d wait until that Red Seeds Killer gets his and those pesky Shadows go away, as you don’t want to end up THAT permanent a resident… if you know what I mean…
Of course, Game Director supreme (and the honorary mayor/sheriff/bar owner/best tipping A&G Diner patron of Greenvale) Swery 65 hopes you’ll all buy at least one copy of this game just so he can finally get some much-needed rest from all that traveling around promoting this instant horror/comedy/adventure classic. It’s definitely hard enough work MAKING a game, but the touring gets tiring even with the best coffee in the world popping up like clockwork on a regular basis to keep him awake. You don’t want to disappoint him now, do you? I sure don’t…
Speaking of coffee and surprises… I actually needed MORE last week when I noted it was Game Director Swery 65’s birthday. OOPS. It’s actually tomorrow (or is that TODAY in Japan?) and I thought of a great present for him… but Rising Star games beat me to it because they weren’t running around Greenvale and had the time and money to have these AWESOME themed mini-Espresso jars and an A&G Diner mug made up for the birthday boy! Awesome. Of course, NOW I need to get my grubby paws on some of that coffee swag and that mug, but I’ll probably have to settle for pretending I’m in Greenvale and hanging out after the party is over. Hopefully, that stupid Red Seeds Killer won’t muck things up and all those creepy looking Shadows will be well-behaved…
By the way, if you’re NOT a coffee drinker, I’d say playing 
I know for a fact that Game Director Swery 65 loves coffee quite a lot, but I don’t know what’s his favorite brand or how he takes it. Then again, that’s a bit creepy to know that much about a person you don’t PERSONALLY know (well, I think so). However… as we all (well all us caffeine addicts out there) know, your favorite barista at the local coffee emporium probably knows way too much about you and your personal preferences than your closest relative, spouse (if you have one) or psychiatrist (if you have one). Now, THAT’S what I call creepy. But that black gold is oh, so delicious (dilate, dilate, smile…)
Speaking of artistic things, Game Director Swery 65 often gets into the picture in a few ways even if he’s not doing anything but waking up in the morning. Thanks to his controversial creation, fans are always sending him artwork of all types and to any creative person, this sort of praise by creation is more often than not a welcome thing to experience. If I were a LOT less busy strolling around Greenvale and seeing the sights, I’d try and whip up a little something of my own to share with him. But alas, I’m so tied up with stuff to do that I can barely get these daily updates out on time. Man, if I could only think up SOMETHING clever to show him I’m just as big a fan of his work as anyone. Hmmm… I’ll come up with some way one of these days….
Off topic (woof!), Yesterday was Game Director Swery 65’s birthday! For real! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! OK, because I didn;t know about this until after the fact, I didn’t get him a gift at all. Er, except that post I wrote for that day, so I feel a bit bad about that. The again, he really liked the post, so it’s all good in the end. I suppose it WOULD be bad form to let him know what MY birthday is (it’s coming up next month), but if he asks me, I’ll let him know right away…
“Ruh-Roh”. Welllll, this COULD go three ways for FBI Special Agent Francis York Morgan (just call him York… and call him a cab, as he’s going to need one if he makes a clean getaway from that Red Seeds Killer). He could try and engage the mad killer he’s been seeking for a while in a physical altercation (not a good thing if it’s suit-wearing fisticuffs against ratty robe wearing axe-swinging). He could try to put him down with a couple of well-placed shots from that gun he’s hopefully carrying (since he IS a FBI agent, he SHOULD be carrying his gun when exploring such a freaky location, right?)… OR he could remember that old comedy movie classic that was on TV late last night and attempt to confuse the killer completely before getting away in that cab you called.
And just how will YOU get away from that axe-wielding maniac when you’re playing 
Occasional slow work days and long nights aside, everyone I’ve spoken to in Greenvale during this extended project has nothing but high praise for Game Director Swery 65. They say he’s always willing to listen to input about a scene and even lets the actors do a bit of ad-libbing, which really pays off in certain portions of the game. Like I said above, you’ll see…
But don’t bug Game Director Swery 65 about this. Based on my poking around, some other outlets have been hounding him day and night with questions and even sending out paparazzi to catch him in some sort of compromising situations. Usually, he’s quite a nice guy, but as you can see here, all of these unnecessary attention and hounding has made him a tad cranky. Hell, I know I’d be ticked off if I was taking out my garbage and found seven guys poking through it looking for who knows what. I think I’ll talk to him later about sticking a few rat traps in his garbage can and listening for that snapping sound and cursing when a few fingers get caught. Hey, you’d do it too if that crap was going on…
If you’re a creaky old horror film buff like me, Tim Burton’s 1999 film Sleepy Hollow is a nice little love letter to a few classics. Of course, going in not knowing what the director is paying homage to works just fine, particularly if you also toss out ANY notions that he’s going to to a straight retelling of the original Washington Irving short story. Granted, I’d bet most people who went to see this back when it was released weren’t stuffy critics who poked at the movie for not staying close to that moldy lore at all (or had even read the story, for that matter). If you wanted a well-paced horror flick with some solid performances, great visual effects and a few shocks along the way, you got that and then some. Those of us who saw this with one eye out for the director’s reference material were more likely than not a great deal more giddy by the time those credits rolled… 
"DESTROY ALL FANBOYS!" 