KILLER IS DEAD: Your “Shut Up and Play Me” Game of the Week…

Posted on August 28, 2013 by geelw

Hmmm. I knew some of the critics would be harsh of Suda 51’s new game, but yeesh. When did a bunch of juvenile puritanical prudes get in the entertainment reviewing business? Granted, I’ve only read an industry site post that had a few links to other reviews and some quotes that ranged from complimentary to downright baffling, but still. Between the hand-wringing about the game’s overuse of sexual themes (as if one needs to defend a work of OBVIOUS fiction and offbeat fantasy from a creator well known for his bizarre games) and this latest trend for critics to take on the mantle of defender of feminism or whatever whenever there’s a side-boob in a game, I’m getting tired of hearing the latest paid persecution of a game creator by some who should just quit writing and maybe go join an abbey or convent.

Hey, Xseed! I know I didn’t request a review copy, but that doesn’t mean I’m NOT interested in this game. I’ll buy this one shortly and whip out a non-biased opinion for you guys. Yes, I’ll poke it in the eye for stuff it gets wrong on a technical front, but as for the content? Hell, Suda and developer grasshopper manufacture together on a game mean you’re getting WEIRD and FUN as well as something NOT for the kiddies who don’t “get” it that’s going to go over the heads of those who play and trade or play and don’t respect because they know no better. Damn kids (and overly skittish adults)…

Random Art: Dream Theater, Open For Business…

Posted on August 27, 2013 by geelw

While output in terms of posts have slowed here (temporarily!), my brain has been a bit jumpy with all sorts of ideas. Some of them come out as art, so you get to do less reading in this post and more “What the…” with your eyeballs. Well, at least with that piece above. That was from a weird nap earlier today. Don’t ask me what it means or go do any analyzing, folks – I just draw what I see (and I think this was the funny part of the dream). The other two pieces I’ll post later are just practice stuff. Enjoy!

Wow, Luigi’s Got Some Mad Skills. I Wonder If He Can Make Games, Too?

Posted on August 27, 2013 by geelw

Ah, ha-ha… *ahem!* OK, I’ll stop kicking Nintendo in the shins and say, YES, I will be buying that Legend of Zelda Windwaker HD remake later this year when it comes out along with Watch_Dogs and maybe The Wonderful 101 (although it’s not doing well in Japan, according to a few import sites that report sales figures) and Call of Duty: Ghosts (for the novelty of playing on that GamePad), but other than that, it’s pretty much collecting a few older Wii U titles from that launch window I missed out on now that they’re a lot cheaper. And in some cases a LOT cheaper than they should be so soon in the system’s life…

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Lost Planet 3 Now Available: Turn that AC Up Full Blast – It’s Supposed To Be Freezing

Posted on August 27, 2013 by geelw

I’m still working through a ton of stuff here (as in among other things, I’ve piles of old artwork stacked or spread out on nearly every flat surface in the home office), but I’ll need to grab a copy of Lost Planet 3 to play through soon. I haven’t read any reviews (which is helpful when you’re going to write one yourself eventually, in case you hadn’t guessed), but someone sent me an email with two links I didn’t read and noted that one was positive and the other not so positive, which is what I expected from the usual suspects out there in review-land. I liked what I played on the two occasions I got some hands on time, so I know I’ll enjoy the final version warts and all. I’m more of a story guy than a back of the box bullet point person, so I’m in this for the whole package, not just seeing if the game is as good as other games released this year or whenever.

Back in a bit…

New(ish) Thor: The Dark World Posters Are Not Keeping Things Loki…

Posted on August 26, 2013 by geelw

Oh my, it’s the flying pun (heh). OK, OK… I’ve been lax in posting stuff about Thor: The Dark World. Sue me later, but at least suffer like a man (or woman, although they’ve suffered enough because of us men) through this post about these posters. The one up top was released earlier this month and is pulling off a nice Star Wars variant pretty well (although it’s a wee bit too crowded for my tastes), while these latter two dropped today and are nice looks at Thor and Loki good for covering up a closet door or something similarly sized. Hmmm… nice, but I know some of you want to see the ladies get their own posters. In other words, it’s your move, Marvel…

Meanwhile, In Los Santos (Yep, It’s a GTA V Update)…

Posted on August 26, 2013 by geelw

Yes, it’s a few more Grand Theft Auto V screens below and below the jump, info on the game’s Special and Collectors Edition extras some of you Standard Edition buyers will want to shake your fists at before canceling your old pre-order to upgrade to either the Special or CE version for all the goodies they’ll has. Or if you’re feeling particularly self-generous (or are naturally that way) you can just buy all THREE versions of the game and make Rockstar even happier, right? RIGHT?

September 17, people…

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Random Art: Fit to Be Tied, Frees the Mind (I Guess)…

Posted on August 23, 2013 by geelw

Whee, more dumping from the way too busy brain factory upstairs. Yeah, a bit of being arty every so often helps me think (and that’s a good thing). I’m still playing catch up with the backlog (and dodging the occasional cranky Batman fan), but otherwise, it’s humming along on a few fronts.

I need to review a new chair (yeah, a chair, but what a chair it is, ladies and gents) and some other stuff, compete all those previews I’ve started and convince a few people to see The World’s End without me being there because I’ll be doing other things (like work and maybe more art? We shall see…). Yeah, you should see it, too. And speaking of films, yup, more Random Film of the Week action is on the way as well. Stick around… you’ll see…

Perspective: Two Words For Those Cranky Batman Fans: Michael Keaton.

Posted on August 23, 2013 by geelw

(thanks, Batman on Film!)

Hoo boy. Based on the internet collapsing in on itself yesterday and today, you’d think someone ran around kneecapping old ladies walking cute puppies or something across all 50 states and in too many countries around the world to count. It seems that this new age of short attention spanned, easily “outraged” fanboys and girls are forgetting their film history a few too many times, so let’s play Time Machine for a bit. Back in 1987 or ’88 when there was NO internet (well, not what we call the internet these days), I can distinctly recall Batman fans I knew flying far off the handle when the Batman movie was announced with a director they’d barely heard of and a guy playing Bruce Wayne/Batman who’d only been known for being a comedian with not so big a movie resume.

I remember reading the news and thinking one word: DISASTER…

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INTERVIEW: Half of Twenty Questions With Lost Planet 3’s William Watterson

Posted on August 22, 2013 by geelw

With Capcom and Spark Unlimited’s PS3, Xbox 360 and PC sci-fi action game Lost Planet 3 finally headed into stores August 27 here in the US (August 30 in Europe and Australia), I had the great opportunity to shoot a few questions over to WIlliam “Bill” Watterson, voice and motion capture actor for lead character Jim Payton (who by the way isn’t related to THAT Bill Watterson, which is why he’s called William here). You can probably call him Bill if you run into him in person (just don’t ask him to draw you a picture of Calvin or Hobbes).

Anyway, below the jump he discusses voice acting (with a few tips for you thespians out there), music, LP3’s western influences, booze and how to get social with the man himself in a few places online…

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Gamescom 2013: Murdered: Soul Suspect Trailer: Can I Get A Witness?!

Posted on August 22, 2013 by geelw

Airtight Games and Square Enix are going to be dipping a toe into the supernatural with the upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 game, Murdered: Soul Suspect, set for a 2014 release. If you’ve been around the gaming block a bit, this one looks like a cross between L.A. Noire, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective and a couple of cool PC adventure games from way back when. I like that the video plays like a little hint book of sorts and there will be more to come that will no doubt aid games who snap this up in uncovering a few important clues as they go through the game. Of course, I tend to avoid spoilers and tips before or while I’m playing, so I’m probably only going to watch each of the rest of these trailers once and hope my short term memory gives out like I’m starring in Memento II or something. Er, pretend I didn’t type that – I can see some lousy straight to video sequel popping up in what, two weeks from now…