- So its now November, and it looks to be just as crazy hectic as September and October, and I honestly don’t have the energy anymore. I’ve barely touched my drawing pad in the past month and I haven’t seen some friends even longer, so I guess I’ll have to put my foot down and say no to stuff.
Though ultimately I just think I need a vacation. Katie came to the same conclusion after hearing about just one of my recent very weird dreams (that I believe is stress related), which in this case consisted me being confused with the person who does the cover art to all the Harry Potter books and being asked to participate at some panel at a Barnes & Noble, while the whole city is overrun by that giant steamrolling robot boss from Mega Man 2, and while running away among the rest of the city I run into the White Stripes, and then I’m run over and flattened like Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and hence why I was able to roll up and placed at the book panel where I made a total ass of myself (fellow panelist Albert Einstein looked at me the whole time with utter disgust). Anyway…
Later tonight, after meeting with a student, I was going to go check out Semper Ubi, Ubi Soft’s behinds the scenes look at the art of games on the behalf of Gamasutra, but now I think I’ll just call it a night. I guess if there was more of a focus on Beyond Good and Evil and less on their Tom Clancy games, I might be more tempted. Then again, I am curious to maybe run into some old coworkers.
Them there’s a chance to play poker at a cemetery in Brooklyn on Saturday. Basically its an ARG, or “alternate reality game”. Simon attend a very similar event and covered it here. Sounds like it could be fun, but my main problem is that I absolutely suck at card games. I’d post specific info, but since I learned about it via the Gamoids email list, perhaps its best that I keep the details, so if anyone (in the New York area of course) is interest, drop me an email and I’ll pass along the info.
Plus the vgXpo takes place next weekend. I’m not sure about taking a trip to Philly next weekend, but I did have fun last year at the Philly Classic (same folks are running it I believe). Hmm…
- Yesterday I interviewed Tommy Tallarico for Nick Mag. The man is interesting to say the least.
I also got a chance to finally pick up Mega Man Zero 4, as well as Virtual Tennis. Both will have to go on the huge pile of games waiting to be played (Gunstar Super Heroes believe it or not has been relegated to that pile… not sure how that happened) while I occupy myself with…
Shadow of the Colossus: Believe the hype. I roll my eyes whenever I hear the term “its not just a game but an experience” as well, but in this instances, it most definitely applies here. I unfortunately haven’t had much time with the game since getting it last Friday… I’ve only taken down two…. but I’m in no rush, and am choosing to take my time and to savor every minute of it all. Granted its not perfect; the controls and especially the camera is too loose which can lead to trouble, hence why I think I’m having problems with the third colossi, but the overall feeling and scope is mesmerizing.
We Love Katamari: The sequel is every bit of fun as the first. Granted, the newness is now gone, but in its place is clever plays on established themes. And I love the tighter presentation; everything just goes further than before. Its true that the music isn’t as good as before, but it would be both impossible and fruitless to even attempt to top it, plus what’s there is still damn good. Plus I bet Keita Takahashi is happy that he finally got an oblong Katamari into the game.
Burnout Revenge: First with the good: everything that was great from before is doubly so. But the same goes with the bad; its nice that the game rewards every little action with some sort of unlockable, but the piss poor presentation makes everything impossible to keep track. If there’s literally 200 things to unlock and I can’t keep track any of it, let along really know what action I take unlocks what, its not just overwhelming and annoying, but completely kills any incentive to improve one’s skills.
- As for gaming news, I really haven’t been keeping track. I do know that a Gradius compilation is coming out for the PSP, which is most definitely hot. As much as I’m sick of old games being rehashed on newer systems (at least for something like the PSP, which desperately needs some originality in its library), its fucking Gradius. Plus I’m confident Konami won’t slap on a shitty new look like Capcom is doing with their Mega Man reduxes; Irregular Hunter X (Mega Man X) looks like a bad Sega Ages game.
Also, Castlevania is getting the film treatment. I know… we already have VanHelsing. And Paul W. S. Anderson is directing it. Hey, at least its now Uwe Boll, right? And I still think the first Mortal Komabt film was decent.
And for those who’ve only heard of but haven’t seen it, and for all the desperate, lonely types (or those who just want a good laugh), here are the girls of gaming in Playboy. NSFW, obviously.
- I know I’m forgetting something else, so in the meantime, enjoy these pics from Pulirula, an obscure Japanese arcade/Sega Saturn game which someone at insert credit pointed towards. I hear doesn’t play all that hot, but its still fun to look at. Dude, you have to fight a huge pair of women’s legs! Wacky jappy indeed.
