This past weekend was incredibly nice and relaxing, and precisely what I needed, especially since the stress levels have been steadily increasing as of late, with no chance to lower or slowdown in sight. Plus it was sorta nice to be out of the city yesterday since it was the anniversary of, you know…
I took Friday off, not to spend the whole day playing Dreamcast, but to sit in a car for straight six hours with MK, Robin, and Matt Singer, a good friend of theirs from Syracuse, to drive up to Cape Cod for a wedding. The drive itself was highlighted by the soundtrack to Over the Top. You know, the Sly Stallone arm-wrestling epic? Anyway, it’s another once of those classic 80′s synth metal/early 90′s Sega CD scores that makes you want go out and hug a Casio keyboard.
Anyway, we arrived our destination about early evening, checked into our smelly motel room, and went to the pre-wedding BBQ in the woods to meet most of MK’s others friends from school. I must admit, and I don’t think MK even knew this, though it may have been apparent, but I was extremely nervous about meeting them all. Thankfully, they’re all super cool, and I even got along splendidly with Matt, whom I was a bit apprehensive about since, historically speaking, I don’t get along with other folks with my same first name. My arch-nemesis in the third grade was a kid named Matt Hopkins I shit you not, and its been like that ever since. Also, it finally nice to meet the legendary bottle cap collecting, burrito loving Heather (though I hear that’s a common trait with everyone from San Francisco).
After a huge meal and a couple of drinks (which resulted in some conversation at the bar about King of Fighters with Robin, though I don’t remember the details), it was the last half of Star Trek: The Next Gen (the one about the friend, self-aware Borg) and some sleep on the most uncomfortable bed in existence. Though I can’t rag on the place too much since I have a major soft-spot for travel lodging; there’s just something totally awesome about watching Spongebob in a hotel in some random part of the country. But the highlight is always the local television, and this trip was no exception, thanks to some bizarre religious show aimed at kids. The first part had the devil, calling himself Mr. Positive(?) talking with a kid, with each wearing black suits and shirts plus red ties. They both went back and forth about how awesome hell was, and how much power there was in being evil, and… straight to credits. There was no “well its cool being evil and all, but if we loved God, we would be much happier” and all that jazz. They just stated that it was the choice they made and that’s it. Then there was a bunch of teenagers sitting around talking about how everyone has forsaken God for a blind faith in science and other bits of mumbo jumbo, all awkwardly recited, as if their braces has been tighten a bit too much. I really wish I brought my VCR along for the trip.
Then we played a round of mini-golf (I did pretty wretchedly compared to everyone else, but it was like my second time ever playing, but I still had fun), had lunch at Friendly’s (where the conversation was mostly about old NES games and Hulk Hogan), and chilled out at the pool. Once it was late in the afternoon, we all went back to our rooms and changed into our nicest clothes, but left our shoes off; the wedding took place on the beach, and it was a nice and serene ceremony, punctuated by bubbles (it was a request by one of the brides… yes there was two… it was a lesbian wedding). So we all blew bubbles while standing in the sans, which was loads of fun until my bottle leaked in my pants (which means I have to keep them now… I was going to return them to the Gap afterwards, but they do look nice). Afterwards MK & I ran to the drug store to get paper since MK never got a chance to wrap the present (which I did on the trunk of her car) and finally made it to the reception where we spent a solid six hours of drinking and dancing (Robin was the easily the belle of the ball, impressing all the ladies with his sly, drunken white boy moves…. too bad the ladies were mostly elderly or dykes). Best of all, SNL had two installments of Bear Country that late night.
The next morning was spent at the beach with hot chocolate (which would form a skin of you didn’t tend to it, like tomato soup… weird) and some damn fine country donuts. While MK spent some time with her friends making sandcastles, where the cowboys and indians that we’ve won during skee-ball came in handy, I walked out to the ocean The tide was out, and I mean really out, at least a few hundred yards. It was just incredibly nice out there… it was the first time in a long time where I really did feel as if I was completely away from it all. And just standing there, with just sand and tiny hermit crabs at my feet, along with the cool ocean water, coupled with the all stars being visible in the sky from the night prior, has really strengthen my resolve to move out of the city and into the country as soon as possible.
We said our goodbyes around noon and hit the road with Gob’s theme from Arrested Development leading the way. Later Matt quizzed Robin’s video gaming IQ by playing randomly selected game music from my iPod (which I’m sure drove MK nuts… she hates listening to game music and driving at the same time). Then I play a bit of Crispin Glover (which I know drove Matt & Robin nuts) and told my various tales of woe and misfortune for Matt, who was shocked to say the least (and some of which, might I remind everyone, will soon be available in comic form!). Upon hearing my hellish roommate tales, he said the first he was going to do was go home hug his roommate. He’s also a film guy (he reviews them for the Village Voice and is an on-air personality for IFC) and said that he was also going to rent Popeye the movie, which I built up quite heavily throughout the weekend, to see if its as brilliant as I claim it to be. I’m eagerly awaiting a lengthy explanation of exactly big of an idiot I am.
In other news, and speaking of weddings, Dave finally made public his proposal to Raina (and via the form of a very cute mini-comic, or course). And I’m happy to be one of the few to be told about the good news before the rest of the world. They do make quite the pair, so it makes perfect sense (especially now since everyone seems to be getting married these days, as I alluded to the last time I wrote).
Though I only hope for their sake they opt for a more “non-traditional” wedding. I’m a big believer in tradition, as some friend of mine may already know, but after going to this past weekend’s wedding at the beach, plus co-worker Steve’s medieval affair from last year, I now feel that weddings should be as loose and “fun” as possible. Yeah, the super-hero themed wedding next month sounds cheesy, but I know I’m gonna have a blast. I’m going as Clark Kent btw.
As for gaming news, real quickly…
- Following up the Mega Man remake, Capcom has unveiled a Meg Man X remake, Irregular Hunter X. And it looks like shit (at least IMHO). At least Rockman Rockman has a style going for it (one that I don’t like too much, but at least its something). But this looks like some rush job 3D revamp, a la Sega Ages 3D:
I should also add that higher-res shot from the Ghouls ‘N Ghosts game has also been revealed, and its sorta the same. Its not totally bland 3D, but its not 2D sprites, which I think bites.
- Believe it or not, but Michael Jackson was originally going to do the music for Sonic 3.
- Another Dreamcast shooter is making it over here via a different system, this time for the PS2.
- And a quirky DC title finally gets its sequel, again for a different system. Seaman 2 is good, but I’d rather have Typing of the Dead 2.
- Here’s a neat Elevator Action-esque game coming out for the PSP, called simply Exit.
- And here’s an interview with the American branch of D3, the makers of some awesome budget titles in Japan. Seems as if we’re really not going to get many, if any, of them, which is a real shame. I’m confident that there’s a market here in the US for game where you control scantily clad women doing aerobics, posing for pictures, fighting each other, fighting zombies while wearing a cowboy hat, competing in wacky, Double Dare/MXC-syle challenges, or just one big one, rampaging through the city.
- On the same sad, pervy tip, here’s Wrestle Angels Survivor, which will supposedly feature over a hundred different characters (keep an eye out on this page I guess). Its a card battling game, btw. Hey, I at least dig the characters more than the ones in the ultra creepy Rumble Roses.
- Again, sticking with creepy, and this time courtesy of the IC forums, check out this awesome bit of gaming cosplay:
I still want that shirt.
- And not just creepy, just plan sad: I guess when Playboy showed off nude game characters last time, it was a big hit, so they’re doing it again. Uhhh.
- So Tanguy has a new online home, which can be found here. Sorry, but you haven’t lived until you’ve heard his take on Kid Icarus.
- Finally, Super Mario Bros celebrates its 20th Anniversary today. Let’s give it up for the fat guy!
