09/09/2009

The Dream Is Dead/Long Live The Dream

by Matthew Edward Hawkins

It’s officially 9.9.9, and you know what that means? Aside from the long-awaited release of The Beatles: Rock Band of course. Why, it’s time to remember an old friend…

… As already mentioned at least once or twice before, a significant part of my love for gaming died with the Dreamcast’s demise in ’01. Despite growing up in Nintendo Country (Washing State, where NOA is headquartered), I’ve been a Sega devotee ever since I first passed on Super Mario World for Sonic The Hedgehog during Christmas of ’91. I’d eventually get a SNES two years later, and became a fan of it as well, but my preference was always for the Genesis. The summer of ’94, in which all I did was play Sonic 3, Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, Thunder Force 4, Castlevania Bloodlines, Street Fighter 2: Special Championship Edition, and Virtua Racing, all day and night long still holds many fond memories for me. Without question, Sega’s 16-bitter is my favorite video game system of all time.

When I first arrived in NYC to pursue an education in the arts circa 1996, I came only with a desire to hone my robot and hot dog drawing skills and $200 in my pockets, courtesy of my parents, mostly intended for food. Which was instead blown on a Nomad (remember the portable Genesis?) and a copy of Mega Man: The Wily Wars from whatever the hell Gamefan’s mail order operation was called at the time. But because the money used was seriously intended for food, I found myself having to sell it in order to eat. Though shortly afterward, my dad mailed me my Saturn from back home (which was purchased back on May 11, 1995, on day one, btw) and Sega once again provided many happy memories, this time during my college years. It didn’t matter that I had zero luck with women (mostly due to the fact that I was a cartooning major at SVA, and none of us were getting laid at that point) since I was too busy with Virtua Fighter 2, NiGHTS, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Radiant Silvergun, and all those awesome 2D fighters from Capcom and Japan, the ones that used the 4 meg cart.

In the fall of ’99, I had graduated from college months prior and begun taking the first real steps towards adulthood. I was now living in my first apartment, with Jason as my first roommate, and had just gotten my first job. So to reward myself, I got, what else? A brand new video game system! The Sega Dreamcast, which again was acquired on day one. By this point, my faith in Sega had been severely strained, so the Dreamcast was like a reward for those who had been keeping the faith, even during those darkest of days. There truly was nothing else like it, and I still remember when Dave Roman came over the very next day and checked it out; his interested in where games were heading towards had also waned and also mostly preferred playing stuff from the past. And so impressed he was by Sonic Adventure and Soul Calibur that Dave immediately went out and got his own system the day after.

Here we have an old episode of Icon from G4 that covers the rise and fall of the Dreamcast. BTW, since I don’t have cable, do they even do shows like this anymore? Last I checked, all they played was Cops, Star Trek: TNG, and Ninja Warrior (not that there’s anything wrong with those shows). Anyway, as far as Icons go, it’s one of the better ones that I’ve seen, without any glaring inaccuracies and the like. But it doesn’t really scratch the surface as to why the Dreamcast period was Sega’s very best, that being how all the internal teams were made autonomous and all the crazy amount of creativity that came as a result. Though it does feature Jake Kazdal, wearing a Rez shirt no less! But thanks to titles like Jet Set Radio, Space Channel 5, Shenmue, Chu Chu Rocket, Crazy Taxi, Typing of the Dead, to name just a few, I honestly can’t remember a time when gaming was so exciting.

So when the Dreamcast’s plug got pulled, Sega as a whole perished in mind as well. I did have faith in the beginning that the move away from hardware would allow them to concentrate on what they did best, which was making games, and finally allow for a true re-invention of themselves that they?ve tried time and time again, but without success. Some early games even illustrated this hope, specifically Jet Set Radio Future and Panzer Dragoon Orta for the first Xbox. But that was pretty much it; the games that have followed ever since have not been of much note, other than the subsequent installments of the Virtua Fighter series and a few other lone stand-outs. A vast majority of the company?s output can best summed as awkward at best, with some being flat-out horrible; what’s happened to the Sonic series immediately comes to mind. I’m still an avid gamer, obviously, but it hasn’t been the same ever since.

Perhaps I shouldn’t be revealing such information publicly, but as everyone already know by now, I’ll be running a few panels at the upcoming New York Anime Fest later this month. One will explore the differences between the American and Japanese video game scenes, both culturally speaking and business-wise, and all areas between. Because Sega will be exhibiting, to show off their upcoming their holiday releases, I extended an invitation; it goes without saying that there?s much they could talk about, not just in regards to the Dreamcast ten years later but the company’s legacy as a whole as it pertains to the subject at hand, which attendees at the show, many of them former and still card carrying Sega devotees would love to hear, or so I?d imagine. But alas, despite repeated inquires (to the point where I was practically begging), they have made it clear that they’re not at all interested. Which is a real shame.

Yet once again, the Sega of today is not the same as yesterday’s. And on that note, I guess it’s worth mentioning “Project Needlemouse”, which will finally give what Sonic fans have been also begging for many years now, a brand new 2D Sonic, period. I?m fairly certain when I speak for quite a few by stating that it’s too little, too late. Sega has repeatedly promised to re-create Sonic from the ground-up and take it back to the good old days, and the end result couldn’t be any different. Beside, the truth is, like so many others, we have all moved on, so it almost doesn’t matter anymore.

Though tonight I’ll be going back in time by having another spin of Sega Rally 2, just for old time’s sake.

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09/06/2009

Meet The Beatles? BE The Beatles!

by Matthew Edward Hawkins

In this post:
1. a follow-up on Katie’s curry ambition
2. and my review of The Beatles: Rock Band

As noted previously, Katie was going take a stab at learning how to make Japanese curry from scratch, since she knows how much I love the stuff. And last night marked her very first attempt! The verdict?

Simply awesome. Granted, it was a bit on the dry side, but considering it was a first try, as well as how Katie is actually not a fan of the dish herself (I can barely make stuff that I personally enjoy to eat as is, and therefore couldn’t imagine trying to make something that I don’t for someone else), it was pretty damn good.

It’s just too bad that that my less than stellar camera is not able to properly take pictures of curry dishes, something that I’ve discovered the hard way as a taste tester for Americurry. Speaking of, yes, I still write for them, so don’t ask me why nothing new from my end has been posted for months now since I’ve certainly been passing restaurant reviews along regularly… guess Chris and Karen are a bit busy these days (no sense in me bothering them yet again, at least this weekend, with PAX going on).

But yeah, dinner consisted of homemade Japanese curry, aide by some imported Japanese beer, and desert was basically Venture Brothers, on DVD. I’ve been a hardcore fan since the pilot first aired, whereas Katie has only recently gotten into it; she had previously had a not so favorable opinion of the show, though I could hardly blame her. There’s been plenty of things that I used to like but could no longer stand due to an ex, or was not a fan of but could have liked, yet had zero interest in getting more involved, again due to an ex’s overbearing degree of fanaticism. Remember folks, if you want to get your significant other to enjoy the same stuff you like, don’t be a douchebag about it. Additionally, if he or she doesn’t like it, don’t act like a big baby… sometimes its nice when the other person isn’t a clone of you.

Afterwards, when Katie had gone to bed (since she was tired from… you know… making me dinner, and being at work all day before that, since she has a real job and stuff like that), I finally got the chance to crack into the one game I had been waiting all the year to play. Which is pretty much all I did all day today as well…
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REVIEW: THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND (Xbox 360… also for the PS3 & Wii)

To call The Beatles edition of Rock Band one of the most significant video game releases in the recent memory is a massive understatement. As everyone already knows, it merges the current king of virtual rock (at least critically speaking; Guitar Hero is still brings in the most bucks, despite how the current iteration is a shell of its former self and is more or less dragging the entire music game genre into an early grave), and the most celebrated group in the history of music, period, which is no small potatoes. It seriously has the potential to surpass Wii Sports and the original Guitar Hero as this generation of gaming’s ultimate crossover, the one thing that speaks to every single non-gamer out there and convinces them to pick up a controller. How so? Because everyone loves the Beatles… or so the saying goes. The pairing certainly seems like a dream come true, especially to myself; I’ve made it no secret that I’m a huge Rock Band fanboy and have spent more money on DLC for the game in the past year than actual CDs in the past ten years. I also happen to be a card carrying Beatles devotee; all they played on the military radio station at the army base where I grew up at was classic rock, with the Beatles becoming my favorite band around the age of five. Which is why I have no real emotional attachment for all the stuff from the 80s that everyone else my age is so nostalgic for. Though I would later develop an appreciation for certain artists like Billy Idol and Duran Duran… thanks to Rock Band, oddly enough. And hence why this game has been such a big deal for me personally. So how does it stack up, when all is said and done?

First and foremost, The Beatles: Rock Band might be the classiest video game ever crafted. At the very least, it handles its subject matter with a level of respect and taste that makes it as far and away different from Guitar Hero 5 as humanly possible. That title also features dearly departed rock stars, though Kurt Cobain’s portrayal is depressing and unflattering to the point of being offensive; this sounds super ridiculous, but I was so incensed by that video I passed along last time that not only was any interest in GH5 completely dashed, but it prompted me to get rid of my copy of GH4 as well. I also recall Billy Corgan throwing a fit at some World Tour launch party late last year, which made be roll my eyes at the news of yet another spoiled rock star, till I finally saw what they did to him in the game… in retrospect, his hostility was rather justified. Meanwhile, what one gets in this latest edition of Rock Band is what one expects, that being an interactive stroll through The Beatles’ groundbreaking (and immensely enjoyable) body of work, via the proven RB formula. Which is somewhat conservative to be honest, yet as GH just recently illustrated, sometimes you just to play it safe.

The game actually hearkens back to RB1, in which everything is fairly structured; you basically go only from point A to point B, and so forth. One assumes the role of the band as a whole and performs assorted songs from a particular phase in their career, starting in 1961 at The Cavern Club, where Beatlemania officially kicked off. From there it’s onto The Ed Sullivan Show… then Shea Stadium… then to the studio, since by this time they stopped touring… all the way to the very end, their rooftop performance at Apple Studio in 1969. The track selection is, not surprisingly, top-notch; I guess with such a catalog to draw from, it?s impossible to go wrong, practically every single song was a number one hit. And side from featuring every band member’s strength, every song also provides a well-rounded workout for the player. They also wonderfully illustrate the evolution of the band by letting the music speak for itself; I still find it hard to believe that the same guys who gave the world I Want To Hold Your Hand would later deliver Helter Skelter. One might naturally expect to be inundated with a history lesson regarding each song before, during, or immediately afterward, but that’s not the case here, and it’s greatly appreciated. Instead of being told why they’re so amazing, you actually get to experience it for yourself… to a certain extent.

Back to the challenge, the difficulty is somewhat all over the place and that?s actually a good thing; early songs are not necessarily the hardest, though they can be, depending on which instrument is chosen. Though drumming is generally a bit on the difficult side (as much flack as Ringo gets, personality wise, he was a superb drummer), along with the singing, which has always been challenging, but is now even more complex since it’s no longer just one person handling the vocals but three. Scoring isslightly harsher than before and it too is welcomed; five stars, the highest rating possible, aren’t as liberally distributed this time. So in multiplayer modes, everyone has to really work together, since stars unlock various behind the scenes photographs and videos, which does the actual job of providing the history lessons. Despite being a life-long Beatles fan, I’m not exactly a walking encyclopedia of theirs, so I have no idea how rare and obscure or familiar territory much of this content is, but it’s neat nonetheless. Yet I know people will complain that it’s not enough, as well as how the game as a whole doesn’t do a good enough job of conveying the real behind the scenes story. But I find it hard to believe that Harmonix would have been given the green light of having a virtual Paul McCartney get pissed off at a virtual John Lennon for having virtual Yoko Ono hanging out at the studio.

The graphics are simply beautiful. It’s yet another example of the vastly superior art sensibilities that the Rock Band team has over their Guitar Hero counterparts; you can’t contribute the creepy look of Kurt Cobain to the uncanny valley since that would mean he looks somewhat realistic. Whereas here the boys from Liverpool are just cute and cuddly caricatures that, while still very much cartoony, truly embodies the spirits of the real things. These same artists also did an amazing job of creating visuals to accompany the later, more harder edged and introspective songs. Along with the ones that were clearly composed while the Fab Four were on hallucinogenics. Regarding the audio, each tune is based on the newly remastered recordings that goes on sale on the same day of the game’s release (or is available now and for free, if you know where to look, since everything seems to get leaked in advanced these days), so it goes without saying that even longtime fans have never heard the Beatles sound as good.

For this review, the game was entirely played with RB2 accessories. Wasn’t lucky enough to get the brand new guitar controllers based on the Fab Four’s actual instruments of choice, which are sexy as all hell, though since I don’t have the apartment space to spare, so it’s just as well. At least I was provided an additional wireless microphone, to go with the two I already have from Lips, Microsoft’s karaoke game from last year. So if you have that title already, you’re go to go with the intended six player action, provided you also have an entire RB1/RB2 set-up already. Which might be the way to go, unfortunately; as neat as the updated gear might be, the price they fetch might be a too much for most. The cost involved in getting these fancy new plastic guitars could easily be put towards an actual one, whereas many places are practically giving away the “old” RB hardware. Please also note that the only way to really play is with just three others; both singing and playing an instrument simultaneously is quite the task, even if it’s not real, but back then all the rock stars did it all. And on a semi-related note, the one thing I mostly took away from the game was how vastly inferior the music of today is in comparison, but that’s a whole different topic for another time.

Moving on, there’s also a Beatles Rock Band store, for acquiring additional songs and prolonging the life of the title. Unfortunately it’s not up as of yet, but will be by the time the game finally ships. Quick funny aside: all us reviewers were given orders to not touch it until launch day since doing so could potentially crash the infrastructure that’s still being put together! Honestly, that there could be the only thing to totally screw up the entire package: if the price of additional tunes are overpriced. Which I can easily see happening, since we are talking about the hottest game of the year, featuring the music of the biggest band ever. I can also already hear people bitching that the number of songs that are already included, which is 45, being not enough. But you know how hardcore gamers are… they love to complain about everything.

Which is why I’m dying to know how they’ll receive this game. Along with actual Beatles fans, primarily those who would normally not give a damn about video games. I’ve already heard various people state that it might trigger a new wave of Beatlemania, and how it might be the most important video game made yet. Really? Because you know how video game journalists are… they love to say outrageous stuff as well. All that’s really important is that it’s a Beatles game done absolutely right. But even more unique is how it’s something so hotly anticipated that still manages to totally hit the mark.

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09/04/2009

“@FortyNine: You suck. People like you are the reason Tekserve employees are so hostile… Stick to cartoons, not blog comments, and stay out of my favorite Mac shop!”

by Matthew Edward Hawkins

In this post:
1. my attempts at eating cast away sushi plus other minutiae from the past week
2. the usual assortment of video game related nonsense
3. and it?s everyone last chance to cast their vote!

My Exciting Life

Despite the fact it’s been of those weeks in which absolutely nothing went right… mostly dumb little things, but when enough of them stack up, they can feel like one big stupid deal… also had a few legit major headaches to contend with as well… plus that stomach ache from Friday came back with a vengeance on Tuesday and has been lingering ever since… I’m still in a great mood, all things considered. And why is that?

Because it’s September, which means the start of fall, my absolute favorite time of the year! Aside from the much-welcomed cool and crispness in the air (though today definitely feels a bit too much like the summer for my tastes), there’s also the feeling of change and renewal. Because I still think like a teenager… all the video game playing, comic book reading, and toy collecting aside… I’m always filled with anticipation and nervous energy around this time, as if I’m getting ready to go back to class. Its even more so than usual thanks to Katie and watching her get ready for graduate school, which just got under way, along with hearing about Mia’s first taste of SVA. Despite all the wacky adventures I’ve had over the years, my strongest memories of the Big Apple will always be the earliest ones, which I’d imagine is the case for most everyone, though it’s even more so when you’re also beginning a new phase in life, like starting college and living on your own at long last, in which everything is already so foreign and exciting.

Also, since my career is somewhat in a holding pattern at the moment, what better time to go back to school? Get a new degree and start a new path? Though any longing I had for the classroom was more or less put to rest after Katie’s first class, in which I was reminded how they’re mostly filled with complete idiots who think they’re smart, and go out of their way to prove it… but are sadly not. Like this one douche that was taking notes in class with his iPhone. lulz. Furthermore, this past Wednesday I hung out with Joe Salina in St. Marks/the East Village and was immediately incensed by the increase of retardation roaming the streets. Until it dawned on me: NYU is back in session!

So after a few drinks at Grassroots, we had dinner at Typhoon Lounge. Or should I say, I had dinner while Joe mostly just sat and watched me eat, though he did snack on some edamame and kimchee (his vegan lifestyle also conflicts with their heavy meat oriented menu). Next our table was a pair of women who were, to put it bluntly, were complete f*cking idiots. Real Sex In The City types (“Which one are you? I’m a Carrie!!!”), plus one of them actually uttered the word “tweet” in reference to Twitter in the real world, and that sorta blew my mind. They were also REALLY loud, which forced me to practically scream at Joe when relaying a story in which either myself or someone other person had wondered whose dick either myself or someone else had to suck to get such and such. Which I think got under the skin of our gal neighbors, or so I got the impression.

In turn, they decided to ask out aloud whose dick they had to suck to get the check, since they had finished eating for some time, but also wanted to get the hell away from us I’m certain. Joe tried laughing it off, but I noted “Actually I do know, but I’ll let you two figure it out yourselves.” Which did not earn me any points in their book, but whatever. Eventually their waitress did arrive, and the two were finally gone, but here’s the thing: they had left behind on their table, no joke, about a mountain of sushi that had been totally untouched. I myself wanted some initially, cuz that’s definitely one of Typhoon best offerings, but ordered the omurice instead, which is always filling as well as also damn good, but I was starving and wondered if it might be enough. Yet, I didn’t feel like spending the money for both a platter and a roll. Plus, I hate to see food go to waste; remember the debacle of me trying to give away a pizza with anchovies on it to homeless people the other week? So I debated on picking what was off their plate, right there on the spot. Joe said I should have just done it, but I hesitated for some reason. When the waitress came back and wondered why I was staring at someone else’s leftovers so intently, I explained myself and she was a bit puzzled… then again, none of the staff speaks English fluently, so that’s hardly a shock. I was told that she had to clean up the table for the next customers, and that the left over food would be collected on a plate. A few minutes later, she came back with the cast off food on a fresh platter, but said that I couldn’t have any. No real reason was stated, but I would have to assume that they wouldn’t go through the trouble of putting everything together nice like to then just dump it all in the garbage, so I was already more than satisfied. Plus as Katie noted later when joining us, perhaps it was a health code or something.

But yeah, Katie joined us afterward and I told her about my attempts at snatching some unwanted raw fish rolled in rice, though I mostly emphasized the idiots behind them, since she hates ditzy Sexy In The City/NYU trustafarians as much as I do. When all of a sudden, another couple next to us interjected with “Well on that note…” They were set to leave, and had extra sushi of their own that they didn’t want to throw away, but taking it with them wasn’t feasible either. So they offered it to me instead, and it was delicious, just the extra morsels I needed!

Sorry, but that was seriously the most exciting thing that happened this week. At least all the stuff I can talk about. Another awesome thing about September is that all the awesome holiday releases start piling up. But since I have be tight lipped till the right moment, what else can I talk about? Oh yeah…

- The 360 finally came back. And wouldn’t you know, it was dirtied up for whatever stupid reason, plus there’s dent in the faceplate. It’s nothing major, but enough to piss me off (thankfully I was able to just switch it with the one on the debug, which I might have to return due to its own technical woes). Considering how Microsoft is literally drowning in broken Xboxes, and are probably desperate to get them out of the repair centers as fast as possible, they’re going to get schmutz on them I suppose. I’m also fairly familiar with places that do computer repair, and clean is definitely one way to describe them.

- Speaking of computer repair, may as well pass this one along: The Unofficial Apple Weblog recently had a look at Tekserve, which has made NYC Apple users embarrassed to be Apple users for many years now, and of course I had to throw in my two cents, via the comments section. Be sure to check out the responses to yours truly!

- Back to games, Namco Bandai was nice enough to pass along a copy of the recently released in stores Soul Calibur PSP. Problem is… I can’t play it. Because it utilizes the most recent version of the official firmware, 5.55, and I’m still running the custom version of 5.00 for homebrew and stuff like that. Which also means that I won’t be able to check out Gran Turismo PSP, and worst of all, Persona PSP when it finally drops! Which means I might need to get a second PlayStation Portable! Not the Go, that one looks super retarded (almost as bad as the PS3 Slim), but one with a UMD drive… preferably in white. And a Japanese one of course… couldn’t bare to have Darth Vader on the back of mine.

On a related note, the white DSi has finally been announced, which means I can finally share the one I have with Katie like an adult (it’s supposed to be both of ours, but I’ve been mostly hogging it this entire time).

- And speaking of Katie, because she’s already mastered the art of creating superb black bean soup from scratch, she’s set her eyes onto a new challenge: Japanese curry! Despite the fact that she really doesn’t like the stuff, but she knows I love it to death, so what a gal!

- Tomorrow is supposed to be the big day, in which I get together with June so she can shoot video of me… doing something. I still have no idea what I want my cable access show to be, even with the help of the poll!

- Here we have easily the most depressing picture I’ve seen all week: the dismantling of the life-sized Gundam in Japan. Why, why, WHY???

Is There Really A Xbox 360 LOL Cats game? Yes… Yes there is.

Because I feel that I have not offered enough entertainment thus far, how about a few random video game headline news items?

- So the Slim finally came out a few days ago here in America and it’s apparently doing well. Though me thinks it mostly has to done with the fact that its finally at a reasonable price (again, that’s why it took me so long to finally nab one). Meanwhile in Japan, where the PS3 has either done really well, better than in the US, or has been crushed by Nintendo just as soundly as over here, depending on whom you talk to of course, it’s selling okay too, thanks mostly to this guy.

- Meanwhile, on the 360 side of things, the beat continues to go on. Meaning, it’s the one system I wish had no region restrictions, thanks to it’s copious amounts of shumps and creepy dating simulators. Like the much talked about (at least around here) Dream Club! Sankaku Complex recently took a look at one of the endings, in which one of the virtual ladies that you will be spending thousands of virtual dollars (and who knows how many actual hours) to swoon will totally thrown you in the friend zone, regardless. Bitch.

- Back to shumps, remember last time me mentioning how anyone who wants Cave to release their wares should sent them an email? Well, seems like it might be working and Mushihime-sama Futari might be something us Americans enjoy at the comfort of our own 360s after-all! Though like Dave, I’d MUCH rather have Ketsui, Muchi Muchi Pork, or DoDonPachi Dai-Fukkatsu, but hey, I’ll take whatever.

- Sticking with the Complex (for those out there that can’t stand the content they deliver, you have to admit, at the very least they’re the absolute best at what they do), they recently passed along word that 20% of Japanese males would like to date a video game character. Which totally falls in line with 30% of Japanese women having an interest in cosplay.

- And here we have some dude with eight simultaneous connections to the same MMORPG all at once…

… BTW, those wondering why Japan is so weird, please note that their newly elected Prime Minister has suggested that Japan and the United Nations creating something similar to The Thunderbirds, a la an international team of do-gooders that until to fight terror on a global scale with the help of souped-up technology, and possibly jumpsuits. Then you have his wife, who has not only been abducted by aliens but was pals with Tom Cruise in another life, and would like to do a movie with him now to perhaps rekindle that friendship.

Though fear not, because The UN is looking to ban its number one export (in many people’s minds), that being sexually explicit video games, plus anime and manga. And those who are familiar with how the UN operates these days will agree that focusing on formation of the aforementioned group of super heroes would genuinely be a far better use of their time and energy.

- One last wacky quote from Japan, this time courtesy of the creator of Gundam, who recently said at a game conference that video games are evil. Though most of the stink is for naught, since it’s mostly being taken out of context. Something that I know Ollie is hoping to clarify in a piece he’s working on, which I’ll be passing along once it’s ready!

In the meantime, here’s yet another installment of Roboto-chan! that casts the creator in an entirely different light, mostly because the hero of his show Overman King Gainer stars a hardcore gamer who… you guessed it… must tap into his skills on the virtual battlefield for the real fight!

- Another title that came out earlier this week was Guitar Hero 5, which I was somewhat interested in initially, till I discovered that Kurt Cobain was literally turned into what he feared most, that being a corporate puppet. Though as cringe-worthy as the initial videos were, they’re all topped by this one. It’s those stupid 360 Wanna-miis by his side that truly makes the clip.

BTW, I thought they were going to change the art style? Adding yet another layer of soft lighting does not count.

- Meanwhile, Rock Band’s Beatles game hits next week, and I’m sure everyone’s stoked for that (I’m just glad my 360 got back to me in time). Plus, let’s not forget how they’re going to allow pretty much anyone upload their own songs onto he Rock Band Network as it’s been dubbed. For those interested, here’s a good deal of information. Though I have to wonder, thanks to Guitar Hero’s insistence of pissing on the genre, if it’ll ever maximize it’s potential?

- With the independent spirit in mind, guess what game I’ve been playing like crazy on the 360 as of late? A little something called Streets of Fury…

… When Joe described the plot (him and Dave Mauro discovered it the other night, but complete accident), in which gangs have taken over the streets of France, so the president imports gang members from LA to take care of the problem, I was instantly hooked. That and the description of the gameplay, which was Guardian Heroes (you know, Treasure’s fantasy laded homage to Bare Knuckles and Final Fight for the Saturn) meets old school Mortal Kombat (real people, digitized, for the win). And it seriously blows away every other offering on the Indie Games channel out of the water, in terms of presentation and playability (trust me, it looks MUCH better in action).

Though I might have to take that back once I finally get the chance to check out the LOL Cats game.

- And guess what finally comes out today? Muramasa: The Demon Blade! Too bad I can’t run out to my local Gamestop to pick up a copy, due to the aforementioned stomach ailment.

So I was at Barnes and Noble the other day, and finally saw the cover to latest issue of Play Magazine in the flesh so to speak. Despite my strong affinity towards s-s-s-soul cancer, it made even me cringe. But hey, whatever helps to sell the game is okay in my book, ultimately.

- On that note, get ready everyone for the next console to take the video game world by storm… the SexBox!

- Also via Siliconera: guess what the father of MegaTen is up to these days? Making iPhone, what else? I wonder if he’s also drinking buddies with Kenji Eno.

- On somewhat of a related note, a little head’s up: I’ve had this idea of running down all the awesome new title coming everyone’s way in the next couple of months, mostly since virtually everyone I know is missing out on neat stuff that’s totally up their alley and available right now, mostly cuz they had no idea. Which means I’ll also be doing an accompanying list for overlooked gems as well.

But instead of waiting till next week, and since it’s sitting right here in front me, mostly due to the fact that I can’t stop watching it, here’s the trailer to the latest Bit Trip title, Void. OMG, 8-BIT IKARUGA!!!

- BTW…

- Also surely to be on the list is the recently announced sequel to Okami… which isn’t for the 360 or PS3 as I had hoped… but for the DS, and that’s totally fine. And once again, since I already have the file open…

- A little while back, something called Faith And A .45 made some minor buzz, as yet another potentially awesome title that would never be. For whatever reason, I totally didn’t pay attention, but then this was recently brought to my attention, and gotta say… the concept of a Gears of War-esque third person shooter that takes place during The Great Depression, and also features a hot red-head would have been awesome indeed.

- 4 Color Rebellion recently ran an interesting piece that lists all these wacky things that most have never noticed about Pokemon. I myself never connected the dots regarding the Pulseman references, which is rather embarrassing considering I’m one of the biggest… if ONLY Pulseman fans out there.

- Then there’s this…

- Here’s something that’s not really a game… but could easily be one. It’s essentially a form of interactive fiction, but despite not being a fan of the aesthetics, while not horrible per say is still way played out for 2009, and most importantly gets in the way of things, I still think it’s the next real step for the genre. Problem is, as expensive as art tends to be for such things, times something with a structure like this by literally 30. Still… it’s got my wheels turning.

- I forget where I first got this, but it’s pretty neat right?

- Also forget where this is from as well, but isn’t it… ummm…

- Scott Pilgrim meets Pocket Fighters…

… Here’s the funny thing about Scott Pilgrim: first you have people who love the comic to death, and especially love all the video game references and analogies that are skillfully utilized. Most individuals in this group love gaming, but are not necessarily hardcore gamers themselves; they perhaps grew up obsessed with Nintendo, but just don’t have the time or skills to enjoy games like they used to (or so they believe), or are simply way into the gaming subculture and all comes about, like chiptunes and comics like Scott Pilgrim.

And then you have the actual hardcore gamers, who have no idea what the hell this Scott Pilgrim is and want to know why the f*ck they should give a rat’s ass. There’s also this quietly growing anti-Scott Pilgrim sentimentality that you won’t find on the pages of Kotaku, but… say… places like NeoGAF. And while I don’t necessarily agree with them (I do in fact enjoy the book), but I’m naturally interested by their stance and can almost sympathize to a certain degree. Hey, I’m a reporter here, I have to be objective. It’ll be interesting to see how this latter quotient reacts as the movie gathers full stead ahead, since the clash of cultures when it comes to snobby, indie comic book douchebags, and bitter, hardcore gamefans has always proven to been hilarious.

- Have yet to hear A Life Well Wasted… sorry, but I barely have enough time for Howard Stern and the Figure 4/Wrestling Observer podcasts as I… might I might have to make some room thanks to this fairly hawt graphic…

- Re: Offworld, Brandon Boyer is finally back from his vacation and has returnd to his posting duties, thank God. No offense to the fine folks who filled his shoes during the absence, but it honestly wasn’t the same without him.

Though he does have a little help on occasion, like from Mike Nowak, another super swell guy who was one of my very first regular readers! Anyhow, he’s the guy who unearthed this…

- This shirt is equally neat, provided you’ve seen King of Kong…

- Best. Customized. 360. Ever…

- Have I ever mentioned Art Of The Arcade? It’s an awesome image drive blog that celebrates gaming’s golden age…

- Though GamOvr is still kicking it…

- Courtesy of the best DIY gaming blog around, hey Katie…

- For you BlazBlue fans out there, what speaks more about your devotion to the latest 2D fighting sensation than a full body pillow? Damned if I know (was gonna pass along a pic, but that would drive this site way past the point of NSFW for too many people’s tastes).

- I too love the Japanese Sin & Punishment box art and shudder to think what us Americans will get instead.

- Also via Tiny Cartridge comes something that literally made my jaw drop… at long last, what was once a dream is finally a reality… a cartridge based Saturn game! Why in the hell the system never had Mega Drive/Genesis support right from the go is… I guess yet another reason why Sega’s fortunes when the way they did.

- Speaking of Sega, asked this already but I’ll do so again: what’s happening next week? The Dreamcast’s birthday of course! And if you live in NYC, why not celebrate… in Long Island City? My buddy Josh is throwing a party, something he excels at, and with Glomag providing the tunes, should be loads of fun! Too bad I’ll be seeing the Boredoms that same night.

- As people still hold of for a return to the hardware business (still can’t believe people are still thinking like this… though I too have heard of the mountains of legacy hardware that’s collecting dust in assorted warehouses across SoCal), things never really stopped in Brazil, where they’ve always had far better luck. Cast in point: the Mega Drive 4 is coming out real soon.

- Thanks to GSW, I am now a fan of Tim Kelly… not the same Tim Kelly that I’ve known for years now… but some other dude of the same name. Something I’m well too familiar with; I’m still sometimes confused with that other Matt Hawkins who runs Top Cow. Anyhow, this other Kelly was pointed out because of a fantastic Dead Space image, but I’m a much bigger fan of his kid from Ico vs. a Locust from Gears of War due to its Sam Keith feel…

- Forget if I’ve passed this along already: Silent Hill in the supermarket.

- Sticking to YouTube for just a few, this one’s from Hilary: The Ocarina of Time’s Song of Storm performed via the iPhone’s ocarina app!

- It’s from the DS game Rhythm Heaven, but for real! And with total dorks.

- I love video games and all, but pinball is where its REALLY at; what I’d do to get my hands on a Twilight Zone machine.

- Hey, it’s a neat little look behind the scenes at Fez! Just save yourself the aggravation and jump towards the 6:30 mark.

- So there’s a Marvel vs Capcom 2 superplay DVD coming out, one that’s been in the works for 5 years now. And I weep over the fact that we will never get a Third Strike equivalent.

- And on the subject of superplays, I really need to get my hands on the upcoming one for Mamoru Kun wa Norowarete Shimatta.

Hey, I thought Insert Credit was ceasing operation?! lol. Not that I’m complaining of course!

- One last thing, a reminder to myself mostly; when I finally make it to Gamestop for Muramasa, need to check if they have any copies of Crab Nicholson Extreme Sleepover left…

- Also, track down a rom of that old Beavis and Butthead game for the SNES/Genesis; I had no idea GWAR was in it…

Your Last Chance!

BTW, for those who haven’t gotten the chance to already, or simply flat-out forgot today is the last chance for everyone to vote for that SXSW panel that I might be a part of. Which once again, will only happen with YOUR help. So please pitch in and make it happen, I would really, really, REALLY appreciate it!

EDIT: Guess it would help to pass along the link one last time, right?

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