06/03/2013

Yes, I Am Still Alive

by Matthew Edward Hawkins

And yes, I know this blog has been totally deadsville as of late. Sorry about that.

Not only is my PAX East report now way, way overdue, I have both NYU and TCAF to talk about as well (though I did post pics over at Attract Mode, here and here). Also need to file a recap of Subway Cinema’s Return Of The Old School Kung Fu Fest, finally spill some of the beans regarding the iOS game I’m designing, plus chat about everything else in between.

Was actually going to get the ball rolling earlier this afternoon, but after wishing Jon and his wife Sabrina off, I basically crashed and just woke up; played tour guide over the weekend, which meant taking them to Columbia University, Central Park, Fifth Ave, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Times Square, the East Village, the West Village, SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy, Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Williamsburg, Grand Central, plus the Lower East Side.

And along the way we checked out various toy stores and comic shops, notable water holes and eateries, even a Broadway show. Yet somehow managed to squeeze in viewings of both Miami Connection and GETEVEN as well! Was genuinely impressed that they were able to keep up. Anyhow, this is my first time in front of a computer in the past 72 hours, which also means I’m hella behind on work as well, so can’t stay long (though, realistically, am just going to post some stuff on Instagram and maybe go back to sleep).

In the meanwhile, here’s a photo from a few weeks back, from my most recent stay in Toronto, with myself and my favorite Norwegian comics and zine collective, aka Dongery, Dongery, Dongery, Dongery, Dongery, Dongery, Dongery, Dongery…

… Be sure to check out their rendering of the Attract Mode logo as a dude with a hot dog on his head here. At any rate, am hoping finally tackle PAX East 2013 in the new few days, but it’s highly doubtful since I also have to get ready for LA & E3 next week. Oy vey.

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05/03/2013

It Begins

by Matthew Edward Hawkins

This is it; tonight’s the night.

For those of you who have been waiting patiently for my PAX East 2013 wrap-up, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. Till after I get back from Toronto and TCAF. But before that, there’s NYC and NYU!

I’ve been at the Game Center since Wednesday, trying to get the Attract Mode prints in order. Here they are, right after they arrived in the mail…

Thankfully they’ve been getting a decent amount of press, considering how “different” they are in comparison to most examples you see from most other art shows that pay tribute to games. So big thanks to Kotaku and Joystiq for helping to spread the word!

As well Destructoid, which actually highlighted both Attract Mode shows that’s happening. And speaking of, here’s all the goodies that myself and Adam will have for sale at the Bit Bazaar, which also just arrived in the mail, courtesy of our pals at Fangamer…

FYI: everything will also be available for sale during the Comics Vs. Games 2 opening as well. Though first thing’s first: if you’re in New York this evening and can swing by the 4th No Quarter opening, please do! Aside from all the pretty artwork to admire (and also buy), there’ll also be some awesome games to play as well. 16 player chess anyone?

Oh, and there’s also a mountain of free beer, courtesy of the evening’s sponsor, Brooklyn Brewery! BTW, don’t forget to RSVP. Though before heading back downtown, one last Comics Vs. Games 2 piece. In honor of the opening of Iron Man 3, I present Corey Lewis’ Iron Man X Mega Man mash-up (one of THREE pieces he’ll have in the show)…

Hopefully I’ll get a chance to see the new movie before heading up to Canada (though it’s not looking very likely).

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04/18/2013

“There are 18 different weapons in Chinese martial arts, and in this flick someone’s gonna get stabbed with every single one of them.”

by Matthew Edward Hawkins

Hey now. Figured an update was in order. Been meaning to file a PAX East 2013 report for weeks now, but it’s the same old song (though it’s mostly because of one last bit of unfinished business that I need to take care of first; sorry Steve for the wait).

But yeah, been legit busy as f*ck; along with orchestrating the aforementioned very first NYU Game Center X Attract Mode collab, I’m also putting together Comics Vs. Games 2. Then there’s secret project #3, which is not such a secret if you’re one of the many folks I’ve asked for help with finding an iOS programmer.

Anyhow, real quick: it’s my birthday! Which kicked off in a fairly awesome manner, thanks to well wishes from the voice of Daytona USA himself…

BTW, it’s today, not yesterday. But, you know, Japan (and them being 12 hours ahead). Anyhow, thanks SO MUCH for all the birthday well wishes thus far! It’s been sincerely appreciated. And keep ‘em coming; after the past couple of weeks I’ve been having, I seriously need the ego boost.

Also a nice stiff drink. Several actually. Which is how I’m celebrating the occasion, plus dinner with friends, all that jazz. Though the celebration will be raging all throughout the weekend, thanks to Subway Cinema and…

It all goes down at the Anthology Film Archives, where Subway Cinema first got its feet wet if I recall correctly. The first thing of theirs I went to was a Korean movie festival, that would eventually become the foundation of the New York Asian Film Festival, about 13 years ago I believe?

The entire schedule can be seen here. And there’s a lot to choose from, but my inside track tells me that the one movie to catch is The Dragon Lives Again. Here’s the official PR…

WARNING: Watching This Movie Will Destroy Your Brain!!!!! Four years after Bruce Lee died, everyone was cashing in on his legend with look-a-like films, but this is the most notorious Brucesploitation movie of them all. Bruce Lee is dead, but his adventures aren’t over. He arrives in Hell where he must fight Dracula, Clint Eastwood, and the Godfather in order to come back to life. Fortunately, Popeye is there to lend a hand. Bruce Lee is played by Bruce Leung (KUNG FU HUSTLE) but even his genuine skills can’t stop the madness. Beginning with the corpse of Bruce Lee getting an erection (Don’t worry – it’s just his nunchakus!) and ending with him flying away as the cast waves “Goodbye!”, you cannot unsee this movie. You will laugh! You will cry! And you will scream as the spirit of Bruce Lee kicks his way out of your stupid skull!

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