Phoenix Ascension

Portal 2 Co-op and LA Noire

2011-05-23T15:15:00.001-07:00

Yes, I suck at making blog posts regularly.

Over the weekend, I finally played some Portal 2 co-op, and that shit
was pretty hot-- even if I only got to play for a couple hours. I even
bought and played a bit of LA Noire after reading all of the reviews
saying that it was the game to buy I you like games. Gotta admit, I
was going to pass it by until I heard that it was NOT GTA in the 40s.
And believe me, it's absolutely not that...and that's why I like it.
Also, it's easy to play with input from other people in the room.

My LA Noire review:

It's a good game, and you should buy it. 'Nuff said.

Comics and the 30something Geek

2011-05-17T19:54:00.000-07:00

About 2 months ago, I broke up with my local comic store. I just couldn't fucking take it anymore. I had a hold slot (in-store subscription, if you didn't know) with these bastards, and they just kept failing to hold the books that I specified. The worst part is that I only went to the damned place once every 40-50 days, so by the time I realized that they had missed a month (or two), I was already screwed. I don't have time to try to hunt down back-issues, and I shouldn't friggin have to because you told me you'd hold the damned things for me!

So, screw them. I broke up with them, but not before I heard about this awesome place called DCBS (Discount Comic Book Service...you're welcome for the plug). Now, this is a service that was made for people like me -- no time to troll the comic store, no time to bs with people missing my damned books, and best of all, each and every book is deeply discounted. Like, at least 40% off. Yeah, I know -- it's stupid.

Now, I get Marvel, Image, and DC delivered to my front door every 2 weeks, and I'm saving ridiculous money even when you factor in the shipping charge (it's cheaper to get one package per month, but you also run a greater risk of the friggin internet spoiling a story for you). Sure, I still visit a brick and mortar store (not the one I broke up with) to buy a few one-offs, but the vast majority of my comic dollar is spent at DCBS.

In closing, if you get comics, and you're not going through DCBS, you're wasting your money.

A Brand New Chapter, A Brand New Format

2011-05-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

So, I was just reading this thing, never mind what it was, and it got me thinking about something: I might actually have something to say in this blog that's not slavishly tied to news and reviews about games, comics, etc.

My own personal experiences with being an "Al Bundy" geek (get it? 'Married With Children'...remember that? No, well screw you). So, I'm married with children, I work a 9-5 which sometimes turns into a 9-midnight and beyond, and my free time is too important to waste on bullshit. Whatever I'm spending my entertainment dollar on has to go that extra mile, or I'll get really friggin pissed. To quote me, "I don't want to get 8 hours into a game only to find out that I just wasted 8 hours."

So, I'm going to type some of my opinions on shit in here, I'm going to curse needlessly, I may have a guest commentator or two...and most of all, maybe I'll end up helping someone avoid wasting their time on shitty entertainment.

It's Been Almost A Year

2011-02-04T20:51:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time, but I've been busy with other, extremely worthwhile endeavors. But my situation has changed, and I don't have the time I used to have, when I used to have it. So, I'll be back here for a less structured approach.

That means, I can completely blow this out my @$$, and no one will get pissed at me. Well, except for the three of you that keep coming back here, I guess.

I'll get you guys something to read in here real soon, so stay tuned.

Rising From The Flames

2011-02-01T13:52:00.001-08:00

There's a reason this blog is called Phoenix Ascension...

Stand by for the resurrection.

Se7en Rain

2010-03-02T19:16:00.000-08:00

In other news, this is awesome.

The Amazing Story of Luke Cage

2010-03-02T17:43:00.000-08:00

You know what's hard? Blogging every day when you're not getting paid in any way for doing it.

Hard.

Which may explain why I've been unable to blog every day successfully. Anyway...

Ok, this isn't really going to be some kind of Luke Cage biography or anything, just kind of an observation on my part. So, there's this Marvel Comics character called Luke Cage. Back in the day, he wore a puffy yellow disco shirt when he fought crime. He had super strength, bullet-proof skin, and a bad attitude. In short, he was the $#!t.

Then the early 80s came along and brought with it the end of his comic book. Then, the 90s came, and he got a new comic book. It wasn't so great, so it got canceled. Then, he had a couple less significant false starts, but no one was able to capture the character and give him the respect that I thought the character deserved.

Then, sometime around 2005, I had an idea for a short film in which Luke Cage and a few other black Marvel characters would talk about how they had been mistreated all these years. Well, the film didn't get made, but I did start up a little webcomic called The Adventures of Luke and Sam which featured Luke Cage and the Falcon (Sam Wilson). In my eyes, the world had been set right since Luke Cage was once again headlining a comic (of sorts).

Then I hear about a guy by the name of Brian Michael Bendis who features Luke Cage in Alias, Daredevil, and the New Avengers. Ok, ok...truthfully, I already knew about Bendis since I was a big reader of his Powers title, but I didn't know he was such a Cage fan. In a way, Bendis inspired me to finally complete the short film that I had planned. Only, I didn't film it, I used the script as a blueprint for a special episode of Luke and Sam, and I included an additional couple of panels at the end giving a nod to Bendis.

Alas, I didn't think the Luke-love would last, but Bendis has really done right by the character. He's added depth and emotion to the character that had been missing in past incarnations, and it's just been revealed that Luke will not only lead the new Thunderbolts, but he'll also remain as an Avenger as well.

Now, if Marvel would only allow Luke to wear his yellow shirt again, it would be perfect... :)

Heavy Rain -- Unpunished

2010-02-28T10:20:00.000-08:00

In other news, I just beat Heavy Rain two nights ago, and it was one of the most unique gameplay experiences I've ever had. I'm not prepared to declare it the GOTY just yet, but I am ready to call it the best game of the year so far.

The story was rich, the characters were interesting, and the controls worked extremely well. Now all I have to do is complete the damned thing with all of the main characters intact (and not full of holes, or burnt to a crisp), and I'll be all set. Platinum trophy, here I come.

Borderlands and the Older Gamer

2010-02-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

Time flies when you're not blogging, right? I mean, crap -- has it really been 13 days since my last post? Oh well...

Anyway, I just beat Borderlands, and everything you've read about it is true. There are 28 zillion-gajillion guns up for grabs, and it's 100x better to play it with friends. As a single player game, Borderlands fails, sadly. Hopefully, the inevitable sequel will feature a more entertaining single-player experience.

As a funny side note, I had played through just about the entire game (not including the expansion packs) without knowing about the phenomenon of the hacked gun. So, I host a public game, and this level 50 joins the game with a gun that shoots pure death at 16 rounds per second. I mean, this gun friggin laid waste to everything in it's path. When I asked the guy where he got such a beautiful engine of destruction, he said nothing -- he just proceeded to throw down a handful of death-dealers, the likes of which I never imagined. Then, he left the game.

I used the guns for about an hour before I became just a little bit suspicious. So, I consulted Google. I entered "Borderlands guns", and the auto correct feature immediately added on "hacking guide". Yeah. Apparently everyone on the planet knew about hacked Borderlands guns except me and the guys I usually played with. I must be getting old...

While I was out...Quick-Hit Review Wrap-Up

2010-02-18T14:17:00.001-08:00

Ok, so here are the rest of the games I played during the time when I wasn't updating:

Fallout 3: Great game; 60+ hours of goodness.
Street Fighter IV: a nice return to 2D fighters, but I really suck at it (still).
Prototype: Fun overall, but not as good as InFamous.
Prince of Persia (the new one): Bad. Not bad meaning good, but bad meaning BAD.
Wolverine: I've had more fun with food poisoning. A lot of people say it was a lot better than the movie, and that's accurate, but the bar was not set very high to begin with.

This concludes my effort to get caught up with my game reviews. The next post will be about something current. Promise.

While I was out...Killzone 2

2010-02-15T11:43:00.001-08:00

Let's continue with a few quick-hit reviews of the some games that came out while I was on "vacation". Next up is Killzone 2.

Killzone 2 is a PS3 exclusive game. I played it to completion on normal, and played in a few multiplayer matches.

Graphically, this game is the most impressive game I've ever seen. Being a fan (probably the only one of my kind) of the first game, I was also very interested to get back into the story of the KZ universe. The gameplay was rock-solid, and I can honestly say that I have no complaints about Killzone whatsoever.

Geez, these quick-hit reviews are getting a little light...I'd better wrap it up on the next post so I can start talking about current stuff.

While I was out...Fat Princess

2010-02-15T11:25:00.001-08:00

Let's continue with a few quick-hit reviews of the some games that came out while I was on "vacation". Next up is Fat Princess.

This is a PS3 / PSN exclusive game, and I've spent many hours "chasing cake". I think it launched at $15, and it's had 2 free expansions since then. If you haven't heard by now, this is basically a 'capture the flag' game. The twist is that everyone is a little big-headed cartoon character in a medieval setting. Oh, and the flag is a princess that you can make fatter by feeding her cake that sprouts out of the ground.

This game is an absolute blast to play, and the strategies can get surprisingly deep when you have two evenly matched teams going at it. The most surprising thing about this game is the way it seems to get even PSN gamers (usually a very quiet bunch) to actually talk and strategize together.

While I was out...Resident Evil 5

2010-02-10T14:32:00.001-08:00

Ok, last quick-hit game review for today. Maybe I'll be caught up next week...

Anyway, next up is Resident Evil 5. I played RE5 to completion with a friend in co-op mode on PS3. Then we kept playing until we both could get the unlimited RPG. Then we killed everything in sight in fiery explosions on hard-mode.

The co-op in Resident Evil 5 is a ridiculous amount of fun. The fast-"zombies" are tough enough, and the bosses were challenging. The only problem I had with the game was the antiquated "human tank" control scheme that the RE franchise is still clinging to.

While I was out...Resistance 2

2010-02-10T13:58:00.001-08:00

Let's continue with a few quick-hit reviews of the some games that came out while I was on "vacation". Next up is Resistance 2.

Resistance 2 is a PS3 exclusive, and I played it to completion, and I spend many, many hours on the co-op multiplayer modes.

I played Resistance: Fall of Man way back when the PS3 launched, and I really liked the storyline and gameplay. My wife and I even played much of the game in split-screen and a good time was had by all. When Resistance 2, I naturally assumed that I'd have a similar experience. I played through the single-player mode, and really liked it. So far, so good. When the wife and I tried split-screen, however, the same good time was NOT had by all. Just like Ghostbusters before it, Resistance 2 got me with the co-op uppercut -- there is no proper co-op story-mode. It's just a bunch of little one-off missions that you play over and over and over.

The only reason I played the co-op on-line was because the gameplay mechanics were interesting enough for me to enjoy it. I would've preferred a proper story-mode co-op, and I have no idea why the developer decided to drop that feature, but whatever.

While I was out...Tom Clancy's EndWar

2010-02-10T13:46:00.001-08:00

Let's continue with a few quick-hit reviews of the some games that came out while I was on "vacation". Next up is End War.

Ok, ok...I didn't actually play EndWar, I played the demo. Long story short, the voice controls failed, and there went my dream of a game doing what I want it to do just by yelling at it.

While I was out...Mirror's Edge

2010-02-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

Let's continue with a few quick-hit reviews of the some games that came out while I was on "vacation". Next up is Mirror's Edge.

I played Mirror's Edge on a PS3 for about 2 hours. Then I threw up, and gave the game to an enemy.

While I was out...LittleBigPlanet

2010-02-07T18:50:00.001-08:00

Let's start off with a few quick-hit reviews of the best games that came out while I was on "vacation". Next up in LittleBigPlanet.

I played LittleBigPlanet to completion, and I also played the Metal Gear Solid and Pirates expansions.

What can I say about LBP that hasn't already been said about Chappelle's Show? It was incredibly fun while it lasted, but it seemed like it was over all too soon. At least LittleBigPlanet has a bunch of user created content going for it. Dave kind of left us cold.

The only thing missing from LBP is more officially created levels...which I think they should be coming out with at least quarterly.

While I was out...Uncharted 2

2010-02-07T18:30:00.000-08:00

Crap...I did a lot while I was on vacation...

Let's start off with a few quick-hit reviews of the best games that came out while I was on "vacation". Next up is Uncharted 2.

I played Uncharted 2 to completion, and I played the multiplayer offerings extensively. It is a PS3 exclusive.

The guys who made Uncharted 2 held a few special events across the country, one of which was in the Seattle area, and I attended with a friend of mine. There were contests throughout the 4 hour event where they were giving away, like, 25 copies of the game 2 weeks before it would be available to the general public. I brought the existence of this event to the attention of my friend, we bought tickets, and we went.

That a$$#0le friend of mine won a copy, and I didn't. Then he had the nerve to gloat about it. Rat-bastard.

Anyway, I bought the game 2 weeks later, and it was perfect in every way. PERFECT IN EVERY WAY. 'Nuff said

While I was out...Call of Juarez

2010-02-07T18:09:00.000-08:00

Let's start off with a few quick-hit reviews of the best games that came out while I was on "vacation". Next up is Call of Juarez.

I played this game to completion mostly with Thomas on the PS3. Then I traded it.

Call of Juarez is a western game -- like the Old West; cowboys and stuff. At the beginning of each chapter, you get the choice on playing as either Thomas or Ray (I think his name was Ray, anyway...). Thomas is the long-range shooter, and Ray is more of a brawler. At least, as much a brawler as there can be in a game that doesn't have melee combat...for whatever reason. And it's not as if Call of Juarez didn't need melee, either. I came face-to-face with baddies many times only to have nothing left in my six-shooter, and have to reload before I could put the hurt on them. This was a really dumb choice on the part of the developer, but it was only one of the two big dumb choices they made.

The other dumb choice was not to make this game co-op. This game was made for co-op, and there was no reason to have it only have a single-player option in this day and age. Ah. That said, the game was still decent, but I really didn't feel the need to play the game through again as Ray.

While I was out...InFamous

2010-02-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

Let's start off with a few quick-hit reviews of the best games that came out while I was on "vacation". Next up is InFamous.

This game is a PS3 exclusive, and I played it through to completion on hard mode (after I was "promoted" from normal mode -- more on that later) following the "good" path. I haven't done it yet, but I do play to go back and beat the game following the "evil" path.

This is a great superhero game wherein the hero was created for the sole purpose of the game itself. Since the character was not established it was easy for the developer to come up with really nice game mechanics that worked perfectly and didn't seem out of place or ill-conceived.

You start off as a bicycle messenger, but all that changes when a package you're delivering blows up in your hands and gives you super-powers. You start playing the game, and if you're performing well enough or normal mode, the game decides that you chose poorly, and tells you that you should have picked hard mode. At that time, it even gives you the option of switching on the fly. As you play through, you learn that you can be good or evil, and the powers that you can later manifest change based on which path you follow. Also, the way that the NPCs react to you is dependent on which path you're following.

The game was very polished, the powers were interesting and easy to use, and the story was great...even though it ended on a bit of a cliff-hanger. I usually hate that in a game, but InFamous really couldn't have ended in any other was. Oh yeah, and the twist at the end was friggin sweet.

Play this game. That is all.

While I was out...Ghostbusters

2010-02-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

Let's start off with a few quick-hit reviews of the best games that came out while I was on "vacation". Next up is Ghostbusters.

I played the PS3 version of this game for about 3 hours, and I hated every second of it.

Maybe it wasn't that the game was necessarily bad, but it was completely not what I wanted out of the game. I wanted to play the main storyline through with 3 of my closest friends, but the multiplayer only supported these mini-missions that had nothing to do with anything.

Completely pissed is what I was, and I returned the game the very next day for full store credit after I explained my dilemma (thanks Gamecrazy manager). I don't know if the single player game was any good, and I don't care. I didn't buy the game to play by myself.

While I was out...Batman: Arkham Asylum

2010-02-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

Let's start off with a few quick-hit reviews of the best games that came out while I was on "vacation". First up is Batman: Arkham Asylum.

I played this game to completion on the PS3, and I also played several of the challenges (including the exclusive Joker challenges). Quite simply, this is the best established superhero game ever. I say "established superhero" to signify that this character (in this case, the Batman) was not created simply for the sake of the game, as is the case with InFamous and Prototype.

This game came on to my radar from out of nowhere. At first I thought nothing of this game, then that fateful Thursday came when I played the demo. As soon as the demo ended, this game had become a must-have.

The pacing of the game was perfect, and the Scarecrow sections really opened up the game in a totally unexpected (but incredibly awesome) way. If not for Uncharted 2, this game would've gotten my vote for GOTY.

It's been out for a while now, so you really have no excuse not to have this game.

wow

2010-02-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

it's been...uh...a really long damned time since I've posted here.

Ok, new plan.

I'm going to start putting stuff here again.

Hancock

2008-07-08T08:21:00.001-07:00

Hancock

So, it got lousy reviews...it still had an incredible showing at the box office. Personally, I just saw it last night, and I really liked it. I think the critics just expected something different from the movie, and they let their own expectations get in the way of what the movie really was.

They wanted a superhero spoof flick, not a bona fide superhero movie. My only hope now it that this doesn't become a franchise, because this movie stands so well on it's own. Not that Will Smith is known for doing sequels. I think he learned his lesson from MiB 2 and Bad Boys 2...

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

2008-06-28T00:51:00.000-07:00
So, I finally beat the game a couple nights ago, and I must say that it was a completely satisfying experience. A friend of mine also fell in love with the game, and he hadn't played any of the previous games. Probably needless to say, he had a few questions about some of the flashbacks Snake had (especially the Psycho Mantis one).

I definitely recommend playing through MGS1, MGS2, and MGS3 in order to have the full experience, but as my friend can attest, they're not absolutely necessary to completely enjoy the game.

What? Are you still coming here?

2008-06-22T19:56:00.000-07:00
Can you believe it? It's almost been a year since I made a meaningful entry on this site, and I still get about 10 hits a week over here. You know what that means? It means that I have to start posting over here again.

So, do yourself a favor and buy Metal Gear Solid 4. If you have a PS3, and no Metal Gear Solid 4, you're making the biggest mistake of your *gaming* life. As far as games go, this is a non-spoiler site, so I won't go into the story at all, but it really does close out Snake's adventure in a satisfying way.

check out the new luke and sam

2008-02-01T16:35:00.000-08:00
Have you looked at The Adventures of Luke and Sam lately? Perhaps you should give it a look, it's being regularly updated every week, and it's very funny. And, I'm not just saying that because it's one of my sites, either. It's damned funny.

Killzone and Killzone 2

2007-06-25T07:50:00.000-07:00
Killzone and Killzone 2
So, I was watching AOTS on G4 the other day, and on their "the Loop" segment, they were talking about what the PS3 needs to do to turn it's current situation around. They mentioned that having Killzone 2 playable at E3 (and looking as good as it did on that infamous trailer) would be a good step in the right direction.

Later in the show, some fan called in with a comment about how he was looking forward to Killzone 2, and Kevin asks him if he has ever played the original Killzone; he hadn't. Kevin then goes on to talk about how the original Killzone was a crap game, and how he's surprised at how many people are looking forward to the sequel for such a game. Reading various articles around the cyberweb, I've seen the same sentiment repeated a few other times: "The first Killzone was crap, why are you looking forward to the sequel?"

I actually liked Killzone. A lot. It wasn't the Halo-killer it tried to be, but it was still a very solid shooter with a cool storyline. The game itself may have had a few minor issues, but it really couldn't have been further from "a crap game". Is all this Killzone hate justified, or is it just a result of all the general Sony hate that's been living on the cyberweb lately?

More than meets the eye, indeed.

2007-06-05T14:18:00.000-07:00
A clip from the upcoming Transformers movie directly from the site of director Michael Bay. I'd pay admission just to see this one clip on the big screen.

DARPA to create brain-chipped cyborg moths

2007-06-01T10:36:00.001-07:00
DARPA to create brain-chipped cyborg moths
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/31/cyborg_chipped_terminator_moths_aiee/

Welcome to the future.

George Lucas Calls 'Spider-Man 3' Silly

2007-05-10T09:40:00.000-07:00
George Lucas Calls 'Spider-Man 3' Silly
Hey, isn't this the guy who invented ewoks and Jar Jar Binks?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,270874,00.html

Middle Earth marriages

2007-05-01T18:35:00.000-07:00
Since the folks who are making the Lord of the Rings MMO couldn't decide on whether or not to include gay marriage options in-game, the executive producer said, "Screw it, there will be no in-game marriage at all." Good for him, I say.

In-game marriage is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of; it should be banned in all games. Gay in-game marriage is the stupidest and gayest thing I've ever heard of. That is all.

Here's an MMO safety tip...

2007-05-01T10:10:00.000-07:00
Here's an MMO safety tip...
Don't give out your real name and address to strangers, and then dare them to come to your house and beat you up. It's just not the thing to do.

http://www.funtechtalk.com/world-of-warcraft-player-claims-a-bounty-on-his-head-in-and-out-of-game/

Microtransactions

2006-10-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

I just read an article about video game microtransactions for perishable in-game items. In case you don’t know what microtransactions are, they’re what happens when a game company (most often, a company that’s running a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, or MMORPG; sometimes another genre) decides to offer what’s been called “Premium Content” to players for a small fee (usually just a couple dollars at most). For example, if you wanted your character in your game of choice to wear a special color, the company night offer you that color for $1.99. Or, if you’re playing a First-Person Shooter (FPS), they may offer you a new map to play on for $2.99.

Perishable in-game items include things you’d use to give your character more health, or even in-game currency. Once you use those things, they’re gone until you happen to come across some more. So, to bring this all together, if the game companies start selling perishable items, then it’ll slant the playing field to those people who have more real-life money to spend. As it stands now, everything you get in-game depends on how long you spend playing the game, and what skills you have (and what cheats you use, but that’s another story; cheaters should find something better to do with their time…bastards).

If they want you to spend a little extra for a new map, or different colored armor, then I’m all for it. If they want you to use real money to replace tenacity and skill, then I’m 100% against it.

Tony Stark and Peter Parker...dark days ahead

2006-10-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

Excuse me now while I proceed to talk about comic book characters like they’re real people. No real spoilers to Civil War #4 in this post.

Tony Stark has gone too far this time. Someone needs to put a serious hurting on him. Maybe it’s even time for a dirt nap. There are just some lines you don’t cross, man.

As for Peter Parker, it’s a well known fact that every time Spider-Man makes a seriously bad decision, the fallout involves the death of one of his loved ones. Uncle Ben paid the price for Spidey’s arrogance. Gwen Stacy paid the price for him not taking things seriously enough. Who’s going to pay the price for his siding with Iron man? Aunt May? Mary Jane?

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

2006-09-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

So, now there is a study out there (conducted by the company that sued Sony for patent infringement, no less) that says that Sony is going to lose market share because the controller for the forthcoming PS3 does not have the “rumble” feature like the Xbox 360 and the Wii. I have never been one to play many racing games (and I think it may have something to add in that genre), but I don’t really see the appeal.

I think the feature was used well in one game, I think it had to be a Resident Evil title, where you began to feel your heartbeat when your health was low. That was kind of cool, but you still had to open a menu to find out exactly how badly you were hurt. For my dime, I’d just rather you put a health bar at the top of the screen.

Also, and maybe this is just me, after I’ve been playing a game for more than a few minutes, I don’t even notice the shaking of the controller. So, I say “good riddance” to the rumble feature. I also say that the price of the PS3 controller should reflect the lack of internal hardware as well, but that’s the subject of another post.

First G4, and now Wizard?

2006-09-25T14:16:00.001-07:00
Once upon a time, there was a cable station called G4tv. At one point, it was even given the tagline “TV for Gamers”. The tag fit perfectly, as the programming was all about video game previews, tips/strategy, interviews with industry movers, coverage of major gaming events like E3, and even video game competitions. It was a good network. Then came the shows about cars. And Star Trek. And The Man Show. After that, G4 became nothing more than another TBS clone. Oh well, it was good while it lasted. At least they still show X-Play every now and then.

So, I’m reading the latest issue of Wizard (also known as Wizard: The Comics Magazine), and I come across something inexplicable: an article about the TV show “Lost”. A few pages later, there was a blurb about how the movie “The Grudge 2” is going to be too good to miss. What’s all this? Don’t get me wrong, Wizard has been about a lot more than just comics forever, but they’ve always been grounded in comics-based material. They’ve always talked about movies and TV, but only as they relate to comics – TV shows like Mutant X, movies like Spider-Man…that type of thing. Throw in an action figure and a Batman statue or two, and it’s still good. Add a recommendation for a non-comic-based TV show or movie, and the formula is broken.

I already had to give up watching G4 (unless I’m in the mood for Star Trek, of course) because it broke its formula. I don’t want to have to give up Wizard because it has aspirations of becoming an Entertainment Weekly clone.

[insert console name here] Haters...UNITE

2006-09-14T13:58:00.000-07:00
The Sony fanboys hate Microsoft and everything they stand for. The Microsoft fanboys hate Sony with every fiber of their being. Both the Sony and MS fanboys generally ignore the Nintendo fanboys, but the Nintendo fanboys don’t care because they secretly hate everybody who isn’t a Nintendo fanboy.

All this hate going around is really good for the industry. Tensions get high, message boards get filled up, and the corporations are forced to produce even better product. “Our console was out first…we’re first to market!” “Oh yeah, well, our offering will be more powerful than you could possibly imagine!” “Well, we have a gorilla-chasing plumber as our mascot…so there!”

Personally, I follow the software…the games decide what console I’ll buy. I’m a Sony fanboy, but I’m 100% sure I’ll buy an Xbox 360 as well as a PS3. If the games look good, I’ll even pick up a Wii. But that’s not the point of this post. The point is this:

Playstation Haters, Xbox Haters, Nintendo Haters…UNITE! Let’s all bring the hate together against the PC gamers! Those uppity bastards have had it coming for a long time!

Civil War!

2006-09-11T12:16:00.000-07:00
Well, this just has to be said. Iron Man is a jerk.

This Civil War storyline from Marvel has got to be the best thing to come out of the House of Ideas in a very, very long time. I was just beginning to lose hope, too. It was starting to look like anything except for the Ultimate stuff (and anything by Bendis) was bound to suck. Hard. But, in walks Civil War, and all the tie-ins, and I’m completely blown away.

In case you’re unaware, the basic premise is that the powers that be in the US government in the Marvel Universe (Marvel “616”, to be exact) have decided that all practicing superheroes need to either register themselves with the government (thereby revealing their identities to various agencies, and essentially become government employees themselves), or they need to hang up their tights for good. No one pays much attention to this initiative until the New Warriors are involved in the destruction of a schoolyard full of kids while trying to bring in some bad guys for a reality show. Iron Man agrees the measure needs to be pushed through, and Captain America disagrees. A deadline passes, and Cap and the rest of the heroes who refused to register become criminals.

I can’t reveal too much more without ruining the story, but just know that Iron Man is indeed a huge jerk. And as of this writing, Spider-Man isn’t too far behind.

What the?!? Only 400k PS3s for the US Launch???

2006-09-07T09:41:00.000-07:00
This is painful...truly painful. I can't lie to you...I'm a Sony fanboy. Sure, I own an Xbox, and, as I've said before, I plan to buy an Xbox 360. I'll most likely be buying a Wii at some point, too. But in deep down inside, I'm pulling for Sony all the way. Sure, I'll probably have to slip the Game Stop clerk $50 to make sure I get my name at the top of the PS3 reservation list, but I still plan to get a PS3 on the day it launches. And I'll stand by my decision, just like I did for the Sega Dreamcast...not that my support for Sega's best console made much difference in the end. It's too bad...the Dreamcast was a worthy console.

Aside from the fact that there will only be 400,000 PS3s (projected) in the US, Sony has decided to scrap their plans for a worldwide launch. For the initial launch, only the US and Japan will be receiving units. And Japan will only be getting 100,000 PS3s (projected). Ouch. The rest of the world will have to wait until March 2007. Ouch again. Either that, or wait to buy a PS3 for $5000 on EBAY. That goes way beyond "ouch".

The problem is this: Sony, at least publicly, is trying to say that this drastic cut in their PS3 launch numbers are no big deal. They're saying that this'll be the same as the PS2 launch, and better than the Xbox 360 launch. Sure, when the PS2 launched, they had about the same amount of hardware. But, they also didn't have any real competition when they launched. If you wanted to play on the newest console, and you missed out at launch, then tough...you just had to suffer through the PS2 shortage. This time around, there are two other new consoles out there -- one of which will be brand new (the Wii, of course). As for the faults of the Xbox 360 launch...well, they did it the same way Sony did with the PS2. They launched when there were no other new consoles due out for months. They launched when there was no competition, and now they have a foothold. At least in the US and Europe. They are still sucking pretty hard in Japan.

In closing, this PS3 hardware shortage may be good for the short-term profits of the EBAYers out there, but I'm not so sure it bodes well for the future of Sony's PS3. Either way, I'll still have my PS3 on the day it launches. And I'll stand by my decision, just like I did for the Sega Dreamcast.

I just hope the PS3 has a brighter future than the Dreamcast.

'52'

2006-08-29T13:02:00.000-07:00
Well, when I first heard of DC Comics' idea to publish a cohesive story in the style of TVs '24', I was a big sceptical to say the least. The plan was for DC to put out a weekly comic (called '52') for one year that would take place in real time in that the series would cover an actual year of comic time.

Cool idea, but I had already been burned too many times by late shipping comics. I had decided not to get it -- not a very dificult thing to do since I already didn't get very many DC titles. Then I walked into the comic store to retrieve my regularly held titles, and the damned comic store guy had put the first two issues in my box. I gave him a dirty look. He assured me that I would like them. So, I got them, took them home, and read them.

Sixteen weeks later, I'm still reading 52, and it has yet to ship late. Not only that, but now I'm reading more DC titles than ever before. Don't get me wrong, I'll always be a Marvel Zombie at my core...I'm just a Marvel Zombie with a little DC around the edges.

All I Want From My Video Game System

2006-08-15T11:35:00.000-07:00
Yeah, it's been a long time since my last post. Sue me. Anyway, I've been thinking, and although I've been a hardcore gamer since Atari and Intellivision, there's always been something missing from my gaming life. Seamless gaming at home and on handheld. Sure, the technology hasn't always been there, but I think it's here now. For instance, 'Tomb Raider: Legend' is basically the same game on the PSP as it is on the other consoles and PC. That's all fine and good, but it's time for the next step

Here's what I propose: Make a game that I can start on my home console (PS3, X360, Wii, whatever), and continue on my handheld from where I left off. Now, I understand that now all gamers may not have both the handheld and the home system, so the game would have to be available seperately for both platforms. What the game companies need to do is offer the game at full price, and include a '60% off' coupon for the same game on it's sister platform. Additionally, they need to include some type of 'crosstalk' feature (similar to what Sony did with 'SOCOM 3' on PS2 and 'SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo' on PSP) so you could swap game save information back and forth.

Just imagine...sitting at home, playing the latest RPG on your PS3 when you look at the clock and remember that you have a plane to catch in 3 hours. You save your game, download the save data to your PSP, and run out the door secure in the knowledge that you'll still be able to make progress on that 60+ hour monster of a game while you're at the airport, on the plane, and even in the hotel at your destination. And then, when you get home again, you can download the save data from your PSP back to your PS3 and continue the adventure.

Will everyone be willing to buy the same game twice (even if there is a deep discount on the second copy)? Probably not. But since most games have a handheld port anyway, they might as well throw in the crosstalk feature for those of us who would entertain having seemless gameplay. A true "Play Anywhere" experience.

Standard Game Length

2006-06-10T20:53:00.000-07:00
As gamers, we need to make sure we set forth the expectation to the video game publishers that we expect our games to be of a certain length. This shouldn't be news to any of them, because they used to adhere to these previously unwritten rules back in the day of SNES and Genesis. We need to make sure they know that pretty graphics do not make up for a 10 hour game (I'm looking in your direction, 'Onimusha'). In the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube generation, games ran about $50 each. In the PS3/X360/Wii generation, we're most likely looking at games going for $60 each. We need to get our moneys worth, people! Stand united!

The rules are as follows:
An action game (defined here as a running-and-gunning game with minimal puzzles; e.g. Metal Gear Solid, Devil May Cry, any FPS) must be at least 25 hours long. Not counting the cinematics.
An adventure game (defined here as a puzzle solving game sprinkled with spurts of action; e.g. Resident Evil, Prince of Persia, Tomb Raider) must be at least 35 hours long. Again, not counting the cinematic sequences.
An action/adventure game (defined here as an adventure game where the '"puzzles" involve a more action-based solution -- sandbox games fall into this category; e.g. The Warriors, Mercenaries, the whole GTA series) must be at least 35 hours long to complete the main storyline, and at least 45 hours long to complete all of the side quests. Not counting the cinematics, of course.
An RPG (defined here as any story-heavy game that, for the most part, does not rely on quick reflexes; e.g. The Final Fantasy series, The Xenosaga series, the Dragon Quest series) must take at least 60 hours to complete the main storyline, and at least 70 hours to complete all of the sidequests. This time, of course, should not take into account any cinematic sequences (I'm looking at you, 'Xenosaga'...)
Of course, fighting games, racing games, sports games, and MMORPGs should all have unlimited play time due to the replay value. Stand strong; demand more play time and less BS.

"The next generation begins when we say it does."

2006-05-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

Yup. Those were the words of the Sony VP when he was questioned about the (scheduled) PS3 launch nearly a year after the XBOX 360 launched. He then went on to say that the XBOX 360 isn't next gen, and that it's merely "XBOX 1.5." Ouch. Yes, this is indeed shaping up to be a console war the likes of which we've never seen.

Even Nintendo is being dragged (kicking and screaming) into the fray. The Wii's main selling point was the unique motion sensing controller...which Sony seems to have not only copied, but perfected (since Sony's version doesn't require and additional external sensors like the Wii does). It appears that Sony just wasn't satisfied simply declaring war on Microsoft, and allowing Nintendo to have it's niche market. Sony seems to have given the finger both Miyamoto and Gates.

The nerve of them. AND they plan to launch at $599 for the good package. Are you kidding me? 600 bucks for a game console? Did they learn nothing from the Neo-Geo debacle? I'd have to say that they did indeed learn, seeing as how the PS3 will be able to play BluRay disks out of the box, in addition to playing games.

Needless to say, I'll be first in line to buy one. Maybe even three, so I can sell a couple on Ebay. I'll also buy a 360 on the same day seeing as how the price is likely to drop just to make the PS3 look like a huge rip-off. Hell, I may even pick up a Wii while I'm at it. With the hundreds I hope to make off of the Ebay sales of the PS3, I just may come out a little bit ahead.

X-Box 360 and Playstation 3

2005-09-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

I think it’s time I weighed in on this whole next generation gaming thing. First off, I really hate the name ‘X-Box’. It just seems like it’s a weak attempt to play to a certain generational demographic (generation X), and it makes my mouth feel funny when I say it.

That said, I currently own both an X-Box and a PS2. The PS2 I bought at the launch, the X-Box I bought about a year after launch. While I’ve been quite happy with both consoles, I’ve always been a bit more partial to the PS2. Nothing personal, Gates, I just preferred the controller and the incredible library of games. And now, there’s a new X-Box and Playstation coming down the line; only this time, the X-Box will be released first. Way first. We’re talking 6-8 months before the PS3.

Both consoles look like they have a lot of potential, and while I’m sure I’ll end up with both of them, I don’t think I’ll be breaking my neck to get the X-Box 360 at it’s launch (which should be sometime in November). Hell, I might not even get it in 2005. Money isn’t the issue, it just seems like it may be a smarter move to wait and see what the games look like. Not to be a hater, but the X-Box 360 isn’t going to be fully backward compatible (at least, the cheaper, $300 version won’t be...gotta spend the extra $100 for that). It’s probably just a better move to wait until the PS3 gets closer to launch because the X360 will most likely drop in price on the PS3 launch date.

As far as the PS3 goes, I’ll be first in line to get this bad boy. Blu-Ray, Bluetooth, WiFi...DAMN. Those Sony folks know how to put together a must-have piece of hardware.

Alex Ross

2005-09-08T14:43:00.000-07:00

Most, if not all, comic book fans know who Alex Ross is. He's an incredible artist who creates photo-realistic images, and he's done it for just about every major (and a lot of minor) superhero out there from the Big 2.

Waaaaay back when I first started collecting, I had no idea who the artists or writers were; and, quite frankly, I didn't really care. Then one day I read 'The Uncanny X-Men', and it was so amazing, that I felt compelled to know who created it. A quite glance showed that it was Chris Clermont (writer) and Jim Lee (artist). From that moment forward, I would study the credits and loyally follow my favorite creators to whatever book they were working on at the time. I've followed Clermont, Lee, McFarlane, Campbell, Vigil, Dixon, Grayson, Bendis, and Kirkman just to name a few (a very few, in fact). I sought them out at conventions, I read their interviews, and I bought hundreds of their books. Then along comes Alex Ross, and I just about crap my pants. Holy crap, this guy is good. Really good. I couldn't wait to read one of his interviews.

And then I did. Then I read another. And another. And then I came to the conclusion that Alex Ross is an ass. Just a total jerk. Keep in mind that I've never met the man or anything like that, but almost everything that comes out of his mouth is just sheer jackassery. He comes off like he's some kind of comic god, and everything he says is right --- without question. We're all just lowly fanboys, groveling at his feet. The rest of the comic industry? Feh! The movie industry? Bah! They're all fools when put next to the almighty Ross. Whatever, man.

Sure, he doesn't like G.W. Bush, and I totally agree with him on that. Sure, his art is still as amazing as ever --- hell, even more amazing. But the fact still remains that he's just a comic book artist, and he needs to get over himself. Just a comic book artist. That's all.

The State of Entertainment

2005-09-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

"What the hell is going on with the state of entertainment today," my boy John asked me today. He lives on the east coast, and I'm out west, and back in the old days we'd make a point out of talking to one another at least once a week to discuss the movies/comics/books/video games that we saw/read/played the week prior.

It started out as a way to keep the long distance friendship going (you know how quickly you can forget about friends and family...even in this email age), but it quickly became what John referred to as "the Monday morning conference call." We'd spend 45-90 minutes ripping or praising some bit of entertainment --- sometimes agreeing, sometimes butting heads --- and then part ways looking forward to the next week. Before today, I hadn't talked to John in three weeks. and before that, another three weeks had elapsed. Had we had a falling out? No. It's just that our chosen forms of entertainment are crapping out.

When was the last time a game came out that you just HAD to play? I think it was 'Xenosaga 2' for John and me. "That game was my Waterloo," John told me. We're hardcore RPG fans, and the first' Xenosaga' was red hot, but after paying $50 for that last piece of crap...well, maybe it's time I reevaluate why I'm buying these damned things.

Sure, I ended up getting 'God of War' (albeit as a birthday gift, but still...) and it really seems to be living up to expectations, but it took me nearly 2 months to get the game. I've just grown tired of wasting the half C-note on crap. I'm almost totally relying on the reviews of EGM, GameSpot, GI, and G4. Now it looks like I'll have to average the four for the final game tally...and even then, I don't think I'll ever buy anything lower than an 8 again. The damned things just cost too much.

And movies? Hell, the last thing I saw in a theater was 'Episode 3', and I only saw that to complete the set. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was okay...just not $9 worth of 'okay'.

As for comics, well, let's just say that I used to buy about $150/month. Now, I'm down to around $50/month. What the hell happened to the 'Uncanny X-Men'? When did it become a lame soap opera with the occasional fight scene thrown in? Sure, it always had some fluff in there, but it was always second to the real superhero action. I'm seriously thinking of dropping that book, and it's the one thing I've bought continuously for the last 15 years. Looking back, I've probably only been buying it for the last year only because I've never NOT bought it.

Hell, maybe it's time for a change. I'll happily pay for worthy entertainment, but I don't want to waste my $50 on a crap game, my $9 on a crap movie, or my $2.95 on a crap comic. Looks like I'm facing my Waterloo as well...

More Superhero Movies

2005-09-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

DAAAAAAMN....has this much time really elapsed since my last entry??? I mean, come ON! May 20^th??? Let me answer my own question...no, I haven’t not made an entry since May 20^th...I added a few new links on June 29^th, so there. Get off my back, alright? Geez, you’d think I have nothing better to do with my life than sit around blogging all day.

Anyway, I just wanted to draw attention to the fact that X-Men 3 began filming about a week ago, so that means that we have less than a year before we get to see those crazy mutants on the big screen again. In the (slightly) nearer future, ‘V For Vendetta’, which was due out on November 4 2005, has been pushed back to March 17 2006. With ‘Superman Returns’ and ‘Spider-Man 3’ and ‘Ghost Rider’ also on tap, Spring/Summer 2006 looks like it has the potential to be a great superhero movie couple of months. Of course, I thought the same thing when ‘Hulk’ came out, and I was very disappointed, so I’ll reserve final judgment until after I’ve seen the flicks.

Stay tuned for comic talk coming up. Also, I’ve turned the comments feature on, so feel free to speak your mind before you leave.

Links, and more Links...

2005-05-20T09:45:00.000-07:00
Geez...has it really been THAT long since I've posted? Oh well...looks like I'm going to have to keep this page going as my official links page until I find more time in which to post.

Dead Or Alive Ultimate

2004-11-02T11:08:00.000-08:00
Oh yeah, I've played DOA Ultimate....and it has begun to rule my life. The only complaint that I have is the occasional lag during the online play (I only see lag on about 1 in 5 sessions), but that's a small price for me to pay to play with my friends over on the east coast. I'll post my full review a little later---probably at the same time as my KillZone review.

In the mean time, go buy it, and I'll see you online.

The Grudge

2004-10-25T11:43:00.000-07:00
Well, it looks like we're coming to the end of another year; except that this time will be different from the past 3 years. How so? There will be no new Lord of the Rings movie coming out. I used to think of LOTR as my "end of the year good movie guarantee"; meaning that no matter how many movies let you down throughout the year, you could count on a few Hobbits to save your movie-going year. Ah, well...

So, we saw 'The Grudge' a couple of nights ago, and I must say that it was pretty spooky. Definitely worth the price of the matinee ticket. The bad thing is, we had these girls behind us talking the whole time. Now, I try to be as non-violent as possible, but even I know that there's a time to start handing out beatings. Dealing with movie-talkers is one of those times. But let's face it, if I started handing out beatings in a crowded movie theater, I'd get arrested. In order to avoid jail time, I came up with a clever plan: I'd wait until the movie got to a part that was about to be scary, and then I'd turn around and grab one of the girls' legs and scream at the top of my lungs. Of course, doing that would've probably caused the girl in question to kick me in the face and send me tumbling down the stadium seats only to end up twitching and bleeding on the floor. In addition, my woman would be stunned wondering, "why the hell did he do that?"

I decided against trying to scare the girls, but in planning my scheme, and estimating the consequences, I'd missed 5 minutes of the movie. Maybe next time I'll just turn around and tell the movie talker or talkers to STFU, and save myself the time of planning.

Anyway, sorry about the tangent. Go see 'The Grudge' with your girlfriend/wife. Especially if she's the type to get really scared. It's like seeing two shows for the price of one.

New Games Coming Out!

2004-10-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

As if I didn’t have enough to do, now there are 5 games coming out in the next 2 months that I must play.

There’s ‘DOA Ultimate’ which looks like it’s going to take up a lot of my time due to the online capabilities via XBOX Live. There’s ‘Killzone’ which will take up plenty of time since I’ll be able to play it online for free via PS2. There’s ‘Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater’ which is probably going to make me lose my job due to excessive absences. There’s ‘Prince of Persia: Warrior Within’ which will probably make my woman force me to choose between her and the game. Luckily, there’s also ‘Halo 2’ which my woman also likes, so maybe--just maybe—she won’t leave me...

...At least until next year when ‘God of War’ and ‘Mercenaries’ come out.....

Weird Japanese Games...or are they?

2004-10-16T19:54:00.000-07:00
Ya know, some of these video games to come out of Japan are really....well, they're just plain weird. And, I'm not just talking about some of the poorly translated games, either ("All your base are belong to us!"). I'm talking about the dating simulators, the dance simulators, and the games that don't easily fit into any category. Like a game where you play as a mosquito and your goal is to suck the blood of an unsuspecting family without getting swatted in the process...it's called 'Mr. Mosquito', and I just rented it today. I guess that makes me a little weird, too.

It all makes me think that someday, these weird games will become commonplace here in the USA in the not-so-far-future. Just look at the way a yellow, dot-eating hockey puck being chased by ghosts caught on here. Then look at the way that secret agent taught us that sneaking around stealthily is far more effective than running in, guns blazing. Pac-Man had a few imitators, and so has Solid Snake (I'm looking in YOUR direction, Mr. Fisher...); and since imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then these games should be very flattered, indeed.

I wonder how long it'll take before I can buy a game that lets you play as an ant interacting with the colony and doing....whatever else ants do. Hell, I'd be willing to bet that the Japanese have already created that game, and grown bored with it.

Family Guy / American Dad

2004-10-14T13:50:00.000-07:00
By now, I'm sure that everyone out there knows about the animated show called ‘Family Guy’. If you don’t know about it, then what you need to do is go down to the DVD store, and do some purchasing. Holy crap, that show was funny; if you’re looking for joke after joke after joke, then this is the show to watch. If you’re too cheap to buy the DVDs, then you can also catch it on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim and TBS. Take the time to marvel at the idiot dad and the football-headed-evil-genius-toddler son. Stare in amazement at the mom who’s not afraid to kick a little ass every now and then. Gape at the teenaged daughter and son who are both insane in their own right. Pure gold, people. The best news of the year has to be that Fox (the network that originally ran this show) has decided to “uncancel” this show based on the tremendous DVD sales.

In addition, Seth MacFarlane (the guy who created FG) has another show coming out next year called ‘American Dad’. I’ve seen the six-minute pilot for AD, and I think it’s got some really good potential. It’s about a CIA agent who is always on the lookout for terrorists (to an extremely paranoid level---the man killed a toaster, people) and his family which consists of an ex-party girl wife, 2 teenaged kids, an alien from area 51, and a German talking goldfish. I hear that AD is supposed to premier after the Superbowl, but I’m not totally sure. Keep your eyes open for this one, folks.

Venture Brothers

2004-10-12T21:17:00.000-07:00
Anyone that knows me knows that I really don't have a whole lot of time for TV. In fact, the only shows that I watch with any sort of regularity are 'Chappelle's Show' (season 3, where are you???), 'Justice League' (although it's starting to get crappy), 'Teen Titans' (hey, my lady likes it...I just happen to be there while it's on. Seriously.) , and just recently, 'The Batman'. Well, it's time to add one more show to that line-up: 'The Venture Brothers'.

Lemme tell ya, if you're an old-schooler like me, and you remember the old 'Johnny Quest' cartoon (the OLD one, not the crappy 90's update), then you MUST see TVB. Total comic goodness. Imagine if Johnny had a twin brother; if Dr. Quest was a bitter and balding inventer that didn't really care for his sons; if Race was voiced by Seinfeld's "Putty"; and if their neighbor was a Dr. Strange rip-off with a goth daughter. Oh yeah, and the brothers seem to be living in the 60's as far as clothing and dialog go, while the rest of the world is in present day. The adventures that this pack of whackos get into will have you laughing til you cry.

TVB can be found on the Cartoon Network during the Adult Swim block, and while it's mostly sophisticated humor that the young kiddies wouldn't understand anyway, you probably wouldn't want the youngsters watching it due to the halarious innuendos and occasional dirty humor.

This is funny stuff, man. Either watch it or TiVo it, but don't miss it!

Hey, look...links!!!

2004-10-10T20:48:00.000-07:00
Let's kick this off with some links. I'll occasionally update my links section with the web pages I recommend.

This blog created by D'Artagnan D. Smith. phoenix777. ddsmitty1. Phoenix ascension. Phoenix Rising.