Pushing Up Polys

So Facebook has taken up most of my posting and updates...

2009-03-26T13:38:00.002-06:00

I'll try to keep this going as well :) Anyways, Here is a nice site.

Twin Galaxies

This is the official video game record site for anything from consoles, handhelds, to arcade games. You saw some of this in the King of Kong documentary. If you haven't seen this movie, please check it out! It's great even for non gamers. Trust me! My wife, Sheri, even loved it.

Anyways, the point of this post is I've always been curious about the high score on Galaga. I was pretty good at that game back in the days and one time when I was 12 or so, I played so long and had such a high score, my grandparents made me quit and come back to the room in our hotel. Man, I always wondered how high I could have scored on that game. I was definitely in another zone. So in researching I found some high scores on the Twin Galaxies site. You can check them here...

Galaga High Scores

They have various scores for different versions and rules on the game. If I had the time to devote, I believe I could be one of these..err..maybe..

Oh and my Facebook page is here....

Sean Willsey

Obama and Motion Capture - Onion

2009-03-04T09:49:00.001-07:00

This is classic for the Onion!

Obama mocap

Let us not forget the sacrifices by so many....

2009-02-03T22:41:00.004-07:00

Sorry to get so deep and serious here but I just returned from an amazing gathering. It's a WWII focused history class at Regis University here in Denver. I've been meaning to make one of these last year but missed out. But tonight that was not the case.

A radio station 1430am here in Denver hosts this special series at Regis. They get everyone from famous authors like Kershaw who did the Bedford Boys, The Long Winter, and many other WWII books, as well as 4 WWII veterans to speak in front of the class. This class has students but is open to the public. And let me tell you, the place was packed! I barely got there in time to get a seat and that was 30 minutes before the discussion took place.

We heard from 2 8th Air force veterans who served about B-17's to a medic to a 3rd Army vet under Patton. All of their stories so unique and touching at times. Of course there was a alot of humor to be had as well. These guys still know how to cut up every now and then. One of the men, who was a gunner on the B-17 mentioned having difficulty with a B-17 in route from Nebraska to England. They had to touch down in the US(forgot location) and the tower said " Put your God Damn gear down idiots! " cause they were fully loaded with ammo, and fuel and forgot to put down the gear during landing. Funny stuff.

There was even tension as a former B-17 pilot, Joe, mentioned that he went from being an 18 year old to being transformed into a "killer" at which time the other 8th Air Force waist gunner piped up and said " I take offense to that, I'm not a killer! I was sent to do a job but I'm not a killer! " So it was insight to see how these men still felt to this day about their role in the great war.

Overall, it was an experience to be remembered. I am hoping to get to see next Tuesday's discussion of the war in the Pacific which is close to me due to my grandfather's role as a radio man in the Navy in the Pacific Theater. Should be another great listen.

Listed here are the names...

Phil Antonelli - 3rd Army ( Patton's Army )
Mike Quering - 8th Air Force - Waist Gunner
Joe Clarke - 8th Air Force - Pilot
Vinton Guy - Medic for 55th General Hospital - Europe
Also author Alex Kershaw - Bedford Boys, The Longest Winter, The Few, Escape from the Deep (story of the sub USS Tang that sank )

For now here is a link to the class...

http://www.regis.edu/newsdetail.asp?sctn=news&p1=rdn&archive=false&year=&newsID=554&page=1

GI Joe Trailer - Snake Eyes!

2009-02-02T08:57:00.001-07:00

Had to post this here too although once the baby comes, I'm gonna have to find a babysitter to see this one! :P

Transformers 2....as a young teen would say " OMG "

2009-02-01T22:47:00.005-07:00

Just can't help myself. Yes Michael Bay sucks for story and emotional type movies but damn he can bring it when it comes to action and "popcorn" flicks. Saw the trailer on Super Bowl and about transformed in my pants. Looked amazing! I was under the impression the large Decepticon fighting Optimus Prime at the end was Devastator but wait...no...they are saying on the internets it's just one of the constructicons. Which would make Devastator friggin huge!!! Much bigger than even his old cartoon version. Wow!

Ok so I'm a bit nostalgic when it comes to Transformers and I go super geek over it. But I think this movie is really going to be much better than even the first.

Check it..

TV Show Leverage gives WoW props...

2009-01-22T13:48:00.003-07:00

I'm not a WoW player but I was watching Leverage last night with the wife ( good show btw, much like Ocean's 11 ) and I about spit my drink out when this scene came up...

Let it be said that I am NOT a WoW player....I wouldn't get anything done in RL if I was ..heh.

Books to read

2009-01-02T14:09:00.006-07:00

Well I'm not much of a big reader. I usually get into 1 book every 5-10 years but lately I've been looking to find something more relaxing and stimulates my creative side so reading a book was my choice.

First off my wife and I listened to the audio book, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card on the way down to Texas during Christmas. At first glance of the synopsis you would think " Oh a geeky sci-fi book similar to Startship Troopers " Well I thought that myself. But don't let that fool you. The book is incredible in it's character depth and thoroughly engaging plot. Here's a quick description, Ender is a small boy around 6 years old in the future. He has 2 siblings, 1 older brother Peter who is quite the big brother bully but to the point of being psychotic at times. Then an older sister, Valentine who protects Ender from Peter and cares for him a great deal. Now 80 years before Ender was born, an insect hive like race who are referred to as " Buggers " attacked Earth's space fleet decimating it due to their numbers. They were beaten back eventually by Earth's forces but still exist in Ender's time. Earth during this time has been building it's forces back up and waiting for the time to retaliate. That's where Ender comes in. The future government controls everything and sends Ender to Battle School orbiting Earth. The thinking at the time is to raise the next great Earth commander to lead their forces to victory. In order to do this, they need to best and brightest youth and train them from the earliest ages. Only the best will survive the school. From there the book focuses on the battles Ender must face not only from other children hazing him quite viciously but to the simulated sports like battle rooms where teams attack and defend each other. The games train these children to think like military commanders. There is also a video game element as well used in the training.

It's the training that really shows off this book and how Ender responds. His two siblings get alot of focus as well in certain chapters and their stories are just as interesting as Ender's.

Next up is a novel that I am currently reading....Designated Targets by John Birmingham. It peaked my interest at Barnes and Noble cause of the cover, which depicts a F-22 with German markings.

It's an alternate history and sci-fi novel about a 21st Century Multinational Naval fleet ( US, etc ) who enters a wormhole by accident and arrives in 1942 and affects the whole course of WWII history. The Axis are able to secure future technology due to this mistake as well as the Allies. Since the navy had computers with historical documentation, Hitler and Tojo(Japan ) see the error of their ways and change their focus in the war effort. Stalin ( Russia ) now agrees to a long term peace treaty with Hitler since it is revealed that Russia will no longer exist as he wishes in the future we know presently. With access to foresight, Hitler keeps his treaty in tact with Russia so he can focus entirely on invading Great Britain.

Now this is actually the second novel in a trilogy( by John Birmingham. The information I revealed above occurs in the first novel, Weapons of Choice which you can click on the link to read more about it.

While the author recommends reading these in sequential order, I still find Designated Targets to be quite entertaining. It's very much in the style of Tom Clancy novels. So far I am addicted to reading this each night. You get alternate versions of everyone from JFK to Hoover, to Halsey to Himmler, and even Elvis as a young boy. The technology and battles are described in great detail and gore. All the makings of a good "guy" book :)

I've only read barely a quarter of the novel and already can see this will be a favorite of mine for the coming months. Plus I need to get the first novel as well as the last in the trilogy. Damn, I wish they would make this into a movie! John Birmingham was questioned on this and he said it would probably make a good mini series for TV due to the large amount of content to cover. I just want to see it made and made right. Give it a good budget and none of this goofy looking " The Final Countdown " movie from the 1980's jumbo. Loved that movie for 1 scene, Jolly Roger F-14's fighting japanese zeroes. After that it gets a bit boring.

This guy nails it....

2008-12-31T16:06:00.002-07:00

It's a unique look at why video games are so difficult to those adults today as opposed to the hardcore population using the new Prince of Persia game. I couldn't have said this any better. Definitely worth the listen.

via videosift.com

My wife has an alien inside of her....

2008-12-29T22:49:00.004-07:00

Kidding!

In fact it's now time to reveal the big news...Yes I am a dad to be! We finally got to tell our parents and relatives this last week during Christmas. Let's just say they were estatic and thinking " It's about time! " ...hehe. Anyways, Sheri and I are so excited. She's just finished her first trimester. It's been a very bumpy road for us up to this point. Sheri has had 2 big scares and yet this little guy hangs on. He's a trooper to say the least.

So now the cat is out of the bag and I'm sure the few that read my blog will be saying " WTF!?!? " at this point. Sorry to reveal this news now but had to get past that risky 1st trimester. Now we're hoping things go more smoothly from here on out!

We will find out the gender in 2-3 weeks. And yes we plan to find out so we know what to plan for :) heh

Anyways, that's the big news. Been busy lately so my blog as suffered.

Happy New Year All!

Study: More than Half of adults play video games.

2008-12-07T23:01:00.001-07:00

About time it's revealed. Interesting stuff....

Half of adults play video games, survey finds

09:47 PM CST on Sunday, December 7, 2008
The Associated Press
After a day of dirty diapers and Dora the Explorer, of laundry and homework time, when her four kids are finally asleep, Sarah Ninesling begins roaming the ruins of a post-apocalyptic Washington, D.C., fighting mutants to help save the survivors of a nuclear war.
The 30-year-old stay-at-home mom from New York's Long Island plays "Fallout 3" and other games like "World of Warcraft" and "The Lord of the Rings Online." She plays every day, sometimes past midnight, to escape and relax and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Ms. Ninesling is not alone. More than half of American adults play video games and one in five play just about every day, according to a survey released Sunday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The survey of 2,054 U.S. adults was conducted late last year, with a margin of error of about 2 percent.
People from all walks of life play, though younger adults are far more likely to play than seniors, proof that video games are mainstream entertainment for the generations that grew up with them. In all, 81 percent of respondents between 18 and 29 said they play games, compared with 23 percent of people 65 and older.
The gender gap between gamers was not what would be predicted by old stereotypes painting video game fans as young men who need to get outside more. Fifty percent of women and 55 percent of men play video games.
A surprising finding in Pew's new report was the discrepancy between the education levels of gamers and nongamers: A college education means you're more likely to play them. Some 57 percent of respondents who had at least some college said they play games, compared with 51 percent of high school graduates and just 40 percent of people who have less than a high school education.
The survey also found that parents with young children and teenagers are big gamers, though a love of video games is not necessarily a result of parenting. Rather, these parents tend to be younger than parents with adult children, and are thus more likely to play.

Mirror's Edge Remix contest

2008-11-20T21:32:00.004-07:00

Well I've been playing Mirror's Edge and loving it so far, aside from some frustrations in areas of the game but more on that in a later blog when I finish th game. One thing that is really striking about this well produced game is the soundtrack. It's right up there with some of the best motion picture soundtracks. The Still Alive main theme song is one of my favorite songs on my iPod so far and I came across this contest today. What's cool is the contest uses a sequencer web based music prog called Jamglue. I haven't messed with one of these since my college days years back on my old Amiga computer. I loved taking samples from music and even adding my own riffs to tracks. Then I would dub them to tape and play them for friends. Anyways, back to the topic....here is the link for the contest.

http://mirrorsedgemusic.com/remix/

You have plenty of time to make a remix cause contest ends April 11, 2009. So get to mixing!

Back from the Dead...

2008-11-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

Just watch...funny funny funny.

Mirror's Edge - Theme song

2008-10-30T14:59:00.002-06:00

This game has one of those fresh new looks I've been waiting for in games. Game mechanics, graphics, and all around production are a welcome change in today's formulaic game industry.

This is the theme song. Really fits the mood perfectly.

McCain and Obama dance off

2008-10-30T12:43:00.001-06:00

Extemely funny and well done I might add!

Stock Market and Heroes humor

2008-10-24T09:31:00.001-06:00

I had to do this :)

Interesting Animation trick

2008-10-21T12:23:00.003-06:00

I've seen an example of this first at Disneyland last October and here is a low tech version.

http://www.clipupload.com/clip/showphoto.php/photo/13984/cat//Phonographantasmascope

Disneyland version

Geeky Pumpkins

2008-10-20T10:48:00.002-06:00

Check out the link below. Impressive stuff...

http://www.walyou.com/blog/2008/10/17/pumpkin-faces/

WANTED on DVD Dec 2, 2008

2008-10-13T12:04:00.002-06:00

Yes! Finally! WANTED Blu-Ray and DVD coming out Dec, 2 2008. Only thing is what is this crap about alternate ending only on the Blu- Ray version? Hello, many of us still do not own a Blu-Ray player. Now you are forcing me to watch this on Youtube when it is posted. Stupid move but I definitely want the collecter set.

Exclusive: Wanted DVD and Blu-ray Details
Explosive new details on the action ballet.
by Christopher Monfette
October 10, 2008 - James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman star in the sexy, visually stunning, action thrill-ride Wanted, coming to DVD and Blu-ray on December 2, 2008 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Visionary filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov, creator of Day Watch and Night Watch, two of the most successful films in the history of Russian cinema, brings his incomparable imagination and innovative cinematic style to bear on the explosive story of an ordinary man transformed by destiny into a powerful assassin. Based on Mark Millar's explosive graphic novel series, Wanted blazes new cinematic trails with double-barreled surprises around every corner.

With its visually inventive effects, picture perfect visuals and flawless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound, Wanted gives fans an get an exclusive look at the film's never-before-seen alternate opening and goes deeper into the making of the film's mind-blowing effects in crystal clear high definition. And via the power of BD-Live, fans can host a text chat with friends while watching the movie in synchronization.

Wanted is available in several home entertainment versions, including single-disc widescreen and full frame DVD editions, 2-disc Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray versions, and deluxe collector's sets. The limited edition 2-disc versions and collector's sets include a digital copy of the film. Perfect for holiday gift-giving, the deluxe collector's set features collectible packaging pierced with a bullet, creating a shattering effect to the outer case. Fans will also enjoy the gift set's photo book of assassins, collectible postcards and acrylic frame motion 3-D film cell. Wanted is priced at $29.98 SRP for the single-disc DVD, $34.98 SRP for the 2-disc Special Edition DVD, $39.98 SRP for the Blu-ray, $64.98 SRP for the DVD collector's set, and $69.98 for the Blu-ray collector's edition set.

The 2-disc Special Edition DVD, Blu-ray Hi-Def and collector's sets are packed with over an hour of exciting bonus features, including:

Extended Scene – Be the first to view this killer extended scene from Wanted.

Cast and Characters – Go behind the scenes with Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Thomas Kretschmann and Common as they discuss their roles in the film and their experiences on set.

Stunts on the L Train – Stunt coordinators Nick Gillard and Mic Rodgers explain how cast members Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy performed the astounding elevated train stunt sequence.

Special Effects: The Art of the Impossible – Special effects supervisor Dominic Tuohy explains how his team pulled off the stunning special effects throughout the film and how Angelina Jolie contributed to the action.

Groundbreaking Visual Effects: From Imagination to Execution – A look at how the spectacular visual effects in the film were pre-visualized and executed.

The Origins of Wanted: Bringing the Graphic Novel to Life – Creator Mark Millar, producer Marc Platt, director Timur Bekmambetov and screenwriters Michael Brandt, Derek Haas and Chris Morgan discuss the original graphic novel and the process of adapting it for the big screen.

Through the Eyes of Visionary Director Timur Bekmambetov – A video portrait of director Timur Bekmambetov, featuring interviews with Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Common, producer Marc Platt and the director himself.

Wanted: Motion Comics – Watch as the graphic novel comes to life on screen with narration and sound effects.

The Making of Wanted: The Game

"The Little Things" Music Video Mash-Up

In addition to the aforementioned bonus features, all shown in high definition, the Wanted Blu-ray will also include the following bonus content:

Alternate Opening – View this exclusive alternate opening, only on Blu-ray Hi-Def.

Exclusive U-Control: Universal's exclusive signature feature U-Control allows viewers to delve into the making of the film with the click of the remote without ever leaving the movie.

Wanted: Motion Comics: See how the graphic novel compares to the movie in this real-time, side-by-side BD exclusive

Scene Explorer: Explore the onscreen action from up to three different perspectives in this multi-angle feature.

Assassins Profile: Get the high-tech low-down on each assassin's strengths, weapons, and position with your own in-movie surveillance system.

Picture in Picture: Access cast and crew interviews and behind-the-scenes moments while you watch the film.

BD-Live – The new technology that allows viewers to connect to the Internet and access new exciting exclusive online and interactive features.

My Chat: Using your internet-connected player, host a text chat with your friends who also own Wanted on Blu-ray™ Hi-Def while you watch the movie in synchronization!

My Wanted Commentary: Connect and Create. Ever wish you could create your own play-by-play movie commentary to share with friends? Here's your chance. UniversalHiDef.com and the BD-Live Center combine to offer you the opportunity to create your own video, audio, or text commentary that you can share with all of your Buddies in the BD-Live community.

My Scenes Sharing: Show your friends your favorite scenes from Wanted via BD-Live.

Music Friday - Tettix

2008-10-03T11:42:00.002-06:00

He use to be called Cicada but changed name due to legal reasons to Tettix. Anyways, found him on the WeeklyGeekshow.com website. If you like electronica mixed with old skool 8-bit sounds then check this out. Vocals aren't bad either.

http://www.myspace.com/cicadacom

Oh yeah his real site is

http://www.tettix.net/

Music is free but he takes donations.

Gal Civ II

2008-09-24T23:22:00.003-06:00

Well I know this game has been out awhile but I just had to give my two cents on why Galactic Civilization II and all the expansion packs included make this a great gaming experience.

First off, you have to love turn based strategy games such as Civilization to really appreciate this genre. Gal Civ II does so many things right. Here is a short list of points...

1) No DRM( Digital Rights management )! No copy protection BS installed progs or security systems whatso ever. Just look to the mess EA is in right now with the Spore DRM to see how this can negatively impact gaming market.
Gal Civ II lets you install directly to the PC and as many times as you want with no CD. It's so nice to just load up a game immediately without it having to initialize through the internet or read a CD/DVD.

2) Gameplay over graphics. Someday developers will heed these words. Pac Man is still as popular as ever. Simple games still get the public's attention. The graphics are not going to win any awards but I'll take an enjoyable gaming experience any day over normal mapped polygons. Plus the turn based design allows me to get up from the computer at any time when the wife calls for certain honey-do's or needs assistance. I don't feel pressure to save or lose my progress. I can just let the game run as is.

3) Make a single player experience the main focus. Or don't try and do a single player game with multiplayer experience and expect both to be enjoyable. Developers like Stardock need to focus on one or the other. Trying to do both is like designing two games rather than one in the same condensed schedule. End result is usually a sub par experience in both formats or one. CoD4 pulls this off but only a very few handfull of developers can like Infinity Ward. Do what you do best and don't cave into what the public thinks they want. If your games is BF2 then focus on multiplayer only. If it's Bioshock focus on single. Simple as that.

4) Each game I play is a different experience. The AI is exceptional and I play on very basic settings. I love the ability to win on different levels, be it technology, combat, or influence. Very cool stuff. It's nice to have those options without having to resort to the same tech tree paths each time.

5) Steep learning curve but once you get passed it, your in for a treat. This game is extremely complicated in some regards. I had to read an FAQ to figure out how not to go in debt all the time ( Something even our financial instutions cannot seem to get right these days ). Luckily one player broke it down simply for me, make 1 planet mostly your factory planet and another planet your resarch planet. This has been pretty successful for me thus far. A better tutorial system on the inner workings and nuances of the game might help the newbs out like me get started and be less intimidated.

So just wanted to throw my opinion out there on what makes this game so great and addictive to me. Definitely check it out if you can. The demo is worth a try in itself as I played it purely for months before getting the game.

Check their website here...

http://www.stardock.com/products/?tab=mygames

And hopefully this all makes sense as it's late and I just wanted to get this out there for discussion.

Jane Jensen - Greatest Adventure game writer new project

2008-09-15T11:57:00.002-06:00

Don't have alot of time but wanted to post this quickly. Jane Jensen of the famous Gabriel Knight series fame ( one of my all time favorite adventure game series ) is working on a new project called Gray Matter. While I only now learned of this recently, it sounds like the project has had some issues. But good news is it's still on track. I'm definitely going to keep my eye closely on this title....

http://blog.graymatter-game.com/

Mission Impossible Dog

2008-09-15T09:28:00.001-06:00

Wow. This is a REALLY smart pup!

Ensemble Studios closing doors due to Microsoft decision

2008-09-10T13:46:00.002-06:00

This is truly shocking news. One of the best developers in the industry with a huge line of successful titles and IP ( Age of Empires anyone? ) is getting closed down from Microsoft. This is why I think selling to the large publishers is just as risky as making an independent studio. Well, I feel for the people I know at Ensemble. Here's to hoping it all works out for the best in the end cause I think they are definitely getting the shaft on this one....

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/phil-spencer-ensemble-closure-is-right-thing-for-our-business

G-Force: Battle of the Planets game - or Gatchaman

2008-09-09T09:27:00.003-06:00

Use to watch this as a kid. It was a Japanese cartoon called Gatchaman. Then Sandy Frank got a hold of it and turned it into a US cartoon called Battle of the Planets. Funny clip here to watch...the audio is priceless. Not sure how you actually play the game though. At the bottom is a teaser clip for the new CGI Gatchaman movie coming out.

Minicot - Soarin Ride in Garage built by Dad

2008-08-30T15:55:00.003-06:00

Well since I'm stuck at work due to unforseen circumstances and waiting on renders to finish, thought I would post this. This father made a small version of the Soarin ride at Epcot. I must say it's impressive. What I really wonder is where he got the aerial footage? His own or from archives with high resolution for projecting that large. Regardless this is probably the Disney Dad I would be if given the time and resources...haha.

Here is part 2....Illuminations in Minnesota backyard...wow!

Damn! I want to go to Disney now!!!

Madonna/Timberlake 4 min meets Eric Prydz

2008-08-24T21:49:00.002-06:00

Posted this here mainly so I can listen to it easier :) Eric Prydz is a DJ who did the famous " Call On Me " song that used Steve Winwood vocals from the song " Valerie ". Which I can't post the video cause it's a slight bit risque ;) But song is great. Anyways, Eric Prydz has this one song out called "Pjanoo" and I have no idea why but it's the song currently stuck in my head. So posted video below as well even though it's kinda strange ( Where can I get a little Indian dancer to make rain for my yard in dry Colorado!?? )

Which leads me to this. Someone did a pretty darn good Mash up mix from Madonna and Justin Timberlakes 4 minute song. It's the last video.

Call On Me Eric Prydz- Song only

Eric Prydz- Pjanoo

Madonna/Timberlake 4min vs Eric Prydz - Pjanjoo

Mr Rogers plays Donkey Kong 1983 - Creeeepy!

2008-08-20T16:29:00.001-06:00

I loved Mr Rogers but he sounds kinda creepy here. Funny clip.

via videosift.com

LoL Dog of the Day

2008-08-19T09:47:00.001-06:00

Sorry but I can't help it. I find these too funny

see more dog pictures

Assassin's Creed - Personal notes

2008-08-18T20:37:00.002-06:00

So I finished Assassin's Creed on Xbox 360 finally. Yes about a year or so too late but I do that from time to time. I haven't even finished Half Life 2 yet even though I still play it. These days, I savor the game experience for a longer period of time. Mainly cause I don't have the time I use to when I was younger and also, I've become more patient in gaming( Not including FPS's like BF2 where I get pretty crazy playing sometimes...but I digress ).

So back to Assassin's Creed. Best points, graphics are amazing...animation is pure genious in how fluid moves transition and the realistic motions that I am sure are mostly keyframed since this is the same studio who brought us Prince of Persia and Splinter Cell...Ubisoft Montreal. These guys have quite a history of hits and megahits. So for this alone the game is superb. The only minor flaw is repetative missions. Even this I can overlook for the most part. No, the main thing that really irked me was near the end. Don't worry I won't spoil anything here but basically the gameplay through 90% of the game allows you to be stealthy (which I prefered) or more confrontational and combat centric with NPC's. Unfortunately the game forces you to do pure combat the last chapter and this really frustrated me in my enjoyment of the game. Not only this but during boss battles the game decides to change the rules. What once was hack hack dead for NPC's is now completely opposite. I had to go online and read a FAQ or two to figure this out. Plus the game gives you no indication of this fundamental gameplay change and therefore your left to your own devices to figure this out. Normally, I like figuring things out but this was a bit much. Kinda like playing 3 quarters of a football game with the usual rules then the last quarter playing the rules as Gaelic football but no one lets the players know this. Not fun...

Besides this major flaw, I still found the overall experience quite enjoyable and the character of Altair and stories involving his adventures would be great in film form. In fact I have heard rumors of such since Ubisoft has it's own motion picture studio now. Supposedly they will start out slow with a 10min short involving Assassin's Creed theme. Either way I predict a major motion picture in the future for this franchise. Let's hope they do it justice and please leave the sci-fi part out of it ( You'll understand this last phrase if you have played even the first 5min of the game ).

Creepy but cool facial animation

2008-08-11T08:49:00.003-06:00

Still a little on the Final Fantasy/Polar Express creepy factor but technically speaking impressive. The old man looks best. Still something missing in the eyes though....

What if Assassin's Creed was real....

2008-08-05T09:35:00.002-06:00

American McGee's Grimm....

2008-07-31T08:44:00.002-06:00

In case you don't know who American McGee is, he's a game designer that created back in the late 90's, Alice...which was a goth take on the story of Alice in Wonderland. That game had critical appeal....then things went downhill from there when he created the game, A Bad Day in LA. This received critical "ass" appeal. So now he's back and better than ever. His new studio is called Spicy Horse and hails from China. The new game Grimm ( based on Grimm's fairy tales ) looks absolutely amazing. GameTap is offering this episodic content for free the first 24 hours. So better get there fast!

http://www.gametap.com/grimm/episode_01.html

I really admire the art style in Grimm. Reminds me a bit of Fractured Fairy Tales ( was shown on Rocky and Bullwinkle ) and Psychonauts ( great game that many people missed ).

On a sidenote, I hear there is a movie in the works based on the Goth version of Alice by American McGee. Hopefully it will see the light of day cause it could be the new " Nightmare Before Christmas " cult classic.

"I didn't know lions did that...."

2008-07-25T09:19:00.003-06:00

Wow...I didn't expect this when watching this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peskb1KOEa0

Young@Heart - Fix You

2008-07-23T14:35:00.002-06:00

Most touching thing you will see in regards to human spirit and how growing old does not mean the end of fun or life....

And here is the Coldplay Fix You song on youtube. Probably best version I've seen. Back story is this was suppose to be a duet but his partner Bob passed away days before this concert. So Fred ( main singer ) did this solo...The women crying in the audience I read are Fred's duet partner, Bob's family. The older woman singing I believe is Fred's wife.

I'm hoping to see this film soon.

Iron Man Remix

2008-07-23T09:38:00.003-06:00

Addictive TV created this for Iron Man. Read this in my Digital Content Producer magazine. Very cool indeed....check it out.

Gall Bladder from hell!

2008-07-22T10:13:00.002-06:00

Well it was a nightmare of a weekend...Wife had to have emergency surgery to remove her gall bladder. I will refer to her blog to let you see the rest. I'm just very happy and relieved everything went well and she's home safe and recovering.

http://croppinnuggets.blogspot.com/2008/07/home-from-hospital.html

Greatest Sci Fi Movies NEVER made...Book

2008-07-18T15:25:00.003-06:00

Saw this tidbit on IGN. Sounds quite interesting. Spielberg had a movie called Night Skies that involved aliens keeping a farm family hostage while attempting to communicate and then mutilate the farm animals. Wha....??? Anyways, here is a link.

http://movies.ign.com/articles/891/891971p1.html

WANTED movie video game --Hell Ya!

2008-07-16T15:17:00.002-06:00

UPDATE: This link has the screen shots and more info on gameplay...

I knew it had to be there. Sure enough here it is...official announcement of a WANTED video game. Only wish they would do a version related more to the comic but that's another story. Still stoked beyond belief about this. Developer also has some skins on the walls as listed below so good news there.

Wanted: The Game [July 16, 2008, 4:34 pm ET] - 2 Comments
This press release announces plans to release a Wanted video game later this year, saying a tie-in with the new action movie for the same name has been in development at GRIN since last year. A solitary screenshot from the game is available, you can view that on Gamer's Hell. The third-person action game will be "taking combat to a new level with iconic moves -- such as 'curving bullets' and 'Assassin Time'." Word is:
LOS ANGELES, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group (UPDPG) is creating a video game based on Universal Pictures' blockbuster action-thriller "Wanted", starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie. The game will be published worldwide by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and is being developed by renowned game developer GRIN, best known for its work on the Tom Clancy: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter series and the upcoming Bionic Commando. The film, which was released on June 27, 2008, has earned $192 million in worldwide box office to date.

Based upon Mark Millar's graphic novel series and helmed by stunning visualist director Timur Bekmambetov -- creator of the most successful Russian film franchise in history -- "Wanted" tells the tale of one apathetic nobody's transformation as he is introduced to a new life and new powers that he never knew existed. With the film's successful release, the world has been introduced to a hero for a new generation: Wesley Gibson.

"'Wanted' is a film with a fantastic visual style, an in-your-face attitude and edge-of-your-seat action sequences, and moviegoers around the world have resoundingly embraced it," said Bill Kispert, Vice President and General Manager, Interactive, Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group. "From the time we read the script and saw the film's pre-visual material, it was clear that 'Wanted' was a powerful property -- one that was well poised to deliver an engaging gaming experience. We look forward to working closely with the film's creative team to extend 'Wanted's' mythology and to expand the story behind the Fraternity of Assassins."

The "Wanted" video game will feature intense third-person action, taking combat to a new level with iconic moves -- such as "curving bullets" and "Assassin Time" -- drawn directly from the film, as well as an innovative, multi-layered cover mechanic. The storyline of the game will pick up where the movie leaves off, providing fans with another chapter to explore both Wesley's journey into becoming an uberassassin and the epic fiction of the Fraternity.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will publish the "Wanted" video game, utilizing its premiere sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to deliver the title to gamers worldwide.

"'Wanted' is a striking property with gripping action, which presents strong gaming possibilities," said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "Publishing the 'Wanted' game is an excellent opportunity for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to team with Universal on a global property with terrific cross-platform potential. Players will get to immerse themselves in the 'Wanted' universe with a stunning visual experience and engaging gameplay."

The project also re-teams UPDPG with executive game producer Pete Wanat, who has previously collaborated with the film studio on critically acclaimed movie-based games The Thing, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, and Scarface: The World is Yours.

"The team at GRIN has a proven track record of creating action games that push the envelope in terms of gameplay and combat," said Mr. Wanat. "With the 'Wanted' video game, GRIN is creating entirely new gameplay mechanics and an experience that pulls no punches. Gamers and fans of the film alike will be blown away by the ability to curve bullets, pull off amazing combat sequences and literally conduct a symphony orchestra of action with the arsenal available to the most powerful assassins in the world."

The 'Wanted' game, in development since early 2007, will be available later this year for consoles and personal computer. For more information on the film and franchise, please visit www.wantedmovie.com.

Creepiest Japanese Cat evah!

2008-07-15T16:14:00.002-06:00

Ok I think this proves watching weird Japanese TV shows affects your psyche...wow...this is just too funny.

http://view.break.com/535909 - Watch more free videos

And this one I found on here as well. Only good part is the beginning where a reporter irritates a cat a little too much...

http://view.break.com/248534 - Watch more free videos

Girl Talk

2008-07-10T09:33:00.002-06:00

No not actual girl talk...it's the name of a band...well one guy actually. He samples tons of songs, rap, 80's music, rock, etc. to make new songs. Friggin genius especially the 80's and rap mixes. Hands in the Air is definitely worth a listen with Big Country's Big Country and Whoop there it is mixed together. Excellente!

http://www.myspace.com/girltalk

And how it makes it....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KykbPtRb0K4

Another LoL Dog - Best one yet

2008-07-08T20:22:00.003-06:00

Looks like our dog cricket when she was a puppy a year back...haha

LoL Dogs

2008-07-03T14:09:00.004-06:00

Too funny

LoLDogs

808 State- Early days of electronic music

2008-07-03T00:06:00.005-06:00

This was my musical group I attached my fandom for in the late 80s and early 90s. Just recently revisited some of their music on youtube. They're one of the pioneers of the current electro musical generation. Love how they combined new age sounds with great rifts. Another note... they used Atari ST's to make their music so how could I NOT be a fan of them as one of the original Atari computer geeks.

Also they had the most creative titles for tracks like this one..Donkey Doctor...genius!

Wargames: The Dead Code

2008-07-01T22:33:00.002-06:00

I'll let this trailer speak for itself....

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/04/war-games-seque.html

Ouch...

WANTED --good flick, nice style

2008-06-30T22:26:00.005-06:00

So I finally get around to seeing the one film I've been dying to view since the comic was created. I already knew the movie diverged away from the Mark Millar comic book in regards to super villains and super heroes but I was ok with that. See unlike all the other fan boys, I knew that the original material would not translate well to the silverscreen or mass audience. They just wouldn't "get it" and I'm fine with that. Let the comic book exist as one version of the story and the film version as another.

Now they did a great job of keeping the essence of the comic book buried within the film. Dorky loser guy with no life finds out he is a bad ass assassin from hot chick called, Fox, and meets his mentor, Sloan ( not in the comic book but a semblance I suspect of The Professor ). Fox helps Wesley become the bad ass assassin that is locked inside him from his father. And the story continues from there.

Here is a good reason for all of what I explained but in better terms from a Dallas Reviewer Dan Koller.

And here is a great review of the comic. Pretty much spot on.

What I thought was interesting was the style which can seem a bit "Matrixy" but really has it's own tricks that stem from the afore mentioned. The director, Helmer Timur Bekmambetov, pulls these effects off with perfect timing and substance. WANTED draws alot in this style from his previous Russian vampire films, Nightwatch and Daywatch, which I must say I've only seen clips from and find quite interesting but odd as well. Someday I will get around to seeing these films in their entirety.

Another aspect that appealed to me in the film was how Helmer worked in key comic book moments and references to comic book characters. Look for this one in the movie if you've read the comic book, Mr Rictus is mentioned as being killed but he is a normal guy, not the super villain ring leader.

The only thing I was dissapointed in was not seeing Wesley in his iconic assassin gear like at the top of my post. Perhaps we will see this in the sequel.

Already this movie is one of the top R-rated grossing films of all time and came in second with about 50million on opening weekend to WALL-E. Still it made more than WALL-E per theater earnings as it was released in less theaters over all.

I enjoyed this movie for exactly what it is and didn't have "fanboy" rage as far is it deviating from the source material. Really looking forward to a sequel with Wesley in his assassin costume ( wink wink nudge nudge screenwriters ). And yes I definitely recommend checking this flick out, it's crazy violent but fun.

Kermit Love passes away at 91 :(

2008-06-26T08:18:00.002-06:00

Kermit Love was the creator of Big Bird and Mr Snufflleufagus. He worked with Jim Henson but in case you were wondering, Kermit the frog was NOT named after him.

I met Kermit Love years ago in the mid 90's when I was a runner for a post production facility in Las Colinas, TX ( Dallas area ). He was producing a new children's show called "Whirligig" at the time. He was genuinely interested in my video and animation work and gave me some good positive feedback. The curious thing is just recently I was thinking about what he was doing these days and googled his name online. Now this bad news surfaces and I find it interesting in a weird psychic kind of way. Strange stuff I tell ya....

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-love26-2008jun26,0,1027932.story?page=2

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/arts/24love.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

11 Second Club Critique

2008-06-25T10:32:00.002-06:00

Kevin Koch has a great and inciteful critique of last month's 11 Second club animation winner. It's about 50 minutes but chock full of gooey animation goodness!

http://www.animationmentor.com/11secondclub/mentorcritique.html

Funny of the Day - Just Watch

2008-06-17T14:31:00.000-06:00

Game Design Challenge

2008-06-17T10:28:00.003-06:00

While waiting for my sluggish system to cleanse itself of all spyware vermin, I found this online. Also was discussed on Game Theory podcast. I might give this a go myself if I can get some time management down!

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10849&Itemid=2

Sad Day---Stan Winston dies :(

2008-06-16T22:05:00.002-06:00

One of the great visual effects pioneers and influential personalities in the movie industry died today. He was 62. Sad sad day for the FX industry...

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/ap/20080616/121365984000.html

Legend tells of a Legendary Warrior---Kung Fu Panda

2008-06-16T15:21:00.002-06:00

Well I just have to see this based on the intro animation sequence. Great style, animation, and of course humor.

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&vid=85627202-b0b2-4cf4-a92c-be2043fab541

Randy Pitchford of GearBox interview

2008-06-16T09:15:00.005-06:00

Randy was one of the few people who gave me a start in the game industry. Well, his wife Kristy was the real reason and she is such a wonderful, nice, genuine person. I was working for free with some other grads from the Art Institute with Kristy on a children's project. It was a great environment to develop in and Kristy and Randy made us all feel welcome working in their home at the time. Randy had just started a new game development studio called Rebel Boat Rocker and he allowed us to use their engine to create the children 3D technology for Kristy's vision. Unfortunately real world requirements,...err..money..heh, kept use from staying on board but I've always been very thankful for the opportunity both of them extended to me and my fellow Art Institute colleagues ( who all now work in top notch studios ).

Rebel Boat Rocker fell through and then came Gearbox. Ever since then I try to keep up on Gearbox's properties and IP. Randy, I believe, is the type of CEO every game development company should look for. He's a true gamer at heart and his dedication and positive energy to innovation in the field is what is needed for this industry.

So recently I came across this great QA article with Randy of Gearbox and I think it truly shows the type of positive person he is. Enjoy...

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3694/catching_up_with_gearboxs_randy_.php

WANTED more trailers and RED BAND trailer

2008-06-12T09:57:00.002-06:00

After seeing the comic book to movie behind the scenes clip, I'm even more stoked for this movie. Mark Millar seems genuinely into the film and last I heard he was completely not into the project at all. Be sure to see the Red Band R rated trailer.

http://www.wantedmovie.com/

Games Education Summit

2008-06-10T09:25:00.004-06:00

Some friends of mine from the old Paradigm/Atari days are speaking today at the Games Education Summit. Mahdad Ansari and Mark Grigsby. Wish I was in Dallas today but this Summit should really help educate our future game developers with the skills they need to be successful in the industry. Now if Quality Life issues could be discussed with producers managers in a summit....hmmmmm ( Hint..click my GameWatch link on right )

http://www.gameeducationsummit.com/ges_program_synop.php?ind=5

3D chalk paintings

2008-06-09T13:00:00.002-06:00

I've seen Kurt Wenner's work before on the net but here is a sample from a recent post. Amazing how he can create such works of art on pavement and walls.

http://funtasticus.com/20080606/cool-3d-paintings-on-the-streets/

Quake Live- or Quake III in a web browser..Can you say FRACKEN SWEET?!?

2008-06-03T23:18:00.003-06:00

I totally agree with Carmack on this one in regards to Quake III...

http://www.gamesradar.com/f/carmack-frees-quake/a-20080603153211421011

Obviously, we have examples like World of Warcraft that show how the PC can be viable and vibrant in its own way. But in terms of first-person shooters, if you look at something like Crysis and say that’s the height of what the PC market can manage, I don’t think that’s necessarily that exciting of a direction for the PC to be going in the future. With Quake Live, we hope that there’s an opportunity for people who’ve never played shooters to give this a try, and with that, the potential of actually growing the PC gaming market. I still have a lot of a faith in simple gameplay formulas - it might not be the game that everyone plays for three hours a day to be the best at, but it’s something that offices, dorms, and schools across America can have fun with.

Personally I can't wait. A free classic back in new graphics? Hell yes! Quake III always had superior control of any FPS I have ever played .

BF series while I love em has clunky controls and terrible collisions, speed of player also suspect.

UT series always had a quirkyness to them that I couldn't get over. Either levels were strange design or weapons had bizarre design.

Counter Strike and Valve games, like TF2, come the closest to my preference of controls but still not as good as Quake III.

Return to Castle Wolfenstein which was built on the Quake III engine is still one of my all time favorite FPS's. Was and still is a great game. Excellent and smooth control response. Amazing level design that was simple but effective. Also introduced first aspect of classes that you see now in the BF series as well as first for teamwork encouragement( god forbid that medic didn't give you a health pack :) and objective based maps.

Load up Quake III demo or your old copy and see for yourself.

Sam & Max

2008-06-03T09:04:00.004-06:00

Now I always knew about Sam & Max from the LucasArts game in the early 90's but never got around to playing it. Except now I wish I had. The new series by TellTale games ( same guys who do the Lego Star Wars games, etc ) have created episodic content for Sam & Max on GameTap.com. I recently tried out the demo and was laughing constantly at the witty dialogue and characters. Even the normal boring setting configuration screen is a riot. I highly recommend you give it a shot. Here is a link to the TellTale website where you can download demos, etc

http://www.telltalegames.com/samandmax

And if you want a taste of humor...here's a YouTube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQhl2-2vZYc

No news today. Been awhile for update

2008-05-29T11:14:00.002-06:00

Would update something but been busy updating our house. Will have something cool soon :)

Stars playing Sharks!

2008-04-24T12:51:00.002-06:00

Kinda hoped for a Stars vs Avs series but we will take a Sharks series as well. Looking forward to Friday when the series starts. Sidenote: Mavs - horrid, Rangers- most ridiculous baseball team in history.

http://stars.nhl.com/

Stars up 2-0 on Anaheim - nice!

2008-04-14T13:24:00.003-06:00

Being in Denver, I don't get to see too many Stars games but they're definitely progressing nicely in the playoffs so far.

I also root for the Avs and really was into the last Avs vs Minnesota game. Wow, that was a crazy ending. Anyways, I'd like to see a Stars vs Avs showdown in the playoffs. During that time I will have to say the Stars will be my favorite.

http://stars.nhl.com/

Looney Tunes Rules them All

2008-03-26T15:36:00.005-06:00

Love Chuck Jones and Looney Tunes in general. This is a classic but sometimes forgotten mix of characters with Claude the Cat and my favorite dog, Frisky Puppy. Great animation, character, and timing in this. Study it well and laugh while your at it :)

Update: Oops! YouTube took it down :( Well when I find a new link I will post it here.

Friday's Link O' Day

2008-03-21T09:26:00.002-06:00

MT3K guys are back. Well some of them...Joel does Cinematic Titanic so they are split. If you know what I am talking about, definitely check this site out...

RiffTraxhttp://shop.rifftrax.com/samples?page=1

Click on the banners for samples.

Wanted - In Theaters June 27, 2008

2008-03-19T10:27:00.000-06:00

Wanted - In Theaters June 27, 2008

WANTED movie

2008-03-19T09:42:00.002-06:00

Loved the comic. Looking forward to this movie even though they have altered alot of Mark Millar's superhero/villain aspect and concentrated more on the assassin developement of the story. And be sure to check out the comic! Just be warned as it is Mature Rated

http://topcow.com/wanted/

Well let's start this off right...

2008-03-18T22:59:00.000-06:00

I think I will have a Link O' Day every now and then.

First off this has been and will be my favorite site to visit if your interested in art and animation. Jenny Lerew's Blackwing diary and Sketchbook sites. Amazing talent to see and I love her style. Reminds me of the old greats like Chuck Jones.

http://blackwingdiaries.blogspot.com/

Her doodles and warm up drawings on Cintique tablet and now the HP tablet are so incredible. Such fine control over the form and graceful lines.

http://blackwingsketch.blogspot.com/

Welcome

2008-03-17T20:25:00.000-06:00

Welcome all! This blog will be a source for all things gaming, movie, TV,music, and general geekery. Just let me clean up the place first and then I will get to the good schtuff.