If you're associated in any capacity with the gaming industry, the E3 expo and its associated press conferences comprise the single most significant week out of the entire year, easily edging out minor calendar blips like weddings, funerals and childbirth. The E3 expo is one of the most popular trade shows of any global business, attracting far greater crowds than even such powerhouses as the tractor manufacturing and pest control industries.
Given that the show turns out to be a minor disappointment nine times out of ten, all of this is a testament to the sheer power the gaming industry has attained in this modern age.
Before the show began, the one, big game on my radar was "Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim." Now that the show's wrapping up, that really hasn't changed. There's neat stuff coming, but nothing I saw really rocked me out of my seat. With that said, I'm keeping an eye out for several 3DS titles, particularly "Luigi's Mansion 2," which, with its natural boxy look, is about the best 3D I've seen on the system.
Console-side, of course, the big news is the Wii U, not to be confused with the U Wii. Nintendo has once again risen to the challenge of providing another odd, odd gaming interface to delight and mildly confuse us with. I'm intrigued, although with the actual release so far away, I'm content to stand a few feet away, "ook" softly, and poke it with a stick until somebody else bravely tries it first.
And... that's kind of it. It's not that I didn't see good games, I just haven't been struck by the thunderbolt that stuns me long enough for a developer to make off with my wallet, unchallenged. But, maybe that's a good thing, as perhaps I'll be able to put my savings towards a 3D set with which to more bravely enter the fray when the bigger guns are paraded.
Your turn -- what's worth seein' at this year's E3?
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
SECOND 1UP GAME-WEBCOMIC IS UP!
Be it known that our second totally-free adventure-game/webcomic for 1up.com, "Awkward Silence," is up and running! It's based on "Silent Hill," and features a romance that transcends the bonds of horrific, rusty, blood-covered terror! Play it now right here!
Also, remember to hit the 'like' button under the feature -- it'll let 1up know you appreciate the games, and, more importantly, the cash they pay me to make 'em. Just sayin'.
Also, remember to hit the 'like' button under the feature -- it'll let 1up know you appreciate the games, and, more importantly, the cash they pay me to make 'em. Just sayin'.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Big Ol' Announcement!
I told you it was comin'! Now you see that I am a man of my word, provided it doesn't require too darned much effort on my part.
WELL -- here's the announcement. Uncle Norm's back at 1up.com, doing something AMAZING! There's not a permanent page for it yet, but as of this writing, simply head over to www.1up.com and, on their main page, turn your attention to the right-hand column, right under the "happening now on 1up" panel, and you should see a little item labeled "1up's First Videogame Webcomic," featuring a tiny bit of artwork from a gentleman you may recognize.
"Wait," you may be saying, "Hasn't 1up.com already hosted several videogame webcomics? Including your own, you stupid, stupid man?"
Allow me to explain. For you see, what we are offering to you now is the world's first TRUE videogame webcomic -- a webcomic that is, itself, a video game! Made by yours truly, this first installment is based on the very-good "Bioshock" franchise, and you, in true Lucasartsy Adventure Game style, have to assist a Big Daddy in coaxing a Little Sister out of her in-wall hideout.
It's a short experience, five-to-ten minutes, so you can take that much out of your busy schedules and give it a shot. And be sure to shoot off an email to your favorite 1up.com editor telling 'em how much you liked it!
UPDATE: Bioshock's ACTUAL developers, Irrational Games, mentioned the game in a very positive manner on their blog! I'm kinda stoked about that. Game developers are awesome.
WELL -- here's the announcement. Uncle Norm's back at 1up.com, doing something AMAZING! There's not a permanent page for it yet, but as of this writing, simply head over to www.1up.com and, on their main page, turn your attention to the right-hand column, right under the "happening now on 1up" panel, and you should see a little item labeled "1up's First Videogame Webcomic," featuring a tiny bit of artwork from a gentleman you may recognize.
"Wait," you may be saying, "Hasn't 1up.com already hosted several videogame webcomics? Including your own, you stupid, stupid man?"
Allow me to explain. For you see, what we are offering to you now is the world's first TRUE videogame webcomic -- a webcomic that is, itself, a video game! Made by yours truly, this first installment is based on the very-good "Bioshock" franchise, and you, in true Lucasartsy Adventure Game style, have to assist a Big Daddy in coaxing a Little Sister out of her in-wall hideout.
It's a short experience, five-to-ten minutes, so you can take that much out of your busy schedules and give it a shot. And be sure to shoot off an email to your favorite 1up.com editor telling 'em how much you liked it!
UPDATE: Bioshock's ACTUAL developers, Irrational Games, mentioned the game in a very positive manner on their blog! I'm kinda stoked about that. Game developers are awesome.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Waiting for updates? More like GREAT-ing for up-GREATS!
For anyone who was afraid that my new comics could never be as densely wordy as my old ones, I submit part four of Epicdemic -- I think there's, maybe, one square inch of actual illustration in this one.
And why, you may ask, did this update take so long? Oh, you didn't ask? You just went and found another comic that updates more frequently? Well, heck with you, 'cause I have a GREAT reason for taking so long, and I cannot WAIT to share it with you all!
...although I'm going to. Sorry. But stay tuned!
And why, you may ask, did this update take so long? Oh, you didn't ask? You just went and found another comic that updates more frequently? Well, heck with you, 'cause I have a GREAT reason for taking so long, and I cannot WAIT to share it with you all!
...although I'm going to. Sorry. But stay tuned!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Epicdemic Part 3
The third exciting installment of "Epicdemic" has landed! Is it suitably epic? It i-- well, sort of, yes!
And, yes, okay, it's worth noting that despite Arnie's insistence otherwise, there's dozens and dozens of suitably epic MMORPGs that are, for all intents and purposes, being given away -- Lord of the Rings Online amongst them, which is notable because that's actually the first MMO I ever subscribed to. I played as a hobbit, and did peaceful hobbit things, and finally quit when I realized that virtual me was even duller than real-life me.
And, yes, okay, it's worth noting that despite Arnie's insistence otherwise, there's dozens and dozens of suitably epic MMORPGs that are, for all intents and purposes, being given away -- Lord of the Rings Online amongst them, which is notable because that's actually the first MMO I ever subscribed to. I played as a hobbit, and did peaceful hobbit things, and finally quit when I realized that virtual me was even duller than real-life me.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Progress, the Report
As I write this, it is January the 5th, which as it turns out is the birthday of both renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki and my very own father. I am fonder of the latter, of course, although in fairness it should be noted that despite my father's good points, he has not, as yet, produced an animated version of "Nausicaa." Happy birthday, Dad!
So, this post is the first in what should be a regular series of progress reports on everything currently in-progress here at Spookingtons. Take everything that follows with a grain of salt and considerable patience for the numerous quantum fluctuations that plague all creative projects-in-progress. Features may change, release dates may extend, projects may be cancelled, natural disasters may occur and creative individuals may completely snap. In other words, nothing here is etched in stone.
Except for our ultra-secret tombstone-engraving project. Let's get started:
On the Web:
"Hsu and Chan's Epicdemic" -- H&C's newest full-color adventure is on-track for a strip update early next week. We've pretty much just started, and I confess there's not much along the lines of a script on this one, but expect this to provide some of the more-fantastic imagery yet seen in H&C's universe. There may be dragons!
"The Mummy's Tooth," -- totally complete, and already available for instant download in the store, but next free update will be sometime Friday.
TOP SECRET WEB PROJECT: codename "Floppy Dawg." In pre-production, this project will represent something fairly new and different in a genre that's otherwise been as beaten as a dead horse can possibly get. You'll know it when it gets here -- but it's gonna take a while.
In the Store:
"The Keepers" -- Spookingtons' next downloadable comic release will be this classic Otters' strip, in which our little, furry heroes go to the zoo. The comic's receiving a splash of graytones in order to give a little visual boost to my circa-1999 cartoon art.
Spookingtons Gaming:
TOP SECRET GAME PROJECT: codename "Bacchus." In early production, and easily the largest project Spookingtons has yet undertaken. Keep your eyes open, because you'll be seeing a lot more of this one fairly soon.
And those are the projects that have seen significant work in the previous week. Note that there are other projects in progress that HAVEN'T been updated recently, but you'll hear about those as they become relevant. Got questions? Anything you want to see? Drop us a line in the comments!
So, this post is the first in what should be a regular series of progress reports on everything currently in-progress here at Spookingtons. Take everything that follows with a grain of salt and considerable patience for the numerous quantum fluctuations that plague all creative projects-in-progress. Features may change, release dates may extend, projects may be cancelled, natural disasters may occur and creative individuals may completely snap. In other words, nothing here is etched in stone.
Except for our ultra-secret tombstone-engraving project. Let's get started:
On the Web:
"Hsu and Chan's Epicdemic" -- H&C's newest full-color adventure is on-track for a strip update early next week. We've pretty much just started, and I confess there's not much along the lines of a script on this one, but expect this to provide some of the more-fantastic imagery yet seen in H&C's universe. There may be dragons!
"The Mummy's Tooth," -- totally complete, and already available for instant download in the store, but next free update will be sometime Friday.
TOP SECRET WEB PROJECT: codename "Floppy Dawg." In pre-production, this project will represent something fairly new and different in a genre that's otherwise been as beaten as a dead horse can possibly get. You'll know it when it gets here -- but it's gonna take a while.
In the Store:
"The Keepers" -- Spookingtons' next downloadable comic release will be this classic Otters' strip, in which our little, furry heroes go to the zoo. The comic's receiving a splash of graytones in order to give a little visual boost to my circa-1999 cartoon art.
Spookingtons Gaming:
TOP SECRET GAME PROJECT: codename "Bacchus." In early production, and easily the largest project Spookingtons has yet undertaken. Keep your eyes open, because you'll be seeing a lot more of this one fairly soon.
And those are the projects that have seen significant work in the previous week. Note that there are other projects in progress that HAVEN'T been updated recently, but you'll hear about those as they become relevant. Got questions? Anything you want to see? Drop us a line in the comments!
Monday, January 3, 2011
New For 2011
The odometer just rolled, people, and Spookingtons is there! Well, here, anyway.
I've always found it somewhat ironic that the new year always begins in what is, for our hemisphere, the deadest season of them all. By rights, the changeover should happen in March, when there's some visible indication of the cycle renewing itself. That wouldn't screw anything up, right? I just don't see why we should connect cyclic rebirth with gray, frozen skylines and colorless landscapes.
Maybe ancient peoples chose to observe the new year in January as a passive-aggressive response to overly-optimistic New Year's Resolutions. Kind of telling the citizenry: whoa, there, Icarus, don't get your expectations too high. Start small. Survive through February with your fingers and toes intact, THEN conquer the world.
I've always found it somewhat ironic that the new year always begins in what is, for our hemisphere, the deadest season of them all. By rights, the changeover should happen in March, when there's some visible indication of the cycle renewing itself. That wouldn't screw anything up, right? I just don't see why we should connect cyclic rebirth with gray, frozen skylines and colorless landscapes.
Maybe ancient peoples chose to observe the new year in January as a passive-aggressive response to overly-optimistic New Year's Resolutions. Kind of telling the citizenry: whoa, there, Icarus, don't get your expectations too high. Start small. Survive through February with your fingers and toes intact, THEN conquer the world.
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