Got to see JoCo live at the Great American Music Hall on Saturday January 23, 2010. I couldn’t procure a ticket for Mr. Sonic Rob so I went with some nerdy friends.
As we loitered in the vestibule trying to decide if we should go upstairs or stay downstairs to find a good table (it’s all table seating), a staff member approached and asked “How many in your party?” He then led us to a table normally reserved for people who buy dinner tickets, which are twice as expensive. This table was in the second row back from the stage. Let’s hear it for aimless milling leading to desirable consequences!! Continue reading Quick Review: Jonathan Coulton Live 1/23/10
Sonic Rob: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_237/7035-The-Tao-of-Leveling Sonic Rob: this guy is an asshole Sonic Rob: the monk he talks to says something that actually seems profound to me Sonic Rob: and the writer takes it in an entirely different and shallower direction Fyrehaar: wow, what a douchey interpretation Fyrehaar: he’s a monk, dude; he’s talking about enlightenment Fyrehaar: spirtual understanding Fyrehaar: inner peace Fyrehaar: faith Fyrehaar: what an asshole Sonic Rob: I guess the author is like “Well, that’s what a monk levels up in. I level up in ignorance!” Sonic Rob: do you level in an absolute sense, using the same scale and criteria as everyone? Or is it an internal growth? Sonic Rob: I think gaining a level is when you reach a real milestone in personal development Sonic Rob: not when you complete some arbitrary amount of collected units Fyrehaar: Gaining a level is when you notice that you are a better person Fyrehaar: when you say “hey, last year I would have blown my top over that, but this year I can take it with equanimity” Fyrehaar: it’s easier with fitness Fyrehaar: but levelling doesn’t take daily variations into account Fyrehaar: and your level can go down in some things but not in others Sonic Rob: gained skill “cope with asshole”
Yeah yeah, it’s that time of year. The time when games bloggers have to talk about what’s coming up this year, as if we know. Rather than insult your intelligence with a list of “predictions” that really consists of a] poorly-camouflaged retreads of last year’s news (i.e. “Nintendo will release more white plastic accessories”) or b] the grindings of my own personal axes (“Bobby Kotick will rape your mom”), let’s just skip the whole deal and talk about hype. Specifically, the games where hype has gotten my attention and has me honestly interested in a title. Or at least given me something to say about it.
I was kind of embarrassed about this list when I first drew it up and had a look at the big picture: a dozen sequels? That’s what’s on my mind? Honestly, man, where are the exciting fresh ideas? Where are the daring experiments? Where are the new IPs?
Well, I don’t know. Where are they? These are the games I’ve heard about, so these are the ones I’m excited for. It may be that there are some really great indie titles coming out in the next few months, or that there are some really intense franchise-starters getting ready to make their mark, but I haven’t heard of them yet. If you don’t like my list, suggest something really innovative in the comments. You’d be doing me a favor! List starts after the jump. Continue reading Prediction for 2010: I Will Spend Money on Games
SonicRob: I don’t think you can have a game of the decade FyreHaar: Destructoid did a best 50 of the decade SonicRob: insanity SonicRob: it’s just too broad SonicRob: that’s like having a best vagina in the world contest SonicRob: how do you pick just one? SonicRob: they’re all so different
SonicRob: are you hep to the demo/soldier war? FyreHaar: the casualties are in the millions FyreHaar: like 4 million, each SonicRob: yup SonicRob: apparently, this game is occasionally played by a few people SonicRob: and it’s geeks SonicRob: they love to increment numbers FyreHaar: I hate fucking demomen SonicRob: let’s argue over which class takes less skill! SonicRob: the one that spews stickybombs willy nilly around your exit tunnel SonicRob: or the rocket whore FyreHaar: indeed! FyreHaar: ooohh look who can jump super high! FyreHaar: they let you do that in the olympics buddy? FyreHaar: I know they both jump SonicRob: soldier usually has much better cosplayers for some reason FyreHaar: he’s white
SonicRob: I’ve always thought weapons are kinda cool SonicRob: I like when they are functional and elegant SonicRob: like Code Monkey’s login page SonicRob: but you know, it is just never cool to share them SonicRob: nobody looks cool on facebook with a picture of them holding a sword SonicRob: or a gun SonicRob: anyone holding a weapon who isn’t literally using it to defend their life looks like a fucking dork FyreHaar: or to legitimately practice with it FyreHaar: like a sport FyreHaar: or fitness SonicRob: I’m thinking on terms of posing FyreHaar: don’t post a pic of you stroking your long sword SonicRob: actually, all posing is dumb
Starting off with a reference none of the audience could possibly get is probably not the best way to lead into a post, but I do not care.
Like my sister I am a total sucker for a ridiculous deal, especially one that offers instant gratification from the comfort of my computer chair. The Goddamned Steam holiday sale ate me alive; I am completely ashamed at how easily and utterly they manipulated my will. Full editions of 2 year old games for under $2? Damn you people to Hell. The absolute worst part was buying S.T.A.L.K.E.R. for a piddling $2, and then realizing that for the type of experience the game offers I would much rather play Far Cry 2, and buying that game as well for only $10 more. It was like wandering into a discount humiliation emporium and being unable to resist the prices.
My shame is only tempered by my secret glee at not biting on Torchlight til it was $5. All you $10 Torchlight players are bustas.
I’m excited at the idea of Fyre and I putting up collaborative reviews of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Torchlight, but that’s actually kind of unlikely for reasons that will become clear next week. For the time being, these games will have to be consigned to the status of mere trophies, a gallery of pouting and untouched beauties gathered together under the roof of a negligent master. For me, it is enough to have them.
Now that the Holiday gifting season (and the massive Steam sale) are over, here is the list of what you can expect me to be reviewing over the next couple of months. Be aware, many of these titles are ancient and are here because
a) They are still good games regardless of their age
I figure that’s an assload of content to disembowel and regurgitate for your pleasure. I have about a month and a half until DOWII: Chaos Rising and two and half months until God of War III.
Also, the Leatherworker has stated that we should get a new video card for the gaming PC. The one we have is super crashy. I mean, it crashes during TF2 for crying out loud. He hates that and even more, he hates seeing me do the angry penguin walk to the kitchen after yet another failed attempt to play Dawn of War multiplayer.
So any suggestions for a new video card? We are an Nvidia house, so none of that ATI crap.
But you can’t have it all. That said, the female cast of Nine are all very attractive women. While watching the ominpresent trailer once again last weekend (in the warmup for Sherlock Holmes, of all things), something caught my eye. I scooted home after the film, put the Baker to bed and fired up IMDB to check some numbers. Lo:
And, of course, there are also Dame Judi and the lovely Ms Sofia Loren, whom I am too much of a gentleman to inquire after. My point being that this movie is banking on the attractiveness of a cast of women who are all over the age of 30.
Now, you and I can easily shrug our shoulders and say “Well, of course women over 30 can be attractive. That isn’t remarkable.” The remarkable thing to me isn’t that you and I know it, but that the Weinstein Company knew it and didn’t push for, say, Kristen Stewart to be shoehorned in as a draw to the CW crowd. Megan Fox. Scarlett Johansson. Hayden Panettiere. Just writing this list makes me wish I were dead.
In a perfect world, age wouldn’t be an issue. Good actors would get high-profile roles. It would be a point of nonsensical obviousness that each of the many phases of life has its virtues and attractions. Everyone would accept that glamour is available to anyone who wants to work at it.
Boring, shitty actresses who strive to achieve the Prettiest Common Denominator would achieve nothing.
But, until that world comes to pass, I’m going to feel a happy little thrill when talented women with unusual looks, a normal body, or a birthday before the commonly accepted leading lady cutoff date are cast in roles that airily, defiantly presuppose their ability to be desired.
