Last month, I ran a review of sorts for the “GoldenEye: Source” OST (Beta 3). Well, it turns out that there’s a version 4 beta. And guess what? More cowbell! Wait, that’s not right. Although the soundtrack could very well have some cowbell mixed in.
The Beta 4 soundtrack is more or less an expansion; it includes every track from the Beta 3 version, with some new tracks and bonus material thrown in. The new tracks are really where it’s at, though. It was nice to see some new material that wasn’t covered in previous releases, like the St. Petersburg streets and Frigate level music.
There are two new artists in Beta 4: Yannick “GoldenZen” Zenhäusern and Sole Signal. Both bring some excellent original work, although Sole Signal (originally credited as “Audix”) remains the most prolific. I was slightly disappointed to get yet another remix of Facility and Caverns. I say slight because even though all versions kick ass, I’d like to see something fresh in its place.
After braving a 3-hour drive through a snowstorm and settling back into the company condo in Cincinnati (where I am training for another month or so), I opened up my laptop and went online.
Why the hell not?
At least it looks cool...
After a checking prices across several retailers, and consulting with my brother Wrecklaimer (who turns 21 today!), I finally completed my order.
After four years, I’ve finally jumped on the bandwagon. After all those years of alternating between scorn and apathy for this product, I’ve decided to purchase it.
At 4:30 pm EST on Sunday, December 12, 2010, I bought a Nintendo Wii.
One of the great joys of language, aside from being able to insult someone in horrendously colorful ways, is the creation of slang. We take for granted that many of the words and phrases we use everyday had their origin with one person or a small group.
Sports have left us a particularly rich legacy, with terms like "slam dunk," "home run," and "bush league." Video games have a rich vernacular too. Many a "noob" (or n00b, if you like) have been "pwnd" by an "l33t" gamer's skill with mouse and keyboard or buttons and sticks.
When one plays a game long enough, they develop shorthand terminology for everyday objects, players, and situations in the game world. We're all familiar with "spawn," "campers" (and the unholy union of "spawncampers")
Irvin Kershner, director of "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" (among other films, but who cares?) died earlier today in Los Angeles.
The Kersh will, of course, best be remembered for directing the sequel to "Star Wars," a daunting task if there ever was one. But I'll be damned if he didn't knock it right out of the park. Fanboys will no doubt debate the rankings of the "Star Wars" films for years to come, but we can all agree that ESB was the best. It will remain a shining example of the franchise, and sci-fi/fantasy in general.
I'm grateful that the Kersh lived long enough to see the 30th anniversary of his landmark film and the joy it's brought to millions of people (including myself) around the world. Really, what greater legacy can an artist ask for?
[Disclaimer: this entry contains strong language, both literally and figuratively]
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” has finally jumped the shark… er, Hutt.
As a long time Star Wars fan, I’ve suffered a few indignities along the way. Sometimes, I find myself agreeing with detractors and naysayers. Yes, the prequel trilogy wasn’t as good as the original. I don’t hate Jar Jar Binks or Ewoks, but I wouldn’t mind them being stricken from canon.
“The Clone Wars” is no different. Ostensibly, it’s a show for children. Just look at all the merchandizing. Older fans like me are mostly invested for the story. But even that is tenuous at best; for every enjoyable throwback to the original films, we’re subjected to the same scattershot crap that plagued the prequels.
For the longest time, I listened to the GoldenEye: Source Original Soundtrack on YouTube. I probably stumbled upon one of the tracks by accident. Anyway, I’ve never played the game, which is a multiplayer deathmatch mod for Half-Life 2. But the basic premise is a reimagining of the Nintendo 64 classic using Valve’s Source game engine.
Like the game itself, the soundtrack is also a reimagining. All the classic tracks from the game are here in one shape or form. In some cases, they sound just as good – if not better – than the original. There are also some new takes on everything from the original movie’s opening music (the hilarious “Golden Pie!”) to the music from the watch menu (a funky “Ghetto Remix”).
... to find my wooden leg. Wait, that's not right. Does anybody else hear accordions?
Starting next week, I will moving from Columbus, Ohio to Cincinnati (also known as "Cincy" or "CinciNasty"*) for an extended period of job training. Once again, it seems that my dear electronic gaming media and I will be parting ways, at least for a while.
It's about time to dust off the cobwebs on this 'ere blog. But I'm still adjusting to the new job, and the holiday season will rob me of my free time. Seeing loved ones, playing video games... hardly any time left for writing random crap that no one will read.
My goal is to do a feature on my newest video game action figure, and actually get my previous ones documented. I got frustrated and gave up on one, forgot about another, and just finished one last week. I won't say who it is just yet. But I guarantee you won't find another figure like it on the interwebs.
Bear with me folks. Real life comes first, I'm afraid.
Having just recently graduated from college and accepted a job out of state, I will be moving this week. Under normal circumstances, I'd be able to get my Internet access setup, unbox the Xbox, and be ready to go within a week.
However, soon after moving 300 miles to my new apartment in Columbus, OH, I must travel to Cincinnati for job training. It'll be a furnished condo across the street from the company's corporate headquarters. My boss is telling me that I'll be there for 60 to 90 days.
If there's decent Internet access and an HD TV at the condo, I'd have no problem setting up my Xbox there. But I have a feeling it'll have to stay home with my HD TV in Columbus. I plan on driving back to my new apartment on weekends, so who knows.
Of course, I'm hesitant to set up my Internet access until my job training is complete. First, I don't want to pay for something I won't be using. Second, it's not like I'll have a lot of time to mess around with the shipping and installation.
So I might be gone for a few months. I'll miss "Bad Company 2" on Xbox Live with the gang something fierce. But there will be all sorts of new and exciting games by then, and I'll actually be earning money to afford them. Everyone got along fine without me last summer, so be brave for old F0RCEFL0W and soldier on without me.
This will be a short review of the Turtle Beach X11 Xbox 360/PC gaming headset. Why? Because I assume you know how to use Google. Most of the content you’ll find will tell you the technical specs of the product. My goal is to inform you whether or not the headset is worth your while.Turtle Beach makes at least four models of gaming headsets for the PC/Xbox 360. All of them pull double duty as headphones and microphones. It’s a nice feature, especially if you don’t have a decent sound system for your Xbox or need to keep noise to a minimum.
After too long a wait, here's the continuation of my Wishlist Weapons Pack series. Check out the first part here.
Last time, I covered handgun, submachine gun, battle rifle, and assault rifle additions to the weapons roster. This should cover everything else, with the exception of items (maybe later).
Here's Part One of a two-part (or maybe three) series on weapons I would like to see included in future updates to Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Keep in mind that this is just wishful thinking and graphic design: the only possible way these would make it into the game is through modding for the PC version or DICE puts them in. Speculation is always fun, though. Join in and let me know what you wish for.
As you may know, I've been in bad company lately. Let me rephrase that: I've been playing Battlefield: Bad Company 2. A lot. It's been great fun for my Xbox Live friends and I.
While I enjoy the new multiplayer maps that are released from time to time, what I really want are more guns. "But F0RCEFL0W," you might say. "Aren't their a ton of guns in the game already?"
Right you are, good sir/madam. But I ask: can one have too many guns? Certainly not!
Millions of people around the world (mostly in South Korea) rejoiced.
I am not one of them.
I never played the first StarCraft or the expansions. RTS games were never my forte. Besides, I was always more of a console gamer anyway. The PC always seemed so cold and impersonal.
I'm not sure what all these people see in StarCraft, but maybe that's because I never gave it a chance. However, I'll counter that with the hoopla over Halo 2 and Halo 3, an example of how a decent -- if disappointing -- game can still have such a rabid following.
Sometimes, it's good to have different tastes from the mainstream. Blizzard won't be going bankrupt without my money, and I don't care to sit clicking on Zergs and Marines all day.
But cheers to all you StarCraft fans out there, I hope your experience is everything you've imagined.
There are a few more of these, well worth looking at, especially fans of BC2. And don't listen to that idiot baseball player. Random grenade spam is hella fun.
I just finished watching the anime series Cowboy Bebop. After watching an episode on Adult Swim by accident, I felt compelled to dedicate several hours of my life to it.
Let's get a few things clear right away. I've spent most of my life holding my nose up in derision of anime. Not just the animation itself, but the culture and fandom that surrounds it. To me, anime fans were pariahs in the nerd kingdom. They made my Star Wars obsession look healthy by comparison.
If you've never had the chance to Video Games Live in concert (and shame on you if you passed up the chance), then you're in luck! PBS will be televising one of the performances on July 31. Check you local listings, etc.
I got free tickets to see VGL at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium last year. It was spectacular! I even interviewed co-founder Tommy Tallarico (he's kind of a big deal). Check out the article I wrote for the Western Herald for more.
I'm not sure if the televised version will convey any or all of the emotional impact of a live performance. I remember crying when they played themes from "Metroid." Those were the tears of a happy man! I also recall a kid dressed as Link getting tossed out by security. Apparently, they weren't too keen on his sword.
I'll have to see if I can dig up the pic I took with Darth Vader. Don't ask me why he was there. I heard the 501st likes to attend the show. I wonder if they do weddings?
Where was I? Oh, yeah. Watch for Video Games Live on PBS later this month. See, public television is good for something!
I've given up on trying to protect my childhood. George Lucas raped it with the Star Wars prequels. J.J. Abrams raped it with last year's Star Trek. I could go on about the things wrong with the new "Trek," but I this isn't the time or place.
It seems that I shouldn't even savor the escapism of my adult years, either. We can all agree that video game movies are terrible. Thankfully, most of the adaptations have been limited to games I have had little attachment to. But with Hollywood's ravenous appetite, sooner or later one of my beloved franchises would be desecrated.
I just found out today that a "Bioshock" movie is in the works.
This took me longer than I anticipated. Actually, my series of video game character action figures was supposed to debut on Game Brain a couple of months ago. What can I say, I've been busy. And one can only sit fussing over small pieces of plastic so long before insanity takes hold.
Though I've been customizing action figures for years, I've only just started getting good at it. I've learned a few new techniques that really increase the quality of my paint jobs and swap parts out. Because action figures keep going up in price, and parts from different figures are rarely compatible, customs can sit on the shelf for months before they have all the ingredients. The next big step for me is to learn sculpting: there's a special clay that cures into a plastic-like substance that takes stress a lot better than the Sculpey I've been using. But that's a whole new ballgame that'll take many more years to master.
I've really come to appreciate the amount of articulation Hasbro puts into their G. I. Joe, Star Wars, and Marvel action figure lines. Having soft goods capes and bendable items like holsters and harnesses are a big plus. It's nice to be able to buy a dull G. I. Joe figure and be able to use his accessories with Star Wars figures. Very rarely do I work on a custom using only one toyline for parts (unless it's a repaint).
So, all I need is a little more time to get my first video game custom photographed. There'll be another two customs hot on his heels, so be on the lookout. I have to get back to work now and get that second coat of paint on.
Go ahead, stuff yourselves with fried/grilled food and watch explosions in the sky. You've earned it, America. Pimpin' democracy ain't easy, but you've been doing it for over 200 years.
But now's not the time to get complacent. Two wars, an oil spill, and a festering recession are nothing to sneeze at. Remember that future celebrations of our nation's birthday are predicated on how well you deal with current crises. If we fail, there won't be a USA to celebrate.
Don't go down like a punk, America! Your citizens are angry, obstinate, and full of energy. The trick is harnessing those qualities into building and improving the nation. Bitch all you want about how bad are government is, but remember this: you have the power to change it. Remember how we kicked the most powerful nation in the world off the continent? Remember how much we resented a government that didn't represent us and serve our interests?
Keep all that in mind as you enjoy the 4th of July, America. After you're done partying, there's a lot of work to be done. It ain't easy being Number 1. You've got to earn it.
One last thing before I step off the soapbox: a true patriot isn't some bozo wearing red, white, and blue who professes his love of America. A true patriot loves America in spite of its faults and does his damndest to change them.
A fitting line from the protagonist of 1997's "Blood" by Monolith and 3D Realms. While it could be argued that "Shadow Warrior" is the most advanced of the Build engine brood, "Blood" is definitely special in its own way.
Our Engines of Destruction feature will soon have its first post. Wrecklaimer and I have been messing around with DOSBox in attempt to get our titles working on Windows 7. In some cases, it's a breeze. For others, there's a lot of tweaking (and a little bit of computer programming) required. If there's an old DOS game or anything from 1997 or earlier, DOSBox is a must-have.
With DOSBox, you type in a command prompt just like in the old days. The installer and game applications are run through DOSBox, which even handles custom control setups. Trust me, you'll want to set your movement to WASD and use the mouse whenever you can. There may be a few sound issues, especially with "Shadow Warrior," which runs its music off an audio CD.
Valve's Steam service now runs on Mac OS X. So now you can almost do everything on Mac that you can on a PC.
A couple of things come to mind...
In general, Macbook or iMac owners are not into PC gaming. At best, they'll download Peggle or something.
Anything you can run on OS X can be done just as well on Windows PC. Or better. And cheaper.
I'm genuinely happy to see the video game market expand. Really, I am. But the fact remains that modern games on Mac OS doesn't suddenly shift all the power in Apple's favor. In terms of affordability and utility, PCs win by a long shot and always have.
At least Valve has a good sense of humor about it. Show 'em what's what, Saxton Hale!
Mark Hamill does voiceover work, Carrie Fisher writes novels, Admiral Ackbar promotes trap awareness... not every "Star Wars" alum goes on to superstardom like Harrison Ford. Take Jar Jar Binks, for instance:
A disgruntled former employee of Rare, Grant Kirkhope, has leaked released a remix of the credits theme of the original "Perfect Dark." It's gnarly as hell, but don't take my word for it...
"I re-recorded it (the Credits theme) as Microsoft were thinking about using it in Perfect Dark Zero but then never did. I really enjoyed re-doing it and I got to do a guitar solo... hehe!"
Click here to download the MP3 track. Nearly 100 other tracks from the game are hosted at Perfect Dark Recon, THE best source for "Perfect Dark" media and info, should you require it.
Cheeseburger Apocalypse is starting a new feature called "Engines of Destruction: An overview of Build and Doom engine games." We'll be looking at examples of the best (or worst) examples of games built on these first-person shooter engines. Think "Doom" and "Duke Nukem," and you'll get a pretty good idea of the old schooly goodness of a bygone era.
Suck it, Unreal Engine III!
We'll be doing reviews of the games themselves and looking into the particulars of the engine in that game. A few are available on Steam or consoles, and a few will need a few workarounds to get them to play. But it's all in the name of... science? Yeah, we'll go with that.
Welcome to Cheeseburger Apocalypse!
Friends of F0RCEFL0W (Brian Diefenbach) and Wrecklaimer (Kevin Diefenbach), make yourselves at home. Housewarming gifts are welcome. Just as soon as we get a PayPal account set up...
In the meantime, enjoy the fine new digs we've carved out for ourselves on the Interwebs. We'll be keeping the video game spirit of Game Brain alive while venturing into unknown territory... mostly the geeky interests of your hosts.
We hope to do things bigger and better, and we need your help. If the Internet has taught us anything, it's that any idiot with a computer and Internet access can write for a blog things are better shared. Any thoughts, expertise, or incoherent ramblings you have to share about video games, gadgets, books or other nerdly obsessions are always welcome. Why don't you settle in as a contributor? Rent is 25 cheeseburgers a month.
F0RCEFL0W is working on graphics and coming up with cool ideas for future content. Keep an eye out for the revolutionary Cheeseburger Rating System (like the star system, only with cheeseburgers) and "Francis Hates...", a soapbox for bitching and moaning from the community. Wrecklaimer will be busting out some sick Web design up in this, so the more feedback we get, the better the site will be inside and out.
So, thanks for stopping by! If you're not an acquaintance of the Webmasters, what are you doing here no worries! You're just a friend we haven't met yet.
With an apocalypse like this one, there's no telling what will happen. Let's find out together!
—Brian "F0RCEFL0W" Diefenbach
P.S. @Valve: we make no money off of this site. Please don't sue us!
