Keep Flag Happy.com
Editor’s Note: Shaun and Dave have switched spots this week so Shaun can pimp his new site and Dave can recover from Vegas. I have no doubt that our radio show is going to lead the three of us to great fame and fortune, but for the past few months I have hedged my bets and worked on a side project with a few like-minded friends, just in case. This side project is keepflaghappy.com, and it launched today. I’m going to explain it to you. Keep Flag Happy is a guide to the numerous happy hour specials in Flagstaff, intuitively … Continue reading Keep Flag Happy.com
Going the Distance 020: Lean Like a Chozo
This was one of my favorite ones to put together. I like that Ridley is there for no reason. I like that the cake is almost as big as our hero. But is our hero in this comic You or Samus? That’s for you to decide. In Going the Distance, our main character, “You,” has to manage to make his way to delicious cake. Sounds simple, right? But there are deadly spikes to deal with, and a host of other problems that appear each time. Let’s just say You fails more often than You succeeds. After all, it wouldn’t be … Continue reading Going the Distance 020: Lean Like a Chozo
Number Four With a Bullet
I had thought that I might be able to go back to back on reviews and do Tales of Graces this week. That was a foolish thought considering that Tales games usually last somewhere around 50 to 60 hours. Shaun and I have been playing with our roommates and are maybe 12 hours in so far, and it’s a very solid game. We’ll see if the review can be ready by next week — I’m not of the mindset that I have to beat something to write about it, but I certainly want to be farther into the game than this.
In the meantime, here’s some random thoughts as we fight off all the snow from the past 24 hours. Continue reading “Number Four With a Bullet”
Legal action against Mass Effect 3 ending?
**I’m sure everyone has heard their fair share about Mass Effect 3 this month, and while I’d love to move on to better things I felt this particular piece of news warranted a discussion. Hopefully you’ll agree. Obviously, since this topic deals with the ending of the game, this article contains spoilers.**
Yep, you read that right. It would appear that someone (a Bioware forumite by the name of “El_Spiko”) is actually bringing a case to the Federal Trade Commission claiming that the ending of Mass Effect 3 isn’t just bad, but full out false advertising. Of course the idea of bringing a video game to the Federal Trade Commission over it’s ending is pretty ridiculous. I mean, people don’t exactly press charge every time they go and see a horrible movie (if you could, I’m sure Gary would have by now). But then again El_Spiko isn’t bringing up the claim because of his dislike of the ending, but because he feels the game’s ending (and therefore the product as a whole) was advertised to him and fellow consumer’s falsely. The question is, is he right?
I’d argue that he is. And here’s why… Continue reading “Legal action against Mass Effect 3 ending?”
In Defense of the Ending of Mass Effect 3 (Spoilers)
It’s almost a complete consensus: the ending to Mass Effect 3 was a disappointment. No resolution. No meaningful buildup. No closure. By all accounts, a failure on every front. However, after pondering a little more and thinking a little deeper, my question is: is it a bad ending? Or is it potentially the most epically epic ending ever?
Don’t get me wrong; as it stands, it’s a pretty subpar ending. It’s full of inexplicable plotholes. It ends a series built on dynamic choices by shoving three rigid choices down the players throat that have nothing to do with the thousands of preceeding choices to that point. It spends no more than seconds explaining what happens to the characters we have invested hours cultivating meaningful relationships with and getting to know.
So, yeah; by all qualifications, this ending is pretty mediocre, and I can agree with that. Fans aren’t even clamoring for a happier ending, necessarily, just one that doesn’t directly contradict the freedom and tone the entire series spent establishing. That’s like changing the ending of Harry Potter 7 to a black-and-white noir thematic style, where Harry removes his glasses in dramatic fashion and rips the head off Voldemort. Cool, maybe, but it defies everything the series stood for.
How can this ending be anything but a failure? Only if there are events going on that are a little deeper than how they first appeared.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Continue reading “In Defense of the Ending of Mass Effect 3 (Spoilers)”
At the Buzzer (03/15/12)
Episode 36: Three and a Half Men — The guys try to atone for their Valentines Day bias with an all-guy-bashing episode, put teenage punks in their place, and dissect The Hangover in the long-awaited return of Buzzkill. Also, Chris … Continue reading At the Buzzer (03/15/12)
Letter to Peyton
Dear Peyton,
Hey, how’s it going? I know you’ve been busy with traveling around the country so I’ll keep this brief: Could you please come to Arizona to play for us?
I can’t begin to imagine all that’s going through your mind lately. You’ve got to feel like your wife just dumped you for a new, younger man…yet you’ve got supermodels running after you trying to have your baby. It’s got to be confusing. You thought you were going to spend your entire life with Indy, yet she left you because you cost too much and got too old. Well we don’t think you’re too old, Peyton; in fact, you’re just right for us, and we’re just right for you. Continue reading “Letter to Peyton”
Going the Distance 019: To Arms, Men
Look, it’s a legitimate problem. How does You even accomplish all that You does? We’re not really sure. I guess You’s just that dedicated. In Going the Distance, our main character, “You,” has to manage to make his way to delicious cake. Sounds simple, right? But there are deadly spikes to deal with, and a host of other problems that appear each time. Let’s just say You fails more often than You succeeds. After all, it wouldn’t be much of a quest if You could just get cake whenever You wanted, would it? For more background on the comic or … Continue reading Going the Distance 019: To Arms, Men
Review: Street Fighter x Tekken
There’s never been much of a debate between 2D and 3D fighting games for me. I was a Street Fighter kid from the start.
My grandparents had an NES when I was little, so I got some playing time in with Mario 3, Dr. Mario, Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers, Metroid and all the classics. But when the Super Nintendo came out and my dad picked one up, Street Fighter II was the first game I had for it — not Super Mario World like 95% of the rest of America.
SF II was interesting for a few reasons. It’s what got me started on the chess-like nature of fighting games. It was also the genesis (see what I did there?) for my love of video game music, as I would let some of the great stage themes play in the background while I worked on other things. Ryu, Ken, Guile and later Cammy’s stages became the accompanying soundtrack for life.
Why does all of this matter? Because Street Fighter x Tekken incorporates a long-standing 3D franchise into my 2D wheelhouse, and that’s just the way I like it. Continue reading “Review: Street Fighter x Tekken”
Review: Mass Effect 3
**Well, I did it, folks: I beat Mass Effect 3 in time to get you all a review. I feel I should preface this by mentioning that a certain aspect of Mass Effect 3 deserves a more detailed discussion than can be done without spoiling that part of the game. So if you have yet to beat the game, then be sure to skip the section clearly marked with a spoiler warning.**
OK everyone, the time is finally upon us! Mass Effect 3 is here and marks the end of Bioware’s epic space trilogy. Earth has come under attack and it’s up to you, in the shoes of the one and only Commander Shepard, to rally the diverse factions of the galaxy together and save Earth (and the galaxy) from destruction. While I won’t reveal much about Mass Effect 3’s narative, I will say that those of you hoping for a galaxy spanning story where you meet up with old friends (and enemies!) in an attempt to unite them will not be disappointed. The Krogan and the Genophage? Yep, you’ll deal with that. The Quarian and the Geth? Yep, them too. Of course, that won’t come as a surprise to those of you who have played the previous Mass Effect games; and rest assured that your choices in the previous two games will come back to help (or haunt) you.
