Posts Filed Under: brief nerdity

What’s going on? Well, how about a reminder that The Pixies were one of the first bands to cover video game music. Yeah, they covered the theme from the amazing, but not actually that great NARC in 1991. Now, I used to love some NARC, even though it was one of those Midway quarter vacuums, partly because it was so gloriously over-the-top, so excessively violent as things were in the 1980s. It’s really too bad about that 2005 NARC game…

While we’re looking back at the 80s, here’s a great walkthrough of a brand spanking new Chuck E. Cheese’s. I used to play the hell out of some 1943 at the location nearest my house.

Looking forward, it sure seems like we’re due for Soulcalibur V in a few weeks.

And are we really hotly anticipating the new Call of Duty: Black Ops expansion? Turns out we are! Not only does it have Freddy Krueger and Machete, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is in it too!

Oh, did you see this? :3

That’s the NSFW work of Bjørnar Frøyse, who turns in a beautifully rendered 16-year-old’s fantasy version of Princess Peach.

For a cold shower of a video, here’s a look at Valve’s snack set-up. Gabe’s a good guy.

Did you play Unpleasant Horse, the new game from Popcap spin-off 4th and Battery? Dude, it’s free on iTunes. C’mon.

And finally, here’s Gooteks and Mike Ross taking the new Mortal Kombat for a spin. Can’t wait to see some high level play of this game at EVO this year…

What are we talking about in 140 characters or less this week? Our love of Hsien-ko (aka Lei Lei) from Darkstalkers, the latest confirmed addition to Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. Did we mention we did a really swell tee for Capcom for MVC3? Yes, we sure did.

Speaking of Capcom, I wonder if they consider Blanka’s day job to be canon. As a meter maid of this caliber, he’d fit right in in Metro City.

On the arcade front, get familiar with the latest Elevator Action… Death Parade!

And have you seen the new Silent Hill? Like all games in this series after Silent Hill 3, we’re taking a wait and see approach. But Vatra Games is definitely making Silent Hill pretty. Dat fog!

As we look for every little morsel on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Game Informer comes through with details on the combat system. Is there some Demon’s Souls influence in here?

Finally, how cute are these antique Japanese postcards?

We watched a lot of video this week, then we talked about it on Facebook and Twitter. Let’s catch up on what was great on the web this week.

Half-Life 2 still looks great, even on paper. Not so great? Or is it so-not-great-it’s-great? Well, it has Shadow the Hedgehog basketball and Cream the Rabbit, so this Pakistani Sonic the Hedgehog Happy Meal commercial has something going for it.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds also looks like a potential great. And while I’m no Dante fan, he looks spectacular in MVC3.

Rooster Tooth takes a look at just how well your average Joe would fare in a real world zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead style. Don’t miss this excellent Mythbusters-style short.

Finally, more arcades please! The makers of Electric Theatre Arcade show us how it’s done.

See you at Game Night 4?

What have we been chatting about on Facebook and Twitter this week? Games with permadeath, games with pee! Oh, and Portal 2.

While the newest trailer for Portal 2 didn’t feature anything new or noteworthy, just an impressive display of Valve as short filmmakers, it’s still impressive. Looks like the developer will be squeezing tons of personality out of Aperture Science robots Atlas and P-body. Combined with personality core Wheatley, Portal 2 may already have locked down Best Robots of 2011.

The guys behind The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings are making the game’s “insane” difficulty no joke. If your character dies, he dies for good… permadeath!

The fight sticks for the new Mortal Kombat “leaked” earlier this week, a different style of stick than we’re used to. American company PDP is making the things, which hearken back to the original MK arcade joystick style… but also with a run button? They look perfectly authentic, the way we remember playing Mortal Kombat and may ultimately mean another big hunk of plastic taking up space at Meat Bun HQ.

And speaking of leaks…

Sega’s ToyLets games include a multiplayer “faux-sumo game in which two characters blow milk out of their noses to push the other out of the ring” and one in which you’ll play as a cloud, trying to blow up a girl’s skirt. And they’re controlled with a stream of urine. Yes, they’ll be installed at urinals in Japan and will take raw pissing skill to play. Japan!

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Last night’s opening reception of the 3G Show — fine art inspired by Ghostbusters, Gremlins and The Goonies — was packed with lowbrow art lovers. Great pieces from German Orozco, Drake Brodahl, Craig Parrillo and Jude Buffum were the main draw, but the sidewalk outside Gallery 1988 was overflowing thanks to the DeLorean time machine parked outside right behind this thing.

Yes, the Ecto-1 showed up and in perfect working order. Seats for four Ghostbusters, working sirens, room for proton packs in the back and a copy of Tobin’s Spirit Guide on the dashboard. Awesome.

Also, this guy showed up.

Winston!!

Before you lose your enthusiasm for all things Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, we’d like to make a recommendation as to the proper way to immerse oneself in this video game kung fu rom com. Over the past week, video games and movies have been thrown at you, all with the guilt of not having read the Scott Pilgrim comic books hanging over your head. Don’t sweat it! Here’s how you should get up to speed on all things Pilgrim before your next nerdy dinner party.

First, see the movie. It’s not necessarily the best of the three works featuring Scott, Ramona, seven evil ex-boyfriends (including one girlfriend), and cast of memorable characters, but it’s damn good. You like Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead? Odds are very good you’ll like the humor here too.

If you even remotely liked the film–or you’re wondering just what the hell was happening amid all that flash and pop rock (it’s got Beck and Broken Social Scene!)–read the books. There are six volumes, but you can burn through all six in a couple hours. Story-wise, they’re stronger than the movie. Scott’s more likable, as is Ramona; there’s just so much great humor and style to it–plus it’s packed with obscure and obvious video game references!

If you’re cheap, you can grab the whole series for a pittance (approximately $40 on Amazon.com), but you should probably pick ‘em up from your local comic book store instead.

Finally, play the game. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game is essentially a repackaged River City Ransom, only with amaaazing sprites by Paul Robertson and brilliant music by Anamanaguchi. Sure, the co-op play is all offline (T_T) and it’s essentially a repackaged River City Ransom but it’s still a blast.

All that Scott Pilgrim will set you back, say, about $65 if you’re frugal about it. Way better than spending the equivalent on Crackdown 2 or Alpha Protocol or Madden. Promise!