Posts Filed Under: music

From right, Phil Fish (gentleman who makes the IGF Seumas McNally Grand Prize award-winning Fez) and Richard Lemarchand (gentleman who makes those wildly popular Uncharted games), perform as PHILLIPPE LEMARCHAND. They’re joined by Baiyon (PixelJunk 4 AM) while repping some Meat Bun at the Venus Patrol party at GDC. It’s easily our favorite photo from the entire week, because we love seeing Meat Bun on people, but the full GDC 2012 photo set from Jeriaska of Nobuwo is spectacular stuff if you love video game music and video game music people.

E3 is the battle ground where the big three fall all over themselves vying for the top slot in your lil’ gaming heart. It’s beautifully ridiculous. Last year Microsoft handed out free Xbox 360 Slims like sample teriyaki chicken on a tooth pick to all conference attendees.

Seems Sony knows the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. This year they called in a fleet of LA’s best gourmet food trucks, and parked the caravan around a large open bar. I was gorging myself like that scene in Defending Your Life where you could eat whatever you like, as much as you like, and it all tasted great. Dim sum, Cajun gumbo, spicy shrimp tacos… even had a dessert course or two. But somehow Subway got mixed into the picture. Yes, I know not everyone is going to partake of free, delicious tuna sushi hand rolls — but that’s what the corn dog and tater tot stands were for! Watching chumps eat prefabricated lukewarm turkey 6″ subs just because it was handed to them by a professional Nathan Drake cosplayer earned a scornful glance as I finished my gourmet tamarind/chili popsicle.

Now that I was thoroughly wined and dined, I was curious to see where this evening was headed. Kevin Butler was a no-show, and the mood took on an understandably humble and contrite tone in light of the massive network outages. Oh, no! I was hoping for something a little more fun and… titillating… like the Bioshock: Infinite trailer. After more than enough talk about AT&T partnerships *groan* and demos of first person shooters, things became a little more exciting.

Jane’s Addiction fit the bill nicely, though I had to force myself not to calculate how long ago I last saw them at the original Lollapalooza. The juxtaposition of hearing Perry Farrell singing Mountain Song and then chatting about Congressman Wiener tweeting his wiener proved to be a little surreal, but I am in no way complaining. Thank you, Sony. You have my number.

We’ve urged you to listen to the music of George & Jonathan before, so let us urge you again to listen to Jon Baken’s solo concept album The Octagon, “an epic journey through the mystical planet TragnaR.” If you like electronic mysticism, future worlds, wizards and mood-setting music made with a Game Boy, Roland Juno 106, Nord Lead II and saxophone, give Baken’s latest a listen.

For more moody atmospheric electronic bliss, go back and listen to Enter The Thicket, full of the same ethereal blippy stuff.

If you haven’t already listened to “The Best Music,” the humbly titled, five years in the making album from duo George and Jonathan, now’s your chance. Abide the rubbery, rhythmic gloved hand — press play! Why? Well, “The Best Music” sounds like the soundtrack to a Sonic the Hedgehog casino-based level, only cheerier, more upbeat, fit for the rare quality Sonic the Hedgehog game.

It’s music crafted in Piston Collage, created by the gifted Pixel, maker of Cave Story.

And if you like what you hear from the first George and Jonathan album, which is free to download, you’ll be thrilled to know that the audio-visual pair is working on something new. Their new promo for the next-generation of G&J is captivating.

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!

Do you know what’s a bad idea? Free, all-you-can-drink Absinthe. Your night becomes a scene out of a Prodigy video. But, hey, we were drinking on Microsoft’s dime! And it’s not our fault they rented out the Edison for like a week. Damn you, Green Fairy and your intoxicating elixirs.

What were we talking about? Oh, E3, where all the new games coming out in the next year are assembled — and you get to play them TODAY. The best way to enjoy E3 is to have zero responsibilities, and to be like a kid in a candy shop. But it’s a lot of work setting that up! Strategically used sick days, and calls to your well connected friends in the business. Only then can you fully enjoy the top-shelf Tanqueray martini in your hand as you watch zombie pole dancers gyrate seductively at the Dead Rising 2 party.

But what about the games? Honestly, I don’t remember playing any. I’m even having trouble remembering the name of the band I saw pictured below, but I do remember liking them. I’m sure some other sites have some excellent quality gaming coverage, but again I have this thing about having zero responsibilities during E3. Welcome back, E3, you big, overblown, crazy spectacle you!

Check out our E3 2010 gallery on our Facebook page.