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Review: Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on August 12, 2008Posted in: Features, Reviews, Video Games

Strong Bad Homestar Runner Game

I gotta admit, Homestar Runner was a huge part of my college days.  Every Monday my friends and I would eagerly wait for the latest animated Strong Bad email to be posted so we could watch and quote it for the rest of the week.  Though I stopped following the site in recent years, I was still very excited when Telltale Games announced an episodic adventure game based on the Homestar Runner characters and world.  After a two month delay, the first episode was finally released yesterday on Wii Ware and for the PC.

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MOG Appoints Rick Rubin To Board Of Directors, Seriously?

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on August 12, 2008Posted in: Music Industry

Rick Rubin Mog Board

Music social networking/blogging site, MOG, announced yesterday that legendary producer and Columbia Records executive, Rick Rubin will be joining its board of directors.  Seeing as how the site is financially backed by Sony BMG and Universal records, this does not come as much of a surprise.

According to Mog founder, David Hyman, Rubin’s role “…is taking a fairly active role in the development of MOG.”  He then goes on to imply that Rubin is giving input on “user interface and information architecture” for the site.

Hmmmm.

This sounds suspiciously vague enough to be a “hire a big name to our company to do nothing but look good in a press release” manuever.

Listen, I have nothing but respect and admiration for Rick Rubin the music producer.  Not so much for Rick Rubin the businessman or web architect.  He’s accomplished nothing ostensibly in those two areas that would merit his appointment to high level positions.  Bob Lefsetz had a great rant on Rick the businessman in one of his emails.  As to Rick the web architect?  Well let’s just say if his “information architcture” skills involve putting Google Adwords on the front page of his record label’s website, MOG is going to be fighting an uphill battle.

Read MOG’s Press Release

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Edgar Bronfman Needs More Money

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on August 12, 2008Posted in: Music, Music Industry, Video Games

edgar bronfman moar fail money

Not content with totally mishandling the music industry’s disastrous “transition” into the iPod age, Warner Music CEO, Edgar Bronfman Jr., has started down the path of bungling yet another potential revenue stream.  With the recent explosion in popularity (and sales) of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, it was only a matter of time before someone had to open their big mouth.  The churlish executive told Reuters:

The amount being paid to the music industry, even though their games are entirely dependent on the content we own and control, is far too small.

Now, to be fair, no specifics were given as to how much the record labels are actually getting paid for the use of their music recordings in the games.  It’s certainly possible that the game industry is not paying enough.  Let’s forget for a minute all the other components that make Guitar Hero/Rock Band successful (development costs, peripheral manufacturing, distribution, marketing, etc.) and play Ed’s game.  If I had to guess, I’d posit that the current cut for music in rhythm games is close, if not the same, as a digital download on iTunes.  Our pal Eddie must have seen this, and thought, “Hay! Activision is charging double the price of iTunes, but we’re only getting the same as El Jobso.  Let me talk to the press, they will surely be on our side!”

Sarcasm aside, Eduardo and the rest of the music industry really need to think before they speak.  Even if they are getting the shaft, it would be much more productive to solve the issue behind closed doors.  Coming out and complaining to the press in a haughty tone is not going to help their situation any.  To the contrary, it’ll just serve as blogger and message board fodder to further drag the music industry through the mud.

Not that the record labels really need any more help with that.

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Metallica Still Trying To Figure Out How To Sell Their Music, Debut New Song

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on August 11, 2008Posted in: Music, Music Industry

metallica fail digital download rip off

The Rock Radio reports that Metallica has decided on the pricing structure and SKUs of their upcoming new album, Death Magnetic.

The first package, called Digital Death Magnetic, will cost $24.99 and includes digital delivery of the album at midnight on its release date, downloads of two entire shows from this summer, almost two hours of exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, 250 exclusive photos, ringtones of riffs from the new album, access to exclusive contests and a $10 coupon toward merchandise or fan club membership at Metallica.com or MetClub.com.

The second package, Death Magnetic CD + Digital Death Magnetic, is $32.99. In addition to all the above items, it includes Death Magnetic on CD. The last package goes for $124.99 and includes all the items from the other two packages, plus a five-LP vinyl box set with five individual sleeves and a Mission: Metallica lithograph.

It looks like the band is taking a little bit out of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails’ playbooks by offering both a digital download and a very pricey premium edition of the music.  Sadly, Metallica is so blinded by the visions of moneyhats that it missed out on the most obvious tactic of offering a digital download in the first place – free (or at least cheap).

Sure, the Metallica superfans are going to shell out for the highest end premium product, but what about after that?  Do they really think a casual fan or a teenager discovering the band now is going to spend $24.95 on a download?  The band arguably hasn’t made any truly relevant music since 1991’s self-titled “Black” album.  I would argue that Death Magnetic‘s success isn’t exactly a guarantee, especially in today’s climate.  If they really wanted to take advantage of the current music market landscape, they would be looking for ways to expand their audience and fanbase, while also taking care of their core audience.

On a related note, the band debuted a couple of new songs while playing live at Ozzfest a couple days ago.  Check after the jump for a live recording of “Cyanide” off of Death Magnetic.

My initial impression? Better than St. Anger.  But that’s not really saying much, is it?

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Guess Who’s The First Person To Have Madden 09?

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on August 4, 2008Posted in: Music, Video Games

In case you couldn’t recognize this hip-hop “superstar” (I couldn’t), it’s Twista, Chicago’s very own fast-rhyming MC! It’s slightly baffling to me why EA would would want the first person to have Madden 09 be a rapper who peaked in 2004 (with “Slow Jamz feat. Kanye West and Jamie Foxx”). Maybe he suckled the teet of Peter Moore at E3 real good.

Also, I can see why an average Joe would want to make the video equivalent of the “FIRST POST!” comment, but a rapper with (former) cred like Twista?  Really? Has hip-hop fallen this far?

(Extra points for the shady-looking copy of the Wii version of the game.  Looks real nice on a blatantly obvious promotional video, EA.)

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New Prince of Persia Trailer Is Breathtaking

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on July 15, 2008Posted in: Video Games

Wow. Ubisoft’s new trailer for the upcoming Prince of Persia game is absolutely stunning.  I was skeptical about the new art direction for the game, but am no longer.  Do yourself a favor and watch it in HD.  Your life will thank you for it.

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Official Rock Band 2 Song List Revealed!

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on July 14, 2008Posted in: Video Games

rock band 2 logo

The speculation is over.  Harmonix and MTV have revealed the final song list for the much anticipated songpack sequel to Rock Band.  We knew it was going to have 80+ songs on the disc, but in a slightly surprising twist, rockers will be getting another bonus 20 songs that will be downloadable for free in the fall.

As expected, Rock Band 2 will be a timed exclusive for the Xbox 360, releasing on that platform in September with the PS3, Wii, and PS2 following a few months later (presumably in November).

From the press release:

• After 14 years since Guns N’ Roses last official music release, Axl Rose selects Rock Band 2 to debut official new track “Shackler’s Revenge” from the highly-anticipated album Chinese Democracy.

• Rock Band 2 is the first and only video game to feature the music of AC/DC. It includes their epic rock anthem, “Let There Be Rock.”

• For the first time ever, music from American music icon, Bob Dylan, is featured in a video game with “Tangled Up In Blue.”

• Rock Band 2 will feature backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date.

• Owners of the original Rock Band will have the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay–the first time ever in videogame history!

There are some really awesome songs on this list.  If all Rock Band 2 was just a song addon pack, it would be worth the $60 for the dvd by itself as each song would be costing you just $0.57.  However, it appears as if there will be some minor improvements to the gameplay and the fact that you can import all of your songs from Rock Band 1 into the new format for free gives me a warm and tingly feeling as a customer.  Harmonix is really pushing Rock Band as a platform, as opposed to yearly stand alone exploits to siphon money from our wallets.

Read the full press release

Read on for the full song list.

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Junot Diaz Gives Us A Reality Check

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on July 1, 2008Posted in: Video Games

junot diaz lol pulitzer

2008 Pulitzer Prize winning author of the novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz, is a Grand Theft Auto fan.  He’s played all of them since the first 2d entry into the series and has liked them.  But does he think the game is art on the level of The Godfather, as many critics have said?

According to his missive on the WSJ, the answer is “No.”

GTA IV for all its awesomeness doesn’t have the sordid bipolar humanity of “The Sopranos,” and it certainly lacks the epic flawed protagonists that define “The Godfather” and its bloodier lesser brother “Scarface.” Successful art tears away the veil and allows you to see the world with lapidary clarity; successful art pulls you apart and puts you back together again, often against your will, and in the process reminds you in a visceral way of your limitations, your vulnerabilities, makes you in effect more human. Does GTA IV do that? Not for me it doesn’t, and heck, I love this damn game.

Take that GTA fanboys!  How do you like dem Pulitzer-winning apples now!

Read Junot’s entire essay [wsj.com]

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Harmonix Announces Rock Band 2, Reveal Almost Nothing About It

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on June 30, 2008Posted in: Music, Video Games

rock band 2 logo

IGN has an interview with Harmonix’s Lead Designer, Dan Teasdale, on the newly announced Rock Band 2 that will ship in September for the Xbox 360 and later in that year for other platforms.

Mr. Teasdale does an admirable job of answering interview questions without really saying anything of substance.  He says that they have been reading internet forums rabidly and have made improvements to the game based on said feedback.  Basically, it seems like there will be modest improvements across the board in game interface and instrument build.

The biggest tidbit of news is that all of your existing Rock Band DLC that you’ve purchased will work with Rock Band 2 and vice versa.

As far as Harmonix is concerned, there’s no difference between “Rock
Band 1 DLC” and “Rock Band 2 DLC” – we’re just releasing awesome songs
every week onto the Rock Band platform, all of which are playable by
the Rock Band titles that support DLC.

This is awesome news in the nascent rhythm game wars as a lot of people have sunk a significant amount of coin into downloading new songs.  Making their investments obsolete *cough* Guitar Hero 3 *cough*, just leaves people with a bad taste in their mouths.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’d actually feel better buying a $60 game with modest improvements, than sinking $200 on all new hardware.  Especially if said $60 game contained a bunch of awesome songs as well.  Granted, Guitar Hero has to catch up to the whole “full band” experience, but a lot of people have bought three generations of Guitar Hero hardware already.

For Pete’s sake, give us some time to enjoy the Chinese Plastic we already have!

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Playstation 3 Firmware 2.40 Impressions/Reactions

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on June 30, 2008Posted in: Features, Video Games

Millions of Playstation 3 owners can rejoice finally as the Holy Grail of firmware updates hits this Wednesday, July 2nd. Firmware 2.40 brings in-game XrossMediaBar (XMB) access along with infrastructure for the achievement trophy system. If you have eight minutes to kill, watch the video above for a walkthrough of the XMB features, otherwise here’s the Cliff’s Notes version of what you can actually do with the new XMB access in game:

  • View your friends list and send/receive text messages
  • Play your own music stored on the hard drive while playing a game that supports it (The list of games supported is unconfirmed right now)
  • Connect/fiddle with your bluetooth device settings – this is most likely going to mean hooking up your bluetooth headset for voice communication in game
  • Check the progress of your queued downloads from the Playstation Store

While this goes a long way in bringing the online feature set of the PS3 to parity with the Xbox 360, it’s still missing a few key features. Namely:

  • Private voice chat
  • Voice message capability
  • Invite friends to a game

Arguably, these features are the most important for an easy online gaming experience. I always use private voice chat whenever I’m playing with a buddy because you can talk with them through game loading screens and such – something that you can’t do if you simply use the in game voice communications. Text messaging on a console is just a pain and being able to send invites directly from a friends list is a no-brainer. Still, one shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, I guess, as being able to see and communicate with your online friends in any form is better than the status quo.
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