Author: RPadTV

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Rumor: Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk Leaving BioWare?

There’s an interesting rumor going around that BioWare-founders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk are leaving the company. I don’t believe that rumor just yet, but I’m dreaming about the possibilities. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of both of these guys. They’re just talented, intelligent, and super-nice people.  They also helped make some of my favorite games of all time. When Marvel Comics coined the term “homo superior,” I’m pretty sure it was in anticipation of the BioWare doctors. They’ve both done well for themselves and they don’t need to work again; part of me dreams that they miss the creative freedom and nimbleness of running a small company (vs. being part of EA) and will start a new studio.

While you’re thinking about the possibility of BioWare without the BioWare doctors, why don’t you revisit this tribute video of the two from the night they were inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame? In addition to Dr. Ray and Dr. Greg, it features the legendary Bing Gordon, Cerny Games’ Mark Cerny, Incomniac Games’ Ted Price, Gas Powered Games’ Chris Taylor, Blizzard’s Frank Pearce and Paul Sams, Microsoft’s Don Mattrick, and more.

What do you think of the rumor of Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk leaving BioWare? Would you like to see the guys start a new game studio?

Source via Massively

McKayla Maroney is Not Impressed

My friend Barbara and RPadholic N8R showed me this awesome Tumblr page after I wrote about McKayla Maroney being my favorite 2012 American Olympian. It’s called “McKayla is Not Impressed.” It takes the dissatisfied look on her face as she was being awarded the 2012 Olympic vault silver medal and puts her in a bunch of…interesting situations. My two favorites (so far) are McKayla not being impressed by the explosion of the Death Star (above) and Muhammad Ali’s knockout of Sonny Liston (below). As a big nerd and a huge boxing fan, these are two of the most iconic images floating around my head…but alas, they’re not the least bit impressive to McKayla Maroney. Check out the page when you have a chance and let me know what “McKayla is Not Impressed” picture is your favorite (please)!

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I’d love to be playing Sleeping Dogs this weekend, but I’m in New York for the next seven days. Sleeping Dogs will be a nice treat to return home to, but for now my numerous iPad games and Outernauts will have to satisfy my videogame cravings. Outernauts is so good! I’m completely addicted to Insomniac’s social game. The Pokemon-like gameplay makes it different from and gives it more depth than other energy-based games on Facebook. I’m always in the need of more Outernauts friends, so I hope that some of you will play with me.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?

Ben Affleck Approached to Direct Justice League Movie?

This might be the most frightening nerd news I’ve heard in 2012. According to Variety, Warner Bros. has approached Ben Affleck to direct the upcoming Justice League movie. While I enjoyed his performances in Mallrats and Chasing Amy, as well has the directing job he did in The Town, the “Ben Affleck + Superheroes” equation scares me. His performance in Daredevil was atrocious and I worry about what goes on in his head when he thinks about comic-book superheroes. Anyway, here’s the skinny:

With Christopher Nolan declaring himself out of the running for “Justice League,” Warner Bros. has approached another of its go-to directors in Ben Affleck, who’s expected to discuss the project with studio brass in the coming days, multiple sources tell Variety.

Since guiding WB’s “The Town” to commercial success and critical acclaim from both sides of the camera, Affleck has ascended high on the studio’s list of filmmakers who can be trusted with prime properties. Thus far, Affleck is the only candidate who’s been sent Will Beall’s “Justice League” script, which the “Gangster Squad” scribe was hired to write last summer.

This is the man that portrayed Daredevil/Matt Murdock as mentally disabled instead of blind. At least, that’s what it seemed like he was doing. Unless Justice League is set in Boston, I have a mountain of doubts about Affleck’s ability to successfully direct this movie. I’m scared. Somebody hold me.

Source

TwitterMania III: Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Nash

Chris Jericho and Kevin Nash are fighting again, but this time it’s not in the squared circle. This bout (scheduled for one fall?) is taking place on Twitter. It all started with this excellent Grantland article on Nash. A small part of it covers Nash’s dislike of smaller wrestlers (that can actually wrestle). The man formerly known as Diesel / Vinnie Vegas / Master Blaster Steel / Oz said:

When Benoit and Guerrero hugged [at the end of WrestleMania XX], that was the end of the business. Has business been the same since that WrestleMania? Has it come close to the Austin era? Has it come close to the nWo or the Hogan era? You put two fucking guys that were great workers that were the same height as the fucking referees, and I’m sorry, man. Are you going to watch a porno movie with a guy with a three-inch dick? Even if you’re not gay, you will not watch a porno movie with a guy with a three-inch dick. That’s not the standard in porno films. So you put a 5-foot-7 guy as your world champion.

Longtime wrestling fans will recall that Jericho was friends with Benoit and Guerrero. He worked with both in WCW and WWE. Nash’s criticism prompted the following tweet from Jericho:

Naturally, Nash didn’t take kindly to the barb. He responded by calling Jericho a Vince McMahon puppet, as well as poking fun at his elimination from Celebrity Duets:

Jericho retorted by making fun of Nash’s chronic leg problems and calling him the NWO’s third wheel:

I love Twitter for a number of reasons. One of the minor ones is reading these celebrity cat fights. Nash has a point about some pro-wrestling fans preferring larger-than-life characters. A few of you have mentioned not liking guys like CM Punk because he’s small and looks like a normal dude. As for me, I’m totally with Jericho on this one. I love that WWE is pushing smaller guys like Punk and Bryan Danielson — guys that can put together outstanding matches.

Like I said in December 2011, Danielson and Punk holding the major WWE titles reminded me of when Benoit and Guerrero held the straps. “The Hug” was actually one of my favorite moments in WWE history. It was awesome that two talented guys that worked extremely hard were able to reach the top, despite not being the biggest wrestlers on the roster. While I think Nash is fantastic on the mic, a lot of his success was because of his size and his political savvy backstage. I respect what Nash has accomplished in the wrestling business, but I rather pay money to see guys like Danielson instead of some lumbering big-man.

McKayla Maroney is My Favorite 2012 American Olympian

When Jordyn Wieber — reigning gymnastics world champion and favorite to win it all at the Olympics — failed to qualify for the overall individual finals, she cried. When McKayla Maroney — the favorite to win gold in the vault competition — botched a landing, bumping her down to a silver medal, she smoldered. She was pissed off. She didn’t cry from the disappointment. Her anger at herself for missing the landing was palpable. This is why she’s my favorite 2012 American Olympian (also because of the unintentional comedy, explained below).

You could feel Maroney’s competitive nature from the other side of the television. Her deathly glower reminded me of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant — two guys that would (probably) knife their mothers (in a non-lethal way) to win a game of checkers. That killer instinct and that competitiveness caused some journalists to accuse Maroney of being unsportsmanlike at an event that’s supposed to be a global gathering centered around sportsmanship. Look at the clip below, for example.

That’s Maroney shunning a hug from Russian gymnast Maria Paseka, the winner of the bronze medal. On the surface, it looked like Maroney was about to say, “Bitch, get the f*ck off me.” I don’t think it was a case of her being a poor sport. I think she was so stunned by and angry at her failure that she was unable to process anything else. Along with extreme competitiveness, another trait many high-level athletes have is the ability to focus to an extraordinary degree. Unfortunately, that can lead to awkward moments like what happened in the video above and the picture below.

As time passed and the medal ceremony began, Maroney was still thinking about her missed landing. She knew that she was the best vaulter at the Olympics. There’s a reason why many people think that the Amanar vault (named after multi-medal winning gymnast Simona Amanar) should be renamed the Maroney. Normally, she does it better than anyone else that ever lived. Like Chris Jericho, she is the best in the world at what she does…on most days. Even though she didn’t have it when it mattered most in 2012, I love that her competitive nature has her staring down gold medalist Sandra Raluca Izbasa with a look that says, “That’s my god damned medal!”

Even when the attention was on her for winning the silver — a remarkable accomplishment — you could tell that she was completely dissatisfied with and incredulous about what transpired that day. Like Ricky Bobby, she believes, “You’re either first, or you’re last!” I just love her attitude! I’m sure that “only” winning the silver will take her training to a new level and she will attack the 2016 Olympics with a fiery determination. She’ll only be 20 then and (barring an unexpected pubescent growth spurt) she’ll be back with a vengeance!

So yeah, McKayla Maroney didn’t win the gold and some sports writers have accused her of being bratty, but she also won the hearts of many fans that like their athletes to have an irrational sense of competitiveness. And in case you were wondering (I know some of you were), she turns 18 on December 9, 2013 (not that it’s marked on my calendar or anything). Go Team McKayla!!!