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Coffee Talk #245: Game Review Events Revisited

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, NFL players not liking their boss (*cough* Brad Childress), Gwyneth Paltrow going country, or Sarah Palin’s cookie loving, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Way back in Coffee Talk #4 I wrote about my peeves with the incredibly unnatural process of reviewing games. In addition to the cram-a-thon sessions most game reviewers have to engage in, the occasional “review event” pops up every now and then. I was having a Twitter conversation with two game journalists at Games Radar about the matter. The “payola” factor of review events doesn’t bother me, since most writers can see past that (and in many cases, care more about playings games than enjoying luxurious surroundings). My problem with review events is that it affects the process. I am of the opinion that adding foreign surroundings to an already unnatural process alters perception.

The example that a lot of people are bringing up is GamePro’s Tae Kim’s review of the Call of Duty: Black Ops. Check out his opening paragraph:

The Ojai Valley Inn and Spa sits in the tiny town of Ojai about two hours north of downtown Los Angeles. Built in 1923, it features a full 18-hole golf course, a luxury spa, and 308 deluxe suites situated on a 200 acre plot with picaresque views of the surrounding forest and mountains. It’s hard to top in terms of amenities and creature comforts, and it seemingly offers everything you could ever want in a vacation spot. It’s utterly fitting, then, that this is where Activision chose to hold its review event for Call of Duty: Black Ops; the lavish surroundings were no doubt meant to lend a measure of sex appeal and ‘wow factor’ to the proceedings, but it was also a good metaphor for Black Ops: The game is a veritable playground that, like the plush resort where I and a handful of game journos from various outlets were sequestered for three days, seems to offer everything you could ever want in a console first-person shooter.

Forget the fact that I learned more about the Ojai Valley Inn than Call of Duty: Black Ops from the opening paragraph. Taking a gamer out of his/her natural environment alters perception, whether game journalists want to admit it or not. Playing games in your living room is natural. For staffers at gaming outlets, playing games at a desk or in a game lab is natural. Foreign environments — no matter how luxurious — change perception. Similar to how setting often changes the experience of listening to music, sipping wine, or enjoying coffee, setting changes the experience of playing a videogame.

Anyway, that’s my annual rant on review events. What do you think of them? Does it bother your that game writers are sequestered at luxury spas? Does it bother you that they have to review a game in a short period of time in a foreign environment? Or do you think that it’s not a big deal?

Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam Disappoints

After the outstanding Batman: Under the Red Hood and the good Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, I was really looking forward to Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam. One of the most intriguing and complex anti-heroes in the DC Universe, Black Adam is one of my favorite characters. Unfortunately, this animated feature didn’t convey what makes Black Adam so interesting.

But first, let’s cover some positive features of The Return of Black Adam. For the most part, I loved the art. It’s very clean, bright, and cheery, which fits in with the nature of Captain Marvel (yes, his name is Captain Marvel, not Shazam). The characterization of Billy Batson/Captain Marvel is well done. You really get a feel for his purity and innocence. The voice acting is great all around, which is par for the course with DC animated features. That’s pretty much it for the positives.

One problem I had with the art was the fight scenes. Superman, Captain Marvel, and Black Adam are three of the most powerful characters in DC Comics. Every time one of them throws a punch, windows should shatter and tidal waves should form in the ocean. The final fight scene between Neo and Agent Smith in The Matrix Revolutions is what a battle involving these three characters should be like. Instead, it was kind of like pro-wrestling with high-wire flying. The artists and animators did not illustrate the awesome power these three characters wield.

My minor gripe with Black Adam’s portrayal was his accent. He sounded Eastern European. In the comic books he hails from the fictional North African country of Kahndaq, which is supposed to be between Egypt and Israel. I’ve met people from Egypt and Israel. None of them sounded like Russian spies, which is that the Black Adam in this feature sounded like.

My major problem with Black Adam’s portrayal was its simplification. In the comics, he has been a villain and a hero. He has been in the Injustice Society and the Justice Society. He’s a beloved god-king in Kahndaq, but viewed as a severe threat to global stability by most other nations. He has a code of honor. He has suffered tragedies that have given him a harsh view of justice. He’s not really a bad guy or a good guy, but he’s done heroic and heinous things. In The Return of Black Adam, he’s just an evil dick. He was appointed Earth’s protector by the wizard Shazam and was corrupted by power — no complexity, no layers, and no depth. It’s so sad that Black Adam is nothing more than an evil dick in this movie.

I was disappointed immediately after watching Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam. After an hour or so passed, I kept thinking about one of Billy Bob Thornton’s lines in Bad Santa: “They can’t all be winners, kid.” After so many excellent and very good DC animated features, I suppose it was time for a dud. I just wish it didn’t involve one of my favorite characters in the DC Universe.

I Hope Manny Pacquiao Cripples Antonio Margarito

Let me preface this little rant by saying that even though I’m Filipino-American, I’m not a Manny Pacquiao fanboy. I enjoy his fights and love what he means to the Filipino people, but he’s not one of my all-time favorites. Let me also say that even though Antonio Margarito — Pacquiao’s opponent this Saturday — was caught cheating by trying to insert a plaster-like substance into his hand wraps, I was happy that his suspension was lifted and he’s getting a second chance.

With all of that in mind, I think it’s disgusting that Margarito, trainer Robert Garcia, and sparring partner Brandon Rios were making fun of Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach’s Parkinson’s disease. I watched a video of these three ass clowns doing impersonations of Roach. It was totally classless. Here’s more from Yahoo! Sports Kevin Iole:

Margarito, along with trainer Robert Garcia and training partner Brandon Rios, a lightweight contender, didn’t fail to disgust the other day.

A video surfaced on the Internet – first at Fanhouse.com, then later on other sites after Fanhouse apparently pulled it — of Margarito, Garcia and Rios making fun of Freddie Roach’s Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

They mocked Roach’s tremors, laughing like classless juveniles at the plight of a man who is fighting a debilitating, life-altering disease. Margarito held his arms in front of him and shook them, mocking Roach. And then Garcia pointed to Rios, whose held was tilted forward to the left and was shaking and said, “Hey, there’s Freddie Roach.”

I should have added that I’m a bigger fan of Freddie Roach than anyone else involved in this fight. Anyway, if you really want to see the video, I’ve embedded it below. Fast forward to the 2:03 mark.

I honestly hope that Pacquiao leaves Margarito with some permanent brain damage.

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Upcoming Clone Wars Reveal Secrets of Sith and Darth Maul

Future episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars will reveal a new villain that reveals major secrets of the sith and Darth Maul. The baddie, Savage Opress, will be revealed in 2010 at special screenings that you can attend. Here’s more info from StarWars.com:

For the first time ever, Sith training will be explored – and with it, truths about the very nature of the dark side itself!

A warrior forged by a dark sorcery as mystical and powerful as the Force, Opress will uncover shocking revelations about the galaxy’s tenuous balance of power, including secrets about one of the Sith’s most infamous villains — Episode I’s Darth Maul! From his origins to his fate, Maul’s mysteries will at long last be uncovered…

I haven’t been watching The Clone Wars, but several friends tell me that it’s really good. I also liked Darth Maul in Episode I, but a lot of that had to do with him being a mysterious character that didn’t say or reveal much (you know, the Boba Fett ploy). I’m intersted and a little afraid to learn about his origins. That said, I’ll definitely be tuning in to see if his background is any good.

How about you? Are you interested in learning more about Darth Maul, the sith, and Savage Opress?

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AT&T Commercial Triples Sales of Cool-Jams

I’m sure most of you have seen that AT&T commercial where a really hot chick professes her love for Cool-Jams. (It’s embedded above in case you haven’t.) The gag was meant to show off the power of AT&T’s mobile network (*snicker*) and poke fun at an uncool product. A curious side effect of the spot is a surge in Cool-Jams sales. According to a company press release:

Recently AT&T casually mentioned Cool-jams in one of their national commercials. Since then Cool-jams monthly sales have tripled.

My theory is that anything will sell if it’s mentioned by a really sexy woman.

Full disclosure: I’m actually friends with the girl in the commercial. This is just an elaborate way for me to say, “Hey! We really should hang out and catch up.” So take that Kim!

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Pentagon, FAA, Air Force, and Navy Baffled By LA “Missile”

That random Los Angeles missile is baffling several of the most respected American institutions, including the Pentagon. While some have stated that it’s clearly a jet or missile contrail, nobody knows — or is honestly saying — where it came from. According to CNN:

The Pentagon is unable to explain images of what witnesses took to be a high-altitude rocket launched off the coast of southern California at sunset Monday, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration, the Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and California Reps. Dana Rohrabacher and Jane Harman — whose coastal districts are closest to the offshore contrails — were at a loss to explain the images.

I’m abandoning my theory that the “missile” was an act of defense against a skrull invasion. Clearly the government has made breakthroughs in repulsor-ray technology and is testing out a form of Iron Man armor. It all makes sense now….

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Coffee Talk #244: Memorable Videogame Bugs and Glitches

Last week a few of you started talking about videogame bugs and glitches and I thought to myself, “Self, this would make a fantastic Coffee Talk topic!” So here it is! Whether they were bugs that completely ruined your game’s progress or glitches that…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, your thoughts on Conan’s new show, President Obama getting grilled at the G20 meetings, or Derek Jeter’s undeserved Gold Glove, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Last week a few of you started talking about videogame bugs and glitches and I thought to myself, “Self, this would make a fantastic Coffee Talk topic!” So here it is! Whether they were bugs that completely ruined your game’s progress or glitches that you exploited to get an edge, I’m sure y’all have some great stories to share.

As for me, I’m going to have go old school, since I don’t really think about bugs or glitches as a pure gamer anymore. Obviously I loved getting extra lives in Contra using the most popular startup code in the universe, but I’m going to give Super Mario Bros. World 3-1 my vote. I remember playing the game with my friend Alex and laughing at how long it took him to master the infinite lives glitch. That little glitch led to hundreds of hours of gameplay and friendship in my parents’ basement. Good times.

Now it’s your turn! What are some videogame bugs and glitches that have been seared into your memory?

Random Missile Fired Near Los Angeles…Wait, What?!?

I can’t believe I missed this yesterday! Apparently a random and mysterious “missile” was fired off the coast of Los Angeles. Military officials are still investigating the matter. The fact that they don’t know what happened — or are not revealing the truth — is extremely disturbing. Here’s the skinny from the LA Times:

Military and aviation officials said Tuesday they don’t know who may have launched a mysterious object spotted in the sky late Monday off the Southern California coast, but noted that whatever the projectile was, it did not pose a threat to national security.

A KCBS news helicopter spotted what appeared to be a missile traveling through the sky northwest of Catalina Island, about 35 miles west of Los Angeles.

Holy hell!!! The United States of America has the largest and most sophisticated military in the world and it can’t keep track of its own missiles?!? A case of “oops” is completely unacceptable. That said, the truth could be really cool. In my head the missile was launched to repel a fleet of skrulls or some other nasty alien race.

What do you think happened? Also, thanks to Jason for the link! (Also also, I was going to file this under mobile tech. *snicker*)

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Call of Duty: Black Ops Midnight Launch Video

Sometimes it’s nice to have a GameStop below your apartment. Last night as I was out for a walk, I noticed all these gamers lined up for the Call of Duty: Black Ops launch. I went to my apartment, grabbed my camera, and filmed some video. Here’s a quick look at what the Call of Duty: Black Ops midnight launch was like at the Koreatown Los Angeles GameStop.