Here are a bunch of screens from Way of the Dogg starring Snoop Dogg/Lion/Potser. Since it stars a man with many names, the game is appropriately a mix of many genres. There’s fighting, rhythm, and music for you to deal with. While I’m still digging up information on whether this game is best played under herbal influences, here’s a lovely third-person quote from the D-O-Double-G himself:
Everyone knows that Snoop is down with the biggest and best video games whether it’s droppin’ my hits on the soundtrack or showing the world I can go toe-to-toe with the best fighters on the street but Way of the Dogg is the first true gamification of my music. It’s the way you live, it’s the way you do what you do and captures the beat, the rhythm and the spirit of my music. It’s not just about who you are or where you’ve been but where you are headed to. This game shows how we evolve as individuals and they’ve incorporated the journey of my own personal reincarnation as Snoop Lion into my character, the environments and the path that players have to follow.
While I believe that Snoop is one of the people that’s allowed to refer to himself in the third person, I’m fairly certain that the word “gamification” isn’t in his vernacular…but that’s just conjecture. That aside, there’s something strangely alluring about a rhythm/fighting game starring Snoop Dogg. It appeals to me…and I don’t know why.
Way of the Dogg is coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and mobile platforms. It will be released in conjunction with Snoop’s Reincarnated movie and album, set for release on March 15, 2013 and April 23, 2013, respectively. Do any of you find the game appealing? Or have I been inhaling strange vapors?
The ad blocking issue is coming up again. In 2010 Ars-Technica founder Ken Fisher wrote a story on why blocking ads is devastating for web sites you enjoy. Recently, Destructoid founder Niero Gonzales wrote a story and stated that almost half of the site’s readers block ads. The use of ad blockers is particularly disheartening for videogame web sites and freelance writers. From the outside, it’s easy to see the number of gaming web sites that have shut down over the last few years. From the inside…more
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, Mariano Rivera being a possible first-ballot hall-of-famer, the resurgent Los Angeles Lakers (see also: the choking Utah Jazz), or packing procrastination, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
The ad blocking issue is coming up again. In 2010 Ars-Technica founder Ken Fisher wrote a story on why blocking ads is devastating for web sites you enjoy. Recently, Destructoid founder Niero Gonzales wrote a story and stated that almost half of the site’s readers block ads. The use of ad blockers is particularly disheartening for videogame web sites and freelance writers. From the outside, it’s easy to see the number of gaming web sites that have shut down over the last few years. From the inside, the number of full-time jobs, the number of freelance gigs, and freelance rates have gone down.
Today I’d love to hear about your ad-blocking habits. I’m not judging. I’m just curious. Do you always use ad blockers? Do you disable ad-blocking plug-ins on sites you like? Please take the poll below and expand on your choice in the comments section.
[poll id=”178″]
As for me, I used to use AdBlock Plus all the time, but now I rarely use ad blocking of any kind. Part of it is that advertising has generally become more sophisticated and less obnoxious. Sure, there are still some garish ads out there, but for the most part I don’t see those kinds of spots on the sites I frequent. A bigger part of it was understanding the economics of operating a content-based site, especially as a small business owner. Making money with Internet content is getting harder and harder. I’m happy to allow ads on sites that I find mildly entertaining. For those that I truly enjoy, I will actively click on ads that interest me.
Yeah, I realize that very few Internet users try to support sites this way and many aren’t even aware of how blocking ads hurts the sites they enjoy. Just thinking about the fun gaming web sites that have shut down over the years and those that are in the process of shutting down makes me wonder if they’d still be around if their readers didn’t block ads.
Here’s a batch of new screens for the upcoming Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. When I saw the game last October, I was impressed by its art style, unique yet simple gameplay, and non-verbal storytelling. It reminded me of Ico, with a bit of Heavy Rain thrown in. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is coming to PC (via Steam), PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in Spring 2013. It will be available for $15 or 1,200 units of make-believe Xbox Live currency. Check out the screens below and let me know what you think (please!). Continue reading “Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Screens”
Volcano is one of the most visible e-cig brands in America. The company has several mall kiosks throughout the country and a pair of excellent vapor cafes. The company’s Lavatube line is one of the most popular mods out there. So how are Volcano’s e-liquids? I vaped Bonzai Banana, Lahaina Lychee, and Pipeline Peach to find out. The short version is that I can’t recommend any of these juices. One of them was passable, while the other two didn’t appeal to me at all. Here are the breakdowns and steeping notes.
Bonzai Banana: This juice has a very artificial and candy-like taste. My brother likes this one because it reminds him of banana taffy, but I couldn’t stand it. You know how a banana scratch-and-sniff sticker smells? That’s how this e-liquid tastes. Even though I prefer natural fruit flavors, I understand that some people enjoy candy-like e-liquids. That said, I honestly don’t see the appeal of this particular take on banana and think that my brother is a bit nuts for liking it (though to be fair, he’s only been vaping since December and hasn’t tried many “good” juices).
Lahaina Lychee: I was really looking forward to this one because lychee is an uncommon e-liquid and most popular vendors don’t offer this flavor. I absolutely love the fruit — both fresh and canned. This juice has a mild lychee taste, but it’s also accompanied by some bitterness and a pungent aroma. Additionally, it doesn’t have the sweetness I expect from lychee. While it wasn’t as bad as its banana brother, I thought that this juice was mediocre at best — the lychee flavor wasn’t strong enough and too many other characteristics spoil the overall taste. I have a bottle of Ahlusion’s Boba Tea with Lychee that I’ll be reviewing in the future; the lychee flavor in Ahlusion’s juice is exponentially better than the one in Volcano’s.
Pipeline Peach: This is a pretty average peach juice with a candy flavor. It reminded me of Haribo Gummi Peaches. Again, I prefer natural fruit flavors — especially when it comes to peach — but I can see how some people would like this juice. That said, it’s pretty average. If you’re looking for a candied peach taste then I recommend Backwoods Brew’s Peach; it’s much better and a little bit cheaper than Volcano’s juice. While this juice was “pretty average,” as I mentioned earlier, that also makes it the best of the three.
Steeping Notes
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method starting December 27, 2012. When the e-liquids arrive, I leave them uncapped for five minutes. Previously, I left them uncapped for about two days. After the liquids are given a few minutes to oxidize, the caps are put back on. The bottles are shaken every day for at least two weeks before vaping.
Bonzai Banana
80/20 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine (PG/VG ratio not listed on the bottle, this is what I was told by a store clerk)
Uncapped: December 28, 2012 3:40PM
Vaped: March 5, 2013 – March 9, 2013
Lahaina Lychee
80/20 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine (PG/VG ratio not listed on the bottle, this is what I was told by a store clerk)
Uncapped: December 28, 2012 3:40PM
Vaped: March 5, 2013 – March 9, 2013
Pipeline Peach
80/20 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine (PG/VG ratio not listed on the bottle, this is what I was told by a store clerk)
Uncapped: December 28, 2012 3:40PM
Vaped: March 5, 2013 – March 9, 2013
Review Process (Updated February 17, 2013) RPad.TV e-liquid reviews focus on the flavor of the e-liquids, since throat hit and vapor production can be altered by the PG/VG ratio and nicotine level selected. Each juice is vaped over a period of days in an atomizer, a cartomizer/tank setup, and a clearomizer. The exception is naturally-extracted tobacco (NET) juices; since those are known to clog up cartomizers quickly, those are vaped in atomizers and clearomizers.
Xi3 Corporation has announced that its Piston Console will start at $999.99 and arrive during the Holiday 2013 season. According to Kotaku, this “unofficial” Steam Box is being partially financed by Valve. Curiously, the “Valve” and “Steam” brands aren’t mentioned in the Piston Console’s press release. The system is available for pre-order with a $100 discount that’s good until March 17, 2013 at 11:59PM CST.
The pre-order page shows that the Piston Console packs an AMD R464 quad-core processor listed at 3.2GHz, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. A 256GB SSD can be added for an additional $340 while a 512GB SSD can be added for an additional $750. According to CPU World, the AMD R464 has a standard frequency of 2.3GHz and a “Turbo” frequency of 3.2GHz.
I know that RPadholic smartguy is anxious for a Steam Box. Are any of you interested in Xi3’s Piston Console? Will you take advantage of the pre-order savings? Or are you going to wait for more choices? What do you think of the Piston Console’s looks and price?
The wonderful Comixology service has introduced a self-publishing program for independent creators called Comixology Submit. The service allows creators to publish digital comics for free and receive “50% of the gross sale after credit card fees are taken out.” Arists and authors retain the rights to any works submitted to Comixology. This is a potentially huge opportunity for creators to take advantage of the largest digital distribution service for comic books.
The service has me thinking about comic books that I’ve scripted. I was working with an artist 11 years ago on a comic, but it never progressed beyond rough plots. Since I suck at art, perhaps one of you would like to take a nab at bringing a comic book to life? If so, I’d love to use something silly that Zoe Flower and I wrote nine years ago called The Adventures of R.Pad and Z.Kitty. It’s a fantasy tale that’s full of inside jokes about our friendship. While I don’t expect to sell many (any) issues, I’d love to have one ready for her 40th birthday in July. I’ll publish the (really) rough text of the fiction next week while I’m away in the Philippines.
So I have two questions for you today. First, are any of you interested in submitting to Comixology Submit or browsing through new independent comics through the service? Secondly, who wants to help me bring The Adventures of R.Pad and Z.Kitty to life?
The boys head back to Las Vegas for more adventures and misfortunes in The Hangover Part III. According to IMDB, Mike Tyson, Mr. Chow, Black Doug, and Stripper Jade will be returning. Check out the trailer below for a glimpse of what’s in store for final chapter of The Hangover series. Highlights include an implied giraffe decapitation, Alan having a seductive moment with a woman causing Stu to retch, and Mr. Chow choking a chicken.
Are you ready for another raunchy romp with Alan, Phil, and Stu? Or have you had enough of this franchise?
The latest trailer for the Deadpool videogame by High Moon Studios has been getting strong reactions from comic-book fanboys. Some people love it and some people hate it. As expected, the action is big and loud and obnoxious. As expected, Deadpool is also loud and obnoxious. Some feel that he’s too much of an idiot in the trailer, while others feel that Wade Wilson is, in fact, an idiot and acts appropriately in the clip. What do you think? Check out the trailer below and let me know in the comments section (please).
As for me, I understand both sides of the argument. The trailer has some of the qualities people want and expect from Deadpool. As a longtime fan of the comics and character, I can see how some people feel that some of his wit and charm are missing. Yes, he’s supposed to be juvenile, but he’s also supposed to be a clever, fourth-wall breaking, and parodic character. You don’t get that from the trailer, but hey it’s only a trailer, right? Writing should be a huge part of the game and I need to hear more dialogue before coming to a conclusion. Besides, Deadpool feeling up Cable negates any of the trailer’s shortcomings.
What do you think of the Deadpool trailer? Fire away!
A few months ago, I reviewed the Innokin iTaste MVP and walked away impressed. While the device lacked some features that some vapers want in a mod, it still offered great performance and value for the money. I’ve been using Innokin’s latest mod — the iTaste SVD (Superior Vaping Device) — for the last month and find it even more impressive than its predecessor. This is a well-made mod that features quality construction and great performance in a complete kit that’s available for a relatively low price.
What’s in the Kit: The iTaste SVD comes with the mod, two telescoping tubes to accommodate different battery sizes, two iClear 30 clearomizers, three replacement coils for the clearos, an instruction manual for the mod, and an instruction manual for the clearos. This is an especially great kit for new vapers; all you need are some batteries, a charger, and e-liquid to start vaping.
Construction and Build Quality: The iTaste SVD is made primarily from stainless steel. The body is very sturdy, which is to be expected from a stainless steel mod. The lines are clean and the mod is generally attractive. Star Wars nerds will love that it looks like lightsaber. Overall I was impressed by the design and construction of the iTaste SVD. It feels like a high-quality product that should cost a bit more than it does.
It’s easy to assemble the mod and change batteries after putting a bit of Noalox on the threads. I highly recommend using Noalox or another anti-oxidant lubricant with the SVD. It makes the tubes easier to handle and helps extend the life of the threads.
One of my criticisms of the original iTaste MVP is that it didn’t work with all eGo-threaded products. That issue has been addressed with the iTaste SVD. It works well with standard 510 products, as well as eGo-threaded products.
Ergonomics and Design: The mod is slightly thin for a device that uses 18xxx batteries. Depending on the battery configuration used, it can be too long for some users. For single-battery use, it can use 18350 to 18650 batteries. For vapers that want the maximum voltage and wattage range, stacked 18350 batteries are recommended. With a single 18490 battery, the iTaste SVD is longer than many 18650 mods. Using an 18650 or two 18350 batteries gives it borderline comical length.
I’ve been using the iTaste SVD mostly with 18490 and 18650 batteries. While I wasn’t getting the battery life I needed with the former, the size was acceptable. With an 18650 the device was longer than what I like, but not something that bothered me. However, I can see the length being an issue for some vapers that want to use this mod with larger or stacked batteries.
As for the weight, I loved it, even with the 18650. I like heavy mods with a substantial heft, so SVD felt great to me. People that prefer lighter mods might not enjoy how this mod feels. The weight of the stainless steel body combined with the weight of a large battery or two stacked batteries can make this mod too heavy for some people.
Operation: The iTaste SVD can be adjusted from 3.3 to 6.0 volts in increments of 0.1 volts. For variable wattage, it has a range of 3.0 to 15.0 watts that can be adjusted in increments of 0.5 watts. For such a powerful and diverse mod, it’s really easy to use. There’s a firing button, a plus button, and a minus button. The various functions are activated using a combination of buttons presses (which I listed in my preview).
The iTaste SVD has a bright and clear LED display that displays voltage, wattage, battery life, atomizer resistance, and more. The firing button displays green, yellow, and red to give you a rough idea of battery life. Between the simple controls and bright screen, most vapers will find this mod a breeze to use.
Performance and Battery Life: Like the other Innokin products I’ve used, the iTaste SVD delivered consistent output for some great vaping. It worked well with the various atomizers, cartomizers, and clearomizers I put on it. Output remained consistent for the entire life of the battery. For those concerned with safety, the mod has a battery protection circuit and overtime vaping warnings.
Battery life, of course, depends on what you have in the mod. With an 18490, I was getting about half a day of vaping. My preferred 18650 battery gave me a little more than a full day. I appreciate that the iTaste SVD doesn’t come with batteries. It gives vapers the choice to buy the battery size that best suits their needs. Many vendors also package their mods with crap batteries and chargers; hopefully this mod will help vapers avoid garbage products and buy quality products like Panasonic’s excellent 18650s and the Nitecore Intellicharge i4 charger.
Verdict: Innokin continues to impress with its excellent vaping devices. The iTaste SVD is well made, provides satisfying and consistent vapes, and is easy to use. The only major drawback is subjective — some people will find it too heavy and long. Personally, I loved its heft and didn’t mind the length, but understand that some vapers will feel otherwise.
I’ve seen the iTaste SVD listed for $70 to $100. At $70, the kit is an outstanding value. Even at $100, it’s a very good value. Considering that I was very pleased with the iTaste MVP, my expectations for this mod were pretty high. I’m happy to say that Innokin has exceeded my expectations. As long as you can deal with the length and weight, I highly recommend the iTaste SVD.
inXile Entertainment’s Kickstarter pitch for Torment: Tides of Numenera has blown bas its $900,000 goal in less than a day. The game “continues the thematic legacy” of Planescape: Torment, one of the most critically acclaimed PC RPGs of the ’90s. The game frequently comes up in conversations I have with old-school PC gamers, often starting with, “You know, I sure wish someone would make a sequel to Planescape: Torment. That game was the bomb, like Ben Affleck in Phantoms.” While Tides of Numenera isn’t exactly a sequel, the developers appear to be working on something that will make many Planescape: Torment fans happy. Check out inXile’s Kickstarter video below.
Even though I prefer swords-and-sorcery settings, I was totally jazzed by Planescape: Torment’s rich storytelling and deep gameplay. It stood out back in 1999 and there really hasn’t been anything like it since. inXile seems very much aware of the legacy it has to live up to. The company is also passionate about games from that era and has talent that worked on some of the best games from the Interplay/Black Isle Studios days. In fact, several key members of the Planescape: Torment team and writers of the Planescape setting for TSR are working on Tides of Numenera. If anyone is equipped to deliver a thematic successor to Planescape: Torment, it’s these guys.
As of this writing, iNxile has reached $1,217,050 in funding, blowing past its original goal in a matter of hours. In the immortals words of Darth Vader, “Impressive. Most impressive.”
Any of you excited for Torment: Tides of Numenera? Will you contribute some Kickstarter funds?
