Overhaul Games president Trent Oster posted a long and excellent postmortem on Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition on Gamasutra. Oster goes over several things that went right and several things that went wrong during the remake of this BioWare classic. As a fan of the original game, the new game, and BioWare, I really enjoyed all five pages of the postmortem. In addition to the behind-the-scenes factoids you’d expect, the article covers a lot of BioWare history. It was one of the most enjoyable videogame postmortems I’ve read in years and I highly recommend checking it out.
HISHE Super Cafe Meets Swingers
Here’s a mashup of two of my favorite things: the “Super Cafe” sketches from How It Should Have Ended and the movie Swingers. This clip mimics a scene at the end of the movie, with Superman playing Vince Vaughn’s character, Batman playing Jon Favreau’s character, and Elastigirl (The Incredibles) playing the girl making baby faces. It’s very well done and “super” cute. Continue reading “HISHE Super Cafe Meets Swingers”
Dish Proposes $25.5-Billion Merger With Sprint
Sprint Nextel sure has a lot of suitors these days. Earlier in the year, it was being courted by Japanese company SoftBank to the tune of $20.1-billion. Satellite television provider Dish Network has trumped the offer, proposing a $25.5-billion merger. The deal would have huge ramifications for the mobile communications, telecommunications, and television industries, and is indicative of where these businesses are possibly heading. Here’s a clip from Dish’s press release:
DISH is offering Sprint shareholders a total consideration of $25.5 billion, consisting of $17.3 billion in cash and $8.2 billion in stock. Sprint shareholders would receive $7.00 per share, based upon DISH’s closing price on Friday, April 12, 2013. This consists of $4.76 per share in cash and 0.05953 DISH shares per Sprint share. The cash portion of DISH’s proposal represents an 18% premium over the $4.03 per share implied by the SoftBank proposal, and the equity portion represents approximately 32% ownership in the combined DISH/Sprint versus SoftBank’s proposal of a 30% interest in Sprint alone. Together this represents a 13% premium to the value of the existing SoftBank proposal.
Thanks to advances with mobile phones, tablets, and mobile broadband, mobile video demand has been surging for the last few years. The video quality and content choices are getting better and better all the time. For companies that are primarily in the video content businesses, owning and controlling mobile broadband services is a potentially powerful thing. Dish is known for giving its customers a nice selection of commercial-free content for phones and tablets.
Then there’s the matter of spectrum. Dish has acquired large chunks of mobile broadband spectrum at an estimated $9-billion. While many telecom companies sit on spectrum purchases, they eventually become use-it-or-lose-it assets. Sprint’s service is…clunky in several areas of America and the spectrum could be used to improve the network over the long haul.
Are any of you Dish or Sprint customers? How do you feel about a proposed merger between the two companies?
The ESA Posts Videogame Design Summer Camps
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has posted a list of “summer camps focusing on videogame design and development.” (Man, I wish these were around when I was a kid. That would have been awesome.) The organization said that the number of game design summer camps has doubled, with a number of choices available in several states. Here’s a snippet from the press release:
Parents and students interested in video game design summer camp can choose from programs offered at colleges, middle schools, and high schools in 26 states and the District of Columbia. California (26), Pennsylvania (13), Massachusetts (10), New York (9), Texas (6), and Illinois (6) are the nation’s leaders for camp programs.
Definitely check out the list if you have kids interested in game design or if your friends have kids that want to grow up to be the next Cliff Bleszinski Hideo Kojima.
While it’s great the game design is becoming more prevalent at the college level, I’m even more excited about game design programs for younger people. As with most skills, the earlier people started, the better off they’ll become. It’s awesome that these summer camps exist and I’m positive that some great videogames will be made by people that attended these programs.
For those of you that have kids or are planning to have kids, would you send your young one to videogame design summer camp?
This Week’s Videogame Releases
It looks like the only noteworthy game shipping this week is Injustice: Gods Among Us. Comic-book fanboys and fighting-game aficionados will definitely want to keep their eyes on this one. One of my videogame writer friends was raving about the game last night, saying that it’s lots of fun and comparable to the most recent Mortal Kombat game. As a mark from DC Comics (Nightwing rules!) and one of the people that actually enjoyed Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, I’m excited for this…but really, I’m excited for any game that features Nightwing. The dude rules, like Ben Affleck in Phantoms.
Any of you picking up new games this week?
Psy’s Gentleman Video
From the man that brought you the global sensation known as “Gangnam Style” comes “Gentleman.” The music is similar to its predecessor — synth pop with a catchy hook. The video, in my opinion, is even better than the one for Psy’s last single. Throughout the clip, Psy does all sorts of naughty things: kicking a soccer ball away from a bunch of kids, pulling a bikini top off of a sunbathing woman, making a woman in a restaurant smell his butt odor, and more. Of course there’s lots of goofy dancing and scantily clad women too. Similar to “Gangnam Style,” I can’t stop watching this video.
While it will be impossible to top “Gangnam Style,” I expect “Gentleman” to have some success. Check out the clip when you have a chance and let me know what you think (please!). Will Psy be able to catch lightning in a bottle twice? Or is he the latest in a long line of one-hit wonders?
Vaping Diaries #54: Highbrow Vapor Review
While I rarely come across three e-liquids that I don’t like in a single review (though it does happen), it’s also rare for me to love all three e-liquids from a single review. Yet that’s the case with the three Highbrow Vapor juices I recently vaped. It was a pleasure puffing away at the company’s Limoncello, Tabac de Perique, and Buttered Rum and Then Some e-liquids. These are definitely three juices that I’d recommend to fellow vapers and want to vape again in the future. Here are the breakdowns and steeping notes.
Limoncello: A few Highbrow Vapor fans have said that this juice tastes like lemon Italian ice and I think that description is right on the money. Specifically, it reminded me of the Marino’s Italian ice that I enjoyed as a kid. You get a pleasant and sweet lemon flavor, with a touch of tanginess. Out of the three flavors in this review, this is the most straightforward and probably the one with the broadest appeal. While Italian ice is a treat for a hot summer day, this is a delicious juice any time of the year.
Tabac de Perique: Juices made with perique flavor are some the most divisive out there. Perique has a very distinct taste, which some people describe as “musty” or “funky.” Personally, I enjoy perique, but understand why some people don’t. This juice isn’t as “funky” as some of the other perique juices I’ve had because burley tobacco is in the mix. The burley does a great job at complementing the perique and toning down the qualities that some people find overwhelming. It comes together for a very rich and flavorful tobacco blend that’s nutty and sweet. It was tough picking a favorite out of these three juices, but this was the one I always reached for first.
Buttered Rum and Then Some: Closing things out is a moderately sweet e-liquid with lots of complexity. Highbrow describes it as having “buttered rum, vanilla bean, hazelnut, hints of cinnamon, and nutmeg” flavors. The lovely thing about this juice was that different flavors become more pronounced depending on the wattage. For dessert vapes, I prefer juices that have complexity and aren’t overly sweet. With that in mind, this one was an absolute homerun (it’s baseball season!). Vapers that prefer really sweet juices might not like this one as much as I did, but for what I enjoy, it was truly outstanding.
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.
Limoncello
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: February 14, 2013
Uncapped: February 16, 2013 5:31PM
Vaped: March 24 – April 2, 2013
Tabac de Perique
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: February 14, 2013
Uncapped: February 16, 2013 5:31PM
Vaped: March 24 – April 2, 2013
Buttered Rum and Then Some
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: February 14, 2013
Uncapped: February 16, 2013 5:31PM
Vaped: March 24 – April 2, 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) juice; since those are known to clog up cartomizers quickly, those are vaped in atomizers and clearomizers.
Vaping Diaries #54: Highbrow Vapor Review
While I rarely come across three e-liquids that I don’t like in a single review (though it does happen), it’s also rare for me to love all three e-liquids from a single review. Yet that’s the case with the three Highbrow Vapor juices I recently vaped. It was a pleasure puffing away at the company’s Limoncello, Tabac de Perique, and Buttered Rum and Then Some e-liquids. These are definitely three juices that I’d recommend to fellow vapers and want to vape again in the future. Here are the breakdowns and steeping notes.
Limoncello: A few Highbrow Vapor fans have said that this juice tastes like lemon Italian ice and I think that description is right on the money. Specifically, it reminded me of the Marino’s Italian ice that I enjoyed as a kid. You get a pleasant and sweet lemon flavor, with a touch of tanginess. Out of the three flavors in this review, this is the most straightforward and probably the one with the broadest appeal. While Italian ice is a treat for a hot summer day, this is a delicious juice any time of the year.
Tabac de Perique: Juices made with perique flavor are some the most divisive out there. Perique has a very distinct taste, which some people describe as “musty” or “funky.” Personally, I enjoy perique, but understand why some people don’t. This juice isn’t as “funky” as some of the other perique juices I’ve had because burley tobacco is in the mix. The burley does a great job at complementing the perique and toning down the qualities that some people find overwhelming. It comes together for a very rich and flavorful tobacco blend that’s nutty and sweet. It was tough picking a favorite out of these three juices, but this was the one I always reached for first.
Buttered Rum and Then Some: Closing things out is a moderately sweet e-liquid with lots of complexity. Highbrow describes it as having “buttered rum, vanilla bean, hazelnut, hints of cinnamon, and nutmeg” flavors. The lovely thing about this juice was that different flavors become more pronounced depending on the wattage. For dessert vapes, I prefer juices that have complexity and aren’t overly sweet. With that in mind, this one was an absolute homerun (it’s baseball season!). Vapers that prefer really sweet juices might not like this one as much as I did, but for what I enjoy, it was truly outstanding.
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.
Limoncello
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: February 14, 2013
Uncapped: February 16, 2013 5:31PM
Vaped: March 24 – April 2, 2013
Tabac de Perique
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: February 14, 2013
Uncapped: February 16, 2013 5:31PM
Vaped: March 24 – April 2, 2013
Buttered Rum and Then Some
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: February 14, 2013
Uncapped: February 16, 2013 5:31PM
Vaped: March 24 – April 2, 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) juice; since those are known to clog up cartomizers quickly, those are vaped in atomizers and clearomizers.
Chewbacca Bathrobe…With Bandolier!
This Chewbacca bathrobe is one of the most awesomely nerdy products I’ve ever seen. The product listing says that it’s made from polyester, but rumor has it that the bathrobe is made with actual Wookiee fur. The only thing that’s missing is a matching bowcaster that dispenses soap.
The Post-WrestleMania Raw Phenomenon
The Monday Night Raw after WrestleMania has always been a charged event. The audience has lots of hardcore wrestling fans from out of town and there’s a lot of residual energy from the biggest pro-wrestling event of the year. The last two post-WrestleMania Raws have been particularly noteworthy. In 2012, the crowd was absolutely nuts for Bryan Danielson, since many felt that he was shafted by only getting 18 seconds of WrestleMania wrestling time. This year, the smarks (smart marks) totally took over the show; they completely overshadowed the Sheamus vs. Randy Orton match with out-of-nowhere chants (Mike Chioda?!?), made Fandango’s theme song shockingly popular, and became a bigger part of the show than most of the in-ring action.
Some are calling the post-WrestleMania Raw “Smarkageddon,” while others are using the terms, “Monday Night Marks,” and (my personal favorite), “Smarks After Dark.” Whatever label you prefer, it’s a beautiful case of the inmates running the asylum. If you missed out on the shenanigans then check out the clips below.
It’s too bad the WWE didn’t post the entire Sheamus vs. Orton match. The crowd was so unruly that it caused Orton to forget a line and had both wrestlers distracted at various points in the match. It was one of the most remarkable things I’ve ever seen from a WWE crowd. I’m used to such behavior at smaller, smark-filled shows like those held by Ring of Honor, Dragon Gate, and Pro-Wrestling Guerilla, but I’ve never seen it happen with a crowd that big, sustained for the entire show.
Some dirt-sheet writers feel that the crowd response “sent a message” to WWE and will start a trend of the audience upstaging the talent. While I expect several chants of Fandango’s “ChaChaLaLa,” I sincerely doubt there will be another show with a crowd as boisterous as the last Smarkageddon…until next year’s Smarkageddon.
What did you make of this year’s post-WrestleMania Raw? Do you think there will be a crow like that again in the near future? Or do you not expect to see an audience like that until Smarkageddon 2014?