What’s Jack Black doing now? Only making the most metal game EVAR

Years ago Tim Schafer, creator and writer of games such as Grim Fandango and Secrets of Monkey Island, created a game for the Xbox called Psychonauts, it was critically praised for it’s gameplay, level design, story, humor and just about everything else under the son. The game did not sell so well (as many aesthetically pleasing games do), but it became a cult classic. Despite the game’s poor sales Double Fine Studios and Tim Schafer signed a contract with Vivendi Universal to create another game for them. For many months it was unknown what this game would be called, or what it was about.

Double Fine eventually released the next game they were working on, but it wasn’t what most expected. It was a flash fighting game (which can be seen on their website), and it was rather funny, but it was no Psychonauts. Then Jack Black, the world famous comedic actor known for his role in School of Rock and in the band Tenacious D, was seen wearing a T-shirt. No big surprise there, but what was on it was a hint on what was to come from Double Fine.
Continue reading “What’s Jack Black doing now? Only making the most metal game EVAR”

monoface: Mr. Potato Head on steroids

monoface

Browsing through the five-hundred lane interstate highway that is the internets, I came across monoface, an interesting project that puts all create-your-own-funny-face online games to shame. It uses actual photos (and really good ones, too) to create hybrids. Of course, no gender segregation and some humorous subjects makes for some rather strikingly funny results, as you see above.

I really like the professionalism here. Every possible face look real (albeit awkward) and blends perfectly. If you have nothing better to do, I recommend to hit the link and try monoface out for some laughs. If you have something better to do, I recommend you hit the link anyways.

Super Smash In February: Good or Bad?

Super Smash Bros Brawl cover art

Super Smash Brawl has been officially moved to February 10th, 2008. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Personally, I believe this is a good thing because in my mind, if a game takes longer to come out but it actually needed that time to fix things, it is completely worth it. I don’t want a game to come out a few months earlier just because that’s when they said it would come out. I want the game to come out when the creators feel that it is ready.

Additionally, who can really say that there’s not enough games out right now, or coming out in the next couple of months as it is. I know I definitely don’t have enough money to spend on these games but if you do, you probably have better stuff to do than think about when Super Smash is coming out.

Also, February is generally a month in which a small number of games usually comes out. In addition to spacing out the times of these awesome games coming out, it is filling in the some of the gaps during a usually gameless month.

Weekly Games: 10/14

Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground Cover

Ok, so where I live it’s still officially 10/13. Who cares?! It’s a week in games, meaning someone’s gotta tell you all what you’re missing while you play Orange Box’s Portal or Team Fortress 2.

PS3

  • Tony Hawks Proving Grounds (10/18): In case Skate wasn’t good enough for you and you need something to cling on to for the weekend. Because apparently Everyday Shooter ain’t good enough fer ye.

PSP

  • Thrillville: Off the Rails (10/15): Ever have the need to build amusement parks on the go?
  • Swat: Target Liberty (10/18): So, liberty’s the target, eh? Well, good luck shooting her with a missile.
  • Spiderman 3 (10/18): Amazingly late, we thought this one was all but forgotten. Silly us. Activision doesn’t leave a man behind. Ever.

360

  • Thrillville: Off the Rails (10/15): Same as above, but from the comfort of your own home. Like a real architect would.
  • Beautiful Katamari (10/17): Rolling your way, this nonsensical puzzle make-everything-part-of-you game is fun…for whoever likes that weird stuff.
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground (10/18): In the event you have a PS3 but remembered that achievements are meaningful in your life.

Wii

  • Thrillville: Off the Rails (10/15): Hey, why bother taking it with you or using a standard controller. Use the damned wiimote like everyone else!
  • Rockstar Presents Table Tennis (10/17): Finally, the 360 exclusive gets put on the console it was really intended for. That is, if it plays well.
  • Spyro: The Eternal Night (10/17): Say hello to fire breathing dragons and goodbye to…wait, nothing really.
  • Victorious Boxers: Revolution (10/18): Wii Sports, eat your heart out. This boxing game will give you a real workout. And when you throw an uppercut, it’ll work.
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Grounds (10/18): Well, at least it’s not on the PSP.
  • Ultimate Duck Hunting (10/18): This must be the greatest game of all time. I mean, it has the word “ultimate” in it. That makes it magical.
  • Avatar: The Burning Earth (10/18): It’s a damn good thing you play as the Avatar, so you can blow those bad fires away and make sure the Earth doesn’t get too roasted. It doesn’t taste good burnt.
  • Guilty Gear XX Accent Core (10/18): As if the long and pointless name wasn’t good enough, it’s probably a fighting game with 2d graphics. ’nuff said.
  • Mercury: Meltdown Revolution (10/19): Three words that would never go together, put together, and still have no meaning.
  • Ultimate Board Game Collection (10/19): Can’t get any more straight forward than that. Because hey, you can’t play all these games on Yahoo! games. Or can you?

Nintendo DS

  • Thrillville: Off the Rails (10/15): This would complete the demonic circle of game consoles, but the PS3 was spared of it’s pity. Well played Lucasarts.
  • Cheetah Girls: Pop Star Sensation (10/15): Ahh, to be young, fit, attractive, and a cheetah girl once again.
  • Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day (10/17): Yes, staring at a small 2 inch screen that’s 2 feet from your face is a great way to improve your vision.
  • Bee Game (10/17): Not to be confused with the Bee Movie Game, this is like Catz. Not NintenCats, but close.
  • Prism: Light the Way (10/18): There is no way to be more inspirational then lighting the way.
  • Avatar: The Burning Earth (10/18): This Nintendo exclusive is for you people (all 5 of you) without a Wii, yet with a DS.
  • Pet Wild Animals: Dolphinz (10/18): Oh, for sure. Add a Z to the end of a word where an S should be and now it’s cool. Why didn’t anyone see this earlier?!
  • Fish Tycoon (10/18): Imagine, the best way to spend time while sitting in a car or train or plane, is to deal with virtual fish. Peachy. MAN THE HARPOON!
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground (10/18): That’s right, someone had to do it. Be on every system. There’s always one, and this bad boy did it. Congrats to insanity.
  • Mahjong Quest (10/18): The board games may stay at home, but if I had to take one with me, it would definitely be Mahjong. If I knew how to play.

PS2

  • Thrillville: Off the Rails (10/15): blah blah blah…
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Grounds (10/18): …blah blah blah…
  • Avatar: The Burning Earth (10/18): …blah blah blah…

Seems like that’s it for now. Stay tuned next week when we bring you more of those outrageous bloopers!

Oh, and don’t forget that there will be a ton of demos coming around, hopefully, from E for All. We may be a bit slow on updating with all that, so keep checking your local PSN/XBL provider!

Trailers for consideration

jumper.jpgDevilavp2.jpg

legend.jpgrewind.jpgsouthland.jpg

With the summer blockbuster season over the studios have now started releasing trailers quietly for their next releases. Even though November is just around the corner some films are just having the trailer release now

While we cannot know if the films will be great or just plain rubbish until they come out below are some of the big and small movies and ones to watch until March 08. Since everyone and his dog should have seen the great Iron Man trailer that has been left out this time.

We have every trailer except for Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead in The Pipeline below.Click here to watch Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead’s trailer.

Jumper – Aliens vs. Predator:2 – Be Kind Rewind – I am Legend – Southland Tales

Add The Pipeline: Entertainment Within a Box to your page

Simon Pegg is Scotty in Star Trek XI

Simon Pegg

It is now official. After months of speculation about who would play the role of the Scotsman it has been announced that comedian Simon Pegg is to take the role.

Pegg is famous for his projects in the United Kingdom including the movies Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. He is also known for the Channel 4 comedy series Spaced. Casting Pegg in Star Trek is a courageous move by J.J. Abrams as the fan favorite for the role was Stargate Atlantis’ own fake Scottish accent actor Paul McGillion who played Dr. Carson Beckett in the show.

The worrying aspect about this particular bit of casting comes from two fronts.

1) Could they be casting actors now who are more bankable due to negative remarks about the previously cast unknown actors?

2) Could J.J. Abrams decision to cast Simon Pegg not be based on his fitting the role but due to the Director/Producer’s own personal emotions on Pegg?

The reason the second question has come up is because of his previous decisions to cast actors he has worked with before instead of new faces. A few examples are below.

Mentioned he had wanted to work with Ricky Gervais and Simon Pegg publicly due to liking their comedy. Simon Pegg was then brought in to play a role in Mission Impossible 3 after Gervais dropped out and now he is in Star Trek. J.J. Abrams also used actors from Alias in Lost such as the airplane’s pilot in the Lost pilot episode.

It could be he has a good eye for talent or there could be another reason. Speculation aside it is safe to say that he knows more about Simon Pegg’s abilities than us as he has seen Pegg’s Scotty casting audition and we have not.

Let’s hope it all goes well and a good movie is made for the fans of the original series.