Penny Arcade

We didn’t always hate Metal Gear, but at some point during the final cinema for MGS2 I got the impression that Hideo Kojima hated us.  Since then, I think we’ve simply been happy to return the favor.  The only games I’ve enjoyed since then were the two entries in the Ac!d series, and that’s because they were completely unlike Metal Gear.

Metal Gear Solid 4 is at least as much an event as it is a game, though: iterations of the series mark the passage of time in a console generation.  They’re incredibly elaborate, even hardware defining experiences.  There’s really nothing to compare them to in terms of their cinematography except for, well, movies.  Once the disc begins to spin, a succession of interactive vignettes and entire films begin to spool off of it.  Oh, and product placements.  I can’t wait for somebody to pipe up on how postmodern that is, and not a mercenary act, but I’m sure that’s the angle:  the developers themselves are mercenaries.  This is why shit be so authentic.

We combed through a few gameplay videos yesterday morning, and the level of excitement felt was commensurate with peeling corn husks.  There’s probably a listserv for people who do find that exciting, but I’m not a subscriber.  It was slow, the action looked clunky as ever, and Otacon is in it.  We were scourged by the experience.  We really need to get with the program - I heard it got a “ten.”  Perhaps psychology has the answer.

Most reviews I have read can be simmered down to “If you like Metal Gear, you’ll like it” which can also be stated “If you like Metal Gear, then you like Metal Gear,” a tautology I had well in hand prior to choking down these penetrating insights.

I sometimes wonder why I buy every MGS game that comes out when I profess to hate them, and also authentically do hate them, but I know the answer.  It is because I actively want to be wrong.  I want to see the game people keep talking about.  I want to be forced by its exacting auteur to apologize for everything I’ve ever written.  I’m ready to have my ego obliterated and to truly learn something about the nature of liberty.  And, like most Playstation owners, I’m hungry to use the machine for something other than Planet Earth.

(CW)TB out.

do you think it’s enough

The Darkmoon Faire is coming to Seattle this weekend and Tycho and I will be there. For those of you that have not heard of it, the faire is a World of Warcraft TCG event. It will be three days of tournaments, demos, and all kinds of other stuff related to the card game. Penny Arcade will have a small booth there and we’ll be bringing a bunch of our WOW related shirts as well as something really special. We got permission from Upper Deck to offer some prints of the WOW TCG artwork I’ve done. Our first print will be of the Leeroy Jenkins card and it will be available for the first time at the Darkmoon Faire. You will not be able to buy these online so if you want one you’ll need to score one at a convention.
 

These will be printed on an extremely nice heavy weight paper at a size of 9"x13”. We’ll have them avalialbe in our booth for $20 and I’ll be on hand to sign them if that’s something you’re interested in.

I’m really exited about this show because we won’t be stuck at the booth the entire time. Tycho and I are actually going to be out there playing cards all three days. In fact Tycho will be running a raid deck once per day starting at 1pm I believe. I’ll be there with my Druid deck taking as many challengers as I can. I’ll also be doing a bunch of 2vs.2 games with some of my friends from the PA crew. If you take us down you’ll even win yourself a cool Leeroy Jenkins T-shirt with my artwork from the card on it. I really hope they made enough T-Shirts.

So if you’re into the WOW TCG or you’d like to be, please come out to the show. There will be games going on for all levels of skill so even if you’re new to the game come on out. It starts Friday at the Seattle Center. Hit the site here for all the info.

-Gabe out

Hooray!

They worked with Hothead to get the new Steam Achievements in the game, as well.

(CW)TB

Brian Crecente over at Kotaku attempted to put together a Fruit Fucker with the tool, and the results are surprisingly accurate.  It’s substantially more disturbing than the original in two key respects:  first, the entire creature is sheathed in moist flesh.  Second, where one would ordinarily find its steel prong, there is instead a drooping sharkmouth full of razor sharp fangs.

(CW)TB