Commercial Break: Metal Gear X Lupin The 3rd?

[This one is for my homie Emiko, I'll see you soon! Enjoy.] 

Finally an anime and possible fighting game idea [that I just made up and retain all monetary rights if said game is made in the future] that I can blindly support without any reservations as to how amazing it would be. Unfortunately, everything in this video is fan-made. It isn't real and therefore Earth's biggest tease.

Or is it?

It's no secret that Japanese studios love reaching back into this current cultures nostalgic nerd-past. There's also the sad reality that Japanese games aren't really clicking with American audiences like they use to. I'm going to send this to Konami and try and feel out their excitement level. 

Who knows, maybe this could be what we need to *save Japanese games.

Enjoy the funny and possible spoilers to be had in this homage to [what I feel] is one of the most ambitious franchises in gaming.

*it's debatable if Japanese games need saving seeing as games, in general, appear to be going through some sort adolescent growing pains. Jussayin.

Commercial Break: Caine's Arcade

Let this be a lesson in humility. Let this remind you of those days when it was just you, in a yard, with ideas. Let this ground you, because we weren't all popular. A lot of us were, or probably still are, the person that doesn't get to play with others often. We get so engulfed in whatever worlds we inhabit that it's really easy to believe that no one out there is paying attention.

Sometimes a little hardwork and solitude will bring great fortune. We can all do ourselves a service by sitting with our ideas, and really sticking with them.

Big thanks to director Nirvan Mullick and his reddit clan. For more about Caine's Arcade and his scholarship fund, go here.

The Art & Sound Of Dustforce -- An Interview With Terrence Lee

Four developers. Four different cities. One game.

It’s rare I get to make contact with artists making work that motivates me. It’s even more difficult when it’s a game developer who has just released a game weeks ago. A man from my home state of Ohio, Terrence Lee spared some time to answer questions about his team’s new game, Dustforce. In my continued studies of how we approach games, I think it’s important to pay special attention to how smaller teams make the jump from idea experimentation to full-fledged execution. Why? The ideas of how we play and enjoy games, should be just as important as the idea of making them.

Click to read more ...

Video: S**t David Jaffe Says

[Fast forward to the 4:15 minute mark]

I'm a huge of David Jaffe. Speaking as someone who consistently puts his foot in his mouth on a regular basis, especially in regards to things that I'm very passionate about.

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Free Game: Abobo's Big Adventure

I mean who doesn't love a great 8-bit game, that also functions as an homage to the gaming days of yesteryear? I know I don't.

Let's face it, I tend to write about some fairly serious topics in, at times, an overly dramatic fashion. It can get down right annoying. So here's my thanks to you, a free game that you can play on the crappiest of computers [with upgraded Flash, mind you]. It's called Abobo's Big Adventure [you wouldn't believe how many times I've to spell check "Adobo"]. Abobo's Big Adventure is an indie game featuring one of Double Dragon's most hated villains. He's on a quest for blood and revenge. Why? Not sure, I think Abobo's son was kidnapped and ... umm -- revenging. Hey, if you want the history as to how and why this amazing game exists, by all means check it out.

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Ethics and Anarchy -- How We Play, Enjoy and See Games

Maybe life is best with a little imbalance?

Consider this an incredibly delayed reaction to J.P. Grant’s article on fair play, which was an incredible response to Jenn Frank’s article.

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Art You May Hate: Video Game Cover Art

That's it. They've done it. They've evolved past anything we could have ever imagined.

Starved for ideas to write about, I found myself google searching cover art and reminiscing about the days when I had less discerning tastes. What you will see after my words here is a small compilation of a user by the name of David Freeman's collection of video games and covers he's collected. I give him all the credit to this posts existence. The reason I didn't hotlink you directly was because his collection exists on his Google+ page. A page I'm not sure is open to any and everyone [I think you may need at least a Gmail account to view].

Now scroll down and let your eyes drink in some of the best and worst video game cover art I've ever had the pleasure of posting on this blog.

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Commercial Break: Sonic The Hedgehog = Gateway To Furry-dom

I see why the aliens won't abduct us anymore. Hey, I know a lot of you out there support furries and truth-be-told, I kinda like the fact that there's a sect of people out there that kinda weirds me out. I see it as a benchmark for me when I think I've become too desensitized. Just yesterday I explained to one of my young dancing students what felching is.

But here we are headed into 2012 with possible damnation and post-apocalyptic events in tow. Yet there is a man, doing his friend group a service. Well sir, who am I to judge?

Seriously though, you're weirding me out with the "I'm going to judge sexiness of fictional female video game characters by the size and length of their pony tails."

We could have a possible Bronie on our hands. 

Happy Holidays From The Brog

Oh that Krampus always causing a ruckus

As I sit here wrapping the final gifts, infested with flu-like symptoms, imbibing both wine and Theraflu. I'm reminded of several things: 1) no matter how hard I try, my allergy to alcohol will continue being my Achilles' Heel to a life of drunkatude. 2) I've never felt luckier to have met and made connections to you great people on the internet. Your tweets and inboxed links haven't gone unnoticed. Sidenote: some of that s**t is straight-up weird and has resulted in a record number of blocks and reports. So, yeah, there's that.

What was I getting at with this? Oh yeah, 3) I'm not a rich guy, or even moderately "balling." I spent a fair amount [okay, all] of my spending money on my mom and little sister this holiday. At the same time, I'm not trying to go in debt or make a material statement as to my status in life. I got lucky with this friend group. They only expect me to be me. It was super-unfortunate I couldn't get everyone at least a joke/gag gift, but this post will have to suffice.

Below you'll find links to art, articles, and videos that I hold very dear. Some are to be taken in jest, others not-so-much. Thanks for the support.

And don't let Krampus poke you.

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Persona 4 - The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena Combo Sampler

Many thanks to Jourdal's video coverage of a game most fighting game sites are keeping quiet about.

Though I have yet to finish a Persona game [even in game format, I hate doing homework], I don't think it will be a prerequisite to play the game. Looks fairly standard for an Arc System title. Can't wait to see what comes of this. 

[*crosses fingers hoping there is an animation of high school kids shooting themselves in the head]