As many of you know, President Obama gave his first address to Congress a little bit ago. I watched part of it, but I couldn't bring myself to watch all of it because listening to politicians is as entertaining as watching pubic hair curl. Regardless, I was sitting with my dad when he mentioned he doesn't like Obama or what he's trying to accomplish. I asked him why he wouldn't want someone to succeed who's in a position to possibly jump-start our economy (sooooo many people use the word "fix" like the economy can simply be repaired like a car... dumb)? My dad paused and said, "Well, when you put it that way, I guess, I want Obama to succeed even though I didn't vote for him." My dad immediately followed that statement with: "He's going to be a one-term President."
Most people who lose any election want the opposition who won to fail, or at least, this is what I can gather from various media sources and friends/family I've spoken with. This makes no sense to me, and this is also a reason I hate our political system, which is completely reliant on partisan opposition. I understand questioning the government. My dad was doing the same while watching President Obama's speech. I do the same no matter what's going on. But in the end, don't we want those who are elected to succeed? It would seem those who lost elections are so bitter and hell-bent on stopping those that won. Why? People have disagreements. Granted. But when our economy is in such a state as it is, wouldn't it make a little more sense to stop bitching that you lost and start working out the differences?
This creates constant counters (alliteration is fun!) to anything coming from the winning party. If candidate A gets elected, wouldn't those who voted for candidate B want candidate A to succeed? I can understand the reasons why people wouldn't, but it just irritates me to no end! Do I think Obama was good choice? Naw. Do I think McCain would've been better? Naw. But now that Obama's in office, I would like him to succeed because he's THE PRESIDENT OF MY COUNTRY. Wishing him to fail is like wishing for me to fail. Argue against him. Protest him. Do whatever makes you feel like you're fufilling your obligation as a citizen. But flatout hoping your country's leader will fuck up makes no sense.
Personally, I oppose President Obama's (and Congress') huge, rediculous "stimulus" package a.k.a pork bill. But does that mean I don't want it to succeed now that it is going to be enacted? No. I realize that spending is going to happen whether I disagree or not, so why not put some confidence in it? People need to oppose things they don't believe in. I get that especially if it's something really is going to harm a lot of people. But I honestly see no point in bitching over a bill that doesn't affect civil liberties in anyway (that I can see...) and is only trying to improve the state of living for everyone. You may disagree, as I do, with the way in which this stimulus package is going to operate, but the fact remains: it's going to happen. Might as well hope it works, right?
I know this post is a rant, and there are some holes in it. But I had to get that off my chest.
Feb 27, 2009
Feb 24, 2009
Trilogy Meter
This chart seems to be making the rounds through the weberscape and it's worth mentioning. Pretty cool concept, visualising your enjoyment of movies that way. Most of his evaluations I agree with, with a few exceptions. Matrix 2 and 3 should be way higher. I thought I like Reloaded better than Revolutions but I just rewatched them on Blu-ray and that battle scene inside the city of Zion looks incredible so I might put Rev above Reload. Star Trek doesn't really belong on there because the series has way too many other movies that matter. Nonetheless, I would ratchet 2 up a little higher and then put 1 right under it. Jurassic Park deserves to be higher, no questions. Lord of the Rings is basically spot on. I think Blade should tower over Blade 2, which admittedly wasn't bad. Terminator should be a little higher. And finally, Aliens 3 deserves much better than that. I really liked that one. Are there any other trilogies that should be on there? I can't think of anymore.
Feb 22, 2009
Your two cents (yen...)
Matt, you mentioned the PS9 in a comment, and this got me thinking: what would you like to see most on the next-generation of consoles? Now, I'm not talking better graphics or something we know companies are going to do anyway (online gaming, increased HD support, etc.). I'm talking about something nobody is doing right now that you would like to see! Even if the idea is completely far-fetched (but technologically feasible, please), put it up!
For me, I'd like to have cross-platform online play, the ability to plug-and-play any mouse and keyboard setup (you know they could!!), have the ability to actually see what your friends are playing-- a glimpse, if you will-- and have the ability to make old-school 2D games on your computer and then transfer them to your console of choice.
Again, don't worry about if it would never happen or "There's no way ______ would allow that to happen!" Just say what you would like if the world revolved around you. It could happen!
*guitar riff* McWORLD!!!!!
For me, I'd like to have cross-platform online play, the ability to plug-and-play any mouse and keyboard setup (you know they could!!), have the ability to actually see what your friends are playing-- a glimpse, if you will-- and have the ability to make old-school 2D games on your computer and then transfer them to your console of choice.
Again, don't worry about if it would never happen or "There's no way ______ would allow that to happen!" Just say what you would like if the world revolved around you. It could happen!
*guitar riff* McWORLD!!!!!
Muzak: Week 2
Alright, I think I'll start doing a rundown of the music I put up each week. I'm thinking I'll try to put up ten new tracks every Sunday, and then I'll give a brief synop of the artists or songs.
The Offbeat by FLYamSAM: I don't really know anything about FLYamSAM. They are a featured artist on Ghostly Artists record company. I recommend checking them out further there.
The Funeral by Band of Horses: A heartfelt band that mixes country and indie. The lead singer looks like a lumberjack. You may have heard them on a Ford commercial awhile back. This song is lyrically intense.
Sowing Season (Yeah) by Brand New: Nothing they do is really brand new perse, but this song has and always will make me want to kick some ass! They have fairly unique guitar riffs and lyrics, but they are not always able to escape completely from their emo/screamo breathren.
Hearts on Fire by Cut Copy: I know I tried showing the Everharts these guys a long time ago, but I think Mark has finally caught the Cut Copy fever. Nothing too original here, but they simply are a great-fun-dance band. Dig it, bitch.
SPACE HO's by Danger Doom: What is there to say about Danger Doom? They are the shit for hip hop. Great beats. Funny and entertaining lyrics. Good voice. Man. They are really good. Might've heard them on NBA 2K9-- Sofa King, anyone?
Ride by Cary Brothers: Famous for Blue Eyes on the Garden State soundtrack. This entire album (and their body of work) sound exactly like Garden State. Not necessarily bad. Very chill, of course, with a side of light techno beats interlaced.
1878 by Dear Hunter: Alright, so I really dig this band. Instruments are great. They have two albums. The first (Act 1: ...) follows the life and death of a young man. Intriguing, no? Oh, did I mention almost the entire first album was made by one man?
Hard Sun by Eddie Vedder: Um, how can someone not long EV? I'm not sure. This is from the Into the Wild soundtrack that he made. Amazing, amazing...
If You're Into It by Flight of the Conchords: Most people already know these guys. I find you love or hate them. Personally, I love 'em. BOWIE!
Home by Foo Fighters: Dave Grohl really has a knack for writing ballads. This song is simple and powerful.
Well, I know I can't please all of you, but you always have the option to turn off the music. :P
The Offbeat by FLYamSAM: I don't really know anything about FLYamSAM. They are a featured artist on Ghostly Artists record company. I recommend checking them out further there.
The Funeral by Band of Horses: A heartfelt band that mixes country and indie. The lead singer looks like a lumberjack. You may have heard them on a Ford commercial awhile back. This song is lyrically intense.
Sowing Season (Yeah) by Brand New: Nothing they do is really brand new perse, but this song has and always will make me want to kick some ass! They have fairly unique guitar riffs and lyrics, but they are not always able to escape completely from their emo/screamo breathren.
Hearts on Fire by Cut Copy: I know I tried showing the Everharts these guys a long time ago, but I think Mark has finally caught the Cut Copy fever. Nothing too original here, but they simply are a great-fun-dance band. Dig it, bitch.
SPACE HO's by Danger Doom: What is there to say about Danger Doom? They are the shit for hip hop. Great beats. Funny and entertaining lyrics. Good voice. Man. They are really good. Might've heard them on NBA 2K9-- Sofa King, anyone?
Ride by Cary Brothers: Famous for Blue Eyes on the Garden State soundtrack. This entire album (and their body of work) sound exactly like Garden State. Not necessarily bad. Very chill, of course, with a side of light techno beats interlaced.
1878 by Dear Hunter: Alright, so I really dig this band. Instruments are great. They have two albums. The first (Act 1: ...) follows the life and death of a young man. Intriguing, no? Oh, did I mention almost the entire first album was made by one man?
Hard Sun by Eddie Vedder: Um, how can someone not long EV? I'm not sure. This is from the Into the Wild soundtrack that he made. Amazing, amazing...
If You're Into It by Flight of the Conchords: Most people already know these guys. I find you love or hate them. Personally, I love 'em. BOWIE!
Home by Foo Fighters: Dave Grohl really has a knack for writing ballads. This song is simple and powerful.
Well, I know I can't please all of you, but you always have the option to turn off the music. :P
Lefties
On Friday, I watched the Pacers vs. Wolves game at the Target Center...by no means was it pretty with Al Jefferson, Danny Granger, and Mike Denleavey out, but I did notice one bright spot. Was anybody else aware that Troy Murphey is averaging like 14 pts and 11 rebounds a game? The guy's 5th in the league in rebounding, and he hits two threes a game! He played great, but beyond that, I noticed something else about him. He's a lefty.
So, along with watching famous Laker lefties Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher warm up before tonight's Wolves vs. Lakers game, I got to thinking about what an all-lefty NBA all-star team would look like.
First off, let's look at some of the best left-handers in the league.
Obviously the two big names who most people know are lefties are Chris Bosh and Michael Redd. Redd is one of the best spot-up shooters in the league and has an underrated ability to drive the lane as well; he's a pure scorer. Chris Bosh, of course, is one of the best power forwards in the league. Both are gold medalists for team USA.
I already mentioned Odom and Fisher, the Lakers' lefty duo who are so critical to the team's success. Fisher runs the triangle as well as anybody who Phil Jackson coached; it's no coincidence that the Lakers started playing way better when he returned to the team in 2007. Odom is the Lakers' x-factor. When he plays well, as he's been doing since Bynum went down, the team is nearly unbeatable. He's a big, athletic guy who's long on defense, can get you 20 rebounds, and hit threes.
Troy Murphey surprised and impressed me when I saw him in-person. Now, he's pretty awful on defense, and he was 1-for-6 on shots inside the three-point arc weirdly enough, but he had a double-double by halftime and was lights out from three. His lefty stroke is beautiful for a tall, gangly white guy.
Now, onto some guys I hadn't thought of at first. Josh Smith. Smith's blocks per game are down this year, but man, this guy's a freak. Like Odom, he's a versatile athlete. He brings big rebounds, a fierce presence on the defensive end, and all kinds of different things on offense. Smith's big left hand is to be feared in the paint.
Tayshaun Prince, one of my favorite players in the league. Tayshaun Prince is like Mr. Fantastic he's so long. He's a crazy good defender, an underrated (and underutilized) offensive threat, and another USA gold medalist from last summer. I think every single organization in the league wishes they had Prince on their team for what he brings both on the court and for the hard work, dedication, and other intangibles he brings off the court.
Finally, we have one of the deadliest scorers in the world: Manu Ginobili. Oh man, how did I almost forget about GINOBILI! Manu makes absurd layups go in seemingly without effort. He's simply one of the most talented scorers on the planet when he's playing well.
So, to recap, we've got Bosh, Redd, Odom, Fisher, Murphey, Smith, Prince, and GINOBILI. That's a pretty damn nice 8-man rotation. Now here's the question: who should start?
My starting five is Bosh at center, Smith at PF, Prince at SF, Redd at SG, and Fisher at PG. Fisher is a no-brainer because he's really the only pure point guard this team has. Redd is also a no-brainer to start over Ginobili, both because he'd be great along with Bosh's post-up game and Fisher's penetration to get open for threes, and because Ginobili is already used to playing off the bench. I like having Smith start at PF over Odom or Murphey because of how well he plays off other big men coming over from the weak side to get blocks. I also wanted a strong defensive presence like Smith and Prince to back up Redd and Fisher, neither of who are exactly top-teir defensive players (Redd because he's just not, Fisher because he's old). Bosh has seen plenty of time at center even though that's not his position, and honestly, after watching Al Jefferson play center all season when he's "naturally" a power forward, I think Bosh can handle it. Finally, Prince is a strong defensive presence who doesn't need the ball and does all the little things to fill out this starting five.
As for the other three, bring in Odom or Murphey if you need more size to match up with a team like the Lakers. Bring in Murphey and Manu if you want more three-point shooting. Have Manu lead the scoring charge off the bench.
So, what do you guys think? Am I forgetting any other great left handed players in the league?
Of course, this is all kind of absurd speculation. I mean, if we're going to make a left-handed team, we might as well make a right-handed team...but that's basically just naming all the best players in the world who aren't on this list, so LeBron, Kobe, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard...that's my starting five. I guess the righties win again.
So, along with watching famous Laker lefties Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher warm up before tonight's Wolves vs. Lakers game, I got to thinking about what an all-lefty NBA all-star team would look like.
First off, let's look at some of the best left-handers in the league.
Obviously the two big names who most people know are lefties are Chris Bosh and Michael Redd. Redd is one of the best spot-up shooters in the league and has an underrated ability to drive the lane as well; he's a pure scorer. Chris Bosh, of course, is one of the best power forwards in the league. Both are gold medalists for team USA.
I already mentioned Odom and Fisher, the Lakers' lefty duo who are so critical to the team's success. Fisher runs the triangle as well as anybody who Phil Jackson coached; it's no coincidence that the Lakers started playing way better when he returned to the team in 2007. Odom is the Lakers' x-factor. When he plays well, as he's been doing since Bynum went down, the team is nearly unbeatable. He's a big, athletic guy who's long on defense, can get you 20 rebounds, and hit threes.
Troy Murphey surprised and impressed me when I saw him in-person. Now, he's pretty awful on defense, and he was 1-for-6 on shots inside the three-point arc weirdly enough, but he had a double-double by halftime and was lights out from three. His lefty stroke is beautiful for a tall, gangly white guy.
Now, onto some guys I hadn't thought of at first. Josh Smith. Smith's blocks per game are down this year, but man, this guy's a freak. Like Odom, he's a versatile athlete. He brings big rebounds, a fierce presence on the defensive end, and all kinds of different things on offense. Smith's big left hand is to be feared in the paint.
Tayshaun Prince, one of my favorite players in the league. Tayshaun Prince is like Mr. Fantastic he's so long. He's a crazy good defender, an underrated (and underutilized) offensive threat, and another USA gold medalist from last summer. I think every single organization in the league wishes they had Prince on their team for what he brings both on the court and for the hard work, dedication, and other intangibles he brings off the court.
Finally, we have one of the deadliest scorers in the world: Manu Ginobili. Oh man, how did I almost forget about GINOBILI! Manu makes absurd layups go in seemingly without effort. He's simply one of the most talented scorers on the planet when he's playing well.
So, to recap, we've got Bosh, Redd, Odom, Fisher, Murphey, Smith, Prince, and GINOBILI. That's a pretty damn nice 8-man rotation. Now here's the question: who should start?
My starting five is Bosh at center, Smith at PF, Prince at SF, Redd at SG, and Fisher at PG. Fisher is a no-brainer because he's really the only pure point guard this team has. Redd is also a no-brainer to start over Ginobili, both because he'd be great along with Bosh's post-up game and Fisher's penetration to get open for threes, and because Ginobili is already used to playing off the bench. I like having Smith start at PF over Odom or Murphey because of how well he plays off other big men coming over from the weak side to get blocks. I also wanted a strong defensive presence like Smith and Prince to back up Redd and Fisher, neither of who are exactly top-teir defensive players (Redd because he's just not, Fisher because he's old). Bosh has seen plenty of time at center even though that's not his position, and honestly, after watching Al Jefferson play center all season when he's "naturally" a power forward, I think Bosh can handle it. Finally, Prince is a strong defensive presence who doesn't need the ball and does all the little things to fill out this starting five.
As for the other three, bring in Odom or Murphey if you need more size to match up with a team like the Lakers. Bring in Murphey and Manu if you want more three-point shooting. Have Manu lead the scoring charge off the bench.
So, what do you guys think? Am I forgetting any other great left handed players in the league?
Of course, this is all kind of absurd speculation. I mean, if we're going to make a left-handed team, we might as well make a right-handed team...but that's basically just naming all the best players in the world who aren't on this list, so LeBron, Kobe, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard...that's my starting five. I guess the righties win again.
Feb 20, 2009
New feature!
Hey, so I was thinking our website is a little... quiet. I decided to add a music player. What do you guys think? I can switch out the music every couple of days or something. I'll try to keep it fresh and varied. If you guys don't like the idea, let me know, and it's gone.
Good day, sirs!
Feb 18, 2009
The Masochistic Gamer
I'm not entirely sure about the rest of you, but I started gaming when I was three. I grew up with the NES and GameBoy, and besides the obvious graphic and sound differences, today's game just aren't the same breed. What I mean by this is simple: today's games, for the most part, are quite easy. Even a lot of games with "expert" or "hardcore" modes really are not that difficult. There are some gems for sure like Ninja Gaiden (which really makes me want to replay the original... well, mainly, the third one).
Now, some games I can really get into and want to utterly dominate the hardest settings. God of War I and II being the most recently I've finished that provided a very difficult challenge. Left 4 Dead is next on my list but is proving to be very much dependent on specific play throughs and partners rather than mastering section by section. Anyway. What I would like to know is:
Do you think gaming has gone soft? If so, why? What is the most recent game you absolute had to dominate even though it was so hard you wanted to destroy your TV? Any games you wish you had beaten completely but had to give up? What about a game that wasn't necessarily hard but you made it hard by giving yourself your own challenges?
Now, some games I can really get into and want to utterly dominate the hardest settings. God of War I and II being the most recently I've finished that provided a very difficult challenge. Left 4 Dead is next on my list but is proving to be very much dependent on specific play throughs and partners rather than mastering section by section. Anyway. What I would like to know is:
Do you think gaming has gone soft? If so, why? What is the most recent game you absolute had to dominate even though it was so hard you wanted to destroy your TV? Any games you wish you had beaten completely but had to give up? What about a game that wasn't necessarily hard but you made it hard by giving yourself your own challenges?
Around the NBA
A couple clips I found on Truehoop's bullets today that I just have to share with you guys.
First up, we have the D-League dunk contest. Now, when I heard that James White was going to be in this, I made a guess that the D-League dunk contest would be as good or better than the NBA dunk contest. If you guys don't know who James While is already, do yourself a favorite and look up his name on Youtube. The guy makes Jordan's famous free-throw line dunk look like amateur hour. Anyway, Here's all the best dunks from D-League competition. My favorite is White's third dunk over the seated guy. In X-mo, it seriously looks like Hong Kong cinema wire-fu, only he doesn't have any wires. Insane.
Second, we have a really funny video of Chris Paul, Grant Hill, Steve Nash, Magic Johnson, and Bill Russell sitting at a table evaluating Barack Obama's game. Great stuff. I would be so nervous and self-conscious if I was Obama knowing that these legends were watching and analyzing my game!
Lastly, what do you guys think of the Brad Miller to Chicago deal? I've never been a big Brad Miller fan, and I don't like the Bulls right now except for Rose, so I don't really have much to say about this deal. I think overall the Bulls got the better deal because Salmons is a good piece, but they still don't have a low-post scorer like Bosh or Amare, and now they're even more crowded for shooters and scorers wtih Salmons. As for the Kings, I don't even know what they're doing. They have a lot of great young talent, but nothing that screams cohesion, and no one that yells superstar franchise player. I don't know where that team is going.
First up, we have the D-League dunk contest. Now, when I heard that James White was going to be in this, I made a guess that the D-League dunk contest would be as good or better than the NBA dunk contest. If you guys don't know who James While is already, do yourself a favorite and look up his name on Youtube. The guy makes Jordan's famous free-throw line dunk look like amateur hour. Anyway, Here's all the best dunks from D-League competition. My favorite is White's third dunk over the seated guy. In X-mo, it seriously looks like Hong Kong cinema wire-fu, only he doesn't have any wires. Insane.
Second, we have a really funny video of Chris Paul, Grant Hill, Steve Nash, Magic Johnson, and Bill Russell sitting at a table evaluating Barack Obama's game. Great stuff. I would be so nervous and self-conscious if I was Obama knowing that these legends were watching and analyzing my game!
Lastly, what do you guys think of the Brad Miller to Chicago deal? I've never been a big Brad Miller fan, and I don't like the Bulls right now except for Rose, so I don't really have much to say about this deal. I think overall the Bulls got the better deal because Salmons is a good piece, but they still don't have a low-post scorer like Bosh or Amare, and now they're even more crowded for shooters and scorers wtih Salmons. As for the Kings, I don't even know what they're doing. They have a lot of great young talent, but nothing that screams cohesion, and no one that yells superstar franchise player. I don't know where that team is going.
Worst Band of All Time
The news that Saliva is coming to Oke City for a concert got many of my friends to dog on them as a sub-par band. Eventually the discussed turned to other 'bad' bands like Hinder and Nickelback.
So here is my question. What qualities are universally disliked in music? Is there a set criteria that prevents a band from becoming well liked? Or rather is musical interest fractured like spaghetti sauce preferences and gregorian chants may have actually been cool at the time? What is your least favorite band?
McGrady Should Retire
I'm just saying.
At this point, after so many surgeries, McGrady essentially has the body of someone 10 years older than him, if not worse. He is a detriment, even a cancer to the success of the Houston Rockets. The dream of Yao and McGrady teaming up to win a title is dead, and Houston needs to recognize that fact and move on. McGrady should be considered a giant 2010 expiring contract and nothing more, because at this point, that's all he is.
I mean, microfracture surgery? At 29, soon to be 30, on knees and legs that have seen more operations than a Trauma Center game?
The most I could ever see him being after this surgery is having a Grant Hill-like comeback...as a roleplayer, playing 20-30 minutes a night, and being more of a locker room guy than an on-the-court presence.
At this point, after so many surgeries, McGrady essentially has the body of someone 10 years older than him, if not worse. He is a detriment, even a cancer to the success of the Houston Rockets. The dream of Yao and McGrady teaming up to win a title is dead, and Houston needs to recognize that fact and move on. McGrady should be considered a giant 2010 expiring contract and nothing more, because at this point, that's all he is.
I mean, microfracture surgery? At 29, soon to be 30, on knees and legs that have seen more operations than a Trauma Center game?
The most I could ever see him being after this surgery is having a Grant Hill-like comeback...as a roleplayer, playing 20-30 minutes a night, and being more of a locker room guy than an on-the-court presence.
Feb 16, 2009
The Big Legendaries
It was amazing to see Kobe and Shaq work it during today's All-Star game. That third quarter spurt with the two of them playing exactly how they did back in the 2000-2002 Lakers teams gave me a nostalgic giddiness I've never felt before. There was one play in particular when Kobe dribbled it up court, Shaq posted at the top of the foul line and started moving deeper, and Kobe gave him a perfect entry lob pass. Shaq easily overpowered his man and threw it down with authority. Straight of Phil's playbook circa 2000. I think Adande's article over at ESPN summed it up nicely.
Also, Shaq's nutmeg of Dwight Howard, to use a soccer term, has to be one of the best plays of the last few years at the All-Star game, right?
As for who played well or not--as if it matters that much anyway--it was nice to see Brandon Roy get some dunks when we're used to seeing him handle the ball and take jumpers. Chris Paul was the straw the stirred the drink for the West. What's with Yao always playing so stiff during the All-Star game when he has a billion Chinese people voting for him? Dirk and Pau working the two-man game was Euro-tastic. Iverson and Pierce were selfish as usual. What was with Joe Johnson tonight? Maybe he's still getting over that flu that kept him out of the game against the Wolves last week. LeBron had a couple great plays, but didn't really get his teammates involved and didn't get any dunks until the end. Howard looked like he was focusing too much on having fun and not enough on making it a game. The East's lack of a true point guard and lack of depth at center really killed them.
I leave you with The Big Jabbawockee's incredible dancing skills.
Also, Shaq's nutmeg of Dwight Howard, to use a soccer term, has to be one of the best plays of the last few years at the All-Star game, right?
As for who played well or not--as if it matters that much anyway--it was nice to see Brandon Roy get some dunks when we're used to seeing him handle the ball and take jumpers. Chris Paul was the straw the stirred the drink for the West. What's with Yao always playing so stiff during the All-Star game when he has a billion Chinese people voting for him? Dirk and Pau working the two-man game was Euro-tastic. Iverson and Pierce were selfish as usual. What was with Joe Johnson tonight? Maybe he's still getting over that flu that kept him out of the game against the Wolves last week. LeBron had a couple great plays, but didn't really get his teammates involved and didn't get any dunks until the end. Howard looked like he was focusing too much on having fun and not enough on making it a game. The East's lack of a true point guard and lack of depth at center really killed them.
I leave you with The Big Jabbawockee's incredible dancing skills.
Feb 15, 2009
ListenUP on Sony's Plight: What can Sony do to Get Back in the Game?
There was an interesting discussion on this week's ListenUP about the plight that Sony finds themselves in re: their poor hardware sales for the PS3. If you think about it, they're really in trouble. They're clearly in "last place" in this generation of hardware compared to the 360 and the Wii. Their machine in the most expensive in a suddenly crappy economy where people are valuing inexpensive products. People are kind of lukewarm on adopting blu-ray as a replacement for DVD, which is especially a problem for the PS3 because the fact that it's also a blu-ray player is a huge selling point. Their hardware lineup of exclusives isn't exactly blowing everybody away. In fact, having a high definition gaming platform period isn't really "in" right now...the Wii is still selling like crazy, and it's obvious that the video game market has changed.
On the podcast, Garnett and the guys talked about how Sony needs to hit the panic button and do something about it...something drastic. I particularly like the idea of going bundle-crazy. It seems to clear to me that they aren't going to just lower the price, and I don't even think that's the right answer, because then they're still going up against the 360 and the Wii, which are both just as cheap and debatably offer more games that people want. I think if you bundle the system, an HDMI cable (why it doesn't come with it in the first place is absurd, they're like $2 on Amazon), 2 controllers, the blu-ray remote, and a couple of games (say, Uncharted and LittleBigPlanet? Or Resistance 2 and Ratchet and Clank? Or go third party and stick in Mirror's Edge and Burnout Paradise?), or a voucher for $50 on the PSN store (for games like Pixeljunk, Wipeout HD, Ratchet and Clank, etc)...that will really move hardware. Like I said earlier, people are valuing, erm, value, and Sony needs to sell that, big time. At this point, it's all they have going for them.
The trouble I see with Sony down the road, is that unlike last generation where Xbox was losing but then came back and did well this time, I don't think Sony will be able to accomplish the same task. Why? Because of the nature of online gaming. Most of the people I know who play games online play almost all of them on their Xbox 360. Next console generation, what do you think people are going to do when they want to play games with their friends? They're going to carry over their Xbox Live friends, especially if the new console plays nice with the old console, so they're going to buy Microsoft's next machine, not Sony's. I don't care if Sony's internet stuff improves and becomes better than Live, people go where their friends are. And right now, that's Xbox.
I think Sony just didn't have enough killer apps that made people get PS3s quick enough. Where was Final Fantasy, God of War, and Gran Tourismo? All absent, all STILL absent. Sony brushed off the FFXIII non-exclusivity thing, but I seriously think that that's going to cost them hundreds of thousands of units, even if the 360 port is shitty. No joke. I knew or saw dozens of people who said, "well I guess I don't have to buy a PS3 now!", when that happened. I even knew some people who went and bought 360s right after that happened because FFXIII on PS3 was the only thing holding them back. And at this point, as great as all their upcoming exclusives look (helloooooo God of War 3!), it's too late.
Now, having said all this, at the end of the day, I don't really care about what companies win out or whose stuff is selling better. I care about good games, good online services, and a system that works well. It just makes me sad that the hardware developer than got me in to console gaming is fading.
(Also, as a note about the blog itself...is anybody besides Gareth and I going to post stuff?)
On the podcast, Garnett and the guys talked about how Sony needs to hit the panic button and do something about it...something drastic. I particularly like the idea of going bundle-crazy. It seems to clear to me that they aren't going to just lower the price, and I don't even think that's the right answer, because then they're still going up against the 360 and the Wii, which are both just as cheap and debatably offer more games that people want. I think if you bundle the system, an HDMI cable (why it doesn't come with it in the first place is absurd, they're like $2 on Amazon), 2 controllers, the blu-ray remote, and a couple of games (say, Uncharted and LittleBigPlanet? Or Resistance 2 and Ratchet and Clank? Or go third party and stick in Mirror's Edge and Burnout Paradise?), or a voucher for $50 on the PSN store (for games like Pixeljunk, Wipeout HD, Ratchet and Clank, etc)...that will really move hardware. Like I said earlier, people are valuing, erm, value, and Sony needs to sell that, big time. At this point, it's all they have going for them.
The trouble I see with Sony down the road, is that unlike last generation where Xbox was losing but then came back and did well this time, I don't think Sony will be able to accomplish the same task. Why? Because of the nature of online gaming. Most of the people I know who play games online play almost all of them on their Xbox 360. Next console generation, what do you think people are going to do when they want to play games with their friends? They're going to carry over their Xbox Live friends, especially if the new console plays nice with the old console, so they're going to buy Microsoft's next machine, not Sony's. I don't care if Sony's internet stuff improves and becomes better than Live, people go where their friends are. And right now, that's Xbox.
I think Sony just didn't have enough killer apps that made people get PS3s quick enough. Where was Final Fantasy, God of War, and Gran Tourismo? All absent, all STILL absent. Sony brushed off the FFXIII non-exclusivity thing, but I seriously think that that's going to cost them hundreds of thousands of units, even if the 360 port is shitty. No joke. I knew or saw dozens of people who said, "well I guess I don't have to buy a PS3 now!", when that happened. I even knew some people who went and bought 360s right after that happened because FFXIII on PS3 was the only thing holding them back. And at this point, as great as all their upcoming exclusives look (helloooooo God of War 3!), it's too late.
Now, having said all this, at the end of the day, I don't really care about what companies win out or whose stuff is selling better. I care about good games, good online services, and a system that works well. It just makes me sad that the hardware developer than got me in to console gaming is fading.
(Also, as a note about the blog itself...is anybody besides Gareth and I going to post stuff?)
Feb 13, 2009
Escape From City 17
Apparently these guys made this amazing first episode to this miniseries with $500. Now, I'm sure that's not counting camera and computer equipment, but that's still impressive. What's sad is it looks better than probably anything Hollywood can make. I suggest going to the Youtube page and seeing the larger version.
Downloadable Game Love
I actually just a had a little back-and-forth with Pixeljunk head honcho Dylan Cuthbert on Facebook after he posted a cryptic status update about an upcoming expansion for Pixeljunk Eden, and it got me thinking about those Pixeljunk games and downloadable games in general. And hey, it goes along with our poll! Blog synergy at work.
I realized a month or two ago when I was thinking about what my favorite games of 2008 were that at least two or three of them were downloadable titles: Pixeljunk Eden, Penny Arcade Episode 1, and Wipeout HD. That's a really remarkable fact, for a couple different reasons. Here's what I like so much about downloadable games:
1. They're relatively inexpensive compared to standard retail games you buy at a store.
2. You just download the file, and that's that. No packaging, no hassel of going to the store or even waiting for you order to arrive. It's a modern, efficient, and eco-friendly way to get your game on.
3. A lot of these games being delivered are fully fleshed out games. Wipeout HD is a great example...yeah, they recycled courses from the PSP titles, but I hadn't played those, so they were all new to me, and I played the hell out of that game, and it looked AMAZING. This is besides getting actual full games via download, like Burnout Paradise, which is an absurd $20 on PSN for the whole game.
4. In a time of economic crisis and companies who bet on 100% sure things being the only ones who are making money (Activision "exploiting" Guitar Hero, CoD, etc), downloadable titles are currently one of if not the only avenue for creative, innovative, fresh, bold, risky ideas and games to come to fruition. Look at Flower, which I'm downloading right now...what a bizarre concept! But I've heard nothing but good about it, and I can't wait to try it.
I just think downloadable titles are so good for the gaming industry as a whole for all the reasons I stated above.
And getting back to what originally inspired me to mention this, the Pixeljunk series...I just want to applaud what the guys over at Q Games are going again. Pixeljunk Monsters refined the desktop tower defense-style game and made it accessible and fun for console gamers. Mark and I spent hours playing it together in our dorm last year, pointing at the screen for where to build what towers and so on. Pixeljunk Eden was one of my favorite games of last year, and was the most engaging audio/visual experience I've had playing a game since Rez. I'm so excited for Pixeljunk Monsters on PSP, Eden Encore, and Pixeljunk Dungeon (!?) later this year.
I didn't even really touch on some of the great games on the other consoles as well: World of Goo is amazing on Wii or PC, LostWinds is a stylish, innovative platformer on Wii, and there are tons of great downloadable games on 360, both remakes of old things and brand new stuff. Braid? Castle Crashers? Geometry Wars 2?
What do you guys feel about downloadable games? What are some of your favorites and why? What else do you think could be done with downloadable titles like this? Which ones are you excited for this year?
I realized a month or two ago when I was thinking about what my favorite games of 2008 were that at least two or three of them were downloadable titles: Pixeljunk Eden, Penny Arcade Episode 1, and Wipeout HD. That's a really remarkable fact, for a couple different reasons. Here's what I like so much about downloadable games:
1. They're relatively inexpensive compared to standard retail games you buy at a store.
2. You just download the file, and that's that. No packaging, no hassel of going to the store or even waiting for you order to arrive. It's a modern, efficient, and eco-friendly way to get your game on.
3. A lot of these games being delivered are fully fleshed out games. Wipeout HD is a great example...yeah, they recycled courses from the PSP titles, but I hadn't played those, so they were all new to me, and I played the hell out of that game, and it looked AMAZING. This is besides getting actual full games via download, like Burnout Paradise, which is an absurd $20 on PSN for the whole game.
4. In a time of economic crisis and companies who bet on 100% sure things being the only ones who are making money (Activision "exploiting" Guitar Hero, CoD, etc), downloadable titles are currently one of if not the only avenue for creative, innovative, fresh, bold, risky ideas and games to come to fruition. Look at Flower, which I'm downloading right now...what a bizarre concept! But I've heard nothing but good about it, and I can't wait to try it.
I just think downloadable titles are so good for the gaming industry as a whole for all the reasons I stated above.
And getting back to what originally inspired me to mention this, the Pixeljunk series...I just want to applaud what the guys over at Q Games are going again. Pixeljunk Monsters refined the desktop tower defense-style game and made it accessible and fun for console gamers. Mark and I spent hours playing it together in our dorm last year, pointing at the screen for where to build what towers and so on. Pixeljunk Eden was one of my favorite games of last year, and was the most engaging audio/visual experience I've had playing a game since Rez. I'm so excited for Pixeljunk Monsters on PSP, Eden Encore, and Pixeljunk Dungeon (!?) later this year.
I didn't even really touch on some of the great games on the other consoles as well: World of Goo is amazing on Wii or PC, LostWinds is a stylish, innovative platformer on Wii, and there are tons of great downloadable games on 360, both remakes of old things and brand new stuff. Braid? Castle Crashers? Geometry Wars 2?
What do you guys feel about downloadable games? What are some of your favorites and why? What else do you think could be done with downloadable titles like this? Which ones are you excited for this year?
Feb 11, 2009
Gameplay Video: Battlefield 1943
The Battlefield dudes were at the New York Comic Con to show of an alpha build of 1943. It's definitely been simplified drastically in comparison to any of the other Battlefield games before Bad Company. Dumbed-down I believe is the term. Only three classes, only 24 players per match, regenerating health, infinite ammo, accurate fire-from-hip weapons, no drivable battleships (though this is brought over from BF2 and not really a bad thing), and no reticule in third person fighter plane view. This is a very early build of the game and therefore some mechanical aspects of this demonstration might change before release such as the lack of a useful third person view in a plane, but the most jarring changes are purely design decisions. I can see these being a continuation of the evolution of the series started in Bad Company in terms of the simplification, nevertheless they neuter the game as a skill based, tense, strategic shooter and bolster the growing notion that consoles are dumbing-down videogames as a whole.
Alright so maybe it's just shooters I'm worried about. And EA do own DICE, so maybe it's just a problem with the company. They do have a tendency to aim for the lowest common denominator. Elsewise known as the Mainstream, and it is certainly being courted by nearly every major publisher out there. I don't like it when my beloved franchise are jury rigged to appeal to those who can't appreciate the beauty of an elegantly complicated system in motion. Yes, I am a gamer elitist.
Feb 10, 2009
Snake-bit Franchise
So, quick post about tonight's T-Wolves game while it's still fresh in my mind. The Wolves seem like a totally different team without Al Jefferson, and not in a good way. There are no easy baskets on offense, there is scant help defense inside on the other end, and we played all of our remaining good players into the ground tonight. Poor Kevin Love, playing out of position at the 5, tried so hard tonight to guard Jermaine O'Neal, but was just too small and inexperienced.
This franchise is beyond snake-bit...the venom is coursing through our veins at this point. Not to mention all the woe this franchise has endured for 20 years, just tonight we were missing:
Corey Brewer--season-ending knee surgery
Kevin Ollie--broken elbow
Craig Smith--cracked rib
Al Jefferson--torn ACL, done for the year
Rashad McCants--hospitalized (!?) due to flu-like symptoms
McHale is unfortunately going to have to start playing our scrubby backup bigs...guys with horrible PERs like Jason Collins, Mark Madsen, and maybe even Calvin Booth who honestly have no business being on an NBA roster other than the fact that they're big, somewhat experienced, and good in the locker room. We can't just have Love and Brian Cardinal, who is honestly a scrub himself, as our only two bigs.
If I were McHale, I'd also try to push the pace as much as possible. If you're going to lose, you might as well try to put up points. Lord knows this team isn't going to win with their defense, and half-court offense is now infinitely more difficult without Big Al to dump it down to.
This franchise is beyond snake-bit...the venom is coursing through our veins at this point. Not to mention all the woe this franchise has endured for 20 years, just tonight we were missing:
Corey Brewer--season-ending knee surgery
Kevin Ollie--broken elbow
Craig Smith--cracked rib
Al Jefferson--torn ACL, done for the year
Rashad McCants--hospitalized (!?) due to flu-like symptoms
McHale is unfortunately going to have to start playing our scrubby backup bigs...guys with horrible PERs like Jason Collins, Mark Madsen, and maybe even Calvin Booth who honestly have no business being on an NBA roster other than the fact that they're big, somewhat experienced, and good in the locker room. We can't just have Love and Brian Cardinal, who is honestly a scrub himself, as our only two bigs.
If I were McHale, I'd also try to push the pace as much as possible. If you're going to lose, you might as well try to put up points. Lord knows this team isn't going to win with their defense, and half-court offense is now infinitely more difficult without Big Al to dump it down to.
Camera Sushi
I just thought this was a good video, and enough inspire a discussion about food.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWQR36dW0GA&feature=featured
I could talk about the candid quality of the people in the video--the genuine reactions from people as the camera goes by, seeing people have conversations at the sushi bar, watching people eat, etc--but I just want to talk about sushi. Who likes it, and why or why not? What kinds of sushi do people like?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWQR36dW0GA&feature=featured
I could talk about the candid quality of the people in the video--the genuine reactions from people as the camera goes by, seeing people have conversations at the sushi bar, watching people eat, etc--but I just want to talk about sushi. Who likes it, and why or why not? What kinds of sushi do people like?
Feb 9, 2009
Jefferson Out for the Season--Now What!?
Ok people. Al Jefferson tore his ACL.
Wow.
So first of all, let's process the magnitude of what just happened. Al Jefferson is by far the Wolves' best player. He's averaging gaudy All-Star caliber numbers, and honestly should be in the All-Star game even though he's on a 17-33 team. He's putting up 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.66 blocks per game, and shooting right around 50% from the field...all this, and he's technically playing out of position at the five rather than his natural 4.
Having watched nearly every Wolves home game this year, I can tell you that at least 50% of the Wolves' offensive sets run through Jefferson in some way...whether he's the guy who gets the ball in the post, a decoy to free up shooters, or a screener so a guard can get to the hoop, he's involved in so much of the Wolves strategy. On defense, even though he has the reputation of being a poor defender, he's always behind the guards for help defense to discourage penetration. I don't care how bad you might think he is on D, but I can tell you than guys like Tony Parker stop when they run into Jefferson and either try to float it over him or back up to take a jumper.
So, where do the Wolves go from here? They had a spectacular 10-4 January run after starting a miserable start, but now they've lost six of their last seven in the face of a tough schedule (those six loses have come against Detroit, LA Lakers, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans). The franchise is licking their wounds from the double-snub of Jefferson not getting into the All-Star game and Kevin Love, who is leading all rookies in rebounding and leading the league in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes (4th in rebounds/48 overall behind only Biedrins, Camby, and Howard), not being selected to the rookie team. Other than Jefferson, our main options are the hot-and-cold Randy Foye, the inconsistant Ryan Gomes, the suddenly gunshy Mike Miller, the selfish Rashad McCants, a point guard who can't shoot jumpers in Sebastian Telfair, and a rookie power forward in Love.
So, without Jefferson, who will the Wolves start? Obviously they're going to get more minutes and production out of Love, who will hopefully continue to improve during the season and avoid the rookie wall. He's been starting in the absense of Craig Smith, who just went down with a cracked rib by the way, and will continue to do so. I think they'll have no choice but to start Jason Collins. Love cannot play center consistantly as evidenced by the way the Wolves got destroyed by Yao Ming the other night...Love just isn't big or tall enough. Foye and Bassy will continue to start, but they're both going to have step up big time...but that's going to harder, since the defense of EVERY team facing the Wolves will now be geared to stopping them first and foremost rather than Jefferson. I can tell you that EVERY game this season, EVERY team...the defensive scheme is designed with Al Jefferson in mind, and that's where guys like Foye, Miller, and Love get a lot of their open looks. It's going to be harder for them now.
If Mike Miller was waiting for some unseen green light to start fucking shooting the ball more than five times a game, I think the signal just turned. I think it's really up to him more than anyone else to step up. Foye of course is another guy who will need to step up. In terms of dark horse guys who might step up and start filling in that scoring hole...McCants, who is back in the rotation after being out of it for most of January, and Rodney Carney, who is having a career scoring year and is a dead-eye from that corner 3, are guys to watch.
Ultimately though, I think that Kevin McHale is going to ask Love to carry a lot of the burden left by Jefferson. It's going to be interesting to see how Love, just 20 years old, handles this increased responsibility halfway through his rookie season.
One thing I know for certain: the Wolves are going to be in better draft position than I thought.
Wow.
So first of all, let's process the magnitude of what just happened. Al Jefferson is by far the Wolves' best player. He's averaging gaudy All-Star caliber numbers, and honestly should be in the All-Star game even though he's on a 17-33 team. He's putting up 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.66 blocks per game, and shooting right around 50% from the field...all this, and he's technically playing out of position at the five rather than his natural 4.
Having watched nearly every Wolves home game this year, I can tell you that at least 50% of the Wolves' offensive sets run through Jefferson in some way...whether he's the guy who gets the ball in the post, a decoy to free up shooters, or a screener so a guard can get to the hoop, he's involved in so much of the Wolves strategy. On defense, even though he has the reputation of being a poor defender, he's always behind the guards for help defense to discourage penetration. I don't care how bad you might think he is on D, but I can tell you than guys like Tony Parker stop when they run into Jefferson and either try to float it over him or back up to take a jumper.
So, where do the Wolves go from here? They had a spectacular 10-4 January run after starting a miserable start, but now they've lost six of their last seven in the face of a tough schedule (those six loses have come against Detroit, LA Lakers, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans). The franchise is licking their wounds from the double-snub of Jefferson not getting into the All-Star game and Kevin Love, who is leading all rookies in rebounding and leading the league in offensive rebounds per 48 minutes (4th in rebounds/48 overall behind only Biedrins, Camby, and Howard), not being selected to the rookie team. Other than Jefferson, our main options are the hot-and-cold Randy Foye, the inconsistant Ryan Gomes, the suddenly gunshy Mike Miller, the selfish Rashad McCants, a point guard who can't shoot jumpers in Sebastian Telfair, and a rookie power forward in Love.
So, without Jefferson, who will the Wolves start? Obviously they're going to get more minutes and production out of Love, who will hopefully continue to improve during the season and avoid the rookie wall. He's been starting in the absense of Craig Smith, who just went down with a cracked rib by the way, and will continue to do so. I think they'll have no choice but to start Jason Collins. Love cannot play center consistantly as evidenced by the way the Wolves got destroyed by Yao Ming the other night...Love just isn't big or tall enough. Foye and Bassy will continue to start, but they're both going to have step up big time...but that's going to harder, since the defense of EVERY team facing the Wolves will now be geared to stopping them first and foremost rather than Jefferson. I can tell you that EVERY game this season, EVERY team...the defensive scheme is designed with Al Jefferson in mind, and that's where guys like Foye, Miller, and Love get a lot of their open looks. It's going to be harder for them now.
If Mike Miller was waiting for some unseen green light to start fucking shooting the ball more than five times a game, I think the signal just turned. I think it's really up to him more than anyone else to step up. Foye of course is another guy who will need to step up. In terms of dark horse guys who might step up and start filling in that scoring hole...McCants, who is back in the rotation after being out of it for most of January, and Rodney Carney, who is having a career scoring year and is a dead-eye from that corner 3, are guys to watch.
Ultimately though, I think that Kevin McHale is going to ask Love to carry a lot of the burden left by Jefferson. It's going to be interesting to see how Love, just 20 years old, handles this increased responsibility halfway through his rookie season.
One thing I know for certain: the Wolves are going to be in better draft position than I thought.
Feb 8, 2009
Feb 6, 2009
Self Taught
In 1999, Sugata Mitra showed that in the absence of adults, instruction, or any standard pedagogical tool, young children will teach themselves and each other. To learn more details, check out the attached link, but here is the gist. Mitra and his collegues went to the poorest, most remote and backward villages in India and installed a single computer in the wall. Mind you, these people had never in their lives been exposed to anything similar, not even a TV. What happened is mind blowing. The children of the village, within a couple of months could browse the internet with ease, were visiting search engines and downloading media. In addition they began teaching themselves english and assisting older kids who couldn't learn as fast.
So here's my question. Why is this theory shattering research (duplicated hundreds of times) not being incorporated into the current discussion of lagging education in the United States. If anything, talk is made of requiring higher standards for teachers, paying teachers more, stricter regimens, etc. Maybe a better question would be, how does one use this knowledge to improve learning?
Feb 2, 2009
An Electronic Fanboy Culture
So, I'm scoping some technologies forums (a part of my Internet ritual), and I'm discovering more and more people are becoming fanboys or fangirls. Fervently so. Did I miss something? Since when do people buy very expensive technology products because Microsoft or Apple or Sony or whoever made it? I don't remember growing up (or now) ever thinking, "Oh, man! _______ just released a new _____ ! I'm going to go pick it up right away without looking at the competition! I definitely won't think about where my hard earned cash is going!" Exaggeration you say? I don't think so.
I was looking at an article that recapped what Microsoft had to say about it's less-than-stellar sales of the Zune this past holiday season. Interesting, albeit biased article. But then I look at the comments for the article. I am shocked at the sheer stupidity! On a technology site no less! I won't go into specifics, but people basically commented on the Zune (and to a much lesser extent the iPod) and its software using facts and descriptions that were completely unfounded and just plain false. All in the name of their product they bought. So, they bash a product they don't own (or know much about) simply because... their penis is small? I don't know honestly.
Who cares if I bought a Zune and someone else bought an iPod! I don't! It's your money just like it's my money! I owned a PS and PS2, but "jumped ship" to the Xbox 360 because I thought it would suit my needs better. Do I bash people who own a PS3 or a Wii? Hell no! Why would I? What exactly do I gain from trying to argue that? I understand praising a product you own because you want to feel good about the purchase, and you want to tell other people your great experience. I can and do agree with that. But bashing someone else's purchase simply because it's not your own? That makes no sense to me. Be a fan of your specific purchase-- not the brand. Always reevaluate for next time you need to replace product X.
I know, I know. People have doing this for awhile. But have they really? I think the fanboy has only really emerged in the last decade to fifteen years. I don't once remember having a conversation on whether Sega or Nintendo was better. Or whether my neighbor's computer was shitty because it was a Dell and not a Hewlett-Packard like mine. Who honestly gives a shit? But, I think I answered my own question: I'm trying to find a conversation. People are much more aggressive and zealous when they know there are no consequences (like in some comment boards or forums), and there are definite consequences to saying something to someone's face. Perhaps, with the emergence of the Internet, people have forgetten what the words "logic", "facts", "first-hand", "kindness", or "discussion" mean. Maybe people have always been jackasses and blow their wad at the sound of their favorite company's name. Maybe. I don't think so though.
What do you guys think? Do fanboys annoy the crap out of you too, or am I alone on this one?
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