some internets goings on....

it's time again for a session of internet link fun!

up first... CellFactor: Revolution

this is pretty sick!

a friend showed me these links to youtube beauty. he described it as, "Katamari Damacy meets Dark City (movie) meets Star Wars (the force)." i don't really think that i could describe it any better (links added if you have no idea what something is... ;))... it looks like a massive leap in the world of video game physics. think of it as half-life 2 on steroids... the only thing i'm not digging on is that so far i don't see any sort of game play, that is, i seeing people running around shooting at each other and making everything fly every which way... but seriously, if all of this raw engine power is wasted on death match, i'm going to be VERY disapointed.

here comes the youtube:

the first trailer:


the second (better) trailer:


neither of these is all that long, so check them out... when you're done with that, wander over to the official website and have a gander at some screens.

the game is being made by immersion software using the reality engine made by artificial studios. in the process of look at all of this, i found that immersion is also making a game called monster madness, which actually looks like a lot of fun despite the name.


hostel zwei?

alright, mike sent me a couple emails today. luckily, the guy is all over joblo.com (see: his profile and insane dvd collection), which means that i don't have to be to get the best news that i can use!

so today i he sends me this. it's the poster for hostel 2. i look at it, my stomach churning, and something hits me... why the hell would you need or want a hostel 2.

now, don't get me wrong, i loved the first one. i think it's damn near to being one of the greatest horror films of all time. it had absolutely everything, and in some case more! however, it's over, do we really need more... or a better question, can they do more? how do you top the first!?!?

again, don't get me wrong, i love sequels. and i know, very few of them are ever necessary, but still.... i'm going to fall back on my tried and true debate tactic of, "COME ON!!!"

the link to the full size poster is here


ze germans!

convieniently... mike is also all over gamespot (i am too... but not quite as much... a he... i keep meaning to write some game reviews over there too...). anyway, he sent me a link to this article.

the article, to paraphrase, basically talks about the insane level of censorship against violence that germany embraces, and then goes on to discuss a new bill being drafted that will make violence againts people, or characters that look like people will be punishable my fines or jails time.

for a moment, let that sink in. do you have it? yes, that means that most video games will become 'illegal' to play in germany, as well as the creation of these games. of course, i might be misinterpretting this, but it seems pretty straight forward, according to the articles writers, anyway.

this bill is hot on the heels of a school shooting there in november, and another that happened back in 2002, both of which were blamed on violence in the media, and video games (apparently both of the students played counterstrike, who doesn't, right?). it appears that ze germans refuse to accept responsibility for their young people either, something i'd almost expected to be an exclusivly american trait. why is it that parents can't seem to admit that they fucked up?

the thing i'm wondering about, in regards to their level of censorship, is it really that they are looking out for the well being of their citzens? are the policy makers really concerned about school shootings, and the general good? or could it be, that this country, notorious for its concentration camps and genocide, unprovoked city bombings, and *gasp* communism, is actually more concerned about how they appear to the rest of the world than anything else?

in response to this and the most recent shooting, the german company crytek, the developer of farcry and crysis, is comtemplating a move.

that's my 2 cents on that. sometimes i just shake my head in disbelief

in the news of me

i'm back to writing! w00t!!!!

and, that is all.