From the Brow of Zeus

Hey, me and Googleshng started a video game RPG podcast when I wasn't even looking. In all the excitement, guess I forgot to mention it here.

Well, here I am, mentioning it:

Level Up - The Video Game RPG Podcast

Episode 001 is about the elements essential to RPGs. Any name for the topic is open to misinterpretation, from "Defining RPGs" (which could be taken as, yo dawg, we're DEFINING this shizzit) to "What is an RPG?" (which sounds like a question posted in alt.fan.final.fantasy around the launch of FF7), but we went with the latter.

And released just today, Episode 002 - PC vs. Console. It's not as controversial as some would like: There's no bareknuckle boxing, accusations of payola or insulting the other's ancestors. But I think, over all, we pretty much get it covered.

P.S. And yes, it is hard to get "Roleplaying game" and "Video game" in the title without sounding all redundant, but "Video Roleplaying Game" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Labels: videogames

Dane Cook has been accused of ripping off jokes from fellow stand-up comedian Lewis CK (who you may remember from the Everything is Amazing, Nobody is Happy rant on Conan O'Brien).

Mr. Cook went so far as to tell my favorite Louis CK joke, the one about seeing a guy on a bike who's about to get into an accident and not having enough time to yell out a proper warning. (More details can be found in my upcoming docu-drama, The Cook, The Thief, His Jokes, Her Laughter.)

Well, I just caught Louis CK's latest act, and it's genius. The entire thing is about what a big pathetic out of shape slob he is. Every joke is about his wretched body, inability to pass up a cinnamon roll, weighing as much as two people, etc.

When I pointed out that he was coming up with jokes Dane Cook couldn't possibly steal, my brother's face lit up and he said, "It's like Dane Cook is playing the, 'I'm going to copy you' game, and Lewis CK is saying, 'I'm an idiot! I'm dumb!'"

Labels: misc

Poor Trent Reznor. Seems like just yesterday he was nailing monkeys to crucifixes. Now his cataracts are so thick he's resorting to things like Twitter and random Grand Theft Auto accusations.

Bands (including Nirvana) tripped over themselves editing out words, changing album art, etc to meet Wal-Mart's standards of decency - because Wal-Mart sells a lot of records. NIN refused, and you'll notice a pretty empty NIN section at any Wal-Mart. My reasoning was this: I can understand if you want the moral posturing of not having any "indecent" material for sale - but you could literally turn around 180 degrees from where the NIN record would be and purchase the film "Scarface" completely uncensored, or buy a copy of Grand Theft Auto where you can be rewarded for beating up prostitutes.

Yes, and if you play NIN backwards, you hear the devil.

Look, I'm not saying there's no monetary gain for beating up prostitutes in GTA, but just like in 1950s crime movies, no bad deed goes unpunished. If you get caught robbing a hooker of her hard earned GP, every cop in the area will be after you. It's not like some 360 achievement or PS3 trophy is unlocked.

In real life, if you beat up a prostitute, she might have some money on her. Is this a reward? God's way of telling you to kill prostitutes? Or is it just a fact of life, sort of like vengeful pimps and assault and robbery charges?

Crime in GTA has its risks and its rewards, and going around saying that GTA rewards you for beating up prostitutes is about as accurate as chanting, "Crime doesn't pay" or "Winners don't use drugs."

Labels: videogames