Last night I went to a toga party at the TLA. And it was awesome.
I always under anticipate social events, it's just something I do since I've never enjoyed them as a kid. But last night was actually pretty fun. We screened Animal House, sang along to "Shout" while it played, and afterwards the DJ's played "Shout" and everyone danced and we were on the floor then jumping up again... it was actually pretty incredible.
The two DJs played for an hour before the movie actually started, and they were great. The mixes were incredible and I met the one DJ's boyfriend. I got both of the DJ's numbers but man, I wish they had a website so I could listen to their mixes. Bummer. Hopefully they'll get bigger, but they play every Tuesday at Woody's, so I'll probably get some people together and go there.
Here are one of the songs the DJs mixed. I love this song, and the way they mixed it in to the rest of their work... flawless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uee_mcxvrw
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Eternal Darkness and Wooing HP Lovecraft
I love Lovecraft. I really do. His style isn't the greatest, but the fear and paranoia his work evokes is something I can really admire. Anything Lovecraft inspired draws my interest, and right now I've stumbled upon Eternal Darkness for the Gamecube.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not playing it. I can't play standard video games worth a damn. The only games I can actually demonstrate skill is We <3 Katamari and Katamari Damacy, and that's not something you brag about. Instead, for the games I want to see but can't play myself, I watch Leg's Plays, and there's one youtube user who specializes in playing horror games blind, in other words, he plays on the hardest setting and has never played the game before. It makes it really amusing, and he also does pun runs.
When it comes to Lovecraft and video games, it's nothing new. They tried to do a direct adaptation with Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth, which is pretty faithful, but disjointed and bad gameplay. I thought it was fun because I knew where the material came from, but the player was very frustrated, he didn't do his reading. The Amnesia series also incorporates Lovecraftian details, sacred artifact that changes shape and colors mysteriously, horrible monsters, crippling fear that's measured and is a part of the game, and a climax that's otherworldly.
However, I think I've found my favorite so far, which is Eternal Darkness. It was made in 2002, so the graphics are kinda funky, but you play as several characters in time periods that are all strung together though a greater conspiracy that's out of humanity's hands. There are mini monsters that you can kill with spells and a sword, but underneath it all are the push and pull of three greater monsters, and they just scream Cthulu. It's got a great atmosphere, and also has a sanity meter but I like how they handled it. In Amnesia, since it's first person, your vision goes blurry, crackling sounds, and your movements slow because of it. In Eternal Darkness, it's third-person, so I was apprehensive of how they would portray the insanity.
Well, they had fun.
It's different each time, so there is no way to predict what you will see or hear. Typically the walls will bleed and you might hear a baby crying, but don't worry, that is not the extent. At one point, your main character starts to go insane and when she enters a room, she walks a few steps, and her head flys off and lands on the ground with a sickening squish. You can still control her, and she runs, headless, until her arms fly off, and then her body explodes. The screen flashes, and your character is in one piece and she begins to sob because of what she saw. Another instance is randomly, a menu screen will pop up and it will say "Thank you for playing" and you'll think that the game ended prematurely, but it's just another way to break the fourth wall when dealing with insanity.
Long story short, I really liked the way they handled it.
Another Let's Play I'm watching by the same user is Rule of the Rose. So far, it's Silent Hill-ish, and it was banned in a few countries, and so I'm interested to see where that comes into play.
As the horrors continue, so will my updates.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not playing it. I can't play standard video games worth a damn. The only games I can actually demonstrate skill is We <3 Katamari and Katamari Damacy, and that's not something you brag about. Instead, for the games I want to see but can't play myself, I watch Leg's Plays, and there's one youtube user who specializes in playing horror games blind, in other words, he plays on the hardest setting and has never played the game before. It makes it really amusing, and he also does pun runs.
When it comes to Lovecraft and video games, it's nothing new. They tried to do a direct adaptation with Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth, which is pretty faithful, but disjointed and bad gameplay. I thought it was fun because I knew where the material came from, but the player was very frustrated, he didn't do his reading. The Amnesia series also incorporates Lovecraftian details, sacred artifact that changes shape and colors mysteriously, horrible monsters, crippling fear that's measured and is a part of the game, and a climax that's otherworldly.
However, I think I've found my favorite so far, which is Eternal Darkness. It was made in 2002, so the graphics are kinda funky, but you play as several characters in time periods that are all strung together though a greater conspiracy that's out of humanity's hands. There are mini monsters that you can kill with spells and a sword, but underneath it all are the push and pull of three greater monsters, and they just scream Cthulu. It's got a great atmosphere, and also has a sanity meter but I like how they handled it. In Amnesia, since it's first person, your vision goes blurry, crackling sounds, and your movements slow because of it. In Eternal Darkness, it's third-person, so I was apprehensive of how they would portray the insanity.
Well, they had fun.
It's different each time, so there is no way to predict what you will see or hear. Typically the walls will bleed and you might hear a baby crying, but don't worry, that is not the extent. At one point, your main character starts to go insane and when she enters a room, she walks a few steps, and her head flys off and lands on the ground with a sickening squish. You can still control her, and she runs, headless, until her arms fly off, and then her body explodes. The screen flashes, and your character is in one piece and she begins to sob because of what she saw. Another instance is randomly, a menu screen will pop up and it will say "Thank you for playing" and you'll think that the game ended prematurely, but it's just another way to break the fourth wall when dealing with insanity.
Long story short, I really liked the way they handled it.
Another Let's Play I'm watching by the same user is Rule of the Rose. So far, it's Silent Hill-ish, and it was banned in a few countries, and so I'm interested to see where that comes into play.
As the horrors continue, so will my updates.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Watched Seven Psychopaths
It was enjoyable. I love Christopher Walken and Tom Waits. They're so classic.
And, to satisfy my Studio Killers craving I'm listening to The Crash, which is rumored (never confirmed) to have the lead singer from Studio Killers.
This weekend looks like it's going to be fun, even though there will be a lot of socializing to be had. I'll just pretend to be James Bond.
And, to satisfy my Studio Killers craving I'm listening to The Crash, which is rumored (never confirmed) to have the lead singer from Studio Killers.
This weekend looks like it's going to be fun, even though there will be a lot of socializing to be had. I'll just pretend to be James Bond.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Outside my Window
There's a light on tip of a building outside of my window that spins. It's not RIGHT outside of my window, a few blocks down, but this light spins like a lighthouse. It reminds me of those "danger" lights you see in laboratories in movies.
Anyway, I've finished the first draft of my script, two weeks to spare. It's getting better, I'm more clear on the main character. What is it about main characters that give me such problems? They just have it out for me, I swear. I'm sure that the voices of the characters aren't as crisp and not-wonder bread as they could be, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. That much I can confidently say.
I'm also writing a comic book, and it's strange that those characters I know. I love them so much... I'm thinking of possibly writing a book to go along with it. That's how much I love them and the world they inhabit. Whatever. I can see you rolling your eyes, eat it. I'm going to do it. Once I finish my art history paper and Intermediate Editing homework.
It's 4 in the morning and I... should get to sleep.
Anyway, I've finished the first draft of my script, two weeks to spare. It's getting better, I'm more clear on the main character. What is it about main characters that give me such problems? They just have it out for me, I swear. I'm sure that the voices of the characters aren't as crisp and not-wonder bread as they could be, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. That much I can confidently say.
I'm also writing a comic book, and it's strange that those characters I know. I love them so much... I'm thinking of possibly writing a book to go along with it. That's how much I love them and the world they inhabit. Whatever. I can see you rolling your eyes, eat it. I'm going to do it. Once I finish my art history paper and Intermediate Editing homework.
It's 4 in the morning and I... should get to sleep.
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