Nick’s Friday Round-Up: Something for Everyone Edition
Hmmm, yes. Quite right, quite right.
Welcome to the end of this week. I'm glad you've arrived. Please have a seat and enjoy the article. Feel free to have a refreshment and tasty beverage.
Speaking of refreshments, let's take a look at the difference between fast food as it's advertised, and the actual food you purchase. [geekologie]
Tired of having to eat around those annoying leaves on the top of a strawberry? Do you get frustrated trying to fold a fitted sheet? Want to amplify the volume of your iPod speaker? How about making heart-shaped hard-boiled eggs? Here are 25 clever ideas to make life easier. [thedailybuzz]
While we're on a DIY theme, how about a few more geek-style DIY projects. Create your own stylus for an iPad. An easy and efficient way to organize all your extra cables, and a dirt cheap way to extend the range of your routers wi-fi antennae. [howtogeek]
Space... the final frontier. TV and movies would never lie to us about space, right? When it comes to black holes, and yellow suns, and asteroid belts, we all have our facts straight. DON'T GO NEAR THEM! Or can we? Here are 6 myths everyone believes about space, thanks to movies. [cracked]
Here are a few legitimately newsworthy links:
No Blizzcon in 2012 [geekosystem]
If Fringe is canceled it could continue on through another medium [blastr]
Microsoft could be phasing out Microsoft Points by the end of 2012 [geekosystem]
Ever played Duck Hunt and just wanted to go at it with a machine gun? (sidenote: I wanted to shoot the living brains out of that laughing dog.) Well, sorry, you can't do that, BUT, you can watch a video of Bill "Mad Dog" Rizer from Contra do it, as well as a bunch of other video-game mash-ups. [youtube]
Who didn't play the original Command and Conquer? Anybody? Anybody at all? Good. Well why not take yourself back to the 90s and play it again, but this time in your browser. A guy by the name of Aditya Ravi Shankar (don't ask me to pronounce it) took it upon himself to recode the entire C&C game as an html5 game. It's not finished, but you can still play it in it's current state. [howtogeek]
Two words. Dubstep Cat. Watch this video all the way through. I promise you will thank me for it. For those of you who need instant gratification, jump to the 34 second mark. [youtube] (I just watched it again... omg, I'm crying. hahaha)
If going to ThinkGeek.com isn't enough to fulfill your nerdy desires of awesomazing things, then check out this website. [needwant]
Want to be one of the original Power Rangers? HECK YEAH, YA DO! Well now you can, with these new Power Ranger hoodies! Now you can play Power Rangers outside with 37% less imagination. [geekologie]
Hyrule Kingdom. A place of wonder and excitement. A place where a little fairy follows you around, annoying the life out of you. If you can't get enough of this world in the actual video games, then why not role-play inside the Hyrule Kingdom in Minecraft? [gammasquad]
OMG, ADORBZ OF THE DAY: A baby reacts to hearing a new sound. [buzzfeed]
On a final note, you should all go to Lisa's Facebook, or tweet her @LisaFoiles, and tell her Thank you, and how much you appreciate her. There are a few different writers for this website, but without Lisa, none of us would be able to entertain you, throughout the week, here on Save Point. She personally pays for the hosting of this website herself, and cares about getting information out to all of you and making you all laugh, whether it's through us, or doing it herself. So go tell her thank you. Tell her how much you appreciate her. Tell her how much she entertained you as a kid, on All That. Tell her your favorite, All That, character of hers. Tell her how much you enjoyed watching her take one for the team in a chili bath. She did it all for you guys, to make you laugh. She's an amazing person and she deserves to know that all her work and effort is very much appreciated.
Author: Nick LabyrinthX
New On Kotaku: Looking For A Game That Is A Literary Masterpiece? Try Odin Sphere.
Odin Sphere is often overlooked in discussions of video game storytelling, despite it being a literary masterpiece.
In other words, Odin Sphere is a totally kickassingly good game with a freaking heart-breaking story and people need to stop saying, "Oh, oh Uncharted is the most amazing game with a story of all time, just like Bioshock and Alan Wake and Prince of Persia and Red Dead Redempdepcepmtion and a whole crap-ton of other Western games" because NO. Most of those are MEDIOCRE AT BEST. (*Ahem* From a writer's standpoint.) Odin Sphere is incredible, and should be hoisted up on shoulders as a shining example of video game storytelling. That is all.
READ MY ARTICLE! I love you.
[Kotaku: Looking For A Game That Is A Literary Masterpiece? Try Odin Sphere.]
Author: Lisa Foiles
Mega Man is Back in a Capcom Fighter!
(From the Capcom Unity YouTube Page)
Oh wait, you wanted him in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3? Oh. Sorry. We put him in Street Fighter X Tekken. Oh...and you wanted the sprite style Mega Man. Oops. Sorry. We just made the model after the box art on the NES cart, not the traditional Mega Man look. Oh, and we added him in with Pac-Man in a mech suit, Cole from inFAMOUS, and Kuro and Toro, two characters that most US players have no idea who they are. Oh, and they're exclusive to the PS3 and PSVita. Hope you don't mind. What...
Continue reading...
Author: Stuart
Filmpocalypse #4: Masters of Horror
There's that project you discuss with friends, probably over beers, that never comes to fruition. An idea you all love, believe in, and promise to dedicate time towards. Then, when the buzz wears off, or responsibility returns, it falls by the wayside — to be rekindled at the next gathering, and embarrassingly discarded repeatedly. Knowing this experience well, I curse my social circles from some pit of bitter jealousy deep within, for depriving me a Mick Garris.
Garris, a director with limited recognizable credits to his name, threw a dinner party in 2005 for his closest friends... who just so happened to be the biggest names in the world of horror: John Carpenter, Guillermo del Toro, Tobe Hooper, John Landis, and five others. Garris decided to create an anthology series with these guests, and it didn't take long for Showtime to pick up his pitch.
For thirteen episodes per season, Masters of Horror allowed each director to produce an hour-long film with a reasonable budget and no studio notes or involvement — a glorious opportunity for the names who invented the genre to explore concepts not appropriate for a full feature, and free of the budgetary gamble. With the kind of distribution offered by premium cable, I guarantee Stuart Gordon's episodes "Black Cat" and "H. P. Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witch-House" were seen by more Americans than his career theatrical numbers combined.
It was a fanboy wet-dream, mixed with one of the greatest business models of all time. (They sold each of these episodes as standalone films at full price. Anchor Bay, in the mid-2000s, I gave you entirely too much money.) The final product was what you'd expect: a less-consistent Tales from the Crypt, with flashes of brilliance amidst low budget gore and nudity. Masters of Horror proved why certain directors hadn't worked in years, whilst those with more recent success didn't give it their best.
Of the original run, two films dealing with the apocalypse have always stuck with me. One exemplified such idiocy, I was sure it would kill the series. The other was a perfect example of a compelling concept given its opportunity, fulfilling the promise of the show's thesis.
What a fantastic surprise to find both films share a director and a writer.
Author: Brock Wilbur
BestWorst Idea: Suitcases That Transform Into Scooters
Go go gadget SUITCASE SCOOTER! Wait, am I supposed to make an Inspector Gadget joke or a Transformers joke? Or how about jokes about running over children in airport terminals while screaming "I'M LATE, BITCH!"
I don't have anything to say about this invention because I don't have time to read articles as clearly ridiculous as this. So, honestly it could be a joke. I don't really care. It's a guy on a suitcase scooter, enough said. Read about it on your own time. PENNY! MAKE YOURSELF USEFUL AND GO GO GADGET ME A SANDWICH.
[DailyMail: US retailer invents suitcase that converts into a scooter]
Author: Lisa Foiles
Music…um…Tuesday: DJ Cutman Live at MAGFest X
Yes yes yes, I'm still working on my MAGFest stuff. It's been chaos since then. Just deal. But in the meantime, let me share one of the highlights of the show for me: DJ Cutman's set at 1 in the morning in the Friday night. Or technically Saturday morning. Whatever. I've been following Cutman since MAGFest last year when he was out in the dealer room all the time mixing on the fly. So I was super excited when he was announced as a main talent for MAGFest X, after many years doing exactly what was mentioned before. The mix above, which is the direct cut of what he played, is the example why GameChops 1 and the promo mix of GameChops 2 (because I'm that awesome) are constant in my car. So listen, enjoy, and head bob away. While I still procrastinate on all my MAGFest stuff...
Author: Stuart
Take That, SOPA: Entire Star Wars Film Made With Scenes Stitched Together By Fans
Creativity like this wouldn't exist if SOPA had passed. This is incredible - seriously, what an awesome effort put forth by everyone involved! Proud to be a Star Wars fan.
Author: Lisa Foiles
Nick’s Friday Round-Up: Seriously, It’s Not as Awesome as Last Weeks Edition
From top-center going clockwise. Daria Morgendorffer, Susan and Mary Test, Velma Dinkley, Dexter, Edd, Nigel Uno, and Jimmy Neutron. My question is, where's Lisa? There needs to be a Lisa Foiles cartoon. I mean, who WOULDN'T watch that? AMIRITE?!? She could be one of those cartoon characters with the huge eyes, like an anime girl, or Rapunzel from Tangled. I mean, it makes sense. Lisa's got some freakishly big eyes. inb4sheseeswhatididhere.... too late.
Let me start by saying, DO NOT have any expectations that this week's round-up is going to even come close to comparing with last week's. I will disappoint you right now and say that it isn't. This week is a fresh start with awesome levels at "normal". With that said, let us proceed.
If you've ever been a kid, you know that breaking a limb or two comes with the package, at least for most of us. I, myself, broke my upper left arm when I was about 3 years old. In 5th grade I fractured my left wrist. Two weeks later, I fell, popping it out of place, and fracturing it again in the same spot. Fortunately I'm right handed, and this didn't effect me when it came to writing and all that good stuff. MY POINT IS... studies prove that if you break your dominant limb, your brain starts to rewire itself, literally. One side of your brain goes anorexic while the other side starts doing squat thrusts, but don't take my word for it. [geekosystem]
Will Mario summon the spirit flower and defeat Bowser or will he stand around and power-up for 4 more episodes? Find out next time on Super Mario Ball Z!
It's almost been a month since the Doctor Who Christmas special. Sadly we're going to have to wait until the fall for season 7 to begin, but fret not! There have been hints that season 7 might go on a bit longer than the traditional 14 episodes of the past. [blastr]
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE FRINGE, almost as much as I love Doctor Who. Actually... I like them about the same. Too much talk of "awesome" in one sentence, let me move on. This season of Fringe has taken an odd turn, placing Pacey Peter into an alternate timeline that is not his own. A lot of fans are disappoint, thinking the writers are taking them on a lulzy ride for no reason. Turns out, there's good reason for this particular storyline arc, with promises of a big payoff. [blastr]
We all love our favorite movie/cartoon/comic characters. We love to see them always taking down the "big bad", even when it gets repetitive. Basically different storyline, same story, but we still love it, however, did you ever stop to think about how the characters feel about this? Here are some characters that should be fed up by now. [ugo]
Speaking of fed up characters, let's watch a video of those characters singing Lionel Richie's song, "Hello". [geekosystem]
So DC changed their logo... again. Read the article, then give me your thoughts. [fastcocreate]
Photo by: Scott Beale / Laughing Squid
Here's a video of a whole bunch of animals playing with touch screens. Enjoy! [youtube]
What's the most awesomazing thing to hit the web since USB Toast Handwarmers? How about an 8 year old girl singing a hardcore metal song in her own music video. AWWWWWW YEAH!!! [geekologie]
Have you ever watched Minority Report and thought to yourself how cool it would be to be able to have a glass screen user interface like they did? WELL THINK NO MORE! Now you can, and without those lame glowy finger modules. [youtube]
IT'S A CLONE! IT'S A SOLDIER! NO! IT'S A 6-FOOT TALL STORM TROOPER MADE OUT OF CAKE AND RICE KRISPIE TREATS! [oakleafcakes]
Here's a video of dogs barking the Imperial March. It's a teaser for a new Super Bowl ad by Volkswagon. Honestly, getting all those dogs to sit there, and strategically getting them all to bark in the correct order, in order to create the song, must have been rough. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. ... ...... ... . . . .. .. . . .. .. . [geekologie]
And finally, I'm posting this specifically for Lisa, because I know how much she loves violence, especially of the face-punching variety. Here's a top 20 list of TV's most punchable faces. [warmingglow]
Your face after realizing I was correct in saying this week wasn't even going to come close to comparing to last week.
Author: Nick LabyrinthX
Chip Music News: 8 Bit Weapon’s New Album, Plus Weekly Beats 2012! Hot Damn!
WHATTUP JERKS!
I have red hot breaking news straight from the chip music community to deliver forth into your luscious ear holes.
1. 8 Bit Weapon's new album, Bits With Byte
My pals Seth and Michelle (a.k.a. ComputeHer!) are better known on the netterwebz and in iTunes libraries everywhere as 8 Bit Weapon, and they create some totally rad music with their GameBoys and other neat-o hardware that can sometimes double as Mario-playing machines. Their new album, Bits With Byte, is awesome, and I recommend you take a listen! They are cool people and even cooler musicians, so show some love.
Trash80, better known as my favorite chipmusic musician of all time ever EVER, is the genius behind the brand new Weekly Beats project. This concept involves musicians and artists everywhere composing one (1) song per week FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY. ...Or at least until the end of the year. This means you're bound to hear some really cool experimental stuff from really talented people. They're just moving into week 3, so you can easily catch up on the cool tunes already posted.
Author: Lisa Foiles
Filmpocalypse #3: The Divide
In glorious celebration of our inevitable demise, Brock reviews a different end-of-the-world film each Wednesday until 2013, or the Rapture, whichever comes first. (Okay, we're doing this one on Tuesday cause the Internet is on SOPA Blackout tomorrow, so get while the gettin's good.) Today, the director of Hitman totes redeems himself with The Divide.
Jean-Paul Satre said "Hell is other people," but in the post-apocalyptic world, his statement becomes a question.
End-of-the-world fiction is often built on the assumption that humanity is responsible for its own demise: we made our bed and now we must sleep in it, while it incinerates around us. But in the aftermath, where does one seek comfort? There is safety in numbers, and the re-birth of civilization is not a private endeavor. If our end product turned out to be self-annihilation, why rebuild that machine with the same parts?
Director Xavier Gens makes a case for abandoning humanity with The Divide (2012), a film which which re-invents the genre as a terrifying time-lapse history of our existence.
Author: Brock Wilbur
Cool Posts for Sexy People
- Nick’s Friday Round-Up: Something for Everyone Edition
- New On Kotaku: Looking For A Game That Is A Literary Masterpiece? Try Odin Sphere.
- Mega Man is Back in a Capcom Fighter!
- Filmpocalypse #4: Masters of Horror
- BestWorst Idea: Suitcases That Transform Into Scooters
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