RAGE is art

RAGE is one of those games that transcends itself. Roger Ebert once said that video games can't be art. He's obviously wrong, and probably isn't good at games, but he should play RAGE. After spending a fair amount of time with the game, I've developed some strategies for the mini-games as well as the gunplay. Maybe I'll share my RAGE Frenzy deck list.

I hope id releases RAGE Frenzy for iOS. That'd be splendid. (I'm still hoping that @SEGA releases Derby Owner's Club for iPad, or for any system... maybe a LIVE Arcade game.)

Batman, Battlefield 3, Elder Scrolls V Skyrim, Modern Warfare 3... a lot of art, incoming!

Topical leads to seriousness

I’ve been chatting with Daniel — a “student” of mine — while playing some Borderlands (2K Games’ masterwork RPS — role-playing shooter); he’s figured-out, over this year, that his serious interests involve writing. His love of videogames is a natural outlet, and hopefully, writing about games (or for them?) can become a career for him.

As some readers of mine might remember, I’ve wanted to write about games for some time. I dabble in it, from time-to-time, usually at Gamespot. I tried making a dedicated gaming blog, but never could make enough free-time to pick up the necessary momentum to carry the project along.

I might have another chance now… and an opportunity to do things differently.

In discussing videogame reviews, one facet stood apart — particularly interesting to me — the nature of trust. People generally read reviews to accumulate more information, to make a better decision. However, if the reader doesn’t trust the reviewer, the review won’t mean much — that’s if it’s even read!

Why should anyone trust a review? How can we assess whether or not the author shares similar views, has similar tastes?

At the time, I didn’t think of this thought-trajectory as being particularly-profound, but it lead me to new findings, new ideas and concepts. Free-association, mixed with a bit of luck, I suppose. 

I’ve decided on a few fixes; I thought about what makes me trust a review — and the reviewer, what I think when we don’t share the same tastes, and what makes me come back for more. I also thought about Bradloves and Bradtastic.com, and the future. Indeed, 2010 looks like a turn-around year.

Before I get back to work, I thought I’d mention quickly: I’ve been told that I’m hard to shop for, get gifts for. That’s not at all true. At my Links page, I have two wish lists (so far) — each with gifts ranging the gamut. If you don’t have lists of your own, you should think about making one (or five)!

My way of dealing.

Entertainment and work…

Chronic pain has an effect like Chinese Water Torture.

I’ve been looking for a full website sponsor — that search still continues as smaller donations and contributions trickle in (of course, it’s all appreciated!) — meanwhile, life goes on. Sometimes “real life” responsibilities get in the way of artistic and intellectual pursuits; I would like to be able to write more, sketch more and blog more, but bills have to get paid somehow, and I have responsibilities to my family.

Still, I suppose everyone needs an outlet of some kind.

About four years ago, I purchased XBOX 360. The system hadn’t been out long; it was hard to find, and several reports of the “red ring of death” had tainted the system’s reputation. Still, I took the plunge, getting the most basic edition imaginable. I’m glad that I did.

XBOX LIVE is an absolute treat. Although the initial shock of the Gold Membership fee made me initially hesitant, even skeptical — as if I were paying for online “adult entertainment” (what does “Gold Membership” sound like to you?) — I wanted online play. Bare, the service was worth it.

Now, it’s even better.

With Netflix Watch Instantly and Party viewing, wireless controllers with chatboard attachments and integrated Windows Live chat, the 360 is a social entertainment hub. To add to that, Microsoft is integrating Facebook and Twitter. Social networking and gaming are being made even more accessible.

I have the Elite system now, with an Ace Combat 6 faceplate and 120gb hard drive. When I’m not working, resting, eating, writing or drawing… I can be found playing some LIVE ARCADE game, or recently, Borderlands, DJ Hero, Forza Motorsport 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (COD6).

Gaming together would be fun. During a nice jam session or first-person shoot-em-up (FPS, or “RPS,” role-playing shooter — Borderlands), pain has less of a hold on me. Got 360 LIVE GOLD? You can help… we can play!

Gamertag: Rainfault

Changes at Superfloo.us — I’ve added an Ink section.

The first post should appear later today. I’ve already started it, but I’m having some technical issues with my current tablet and netbook. Both are slowing me down. I’ve added a few pick-me-ups here, at Thinkgeek. Some of my friends and contacts have some cool things going; I’ll share more on that later, and try to review several of their projects.

Maybe I can even convince them to give some free products and/or goodies away as presents to lucky readers!

Until then… I have some work to do and things to straighten out. It’s way too hot here in Oakland; my southern-view collects sunlight from rise to set, and the temperature in my unit becomes unbearable without AC — due in-part to screens and computers. I try to rest during the heat (and light) of the day. I’m more awake from twilight to sunrise.