Welcome to My Blog page, glad you came by. Please feel free to take a look around and while you are at it, also visit My Image Gallery and check out my art at My DeviantArt Page, leave a comment and/or a critique. I want to keep improving so if you have a tip or know a cool art site, let me know, and thanks in advance!

• 14Nov 09

  DOOM: Don Ivan Punchatz (In Memoriam)

  To anyone that has grown playing videogames, there is an image that is universally recognized and has been fire branded in our brains because of its visual impact and narrative effectiveness.
  
  
  
  Don Ivan Punchatz not only did a superb piece that depicted the desperate struggle that the player faced against the hordes of Hell itself, it created a logo that combined both the arcane and technological overtones that permeated the game's enviroment and storyline; The heavy font, the jagged contrasts of the shapes within the letters and the overall strength of the whole piece has made of this one of the most memorable game covers ever and a image that is indelible part of the video game legacy. He in great part helped cement the legacy of one of the watershed moments in gaming.
  
  Oh and that demon on the lower left corner of the image, it almost says: "Yes, you are next." Don Ivan Punchatz (September 8, 1936 - October 22, 2009)
  
  Gamers of all generations thank you and remember you.

  • Posted Nov 14, 2009 7:24 am PT
  • Category: People
  • 6 Comments

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• 28Oct 09

  Samus Aran - Facets of a Hero

  Were does the true nature of the hero lies? Is it on the high tech armor and weaponry that envelops the wearer? or does the essence of heroism lies deeper inside.
  
  
  Click for larger view
  
  Samus Aran was a revelation to gamers around the world once her true gender was uncovered at the end of her first adventure. Now this common knowledge has been accentuated to such a point that she has become a character with two distinctive and defined facets to her: There is the iconic Varia Suit Samus Aran; the relentless and deadly powerhouse capable of taking down the most dangerous alien creatures in the galaxy and hunt the most elusive of bounties ever to have been set price upon. And then there is Zero Suit Samus Aran; the agile, nimble woman under the armor. While she was revealed to us as a beautiful woman, first and foremost she is the heart and soul that made possible what the Metroid games are. And for once showed a female character in a strong lead role that, going against the grain, wore the logical kind of armor for the task at hand. While admittedly the newer facet of the Zero Suit has permeated Samus with a charge of eroticism that was mostly absent in her previous outings (give or take the SNES "under 3 hours game completion reward") I don't believe this has cheapened her appeal as a strong lead character, for being attractive is not contrary or detracts from being a competent, strong and intelligent female character. Samus has demonstrated through her actions why with armor or not, she is a great hero.
  
  ------
  
  I just could not decide if I wanted to draw Varia Suit or Zero suit so I said: "Ahh screw it, I'll do both" This is my biggest piece to date: 7112 x 4000 pixels, it took me about 25 hours give or take, although I was not able to work on it as frequently as I wished. Way too many interruptions during the process :/ But finally I was able to set some time aside to finish it.
  
  NOTE: Please hit "Download" at left side of the deviantArt page to get a 1920 x 1080 version of this pic. and do enjoy!

  • Posted Oct 28, 2009 7:25 am PT
  • Category: Games
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• 12Oct 09

  Stuff I Hate, Vol. 1

  Just a few weeks ago, while participating at a benefit fair, I had on display several prints of a selected group of pieces I had made over this last year, while I got praise from people for the work on display (and did sold a couple of them) it has proven to me more practical to fulfill commission online. The sales are coming in slow but it is to be expected since most people are in "crisis time" mentality right now and it shows, particularly at the end of each month. Nevertheless one of the assistants at the art fair saw my work and pleased him so that he asked me for a commission right there and then. So I whipped out my sketch pad and asked him what he had in mind. Imagine my surprise when he told me that he would like a tattoo design. For a moment I was surprised by the request, let me explain: one thing is to created a piece of art that will hang on someone's wall or decorate a monitor or personal belonging, but to know that a design of mine was going to be committed to living skin is another matter altogether. To me that entails a whole other lever of commitment and responsibility to what was going to be created. This person had trusted in me to have something engraved on his skin that would be there probably for a long time, if not for life....so I said to him and myself: "Let's do this"
  
  The design he was looking for was that of an owl done in the popular tribal style that is seen most commonly in tattoos nowadays, I told him to come back in at least an hour, I sat on the chair that had on my stand and got to sketch furiously into the drawing pad, this was particularly interesting since I had not made tattoo designs before, so I pondered for a while how should the design "flow" and how should it be structured and this is the design I made for him:
  
  
  Look into my EEEEEEYESSS!!!
  
  I'm glad to say that he was really happy with the design, but the first thing I told him before he left with it was to please take especial attention as to which tattoo parlor was he going to take the design to. And this is the part to which my blog title makes reference to: There are some people that have absolutely no business near a tattooer's needle injecting ink into a person's skin. You see, I don't mind when people are learning to draw, I myself subjected hundreds of pages of paper years ago to the attrocities I called drawings when I was just an aspiring art student, it is just part of the learning process. It hasn't been until very recently when I have felt that my skill has reached a level of proficiency that could be considered acceptable in professional, work oriented goals. So for me to see people that have absolutely no scruples to literally do their experimenting by scarring people as if these were sketch pads, well, that really takes a very special kind of arrogant lowlife scum to do stuff like the following tattoos to some people. But then again, it also takes a very rare kind idiot to allow him/herself to let these abominations to be grafted on their bodies without complain. This is not something you can simply correct with an eraser! Injecting Tipp-Ex is not an option either!!!
  
  The following images represent some reasons why tattoos must be done by professional artist and the person getting a tattoo should have IQs above 90.
  
  10.
  Sometimes Spell Check just doesn't cut it.
  Let's start with one that really doesn't mess up because of an incompetence in artistry, but because of a incompetence in literacy. This really hits me as rather ironic. English is a second language to me, yet because of that reason, I try to ensure that my use of said language is proper, just for accuracy sake, and because I love the English language. So to see this (which was probably written by a native English speaker) really saddens me.
  
  9.

  This would be cute if it had been done by a 5th grader and were attached to a fridge with a magnet, but here it is only proves what happens when grown ups have a 5th grader brains.

  
  
  Bonus to 9: Can somebody show me a competent looking tattoo of Wolverine?:
  
  Just like putting a cherry on top of an ice cream. And by cherry I really mean razor blade. Please do notice the hairy man shoulders which makes it so much worse.
  
  8. Not even Piccolo deserved this beating.
  This kinda proves that even to do a simple trace you need some artistic level, something that the lowlife tattooer who did this even lacked.
  
  7.
  Double Tragedy
  I don't know which is sadder: The passing away of a young person or the person that commissioned this didn't check that the tattoer knows how a smiling human face looks like.
  
  6.
  Guess which twin got ran over by a Train carrying Semi trucks?
  People reach a whole new level of sad when they decide that they want a tattoo that is a copy of another tattoo, there so much wrong with the poor imitation that I don't know where to begin. The tattooer, aparently, was also colors blind.
  
  5.
  Now I know why Bald Eagles are an endangered species.
  A tattoo that has a tattoo, now that is Meta! I don't know if it was the failed attempt at putting the whole frigging 50 stars on that tiny piece of real state or the fact that the flag is flying backwards, either way that is one pissed off eagle. What could be worse than plastering an animal with a flag? ...
  
  4.
  ... nevermind.
  
  3.
  We live on a planet where this image was given to a tattooer...
  
  
  ...and this is what the client got. Further evidence that WYSIWYG protocols only work with computer interfaces.
  
  2.
  Just like a "Why so sad?" joke, just far scarier since this predates it.
  When did exactly in the mind of the tattoer the concept of a roaring puma became "Joker's pet experiment only sadder and more messed up" Every time I see this thing something inside of me dies.
  
  FOREWARNING: This following tattoo is hereby declared by me as the worst tattoo ever conceived and executed by man. It is a perfect storm compriced of idiocy, douchebaggery, bad taste and absolute lack of human decency. I hope the persons involved in its creation got pounded into a pulp the moment they showed their faces in public. You have been warned.
  
  1.
  Some things just defy my fate in humanity.

  • Posted Oct 12, 2009 10:15 am PT
  • Category: N/A
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• 3Sep 09

  Persona3 Fan Art: Moonlight Aigis

  

  Click for larger view

  
  
  Just give it to the Japanese to turn a anti-shadow death dealing bipedal robotic weapon into a cute, pretty girl. Yes, there is a whole collection of femme-bots of which Aigis or Kosmos are just the tip of the iceberg.
  
  I wasn't too sure what kind of background I would add to this piece, it was either a plain single color (boring) background or a Tartarus inspired setting (the game's dungeon area). I decided for the latter since I need to push myself into doing better backgrounds, plus I wanted something that also reminded me of the title screen.
  
  If it weren't for the compelling characters, intriguing story and original premise, I would have stopped playing this game due to the incredibly punishing, arbitrary battle system. But all in all I'm learning to deal with it. Can't wait to finish it ... if I find the time to do so
  
  PERSONA!!!
  
  PS: Hit "Download" at the deviantArt page for 1280 x 800 pic.

  • Posted Sep 3, 2009 8:31 am PT
  • Category: Games
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• 14Aug 09

  Loose Buttons: Work Ethics

  

  Clic for Larger Size

  • Posted Aug 14, 2009 8:11 am PT
  • Category: Games
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• 10Aug 09

  Penn and Teller BS: War On Video Games

  I've been a follower of these two nutcases and their crazy antics for quite a while and I've fallen in love with their Showtime show: Penn & Teller BS. Of all the shows I've seen that belong to that series, the one that they dedicated to the utterly absurd persecution of violent video games (and just video games in general) is the one that has moved me the most because it had one of the most powerful closing statements I've ever heard regarding what parents and educational institutions see as dangerous to children and what really is dangerous yet they turn a blind eye to it. I encourage everyone to see this great episode:
  
  (Viewer discretion is advised due to language and violent video game imagery)
  
  Penn & Teller BS: War on Video Games Part 1
  Penn & Teller BS: War on Video Games Part 2
  Penn & Teller BS: War on Video Games Part 3

  • Posted Aug 10, 2009 4:23 am PT
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• 22Jul 09

  GameSpot's Unfair Double Standards

  Well as you have already notice my previous blog entry was erased and I was demoted back to Level 25. Also, yesterday some of the images in my gallery were removed because they where deemed "Sexually Explicit" Here is an idea: I want you to go right now and check the images that Gamespot itself has posted for the coverage of games such as Dead or Alive Xtreme 1, Rumble Roses XX, X Blades, and even Street Fighter 4 (look for Cammy) and tell me if those images have an equal standing or go even further than the ones I've posted here. Go ahead, look for them and then come back ... Are you done, good
  
  So I cannot post images like that but GameSpot itself can?!? If that is not an unfair double standard, I don't know what it is. I'm European, maybe I have a more open minded view of what is sexually explicit and what is not, after all the games I mentioned are rated by ESRB as Mature while PEGI rates them as +12. It seems US citizens are OK with images of extreme violence (Gears of War, God of War, Saw and John Rambo) but little Billy cannot see a boob because he will be scarred for life. Here is a concept all citizens of the United States and any democratic country can understand:
  
  1ST Amendment Rights are equal for everyone, this blog entry is my exercise of such rights.
  
  BTW, by the time you read this, I would have taken down by my own initiative some of the other images in my gallery that may be deemed "too spicy" for this site as well, apparently 13 year old can't seen women in bikinis, they minds could melt, your lost GameSpot. You can still find them on my deviantArt account, where I don't have to deal with this kind of hypocrisy. And no, I'm not going anywhere, I'm still staying here.
  
  Now tell me what you think. P.S: Also I would like to point out to the troll that flagged my images in the fist place, if you think that by that you have quelled my resolve to continue doing my illustration, you are sorely mistaken, no, now my determination to continue improving and creating more artwork has been spurred even further. I'm not gonna even bother insulting you, you are not worth the effort. I'll just keep creating art pieces for the world to see. What have you done lately to enrich the life of others?

  • Posted Jul 22, 2009 9:13 am PT
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• 24Jun 09

  Cliff Side Hannah and Creation Process

  
  

  Click for Larger view

  
  

  
  And in case you are curious about how I work on my illustrations:
  

  
  

  Click for Larger view

  • Posted Jun 24, 2009 9:18 am PT
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• 8Jun 09

  The greatest thing to ever come out off a cereal box.

  
  There is no before, there is no after, 1996 saw the only and greatest free prize to be ever included in a cereal box:
  

  
  

  CHEX QUEST

  
  

  
  
  What is this thing you say, how could this be good? and Ultimate Doom mod with a cereal theme?! so fun and entertaining that both young and old can enjoy. And it doesn't stop there, oh no, not only there was a 1st Chapter for this game made, a 2nd and now glorious 3rd chapter has been released and all included in a single FREE DOWNLOAD!!! All thanks to the efforts of the original creator of this project: Charles Jacobi. If you even have the slightest interest on fun, funny and excellently crafted games, you owe it to yourself to try this out.

  
  
  Want more proof of its quality, Oh ye of little faith!
  
  Now try it yourself: Chex Quest Trilogy Download
  

  
  

  The Flemoids are up to their sticky no good ways again, it is time to send them back to their dimension with your powerful Zorcher weapon arsenal.

  
  
  

  EAT SPORK YOU SLIME!!!

  • Posted Jun 8, 2009 12:03 pm PT
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• 3Jun 09

  Nintendo's Soporific Borefest and Sony's Reassuring Surprise. A detailed account

  
  

  Foreword, this is a somewhat large blog post, but please have in mind that this is a synopsis of 2 back to back conferences that lasted 3 hours in total, I tried to include everything of importance yet keep it as concise as possible.

  
  
  

  Nintendo delivers a soporific Press Event.

  
  I knew things where not going to go well the moment Cammie Dunaway stepped into the stage, and unfortunately I was not mistaken. Yet again Nintendo has offered to the gaming press a event that garnered the most resounding indifference an overall general apathy this side of a goldfish funeral. Let me make a quick sinopsis of the first 5 minutes of the conference:
  
  BLAH! BLAH! BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!
  
  There... now lets get down to the actual facts, read this and save yourself the trouble of watching the recorded conference if you haven't watch it yet, you'll thank me later.
  
  - New Super Mario Bros. Wii, claiming that it'll introduce a 4th dimension in gaming. No, no, don't get to exited there is no time manipulation or anything like that, they only meant playing a 2D sidescrolling Mario game with 4 players ... that's it (it is worth mentioning that Cammie died 5 seconds into the demo) ... moving on.
  
  - Wii Fit Plus, more excersices, custom body training and more minigames, problem is that it is not a downloadable update to Wii Fit, OH no, it is a whole new game that you have to buy separately! Then why the hell call it "Plus".
  
  - Regis Fils Aime steps into the stage to show us AGAIN Wii Motion Plus, the little Wiimote penile extension. Some promotional videos start playing and the title "Wii Sports Resort" flashes on screen and the crowd goes chirping grasshopper and tumbleweed after it. We get to see some live demo of the game at work showcasing Skydiving, Archery and Hoops. Regis makes a few jokes that fall flat and we move on.
  
  - 3rd Party games that will use the Wii Motion Plus include Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, Grand Slam Tennis, Virtua Tennis 2009 and Regis emphasizes how now "every mistake we make" will be translated into the game. Yeah, that is exactly what every gamer wants Reg, very reassuring.
  
  - Square Enix will also make an RPG with the Wii Motion Plus in mind; Final Fantasy Crystal Bearers which showcased some gunplay on it but nothing much was remarkable.
  
  - DS gets more RPGs as well: FF Kingdom Hearts 358/2 90210 Days, Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (The Proctologist Chronicles) and the welcomed announcement of Golden Sun DS.
  
  - Grab on to you breechers ladies because here comes two amazing titles for you, first: "James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion" which earns the award for longest, tackiest name ever for a game, be amazed by its static slide show visuals and low budget production values. But wait there is more, here comes Fashion Savvy which with its fashion boutique, catwalk fashion design play mechanics, your fight for women's equality will be set back 30 years into the past!
  
  - Another DS game presented was C.O.P. The Recruit, think of it as a sort of Dead to Rights but downgraded for DS.
  
  - Cammie goes on into how user generated content has become an essential part of gaming and introduces various DSi applications that center around it:
  
  - Flip Note Studio, which is a small gif animation application.
  
  - Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! with level editor and download only for DSi.
  
  - Facebook integration to upload photos taken and edited with the DSi. Oh joy! bask in the glory of crudely modified 640 x 480 images.
  
  - The Legend of Zelda Spirits Tracks is mentioned, yes mentioned, nothing new is shown of this title, not even screen shots just a still art concept image. I guess they figured most people saw the game already on the web.
  
  - Next, Nintendo's President Satoru "Bore You To Tears" Iwata starts spouting a bunch of powerpoint data that nobody cares about and announces the "Wii Vitality Sensor" which is yet another piece of plastic Nintendo wants to peddle and attach to the Wiimote. Basically a heart rate monitor and, get this, he actually said that he would like to see developers create games to help people relax and fall asleep!?!? No need for that Mr, Iwata, that is what Nintendo Press Conferences are for!!! Do us a favor, hire someone else to speak on your behalf next time.
  
  - Super Mario Galaxy 2 is announced (finally some cheering is heard from the public) it looks just like the original Galaxy but Yoshi is now in the game, able to perform special moves while riden by Mario.
  
  - The other hardcore offer from 3rd parties that is presented are The Conduit (an FPS nobody would care about it it were a 360 or PS3 game), Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles and Dead Space:Extraction, both light gun shooters.

  
  

  - And finally a title that surprised and pleased the public and speaks volumes about how Nintendo needs to ask for outside developers to handle one of their flagship franchises because, apparently, they are unable to do so. The torch has been passed from Retro Studios to none other than Tecmo's Team Ninja. Metroid: Other M now becomes an Action Adventure game that cannot be better described as a Metroid Ninja Gaiden and there will be a emphasis on Samus personality and back story. Very cool, but still, it feels like too little a bone thrown at hardcore gamers to chew on.

  
  
  Final Verdict: Nintendo has become utterly complacent with their position as the market leaders, they are making money hand over fist selling casual games to the casual crowd with very little effort or investment on their behalf. There is very little incentive to cater to the hardcore crowd, which is a minority on Wii and as such hardcore game offerings become a minority as well. The Wii has not dropped in price since launch and it won't drop price this year either, worst, Nintendo's plans consist on selling even more peripherals to plug into the Wii, disregarding the cost this will incur into their users and how it will fragment the user base. The Wii is not a priority, indeed there are hardcore games for it that would make me buy one but its price doesn't reflect the technology it harbors, nor the quality of its overall catalog. Nintendo's Wii just dropped to the bottom of my list after Microsoft's stellar showing. The fact that even Cammie Dunaway failed to display any sort of excitement as she spoke was a somber, disheartening display.

  
  

  Sony's Reassuring Surprise.

  
  
  You got to give credit to Sony, they know how to pump up a crowd even before the show starts. Opening with a video montage of the different games that will be available on PSP and PS3 at the chords and singing voice of Freddie Mercury's "One World, One Vision" the public was already cheering when Jack Trenton stepped into the stage. He did not passed up the chance and greeted the public with a "thanks for showing up" remark Which was replied with a sincere laughter from the public. After Nintendo previous conference, you could notice people wanted to be entertained. There was a little numbers facts exposure but pretty much Trenton got into the meat of the conference:
  
  - Highlighted the fact that Sony is the only hardware holder with 3 successful systems on the market.
  
  - Spoke briefly about PS2's $99 price and 100 new titles it would have this year.
  
  - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was shown live, showing great animation, visuals, destructible environments, cover system and action sequences worthy of any of the best Hollywood flicks.
  
  - MAG was also shown live with 256 players running at once. Also showed that the Squad Leaders and Field Commanders had special options relevant to their status of leaders.
  
  - New PSP bundles were announced including Rock Band, Final Fantasy Dissidia, Assasins' Creed: Bloodlines and Hannah Montana.
  
  - Kaz Hirai showed "E3's Worst Kept Secret" the PSP Go! 50% smaller and 40% lighter than the PSP-3000. Plus new media applications to manage files between the PC and the PSP and "Sense Me Music" which creates a personalized music selection according to the user preferenses and mood. The launch price of the PSP Go! will be $249, maybe a bit more than I expected but it is a complete hardware overhaul after all.
  
  - A revamped video delivery service will include new content for PlayStation Network and now also available for PSP.
  
  - After being first announced with the original launch of the PSP five years ago,(you sure took your time there Polyphony, but at least you didn't pull 3D Realms on us.) Gran Turismo finally reaches the PSP with 800 cars, 35 tracks with 60 variations of each plus the possibility of unlocking the cars with the help of other players. (Was it just me or Mr. Yazunori looked sick? He really did look uncomfortable standing on that stage.)
  
  - Kojima is all over the place, now announcing a true sequel for MGS3, now on PSP called Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, set on the 1970's as the original Big Boss, but now with the possibility of play a co-op campaign with other player controlled clones of Big Boss.
  
  - A first time appearance of the Resident Evil series is announced for PSP
  
  - A quick succession of videos promote the arrival of more franchises for the PSP as well: Little Big Planet, Jak & Daxter, MotorStorm, Dissidia, Socom, Monster Hunter, SoulCalibur, Persona among others.
  
  - PlayStation Network will have available 50 PlayStation 1 c l a s s i c s, Final Fantasy VII included.
  
  - Home gets more content (and has proven to be a very profitable endeavour for Sony thanks to microtransactions.)
  
  - Trenton announces a new franchise that will be exclusive for PS3 : RockStar`s Agent which will be a espionage thriller game.
  
  - Ubisoft presents a live demo of Assassin's Creed II showcasing new tools, skills and methods of assassination and the game will interface with PSP's version of Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines.
  
  - Final Fantasy XIII is shown once more but immediately Trenton wows the public announcing the exclusive rights and a first time ever CG video of Final Fantasy XIV Online. This represents Square Enix's second foray into the MMO realm after FFXI. While I believe this game will remain exclusive for PS3, it will probably be a time exclusive, expect this game to appear on PC as well later on.
  
  - 2 Sony engineers show the crowd a demo of a new prototype of motion controller that use the PlayStation Eye to achieve true 3D space positioning and 1:1 movement that is accurate to the "sub millimeter" level. The technology is similar to what the Wii Motion Plus offers but far more accurate and it uses the camera to interact with the world in a similar way as Project Natal. But it requires the controllers because as one of the engineers say "sometimes you just need buttons for some things" the demo was very surprising and raised some excited reactions from the public.

  
  - Sackboy costumes based on Disney properties were shown, Jack Sparrow as an example.
  
  - Modnation Racer is shown, the developers behind it want of it to become the best kart racer game ever made. It offers deep character and car customization plus easy on the fly track creation. During the demo a whole track full of scenery, buildings, props, power ups and track surfaces was created within just 5 minutes.
  
  - Team ICO's The Last Guardian is finally shown an it looked very similar to the video leaked prior to the E3 event but it was more polished. The interaction between a boy and a giant gryphon like creature seemed to drive the main mechanics of the game for exploration and combat.
  
  - GT5 is shown in video form and now it will include the World Rally Championship and NASCAR licensed racing modes as part of the game.
  
  - And as a closing for the conference, a live demo of God of War 3 is shown, Kratos now featuring the new move sets and weapons of the previous trailers. The brutality of the gameplay is back in a big way as Kratos finishes by disembowelment a Centaur and fights a Chimera that takes apart piece by piece as the battle progresses, all the while a Titan rampages on the background.
  
  Final Verdict: Sony showed that the hardcore gamer has a place that it can call home, (no pun intended) while there was a few moments on the conference that were dedicated to show numbers, these were few and far between. Sony dedicated nearly exclusively everything they showed to the core gamer. The conference while not as far reaching as Microsoft in terms of broad appeal, it showed a rock solid lineup and some true surprise announcements. Most importantly, they confirmed their full support to all the PlayStation brand products, showcasing one of the strongest pushes ever on the PSP, making it a worthwhile alternative to Nintendo's handheld and pushing the message "only possible on PS3" as their new mantra for their home console.

  My rating of all the the conferences:

  
  
  Microsoft: A+ (Wide appealing, full of multimedia offers, strong lineup, new future gameplay possibilities)
  Nintendo: C (Lack of enough new announcements, scant hardcore offerings, technology is showing its age.)
  Sony: B+ (Hardcore centric, solid lineup, strong exclusives and new franchise announcements)

  • Posted Jun 3, 2009 8:11 am PT
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• 1Jun 09

  Microsoft delivers an Impressive Press Conference.

  Indeed, Microsoft delivered a conference that centered right into gamers and discarded showing a single slide of Powerpoint to the audience, that I thank endlessly. They got right into business showing the following highlights:
  
  - The new Rock Band Beattles and Paul Maccartney and Ringo Star right behind it, nothing beats these music legends.
  
  - Tony Hawk presents its new game with a new motion sensing board as well, being a direct stab at Nintendo's Wii Balance Board.
  
  - Modern Warfare 2 with more white knuckle action and storytelling as ever, looks like another million seller for Infinity Ward, they deserve it.
  
  - Final Fantasy XIII now shown running on the 360 hardware, not really a surprise but mostly a reminder to everyone that they 1upped Sony last year.
  
  - Cliffy B shows a Metroid like homage game "Shadow Complex" which looks like another great exclusive XBLA title.
  
  - Crackdown 2 is announced with a CG teaser trailer, but not much is revealed. Could be a good sequel but not a system seller.
  
  - Left 4 Dead 2 with chainsaws and melee weapons, I really don't think I need to say more.
  
  - Splinter Cell Conviction which throws away most of the gameplay of the previous games out the window and take a more action oriented, brutal approach to the combat. The way the storytelling is integrated right into the real time engine is very original. It really uses a sophisticated visual language rarely seen in games.
  
  - Forza 3 promising being the best racing game ever made, 400 cars, custom paint job community and in depth video editor, could be interesting but the customization through cell phone as shown years pass is a no show.
  
  - The Halo franchise shows up once again with ODST which will offer multiple viewpoints from different characters and Halo Reach which is a prequel to the whole Halo Universe. I believe MS is milking this series to death already, please let Bungie work on something else.
  
  - Alan Wake finally is shown in playable form (woooohoooo!) and it looks great, I've been tracking this game for a very long time and it showed very cool light-is-a-weapon mechanics, shadowy enemies ala ICO and lots of cinematic events.
  
  - XBL gets upgraded with Last.fm, HD Netflix with no download times, Sky Live TV, Zune Video, and Facebook and Twitter compatibility (if you are into that sort of thing)
  
  - ! Kojima appears on stage and announces a new Metal Gear series called Metal Gear Solid Rising "Lighting Bolt Action" starring everyone favorite androgenous cyber ninja; Raiden. Yet again proving that Microsoft has more money than GOD.
  
  - And last but not least, Project Natal is presented by none others than Steven Spielberg and Peter Molyneux, if you want to bring attention to a new project, you can't possibly get any bigger than these guys. "It is not about reinventing the wheel, it is about not having a wheel at all" as they stated which pretty much goes directly into Nintendo territory and Microsoft proceeds to take all the plastic of the Wiimote, Wii Motion Plus, Nunchuck, Wii Wheel, Wii Zapper and Balance Board, rolls it into a fat wad and proceeds to shove into Regis Fils Aimes rectal cavity. - Voice, Facial, Body and Gesture recognition into a single devise that the player doesn't even need to have contact with to play games plus the possibility unprecedented natural interaction with virtual characters and their world.
  
  My final verdict: Now I'm willing to risk a RROD if it means playing these games and services (I'll keep the warranty handy). 360 just went beyond being the simple sum of its hardware parts.

  • Posted Jun 1, 2009 1:25 pm PT
  • Category: News
  • 18 Comments

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• 14May 09

  Playing a bad game makes you apreciate the good ones.

  

  Call it whatever you want, no matter the console, it is still an awful game

  
  
  An in depth review. Read it at your own risk and play it if you dare.

  • Posted May 14, 2009 1:39 pm PT
  • Category: N/A
  • 19 Comments

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• 17Mar 09

  DarkStalkers Art and Gratuitous Suffering.

  First off, many thanks for those concerned about my health on my last blog entry, I'm feeling much better now.
  
  The DarkStalkers Tribute is finally over and of the 2072 pieces received, 177 made it in, that's about 8-9% of the entries submitted. SciFiCat entries accepted: 0
  
  

  

  
  
  That was pretty much my reaction to the results of the contest, don't get me wrong, a lot of people didn't get in either but for someone that is such a nut for DarkStalkers as myself, well that just burns. I guess I'll just have to become even better for the next tribute. Anyways here are the pieces, judge for yourselves:
  
  This one you already know, but for clarity sake, I'll include it again
  

  

  Click for Larger View

  Here is one for the ladies, Donovan - a hunk of a monk :
  
  

  

  Click for Larger View

  And finally, a piece I truly poured my heart into, alas it was not to be:
  
  

  

  Click for Larger View

  Indeed you may think that such rejection may prompt plenty of gratuitous suffering, but I rather meant gratuitous as in "free of cost" and Suffering as in:
  
  

  

  Click to Download

  
  
  For whatever reason (I guess being bankrupt is a good enough reason as any) Midway has made that game available as legal free downloads, and this one as well:
  
  

  

  Click to Download

  
  
  Wow, I always wanted to try out The Suffering, now there is really no excuse to do so.
  
  The site that host those games also featured a few more freebies I would like to highlight:
  
  
  
  

  Click on any of the covers to download the game

  
  
  So, what are you waiting for? I just gave you 5 reasons to stop complaining about how the economic crisis is messing with your gaming habits, you can't beat free that is for sure, so enjoy the artwork and the games. Don't say I haven't done something nice for you lately!

  • Posted Mar 17, 2009 11:15 am PT
  • Category: N/A
  • 17 Comments

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• 10Mar 09

  I'm sick of this!

  Litterary... when is this damn cold going to go away? I believe my defenses just got tired of the constant wind, rain and general chill factor. So I'm home with a case of the chills, a sore throat, meandering fever and headaches, Oh, it is so great to feel alive right now My apologies for not updating like I planned (heck, I haven't eve gotten around doing a Level 25 banner) Anyways, as I mentioned some blogs pass, I managed to enter 3 pieces into the DarkStalkers Tribute Book Contest, time will tell if at least one got in. Now image for a moment the surprise that was in store for Udon Crew; the contest organizers. At first they believed that this tribute would be smaller that the Street Fighter one they made last year, because, you know, DarkStalkers is a lesser known - minority crowd franchise. Street Fighter Tribute pieces received:
  
  Around 1400,
  
  DarkStalkers Tribute pieces received:
  
  OVER 2000!!!
  
  Hey Capcom, hope you are paying attention to this! People may want a DarkStalkers 4!
  
  So, I hope to feel better next week and keep updating, have a good one.

  • Posted Mar 10, 2009 9:06 am PT
  • Category: N/A
  • 12 Comments

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• 28Feb 09

  Are Violent Video Games Adequately Preparing Children For The Apocalypse?

  Link

  • Posted Feb 28, 2009 5:36 am PT
  • Category: N/A
  • 10 Comments

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• 21Feb 09

  Wierd Mario Bros. Fan Tributes (plus other related game insanity)

  The guys at Cracked.com are at it again with their crazy funny yet informative features, this time dedicated to everyone's favorite plumber:
  
  The 6 Weirdest Fan Tributes to Mario Bros.
  
  But wait, there is more game related insanity as well:
  
  6 Baffling Old-School Video Game Commercials
  
  The 10 Least Subtle Product Placements in Video Game History
  
  The 7 Most Impressive (And Depressing) Geek Collections.
  
  5 Innovative Ways the Gaming Industry is Screwing You ( Watch out for this one, the #1 hits close to home. )
  
  That is all for now, enjoy your weekend and I'll have a special announcement coming March, have a good one!

  • Posted Feb 21, 2009 8:57 am PT
  • Category: Humor
  • 9 Comments

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• 21Jan 09

  Loose Buttons: Fan Service

  

  Click for larger view

  
  
  A spartan, a plumber and a hedgehog walk into a bar... Just kidding!!
  
  Loose Buttons #9, Enjoy!

  • Posted Jan 21, 2009 4:19 pm PT
  • Category: Humor
  • 15 Comments

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• 20Jan 09

  The World Welcomes You Mr. Obama.

  To say that the significance of the event that will transpire today on Washington DC is historic, is in itself, evident to every person that inhabits the United States. The first African American to occupy the Oval Office represents to a large sector of the US a final and definite statement that says: There are no barriers anymore, we can be whatever we want to be if we put our mind and best effort into it. And for that I applaud ever citizen in the US that helped this long sought out dream to finally come true. But aside the vanishing of racial barrier issues this ceremony represents a new start for the entire world. Never has the arrival of a new President of The United States gathered the amount of attention and support from international spectators as this one. For now, more than ever, in a world increasingly more globalized, Mr. Barack Hussein Obama, represents the future and hopes of the entire world.
  
  George W. Bush has left behind himself one of the worst legacies any president prior ever has. His absurd, arbitrary and unilateral decisions have dilapidated whatever trust and goodwill that every nation in the world gave to the US after 9-11. Now Obama, faces an uphill battle, both economical and diplomatic, to recover the tarnished name of one of the most exemplary nations, a nation that once inspired admiration, now repulse and mistrust. Hope is indeed the word the world whispers as this new president steps up and swears in his charge. The occupation of Iraq, the shadow of Al-Qaeda, the shame of Abu-Ghraib and Guantanamo, the economic meltdown and corporate corruption festered by an out of control Neo-Liberalism and now the reawaken Israeli-Palestinian conflict whose consequences will be deep and long lasting. This is the legacy Obama will inherit as he steps into the Oval Office. Many of Obama's detractors fault him for his lack of "political experience", that he will not be able to deal with waht is to come. How ironic and short-term-memory-disabled those detractors are considering the track record of Obama's predecessor.
  
  Bush is the sad, shameful past. Now Obama represents the future and the desire of the people for better things to come. The citizens of the United States have a privileged that no other citizen of the world have, that of voting for the man who will not only decide the heading of their nation, but that of all nations in the long run. Time will tell how Obama will help shape that better future we all hope for, but at the very least let's give him our patience for there is a long path to be treaded before the storm is left behind, and if indeed his steps are firm and, mostly, without stumbles. He'll be leading the way up to 2016. My best wishes to you Mr. Obama and to all on this new journey.

  • Posted Jan 20, 2009 8:53 am PT
  • Category: Opinion
  • 7 Comments

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• 11Jan 09

  DarkStalkers 15th Anniversary Tribute by UDON

  Imagine my surprise when I logged into my deviantArt account a couple of days ago to find out that Udon (The art house responsible for the Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix's art plus plenty of comic based upon Capcom licenses) will release a tribute art book based upon one of my all time favorite game series: DARKSTALKERS! YEEEEESSSSS!!!!!
  
  This book will include artwork from some of the leading UDON artists and other comic, video game and freelance illustrators And they have organized an open contest to allow people to have a chance to have their art featured in the book. But you know what made all this far more exciting to me? Because I was working on this even before I knew about the contest
  
  

  ***SPOILER***

  

  Click for larger view

  I just could not believe it, I had been working on this since the beginning of the year just for the sake of it and it coincides with an event it relates directly too. I had plans to make other DarkStalkers based illustrations, but now even more so, and I'm gonna pour my heart and soul into them. I'm not gonna lie to you: There is a small chance for my work to be selected considering the amount of entries that will be submitted and it might piss me off a bit if that is not the case, but regardless; I will get my hands on that art book. I've been waiting for something like this for years and this gives me hope that Capcom may be working on an all new chapter of the DarkStakers series. Seeing that in Tatsunoko Vs Capcom there is an appearance of a fully realized 3D Morrigan I have high hopes that Capcom might actually revamp the series just as it did with Street Fighter.
  
  Unfortunately I will not be able to show the new DarkStalker pieces I will create because Udon wants the submissions to remain a secret until the book gets published. But until then: Let's get cranking!

  • Posted Jan 11, 2009 11:52 am PT
  • Category: Games
  • 10 Comments

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• 30Dec 08

  An early Happy New YearrghhOUCH!!!

  I hope you have had very nice Xmas celebrations; I sure got a late present...
  
  

  
  

  OOOUUUCH!!!

  
  

  
  
  Yay, nothing better for a person that enjoys to draw than getting a nasty, big ass cut on his index finger
  
  Thankfully the doctor said that it was a clean cut that will not leave a scar but I should not move it much ot get it wet till friday. -___- ;;; ( Yes, I look real funny typing this, ) Well, I'm ashamed to say that I've not been that active this month with all the holiday activities, so not many new pieces
  
  

  

  Darla Sabana Sunset

  
  
  

  

  Seras

  
  
  

  

  Andrea In The Forest

  
  
  and no Loose Buttons, , but I have written down some new ideas of future entries, so I beg you patience.
  
  Oh, and I will have an extra surprise for you guys next month, so until then I and my sore aching (index) finger wish you a:
  
  HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

  • Posted Dec 30, 2008 10:26 am PT
  • Category: N/A
  • 21 Comments

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