Posts Tagged ‘PS3’

 

The Brutal Old West PS3 Style – 5. April, 2010

Okay, okay, okay… this looks pretty f**king cool.

Now before you start asking “when the hell did this turn into a video game blog” I should mention a few things. First, the PS3 is my first game system since the original NES so I’m going through my “infatuation” stage. Second, I’m writing like crazy but can’t really share what I’m writing so there isn’t much to blog abut there. Third, I’ve been working so many hours at both my jobs, on my freelance career, my feature, my web series and my writing that the blogging has taken a bit of a back seat. I’m sorry about that. I’m struggling to get ahead of the curve and feel like I’m failing but I think that’s what struggle is supposed to feel like.

Enough bitchin’. Back to work.

Posted in Off-Topic

March 2010 Goal Check – 1. April, 2010

25% of the year is over so it’s time to check in on those goals again.

Finish My Feature FilmMy editor finished a cut and it looked pretty good. Obviously, I had notes but we are definitely on the same page and it feels fucking awesome to move forward. Now I just need him to export a QuickTime so I can obsessively watch it at home in High-Def. You’re asking how I’m gonna author & burn a Blu-ray from my Mac, right? Wrong. I’m gonna export the HD Quicktime to play on my PS3. Stu, you’re a hero.

Write Another TV Spec – I am WAY behind on CHUCK and FRINGE but I’m still determined write for one of these shows. I think I’m gonna take a day off, hook up the computer to the TV and just plow through the second seasons of both.

Get Hired to Direct – No bites yet.

Get My Web Series Up & Running – So I had three formal pitches and about a dozen “tell me what you’re working on” while waiting for the elevator and the response has been overwhelming. Most people love it and the rest get a right hook to their prudish sensibilities. No, seriously, one woman yelled out “oh God!” in reaction to one of our randier jokes. Awesome! Also, I’ve cut together some character vlogs and need to do more but I’ve also been writing the first season. Christ, this is really happening. Also, you’ll see that I no longer use the “T” word because it resulted in my getting spammed by those interested in this “T” word.

Write A Feature Script – I started an outline but got sidetracked by the web series and, well…

As for other goals I still don’t have a sport, a class, an acoustic guitar, a way to defy death, a way to invest and I’m still trying to finish GLUE but I did go to SXSW and I had a fucking blast so that counts for something, right?

Games Save The World – 29. March, 2010

You’ve heard about TED talks, right? Great. Have you seen the one about how playing games will save the world? No? Then check it out.

Suddenly I don’t feel so bad about my turn as a shut-in trying to level up my BORDERLANDS characters. And once I get hooked on GOD OF WAR 3 it’s over. Damn you PS3! I love/hate you so much.

On the other end of the spectrum, did you hear about the prolific writer whose life went to hell once he discovered GRAND THEFT AUTO and cocaine? Yeah, I know, right, it’s crazy! I’m not that bad but then again I’ve barely played GTA IV.

(gulp)

Posted in Off-Topic

Friday Fun: Drive Nerd, Drive! – 12. March, 2010

So I don’t have a workbench nor do particularly enjoy racing games but this makes me wish I did.

If you have some extra time and space to trick out your PS3 and a desire to kick some serious ass playing NEED FOR SPEED then here are the instructions.

Posted in Off-Topic

So I Pitched that Project – 10. March, 2010

So last week I pitched that multi-platform project… I’m no longer calling it the “T” word because I was recently flooded with spam all related to this other, very similar “T” word.

The pitches went well. Obviously there are a few things I’d do differently but that’s a lesson for me. Let me tell you about a tool that helped me greatly.

I created a 2-page cheat sheet. Here are the sections:

  • Logline – Two sentence that told them about the project.
  • What We’re Offering – We listed what was completed [and how far long it was] and what was immediately on-deck. I didn’t list what we hoped to do here because I wanted to show them that we were serious enough to get the ball rolling on our own.
  • The Audience – We told them exactly who was gonna watch this.
  • The Platforms – As this is a multi-platoform project, I listed each medium and how we were going utilize it. This is where I looked to some cool things we’d like to do in the future (very pie-in-the-sky)
  • Who We Are – This was a quick bio of how we all got together and created this project.
  • The Executives – Not only did I list who they worked for but everything I could find from Google, from hobbies to friends in common.
  • What We’re Looking For – As we were pitching to three different executives, I wanted them to know that 1) we knew exactly who they were and 2) we knew exactly how they could help us.
  • Other Project – I had a logline for one more project in my back pocket.
  • Pitch Structure – As I was pitching with a partner, I broke down who answered what kind of questions, who pitched what and timed it out.

Sorry that I’m not including specifics but my partners want us to play our cards close to the vest, especially as we could still go out and pitch this project.

On an unrelated note, I’m sick again so my blogging this week might be inconsistent.

Also, you’ll notice something new on my sidebar. I’ve listed my PS3 trophies. I know it’s uber-nerd of me but as I’ve started talking about video games here I thought it only right of me to fly that flag. I really wanted the trophy card that showed you the last game I trophied in but that one wouldn’t fit in my sidebar. Solution: redo my blog design.

(I’m embracing my inner nerd)

Posted in Industry

February 2010 Goal Check – 1. March, 2010

What? The month’s already over? S**t! Time to check in with those goals I set at the start of the year.

Finish My Feature Film – No real progress here but I should be looking at a cut next month.

Write Another TV Spec – This too has taken a back seat but I am plowing through season 2 of CHUCK on my iPhone and the FRINGE season 1 Blu-ray on my PS3.

Get Hired to Direct – Um, yeah, this really isn’t happening either. Okay, by now you’re asking what the hell is wrong with me. You must think I’m a flake. I’m not, I just got hit with a one-two-punch of having a roller derby girl spurn my affections (lesson: never like them more than they like you) and then the most intense flu I’ve had since childhood. That ate up about 2-3 weeks of my life.

Get My Transmedia Project Up & Running – Good news here: I have 4 pitch meetings this week. I’ll be meeting with a creative/tech agency, a talent agent, a new media producer and a web focused production company. That means I have to get this pitch prepped ASAP.

Write a Feature Script – Nope, didn’t really push the bromance but I’m punching up this horror/thriller that a director, and friend, wants to take into a genre division. And it’s due the same week as my 4 pitches.

Gulp.

As for my other goals, I’m still looking for a sport, a class, a way to defy death, an acoustic guitar, a way to invest and I really gotta finish GLUE by Irvine Welsh.

Addiction Is Spelled B-O-R-D-E-R-L-A-N-D-S – 25. February, 2010

Yeah, I’m addicted to BORDERLANDS. I play it at home, I play it online, I’ve downloaded both Zombie Island (and beat it) and Moxxi’s Underdome (looking for an online buddy to tackle this with me).

So you can imagine my excitement when I saw that the latest DLC is being released today. Say “hello” to General Knoxx.

And say “good bye” to my free time.

Posted in Off-Topic

Super Bowl Ads 2010 – 8. February, 2010

On the whole this lot of Super Bowl commercials were okay. Some of my favorites were…

This one made me laugh a few times but my buddy Dan roared when the two fun boys slaped each other.

Man, this must be the year of the furry, rodent like animal stealing the spotlight.

I love that this commercials cost nothing yet still managed to evoke emotions.

I got a chuckle out of the vampire joke.

Loved the song placed to the visuals but I played this PS3 demo and it’s just too gruesome for me.

And of course, in space, no one can hear you scream. Yeah, that one joke elicited the biggest laugh from me.

BTW, it was great to hear songs by Grizzly Bear and The Arcade Fire (did you know they donated all their profits from the NFL spots to Haiti relief?) but why are ad executives still using that Blur song? It’s what, fifteen years old?  And what’s with repurposing all those YouTube videos?  Here’s hoping the creators are getting a fat paycheck from this.

And with that I think I’m getting sick so I’m out and apologies in advance if I’m not blogging regularly this week.

Posted in Off-Topic

Friday Fun: Beer Wars – 5. February, 2010

Happy Friday everyone!

If you’ve ever met me in a bar or seen me in a decent restaurant and asked “what’s a good beer” then you’ve heard me give an impromptu lecture on brown ales or how a pilsener is different from a lager.  Yes, I’m a beer geek and it’s all because of a documentary called BEER WARS.

This week, that documentary is available on iTunes (and apparently my PS3 too but I can’t stop playing BORDERLANDS to check–help). Don’t believe me? Here’s the proof.

(that’s the documentary on the “iTunes->Movies” homepage sandwiched between NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU and some Hulk cartoon while I download the latest FRINGE).

Of course I’m biased (dear FTC, I worked on it for almost three years but I am not being compensated for this mention… but if the director wanted to buy me some tasty cupcakes I wouldn’t say “no”) but I think it’s a pretty damn good doc. Also, the “making of” was mighty interesting so I can’t wait for the behind-the-scenes book (hint, hint; nudge nudge).

Posted in General

Tomb Raider: Underworld – 2. February, 2010

Since I review all the other media I consume, why should my PS3 be any different? Exactly. Glad you agree. Therefore, let me introduce you to the first game I’ve completed on my new system.

TOMB RAIDER: UNDERWORLD felt like a homecoming of sorts because I played the original on my PC about a dozen years ago (was it really THAT long ago?). The narrative is a bit of a MacGuffin but all you really want to do is jump and climb and hunt for treasures like an Indiana Jones in hot pants.

One thing surprised me: I don’t remember Lara killing quite so many animals in her last outing. Seriously, they could have called this “Tomb Raider: Nature’s Worst Enemy”.

Not everything about a reunion is roses.  The graphics are just how I remember them… which means they could have easily been so much better. No, wait, they’re improved, I know that, but I feel like I’ve seen the PS3 do SO much better. Also, occasionally the controls conspire against you (or maybe I’m still figuring out how to use all 20 buttons effectively). Lastly, the stupid camera often screws you more than it helps. When I’m standing against a wall, why is it only showing me rocks?  Why?!

But that’s me being nitpicky. The levels were expansive but the game was short and that suited me just fine. It was a great introduction to modern gaming without taking over my life.

Ooh, I also wanted to say that of all the things you can do in the game the best parts are swimming. I don’t know why but these levels were incredibly fun to play.

To wrap it up, this was a fun and great way to get me gaming without intimidating me.  Thanks ya sassy lassy.

Posted in Off-Topic