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G15 Tanking
Last week I covered playing with your mouse, and playing with your keyboard. In my keyboard post I mentioned that I would share with you all my Logitech G15 keyboard map. For those of you who don't have a G15, the keyboard is unique in that there are 18 programmable keys located on the left side of the keyboard. The keys looks like those pictured to the right.Each of these 18 keys can be assigned three independent functions – based on selecting "M1", "M2", or "M3" at the top of the keyboard. This gives a whooping 54 possible key combinations and functions. I don't use all these though, only the first 18 for most everything, and then the second for some random addon and programming things. So without further ado, here's what my G15 keyboard map looks like:
Congratulations to the Short Cuts winner
The Nintendo Short Cuts Showcase is officially over. After (no doubt) careful consideration of all the finalists, it has come down to one. The winner is Jack Paccione's Good vs. Wiivil, a short film about a waggle fight over an Everyman's very soul.Paccione will win $10,000, a trip to New York, a screening of his film at the Tribeca Drive-In Short Film Series, as well as a Wii, a DS, and a bunch of games for both. Perhaps most impressively, he's earned a spot for his video after the break of this very post.
The Short Cuts entry that better freaking win
We thought we'd given up posting Nintendo Short Cuts entries as a veritable flood of applicants submitted their works shortly before the deadline, but sister site Joystiq posted one that's simply way, way too good.The above "movie trailer" for the NES classic Punch-Out!! is rife with 8-bit references, as the creators shrewdly blend recognizable game artwork into live-action scenes. The acting (especially Von Kaiser's) is top-notch, production values sky-high, and the music made us replay the last minute of the trailer nine times just to rock out. If Hollywood really knew what was up, this would have been made instead of the lukewarm Rocky Balboa last year. We officially stamp our vote of approval on Team Awesome, and wish them the best of luck.They probably won't need it.
Put your computer in water to watch this Short Cuts roundup
The Nintendo Short Cuts film contest has been great for us. We didn't make any films, nor are we giving away any prizes, but we still get to reap the benefits and share lots of Nintendo fanworks with you. The two we're highlighting today are probably our favorites yet.The first video retells the plot of one of our favorite NES games, StarTropics, in a much more subdued style than the original version. It kind of looks like some college dudes were bored one afternoon and decided to go enter the Nintendo thing or whatever. It's astoundingly deadpan, and the total opposite of yesterday's Zelda video.The second video comes from TheTanooki.com, and is a special-effects packed action adventure that mashes up reality and the World of Nintendo. It's got Mother Brain in it, so it's awesome.
Wii Warm Up: Short cuts
We've been talking a lot lately about Nintendo's Short Cuts Showcase, because entries are popping out all over. We were just curious -- did any of you enter the contest? Maybe someone you know did? We'd love to hear about the stories behind some of the videos we're starting to see. For those of you who are only watching the contest unfold, like we are, what do you think so far?
Nintendo Short Cuts: Be the hero!
It must be hard, getting your friends together, making costumes, and getting props set up in under a week, if the story posted along with this video is true. Time constraints didn't prevent these Zelda fans from getting their send-up on film in time for the contest's deadline. The costuming looks pretty good, too, but we can't help but wonder if groups like this fight over who gets to be Link. Are they hiding bruises under those robes and tunics? We'll bet yes, but judging from the choreography of the fight scenes, it's likely no one got hurt too badly. Swing those swords like men, Zelda fans (or like angry women; we're all about equal opportunity swordsmanship around here)! But props on the setting, costumes, and music -- not bad for a rush job! Check out the video for yourself after the jump.
Your Elite Beat Agents screenplay + a video camera = an easy $10,000
Nintendo is giving all of you auteurs a chance at some exposure, cash, and Nintendo swag, and all you have to do in return is mess around with a camera. They're asking for entries for their Short Cuts Showcase, to be shown at the Top of the Rock in New York City's Rockefeller Center.To enter, make a three-to-five minute film that includes something Nintendo-related and submit it on CD or DVD by June 6. If you're not up for the Elite Beat Agents theme, may we suggest a courtroom drama? Also, if you happen to have DS Fanboy open in the background of your movie at some point, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Johnny, tell them what they'll win after the break!
