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SXSW: Game Perverts
At first glance that panel title sounds like a very special episode of Dateline NBC's "To Catch a Predator," but the subtitle makes it a bit clearer ... for some: "A Robot, a DS, and a dot-matrix printer menage a trois." This panel was all about hacking and homebrewing, and we saw some pretty cool stuff. Bob Sabiston's Nintendo DS animation project -- this is a homebrew kit that Bob began developing after sending Nintendo a letter explaining that he was a fairly decent programmer and engineer (he is - he wrote the rotoscoping software used for the animation in Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly) and they sent him a software development kit for the DS. His animation and painting program is one of the best apps we've ever seen on the DS, and even the artwork he's produced on it is very impressive. Rich LeGrand got into game robotics with the Game Boy Advance, because there is a fairly limitless supply of hardware available on eBay at around $20 a pop. He reverse-engineered a robotics tool for the GBA called the Xport, which he sells through his company Charmed Labs, that lets you program and build a robot around your handheld (most people use Lego for the robot exoskeleton). He has also very successfully not been sued by Nintendo. Paul Slocum took an old Epson LQ500 dot-matrix printer and reversed engineered a box that lets him program and play music through it by changing the speeds and strengths that the pins strike the paper. It really has to be heard to be believed (it's part of the song - former dot-matrix users will hear it right away). He also uses an Atari 2600 with a modified cartridge to generate drums and "bleep" sounds. Pretty impressive stuff. We lovingly retitled this panel "How to hack up your precious hardware," but now we're thinking about cracking something open and giving it a whirl. We just wish we'd kept those old dot-matrix printers.
Today's most therapeutic video: Simpsons 'GTA Parody'
Maybe if Doctor Melfi tried this with Tony Soprano, he could've worked out his anger issues without that near-death experience. Nothing soothes the angry nerves of the savage beast like a few rounds of a GTA-like game. Of course, you need to be careful you don't carry it over into the real world. Whenever we play GTA for hours (days) and then finally get in a car, it is so tempting not just fly off a ramp and bypass traffic. No idea what system they're gaming on either ... just check out all the buttons on Bart's controller. It's like the red-headed stepchild of the Dreamcast that never came to fruition and only exists as some ideas doodled on a napkin at a Japanese karaoke bar somewhere.
New stealth animations on the way
Vaneras over at the EU forums has answered many rogues' prayers today:We have just received some feedback from the developers regarding this issue and it is good news indeed :-) The animators are currently working on completely new stealth movement animations to solve this issue. This basically means that the current "funny looking" stealth animations will be replaced with new better looking ones :-) Currently this issue is expected to be resolved in patch 2.1, but there is a chance that the new animations will not be ready by that time, which may result in the fix being delayed for a later patch. And shortly later, on why they weren't just restoring the old ones:I think the animators felt like they wanted something new instead of reverting back to the old animations. Something awesome that wouldn't make it look like that you are moving too fast or too slow when being in stealth. I remember the old "ice skating" animations quite well, and I do personally agree that they looked better than the current ones, but they still looked kind of silly IMO. :-)I don't know anyone who likes the new animations, so I can't see why this is anything but welcome news.
Ubisoft to open CGI film studio in Quebec, partially funded by Canada
Word from the Canadian newswire is that Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot is preparing to announce a major "growth plan for the company" tomorrow. According to Québécois newspaper La Presse, Guillemot will unveil plans for a new computer-animation studio in Quebec, which would initially produce "short films for the general public."Ubisoft's new CGI studio would be made possible, in part, by an ongoing government grant that is providing the company with roughly C$454 million (approximately $383.9 million USD) over time, in order to create 1,000 new jobs in Quebec. Supposedly tomorrow's announcement will see Canada labor minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn and Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay present Ubisoft Montreal with a portion of the grant worth C$8 million (approx. $6.8 million USD).
Today's hottest game video: Tea-light Tetris
Today's video pick comes from the bowels of YouTube, thanks to a Boing Boing tipster. This stop-motion animation of dozens of tea lights proves that anything can be made into a gaming homage. After detailed arrangement and the addition of fire -- fire good! -- the flames dance into Pac-Man, Tetris, and other classic game scenes.Enjoy the video after the break.[Via Boing Boing]
New Havok release supports PS3
Havok has officially unleashed Havok 4.5, the latest version of their comprehensive animation and physics toolset for developers. The update adds full optimization for the PS3 and its Cell architecture, and is derived from Havok's cooperation with Evolution Studios in the construction of Motorstorm's physics system. Upcoming games utilizing the 4.5 variant are expected to handle Havok instructions between five and ten times faster than the previous release."Havok 4.5's ability to allow developers to massively scale game content will make it possible to develop even more compelling, realistic and complex worlds that harness the full power of new generation architectures," says Havok's David O'Meara. Though the emphasis remains on crafting "realistic" worlds, one might also consider the impact that robust physics and animation have on "unrealistic", fantasy games. When objects and clothing behave as you expect them to, it can lend even the most unusual world a sense of believability and cohesion. It's not all sliding crates and rolling barrels, you know.
Matinee at the Bijou to bring classic cartoons to PBS-HD
Those glorious Saturday mornings filled with cartoons and a complete lack of responsibility will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we're thrilled to hear that some faithful classics are about to get reborn on PBS-HD. According to Bijou Bob's official weblog, PBS has given "the green light" to producers to revive some of the greatest 'toons of the past, and just as soon as sufficient sponsors are found, you can expect to see the renditions in stunning HD, which will likely prove that Betty Boop actually is forever young. The 12-episode season is slated to air sometime in 2007, with "Betty Boop, Tom & Jerry, and the Fleischer Superman cartoons being named as potential candidates for the show." Additionally, you can expect to see see "a short subject, a serial chapter, and a feature film" to go along with the newly-rendered cartoons, all of which will be hosted by Debbie Reynolds. So if you're looking to relive a bit of your past, and don't mind the HD makeover, the Matinee at the Bijou should be right up your alley.[Via ToonZone]
Havok to power Fable 2 physics & animation
Havok announced today that Molyneux and company have licensed Havok Complete for Fable 2. 'Complete' rolls Havok Physics and Havok Animation into one integrated package.As Molyneux iterated, relying on Havok allows Lionhead developers to focus on the team's lofty aspirations, most-simply defined as dynamic regions, unconditional love, wealth accumulation, constrained combat, and an as of yet undisclosed uber-feature. As with the original Fable, at this stage it's hard to distinguish fantasy from reality (what gameplay elements will and won't make it into Fable 2's final release). But there is now at least one certainty: ragdolls.[Via 1UP]
Today's hottest game video: SMB3 in Lego
Today's most-watched YouTube game video is a trailer for Final Fantasy Versus XIII. This upcoming PS3 title ... okay, we just can't do it. Final Fantasy fans, follow the link to get your fix. We're sure you'll love the game; Final Fantasy just seems to come up a lot on YouTube, and we want something different tonight.For the rest of you, we offer the second-most-watched video of the day -- with nearly as many views as the Final Fantasy trailer -- a Lego animation of Super Mario Bros. 3. This brilliant video shows what SMB3 would look like if your TV rendered 2D images in Lego. The animation looks like a pixel-to-brick translation, recasting Mario in bright Lego colors.It's unclear if the animation is literally the labor-intensive process of animating each brick, but it looks great regardless. (Originating site, BitFlicks says that some videos use software effects.) See the video after the break.
Today's hottest game video: Lego DDR
Today's most-popular game video comes from GameTrailer's user-uploaded section. Lego DDR, as the title suggests, concerns the junction of Legos and Dance Dance Revolution. We've always wondered what it would look like if Lego people could play DDR. (Just go with us here.) And not even the articulated Technic guys, but the squat, smiling Lego men.Our questions have been answered by this minute-long stop-motion of frenzied Lego guys hitting some max combos. And then they follow-up with pommel-horse moves on the DDR safety-railing. Nice.See the video after the break.
Chotto Shot pictures, videos & impressions [m]
The PSP camera, with Chotto Shot, is now available in Japan, and for import buyers. PSP GadgetZ has some really great pictures of the camera, packaging, and more importantly, pictures taken with the peripheral. According to a translation by PSP-Vault, "He says that the diagonal lines are pretty bad, and that at low light levels, there is a lot of noise in the images. He's also a bit annoyed that you need to remove the camera to transfer data to your PC." The image quality is apparently not too great, but I guess that's expected from a device that costs $50, and not hundreds.Read on to read more about the PSP's new camera accessory.
Nicktoons Networks shows on iTunes Store
The Nicktoons Network has added some content to the iTunes Store. Skyland, set in the year 2251 on an Earth that has been shattered into million pieces, and the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival. The Festival features seven episodes of animation from around the world including South Africa, Chine and the Philippines.Each episode costs $1.99 though you can get the first episode of Skyland completely gratis, for a limited time.[via iLounge]
Small Carrot for the small screen
A member of Small Carrot asked me to check out the site, and I was incredibly impressed by what I saw. The site offers tons of high-quality ad-free animation, in formats compatible with the PSP, iPod and cell phone. While the programming is excellent, Small Carrot goes a step further than other sites by offering a PSP-compatible version of the site and video RSS feeds. Downloading is quick, simple and intuitive.The site will only work on PSPs with firmware 2.80 or greater due to the naming conventions the site uses. But, for those of you running an older firmware, there's luck: the site will offer 1.0-compatible movies for those browsing on a computer. Not bad at all. Check out the site on your PC, or on your PSP at www.scpsp.com.
Light-hearted post of the day: Phoenix Wrong
We've been saving these for awhile, for that rainy day (hey, it's raining somewhere) in front of your computer. Here at the Fanboy offices, you either love Phoenix Wright or you lie face down in a pool of your own blood and lower intestines. And because we'd like to extend that tender love to all of you as well, here are some flash animations put together over a NewGrounds, which feature characters from the game saying and singing some ridiculous things. They're quite hilarious, especially if you're familiar with the series (and we know you are), so take a look!Phoenix Wrong 1Phoenix Wrong 2Phoenix Wrong 3
ProCare promo video inspired by South Park, created by Apple Store employees
We don't know how legit this is, or whether there's an Apple Store out there actually using this, but it appears as though some Apple Store employees have created a ProCare promotional video in the spirit of South Park. It features short, animated kids in a few quick scenarios of customers entering the store and requesting Procare support, as well as another customer pimping some of the various features that ProCare offers, such as personalized support and training. It probably won't make the Apple.com homepage any time soon, but it's an interesting effort from some enthusiastic employees (who probably didn't even get paid for their efforts).
Claymation + puppy kicking = GTA parody
Cartoon Network's Robot Chicken does video games again, trading in their FFVII dolls for some Grand Theft Au ... errr, excuse me, Grand Theft Larceny: San Diego action figures. Beating a nun with a crucifix, kicking puppies, incestuous Hot Coffee, it's all in here. The thing about GTA parodies is, doesn't anyone else already see GTA as a parody of itself, a pastiche of inner-city culture? It's like Stephen Colbert's Colbert Report character; he's not any more outrageous than the personality cultists he's mocking. Pedantic observations aside, this bit, like Colbert, is still good for some giggles. Need proof: the video is embedded after the break.[Via digg]
Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006
Wow. Just...wow. Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006 is an incredible piece of video-game infused animation by artist Paul Robertson. There's a great writeup at selectparks: His work has been shown in many galleries in Australia, but until now hasn't found a big exposure online. For me, his non-interactive animations are more about what games ought to be than what a lot of games are. The kind of indulgence which triggers all the soft spots of delicious wrongness in a way Reality just doesn't appreciate.PBCBSF2006 is probably the most frenetic, violent, and fun game never made. Check out the horrible quality YouTube video after the break, or download the torrent and get seeding.[Thanks, brad77]
Gamers resurrect imploded pop stars
What is it about Michael Jackson and machinima? After stumbling across this clever video set in Counter-Strike, I ran a couple of searches. This rabbit-hole goes deep. There's plenty of MJ to be found in World of Warcraft videos (Beat It, Billy Jean) which is unsurprising considering that the entire male population of night elves appears to have summered at Neverland ranch in their youth (this would explain many of their pathological in-game tendencies, but that's a whole 'nother rabbit hole). Many of the night-elf dance moves are lifted from the King of Pop's library of signature jigs, including the pelvic thrust and twirly-hand-leg-kick thing. Even denizens of Second Life appear to be thrilled by the opportunity to relive the days when Jacko only pretended to be ghoulish. Through machinima, fans of celebs who have dashed their careers against the treacherous reefs of fame can now travel back to the future. Fans can return to a time when their idols still had something worth worshipping. It's a form of therapy.
Lair off-screen trailer looked good at GDC
Stills and screenshots can only do so much to convey how good a game looks. Here's an off-screen video presentation of Lair recorded from GDC, showing off the Factor 5 game in action (or, should we say, motion).You might recognize some of the animation from videos seen elsewhere, but it was nice to catch the newer footage of a dragon wireframe model meticulously rendered with layers of musculature and skin, too.If that's not enough for ya, you can always just listen in to the audio, which features a young lady from Washington asking questions of a developer with the hope of getting hired. Consider this a lesson in networking.[Via GameBrink]
GameTap now $9.95/month; GameTap TV announced
PC subscription gaming service GameTap has dropped its monthly fee from $14.95 to $9.95 and announced a GameTap TV expansion that will offer "a new broadband video streaming network" for games- and non-games-related programming.The GameTap TV feature will include separate channels dedicated to music videos, network game previews, GT TV-exclusive content, and "even an animation channel set to go live this spring that will feature an original series of animated shorts."We don't know where Space Ghost fits into all these broadband network plans, but we're sure that it can't be good. The cost-cutting measure by the TBS-owned venture are important in light of all the digital-download announcements made by the big console manufacturers recently, but it's hard to tell whether the $5 drop in monthly fees will greatly increase the number of current PC subscribers. Anyone gonna jump in on this?See also: What is GameTap? [Official page where the inset image was found] GameTap to offer previews, trailers GameTap: Turner's games-on-demand site is live
