IBE 2010 - IBE TV

I'm always working on something. Stay tuned guys, I've got some super articles lined up and maybe an interview or three. In the mean time, check out some IBE TV. 

 Dancing and IBE interviews after the jump!

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Gaming Sensitive

Games as a means of exploiting the sensitive topics of pop culture and current events has never been the medium’s strongest suit. If Thrill Kill and RapeLay are the best we can do, then we are a far cry away from “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. Six Days In Fallujah could have been one of few first-person shooters that ignited a discussion on the war in Iraq between gamers and the general public. This growing schism of what gamers want versus what gamers actually play seems to go hand in hand with how the culture has matured. Do we want our games to comment on our environment? Is the quality of a game a factor when the plot is meant to be the focal point? Where is the line between addressing matters in our culture that are topical and when do we cross that line into insensitivity?

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Commercial Break: Magic Vagina Bubbles

It would seem that I've been hitting you guys with a lot of heavy articles and even I'd have to admit, that I've gone full-blown nerd as of late. So, take this particular commercial break as either a piece offering and derailment of my writing milieu, or me digging myself into a further whole -- of which I couldn't possibly dig out of.

Red Dead Redemption -- Why Open World Narratives Fail

A game rich with architecture, dialog and distraction. Red Dead Redemption makes huge steps for open world games with narrative, but plays it safe with a bevy of sidequests and mulitplayer options that distracts more than it immerses.
Red Dead Redemption -- a very fortunate game with some unfortunate pieces. I feel like I’m destined to never complete an RPG or an open world game. I’m not sure if this should be seen as a review, because [by my standards] a true review comes from thoroughly exploring every aspect of a game. But times have changed. Red Dead Redemption and games of its massive budget-ilk are a fantastic example of how different games are in this generation in comparison to any preceding. A game rife with imagery and characters that bleed imagination and heavy influence from a time and genre the common gamer will not completely identify with. With as many inspiring answers as to what gaming is capable of today, I’m left asking more questions to the contrary. Why isn’t this an MMO? Do open-world games break a game’s narrative outline [no matter the quality]? And more importantly, why couldn’t I finish this incredible game?

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In Other News: Top 5 Japanese Restaurants In Columbus

Mochi Miso = The Yummiest

A brogger's got to pay the bills. Do me a favor, check out my review of [what I think are] the top 5 non-chain Japanese restaurants in Columbus, Ohio. Hate it? Love it? I'm not gonna lie, I'm paid per click so do your worst [then pass it on to a friend]. 

Linkery

Season's Beatings: Redemption, Oct. 15th - 18th

Its that time of year again. I’m sure anyone reading this is well prepared for the Midwest’s premiere fighting game tournament, but in case you are a new comer I would suggest venturing over to the Shoryuken boards and introducing yourself to some of the best and brightest minds when it comes to this amazing tournament. Now because of last year’s incredible turnout there I would suggest getting your money and skills in order. There will be a $30 dollar flat rate to enter the venue, so why not save up a couple extra shillings and enter a tournament or two.

As per the usual, I will be there with my camera documenting the event -- heck, I may even try my hand at a tourney or two. Rest assured, this is a tournament you do not want to miss. Daigo, Gamerbee, Choco and Momochi have already confirmed to be in attendance and if that doesn’t get you hype, then you may want to reconsider calling yourself a fighting game fan.

Stay tuned for further updates on SBV: Redemption.

After the jump are the details and official press release about the event thus far.

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Resident Evil Afterlife: Review -- "Fans Of The Genre..."

 Even Milla's beautiful skin and limitless ammo could not save us from such a debacle of a film.

Striking cinematography, broad characters, Matrix-esque fight scenes supplied by a soundtrack weirder than a giant man carrying an ax-mallet, this is what the Resident Evil film franchise has been reduced to. I struggled with this review. Usually watching a movie I know in my heart and colon to be, at best, a junk food movie and at worst, cataract inducing -- its pretty cut and dry. The new Resident Evil movie hurts more than it helps videogame-to-movie adaptation gain some form of credulity. I avoid certain phrases in a lot in my game reviews and one of the contributing factors as to why scribbling these words [via keyboard] was more vexing was because I wanted to avoid the term, “Fans of the genre.”

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Bboy Discussion: Ken Swift On Breaking And Rockin'

HHTF Humanities Series: Ken Swift (Pt 2) 

I want to give props to my homie Tyquan for posting this and a number of other videos Rockin' related on his blog. Since I've dusted off my dancing shoes and started practicing with people younger than myself, I'm always fielding questions on Rocking and Breaking [funny considering I've only been dancing 9 years]. These are questions that I think Ken Swift answers with way more eloquence than I ever could. 

I implore anyone who is interested in dance and sub-cultures to watch this video. I have so many questions after seeing this. One in particular is when Ken is talking about respect for the elders and how there needs to be a consensus on how this dance operates. The professor acknowledges that in his research he found that when someone like Leggs or Swift says, "Hey, what you're doing is great, but its not dancing...and you need to learn footwork." Dancers then would learn footwork. I think there needs to be a point raised about when dancers hear that and decide not too. Furthermore, when is it okay for a dancer to say, "Okay, I'm gonna branch off and do my own thing."

Enjoy and Keep Dancing,

I 

Duke Nukem Forever: Reverse Excitement

Image courtesy of Wired

I don’t normally write about the current events in gaming and when you’re done reading this you’ll probably understand why. The trials and tribulations of [at the time] 3D Realms’ Duke Nukem: Forever has stood as the secret handshake amongst most hardcore gamers and game journalists in-the-know. If you knew about the ill-fated 3D Realms 13-year development struggles of one game, then you were inducted into some sort of nerd ring where complaining about screen-tearing and boob physics are the norm. So, in short, I don’t get it.

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Games Of 2010 Owe Thanks To Modern Warfare 2

Because Modern Warfare 2's highly advertised release in 2009, game publishers pushed several titles to be released in 2010. Could this single act be responsible for changing how & when we consume games?

If ex-Infinity Ward employees troubled relationship with Activision bore any positive fruits, it would be the late 2009 gaming industry shake-up of Modern Warfare 2’s release. Regardless of how one feels about the quality of the product, Modern Warfare 2 may have had the largest impact on 2010’s gaming release schedule than was initially anticipated. Whether this actually helped or hurt the industry financially is a task I’ll leave to the number crunchers who produce the monthly NPDs. What I have noticed [and I’m sure you’ll correct me if I’m wrong] is that as a result of Modern Warfare 2’s release, this essentially front-loaded this year with game releases. In a way, because of one major game release, the industry was forced to realize how important the rest of the year is in regards to the gaming culture. Though this rising tide doesn’t lift all boats, could this be the start of larger game titles being spread evenly throughout a given year?

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