Skullgirls Rediscovers the Joy of Glitch-Free Fighting

Sporting beautiful hand-drawn animation (similar but different from the new Ray-Man game) Autumn Games' Skullgirls is old-school 2D fighting, inspired by Marvel vs. Capcom 2. But there's a major difference and that's programming to prevent cheap unlimited combos. It adds a level of challenge to a level of beauty, making this a game to watch when it comes out on XBLA and PSN in early 2012.

Ears-On with Turtle Beach

After doing my best Metal Gear stealth job past security, I had a chance to check out Turtle Beach's new headsets made for Modern Warfare 3. There are four models, starting with the $99 Foxtrot going up to the $299 Delta, which sports rechargeable wireless and 7.1 surround sound. Pulling them on, they are super comfortable, they cut out the outside world well, wthe mic sounds tight and you can download special presets set up specifically by the game's developers.

More Payne

Had a chance to watch some live gameplay from the upcoming Max Payne 3, and from the few shoot-outs I saw, it's going to be a nice step-up for the frachise, with improved weapons handling and some very impressive animation. Being able to dive to get your shot and then having 360 degrees of range from which to shoot while lying on your back looks like brilliant fun.

Enter the Uncanny Valley

I'm not all that excited for the new Tintin movie, but then, creepy realistic animation was never my thing. However I got some time with the new Tintin game coming out in December and it's a fun, traditional platformer, and the look is just right. One of the more amusing elements is the ability to play as Tintin's dog Snowy, and in co-op play, you can both be Snowy. The game will also have 3D enhancements on the PS3 and movement integration for the Kinect and Move.

Something to Look Forward To

This is Marvel's "booth", the biggest ever at the con. It's even better in person.

Didn't They Break Up?

The dance, dance revolution continues with The Black Eyes Peas Experience, the latest artist-focused dancing title from Ubisoft. Based on watching people try it out on the stage at NYCC, the songs and dance moves aren't as iconic as Michael Jackson's were, but perhaps for younger players it will work. It comes out November 9, but unlike other entries in this area, this one is only for Kinect. Per-orders at the show earn a poster signed by the four band members.

On the Ground

Day one at the NY Comic Con, and from first looks, the show is actually smaller than last year (sharing the Javits with another show) but there seems to actually be more people. That could be a bad mix.

The Night Before Nerd Christmas

This year, the New York Comic Con is a four-day affair, starting tomorrow with press day. I have a few fun interviews lined up, and stuff always pops up, so make sure to check back for updates.

Rules for Life

Love this note in the show's program: "8 Hours of Sleep + 3 Meals a Day + 1 Shower = A Happy and Healthy Fan."
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Winner of the Weekend

It's got to be the ghost of Michael Jackson. It's amazing to see how all of the unsavory elements of Jackson's life have been essentially ignored now, as the pile of humanity surrounding Ubisoft's Michael Jackson: The Experience extravaganza were all about the dancing, not the lawsuits and accusations.

Featuring a raised stage, synchronized lights and fog machines, the mammoth booth had dancers hired by Ubisoft and plenty of volunteers who grabbed the Wii controls and danced along with the videogame MJ. Combine his ultra-catchy songs with the inherent ease and fun of the Wii and the novelty of watching strangers make fools of themselves, and then put it right in front of the exhibition floor's main doors, and you've got an attention-grabbing exhibit and plenty of positive publicity for a title that could have been an also-ran.

Runner-Up: the booth for Animal Planet's Lost Tapes, a series about cryptozoological creatures like the Yeti, whose appearances around the convention were tied to a Twitter contest. The booth was designed like a jungle, with real dirt on the ground and trees and vines above you, and featured another contest, where you used a black light to find a code to enter a contest. Animal Planet is 2-for-2 after last year's Dark Days in Monkey City display.

Honorable Mention: Fox brought the popular Alien Anthology exhibit with them from San Diego, and though it is very enjoyable, and let you walk away with a fun "Need a Hug?" t-shirt, it couldn't live up to the hype from SDCC.

Bigger than Ever

The first year of this New York Comic-Con saw ticket sales shut off when the Fire Marshall decided the room was too overcrowded. If only he saw what was going on this weekend. Despite expanding to the entirety of the Javits Center and shutting off sales on Saturday, there were plenty of areas that were simply jam-packed, to the point where I may have accidentally impregnated three delightful anime characters. The talk around the building (official word on attendance has not yet been spoken) put the number around the magic 100,000 visitor mark, which would not surprise anyone caught in the maelstrom of the anime Artists Alley or the joyful dancing around the Michael Jackson: The Experience display. That would put them about 40,000 shy of the San Diego ComicCon, but lord knows you wouldn't want to even approach those numbers in the Javits. Even so, just five years in, it's amazing to see what the NYCC has become.

More Pictures from New York Comic Con 2010

The One Corey

Had a chance to chat with Corey Feldman for a short bit, as he promoted his new Lost Boys film, The Thirst. Unfortunately, time was short and not much was learned, but when asked why a Lost Boys fan who didn't like the first sequel should watch this one, he said it's because unlike The Tribe, this one is an honest sequel. So there you have it.
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"It's All About Accessories"

Sat down with the hilarious Jon Glaser, star and creator of Delocated, on Adult Swim. For those not in the know (shame on you) Delocated is a faux reality show following Jon (the character), who's in the witness protection program, which requires him to wear a ski mask at all times and have his voice permanently altered. Though I'll write up more later, some quick bits:
- DVDs are in the planning, with deleted scenes, commentaries and the demo he made for the series, with Paul Rudd and Yo La Tengo.
- It's hot shooting with the mask, but he won't complain.
- The voice conceit means they have to be carefully about overlapping dialogue when they improvise.
- He'd like to do a crossover with Childrens Hospital ("a great dumb idea") but they shoot on different coasts.
- The only way he'd do The Office is if he can wear the mask.

The Story Behind Free Hugs

So I asked a few more anime fans why they were offering Free Hugs, and apparently there is no anime connection. Their intention is simply to spread happiness (though on a few occasions, it was more like creepiness.) Can't bash people for wanting to spread happiness.
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My Personal Mystery is Solved

When I first saw Secret of the Kells, I was struck by the similarity between the face designs of the film, and the old Jay Lovitz show The Critic. I never found any connection between the two, but it was always stuck in my mind. Well, I got the chance to talk to Tomm Moore (and artist Ross Stewart) today and though Moore remembered the series, it was a coincidence. Now I'll be able to sleep once more.

An interview with Moore and Stewart will be posted soon on DVDTalk.
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What's the Deal with Free Hugs?

There are many, many people carrying signs that say Free Hugs (or even Deluxe Hugs for 25 cents.) I asked one cosplayed sign-holder what was behind it, but she had no idea. The mystery continues...
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Bana's in Hanna

Director Joe Wright is following up on the disappointing The Soloist with a seeming departure in the form of Hanna, the story of a teenage girl raised by her ex-CIA father in Finland to be an assassin. The film stars Saoirse Ronan as Hanna and Eric Bana as the father (as well as Cate Blanchett as the villain, who, according to Bana "brings the whole film down.) It sounds like an interesting idea, described by Ronan as a "fairy tale mixed with action," and there's a whole storyline about Hanna adjusting to a world she doesn't know that sounds like it's right in Wright's wheelhouse.

Written by 24-year-old Seth Lochhead, after a gap year backpacking through Europe hallucinating on absinthe (according to Wright, though he MAY be joking), Hanna will be released on April 8, 2011.
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Zombie Killer... Q'est que c'est

The new DLC for Red Dead Revolution, due out later this year, brings the very popular zombie genre to the Ol' West, and like the legendary Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, they are two great tastes that play great together. I got to play a bit with a demo, and it was great fun to tackle the challenge of burning a group of coffins, and beating off a gang of zombies looking to stop you. The look and feel of the play is fantastic, especially if you like zombie games, and the addition of a new weapon, the blunderbust, makes exploding the undead even more fun.
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Sure, it's Not the Real World...

But there really should be a modicum of professionalism among the "press" covering the show. From the costumed Inez Saines wanna-bes to the bloggers who have nothing to ask at a roundtable, it's hard to get the talent to take you seriously. It's not Woodward and Bernstein or anything, but let's act like we deserve to get into the show for free.
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