// June 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Recommendations, Video Games
Dark, atmospheric, deep, innovative, challenging, original, fun. Next to Uncharted 2 it has my highest recommendation for your PS3. Click the image above to check out the trailer.
// March 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // Comics, Recommendations
Rocketo is a wonderful ongoing graphic novel (with the first Act now finished). It has a beautiful, near-abstract brush style that is as painterly as it is reminiscent of animation. Which isn’t all that surprising seeing as how Frank Espinosa is an animator (he’s worked for Warner Bros as well as Disney). So far the first act of the story is split into two volumes. Check it out if you live and breathe high adventure.
// March 5th, 2009 // No Comments » // Recommendations, Websites
There is little on the internet that deserves as much love and praise as TED.com. In their words:
“We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we’re building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world’s most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.”
TED.com is where all the presentations from their annual conference are posted free, for everyone.
Go there and watch a couple presentations about your favorite topics (science, technology, design, art, environmentalism, philosophy, religion, business, culture…). Be inspired and change the world for the better.
// January 28th, 2009 // No Comments » // Books, Recommendations
As much as I love sci-fi I can’t say I’ve read a lot of it. I just finished Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke last week and I really enjoyed it. It’s a well known book to any regular reader of sci-fi, but in case you aren’t familiar with it, I highly recommend you give it a look. It came out back in 1953 and brought some interesting new ideas with it. The book has inspired many and for good reason.
Here’s the premise: A bunch of aliens suddenly appear over all the major cities in the world (Yep: ID4) and they tell the people of earth that they will help lead them to a new era… world peace, improved health, scientific breakthroughs… all the good stuff. The catch is that they will not physically reveal themselves or explain who they are.
It’s an interesting idea that is ripe for a fancy plot twist. However, the book is not built along that one “twist” as it goes far, far, far beyond it. I won’t say more.
It’s not hard sci-fi, it’s a quick read (around 200 pages), and the prose is simple and fluid. Give it a shot even if you don’t like sci-fi… I think you’ll like it.
// January 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Music, Recommendations
This album is pure gorgeousness. While I’m not terribly fond of Tujiko’s solo stuff, when she collaborated with Aoki Takamasa for this CD they made some real magic. It’s glitchy, poppy, dreamy… one of my all-time favorites for sure. Click below for the amazon link or the picture above for the last.fm link where you can listen to some of its delicious tracks.
// January 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Recommendations, Video Games
Ignore the splendidly terrible box art, this game is a gem. If you’re a fan of 2D action games that give you some freedom of movement then this is one of the best games you’ve never played. It’s perfectly designed to make you feel like a bad ass 80′s action movie hero… with a grappling hook. A fantastic, well designed, old-school style action platformer.
Click the image above to see the game in motion or click below to just buy this greatness off of amazon.
// January 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Movies, Recommendations
The Pearce Sisters is a gorgeous (!) animated short created by Luis Cook of Aardman Animations (Wallace & Gromit, Creature Comforts, Shaun the Sheep). It’s a nice little story about two lonely sisters surviving in a harsh environment. Click here for the official website or click the picture above to watch the full short.
// January 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // Movies, TV
Tekkonkinkreet is one of my favorite animated films and has been one of the main influences of the art style in my comics. It was animated by Studio 4c. Check out this trailer for Mind Game which is also stupendously beautiful (and also animated by Studio 4c).
Tekkonkinkreet was based on a manga called Black & White. You can click the image above to check out the movie’s official website, click here to see a clip of the film, or click below to check it out on amazon:
// January 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // Recommendations, TV
I’m quite picky when it comes to anime. This goes double for any anime involving giant robots. How pleasantly surprised I was when I started watching Gurren Lagann then… its got “giant robots” down right. This show embraces the genre and the medium’s history and comes out all the better for it. It’s 100% Japanese and it’s pure fun. Not to mention action-packed, silly, and a whole… whole lot more.
While the concepts here may seem unoriginal, the execution is unlike anything else out there. It’s all energy, honesty, and passion. If you decide to give it a try make sure you stick with it until you hit episode 9.
// January 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // Comics, Recommendations
Percy Gloom is a coming of age tale by Cathy Malkasian. It’s filled with beautiful artwork and charming characters. Percy is a lovable character – an innocent, naive, and neurotic little man who leaves home and moves to a strange new town for his first real job. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a by-the-numbers coming of age story, this book is full of quirkiness and crazy happenings.
Click the picture above to visity Cathy Malkasian’s website or click the pictures below to see two one-page excerpts.
