The Rumble Pack Posts

This week, special guest Jeremy Kolosine calls in to class the show up and tell us about the 8-bit music scene. The 8-bit Operators musician has compiled an 8-bit take on the Beatles, “Wanna Hld Yr Handheld, Vol. 1,” and he shares with the gang how the project came together, how the subgenre has grown, and what it takes for novice Nanoloopers can do to climb the proverbial charts. After the interview, Tony, Justin, Tom and Nick let Kaz know why he needs to traverse theBorderlands and start collecting loot. Diablo II fans should be salivating. Plus, even more Uncharted 2 fawning and Brutal Legend skepticism. Rock on!

**BONUS!** You may have noticed that we have a new Facebook page (link below). During next week’s show, we will be selecting one random fan to receive a trio of tracks from The Beatles Rock Band for the Xbox 360. Please, sign up to win and show your support!

Relevant Links:

8-Bit Operators

8bitcollective

The Rumble Pack Facebook Page

When the PSP launched more than four years ago, I was the first in line to put down the cash for it. Thanks to that gorgeous widescreen display and a slick Metal Gear spin-off series – one that I still love to this day, by the way – I was a pretty happy customer. The PSP’s library was a little pricier and less varied compared to its dual screen competitor’s, but I was pretty content with my purchase.

never forget.

Fast forward to the present. Roughly 30 UMDs later, I’m frustrated with Sony’s recent hardware decisions. Specifically, while I’m in love with the concept of downloadable software, the exclusion of any UMD drive or method of transferring my games has ensured that I will likely never pick up the new PSP Go. And unfortunately, while much of the blogosphere and gaming press had hoped for some sort of conversion solution, Sony said last month that this was no longer happening for the time being. Bummer.

Now, ordinarily, I would just let this Go (hyuck hyuck), but I’ve actually gotten a little jealous after seeing a few Gos in the wild during my subway commute to work. Memory sticks are for chumps! I want built-in memory and a usable d-pad. (I have the oldest model, by the way.) So in the interest of being *ahem* a consumer whore, I offer some potential suggestions, as well as the actual feasibility of these suggestions.

(originally published at Smile Politely, 10/29)

From the treks through steamy jungles to the endless wisecracks, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves has a lot in common with its 2007 predecessor. You’re still controlling the rugged everyman Nathan Drake in an Indiana Jones-inspired adventure, and he hasn’t learned many moves since his first outing. But while the sequel may sound by-the-books on paper, the actual results are astonishing. While the original was competent and easy on the eyes, Uncharted 2 is a game that should sell consoles. I cannot believe how well the final project came together.

Uncharted 2 wastes no time throwing you into the action, as Nathan awakens in a wrecked train dangling from the Himalayan cliff. After a harrowing climb back onto the snowy ground, the game flashes back to a tropical beach. Here, he and new “friends” Chloe and Flynn discuss how to steal a lamp that may hold Marco Polo’s secret directions to Shangri La. From this initial meeting, you’ll be struck by how well-written and delivered the dialogue is. Not that the first game was a dramatic slouch, but because you’re more familiar with Nathan and company, their actions have much more resonance.

Why do they keep doing this to themselves? Kaz, Tom and Tony hold another taste test, this time for “Gamer Grub” and “Mana Potion.” Justin and Nick can only listen on in horror. Following the snackin’ intro, the gang talks about last week’s biggest releases,Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Brutal Legend. Lots of love is lavished on Mr. Drake and Mr. Riggs, but we still make time for a little more of Critter Crunch‘s rainbow vomit, New Super Mario Bros. Wii platforming phobia and Trine trepidation. DECAPITATION!

If you’re a frequent visitor to our site, then you probably know that we have blogs, but did you know that we sporadically update them? It’s true! Since some of us are infrequent posters (putting it kindly), we’ll be highlighting future entries on the front page. Feel free to drop us some comments on our blogs or below to tell us what you think, or to beg Tom and Tony to write that oft-promised Aegis Shield Lemon. Here’s what’s noteworthy right now:

• Kaz talks about Gamestop apathy and a Gran Turismo packaging switcheroo.
• Nick cries for his wallet in the midst of a Rocktober celebration.
• Justin keeps everyone up to date on his Brooklyn adventures while failing to mention video games at all.

I may be penniless and slightly hungry (as always), but you can’t say that I’m not keeping busy. Between an internship at The Book Report Network and a canvassing job for the guy above, I’m suddenly feeling productive again. No longer the lump on the bed scouring Media Bistro for work, I’m actually heading into Manhattan in the morning and patrolling the streets of Park Slope at night.

That’s right, I’m a canvasser. And I’m promising right now that I’ll never slam a door or dismiss a pamphleteer ever again. (Unless I have little-to-no interest in what they’re hawking.) But then again, even though reception can be discouraging, the job has provided many opportunities to get to know my new borough and the local political scene better.

Socially, the past 2.5 months in New York – specifically BedStuy right now – have been quite splendid. I’ve done so much more in this time than I ever did back in Urbana. Some of the highlights include:

• Seeing dozens of movies that would have never come to our Monroe theater. If you’re also outside of the NYC/L.A. markets, I suggest you add A Serious Man, In the Loop and Big Fan to your Netflix queue.
• Eating chicken and waffles. You wouldn’t think gravy and syrup go together, but somehow it works. The food variety in this city still blows my mind. I’m from a town where all we have is pizza shops, so I’m still not used to having so many different types of cuisine nearby. Now if only I could figure how to cook any of it.
• Visiting the trendiest bowling alley ever.
• Listening to a 200-electric-guitar symphony. It doesn’t matter that it was a cacophonous mess.
• Attending Eugene Mirman’s comedy festival. Unfortunately, comedian H. Jon Benjamin (Coach McGuirk!) bombed. And heckled audience members with accents.
• Walking along the High Line, a former above-ground Subway line turned park. This one is ripe for encroaching businesses in the future, but it’s pretty peaceful at the moment.
• Participating in weekly trivia nights every Tuesday at Gael Pub. If you’re in the area, we could always use more team members.

And without delving too deeply into my personal life, I must admit that all of these adventures wouldn’t have been nearly as memorable without a certain special ladyfriend. The hunt for a full-time job continues, but until then, I’m definitely having a good time.

*Don’t worry, I’m not a fan of these personal update blog posts either. I’ll keep it about the games in the future.

The Five Stars of Destiny align for another lucky installment. As the group talks about their ODST battle scars, Tony and Tom struggle to drink two mysterious cans of “garbage water” tea. The PS3’s Demon Souls goes down a little easier, as Tony promises that it packs plenty of buck for the dollar (or something like that). Nick delivers early thoughts on Bayonetta, an exciting mix of Devil May Cry and sexism, and Lucidity fails to impress despite its “Samurai Jack” style. And if you thought we had put to rest the whole storytelling debate, think again! Do you care about video game military grunts? Should you? Also, impressions of PSN puzzler Critter Crunch, Uncharted undead and the possibly hairy Dead Space Extraction.

Discussion this week: Halo 3 ODST, Uncharted (in preparation for the sequel), a trip down memory lane, fantasy casting for a Mario sequel set in Subcon, and pondering the depression sweeping the Japanese development scene.

Homework: Heavy Rain clip to be discussed, potentially on the boards.

(originally published at Smile Politely, 10/6)

Music games have come so far since the original Guitar Hero hit the PS2. Four years ago, we tolerated questionable covers of some of our favorite songs, and even as more music labels started lending their talent to the plastic instrument titans, a handful of classic bands remained unattainable. We had the Stones and Dylan, but there was no way we’d ever see Zeppelin, Pink Floyd or the Beatles, right? Well, still no luck on those first two, but after some cajoling and (likely) a proverbial dump truck full of money, Harmonix somehow booked the Fab Four for their first video game tour in The Beatles Rock Band.

Of course, The Beatles Rock Band is not the first band-centric music game in recent years. Metallica, Aerosmith and Van Halen have all received star treatment from competitor Guitar Hero, while Harmonix did release a pricy AC/DC disc last year as a Wal-Mart exclusive. But for The Beatles —arguably the most popular band in modern history – the developer suggested that a major overhaul was in order. And while the results may no necessarily live up to that initial announcement, baby-boomer Beatles devotees and hardcore plastic rockers should both be thrilled with the game.