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• Bust Some Heads with The Onion's "Close Range"

  I've been playing a lot of Fallout 3 lately. A lot. And because of my addiction to Bethesda's post-apocalyptic RPG, I've been blowing up a lot of heads with a vast array of in-game weaponry. A lot of heads. So when I heard about a new game from the satire superstars over at The Onion that involves nothing but the exploding of craniums, I was a perhaps a little too interested. If you're familiar with The Onion's M.O., then you've probably already realized that Close Range is a parody of--or perhaps a take on how the "outside world" views--the hyper-violent video game blockbusters of our time, like Gears of War, Grand Theft Auto 4, and the aforementioned Fallout 3. But Close Range doesn't just set its sights on violent video games and the people who play them; gaming journalists who instinctively praise every upcoming multi-million dollar gaming extravaganza with words like "immersive" and "compelling" are also taken down a peg. Of course, hearing about a joke second-hand is no real way to get the comic effect. For maximum yuks, check out The Onion News Network's report on this world-changing new "game." Video after the cut. Read More... Posted Apr 08 2009, 01:30 PM by Bob Mackey with | with no comments Filed under: parody, humor, bob mackey, satire, the onion, close range

• Trailer Review: Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard

  Is it me or are game trailers are getting a lot more meta lately? Read More... Posted Jan 27 2009, 05:00 PM by Cole Stryker with | with no comments Filed under: comedy, cole stryker, parody, matt hazard

• Half-Life 2: A Dystopian Comedy

  I enjoy watching first-person shooters get played more than I actually enjoy playing them. I like to think I'm a good back-seat soldier. If I'm watching you play an FPS and you fail to notice the ten-legged spider chewing your face off, you can count on me to scream and scream until you either shake it off or you're dead. Half-Life 2 is a game I've long enjoyed watching others play, but only recently decided to tackle for myself. Even though it's my first solo playthrough, the game is mostly old hat. I'm already familiar with the characters, I'm familiar with the scenario, and I'm familiar with the game's classic opening: the grim squeal of the train wheels as they come to rest in the grey hell that is City 17, the whirlwind of trash and papers, the desperate portrait of a dying race, the ensuing hilarity-- Wait, what? Concerned by Christopher Livingston is a rare instance of a gaming comic that runs with a successful, original plot. Its story intertwines hilariously with the brooding events in Half-Life 2, sparing us yet another Penny Arcade rip-off featuring two couch-surfing gamers discussing the merits of Cheetos dust to absorb hand-sweat from controllers. Also, Livingston (mostly) used in-game models for Concerned's artwork, but the work he put into positioning and modifying said models goes way beyond typical sprite hacks. Finally, Concerned plots its story, tells it, and ends while it was still funny. No encores, no drawn-out jokes about cake and Companion Cubes. Read More... Posted Jan 19 2009, 11:16 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: parody, fan stuff, nadia oxford, concerned, christoper livingston, half-life 2

• The Aberration of Sonic

  Yesterday, Derrick brought us The Joy of Sonic as assembled by Docfuture, the Internet's premiere professional Let's Play putter-togehter. Docfuture's playthrough of the original Sonic the Hedgehog is a relaxing video that comforts us like a blanket on a rainy day. Through Doc's mellow voice, we are assured all of us, even the furious Sonic, needs to take it easy sometimes. At the same time, it's good to feel strong sometimes. On occassion, we must gain invincibility, don a blaze of sparkles and plow through the things in our life that pee streams of negative energy in our pomegranate smoothies. Feeling relaxed and empowered? Then you're ready to travel through Docfuture's follow-up project: Let's Play Sonic 2: Special Edition. Sonic 2: Special Edition is a barely known (and, as some portions of this Let's Play will indicate, barely finished) 32X/Sega CD re-creation of the Genesis' beloved Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Few mortals have seen it, but we are blessed because Docfuture's father nabbed the prototype when he worked at Nintendo. The game did make an appearance on an episode Nick Arcade, where a little pigtailed girl lost the challenge to beat Robotnik within thirty seconds accompanied by Dragonforce music that wouldn't come into existence for something like another six years. Read More... Posted Nov 04 2008, 05:59 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: sonic the hedgehog, parody, nadia oxford, docfuture, let's play, something awful, sonic the hedgehog 2

• Barack Obama: Master Debater

  With 2008 being an election year, you'd think there'd be more video game/politics crossovers. Sure, we've got The Political Machine, but that's about it; I know this sort of material can become dated fast (see the Bush-esque politician in 2004's Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal), but--damn it--how are we nerds supposed to connect to politics in any substantial way? The answer to this question, of course, lies in the community; and the video I wish to showcase is proof of that.  YouTube user wddpcbass has produced a neat little parody that, while lacking in production values, takes a key moment in the last Presidential debate and perfectly translates it into a scene from the Phoenix Wright series. Obviously, if you've never played any of Capcom's DS lawyer sims, you'll have no idea why this is supposed to be funny. But trust me: it is.  All that's missing is John McCain tearing off a wig or pounding the lectern. Note: The context for this video is that Obama is replying to a misconception about his tax plan. After seeing this parody, all I can think about is a political campaign sim very much in the style of Phoenix Wright: travel to different locations, dig up dirt on your enemies, and destroy them in a formal debate. And in my fictional game world, the moderators of said debates will actually have power over the proceedings. Any takers? This could be huge. Read More... Posted Oct 16 2008, 05:30 PM by Bob Mackey with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: capcom, phoenix wright, ds, parody, bob mackey, politics, obama

• Rockman Lucky Star

  Ewww, who stunk up the blog with religion and serious crap?...Oh, it was me. Sorry guys. Friday is not for thinking. Friday is for sillies, especially Fridays that herald the looong weekend. I'm gonna drink a beer and get so drunk. And by "a beer" I mean fifty. I don't think I'd want to live in a world without silly anime dances. I don't know how many of you are fans of Lucky Star (I personally haven't seen it yet), but the adorable Mega Man parody of the opening can be appreciated no matter your alignment. There's some impressive sprite work to be had. Bonus footage of Gravity Man flipping Roll and Kalinka upside-down. It's not quite what you think. Sorry. Lord, the whole thing is very innocent. I wish you the best long weekend ever. Read More... Posted Aug 29 2008, 09:41 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: music, mega man, 8-bit, retro, parody, anime, nadia oxford, rockman, lucky star

• Sonic is for Porn

  Dic's Saturday morning Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon--often referred to by its (very dedicated) fanbase as "SatAM"--remains an example of one of video gamedom's higher quality cartoon adaptations. The intro lives on in the hearts of our inner children. When we hear it, we recall our bowls of Trix and waking up before everyone else and oh my God, I can't even concieve of not sleeping in on a Saturday morning. Not even for Sonic. Most of us have grown up and become stale adults with worries about bills and running out of Dulcolax. Our tastes have changed as well; now instead of laughing along with Sesame Street, we laugh along with Avenue Q (maybe). Ah, but perverts may yet rejoice for this opportunity to recapture and distort their childhood. A thoughtful Sonic fan crossed Avenue Q's "The Internet is For Porn" with the animated cast of Sonic the Hedgehog. (Mildly NSFW.) Of course, every genius with free, spyware-laden editing software has crossed Avenue Q with every franchise ever (including your mom. Oh!--Zing!), but there's something very special about the obese Dr Robotnik bellowing "For porn!" Unfortunately, the image of Robotnik surfing the Internet for delights now hovers in my brain like a spectre. Someone get me a funnel and some lighter fluid. Read More... Posted Aug 18 2008, 03:18 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: sega, sonic the hedgehog, parody, cartoon, robotnik, the internet is for porn, satam, sonic the hedgehog cartoon, avenue q, dic

• "Honus Wagner Card Man?!"

  The Internet is more or less a traffic jam (some might liken it more to a pile-up) of videos dedicated to gaming culture. Most of these videos are testosterone-driven frenzies with bad picture quality and fuzzy sound that rattles like a drowning man's lungs. They're vital contributions, though: who else is going to declare "hahaha miyamoto did sooo many drugs before he made Super Mario Bros--there's, like, mushrooms everywhere!" Still, it's nice when game fans take the time to dedicate themselves to something truly funny and worth watching. I will now direct you to The Last Days of Doctor Wily, an Old Rich People tribute to Mega Man's evil nemesis. The ending more or less sums up the thoughts of anyone who's ever played a Mega Man game. Read More... Posted Jul 21 2008, 09:42 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: mega man, video, media, parody, doctor wily