Filed under: Greg Stuetze
In my early and more formative years, I spent a large amount of my professional career among the technophiles of the wireless industry. Wireless phones were intuitive to everyone, save that of Grandpa and Grandma. I can’t tell you how many times I sat down with an elderly man or woman and spent countless hours coaching them on how to use their new ‘fandangled contraption’.
We used to joke around about making a phone specifically for the technologically challenged consumer. Enter Jitterbug. There is no better way to say, “Here, take this, you’ll never figure out a real phone and I’m going to shoot myself in the face if I have to help you one more time.” Matty, we missed the boat!
Filed under: Matt Gagnon
Wikipedia tells me the budget for Half Nelson was $700,000 — and it was a phenomenal piece of film. The budget for Spider-Man 3 was, reportedly, 250 million — and they couldn’t even nail down a simple, cohesive plot.
Brick, one of my favorite movies of last year, was shot for $475,000. Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3 were shot back to back for somewhere in the neighborhood 300 million. I never saw number 2, but I did see number 3 and couldn’t help but wonder if a tentpole film now has to equal a running time long enough to test your sanity for no apparent reason.
Just something that’s digesting in my head.
Filed under: Greg Stuetze
It’s not rocket science to know that America and most of it major corporations farm a large part of their production and assembly overseas. Let’s face it, labor is cheaper within the walls of their economy. Well, this same truth has given birth to a new trend in gaming and the establishment of a new form of industry within their respective nations. They are called Gold Farmers.
In /afk, we deal with this issue only as a superficial conversation piece. Our film focuses more on the ideology of the gamer as opposed to the many supporting cast of characters on his quest to online superiority.
Nonetheless, the world of the Gold Farmer is fascinating and I encourage you all to take a look at this project. It’s amazing how our lust for gaming glory may have actually helped to create a viable means to earn money in some of these economically depressed areas.
Again, I offer you another legitimate means of rationalizing your gameplay. In the past, spending $200.00 for 1000 gold to buy your Epic Mount would have seemed frivolous. Now, you’re supporting an industry.
Filed under: Matt Gagnon
Yeah, I’m way behind on film. Half Nelson came out last year. I never made it to the theatre despite rave reviews from friends and critics (and my friends that are critics). Well, it cycled through my Netflix, sat on my table for a month, and finally made its way into my dvd player a few days ago. It inspired me enough to write a few words about it.
Half Nelson is a hell of a film. One of the best films I’ve seen in the past couple of years. They story follows a young inner-city school teacher (Ryan Gosling) who strives to inspires his students — and find meaning in his own life — while struggling with drug addiction. Gosling’s character, Dan Dunne, is neither hero nor villain, good nor evil, he’s just a real guy doing the best he can. Gosling, in my opinion, delivers his best performance yet. He gives the character of Dan Dunne nuance and layers and creates a completely believable protagonist. With bloodshot eyes and a perpetual hangover from hell, Gosling shuffles through the film with a sensitivity and magnetism that you can’t take your eyes off of. You won’t find self-righteous speeches by well-manicured teachers that look like they took the first plane from Hollywood to The Hood. The kids do not learn self-worth through the power of dance. The teacher does not know karate and beat the ever living shit out of local bangers on his lunch break. No, the creators of this film go deeper. They’ve created characters with real human motivations and flaws.
Dunne and one of his students, Drey, played brilliantly by Shareeka Epps, become unlikely friends. We spend most of the film witnessing how the friendship between teacher and student affects both of their lives, and their secrets. This is a beautifully shot film that focuses on quiet moments and small observations. It transports you to a place; It’s transcendent.
Apparently the genesis of this film lies in a 19 minute short film that was so well received it led to the feature. In and of itself, that’s an amazing journey.
Filed under: Matt Gagnon
Photojournalist Robbie Cooper, a regular contributor to magazines such as GQ and Esquire, and a winner of the Ian Parry scholarship, created this concept book that showcases gamers and their in-game alter egos.
Lucas aka Gaenank
Check out its Amazon listing for more information.
Filed under: Matt Gagnon
Is it just me or does it look like Master Chief from Halo should be driving this bad boy?
“The diesel-electric hybrid hype has met its match: the U.S. Army. After focusing on hydrogen fuel cells in its original version of “The Aggressor,” a high-performance, off-road Alternative Mobility Vehicle (AMV) for military ground exploration and scouting missions, the Pentagon is now going the way of Detroit—with batteries.The new, second-generation prototype will still utilize the same basic chassis and exterior design for light-duty capacity. But the Army’s auto research arm—part of the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC)—has developed a battery-dominant, hybrid-electric drivetrain with a diesel engine-generator. That could make the new Aggressor the first hybrid to hit the streets of Baghdad en masse.”
[Link via BoingBoing]
Filed under: Greg Stuetze
For those of you who say that you ‘never see any blue’ in the WOW forums, meaning that Blizzard never responds to their clients, this little tale may warm you to their apparent corporate chill.
Of course, if you even think about copy-catting this one, you’re going straight to hell.
Filed under: Greg Stuetze
Starcraft 2 is born. The site went LIVE today! As if I needed more excitement in my life, Blizzard has announced the long anticipated sequel to their hit RTS game Starcraft. This game will take the classic franchise and update it to a level that is certain to secure its niche in video game history. This game was originally released in 1998 and it still enjoys worldwide acclaim, to the point where the champions of SC outside of the U.S. are similar to pro athletes here at home.
If you are a fan of the original, watch out. Start the conversations with your ladies now, and get them on your side. It’s your only hope.
Filed under: Greg Stuetze
Everything great comes in threes; the Star Wars Trilogy, the Berlin Trilogy, the Dollars Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Soon the world will welcome a new group to the annals of trilogy history, the Halo Trilogy.
Bungie announed this week the release of Halo 3 Beta to a very excited fan base, most of which obtained a Beta key code by buying a special edition of the game Crackdown. If you find yourself salivating at the idea of being able to playtest this game, you may still be able to pick some of these up on eBay, if you’re lucky.
But, I would advise you that most of the players that will be playing this game are simply amazing. So, if you are one of those people who gets easily frustrated when a 12 year old kicks the shit out of you online, you may shy away from this opportunity. Here is an example of the carnage of which I speak.
Go Master Chief!
Filed under: Matt Gagnon
This is an actual conversation I just had outside of the coffee shop.
A small hispanic woman approaches me out of nowhere. She speaks in broken english.
WOMAN: What’s up?
MATT: Uh, what?
WOMAN: What’s up?
MATT: Um, not much.
WOMAN: Jesus loves you.
MATT: Oh.
WOMAN: Are you drinking medicines?
MATT: Excuse me?
WOMAN: Are you drinking medicines?
MATT: Um, no, no I’m not.
WOMAN: Your hands are shaking.
MATT: I haven’t eaten lunch yet.
WOMAN: Oh.
WOMAN: Don’t give up.
MATT: I never do.
WOMAN: Jesus loves you. What’s your name?
MATT: Matt.
WOMAN: Matthew. Is a biblical name. Jesus loves you, Matthew. Sometimes I can no speak English. If you see me walking around and I can no speak English, don’t worry.
MATT: Okay.
WOMAN: Accept Jesus into your life.
MATT: You too.
WOMAN: I do, Matthew!
MATT: Ah, good.
WOMAN: Don’t give up.
MATT: I never do.
