After reading about Chromehounds for the Xbox 360, I was wondering why I hadn’t heard anything about Metal Wolf Chaos since last year’s TGS, especially when everyone was tagging it as a show stealer. For those who don’t know, it’s based on the Otogi engine and from the same producer as said game, Masanori Takeuchi.

As a matter of fact, it was an easter egg demo on OXM disc 39.

Another one for the graveyards, perhaps? Or will we just be content with Chromehounds, since it’s also from From Software? Time will tell.

After watching Attack of the Show on G4 yesterday, I was inspired to subject Tina Wood to the trials and tribulations of being considered a SpotAnime Game Girl. Finally someone who passes the test!

Looks: Tina doesn’t hit you with her looks like other Game Girls do. Her features are more subtitle and natural than the others thus far. I wouldn’t say she’s got the “Girl-Next-Door” looks (I’m reserving that for a future contestant who will at this time remain nameless), but she definitely has the “Neighbor’s-Hot-Older-Sister” looks. Not that she’s older or anything…I’m just speaking from that point in my childhood when I would have deemed her as such…oh wait, I think I’m just getting myself in trouble now. Anyway, it seems her attractiveness stems from her completely loveable personality..at first. But then she’ll wear something that reveals those two gigantic…HANDS of hers, and you finally realize it’s not her personality at all but your subconscious love of breasts. Ha, did you really think I was going to avoid the gutter? Nine of Ten.

Personality: She’s articulate and well-spoken, intelligent and educated, but more importantly she’s been involved in a much less embarrassing career in Hollywood scriptwriting and production. Her bio is mighty impressive, dropping names like Universal and FOX Studios and Aaron Spelling. She teaches and writes about television screenwriting, in between acting as Producer and Head Writer for G4, and hosting in G4TV.com. When she speaks, more than the legion of geeks stand attentive. But then her bio states, “Yet throughout it all, Tina’s love and passion for video games has always been there.” Ooh, Tina. You almost had me there. Nine of Ten.

The name: Tina Wood. I can make an obvious joke but instead I’ll just mention her fun bags one last time. Nine of Ten.

Congrats, Tina. You are the current champ in the Game Girl sweeps. I bet you’re proud. And I really didn’t mean to call you old, did that hurt my chances any?

Yesterday I went through the past three OXM demo discs and tried out some of the new games. Primarily to see if they supported HDTV, but also to catch up on some of the new releases. My comments below:

Far Cry: Instincts

Supported: DD5.1, HDTV 480p 16×9

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I may be getting burned out on Xbox FPS titles. Or maybe this one is just not that good. Either way, I wasn’t very impressed. The demo was even a chore to get through. Don’t get me wrong – it is a beautiful game, and supports widescreen (thank you Ubisoft!). It is very colorful and the environments are lush, but the draw distance that made the PC version so notable is well disguised here.

The weapon selection was a bit dull, and it seemed like there was more emphasis on stealth than action. It definitely felt like a slower-paced title, even with a helicopter on my tail. I’m holding out hope for the multiplayer, since level editing is supported, but I just might wait to pick this one up, if at all.

Indigo Prophecy

Supported: DD5.1, HDTV 480p 16×9

I started to get excited about this title after I saw the footage from E3. The demo, although it is just a hint of what is expected, is atmospheric, cinematic, and just about any other positive ic word you can think of. It reminded me of an American Shenmue, but the controls were very clever in how you could interact with the environment. The left thumbstick moved the character while the right thumbstick would interact with the environment. Once you moved up to a “hot spot”, it would provide options as to what and how you could interact with.

Another cool thing was the presentation. At key points during the game, the screen will split to show multiple events at once. The effect is a lot like TV’s 24, and it pumps up the tension just as effectively. The rest of the graphics are done well, as New York never looked better in the middle of a blizzard. There’s a grainy filter applied to the screen to give the game some grit, which also contributes to the overall feeling. And another surprise – the music is by Twin Peaks composer Angelo Badalamenti, which is icing on the cake.

I loved the demo. I played it over and over just to see the different outcomes. Although it is short, I’m really excited for the final version. Definitely look for this one this fall.

Brothers In Arms: Earned In Blood

Supported: DD5.1, HDTV 480p 16×9

Again, Ubisoft supports the widescreen crowd, much like the game’s predecessor. But it also feels identical to the game’s predecessor in gameplay, graphics, and story. This seems like more of an expansion pack than a full-blown game, which might be expected since it’s only been a few months since the original’s release. Any gameplay enhancements weren’t readily noticeable in the demo, but there was a lot of talk about the A.I. in the developer’s commentary, so that might be one improvement.

Kudos to Ubisoft for another quality release, but I’d just as well pay $20 for the original rather than $50 for this one.

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks

Supported: DD5.1, HDTV 480p (NO 16×9)

It’s unfortunate this game doesn’t support widescreen. After all, Legacy of Kain: Defiance did it with a action-platformer almost two years ago. Why would I care? Because this is game is as fun as hell, which I didn’t expect. Moves and animations are done fluidly, and the Fatality system is built in, well, “flawlessly”. My only concern is that it might get a tad repetitive, as the generous demo started to feel. I’m definitely going to keep an eye on this one.

Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

Supported: DD5.1, HDTV 720p 16×9

I’ve seen the commercials. “Best Superhero Game Ever”. Not quite. That would have to go to Spidey 2, which had a virtual Manhattan as a playground for crime fighting. Sure it was short, but there’s nothing like swinging through the city looking to “do good” on the citizens of New York.

Anyway, I thought the demo was a little choppy and the camera and controls got in the way from the game being genuinely fun to play. Sure, the Hulk can beat up tanks and stuff, but can’t we do that in almost every other video game out there? Maybe a budget purchase, but not likely with the 360 just around the corner.

According to the story on GameSpot posted earlier today:

In late 2004, game publisher Funcom decided to try something a little different. Instead of actually charging users to play its game Anarchy Online, it opened the massively multiplayer online role-player to anyone who wanted to give it a try. The limited-time offer was extended into 2005 after the company restressed its long-term goal of eliminating subscription fees. Today, Funcom announced that it’s doing it once again, making play free for new accounts through early 2007.

I jumped on the free play deal last winter, but it just keeps getting better and better. Kudos to Funcom for making this free for everyone.

The official press release can be found here.

In an effort to attract more readership through internet search buzzwords, I bring you the second part of my series, “Search for the Perfect Game Girl”. This installment centers around G4 beauty, Morgan Webb.

Looks: I remember the days when she used to mug at the camera with her short, bleached blonde hair on TechTV’s The Screen Savers (long live Leo). Little Morgan’s gone a long way since then. Now her hair has traversed the color spectrum and has grown out as well. On bad days she looks like Korn lead singer Jonathan Davis without the mustache. On good days she looks like Keira Knightley‘s older brother, as long as she keeps her clothes on. As that famous Maxim spread showed, there’s more to a woman than a couple of breasts. Sometimes I think to myself, is she really that hot? She’s got pretty facial features, but a little too chiseled. She kinda looks like a guy, sort of. So does that make me gay? No No NO! Seven out of Ten.

Personality: Anyone who can keep up with Adam Sessler on a daily basis (scripted, of course) gets thumbs up in my book. Adam is probably the reason to watch G4, and his intelligence and wit, not to mention his obvious love of video games, are second to none. But Adam doesn’t have the knockers that Morgan has, so he doesn’t get his own blog entry (yet). Remove the script and watch her improv sink faster than a mob hit in the East River. Is that really a bad thing? Not necessarily, when all she does is talk about video games. G4 is just a job, her career is in Hollywood. If she actually cared about her job over her career she wouldn’t be able to call you a geek and make you feel like the loser you are. Big props to you, Morgan! Seven out of Ten.

The name: Morgan Webb. Is that even real? For a woman who’s legions of fans are literally the denizens of her namesake, it sounds almost too obvious. Or maybe it’s just fate, an offering from the God of the Internet to appease the land o’ nerds. Either way, it works. After all, being immortalized by a computer hacker is a good thing. Eight out of Ten.

On average, her Game Girl ranking is a 7.3 out of ten, but I’ll round up to an Eight for every time I’ve seen those enormous ta tas busting out of that tight camouflage t-shirt. Morgan, may your D-cup continue to runneth over.

Threshold
CBS Fridays, 9/8c

Premiere Date: September 16, 2005

Let me tell you a little about my glory days. I remember, back when I was young and single, when Friday nights actually meant something. The ramp up to the weekend from a long, hard week at work. When my friends and I would plan for dinner or happy hour, come home for rest and a quick wash, and then back out on the town for drinks and the “hunt”.

Ah yes, this was in the mid- to late-’90s. And for me and my circle of friends it was the golden age of entertainment and culture. Like how special it felt to find that UK Import CD rather than download it. Or playing the new 32-bit game systems and constantly being amazed by the 3D graphics, rather than expecting them. And what about actually having friends over to play those party games, rather than just connecting to the internet and playing some disembodied voice on the other end of the line?

There’s one memory of those times I held onto especially. Sandwiched in between those Friday night social calls was probably the best night of television ever – Friday nights on FOX. Especially when the clocks turned back in autumn, and that cool October breeze blew through the sliders, carrying with it the scent of dying leaves as the sun soon before had called it a night, I sat in biting anticipation of the wondrous creativity and captivating storytelling from the night owned by 1013 Productions, first from The X-Files, and then Millennium following it.

Many years have passed, and those famous Friday nights have been but a memory since. My social activities revolve around my wife’s preference and disposition. Millennium was cancelled after three years, The X-Files moved to Sundays and died a slow, painful death. And TGIF now means Full House more than anything. I can’t help but think to myself how Friday nights have since lacked quality television.

That is, until Friday September 16, when Threshold premieres on CBS.

Threshold brings back everything that made The X-Files so entertaining. It has a great lead character in Molly Anne Caffrey (Carla Gugino, Karen Sisco) who plays a scientist brought into action when the government activates “Operation: Threshold” after alien life forms make contact with an ocean liner at sea. Caffrey can’t go at it alone, so she assembles some of the greatest scientific minds available, which coincidentally is one of the greatest ensemble casts in television – Alias alumni Rob Benedict, obvious choice Brent Spiner, and probably the most spirited casting choice of the new fall TV season, The Station Agent‘s Peter Dinklage. Of course, with all those scientists, Caffrey needs a strong male to keep things interesting, and she gets it with military-man Cavennaugh (Brian Van Holt).

Gugino and Van Holt have the potential to be as dynamic as David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson were in The X-Files. These two leads are intelligent, and their dialogue and actions compliment each other. For instance, when Caffrey wanders through the infested ship solo to investigate, this would normally spell impending doom. But she’s as tough as she is smart, and although as viewers we expect a scare at her expense, we have the confidence she will be able to escape danger. Cavennaugh knows she’s smart and trusts her too, but yet keeps a close eye on her so that they can both make it off the ship alive. It’s a friendship that would seem forced in most pilots, but the teamwork with between the two comes off so very natural. It also helps that the three supporting scientists provide the shows several “tension-break” moments of humor and cleverness, as they decipher every possible outcome while engaging in banter like geeks at a Star Trek convention.

Threshold, aside from having some great characters (not to forget Charles S. Dutton as government official JT Baylock), also has the foundation of a great ongoing story. The pilot sets up the series with a lot of mystery, including the alien craft, the strange swirl patterns, and human possession. It also has a lot of tension, some genuine scares, and a lot of premise. CBS definitely has a hit on its hands, now it just needs to overcome the curse of the “Friday Night Death Slot” and bring it an audience. With a show this good, hopefully that won’t be a tall order.

Welcome home, TGIF. Now let’s make it last this time.

Forgot to post this yesterday -

Millennium Season 3 is out in stores now. All three seasons of the series are finally out on DVD.

For those who never watched this show when it was on originally in the late ’90s, there is no reason not to experience it now. It was executive produced by Chris Carter, the creator of the X-Files. The series centered on Frank Black (Lance Henriksen, the coolest actor in the business), an ex-FBI agent specializing in serial murder cases. He has an uncanny ability to “see” as the killers do, and therefore is able to stay step-to-step with them as he solves the case. Frank joins up with an organization called the Millennium Group as a consultant to law enforcement on these serial murders. However, the Group has a secret past and an agenda that is not quite as it seems…

The series takes a very dreary tone as it approaches the new millennium in 2000 and the future it brings, and Frank finds the murders he is investigating show increasing evidence to the impending apocalypse. Think of it as part CSI, part Se7en, and part X-Files. It was a mix that worked wonderfully, and there hasn’t been anything like it since (except for the upcoming Night Stalker).

Millennium is Chris Carter’s Magnum Opus. Even if you didn’t like his other shows, you should at least check this out. Case in point – my wife hates the X-Files, but she was instantly hooked on Millennium. And by the way, it has one of the scariest sequences ever in TV or film, in the episode “Lamentation”.

For more information on this great series, check out the website The Millennial Abyss.