Good morning Pixlpeeps! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend filled with tons of games and all kinds of crazy stories. I did not game much because I had my second shot (Part 2 of the Pfizer), still didn’t get my sticker, and I thought I would be sick as a dog the entire weekend. Since I already had the virus I was fine, but my post virus cough has seemed to return. Whatever, so most of my weekend was continuing to clean up the mess that is my music libraries (FLAC and AAC/MP3) but the days leading up to the weekend and Sunday afternoon I may have squeezed in some games just to say I played some games, and progressed my created players.
This was the demo disc for the March 2002 issue of The Official Xbox Magazine. It has demos, trailers, a behind-the-scenes video, tv ads, and gameplay highlights. I find it a cool trip down memory lane to watch these things again. Here are some more details..
The original PlayStation console opened new doors of innovation in game development. Its hardware capabilities gave designers greater freedom to present fresh experiences from well-established genres. And in some cases, it would attract outsiders that previously had no background in game development at all. Such was the case with Masahiko Sato- known for his brilliant TV commercials produced in Japan (and a bevy of other talents). Though not a game designer by trade, he created Intelligent Qube- a new type of block puzzle game to challenge curious minds.
Games of the Decade: Expansion Pass #19/Blog a Day #12
Welcome to the first episode of Nerds Without Pants! It’s our annual Game of the Year episode, and we are happy to be joined by Johnny Brandon from the Square Roots podcast. It’s a fun discussion of our top five games that we played in 2020. Since last year was a great year to play some older games our lists don’t exclusively come from 2020. We wrap up with listener top 3s and an impromptu Video Game Cage Match between Final Fantasy VII Remake and Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Let’s jump right in!
We’re kicking off the 2021 season of Nerds Without Pants with a comprehensive celebration of the music from the 8th console generation! This is our most ambitious music special to date, featuring 50 incredible tracks along with thoughtful commentary from the Pantsless Ones. Enjoy; this is a labor of love.
Left my job early in the year, took some time off, then started community college that summer. It was a rough summer but I got into a routine at least, if not into gainful employment. That fall I started part-time at a local library while schooling. It's my favorite place on earth. Here are some of my favorite media from that year.
Welcome to Nerds Without Pants, a podcast where we start talking about video games we love, and then go super dark as we face some very uncomfortable truths about ourselves. Thankfully we have Friend of the Show John Gholson on board to keep things from descending into the true depths. This is a very raw episode, but a great listen, as well.
Did you watch Dancing with the Stars, see Shrek the Third, play Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, listen to Nickelback and read John Grisham's Playing for Pizza? No? Well, maybe you caught some of what I took in.
I tend to skip around a lot especially when the games I’ve been playing don’t really have a story mode or anything really compelling that I need to finish right away. I like to believe most people are like that but I could be the one crazy in the bunch. Who knows, but I tend to make things kind of interesting. This past week there really hasn’t been a must play game with a storyline. Actually I kind of did play one but the story was really easy to figure out but more on that game later. So what did I play? Let’s find out.
Recently, Netflix launched High Score, a new documentary series on the history of video games. I thought it was entertaining enough that I wanted to discuss and review it here on this blog. So here’s my thoughts on the six episode series!
Ok so I just finished the stage 5 (?) of the Tour de France, I didn’t take out a breakfast sandwich because last night’s Panda Express isn’t sitting well. Apparently when you ask for Orange Chicken they give you spicy chicken that isn’t sweet. I really need to find a mom & pop Chinese spot that offers Sweet N’ Sour Pork. Going back to actual gaming stuff I tried to write a Quick Hits but ended up getting sidetracked with random trips to different stores, but here we are on a Monday and apparently it’s September. Who knew? Let’s get started.
Nothing much to tell about me in 2003. It was kind of the same as 2002, music and pizza. I took in a lot of media though. Here are my favorites.
Let’s set the mood: It’s currently 99 degrees with a high of 115, the AC is on, I have a floor fan next to me, listening to a 90s R&B playlist on Spotify waiting for my breakfast sandwich to defrost so I can burn my mouth. The setting is set so let’s get started.
The morning ritural: either wait for breakfast sandwich to thaw before tossing it into the microwave or wait or the breakfast sandwich to cool down a bit from Surface of the Sun to Burn Your Taste Buds Pizza Rolls hot. Oh the simple things…I have an ice cold Pepsi going so let’s catch up.
2000 was the year I started playing some live shows with my band in Philly and several other states. I had to upgrade all my gear for this and it cost me a pretty penny. I did some music on my own as well with a four track and a drum machine. It was music all the time that year, except when I saw, played or read the following.
A week in the life for me in '96: I delivered pizza for Domino's Pizza 'til 2am five days. I'd watch Mystery Science Theater 3000 til 4am or so. I might then get up early to do a 10-5 shift. Then on my days off, I'd play music in a basement in Philly with a few friends I met at a night school jam session. We started a blues band called Bad Tyming and then a punky rock band called Lemonloaf. When I wasn't jamming with them, I'd be at my friend Mark's place to play video games. We would go to flea markets and pick up cheap games and consoles. We had PCs, Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Genesis, PSOne and N64. I was also getting into various "cures" like health food, accupuncture and vitamins thanks to the influence of my girlfriend. I was 29.
Oh boy, 1994. I believe i was struggling to find a job I liked that year. I distinctly remember sitting in a diner with my girlfriend using the last shred of money on my credit card and wondering what to do next. I had been trying to be a videographer but only did one gig before I was at a loss how to proceed. I tried to get a band together from the talent at my mental health support group, but it wasn't going well. Many of my friends there were much worse than me and had some difficulty keeping focus. I separated myself from all that and then had a few jobs that didn't last very long, but were interesting. It was a uncertain, bumpy ride that year, but there was good media to absorb at least.
I did not forget to write a blog for today, nope nope nope…yeah so I forgot but it is still Monday here in breezy Southern California so here is a recap of stuff I’ve been playing.
Is it good afternoon or good evening at 6pm California time? In either case hello Pixlpeeps! You thought I forgot to do a post today but I didn’t. I was working on my cards, lost track of time (I also sprinkled in some Netflix time in between card duties). Let’s get started so I can get back to playing with my cards.
You would think that since I have more time for games I would mix in more games into my routine but that is not the case. I’ve been alternating my free time like this: one day I’ll do nothing but sort my music files, add songs to my music player, etc. The next day I will do nothing but sort through my trading cards, doing a priliminary weeding out of copies and then do something else. Actually I know I have a couple of hockey boxes floating around somewhere that I need to find. Those days usually alternate with a random Netflix binge watch, WWE Network binge watch, or my favorite I build a little pillow fort, stick my head inside and take a nap. Here’s the games I’ve actually been playing:
Good morning Pixlpeeps! Apparently it’s Friday (I really should look at my Star Dates in the title) which means it’s Quick Hits. Since I haven’t been outside it’s really gonna be quick. Ok let’s go!
After conquering 2018 with the hyper-realistic open-world cowboy simulator, Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar has certainly not been resting on its laurels. As many of you now know, the highly anticipated hyper-realistic open-world crime simulator, Grand Theft Auto 6, has been announced. Thanks to the hundreds of hits my writing for PixlBit has amassed over the past nine years and the runaway popularity of my podcast, Nerds Without Pants (tens of satisfied listeners!) I was given an exclusive look at this upcoming juggernaut. Don’t worry, I got hands-on with this sure to be life-altering video game months before the Covid-19 epidemic. Now that my embargo has been lifted, the story can be told at last!