This is very cool: The Game Crafter.
Pricing is way too high for distribution (of course), but prototypes or even direct-to-consumer would be a nice fit….
Brief Reviewage
Insanely busy — I have three major projects which all have to be completed before the end of the month, so I apologize for not posting as often as I normally would.
Figured that I’d devote this post to brief reviews:
We went to see Public Enemies this weekend — I enjoyed it quite a bit. Michael Mann is one of my favorite directors, and I’m a sucker for the 1930s. I was already pretty well-versed in the story of “Public Enemy Number One”, John Dillinger, but even so, the film didn’t drag for me at all — which is saying something, as it clocks in at 2 1/2 hours. Depp turns in his usual effortless excellence — although for me, the film was made by the supporting actors (especially Jason Clarke as Red Hamilton and Stephen Graham as Baby Face Nelson).
I finally read Theodore Roszak’s novel Flicker, years after having it recommended by
Less loved was Space Captain Smith by Toby Frost. Part of the problem here was my own expectations — I was hoping for something that took itself more seriously, even while being light-hearted: something more along the lines of Fraser’s Flashman, but in a steampunk setting. Sadly, what I got was a book written in an unbearably smug pastiche of Douglas Adams’ style — but without Adams’ ability. The whole thing had a wink-to-the-audience, “aren’t I clever?” feel which so turned me off, I put the book down unfinished and haven’t looked back.
Anyway — there you have it. Some things which have wedged their way into my brain recently, squeezing into the narrow gaps between the brainspace demanded by work projects.
Friday Music
Here we go….
First up — something that I discovered during the recent Iranian uprising. Western music is illegal there, but there is a thriving underground scene, often with music recorded by expat Iranians, smuggled back into the country. Here is a bit of Iranian hip-hop, recorded by the Netherlands-based female MC, Farinaz. The title translates as “In the Name of Women” — a song of political and cultural protest. Farinaz – “Be Name Zan.”
A request by Dotta Numba 2, here is some NYC-based gypsy-punk: Gogol Bordello – “Start Wearing Purple.”
Something old, now — forgive the cock-rock, but this is my all-time favorite track by this band, far more than the lovely but now-clichéd “Stairway to Heaven.” I find this much more musically interesting — plus: DUDE! How could teenage me *not* buzz to these lyrics: “Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream — I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been.” Led Zeppelin – “Kashmir.”
The latest ear-worm– the infectious bit of music used for the new Palm Pre commercial. I needed to find out who this was, and thankfully South By Southwest had the answer, and a free mp3: IO Echo – “Doorway.”
I heard this on this week’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance (yes, I watch it. Shut up.), and was reminded how much I like it. I prefer the original Betty Hutton version from 1944, but try finding *that* as an mp3 online…. So, here’s the version from the film “For the Boys” — Bette Midler – “Stuff Like That There.”
Lastly, in honor of Nikola Tesla’s 153rd birthday (while simultaneously avoiding anything by the god-awful hair-metal band that took his name), here’s some 1984-vintage Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark – “Tesla Girls.”
Enjoy.