I Watch TV #4
If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, you might want to start here.
The Big Bang Theory
It’s a traditional sitcom (with multiple cameras and a live audience) centered around two physicists, experimental and theoretical, and the girl across the hall (or, “The Big Bang” :P ). Oh, and the latest episode featured Green Lantern’s green lantern (and ring, of course), Hulk’s fists, backing up an OS and Rock Band. Why aren’t you watching?I <3 Sheldon Cooper. Bazinga!
I Watch TV #3
If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, you might want to start here.
This one is a twofer, mostly because before tuning in I lumped them both into categories that I just don’t watch: Medical Drama & Crime Drama.
House
I’m not big on medical shows – I’m afraid just watching them will give me a rash – so when I started watching House a little over a year ago it was purely for the Hugh Laurie factor. Don’t let the promos trick you, this is more than just a doctor with a terrible bedside manner. Ok, there’s plenty of that, but the best thing that the latest season has proven is that it’s okay with dynamic characters, which is practically primetime blasphemy. I support that.
Bones
I joined Bones two seasons in, a tardiness I mostly blame on my Post-Buffy mourning period. Suffice it to say, Boreanaz fares better outside a Whedon script, and I support anything Deschanel. The show is fun, Booth and Bones have a very Mulder and Scully thing going on, and yes, I like forensic anthropology. Unlike House, the icky stuff in Bones just isn’t so barfy to me. That said, the most recent season of Bones has been a real dud so far. Fingers crossed, I’m keeping it on the DVR for now.
I Watch TV #2
If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, you might want to start here.
Top Gear (BBC)
I’m no car aficionado. I’m not even very good at retaining much of the vehicle-specific information dispensed on the show. Regardless, Top Gear is one of my favorite programs of all time. The show is hilarious, the series always end early when they inevitably go over budget and there’s The Stig.
Top Gear's tame racing driver.
While it does air on BBC America, they’re a season or two behind so I’ve got to plug my favorite people: FinalGear.
Trenches Review
If there’s a chance you haven’t sated your patriotic thirst for WWI by deploying wave after wave of variably armed minions, Trenches is here to drench your iPhone with the blood of your enemies. Dig yourselves a foxhole, boys, we’re gonna shoot us some Jerrys. Read the rest of this entry »
I Watch TV
Recently a lot of people have been asking me what shows I watch, recommend or even loathe. I even did a write-up for some friends in town for their new publication Fermentations on the very topic (which I’d plug, but they have a distinctly offline thing going on). Having lots of opinions about games I play, it probably isn’t surprising that I also have opinions about TV, but I’m no critic. Instead of reviews, I thought I’d make some posts in the coming weeks about what I’m watching and why [you should, too ;)].
On a not completely unrelated note, I’ve noticed how my TV watching patterns have changed. I’ve become equal parts early-adopter and LTTP, championing some shows from the beginning and being recklessly delayed in appreciating others. Contrary to how the medium tends to work (one episode at a time, once a week, 20 some weeks a year), I much prefer the gluttonous free-for-all enabled by catching a show in its middle age. There’s a wonderful continuity in renting (*torrenting*) three seasons of a series and watching in one go. One show, however, that I was right on time for:
Chuck
Without a doubt, my Show of the Year, which is now a thing. With a trophy. See?
Show of the Year 2009: Chuck
With action, comedy, drama and spies Chuck features fantastic writing, an engaging cast and just enough geekery to give you that “can I add you on PSN/XBL?” feeling. Oh, and the music in Chuck is awesome. I am not messing around when I say it’s the best thing on television right now, and I’m so grateful that Subway saved this one from the Leno-in-primetime axe.
The Season 2 finale is a tough act to follow, and Season 3 is off to a phenomenal start. Lock it out.
N4G Star Trek Online Beta Key Giveaway
Want in on the Star Trek Online closed beta? Assimilate!
N4G Kung Foo! Beta Key Giveaway
Thanks to Jason Varden and the rest of Perfect World Entertainment, we have 1000 beta keys to give out over on N4G for the closed beta of their upcoming MMO, Kung Foo!
Miguel Caron appointed as CEO of Funcom Games Canada Inc.
Funcom, developer and publisher of online games such as Age of Conan, has appointed Miguel Caron to the position of CEO for their recently established Montreal division, Funcom Games Canada.
From the press release:
The award-winning Miguel Caron – who brings with him over 15 years of organizational leadership experience – has been appointed to serve as the CEO for Funcom Games Canada Inc.
“We are thrilled to have Miguel join us at Funcom,” says Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas. “Our Montreal based Company is central to a string of new business initiatives in Funcom, both in the high-end MMO space and in the casual MMO space. Mr. Caron will be instrumental in developing and expanding those initiatives. We have already found Quebec and Montreal to be an excellent location for business and we look forward to further expand our operations here under the leadership for Miguel.”
Miguel Caron has a proven track record of driving strong, sustainable revenue and productivity gains within highly competitive national and global markets. Mr. Caron will take on leadership of several strategic initiatives for Funcom, in several different areas of the exciting MMO games segment. One of his first mandates will be to lead the growth in employees at the Montreal company.
“Funcom is renowned for quality productions such as ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’ and the ‘Longest Journey’ series. I have found its management team to be extremely competent, which is of course a key aspect of being successful in such a competitive market. I look forward to bringing my business experience to help that management team generate even more value to all Funcom stakeholders,” stated Miguel Caron, the newly appointed CEO of Funcom Games Canada.
Mr. Caron has led successful public and private businesses such Lyrtech Inc. He was instrumental to the growth of many high-tech companies and won many awards like the Arista price for best young entrepreneur of the year for mid and large size company as well as the Deloitte Canadian Fast 50.
Funcom is a world leading independent developer and publisher of online games, and was founded in 1993. There are currently over 300 talented individuals from over 35 different nationalities working at Funcom, spread out across offices in Norway, China, Switzerland, Canada and the US. This makes Funcom one of the most multi-cultural game development studios in the world. The company is responsible for multiple award-winning titles such as the ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’ and ‘Anarchy Online’ MMOs, as well as the ‘The Longest Journey’ and ‘Dreamfall’ adventure games.
Playtime
You would think Christmas would afford me oodles of time to catch up on games, when in fact I tend to spend the time hanging with the family and generally undergoing some mandatory tech-detox. Once I’ve had my fill of that, I promptly get sick with whatever the niece and nephews currently have, and spend the remainder of any semblance of vacation trying to keep up with N4G from the comfort of my bathroom floor.
That’s over now, and despite the lack of consoles or reliable internet connection two games did steal their way into my heart since Santa came to town. Osmos arrived first, an early Christmas gift from Hemisphere tailor-made for Mac. Previously reported on by our ZTGD PC editor, I was anticipating the sheer addictive yet pleasantly bite-sized quality of gameplay. What I was not prepared for was the awesome soundtrack and beauty of the aesthetic.
I figured Osmos was a safe game to play while killing time at the kitchen table, waiting for the grown-up types to get the kiddos bundled for the great outdoors. Within moments of launching the game, however, all my notions about ambient gaming’s lack of appeal to the under 6 crowd were dashed: my 2 year old nephew had found his way lap-ward and was mesmerized. Not only mesmerized, he was clicking away. Next thing I knew he and his sister (4) were trading off, generally a bit kamikaze in their approach to levels but delighting in the colors, variable scale and speed. My mind was more officially blown when my six year old nephew, Theo (more PC savvy than the other two having navigated PBS Kids in his downtime), took the reins and successfully completed two levels after only the most basic instruction. The future is bright.
Where Osmos is compelling in subtle and easily portioned bits, games that rhyme with Wagon Cage are not. I’m putting you on alert while I can still bear it: I am addicted to Dragon Age: Origins. I’m barely 20 hours in and it’s clear that me and my rogue Dalish elf are in trouble. Forget the fact that I’m encouraging a doomed romance with the possible future King of Fereldon, I think I’m looking down the dark tunnel that is unemployment, wretched eating habits and negligible hygiene. Assuming I come out of this whole, I appreciate the glimpse into the darker side of gaming.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Some of you may have noticed, ZTGD is not doing updates this week which means no Review Wrap-Up til after the holiday. Have a great weekend!
Chillingo Game Sale
iPhone gamers, Chillingo has slashed prices on a number of their games. For three days only:
1. Touch KO 4.99 -> 0.99
2. Defender Chronicles 4.99 -> 0.99
3. Jules Verne’s Secrets Of The Mysterious Island 6.99 -> 0.99
4. Jules Verne’s Return To Mysterious Island 4.99 -> 0.99
5. Cash Cow 2.99 -> 0.99
6. iDracula 2.99 -> 0.99
7. Toki Tori 4.99 -> 0.99Call of Duty Classic Review
Just over half a decade has passed since its original release, but Call of Duty has been relegated to the retro pile. The past six years haven’t been particularly kind, and even with some admirable upscaling COD looks and feels dated. Still, it’s remarkable and occasionally amusing to experience how little the series has changed since the first go round on the PC. Swapping between Modern Warfare 2 and COD Classic, some lines got a little blurry, some things drove me crazy, and it all made it that much more apparent why the game was such a rollicking success in its day. Read the rest of this entry »
PlayStation 3 Holiday Buyer’s Guide 2009
Over on ZTGD: Cat breaks down all of the must-own games for the holiday season as well as some stocking stuffers and accessories for Sony’s all-in-one machine.
Hippo High Dive Review
With its origins in the code-fest that was the 360iDev Game Jam, Imangi Studios has released Hippo High Dive to the app store in tip top accelerometer shape. Adding a purple hippo to the App Store menagerie, you don a tutu around your ample midriff and take to a diving board. Possessing as much grace as Fantasia and your phone-tilting skills can impart, you must guide the star of the show through flaming hoops suspended in the air until you finally land in an improbably tiny pool of water. Read the rest of this entry »
ZTGD Weekly Review Wrap-Up Episode 12
This week I deliver a holiday shopping guide of gaming reviews including Torchlight, MX vs. ATV Reflex and the final chapter of Tales of Monkey Island.
About
I’m Community Manager and Admin for the N4G Network and write for ZTGD.
CatPlaysGames is a blog in its design infancy and under construction. Pardon my mess.
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