To make a gross generalization (heh), horror movie audiences are known neither for their decorum nor for their tasteโbut I was still impressed by the sheer moviegoing ineptness displayed by the motley crew of shout-talkers and texters gathered at Lloyd Cinemas for a Saturday matinee of Carrie. But even that proud assemblage of mouth-breathersโwho were […]
Video Games
Has Pokรฉmon Run Out of Ideas?
In the ladies’ restroom at Rose City Comic-Con a couple weeks ago, I overheard a wonderful conversation happening in a group of 14-to-16-year old cosplayers. “Did you hear? There are like 400 Pokรฉmon now,” said one, who was probably dressed as a TARDIS. (Note: there are actually estimated to be almost 750 Pokรฉmon in the […]
This Weekend: Videogames, Pinball, Tetris, and Way, Way More at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo
The Portland Retro Gaming Expo is this weekend, which is excellent news if it’s time for you to stock up on retro console games, play pinball or retro arcade games for an entire day, or have those long-honed Mario Kart skills finally pay off. This year’s expo also has a full weekend’s schedule of panels, […]
I Spent My Weekend As A Communist Bureaucrat and It Was Amazing
It doesn’t feel good to play Papers, Please. It, honestly, makes me a little sick. And that is absolutely fascinating. PAPERS, PLEASE The game where paperwork is life or death. I’ll admit I’m a little late to the game on Papers, Pleaseโthe “Dystopian Document Thriller” for Mac and PC created by Lucas Pope. But it’s […]
Help Us Come Up With Missions For Grand Theft Auto: Portland
It seems all the gamers in the world will be playing Grand Theft Auto V this week, a game that continues to corrupt our youths in new and innovative ways. As Nex explains in this week’s issue, the new game allows for even more sin and insanity than the prior GTA titles, with activities from […]
Things I’m Really Excited About Right Now: The Videogame, Film, Comic Book, Cabaret, and Roller Derby Edition
A hot mess of delightful and entertaining starches. This week has been rich with goodness—a steady stream of really awesome entertainment flowing straight into my face. Here, I’ll share the wealth. (And by “wealth, I mean “recommendations,” not cash money, because there’s a dusting of moths currently living in my wallet.) 1. Videogame: Play Gone […]
Videogames, Inclusivity, and PAX
Last week, I purchased the first videogame of my adult life—Gone Home, a computer game produced by local studio The Fullbright Company. And the reason I purchased it was because I saw myself in the game: It’s set in a suburb of Portland in the ’90s, like where I grew up; it’s about a teenaged […]
At Last, a “Space Janitor Simulation Game”
VISCERA CLEANUP DETAIL Everything in its right place. I saw this on Polygon last week and I can’t stop thinking about it, probably because it directly taps into the part of my brain that’s obsessed with space stations and crap, as well as the part of my brain that’s obsessed with having everything in its […]
Dear Everyone Involved with Broforce: Thank You for Making Broforce
Probably the less I say about Broforce the better, but I can say that when Mercury freelancer Ben Coleman alerted me to its existence this morning via email (subject line: “HOLY GOD”), my life immediately got an order of magnitude better. It’s like I’ve been waiting all my life for Brade and MacBrover to be […]
The Best Super Mario Theme Rap You’ll Hear All Day… NAY! All LIFETIME!!
When a Jimmy Fallon viewer asked the show to put lyrics to the Super Mario theme, that person had NO IDEA the genius Tariq from The Roots would bring to such a task. BEHOLD! The most freaking GREATEST rap tribute to Super Mario Brothers you will ever hear!!
NW Film Center Announces Top Down: Rooftop Cinema Lineup
WYLD STALLYNS In time, their band will be most triumphant. Every summer, the NW Film Center shows some movies on top of the Hotel deLuxe’s parking structure; preceded by bands and with plentiful amounts of booze on hand, it’s a fairly delightful way to spend a summer evening, provided you get there early enough to […]
Important Terminator News & Events for the Week of June 9-16, 2013
Via, sort of BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER, HERE IS THE SOUNDTRACK TO THIS BLOG POST. PLEASE PRESS “PLAY,” THEN CONTINUE. The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day are things of beauty. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is not very good. Terminator: Salvation is even worse. But wait! Come back! Terminator: The Sarah Connor […]
