First and foremost I would like to inform all of our viewers that this video contains some explicit material. While DJ GoatBallz is having a swell time rapping about himself being the “King of Craft”, he would also like to mention that this video was not made for everyone’s ears.
Words from the Creators
Audio – DJ GoatBallz
Well, we have what I think is a unique group – as in most of us came from a media background to compliment our, uhhh, geekery. Thus, our “Bii-Annuals” have always resulted in a bit of of a “media pot-luck”. There’s been promo posters, logos, videos, and songs made for/of the event in the past.
As far as the inspiration for the “King of Craft” song. Well, it came from a lyric in a different song that went, “My Mario Kart skills are outrageous.”. For whatever reason, my first thought was, “my Starcraft skills are outrageous.” From there, I started writing then I went into my music room to record the lyrics. It took three hours to write, record (two takes), and mix the whole song.
I posted it to our facebook group, and, again – with our group’s media abilities – I knew that a great video would be the next step.
Video – Malechite
As soon as I heard the song, I knew there had to be a music video to go with it… And so it was done.
Equipment Specs: Canon 5D Mark II with a 50mm lens and available lighting | Editing Time: 6 hours
A Final Note
After the tournament had gone underway, the theme song was fresh in all of the combatants minds. How better to end the early morning but with filming the the music video for “King of Craft” Enjoy the music video, and feel free to let us all know what you think in the comments below. Even a Capsule Computers’ staff makes an appearance in the video – guess who?
Developer: Creative Undead Pty Ltd Publisher: Apple Platforms: iPhone (Reviewed), iPad, iPod Touch, Android Release Date: Feb 29, 2012 Price: $0.99 USD/AUD – Available Here
Overview
Flying as a bird and pooping on people definitely has 2D side scroller potential, why hasn’t someone thought of this before? You can feel abit silly participating in something like this, but the game isn’t half bad and you’ll get a laugh out of it. The developers describe it as the following “Rain down some poopy fury on unsuspecting park goers in this addictive side scroller”
To me it seems like the game is inspired by Angry Birds, but the humour is alot better. It’s simple, mindless fun with a few neat features thrown in.
Visuals & Audio
As you can imagine, the game should have a funny and unique art style, luckily it does. You can see this in the screenshots or the intro video from the first part of the official trailer. Every type of object or person will perform a different animation when hit by the poo missiles of death, and Creative Undead implemented a great foreground/background system.
The game also features artwork by local Australian animators and artists including Francis Stanton (all in-game art) and the intro animation sequence is by John Grist with the assistance of Michael Harris, the music and sound FX are by Liam Hill and programming was handled by Alex Anguix, co-director of Creative Undead. It’s all quite charming and makes you forget the ridiculous concept this game is attempting, but somehow pulls off.
Gameplay
The controls for Bird Jerk are simple, just like the concept. There is a D-pad is on the left side of the screen to move around, and the poop/LAX button are on the right. You currently can’t customise any of this, but that’s okay because it’s not necessary. Although I did find the virtual D-pad to be abit sensitive for my liking, and the game can be a little slow, that’s the only gripes I had with the overall experience.
The aim of the game is poo on as many things/people as possible, build your score and avoid the obstacles that come from above (like eagles, anvils etc). The levels change at timed intervals, making the game feel randomized to a degree, which is a good thing. Every level had a different theme, I don’t think I actually went through the same level twice, and that’s nice as it adds some replay value to an otherwise simple game. The LAX power-ups scattered through the levels also add power to your ring of fire, spitting out three shots instead of one, if you hold down the LAX button it adds to the number of shots fired up to a total of eight. Imagine actually shitting eight times, let alone a bird, does that happen? That’s crazy! Hopefully in future more features are added to the gameplay, cause right now you could argue it’s too simple, which may not hold your attention for too long. The achievements are nice, but having only 6 doesn’t really add much incentive, I know I didn’t bother to get every single one. You may feel differently and have more determination to poop on everyone. Good on ya if that’s the case!
Overall
Bird Jerk “The Poopening” is a funny, unique title worthy of a go. It’s fairly addictive and you’ll more than likely go back for more pooping fun. Laughing is almost guaranteed, i’d say more so if you’re Australian, considering our tendency to love toilet humour. You’ve got to hand to the team at Creative Undead for pulling off a concept such as this, here’s hoping we’ll see more updates and unique games from the local developers soon enough. Bird Jerk: The Poopening is now available on the App Store and Google Play for $0.99. Hehe… “poop”
Looking forward to Kid Icarus: Uprising? Like free stuff? Good. Since first announcing Uprising as Pit’s latest adventure, Nintendo have been promoting the battles that can be had with the AR cards that will launch alongside the game, where players can have virtual battles to earn in-game currency.
It’s a fantastic concept, and now you can get your own cards for free if your a member of Club Nintendo. The cards included in this giveaway are Great Reaper, Drill Arm and Palutena. and will only be available for a limited time, so get on over to the official website for Kid Icarus: Uprising and reserve your freebie today. Also keep in mind that Kid Icarus: Uprising finally launches for the Nintendo 3DS on March 23rd and while they are still nice on their own, these cards would be a bit pointless to have without the main title itself.
While it hasn’t been heavily promoted, Konami’s Birds of Steel has flown into stores today for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, and flight sim fans should definitely take notice. This title lets players take to the skies in 100 customizable World War II planes, where you can relive or recreate history.
To celebrate this release, a launch trailer has taken off that shows the game in action as of today. This trailer shows us a bit of what players can expect when it comes to visuals and gameplay, and even though the visuals are no Ace Combat, the actual game itself seems pretty exciting, making this one under-the-radar Konami release you should definitely consider emptying your wallet for. Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think in the comments section.
Another day, another tower defense title. While the genre has grown quite a bit, you have to admit the quality we have seen released across all platforms as of late, and adding to the list of promising defense romps is none other than Paradox Interactive’s Defenders of Ardania, which is set to debut on the Xbox Live Arcade (and the PC) on March 14th (Which is tomorrow, for those keeping track of days). The title is already currently available for the iPad.
What makes Defenders of Ardania different from the rest of the genre though is that offense matters just as much as defense, as players have to not only defend their territory, but also simultaneously attack adversaries by utilizing a wide variety of air and ground units, spells, and more to decimate all opponents at once. It all seems pretty strategical, and the medieval setting seems to be the sweet icing layered on the cake.
To get a better idea of how the game will play out, check out the trailer below and mark your calenders, as Ardania certainly seems like one digital release that will make quite a mark when it hits the XBLA and Windows PC tomorrow.
NCsoft and ArenaNet announced today that gamers will be able to pre-purchase Guild Wars 2 starting April 10, 2012! Not dependent on which version you decide to choose, all versions will provide exclusive access to the upcoming beta events, three days head start access, and Hero’s Band in-game item.
Here are the details for all three pre-order editions:
Digital Edition
Digital Deluxe
Collector’s Edition
Guild Wars 2 game
Guild Wars 2 game
Guild Wars 2 game
X
Summon Mistfire Wolf Elite Skill
Summon Mistfire Wolf Elite Skill
X
Rytlock Miniature
Rytlock Miniature
X
Golem Banker
Golem Banker
X
Chalice of Glory
Chalice of Glory
X
Tome of Influence
Tome of Influence
X
X
10-inch figurine of Rytlock
X
X
112 page Making of Guild Wars 2 book
X
X
Custom Art Frame
X
X
Art Portfolio and Five Art Prints
X
X
Best of Guild Wars 2 Soundtrack CD
The only price that is given is the Collector’s Edition for $149.99 with digital prices soon to come. To access the pre-purchase website, click on the following link: Pre-Purchase for Guild Wars 2. Truly brace yourselves for this epic venture!
Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part 7 Studio: Toei Animation Publisher: FUNimation Versions: Blu-ray, DVD (reviewed) Release Date: March 20, 2012 Price: Blu-Ray $34.98 – Available Here, DVD $29.98 – Available Here
Overview: The Dragon Ball Z series is one that nearly every anime lover has seen. In fact, even non-anime fans have probably watched the entire series at one point during their lives given the fact that the series has been broadcasted multiple times and released multiple times for English audiences. However there is one thing that DBZ was always notorious for, and that was plenty of filler and moments of downtime.
However work began to create a revised version of Dragon Ball Z that would provide the same level of action without a stop in-between. As such, Dragon Ball Z Kai was born. FUNimation has brought over the past six releases of the series, and have continued with this trend by releasing part seven to North American audiences. Has nostalgia road been paved smooth with this new release or have pot holes made it a bumpy ride?
Story: When we last left the Z warriors, things were looking a tad grim. The strange and extremely powerful Cell had arisen to dash any hopes that the fighters had in defeating Dr. Gero’s creations. In fact, with the absorption of Android 17, Cell has only one more step to take until he reaches his perfect form and that is to find Android 18 and absorb her as well.
Though things aren’t going to be easy for him, as three forces converge to stand in his path, the arrogant Vegeta and the mysterious boy from the future Trunks have been training and discovered a new level of Super Saiyan that far surpasses anything previously thought possible. To make things even more difficult, Krillin approaches the hidden 18 and 16 with a remote that will force 18 to shut down, allowing for easy disposal. With Krillin’s heart uncertain of what action to take and the arrogance of Vegeta growing faster than his power level, what will happen to the Z warriors if Cell reaches his perfect form?
While nearly everyone will know how things turn out, there are still those out there who have never seen Dragon Ball Z before, and obviously Kai provides the simplest and most streamlined way possible to introduce a new viewer to the series. Though dropping them in at this point would be extremely counterproductive as it starts right in the middle of the Cell Games story arc.
In Part Seven we are able to see Cell’s perfect form as he demonstrates his nigh invincible powers by single handedly defeating their strongest warriors. With the fall of the Androids early in Part Seven we are given nearly a full release of Cell battles and training to defeat Cell. Obviously this makes Part Seven one of the best parts of the series for fans of Cell’s perfect form, but makes things a bit disappointing as they face off against this one opponent, with only a momentary change in enemies throughout the entire episode set.
Unfortunately those hoping to see the fast paced action of “The Cell Games” will only be able to catch a brief glimpse of that action as Part Seven ends just as Goku and Cell begin trading blows with one another. As it stands on its own, Part Seven is the turning point in the Cell saga where Cell finally becomes a true threat instead of just a possible one. However it is clear to see that this release can be seen as a stepping stone for the height of action viewers can expect in Part Eight.
Visuals: One of the major advantages Kai has over all other releases of Dragon Ball Z is the fact that the animation has been cleaned up and given a more crisp look. This means that a lot of scenes have been fixed up with some modern animation methods in an effort to provide the best looking Dragon Ball Z possible, though one brief glance at the opening and ending animations still leave us wishing for a full HD treatment, as the disparity between these sections and the show itself is quite obvious.
There are also a number of scenes where the quality can significantly shift between shots. More so than in the past release, there are a number of times that viewers will be seeing something that has been touched up for the Kai release of the series, and then see a scene that was left alone and this fluctuating quality will likely hinder viewers’ experience with this release.
Audio: As in past releases, Dragon Ball Z Kai Part Seven contains both an English and Japanese voice track, with each one containing quality voice acting. While some may choose to view this release in Japanese, many will take to the English release which contains nearly all of the same voice actors that we knew and loved from our childhoods. It is worth noting that a few characters sound a bit different than they did originally, but the differences are miniscule at best.
One treat that viewers will be happy to see is that the opening and ending songs for Part Seven have been dubbed completely in English, as in past releases of this series. However the opening animation is now sung by two male voice actors as they perform a duet, providing a little variety from what was seen in Part Six.
Extras:
Unfortunately the release itself has barely any extras except a clean version of the opening and ending and some trailers for past and upcoming FUNimation releases, with a lack of any other extra feature minus a nice slip-case and two slim-pak cases.
Overall: Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part Seven provides us with a stepping stone in the Cell Saga as we draw close to the end of the series. It gives us the entire set-up for the big showdown at the Cell Games and leaves us wanting more. Kai still provides us with the most streamlined and action packed Dragon Ball Z experience ever, though Part Seven unfortunately does not deliver the same quality of action fans have grown used to.
Boy Loves Girl Developer: Grubby Hands Publisher: Grubby Hands Platforms: iPad (Reviewed), iPhone, iPod Touch Release Date: March 9, 2012 Price: $0.99 – Available Here
Overview
Boy Loves Girl is a whimsical, if not slightly creepy, adventure to please the girl of his dreams. This girl never seems to be pleased with anything and asks for a multitude of creatures she finds cute. Not to disappoint, our hero goes across many lands, dragging his moon on a string around to chase down and collect the animals of the girl’s desires.
Visuals
Boy Loves Girls is simply drawn and colored. There are very little details to speak of and feels like a slightly more polished version of doodle style games. The enemies in the game are extremely cartoony and are probably the most interesting thing visually in the whole game.
The clouds feel inspired by the Super Mario series and on a whole look great. The game is said to run at 60 fps and definitely feels like it. The game runs extremely smooth with no hiccups or slowdowns.
Audio
The music and the sound effects are simple and whimsical in Boy Loves Girl which fits into the whole theme perfectly. The game relies heavily on sound effects and ambient noise during game play, as music tends to be extremely limited in the game. Some sound effects could be vastly improved, a good example being the sounds used for footsteps.
It sounds more like a space marine in 300 pounds of armor trampling through a flower patch than a dainty young boy chasing after the girl he loves. Worst of all, there seems to be very little variation with sound effects. This is one of those games where players are not missing anything by playing the game muted or with their own music in the background.
Gameplay
Boy Loves Girl’s game play is very simple. Swipe up and down to move the moon on a string into one of four possible lanes while dodging a variety of clouds bent on ruining the boy’s dreams, all while collecting smiles that drift from the boy’s head when you successfully clear the obstacles. There are a variety of clouds, some will rocket forward like Bullet Bill in Super Mario or are thunder clouds that will destroy the moon with lightning if you pass under it. These clouds can be disabled, destroyed, or temporarily hindered by tapping on them.
Each level comes with three optional goals that can be completed for bonus points. At the end of the level, players are presented with a daisy and the traditional “she loves me” and “she loves me not” option, successfully ending with a “she loves me” will net players with a heart for the level. The controls are tight and on a whole extremely responsive. There is no real difference between playing this game on the iPad or the smaller screens. I feel rather torn about this game. On one hand I find the gameplay rather boring and uninspiring. On the other hand, something about the game is a little addictive, as once I start a level I feel this desire to constantly go back and complete every level in its entirety with three stars and the heart. Finishing a level with the bare minimum requirements does not feel like finishing a level at all.
Overall
Boy Loves Girl is an interesting case. If you are looking for simple game play and something naively charming, Boy Loves Girl is a perfect game. It is by no mean the next Fruit Ninja or Angry Birds, but there is an innocent charm with Boy Loves Girl that is hard to deny. Unlike something like Fruit Ninja, I struggle to find real replay value in Boy Loves Girl. Though it is only 99 cents, I feel there are much better games at the same price point. I suspect I am not alone in saying there are better things to do than to chase the girl around.
We have a special guest this week from 100.1 Triple H FM’s The Weekly Geek, Christof Bogacs and we talk about Mass Effect 3, lots of iOS titles, 3DS sales don’t seem to be so bad, Microsoft shows off their spring showcase, Double Fine continue to do crazy things with Kickstarter numbers and trademark a new title and Apple announces a new iPad.
Cast: Alexis Ayala, Luke Halliday, Matt Vella & Special Guest Christof Bogacs
In addition to releasing a few new screenshots for their upcoming game last week, 343 Industries also answered a plethora of burning questions about the sequel to one of the most beloved shooters ever. They revealed that the Battle Rifle will make a return and that there would be a new enemy in Halo 4. Frank O’ Connor also said there would not be a beta, stating: “While we are testing Halo 4 code, gameplay, and systems at significant scale to get excellent data, input, and feedback, we are focused on polishing and shipping our experience for the duration of the year, and splitting resources to manage and build a beta is not on our schedule.”
Check out all the details on the Halo Waypoint article. There you will find the newest screenshots, the latest video and all the questions that Frank O’Connor was able to answer.
