mattAdkins[dot]com » Reviews

STEAM sale is happening…

Matt — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:06:41 +0000

The wonderful BRAID

Folks, there are some really great games available over at STEAM, and they’re marked down for the big Holiday Sale. I can’t speak for all of them, but I can recommend BRAID (only $2.49 !!), MACHINARIUM (beautiful game, for $9.99), and MIRROR’S EDGE (at a ridiculous $4.99).

Film Inspiration

Matt — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:53:35 +0000

Still image from LA JETEE
Film often runs in parallel with life and it feeds off it but I don’t think it necessarily nurtures it. I don’t think it necessarily contributes in the way we think it does. We, in our world, in our bubble that we work in, imagine that it does but I am not sure that it does. – Danny Boyle

Nice article in THE INDEPENDENT regarding films that inspired directors: The movie that mattered to me – Features, Films – The Independent.

From the book: Screen Epiphanies: Filmmakers on the Films that Inspired Them

Tip ‘the hat to Kottke for the link…

GTD: Gaming To Do

Matt — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:33:29 +0000

Arkham Asylum

I’m drinking the kool-aid on the new Batman: Arkham Asylum game. Not only is it just plain fun to run, jump, and swoop around as Batman, knocking the beJeebus out of (literally) clown-faced thugs…but it also reminded me (in a good way) of the graphic ~~novel~~ poem that made me a Batman fanboy in the first place: Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean (pictured).

The Beatles : Rock Band (duh)

Thanks to some awesome amazon-birthday-gift-card presents from my parents, I’ve already got 2 other games pre-ordered and on deck: Beatles: Rock Band(you might have heard of that one) … and the sequel to Assassin’s Creed, the aptly named Assassin’s Creed II.

There’s been quite a lot of griping about the flaws in the first AC [repetitive missions, pointless flag-collecting, unskippable (and long) cut-scenes, etc.], however I really enjoyed the way the developers had created these massive, detailed cities, over which you could run and jump along, climbing towers and nearly everything in sight. It was probably the first game I’ve ever played in which I felt in tune with the control scheme and therefore connected to the character’s movements onscreen. Anyway…I’m looking forward to the sequel.

Here’s a recent video walkthrough of some AC2 action:

MindFuck Movies

Matt — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:25:49 +0000

Seeing Michael Douglas on a theater marquee is like seeing Chef Boyardee on a can: You know the contents will be cheesy and geared toward an eighth-grade palate.

Ouch. Tough, but fair.

Aside from being a great list of films that each & every one should own & cherish…this Matthew Baldwin article is full of great, fun writing.

I just ordered 2001 – A Space Odyssey [Blu-ray], so thanks for getting me even more pumped Matthew!

[thanks to kottke for the link ]

Artist Lui Liu

Matt — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:18:14 +0000

There’s something about this painting from artist Lui Liu that really grabs me.

You can see a collection of his other work at his website or where I spotted it, Paintalicious.

Et Tu, Babe?

Matt — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 00:01:11 +0000

As I’ve been sorting out my stuff and labelling things so that I can sell it all, I came across a treasured little blast from the past…an actual audiobook (on cassette! gasp!) of mark Leyner’s Et Tu, Babe….which I still hold to be the very most funniest damn thing I have ever read. After hearing rumours of an audio version, read by the author, I finally tracked it down about 10 years ago and enjoyed it to no end.

I went to a lot trouble to convert it to mp3, but now of course you can buy the cassette on the cheap via Amazon or even download it from Audible. Give it try — highly recommended.