The CCD Podcast: Episode #111 - Vintage Gaming & Brooklyn Geek Fest

We here at CCD certainly love our video games... so we felt we needed to get with our local Vintage video game aficionados and have ourselves a podcast! Jedi Rob brought in the guys from Gotham City Games in Bay Ridge  to talk about everything video game related... Ralph & Gianni join us in the CCD Nerd Cave to talk all about games, gaming culture, vintage games in this new age and much more! We also talk about the upcoming Brooklyn Geek Fest (April 1st) which will be a one day "comic-con styled" show right here in Brooklyn that will focus on the video game culture. Enjoy this installment... 

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Atari's Next Steps

A few weeks back, we highlighted the release of a documentary called Atari: Game Over that digs into one of the biggest game-related urban legends ever: Did Atari really dump hundreds of thousands of copies of E.T.: The Game into a landfill? It turns out that, yes, they actually did do that, though that's not the only question answered by the film. Others, such as "why?!", come up as well, and they got us thinking: What about Atari itself? How has it changed since the days of E.T.? Quite a bit, it turns out, and here's a look at where the brand once known for some of the most groundbreaking games is right now.
Check out more after the jump...

What you know about Atari's stance in the gaming world all depends on whether or not you have kept up with them since the '80s. It almost feels like an understatement to say that a lot has changed, because, well, it has! Like, they haven't made a console since the '90s, which is when their Jaguar system failed miserably. Some will argue that something like the Atari Flashback is, in fact, a console, and they'd be right to an extent. However, it does not require the loading of cartridges like the old-school Atari and instead is like a mini-computer dedicated to playing the company's classic games.
In place of putting out new consoles, Atari has shifted its focus to releasing more installments in series such as RollerCoaster Tycoon, which is easily one of their most popular and successful. The company has also begun working on breaking into new territory to increase revenue.

In an interview HITC Tech, Atari CEO Fred Chesnais revealed that he believes the company's latest move is one that's a "natural extension of the business." It's a full-fledged jump into the realm of online casinos with options that allow users to revisit their favorite games of old while putting money on the line. While this may seem like an odd choice for Atari, the connection between video games and gambling is closer than you think. That's clear in browsing through the games available at the Betfair platform, where you can find pop culture icons all over the place along with to a game themed after classic arcade fighter Street Fighter II.
And despite the fact that Atari clearly has some competition in online gaming, such as the aforementioned platform, Chesnias is confident. He told HITC that the response so far has been positive and that it's "a long-term venture and we will introduce new games as we grow."
Now, with all that being said, Chesnais remains committed to the people who made the company what it was in the beginning—the gamers. In addition to launching a new online multiplayer battle arena gam called Minimum, Atari will soon release a mobile game called Pridefest that's aimed at the LGBTQ community. Also, you can fully expect more games in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series and, hopefully, new titles on their online arcade.

This IS The Functional NES Controller Coffee Table You Are Looking For...

There are 'Do It Yourself' projects and then there are 'DO IT YOURSELF!!!' projects... some are just a bit more exciting then others. When I came across this step by step breakdown on how to construct a fully functioning (ie: PLAYABLE!) Nintendo controller coffee table I have to admit that this falls into the latter, much more exciting categories. Holy shit, a 3 x 3 ft playable game controller... with built in storage? Get the fuck outta here! What nerd wouldn't want this in his living room? I really love the detailed Imgur page that breaks down the whole process, cost and all (it came in around $400 bucks). You can click here to view the full blog, and see a few of the pics after the jump...

Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate Of Two Worlds Fanart by Steamboy 33

I have many fantastic memories of playing Marvel vs Capcom & Marvel vs Capcom 2 with my good buddy Joe Fletch over the years. The highlights definitely coming during the year we lived together at Manhattan College, where we played the Dreamcast version of the game on giant arcade controllers. More often than not (ok, ok... always) Fletch handed me my ass. Repeatedly. But the really cool thing about it all was that because Fletch was so fucking fantastic he made me pretty decent. To this day I can't pass by a MvsC2 machine and not pump a few quarters in. So I was really excited to see Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds get a release... but unfortunately I have never played it. But it doesn't mean I can't admire some awesome digital fan art from Deviant Artist Steamboy 33 featuring all the characters from the game. Marvel guys. Capcom guys. All of 'em! Thanks to Fletch for tossing these my way. Maybe it is time for me to grab this game and start some new memories with my son. Check out the pics after the jump... 

The New Far Cry 3 Commercial Takes Us Back To The V/H/S Days Of the 80s....

I am a bit out of the look when it comes to the video game world, but I am not blind so I see the fantastic ads and game play footage that is constantly flooding mass media. Video games are big business... and the companies have to do something to stand out among the large groups of games getting released in order to score the consumers $60 bucks. So when my buddy Nunzio (an avid gamer and video game blogger himself) posted this Far Cry 3 game trailer on his Facebook account, I knew it had to be special. Now I preface this by saying that even though I have heard of the Far Cry franchise I personally have never played the game at all. But after watching this 3 minute trailer, I have to admit that this title might find its way into my X Box 360. The first person shooter channels the early 80s era of taping TV shows (with all the commercials) on a V/H/S and having Michael Biehn as the voice of the main character is a good way to gain my geek interest piqued. All in all, a great commercial whether or not you even play games like this. Far cry 3: Blood Dragon is due in stores May 1st 2013. Check out the commercial after the jump...

The Trailer For Deadpool: The Game' Kicks Ass & Takes Names....

I had heard some rumblings about a proposed Deadpool game that was due to come out at some point this year and I immediately got excited. My reasons were two fold. On one hand, games like Marvel Ultimate Alliance & the Batman Arkham games showed just how fantastic comic book games could be. When it comes to Ultimate alliance, Wade Wilson was also one of the characters we loved to play with the most. The second reason has to do with the character itself. Is there anyone more suited for a batshit crazy action game beside Wade Wilson? He is perfectly set up as the crazy ass, action loving protagonist in a hectic shoot 'em up adventure, and the breaking of the third wall is just fantastic. This trailer gives us just a sneak peak at what we can expect from the Merc with a Mouth, and I for one certainly can't wait. The game comes out sometime this summer (no official release date yet), so stay tuned for more info. But if this 2 minute clip is just  a scratch on the surface of what we should expect, well I for one will be right there waiting for it to blow my mind. Trailer after the jump...

Injustice: Gods Among Us Combines The JLA With 1984

I always liked the stories where the superheroes are twisted into the authoritarian villains. They always start out with the best of intentions but in the end, being a hero is all about sacrifice, not control. I see things like this and I so wish I was a gamer who could totally get into the whole world and experience. With the footage they do have I wish someone could create a neat little computer generated feature of the story that is incorporated into the video game. Click after the jump for the trailer and some stills of the characters...



Credit where credit is due, the premise of Injustice does sound it would make for an interesting comic book story. After the Justice League fails to prevent the Joker from detonating a nuclear device in Metropolis, DC's superheroes start assert direct control over the populace to ensure such disasters never happen again. Presumably years later, a faction within the League finally starts to realize they've gone too far, putting them at odds with Superman and Wonder Woman's totalitarian regime. The new "insurgency" movement, which includes Batman, Flash, Lex Luthor, and Harley Quinn, enacts a bold plan to set things right; how much that plan will involve a series of three round Beat-Em-Up matches remains to be seen.




I also like these slightly altered designs that reflect a more dark approach to the job of hero. Follow the link at the bottom of the page to learn more about the game.

http://www.injustice.com/en

This Back To The Future Mod Makes me Want To Play Grand Theft Auto For The First Time In Years...

I haven't really played many games outside of the realm of super hero games like Ultimate Avengers & Batman or sports games in the past 5 years. But I do remember the good old days of Grand Theft Auto and just how crazy it could be. When you add in Marty McFly, the Delorean, and the ability to travel throughout time into the equation and you are in for one sweet treat. Check out the video that TL sent me after the jump and lets hope we finally get a Back To The Future game that we can get behind....

Lego 'Lord of the Rings: Can Anything be Any Cooler Than This Game?'

Wow. Just wow. I have been hearing about the Lego game based on the Lord of the Rings trilogy and I must say that after seeing this trailer I am truly blown away. These Lego games keep getting better and better, and I love the humor of this particular ad. Nice touch by having Gandalf narrate the commercial as well... Check out the trailer after the jump!

Palette Swap: Artists Recreating Iconic Video Game Box Art In Their Own Unique Styles

I am a true 80's baby, and this makes me a person who experienced the true first era of home video games Now I know their were home video game systems before the 80s (Atari, Intelivision, Collico Vison, etc), but in reality these systems were clearly overshadowed by their coin operated arcade counterparts... that was up until Nintendo changed the game forever with the release of Robbie the Robot, Gyromite & Duck Hunt back in 1984/5. Then came Genesis, Neo Geo, Turbo Grafix 16, and many more systems who gave us the unique opportunity to play fine crafted video games at home. These games had to come in packaging, and that packaging became a part of our lives as gamers... plus the images on the cover helped sell the games in the years before Internet preview & game play videos. I totally remember buying games that were total shit just because they had some cool ass cover art. So when I stumbled upon a cool new website called Palette Swap, I was completely enthralled. Here current artists take on some of the iconic images from video game boxes of the past and make it their own, adding unique little twists to make them amazing. I also like that the blog includes the original art as well for a comparison... very cool idea. Check out all the good work that site creator Rusty Shackles & the rest of the artists are doing by clicking here, and click after the jump to see the ones I liked best...

Game On, World by Nike +

Video Games are no longer a fringe entertainment, they have gone extremely mainstream. Characters & game situations are recognized by many a person young and old... show a person who doesn't know who Mario is or doesn't know what a warp pipe does, and I will show you someone who has lived under a rock for the past 30 years. Nike recognized this, and decided to appeal to the gamers inside all of us to sell us on the new Nike + athletic program. They use recognizable situations from some of the greatest games of all time (Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, etc) to show what it is like to work out in the brave new world of Nike +. The gang at Nike always makes fantastic commercials, and this one is no exception. Well done... check out the full video after the jump.

Thanks to Briana for the tip!!!

Super Modern Mario Brothers

Super Mario Brothers for Nintendo is one of the greatest games ever created, and it holds up quite well. While games have advanced over the years to the point that they are almost lifelike, the NES classic still holds up in terms of functionality and ability to hold a child's interest. But if the game was being released for the first time in this day and age, there would have to be some changes made. They could keep the side scrolling action, the Goomba & Koopa enemies, and the flagpole... but they would have to tweak things like what would happen to the enemies when you killed them, what powers the power-ups would give you, and how the hell a plumber from Brooklyn could slide down a 100 foot flagpole without a problem!!!! Check out the video from BM Studios called Super Modern Mario Brothers after the jump, and see just how great a new Mario release would be....

Play "Fix It Felix", The Game Within The Movie From Disney's Upcoming Film "Wreck It Ralph"

Wreck It Ralph is shaping up to be one great looking movie, a homage and love letter to the era of coin operated video games & arcades from the 70s & 80s. Those place lost their value once home video game consoles became prevalent with the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985. But Disney's newest film seems ambitious, and they are getting all the right nods to the popular games of that time in the footage so far. So Disney decided to make the tie in that seems the most logical and created a playable version of the game from the movie, 'Fix It Felix', so that people can become familiar with the main characters (Good Guy Felix, bad guy Ralph) who will serve as the main characters in the film. You can click here to get taken over to Disney's page for the game and enjoy... but heed this warning, it is quite addictive!!!! Movie is in theaters on November 2nd.

Take A Peek Into The World Of 'Wreck It Ralph'

'Wreck It Ralph' is Disney's newest foray into the original animation market, and it looks pretty great. For those of you guys who have never heard of the movie, it revolves around a villain in a classic video game who has had enough of being the bad guy. So he leaves his familiar game world and goes on to try his hand at being good for a change... and he is voiced by John C Reilly!!! I am loving the fact that Disney licensed a bunch of classic game characters (watch the trailer and you will see some doozy cameos in there!!!) for the flick and it looks fun. Plus it is going to shine a light on the coin-op era of arcades, which was the late 70s/early 80s and some of the best years of my life!!! This one kicks off the 2012 Holiday season when it comes out on November 2nd. Enjoy the trailer after the jump.

  

Calvin & Hobbes: The Video Game by Johan Vinet

I have always had a soft spot for Calvin & hobbes, Bill Waterson's wonderful comic strip. I am not nearly as huge of a fan as my boy Joe Esq may be, but I know that lots of people have love for the little boy & his imaginary tiger. So whenever I come across something cool featuring these great characters, I have to post them on CCD. Artist Johan Vinet creates an excellent 16 bit version of the dynamic duo if they had been the lead characters in a Sega Genesis game, and the results are stupendous. After the jump, check out both a GIF and full video version of the opening title card from the faux game, and take a trip down memory lane with two of the best comic strip characters of all time.

GIF Version:

and now the video version with moving background: