I haven't posted about the sweet, sweet electronic music in a while, so here it is. I've been going through my relatively older techno lately and re-discovered two gems that I thought I'd link to here (click to listen!). The first is:
Pleiadians - Maia
This is a great melodic tune, incredibly easy to dance to. I really love the highs in this song - it is a perfect example of goa / psychedelic trance that even people who don't like techno might be able to get into. I could listen to Maia all day and probably not get tired of hearing it. And, to show the breadth of what techno can sound like, I offer this one:
Osom - Over Game
Here is a fantastic and very original song some might put into the "hardcore" category of electronic music. It's very fast and has bleeps and bloops seemingly randomly placed from beginning to end. However, when you put it all together, this song's sometimes very high and sometimes very low bass themes create a soundscape of incredible proportions. Over Game is definitely not for everyone (some people probably wouldn't make it through the first minute), for those who can appreciate the more heavy side of electronica, this is one of the best compositions out there.
Enjoy!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Braid
Again with the Braid, you say? Yes! I finished the game last week, and I have to say it was one of the best gaming experiences of my life. It twisted my mind in ways few other things have - the movie Memento would be my closest comparison, though that is a bit flawed as it's a completely different medium.
The final level is fantastic, and even that word doesn't do it justice. Never before has a video game required me to think so differently, and I can say I see the world in new and fascinating ways after playing it. I will never think about "time" in the same way again.
I read a great article at Gamers with Jobs, written by a guy who's ideas I respect probably the most at the site, and he had quite some things to say about the programmer and creator of Braid, Jonathan Blow. The comments following the article are informational, intelligent, and at times very deep - some of the best written ideas about video games that I've possibly ever read. That a game, in this case Braid, can bring on such talk of "meaning" really shows me that Blow has succeeded, regardless of what people may say about the content of the game. What does the game mean? What ideas are being presented by Braid? Does it matter what any one person believes the game means - especially the game's creator?
The man himself felt the need to chime in to say his own part as the creator of Braid in the comments of the article. I'll end with a quote from the end of his post:
"I don't particularly trust written, rational explanations as conveyors of truth or accurate meaning. That's why I make video games."
The final level is fantastic, and even that word doesn't do it justice. Never before has a video game required me to think so differently, and I can say I see the world in new and fascinating ways after playing it. I will never think about "time" in the same way again.
I read a great article at Gamers with Jobs, written by a guy who's ideas I respect probably the most at the site, and he had quite some things to say about the programmer and creator of Braid, Jonathan Blow. The comments following the article are informational, intelligent, and at times very deep - some of the best written ideas about video games that I've possibly ever read. That a game, in this case Braid, can bring on such talk of "meaning" really shows me that Blow has succeeded, regardless of what people may say about the content of the game. What does the game mean? What ideas are being presented by Braid? Does it matter what any one person believes the game means - especially the game's creator?
The man himself felt the need to chime in to say his own part as the creator of Braid in the comments of the article. I'll end with a quote from the end of his post:
"I don't particularly trust written, rational explanations as conveyors of truth or accurate meaning. That's why I make video games."
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A lot has happened...
since the last time I've posted, so I'm not going to say it all.
I have an XBox 360 now, and have for a few weeks. I love it. I'm currently playing through Braid, at least for the maybe 1 hour a week I get alone with the console. The game is fantastic, like none other I've ever played. I'm pretty close to the end, only three levels to go for the main part of the house. Not sure how much comes after worlds 2-6 (and hey, where is world 1?).
Mostly I've been playing Lego Indiana Jones with my son, who LOVES it. He talks about playing it all the time. I'll admit, the game is incredibly fun. I'll probably borrow Lego Star Wars from a co-worker, so we'll have a whole new world to explore pretty soon.
Speaking of legoes, we stopped up at my parent's house (who are in Florida, and specifically Disney World as I type this) and picked up another big bunch of my old legoes. Is there another toy on this planet as great as legoes? I don't think so. A lot of the things I built years ago were still together, including an awesome car/truck vehicle I made during a summer vacation while in college. I distinctly remember building it out on the porch of my parent's house on a bright and warm summer day, drinking a Killian's Irish Red. Ahhhh..... I feel good just thinking about it. Building lego machines as an adult is marvelous - I can create awesomeness on a scale and complexity I never could have imagined as a kid. And my son gets so much pleasure out of it as well. If you have a kid, you have to have legoes too. There should be some kind of law for that.
And that's all I have to say 'bout that!
I have an XBox 360 now, and have for a few weeks. I love it. I'm currently playing through Braid, at least for the maybe 1 hour a week I get alone with the console. The game is fantastic, like none other I've ever played. I'm pretty close to the end, only three levels to go for the main part of the house. Not sure how much comes after worlds 2-6 (and hey, where is world 1?).
Mostly I've been playing Lego Indiana Jones with my son, who LOVES it. He talks about playing it all the time. I'll admit, the game is incredibly fun. I'll probably borrow Lego Star Wars from a co-worker, so we'll have a whole new world to explore pretty soon.
Speaking of legoes, we stopped up at my parent's house (who are in Florida, and specifically Disney World as I type this) and picked up another big bunch of my old legoes. Is there another toy on this planet as great as legoes? I don't think so. A lot of the things I built years ago were still together, including an awesome car/truck vehicle I made during a summer vacation while in college. I distinctly remember building it out on the porch of my parent's house on a bright and warm summer day, drinking a Killian's Irish Red. Ahhhh..... I feel good just thinking about it. Building lego machines as an adult is marvelous - I can create awesomeness on a scale and complexity I never could have imagined as a kid. And my son gets so much pleasure out of it as well. If you have a kid, you have to have legoes too. There should be some kind of law for that.
And that's all I have to say 'bout that!
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