Out Till November 9th

Hey Folks!

I'll be off the radar until November 9th as my wife and I welcome our second child into the world. He hasn't arrived yet and is about a week overdue. If he doesn't come on his own, the doctors will begin throwing tear gas canisters into my wife on Friday or Monday.

As I said before, CD and download orders will still be processed normally. Although I'll have to rely on your patience and "undeserved favor" (grace) regarding responding to e-mails and things.

See you on the other side!

-Paeter Frandsen

"Oblivion" Better On The Second Try!

As I mentioned Monday, I dropped "Elder Scrolls: Oblivion" on my first try after a few hours of playing. Too much walking, too much to do. That was about two years ago.

But on this, my second try, I'm having a much different (and better!) experience. After resolving to only do the things I want to do, and teleport as much as possible, the world became much "smaller" and more manageable. I know there is still a continent of content out there to explore, but I'm teaching myself not to feel obligated to explore EVERYTHING, and the result is a faster paced and highly addictive gaming experience.

I've also adjusted to the first-person perspective, which I've never enjoyed in RPGs. I still wouldn't say it's my view of choice, but it's working fine for me now and is much better than the third person option the game gives. (It's pretty obvious the game is not meant to be played that way.)

Looting is incredibly fun, the graphics are great (the Planes of Oblivion are captivating and twisted) and throwing fireballs at bad guys is a blast.

My only significant complaint is the people. Not the monsters and bad guys in combat. The people you talk to in towns, etc. Compared to Mass Effect (1 and 2) and Dragon Age: Origins, the NPCs in this game move and act like creepy animated mannequins. Everyone walks like they're dancing "the robot" to the music in their heads and I don't think I've seen an eyebrow move yet during conversation. A little odd when the voice acting is pretty solid and passionate at times.

The theology of the world is polytheistic and there are certainly mixed views of the gods among NPCs. So far the game hasn't given me much opportunity to express my own views. (Bioware games excel at this, though haven't perfected it yet.) But the world is still interesting and interactive enough for now.

Not quite deserving of the massive amounts of praise reviewers give this game, but still an extremely enjoyable experience. I can't wait to see what the next Elder Scrolls game is like!

Are Games Too Big Or Am I Trying Too Hard?

The first RPGs I played were the original versions of Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy on the NES. These games had a lot to do and explore, but with a little dedication, you could see everything the game had to offer. In fact, that became a very reasonable goal. Even in RPGs on the PS1 and PS2, it was realistic for dedicated gamers to hunt down every boss, get every item and complete every side quest. Then came "Neverwinter Nights" on the PC.

I'm a looter. I like to pick up everything I can to either use or sell later. But in Neverwinter Nights, books on bookshelves really had a boatload of words in them! They were almost like... well, books! I couldn't really be expected to read all of this, could I? Are these books vital to the plot, somehow? What about this person I'm talking to? They're giving me a ton of conversation options! Are these clues? Is this the introduction of a side quest? No wait. I think they're just... talking to me.

Now, in the Bioware games "Dragon Age Origins" and "Mass Effect" (1 and 2), the addition of files and histories you can find along the way is staggering. When I first played Mass Effect, I was turned off by all of the reading. But when I gave it another try months later, I decided that I would just skip reading all the "files". I suspected that maybe I didn't really need to read all of those files to play the game successfully. Maybe they were just there for the people who WANT to read those kinds of things. Turns out I was right!

The development of this kind of detail and choice has thrown me for a bit of a loop in the last couple of years, and I've had to learn how to enjoy RPGs in a different way.

One game that may have been a victim of my slow learning curve is "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion". The first time I tried it, I gave it about 3-5 hours of my time and then returned it. I don't remember exactly what my problem was. Maybe it just felt too big and open-ended and I felt like I was lacking direction. Maybe there were too many things to do, pick up, read or investigate. Or maybe I was just trying too hard.

So I'm strongly considering giving it another shot, applying my new "just do the things I want to do" approach to massive RPGs. Hopefully I'll discover the same gem of a game that so many others have been raving about for years!

A Second Chance For The Justice League (Part 2)

I found time to read the entire "Dark Things" storyline that James Robinson wrote in the Justice League and Justice Society books recently.

Every aspect was much improved over his initial six issues in the Justice League monthly. The story moved forward logically and he had some great character moments that convince me he's been doing his homework.

The art was also improved overall, gaining some needed polish in both the lines and coloring.

I'm still not a fan of talking animals in the DCU and have no interest in getting to know "Congorilla" more deeply. But the new(old) Starman may have some potential.

The story was also aided by featuring so many great, well-known Justice Society characters. Hopefully Robinson's Justice League book will still hold up when it's back to featuring only his cast of former Teen Titans and obscure DC oddities.

Color me cautious but hopeful!

A Second Chance For The Justice League?

I have collected every JLA comic since Grant Morrison rebooted the franchise in the late 90’s with his “Big Seven” team. (Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter)

For years, this was one of the best titles to read, featuring the most iconic heroes of the DCU. But in recent years, this trend changed. Various writers came and went, some of whom DC probably thought would be great for the book but turned out to be duds. Likewise, the art began to suffer more and more. It seemed as though DC forgot that a book like this deserves top talent behind the wheel.

In the last 3 years specifically, the team roster changed and began to feature 3rd and 4th string characters like Vixen and Red Tornado. And the latest reboot by James Robinson that started with the “Cry For Justice” mini-series, began adding the likes of Starman (the alien one that no one remembers) and Congorilla to the line-up. (Yeah, I’d never heard of him either.)

Although the story was fairly solid, it seems that Robinson is operating based on Grant Morrison’s “Final Crisis” playbook, using obscure, long-forgotten characters and assuming we all know and care about who they are.

I dropped the book after one issue of Robinson’s run on the main series because things didn’t look like they’d be getting any better.

Meanwhile, I’ve had problems with the Justice Society book for similar reasons. (Line-up was fine. Writing was terrible.) But the creative team on that book is changing this month and I’ve been curious about the crossover storyline Robinson wrote in both books in recent months featuring Alan Scott (Golden Age Green Lantern) and his family.

I also listened to the convention panels for DC at the San Diego ComiCon. It sounds like Robinson’s JLA book is selling very well and he’ll be on it (along with his second string line-up) for a while to come.

Now, I’m no grump. There may not currently be a proper JLA book to read, but if Robinson really is telling good stories about DC Comics heroes, then I want to read them. Even if a book like the one he’s writing has no business being called “Justice League Of America”.

Last weekend my comic book store had a crazy sale. 50% off everything in the store. A perfect opportunity to get caught up cheaply on a few back issues and give James Robinson a real chance to prove himself to me with two complete story arcs.

In the hardcover collection titled “Team History”, Robinson spends about six issues modifying the roster almost every issue, with a “story” featuring obscure villains who are never introduced properly. The art is okay, but takes some getting used to. Not as polished as I think it should look for a book like this.

I've just started the next story arc and have already noticed that the plot is more structured and the roster seems a little more "settled". The art also seems to have subtly improved in some way I can't identify. This could be a turn for the better, but it's too soon to tell.

Hopefully I'll find some time to read the rest of the "Dark Things" storyline and have an update of my assessment ready for the podcast this weekend.

Red (Movie Review)

I normally only review movies with clear geek appeal and action movies are not uniquely enjoyed by geeks. But since "Red" is based on a comic published by DC, I figured it has just enough connection to geek culture to warrant a review, since I have the time. As is ironically often the case (given my comic book fanaticism), I have not read the original DC comic and so am reviewing this movie based only on its own merits.

"Red" features an ensemble cast led by Bruce Willis, playing former CIA black operative Frank Moses. Each person in this group of protagonists is former-something. CIA, KGB, MI6, etc. And they were all the best at what they did. Now they're all retired, but someone is looking to knock them all off to clean up a "mess" from a mission they were all a part of in the 80's. Dragged along for the action is Frank's would-be girlfriend, who he has been talking to on the phone for months but meets for the first time just as people start trying to kill him.

This movie is fun from beginning to end. Plenty of laughs to be had as these unusual characters interact with each other. John Malkovich in particular is well cast in his role as former experimental test subject. But the laughs don't equate to a lack of intensity or danger. Until nearly the last frame of this movie I was concerned for all of our heroes and never felt "safe". In this regard, the tone of the movie is a fantastic balance of action and humor.

In the first half of the movie, there are some extremely cool visuals incorporating slow motion, at least one of which I have never seen anything like before. (A spinning car. Slow motion. Bruce Willis. You'll know it when you see it.) And Frank Moses uses some cool MacGuyver-like ideas once or twice that I found surprising and clever.

The second half of the movie changes significantly from the first, however. Right around the halfway point, things suddenly become slower and less explosive. The plot is moving forward nicely, but the creative action visuals are nearly dried up by half-time. What starts as a wild action flick settles into a spy/espionage movie. I think they might have been better off starting with that feel and placing the best visuals/action in the second half. As it is, the movie loses momentum noticeably.

The movie doesn't lend itself to much worthwhile discussion. Though in one exchange of note, Frank's "girlfriend" says that "people are basically decent", to which he replies, "that hasn't been my experience". The idea that "people are basically decent/good" is a common belief in pop-culture. The problem is that the definitions of "basically" and "good" are both left unexamined when this statement is made, resulting in a false sense of self-righteousness. Although one could argue that Frank's experience does not represent the norm, I still appreciated some form of counter argument being presented in response to this all too quickly ingested assumption.

Although it missed some opportunities to create something really incredible, "Red" is a fun action flick with a few really cool visuals and some really enjoyable characters.

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence and brief strong language.

Quality: 8.5/10

Relevance: 6.0/10

www.spiritblade.net/paeter
www.spiritblade.net/podcast

I'm My Own Last Choice

If I were starting an internet company (which I have) and had money to hire an employee (which I don't), the first position I would fill would be that of "computer knowledge person" and the last person I would choose would be myself.

I'm trying to come up with something cool for a new page on the company website (spiritblade.net) that looks like what a hacker might see while breaking into a high security server.

I'm sitting in front of my screen typing stuff and realize that I know nothing about what I'm trying to do. I don't even know how to bring up a dos window thingy on my desktop! Why did I even START trying to come up with anything without asking for help first!?

This is just one of the many times I've found myself trying to do things waaay out of my range of knowledge. I have never been naturally good with computers, and I don't know any audio engineering lingo. But here I am day after day mixing audio drama and music for an online production company.

I love being creative. And that side of my work I thrive in. But that's not the part I spend most of my time in. All the other stuff that comes with this kind of work(marketing, engineering, website development) I've had to figure out as I go, with only my personal passion for what I do pushing me to learn the next thing.

Since starting out in 2006 I've learned quite a bit, but there's still a ton of trial and error involved. Hopefully, as time presses on, I'll continue to see a little more trial and a little less error.

Shows To Keep My Eye On

Although the last three weeks have been intensely busy for me, the magic of Hulu has made it possible for me to catch up with two shows I've been curious about since their marketing campaigns began this summer.

NBC's, "The Event" is a sci-fi political conspiracy thriller, with plenty of mystery to reveal and plenty of action to keep things moving. So far, the pace of revelation has been faster than "Lost" and will hopefully stay that way. Although the use of repeated "flashbacks" conjures bitter memories of lost, this story certainly seems to move forward more and I'm hopeful for good things.

ABC's "No Ordinary Family" aims to fill the gap left by the cancellation of "Heroes" but with a decidedly different feel. Not dark and brooding, though not so light that nothing matters. The show is a blend of family conflict resolution and exploration of super powers, with a subplot indicating a larger world of super powered individuals. Personally, the latter element smells a bit too much like heroes and no one in the cast seems near as freaked out by their powers as I think real people in the real world would be. But there is still enough "realism" to engage me with the characters and the life of this family. It's also nice to see a marriage portrayed with involving relational conflict that doesn't automatically threaten divorce or infidelity. Too often Hollywood forgets that committed marriages have their own sets of interesting challenges and intact homes with loving parents actually CAN be fuel for great stories!

Both shows have their flaws that I hope will be worked out should they be picked up for a second season. But in the meantime, thanks to Hulu, I'm interested enough to keep up with them both as I find free time.

Michael Caine As Batman

It's not often I sit down on purpose and watch a movie that isn't in the sci-fi, fantasy or horror genre's. But I'm finally taking the time out tonight to watch "Harry Brown".

Michael Caine plays a war veteran who loses one of his only remaining friends to violent crime. Despite his age, he's had enough and goes about to kick butt and take names.

Whether he is successful or not, I'll have to wait and find out. But the premise alone really resonates with me strongly. Although I don't advocate revenge or vigilantism, these kinds of stories resonate with me because they identify the fact that we live in a broken, messed up and (let's just say it) evil world. On the theoretical level, we all want to be about forgiveness and tolerance. And these are both virtues. But we forget that there is also a great need for justice and a balancing of the scales. In fact, revenge and vigilantism often rise up because of the felt need for justice.

There is right and there is wrong. And intuitively we all recognize a need for justice. Movies like these help remind us of that, and so my hat goes off to "Harry Brown" for that alone.

Hopefully it's a good flick, too. Speaking of which, it's time to find out!

Diggin' David Coe

Having just finished a great series by Gail Z. Martin(Chronicles Of The Necromancer), I've found myself once again in the search for a new author. After two or three duds, I came upon author David B. Coe, who has at least two fantasy series available. I've started reading the first, which begins with "Children Of Amarid".

So far, Coe has all of the key ingredients required for me to stick with a novel. A sword and sorcery setting. A lack of overly descriptive details or political intrigue, a decent dose of violence or darkness in tone, and a style that repeatedly connects me to the feelings of the characters.

It remains to be seen if I'll discover any quirks that turn me off, but I'm nearly 100 pages in and I'm enjoying the story so far!

Hoping For Better Days In DC

It seems that once again my beloved DC universe is in a bit of a slump.

Brightest Day, while cool, is not the great story that Blackest Night was. Teen Titans has been too far out in concept to have any real intensity, and characterization has been put on the back burner. Much the same has been true of JSA All-stars. But with new creative teams for Justice Society Of America and Teen Titans in October, I'm willing to give them another shot, despite the fact that I just sold a bunch of recent issues from both series.

Titans features an almost entirely new cast of non-Titans. The book can hardly be about the Titans anymore, since they are now all in the Justice League. Unfortunate, since I can read Justice League for my Titans fix, but the REAL Justice League members never got their own new book when the Titans came and kicked them out.

The Flash and Green Lantern books are still great, I'm intrigued with Superman and Outsiders is still holding my interest. But hopefully we'll get to see better things coming from the DCU team books real soon.

Matching Colors

We've gone into lock-down mode in the Frandsen home as we potty train our son this weekend. I think the best part of this process is the decision we made years ago to have brown carpet put in...