Mega Man 9 is the hardest videogame I've ever played. It nearly broke me so I gave up on it. I appreciate the pains Capcom took to make it really retro though. The game's art was really great.
They're now making Mega Man 10 in the same vein as 9, mimicking the crappy old box art from the ancient Mega Man games that looks NOTHING like the actual game and like the actual Mega Man looks.
Here's The Art from the first Mega Man game which came out in 1987:
That's terrible, isn't it? Yeah it is. It's TERRIBLY AWESOME. And, here's the Art for Mega Man 10 which is coming out probably in 2010:
Oh yes. That's brilliant.
And here's what Mega Man actually looks like. As I said, this is nothing like how he's pictured in the box art for a lot of his games:
I wrote this letter to the company South Butt to let them know how I feel about their situation and what they stand for in the world. South Butt is a parody name of the name "North Face", and North Face has decided to sue South Butt. You can read about this on NPR's site, which is where I found out about it.
***
Dear, South Butt:
As someone who greatly appreciates how funny "childish curses" are (i.e. poop, butt, stinky, dumb-dumb...) and as someone who appreciates humor in general, I find your company's name awesome.
There are many things on this Earth I do not find awesome, though. One of those is corporations throwing their weight around just to...well, throw their weight around. North Face, in suing you, is obviously just resorting to bully tactics and frankly I find that ridiculous.
South Butt, I hugely respect how you've handled this situation though. You are showing poise, stoicism and best of all, a sense of humor about the whole thing. Humor, of course, is something North Face and all of corporate America most definitely lacks.
I read about your company and this fiasco with North Face a few nights ago on NPR's website and I decided to write to you to let you know I think you, South Butt, are the "bigger man" in this mess. This is not a good look for North Face, and I hope everyone realizes that.
Here are a bunch more awesome members of the wonderful "2 Syllable Club". If you're just tuning in, the requirements for membership are that your full name (first+Last) is, in total, 2 syllables.
-Bruce Lee -Jet Li
-James Kirk
-James Brown
-Sean Combs
-Tim Gunn
-Jack White
-Will Smith -Spike Jonze
-Spike Lee
-Mike Ladd
Mike Ladd went to Hampshire College. Where I am right now!
*
That's all for now. There are a whole lot of dude's in the club right now. I'm trying to think of more females (besides Grace Park) who are in the club.
I just saw Raekwon (The Chef) live on Saturday. It was quite the experience. The man grimaced at me. And that's great. Rae'sOnly Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 has been out for a minute now. It's excellent. It's really that oldschool Wu Tang cold ass shit you want to hear. As Sasha Frere-Jones said about the album, it feels like it came out in '98. It's sort of anachronistic in a good way.
That picture is misleading (or perhaps just dated) since the album is out now. It's no longer "Coming Soon". But, look at it.
What a crazy photo.
I love that picture. I wish they had made it the album cover. That picture really is worth 1,000 words. Probably 1,000+ words. Raekwon & some dude (probably Ghostface) lying on the floor, covered in cocaine, pointing guns at each other. Oh yes.
The album cover Rae (well, the record company really) did settle on is great, too. It's kind of campy and bad. But, it's fun since it's Rae and Ghostface being badass and goofy (and, this album cover really does add to the anachronism of Cuban Linx 2:
I feel like the Ronblog is "guest starring" Nick Vogt as...um..."Nick Vogt". Ron and I should take a picture like the cover of Cuban Linx 2 for the blog. Then we'd to be awesome.
I don't wanna spoil too much here, but the Ronblog may be getting another guest star...So, we'd have another dude in the photo, too.
I'm in the 2 syllable club since my whole name (first+Last) is 2 syllables total. Are you?
It's the reason I go by "Nick Vogt" and not...something else.
I will list off some other people in the 2 syllable club:
-Sean Price
I just saw him rap at Pearl Street in Northampton. He opened for Raekwon.
-Grace Park
she was on Battlestar Galactica. She's hot. Is she a robot?
-Nick Drake He's dead and strangely only was famous after he died. Weird. But, he made lovely music. He was named "Nick" like I am.
-Max Schreck He played Count Orlock in perhaps the movie that scares me the most of any movie: Nosferatu. Was he an actual vampire?
Um...I can't think of any others right now! But, there are others. And that's what's important. Can you think of more people in the club? We're a pretty cool club I think.
Peace.
-Nick Vogt
And, seriously, I'm fracking scared of Nosferatu. It's freaky shit. Just look at this. It gives me the woogies:
I've taken to posting MF DOOM quotations on Ronaldmetellus recently, embedding them into my posts on other things.
The fact is DOOM lines circulate through my head constantly. Way more than the raps of anyone else. Why that is I cannot say. I can only speculate that it's either:
A) because DOOM is a genius and one of the world's greatest MCs or B) because he's evil and has perfected the art of subtle mind-influencing powers.
As someone who prides himself on his mental strength and his resistance to telepathic forces, I am inclined to think it's the former.
DOOM is a badass villain. So this might qualify as a "Badass villain Lines" installment.
But, no, I won't count it.
Here you go. Behold:
"MCs is crabs in the barrel / Pass the Old Bay"
-DOOM
Pass the Old Bay? "Old Bay"? Like the spice you put into crab cakes? Yep.
What other MC would think of that let alone rap it in such a kickass manner?
Uh, no one.
I used to make crab cakes a lot at a job I had once. It was back when I took a year off before this collegezone oh so many moons ago (also known as 3 years ago). Did you all know there are sweet potatoes in crab cakes? And celery, onions, Of course crab, and OLD BAY. I mean, I don't eat meat these days, so I wouldn't eat a crab cake. But, I enjoyed making them.
You know, I sort of miss the days when I would make crab cakes and falafel and turkey salad (and quiche!) and I would be paid. Blue Moon was a good place. R.I.P, Blue Moon Grocery & Deli.
Oh, believe it or not, "Awesome Town" was born in the kitchen of Blue Moon. That is, no joke, where I was christened this town's Chief of fire Safety.
So, there you go (which is a phrase my dad despises).
I realized just a few moments ago that I wanted to watch this video featuring the hilarious Tracy Morgan again. From time to time I watch "Totally Awesome" on youtube because it is just that amazing. I find something new to laugh about each time I watch it. And, I laugh about the old stuff, too.
And, I realized as I typed it into the search on youtube that the title of this video makes it more than appropriate for this blog. This is Awesome Town. This video is called "Totally Awesome". Nice!
Everyone really should see this. It's one of the funnier things I've watched. Also, everyone should watch 30 Rock where Mr. Morgan as well as other very funny people make a great TV show together. Really, it's excellent. The new season of 30 Rock starts October 15th, I think. So, mighty soon.
I did not find this video originally. My sister somehow located this on youtube a few years back, and what a find it was!
Yo, I just happened to hear this track walking out of the "Dining Commons" a.k.a "SAGA" a.k.a The Cafeteria here at Hampshire college. The good people doing dishes were bumping it.
I searched it on the internets upon returning to my room and I was right: what they were listening to was Ocarina of Time music from the Lost Woods mashed up with "Virginia" by the Clipse. I love the Clipse and Ocarina is one of the best games ever. So, that's great:
Turns out, this is a part of a larger project called "Ocarnia of Rhyme". You can download the mix of all the mashups here. Or just stream them there. You can do that, too.
Another sick Ocarina of Rhyme remix is:
Or:
This stuff reminds me of the "Chrono Trigger Mixtape" that was floating around a few years back. If you haven't checked that ish out, you really should. I can't find a good download or stream of it anywhere on the internets, though. What a bummer! Maybe you can find it? For now, check out this track which is my favorite on the Mixtape:
"Get 'em high like noon or the moon or a room filled with smoke"
#3: The Joker: "Gentlemen, Let's Broaden Our Minds." That's Jack Nicholson as the Joker from the oldschool Batman movie, Tim Burton's. I have always loved the scene where The Joker and his goons rip up the museam. And right before they do it, Joker says that line. Nice! Anyone who says "Gentlemen" is cool in my book. Even if he's The Joker.
#4: Piccolo: "You Think A Sayain Would Show Any Mercy!"
I don't know if that's a
direct quotation,
but Piccolo of DBZ fame says that before shooting an energy blast
RIGHT INTO YOUNG
GOHAN'S FACE and BLASTS GOHAN OFF A CLIFF!
Granted, Piccolo is a good guy for most of Dragon Ball Z,
but he started out as a villain. And he's a badass.
Hey. I'm on all these different blogs now. It's a good time.
I wanted to post this shit here because I don't know what Ron would think of it going up on RonaldMetellus. He probably wouldn't mind it at all, but I need to post something on AwesomeTown since I never do. Ever.
I woke up this morning with many many thoughts in my head for many reasons. I do not know the reason I had the thought that I should blog about some of my favorite Villain lines from things that I find badass. If you need more clarification about that, this post is a very short list of lines villians in TV or movies or videogames or whatever have said that are wicked badass.
Here are two lines I thought of this morning that are incredible and are badass:
#1: The Master from Buffy: "Tonight I shall walk, and the STARS THEMSELVES WILL HIDE!" Yeah! That's crazy, right? Who says that? The Master says that! He's a great character, actually. I think The Master is my second favoirte Villian on Buffy. The first is Nathan Fillion as "Caleb" who comes in near the end of the second season and gets the "Knave to chops" treatment. Well, it's more like the "balls to chops" treatment.
#2: Digitamamon from Digimon: Digital Monsters: "So Many Accidents Can Happen In The Kitchen...So Many..." Digitamamon is a badass. He's a walking, talking, semi-hatched egg. And, yes, Digimon is was much better than pokemon and always will be the champion of the Saturday Morning world. I'm on the Digi team, guys. In the English dub Digitaromon speaks with a terrible German accent that makes that line so much better. He's talking about how he might like kill one of the kids he has enslaved in his diner and make it look like a kitchen accident. That's precisely why Digimon was so much better than pokemon could ever be.
And, um, that's it for now. I may make this a sort of "posting theme" thing. If I think of a new line that I find badass, I will blog about it.
If you, dear reader, think of a badass line, comment on this here post, or tweet at me if you have the skills for that. I've said this a lot, but I'm Nicholasvogt on that there twitter.
I saw three of them today at the Nashville zoo do really bizarre things. Including sit together in a circle and pose in strangely Buddha-like positions. The Lemur pictured above is one of the 3.
He approached when we came up to his habitat at the Zoo. I've decided to call him Elijah.
My friend Will has noted on many occasions that monkeys are "like the little catmen". And lemme tell you, world, Lemurs are DEFINITELY like little catmen. Just check out Elijah up thurr. He is a small cat-man, no?
Oh, you wanna know what's truly freaky (but fascinating) about Lemurs? Their hands are like human hands. No seriously. They move their small hands and use them to manipulate objects just like I would.
Hey, world. I haven't blogged in 10,000 years it would seem.
But, all that's about to change.
Well, maybe. I just like the sound of the "But, all that's..." phrase. Don't you?
Where The Wild ThingsAre the motion picture is coming out soon and I'm mighty excited. I think we all loved the book when we were little and I hope everyone still loves it. Because, guys, The Wild Things are what's up.
So, If you don't know, Mr. Dave Eggers (of McSweeny's fame, Away We Go fame. +Other Fames) wrote the script for it. And Mr. Spike Jonze (Of Pharcyde videos fame, Being John Malkovich fame, Adaption fame + other fames) is directing the movie.
I have to say, Where The Wild Things Are looks like its going to be one of the coolest things. And, Jonze really seems to be making the film with a lot of respect. Giving it a sort of realness a lot of "kids'" movies don't have.
I mean, the Wild Things look real. They aren't the throwaway CGI crazo beasts that look like they were just projected into the movie but obviously aren't there. The Wild Things look and they move and they act like they're real, living things. And that's because they aren't CGI.
Unless it's done with incredible skill, I think CGI injected into live action looks like butt. There are countless examples of butt CGI-in-live action moments. Remember the season finale of Buffy season 3? With the big snake demon? Looks like ass, right?
Beyond the look of Wild Things, it also seems like Max won't just be the typical hero of a kids' movie. I think (at least I hope) Dave Eggers wrote more into Max's character than just the cuteness that main-character-kids are. I think Max will actually be a character and will be an active part of the story. Not just some cute little dude they stuck up there for us to stare at and go "awww..."
I am basing all of these thoughts on The trailers. But, aren't they well-put-together trailers, though? They're very nice.
The trailers make the movie look sort of insane and beautiful. Which, I guess, is what being a kid is. Or, really, what living is.
Alright, It's The Senior Partners! We officially are up in this with our 1st song: The Kingdom.
The Senior Partners is Rex Horner, Ronald Metellus and myself. We do big things in the hip hop world. And in other world's as well. Especially the Milk Dimension. You heard me, Klaus. Watch out for the Seniors, buddy.
Friends, you can stream The KingdomHere. "The Kingdom" is produced by Rex with vocals by all three of us. I put a couple o' samples on it. So I hope people enjoy it.
I would have embedded it into this post, but Imeem is basically sucking on a wee-wee now. They're only allowing 30 second streams to be embedded onto blogs and other non-Imeem sites (buttastic!). How foolish of them.
Here is 30 seconds of "The Kingdom". if you want the preview. You can hear Rex rip up the track (a a lil' bit of the chorus, too):
Peep this video the good people over at 1up posted last week. It's extremely badass.
I never played the first game, but I have wanted to check it out for some time now. I plan on picking up a copy of it. Ubisoft really holds it down for videogames. Some of my favorites have been made by them, they're probably second to Capcom in the "Nick Vogt's Favorite Game Companies" list.
And, while I haven't played the 1st Beyond Good & Evil, two Ubisoft games in particular have really blown me away. One: There's Rayman 2, which is a platformer with a great art style, cool characters, and a good story. Umm, You might not know this, but video games don't usually have good stories. Especially back during the N64 (or the "fifth gen") era of videogames. Back then, the only games with good stories really were RPGs (Final Fantasies for example) or like Metal Gear Solid. Granted, Rayman's story was saturday morning cartoonish, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, the characters and the plot of Rayman really was reminiscent of some of the best saturday morning cartoons I used to watch.
Speaking of Metal Gear Solid, Rayman is also a game by a (as I like to call them) " videogame auteur". The Metal Gear series, of course, is made by the brilliant and probably insane HideoKojima and Rayman is by the French auteur Michel Ansel. Incidentally, Ansel is also making the totally badass-looking Beyond Good & Evil 2. Ansel is certainly a great asset for Ubisoft, and probably for the country of France in general (although France has many assets including crepes and, like kissing).
Unfortunately, after Rayman 3 (which I didn't play but it was supposed to be good), the series has kind of gone to buttsville. I am not really a big fan of the Wii Raving Rabids games. Games made up of all mini games are just uninteresting to me. I think they're way too hectic and quickly lose my interest. Although, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves for the Wii is just so bizarre (and the mini games are so short) that I think it works. That game really keeps your interest in a "what the fuck is this?" sort of way. It's good fun.
Hopefully, in the future, Rayman will return from this Rabids crap and enter get into another platforming adventure. I'm sure they could make a new Raymanplatformer that's just as good. There is reason to hope for that, actually, because the upcomingRabids game: Rabids Go Home is not gonna have Rayman in it at all. That might mean Ubisoft is moving Rayman away from the Rabids franchise and possibly back into the world of platforming.
The second Ubisoft game that is really dear to me is Assassin's Creed. Obviously, it's a very different game than Rayman. While the story of Assassin's Creed isn't nearly as interesting and absorbing as Rayman's (typical alternate history conspiracy stuff) the game playdefinitely is. The strangely slow but rhythmic and combat and especially the parkour movement elements of the game really made me feel like I was Altair, and like I was having his adventures and tumbling through ancient cities. I think no other game has pulled me into its action like Assassin's Creed. And, with a new Assassin's Creed on the way, I'm excited for all that to get to get taken to the next level.
I think the 2nd Beyond Good & Evil is gonna rock out, and it really is looking like a combination of two of my favorite games. From this bit of footage, I can definitely see parkour/free-running elements from Assassin's Creed will be in the game and (from what I've heard/read about the first Beyond Good & Evil) the interesting story and colorful characters (including animal people!) of Rayman. I'm looking forward to it. If you like the videogames, you should be, too.
Hey there. This here blog: Awesome Town is my official Blog as of right nowsers.
I have another blog you may want to check out over at Wordpress called "World Heroes" but I'm (For all intensive purposes) abandoning that project and focusing on Awesome Town.
Why? Well, World Heroes was for a class assignment and Awesome Town isn't. World Heroes was very "themed". You know, it was about heroes. Awesome Town really isn't so themed. At all. But, it is awesome.
That's terrible, isn't it? Yeah it is. It's TERRIBLY AWESOME. And, here's the Art for Mega Man 10 which is coming out probably in 2010:
