Culture
Austin Wintory & His Grammy-Nominated Talents Broke the Alien Composers’ Curse on Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Aliens: Fireteam Elite has some big shoes to fill. When the cooperative multiplayer shooter releases next week, it’ll need to find a way to bring the three-person squads directly into the Alien universe — one of the most recognizable franchises in sci-fi, horror, and everything in between. But while Alien: Isolation (2014) channeled the original movie by focusing on the horrors of trying to hopelessly survive against a single Xenomorph, the upcoming title is more about the nonstop sci-fi action of Aliens. Of course, it’ll still need to keep some suspense and terror in the air to fit in with the classic movie trilogy and numerous spinoffs, but players won’t feel nearly as helpless this time around. To set the mood for the adrenaline rush of a release, Cold Iron Studios brought in award-winn...
After Winning Dozens of Awards, Hades and Its Killer Soundtrack Come to PlayStation and Xbox
For those who haven’t played Hades yet, well, you should. And now that it’s coming to PlayStation and Xbox (including physical releases through a partnership with Private Division), you really don’t have an excuse not to. Not only is it one of the most nominated and award-winning games of 2020, but it’s also arguably Supergiant Games’ masterpiece up to this point. In addition to being the finest work from one of the most beloved indie studios, Hades takes roguelikes to a new level as well. Much like how Pyre used Supergiant’s beloved art style and narrative talents to bring elements of sports to an audience that would never play a sports game, Hades serves as a perfect introduction to the often merciless and repetitive gameplay associated with roguelikes. Aside from the visuals and stories...
Malice In Zuckerland
I am writing these words from the corner into which Facebook has exiled me, for allegedly offending “community standards.” Witness this shocking announcement that popped onto my screen yesterday morning: ” Your account is restricted for 3 days. Your previous posts didn’t follow our Community Standards,so you can’t do things like post or comment.” They claim that three of my commentaries broke their rules, but fail to specify which. (Only three, I wonder?) My guess is the one expressing my opinion that those convicted of January 6th insurrection crimes should not receive token sentences — two days on a work farm; “community service” sweeping parking lots. Like all traitors who attempt the violent overthrow of our Constitution, they deserve severe penalties, up to and including executio...
Composer John Murphy Returns to the Big Screen With The Suicide Squad
Look, Suicide Squad was bad. We’re not pointing fingers at anyone in particular for why the 2016 movie didn’t work, but it just didn’t. The movie couldn’t even be saved by classic dialog like “This is Katana. She’s got my back. I would advise not getting killed by her. Her sword traps the souls of its victims.” Conversely, The Suicide Squad, is quite a good time. We won’t spoil any of it for those who haven’t seen it yet, but James Gunn is clearly made for offbeat superhero movies, and punk rocker-turned-composer John Murphy (28 Days Later, Kick-Ass, Snatch) reminded everyone that he’s still one of the best in the industry. The movie is out today both on HBO Max and in theaters, and ahead of it, SPIN spoke with Murphy on Zoom about both the new release and some of his previous greatest hit...
Take a Chill Adventure in a Bug-Sized Mech With Stonefly
Anyone who’s delved into any of Flight School Studio’s games already knows that there’s really nothing else like them. Titles like Creature in the Well and Manifest 99 are the kind of weird little indie adventures that a larger studio wouldn’t dare to touch. Their most recent release, Stonefly, is their biggest and most robust game yet, but it’s certainly not any less strange. It combines surprisingly strategic combat, customizable mechs, a Pixar-like visual and narrative appeal, and a supremely relaxing atmosphere, all scaled down to the size of insects. Will it appeal to everyone or compete with the biggest names in the industry? Almost certainly not, but that’s not what Creative Director Adam Volker and Game Director Bohdon Sayre are after. The Flight School Studio team wants to put for...
The travel that changed me: Tharik Hussain
Kia speaks to author Tharik Hussain and explains why his book about Muslim Europe is changing her thoughts about her own religion If I had read Minarets in the Mountains in my youth, I would have almost certainly felt differently about my religion. My parents were Bangladeshi immigrants to the UK and in an effort to cling on to their identity, followed a highly prescriptive version of Islam that wasn’t very much fun. Author Tharik Hussain Had I – or they – read a book like this, we might have felt more secure about our place in the world. The problem is, of course, a book like this did not exist until Tharik Hussain wrote it. The author and travel writer has written several travel guides including Lonely Planet Saudi Arabia, which was shortlisted for a 2020 Travel Media Award. He is...
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Bring Japanese Courtroom Drama to Gamers Around the World
In the unlikely crossroads of Japanese courtroom dramas and video games, the Ace Attorney series has carved out a niche for itself that no others have even approached. Over the last 20 years, the series’ combination of unique gameplay (players go out on “investigations” in search of clues before returning to the courtroom to “battle” the other lawyer), witty charm, and memorable characters have turned it from one of Capcom’s lesser-known series into a fan-favorite complete with spinoff novels and a TV series. Series protagonist Phoenix Wright was even introduced to a whole new audience in 2011 when he joined the roster for one of the biggest fighting games in history, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. But for those who only know the Ace Attorney games from Wright’s battles against the likes of...
With Arcadegeddon, Two Grammy Winners Take Their Video Game Studio to the Next Level
When Def Jam Vendetta dropped in 2003, Raphael Saadiq was only kind of joking when he expressed disappointment in not being included in the hip-hop fighting game. He’d landed hits throughout the late ‘80s and ‘90s as a third of Tony! Toni! Toné!, produced for a who’s who of R&B, and was just beginning to show the music industry what he could do as a solo artist. Over the next few years, EA put out a couple more Def Jam titles, and Saadiq decided it was time to take matters into his own hands. In 2007, he and one of his favorite collaborators, fellow Grammy-winning producer Charles “Chuck” Brungardt, launched IllFonic, an independent video game developer with a name inspired by the classic Nas album. A decade later, the indie team got their first big break with Friday the 13th: The Game...
Tom Scharpling Is in a Garden State of Mind
One would think that the “hook” of Tom Scharpling’s memoir, It Never Ends would be the fact that he a) was institutionalized for depression and eventually reinvented himself and b) changed his last name from Giuliano — combining the names of two polarizing heroes: Al Sharpton, who Tom admired for his willingness to be a champion for minorities while putting New York on blast for its racism and corruption, and Garry Shandling, whose deadpan, unflappable wit was an early influence on Tom’s comedic sensibility — as a community college student in Middlesex County, New Jersey. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg for Scharpling, who has quietly influenced and bridged the gap between alternative rock and comedy over the last 25-plus years through the music videos he’s directed, the televi...
PDP governors celebrate Akwa Ibom governor at 55
The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF), has congratulated the Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-lbom, as he celebrates his 55th birthday anniversary. The Forum in a statement issued by its Director-General, C.I.D Maduabum, congratulated Emmanuel on his accomplishment. Maduabum said that the forum, under the chairmanship of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, of Sokoto State, was proud to associate with Emmanuel. “The Forum is particularly enamoured by your numerous accomplishments and milestones since you assumed office as governor in 2015, Ibom Air company has continuously raised the bar in aviation successes and standard, growing to become one of the most resilient airline in the country in terms of safety and passenger comfort. “Your prudence in the management of state resources has been unco...
Obudu contract debt: Appeal court reserves judgment against Cross River
The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by a private firm, Zedici Capital Ltd, against the Cross River State Government over a N3.8 billion contract debt. The appellant, Zedici Capital Ltd, is the firm that remodelled the Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River State, now a subject of litigation. The three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, headed by Justice Peter Ige, reserved the date after counsel to the parties had adopted their legal submissions for and against the appeal, that is challenging the judgment of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which had in 2019, refused to affirm the arbitral award to Zedici Ltd over its investment of N3.8 billion in the resort. Justice Ige announced that a date for the judgment would be comm...
House member: Lai Mohammed destabilizing Kwara, destroying APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Offa/Oyun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Kwara State at the National Assembly, Hon Tijani Kayode Ismail, has accused the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, of destabilizing the state and destroying the party. Ismail spoke at a press conference in Ilorin on Wednesday in reaction to the recent comments by the minister. According to him, “There were crises before the party’s primary election and after the emergence of party candidates, I could remember when Alhaji Lai Mohammed made attempt to replace the names of some candidates. “He personally told me to step down for Gbenga Power which I resisted and he later sponsored Gbenga to challenge my victory in Court. Thank God, I came out victorious. “Alhaji Lai, as ...