Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogobig.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Illustrated inspiration: Crafting Zac Gorman's 'Magical Game Time']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/illustrated-inspiration-crafting-zac-gormans-magical-game-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/illustrated-inspiration-crafting-zac-gormans-magical-game-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/illustrated-inspiration-crafting-zac-gormans-magical-game-time/#comments Art from inspiration The world of Zac Gorman's 'Magical Game Time'It's not clear who or what is positioned dead center on a suburban street in the initial overhead shot, but as the panels zoom in to reveal bright-eyed children - two holding hands, stares locked - we consider the written message: "And we never got tired. And we never got old. We just ran through the streets forever. And everything was perfect."

The average viewer might see the comic as a charming ode to the carefree naivety of youth; of first loves and curfew-skirting dalliances with neighborhood pals. But for those who recognize the leads of the seminal Super Nintendo RPG Earthbound in the faces and apparel of these rapscallions, the message may suddenly feel highly personal. It's not a specific narrative moment from the game, nor does it utilize familiar dialogue, but its tone is that of how players may have romanticized the adventures of these beloved characters in their minds, or how they imagined they might feel in that setting. Perhaps it's how they felt once upon a time. Whatever the case, the voice feels authentic, and as such delivers an emotional wallop in just four sentences and seven panels.

For little more than a year and a half, cartoonist Zac Gorman has strived to locate that little pocket of feeling between the events of a classic game and the emotions triggered in your mind while playing it - and then translate that into one-off comics under his Magical Game Time banner. With subjects as varied as The Legend of Zelda and Costume Quest, Gorman has amassed a fan following by pairing common and universal themes with memorable characters and scenarios.

Continue reading Illustrated inspiration: Crafting Zac Gorman's 'Magical Game Time'

JoystiqIllustrated inspiration: Crafting Zac Gorman's 'Magical Game Time' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArtcomicsHuman-Interestmagical-game-timeZac-GormanTue, 16 Apr 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Melodies at mealtime: Behind The Electric Bends, Q-Games' lunch break band]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/melodies-at-mealtime-behind-the-electric-bends-q-games-lunch/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/melodies-at-mealtime-behind-the-electric-bends-q-games-lunch/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/melodies-at-mealtime-behind-the-electric-bends-q-games-lunch/#comments Melodies at mealtime Behind The Electric Bends, QGames' lunch break bandFor many, the lunch break is an escape: a reliable block of time to retreat from the rigors of work, and a much-needed respite in an otherwise stressful day. But for several employees of Kyoto, Japan-based Q-Games - the studio behind the PixelJunk series and co-developer of Star Fox 64 3D - it's the time each day in which one creative (albeit professional) outlet is briefly shut down in favor of another.

It's when the game creators become a troupe of improvisational musicians, laying down sprawling, electronic-tinged odysseys with titles like "Echoes Infinite" and "Mesmantra," most of which are quickly shared online.

Nearing its first full year of existence, The Electric Bends has six recurring members, well over 100 recordings, and three albums, with additional releases on the horizon. Amid heavy work on PixelJunk 1-6, how does the game industry's preeminent lunch break band keep the beat with just an hour-or-so a day to play together?

Continue reading Melodies at mealtime: Behind The Electric Bends, Q-Games' lunch break band

JoystiqMelodies at mealtime: Behind The Electric Bends, Q-Games' lunch break band originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dylan-CuthbertPixelJunkQ-GamesThe-Electric-BendsTue, 29 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Coding and coexisting in the corral: How Octodad's team manages living and working together]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/coding-and-coexisting-in-the-corral-how-octodads-team-manages/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/coding-and-coexisting-in-the-corral-how-octodads-team-manages/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/coding-and-coexisting-in-the-corral-how-octodads-team-manages/#comments Coding and coexisting in the corral How Octodad's team manages living and working togetherIt's the not-so-common ideal these days to graduate from college and immediately jump into a fulfilling role that uses one's myriad of learned skills. Of course, there's nothing terribly common about the Chicago-based indie developer Young Horses or the much-ballyhooed sequel they're working on, Octodad: Dadliest Catch.

Octodad is a colorful series about an octopus posing as a suburban father and husband; successfully funded via Kickstarter in the summer of 2011. As for developer Young Horses themselves? Five of them live under one roof, previously in a single apartment and now with two across a mutual hallway, while three others commute into the workspace from elsewhere throughout the city and surrounding suburbs.

Between the team's bevy of independent day jobs and contract work, they're putting their spare hours into Octodad's return. But the group also identifies the odd situation of having colleagues as roommates within a communal work studio they lovingly call the "corral," mere steps from where they sleep. It's a unique arrangement, which has come with its share of difficulties, but it's one that members say is the only way they can imagine tackling the project.

Gallery: Octodad: Dadliest Catch

Continue reading Coding and coexisting in the corral: How Octodad's team manages living and working together

JoystiqCoding and coexisting in the corral: How Octodad's team manages living and working together originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macoctodad-2octodad-dadliest-catchpcYoung-HorsesMon, 01 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Batman: The Brave and the Bold review: the lighter side of the Dark Knight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/batman-the-brave-and-the-bold-review-the-lighter-side-of-the-dark-knight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/batman-the-brave-and-the-bold-review-the-lighter-side-of-the-dark-knight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/batman-the-brave-and-the-bold-review-the-lighter-side-of-the-dark-knight/#comments From the moment the campaign kicks off, it's patently obvious that Batman: The Brave and the Bold: The Videogame hails from an entirely different lineage than Arkham Asylum. That's not a knock on the game, nor even a reference to the cartoon-stylized visuals; rather, the game's tone is much sillier than the dark and serious approach of last year's smash. By the end of the first chapter, both Batman and Robin have been transformed into housecats, and before the game concludes, Batman's floating in space, blasting a giant starfish with an endless supply of batarangs in a simple shoot-em-up ('rang-em-up?) sequence.

It's weird, no doubt, and though The Brave and the Bold suffers due to kid-friendly gameplay mechanics and a total lack of challenge, it maintains a slight winning edge with its total adherence to this playful demeanor.

Gallery: Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Wii)

Continue reading Batman: The Brave and the Bold review: the lighter side of the Dark Knight

JoystiqBatman: The Brave and the Bold review: the lighter side of the Dark Knight originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanBatman-Brave-and-BoldBatman-The-Brave-and-the-BoldBrave-and-BoldnintendoWayForwardwbwbiewiiTue, 07 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST