-
Culture
The Week in Games: Licensed to Chill
Just 007 Legends from Activision represents the big console release in an unexpected lull in the fall release cycle. Serious Sam 3: BFE arrives on Wednesday for the Xbox 360. Monday • The Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan (PC) Tuesday • 007 Legends (PS3, 360) • Doom 3 BFG Edition (360, PS3,…
By Owen Good Published October 14, 2012 -
Culture
Sunday Comics: A Wall Too Tall
Welcome to your Sunday read of the week’s best in web comics. Make sure to click on the expand button in the bottom right to enlarge each comic. Virtual Shackles by Jeremy Vinar and Mike Fahmie published Oct. 10.—Read more of Virtual Shackles Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira published Oct. 11.—Read more of Nerf NOW!!…
By Owen Good Published October 14, 2012 -
Culture
This Week in the Business: ‘The Days of Kevin Butler Are Over.’
What’s happened in the business of video games this past week … QUOTE | “The days of Kevin Butler are over.”—Scott Steinberg, talking along with other PR and marketing experts about Sony’s future PlayStation strategy now that Kevin Butler is most likely dead QUOTE | “Microsoft and its next generation Xbox appears to offer up…
By James Brightman Published October 13, 2012 -
Culture
Hey, Aliens Can Have Kraken Too, You Know
This isn’t the only planet to have water on it. There are likely countless other worlds out there covered in the wet stuff. So don’t go assuming we’ll be the only civilization to have ever come up with the idea of giant sea monsters! That piece above, plus all the others you’ll see in this…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 12, 2012 -
CultureTotal Recall
Boy, Arnold Schwarzenegger Was On The Cover Of Just About Every Game From The 1980s
Of all the people who loved Arnold Schwarzenegger during his 1980s prime, none loved him more than the artists responsible for the covers of video games. They just could not stop paying indirect (or even blatantly direct) homage to the action superstar by having him inspire the poses, outfits and faces to games as famous…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 11, 2012 -
Culture
The Art Behind Star Citizen, Space Gaming’s Triumphant Return
Forget the most exciting thing I’ve heard this week. The announcement of Wing Commander creator Chris Roberts’ return to space-based PC games, complete with bombastic trailer, is the most exciting video game news I’ve heard in years So it’s a pleasure in tonight’s Fine Art to be able to share some concept images from the…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 11, 2012 -
Culture
Last One to the Giant Desert Truck Gas Station is a Rotten Egg
Jan Urschel is a concept artist currently employed at Lucasarts’ Singapore studio, where he’s working on 1313, the first big Star Wars game in years that isn’t set before the classic trilogy. Or, at least, too far before it. While you won’t find any art from that game here – it’s still under lock and…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 10, 2012 -
Culture
Um, Maybe You Shouldn’t Have Hidden From the Zombies in That Church…
Artist Patrick O’Keefe has worked recently for a list of clients that include a number of Electronic Arts’ studios, such as Visceral Games and EA Black Box. In today’s gallery, then, you’ll find pieces from games like Dead Space 3, along with other personal and professional work. You can check out more of Patrick’s stuff…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 9, 2012 -
Culture
The Snacktaku Slider: Arby’s Roast Beef-ish Sandwich
In our first Snacktaku Slider we covered breakfast with syrup-infused muffins. Now it’s time to explore what those amazing food photographers can do with a little off-color roast beef. I spent a year working for Arby’s when I was 18, using my natural charm and the fact that I had no business whatsoever working in…
By Mike Fahey Published October 8, 2012 -
Culture
The Week in Games: Unknown and Dishonored
We use the phrase “highly anticipated” a lot, but it plainly defines both Dishonored, from Arkane Studios, and Firaxis’ treatment of beloved strategy title XCOM: Enemy Unknown, both of which arrive on Tuesday. Today • Pokemon White Version 2 (DS) • Pokemon Black Version 2 (DS) • Pokemon Dream Radar (3DS) Monday • Naughty Bear:…
By Owen Good Published October 7, 2012 -
Culture
Sunday Comics: Class Distinctions
Welcome to your Sunday read of the week’s best in web comics. Make sure to click on the expand button in the bottom right to enlarge each comic. Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira published Oct. 5.—Read more of Nerf NOW!! Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich published Oct. 1.—Read more of Awkward Zombie Penny Arcade by…
By Owen Good Published October 7, 2012 -
Culture
Dude, These Monsters Are Gross (But These Robots Are Great)
This is the work of Anthony Jones, a concept artist previously employed at Sony’s Santa Monica studio, and a man who can draw both monsters and robots better than almost anyone else on Earth. In the gallery below you’ll see examples of his work, which includes all kinds of stuff, from commission pieces to toy…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 5, 2012 -
Culture
Snacktaku PSA: It’s National Taco Day. Why Are You Sitting There Not Eating?
Did you know it was National Taco Day? Deadpool knows. I’m sure the people that make the Facebook game Rubber Taco do. I’m not so sure you do. Because if you did realize it was the day to celebrate the traditional Mexican dish of a flour or corn tortilla packed with stuff (i.e. Taco Bell’s…
By Mike Fahey Published October 4, 2012 -
Culture
This is What Assassin’s Creed III’s Connor Used to Look Like
Here’s what Assassin’s Creed III’s Connor looks like in the near-finished product. He’s got flowing elements to his outfit, and a nice touch of blue. It is, considering the constraints of the military dress of the time, a pretty sharp outfit. In this gallery, though, you’ll see some shots of what he looked like back…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 4, 2012 -
CultureTotal RecallGeorge Washington as a Bad Guy? It’s as Crazy as it Sounds
Ubisoft broke with tradition earlier today by announcing that its first substantial Assassin’s Creed III downloadable content won’t be an extension of the main game’s story. Rather, it’ll be an exploration of what would happen if George Washington hadn’t done one of the most extraordinary things in human history and given up his vast powers…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 3, 2012 -
Culture
The Place Where Guild Wars and Prometheus Meet
Montana native Richard “Flaptraps” Anderson is an artist with a decade’s worth of experience in the fields of video games, motion pictures and advertising. Having spent eight years at Guild Wars developers NCSoft, he’s since moved on to work with the very talented people at Framestore, and recently helped out on the creative side on…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 3, 2012 -
Culture
It’s Not Just EVE Online’s Screenshots That Are Gorgeous
Icelandic artist Borkur Eiriksson works at CCP, the custodians of the EVE franchise. Featured in today’s gallery, then, will be images from both EVE and its shooter spin-off, Dust514, along with the World of Darkness RPG, with the usual mix of personal work thrown in as well. If you dig it, you can see more…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 2, 2012 -
Culture
The Snacktaku Slider: Bacon, Egg and Cheese McGriddle
Welcome to Snacktaku Sliders, where I compare the magical works of art crafted by supremely talented, highly paid food photographers to the slightly less magical creations of the underpaid staff at the fine-ish franchise eateries America has to offer. First up, the bacon, egg and cheese McGriddle from McDonald’s. I picked the McGriddle for the…
By Mike Fahey Published October 1, 2012 -
Culture
A Salute to a BioWare Legend, Who Worked On The Company’s Best-Loved Games
Mike Sass worked at BioWare for twelve years. That’s an astonishing amount of time for an artist to stay put at the one studio, but it also means that if you’ve ever picked up a BioWare game or even seen an advertisement for one, you’ve likely seen his stuff. Working mostly as a marketing illustrator,…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 30, 2012