Author Archives: TheUser

Best SFF Novels of the Decade Tor Reader Poll

Best SFF Novels of the Decade Readers Poll RESULTS | Tor.com | Science fiction and fantasy | Blog posts via The Whatever

We are exhaustedly happy to announce the final results of the Tor.com Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Novel of the Decade Reader’s Poll!

Scalzi’s Old Man’s War took the top spot, with Gaiman’s American Gods coming in second! Both are fantastic books that I really enjoyed. Sadly, I didn’t read any of the other eight, so I guess I should try to get on that now, hm?

LGB Representation GOGmix

GOGmix – GOG.com via GayGamer.net
Good Old Games allows you create GOGmixes, list of games based around a topic of your choosing. Recently an article on GayGamer.net announced that the writer of that article had recently created a GOGmix of games that had LGB representation in them. It’s worth noting that this list can only contain games available on GOG, but it’s interesting nonetheless. Also – I’ve never played any of the games on the list, but I’ve been interested in both The Longest Journey and The Last Express.

Phoenix Jones, Superhero

Spider-Man Isn’t Alone as a Hero Willing to Risk Life and Limb – WSJ.com

SEATTLE – Life isn’t easy for the self-proclaimed superhero who calls himself “Phoenix Jones, Guardian of Seattle.” A 22-year-old day-care worker by day, he dons a black-and-gold costume by night to harass drug dealers and break up street fights.

Oh man. Fuck. Yes. Alex found this in the WSJ this morning. This is pretty much the most awesome news ever. Phoenix Jones, you are my hero.

Patch 4.1

Patch 4.1 Public Test Realms Coming Soon – World of Warcraft via WoW Insider

That’s right, folks. Development on the first major content patch for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm is well underway! We’re currently making preparations to bring some of the initial content and updates we’ve been working on for this patch to the Public Test Realms. So you ask, “what will we find in the first 4.1 test client?” (You did ask that, right?) Well, let me tell you!

4.1 will come with lots of minor tweaks that I don’t feel like talking about. But the fact that we have notes on it means it’s coming soon. If it’s coming to the PTR soon, it’ll be live not too long after. I really don’t think finishing heroic mode and the achievements of the current tier is going to be an option. However, as we’re 8/12, I think finishing normal mode is achievable.
The patch also mentions new heroic dungeons! Zul’Gurub and Zul’Aman will be back as heroic 5-man dungeons in a new tier of heroics above the current Cataclysm heroics! The rare mounts will all be back with updated models to distinguish them from the originals! Yay, rare mounts!

Gemini Rue Review

Gemini Rue | PC, Reviews, Adventure

Gemini Rue, formerly known as Boryokudan Rue, is a new PC game developed by Josh Nuernberger. Published and provided to me by Wadjet Eye Games and Dave Gilbert, Gemini Rue was a 2010 Independent Games Festival Student Showcase Winner. Nuernberger has created a wonderful point-and-click adventure game featuring a dark, sci-fi future.
The game’s neo-noir narrative takes players through a grim future in which trust should be withheld and the Boryokudan crime syndicate controls the Gemini system. The story kept me at the edge of my seat through the entire game. In fact, not being able to talk about the game while playing my review copy was almost painful! Gemini Rue explores the themes of individuality, identity, ethics, loyalty, and what it means to truly be who you are.

Finally the embargo on this game is over! Gemini Rue is an amazingly great adventure game I had the pleasure of playing recently. The setting and atmosphere intrigued me, the narrative kept me interested and playing, and the ending was awesome. I end up having to review a lot of mediocre stuff, but I never expected to get to review something so awesome.

The Death of Hudson

The Downfall of Hudson – A Behind the Scenes Look via Joystiq.

It’s now official: Konami has completely taken over Hudson. As a result, all of Hudson’s operations will be folded into Konami, and most unfortunate of all, the US branch of Hudson closed its office doors for good, with a number of Hudson’s outstanding titles now in limbo.

John Lee, formerly of Hudson, gives an account of how Hudson’s downfall came to pass. Included in that, however, are a lot of high points as well. It’s a fascinating read for people who really care about and are interested in the industry.

Old Man’s War Movie Confirmed

Paramount Buys ‘Old Man’s War’ For Wolfgang Petersen And Scott Stuber – Deadline.com via The Whatever

Paramount Pictures has acquired screen rights to the John Scalzi novel series Old Man’s War, with Wolfgang Petersen attached to direct and David Self adapting the tale into a large-scale science fiction project.

OMG! Yes! This news is way too amazing. John Scalzi is easily my favorite still-writing science fiction author, and Old Man’s War is an amazing book. Maybe our BN will finally carry it if they make it into a movie. Why we carry the sequels, The Ghost Brigade, The Last Colony, and Zoe’s Tale, without carrying the first book in the series boggles me.
Old Man’s War is about mankind’s battle for territory far from its original homeworld, Earth. Unlike most science fiction settings in which Earth is humanity’s capital, the Colonial Union uses planet Phoenix as its capital, getting new people from Earth while keeping the nations of Earth largely in the dark about how technologically advanced it really is. The Colonial Defense Force uses senior citizens for its soldiers, transferring their minds into genetically-engineered super-soldiers.
It’s going to be a sweet movie.