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On Kickstarter is Video Games: The People, Games, and Companies in a Detailed Multi-Volume Look Back!

What makes Video Games: The People, Games, and Companies different from other works is that this author uses the same level attention to all four major categories–computer, console (handheld or home), and arcade.

Video Games author Andrea Contato Now on Kickstarter is Video Games: The People, Games, and Companies, and according to Andrea Contato, he wants to deliver the most comprehensive work to date regarding the history of video games. While the Italian five-book project is a go, the financial assistance through crowdfunding is needed to help translate this book to an English reading audience. The first chapter has been translated, annotated and can be read here.

In this book, there will be a lot of personal accounts detailing more than just the motivation and creation behind a lot of what today considers the retro scene. This author believes his book will cover a whole lot more than what we normally learn in documentaries offered so far. And I have huge respect for those who want to delve deep into the subject. In this work, we have a look at what really started it all, and I had a chance to interview him about what that is.

For people who haven’t read your last work, the comprehensive Through the Moongate about the classic Ultima RPG series, can you please introduce yourself?

I am a history, computer, and video game enthusiast from Italy. In 2015, I ventured into researching the history of Richard Garriott and his company Origin Systems Inc and after three years of hard work, I launched two crowdfunding campaigns to translate my draft into English. My book, Through the Moongate, (as pictured) was well received, and the enthusiasm with which my project was supported encouraged me to continue.

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Freedom Games is Making Dark Deity Free this Weekend!

Dark Deity and it’s free for newcomers to download and play this weekend!

Dark Deity, the turn-based tactical RPG inspired by the genre’s classics from developer Sword and Axe and publisher Freedom Games, celebrates bringing its army count to more than 100,000 units sold across Nintendo Switch and PC versions. To commemorate the occasion, new recruits can join in by claiming a copy for free on Epic Game Store throughout this weekend. For a review of the game, please check out our review here.

As Shawn Trommeshauser wrote, “Despite its faults, I enjoyed the time I spent playing Dark Deity, and I saw a lot of potential in the game. It’s clear that the developers put some effort into sprucing up the presentation for the Switch, but for every step forward, there was an awkward step back. Given the choice, I would go back to the Steam version for the superior version for the cleaner visuals and mouse control. otherwise they’re completely on par. But if you’re looking for a light Fire Emblem style experience, especially on the go, Dark Deity on Switch might just scratch that itch.”

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DreamWorks’ Abominable and the Invisible City Truly Shines When…

The folklore in Abominable and the Invisible City has been expanded upon, and just how Yi, Jin, and Peng has to face next is familiar.

Available on Peacock, Hulu
and Family Channel (Canada)
Spoiler Alert

Although Abominable and the Invisible City started off very weakly, the build up to what Yi, Jin, and Peng must protect takes on similar vibes as Lilo and Stitch TV series. But instead of finding each experiment their forever home, what this trio must do is to keep the magical creatures safe from others like Burnish. But at the end of the film, this villain turned over a new leaf; his role is to provide help when requested.

This television series is a decent continuation but I didn’t find enough to say it’s good because every episode ended with Yi soothing some savage beast with her violin playing. The joy didn’t come until the mid-way point, where it got serious about looking at what can sometimes go on in a modern Chinese family. This one has a touch more drama, and it’s comparable to what has been explored cinematically in Turning Red and Everything, Everywhere All At Once.

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Pokémon TCG Live Expands to New Testing Territories and the Latest App Update Impressions

Pokémon TCG Live isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. The previous version, Online, still looks far more polished than this open world testing.

Review platforms: MSI Katana GF66 and iPad 6.

Pokémon TCG Live has opened up to more countries for beta testing, and my advice to tablet gamers is to make sure you are connected to a power outlet for more than an hour of play. It was limited to Canada during the past year for working out the kinks, and with half the problems dealt with, I recommend the desktop version for the Mac and PC. I would not play on any mobile device (laptops not plugged into the wall included) because it drains the power fast. Players may be able to get three or four long games in before recharging. Hopefully, this issue can be addressed by offering a battery saver option in the next update.

Otherwise, this game is almost like the previous iteration, Pokémon TCG Online. The main difference is in the changes to the layout and more 3D models. For testing, only the last five or so expansions are being put through the paces. In the card construction front, players can get credit for extra cards beyond the needed four in a deck to buy missing cards. In both versions, players can buy real world product to exchange the QR code for extra cards. With the old version, there’s more value by getting ten randomized digital cards over the five; because of that, I love the older version more. Its visual aesthetic is not as garish. Also, I should’ve stayed with the older app.

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Regarding The Winchesters, Four Terrifying Episodes Later…

The bouncing between their courtship of who will become The Winchester family and adventure is nothing new.

Sadly, the timing of last week’s The CW’s The Winchesters didn’t celebrate All Hallow’s Eve with a special. Instead, it concerns other ghosts, but they’re not the type to be frightened over. Instead, it’s the trauma. This prequel has a lot of the classic Supernatural direction which I adored before it jumped the shark. Even though the focus is on two young adults trying to figure out what’s going on in their hometown, there’s a greater concern which I’m just waiting for the series to eventually manifest.

The Wild West vibe Dean Winchester instils as that narrator is perfect. He’s on his parents’ lives as though he were there, watching it all unfold. It’s possible Jensen Ackles will fully reprise his role. For now, he’s merely a voice as he reflects on how his mom, Mary Campbell (Meg Donnelly), has been the guiding force and the true hunter in this family.

As the pilot episode revealed, she’s motivated to keep on dealing with those monsters that go bump in the night, because her father, also a monster hunter, was trying to figure out what their master agenda is. But after John Winchester (Drake Rodger) comes home to Lawrence, Kansas, to resume a normal life, he gets caught in this conspiracy and decides it’s better to help than hide. He’s a complete neophyte, and it’ll be up to Mary to teach him.

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It’s Hard to Say No to Watching Nope on Home Video Because…

The documentary included in the home video release of Jordan Peele’s Nope is definitely essential viewing to desconstruct what’s best about this film.

Nope Blu-ray — Available to purchase on Amazon USA

Spoiler Alert

When Jordan Peele’s take on alien invasion, UAPs, and animal mutilation, what can go wrong? The answer is that he won’t say Nope on what he believes is going on. In the back of my mind, I’m thinking his take may well reveal what’s going on that History Channel’s Secrets of Skinwalker Ranch is trying to uncover. Perhaps there is a sentience out there that wants to reveal itself, but it’s biding its time for when the time is right.

This filmmaker’s feature deals with more humane concerns, and it’s a rather long exposition. Despite the lengthy run time and build up to the confrontation, the scares he’s setting viewers up for are very satisfying and grim. Because this motion picture has to fully develop the characters. Any sense of whom the threat is—and what it represents as a wake-up call—doesn’t come until much later. His style is like M. Night Shyamalan’s, and the surprise is effectively good.

Thus, we can finally wonder if the Haywood family deserves their fate. Father is hurt, and the tale shifts to OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer) attempting to save the farm from bankruptcy. Jupe (Steven Yeun) offers to help, but even has a past he can’t escape, and he’s the second banana who is helping the brother and sister team to deal with this alien threat.

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