Movin' On Up!

Well, the news is out...

I have a new job! Woooohoooo!

Starting May 3rd, I'll be returning to AgIT at Purdue as a desktop analyst. I'm very excited in case you couldn't tell. It will be good to be back and working with everyone there again.  I can't wait!

Woooohoooo!

Final Thoughts - Enslaved: Odyssey To the West (Xbox 360)

Enslaved: Odyssey To the West is a game that's been on my radar since it was released last fall. With a recent price drop and a handy gift card to Gamestop (thanks to Davin & Nicole) I finally had a chance to pick it up. Now, don't take my criticisms too harshly, as Enslaved really is a good game. There are problems for sure, but what game doesn't have them and Enslaved is definitely a journey that shouldn't be missed.

"In Enslaved you take on the role of Monkey a strong, brutish loner who has been captured on a mysterious slave ship 150 years into the future. War and destruction has left the world in ruins and you are one of only a few humans left. On the slave ship you encounter Trip; a beautiful, tech savvy young woman who is also at the mercy of her captors. Trip is anxious to escape so she can make her way back home, but she knows she can't do it alone. She has the brains, but not the brawn; you, as Monkey are her ticket to freedom. You soon become enslaved by Trip; bonded together by a slave headband. If you stray, you will be paralyzed by excruciating pain. If you stay, your fate is in her hands. In both cases, your freedom is no longer your own..."

The first thing I noticed was just how beautiful the game is to look at. The setting may be a post-apocalyptic world, but everything is colorful, covered in vegetation, with a bright sun and blue skies. This is not your typical backdrop for this kind of world and it's a refreshing take on the genre.

The characters and the story are Enslaved'a strongest asset. Ninja Theory has produced real, emotional relationships between it's protagonists. It's easy to understand the situation they're in, their actions, and how the story builds around their feelings for each other. It could easily be misconstrued as a love story, but after finishing the game and reflecting on how the developers chose to end it, I see more as a story of friendship and respect.

The rest of the game, in terms of quality and design, is more of a gray area. The combat is satisfying enough to keep the game fun, but the camera and controls are slightly on the sloppy side, making some of the more intense moments harder than they should be. There were moments, especially in the later half of the game, where I died or failed an objective simply because I couldn't keep up with the action.

Enemy variation is few and far between in Enslaved. Unless I'm mistaken, there are only 4 enemy types in this game and 3 boss types.  This can make for some repetitive gameplay once you know the patterns and techniques for dispatching your foes.

The most glaring fault of Enslaved, however, is how epic the game WANTS to be. When you start the game and begin your progress, it has all the makings of a large scale adventure game; something akin to the Legend of Zelda series. Sadly, Enslaved is anything but. It is a linear game; a point "A" to "B" action title. And while there's nothing wrong with that, the entire experience feels like it wants to be more. As the player, I wanted to explore this world; I wanted to backtrack and find hidden items and upgrades for my weapons.

Even with these flaws, Enslaved still manages to be a fun and engaging title. The characters and story are memorable, the combat is fun, though repetitive, and it's a beauty to look at. Perhaps a sequel will come along one day and build upon the groundwork, giving the player that TRUE epic experience that Enslaved so wants to be.

The Itch

And no, I'm not talking about a disease of any kind.  I'm talking about that feeling I get, generally when it starts to warm up from winter, to be creative, pull out my camera, and do something with it, other than work that is.

Last year, I tried doing a picture a day.  That failed when Julie and I started the big summer push.  I still have tons of pics that I took during that time that have sat archived until I get a moment to sit down and go through them.  It was a cool idea, but one that was easily pushed aside when we started shooting 600-800 pictures per day.

The itch I'm feeling now is different.  It's more project orientated; less of an exercise and more of a long term goal.  It's something I can take my time with and won't require day-to-day thought.  Back in September, Julie and I bought a Canon EOS 60D.  The camera is great, but the aspect that interests me the most is it's video capabilities.

I've dabbled with video several times in the past, but have never had constant access to something that produces the quality of video that the 60D does.  Now that I have this tool, I feel I need to use it.  That's where the problem lies; I'm not a videographer.  I understand how to use the camera, I know how to make images that are visually appealing, but I don't know how to create a visual narrative through video.  What do I film?  What story am I trying to tell?  Who are the participants?  Wanting to be a filmmaker and knowing what to film are two completely different areas.

So, if anyone has an idea to pitch and would like to collaborate, I'm here to listen!

Another itch that has started recently has been my desire to get back into doing single, individual portraiture.  Most of the work I've done recently has been couples and families, and I love it, but I do miss the "fine art" aspect of working with just one person; not really posing them, but simply capturing images that reflect who that person is.  A good portion of my early work was this way, and I've gotten away from it as I've expanding into more commercial work.  It was always fun and I feel some of my best work comes from this time.

And as before, if anyone is interested, let's talk!

Wow. Where does the time go?

An email came into my inbox this afternoon.  It was a mistake, but I was instantly thrown back to 6 years ago when I was in grad school.

6 years!  Can you believe that!?

It seems so long ago, but so very recent as well.  So much has changed in life since then and it's quite the journey when I look back.  The whole dynamic of my life is different; different goals, different attitudes, different beliefs.

Strangely enough, I find myself listening to the same music now as I did then and it still seems new to me.  The passing of time is a crazy idea to grasp, yet so many variables can make the years seems like mere days, and days seem like years.  Or in this case, make me feel like I'm 22 years old again...

Nothing To See Here. Move Along.

Not a whole lot of "interesting" has been going on lately.  January kind of came and went, and with February in full swing, I'm already looking to March and April.  This just means one thing:

This year is going to disappear quickly.

I've given myself a bunch of projects to keep active; it's just a shame that I've been too busy to actually start them.  The shortlist includes my new car (post about that later), building a new computer (yet another post still to come), dieting (24 lbs. down, 16 lbs. more to go), and various home projects that I'll get to once the weather decides to stop being evil.  And yes, you read that right; evil.

I came home to our poor D'Argo buddy this past Monday to find that his back legs were not working.  It was a scary sight for sure.  He stumbled around for a short time and was finally able to regain control, only to be howling in pain.  I took him into the vet and they think he might have a slipped disk in his lower back.  The gave him some steroids and pain medication and he seems to be on the mend.

One thing I will say about the steroids; the side effects are real.  If you've ever had to put your dog on steroids, I'm sure this will all sounds familiar; frequent urination, upset stomach, and changes in personality.  It's the changes in his personality that got me.  He seems different; off just a little.  You grow attached to this animal that you think you know so well, and then a few days on a medication, and your little puppy is gone.

He seems to be coming around, but it is a little jarring and hopefully only a temporary impairment.

Best Film of 2010

I can't do a "Top 5" list of the best films of 2010 because, quite frankly, we didn't SEE that many movies this past year.  Our summer was busy with photo shoots, and consequently, we missed many of the summer blockbusters.  But, with that said, I can say without a shadow of a doubt, the best film of the year was Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

#1 Forever - Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

As the poster says, it IS the most epic film ever.  This film does so many things right; great comedy, amazing action, memorable music, quotable dialog, and enjoyable characters.  Director Edgar Wright took his time to make sure this film was done properly.  It is not a Hollywood cash-in, but a finely crafted piece of geekdom.  

Wright worked with the comic's creator, Bryan Lee O'Malley, on ever aspect of the film and it shows.  Scenes and dialog are pulled directly from the books, as are the locations and clothing.  It's a comic book come to life in every sense of the word and is a shinning example of how film adaptations should be done.  The film may have tanked at the box office, but it's building a huge cult following that is going to live on for many years to come.

Top 5 Games of 2010 That I Wish I Had Played

Julie and I had a busy year.  So busy in fact, that I missed out on a TON of games.  Looking back, there were several games that I really wish I had taken the time to play.  This list is in no particular order and is basically just more games to add to my backlog.

Heavy Rain (PS3)

Heavy Rain is NOT the kind of game I would normal play.  I've never been a huge fan of "adventure" titles, but Heavy Rain intrigued me because of what seems to be a clearly adult and mature story; something you would see in a movie theater, not in a game.  After playing the demo, I decided to hold off, but now I feel as though I missed a great story, even if the gameplay wasn't that great.

3D Dot Game Heroes (PS3)

Imagine 8-bit Zelda, only in 3D... and on the PlayStation.  That's what 3D Dot Game Heroes is at it's core.  Now technically, I did get a chance to play this game earlier in the year, but it wasn't nearly long enough.  This is the kind of old school Action-RPG I've been looking for.  Hopefully I'll pick it up in 2011.

Alan Wake (Xbox 360)

I enjoy a good story in a game, and from what I've heard of Alan Wake, it's got a great one.  It's basically a Stephen King story told through the eyes of it's creator and it looks like Silent Hill meets Resident Evil meets Gears of War.  You can't beat that!  At least, I hope it's that good...

Enslaved: Odyssey To the West (Xbox 360)

Enslaved: Odyssey To the West has been called this year's Uncharted.  I don't know that I would go that far, but it does look to be an enjoyable title.  The demo was great and it brings back memories of Beyond Good and Evil, one of the best games of last generation.

God of War III (PS3)

I picked up the God of War Collection earlier in the year to prepare myself for God of War III, then I never got around to buying it.  Everything about this game screams "epic" but I have a hard time picking up a PS3 game, no matter how good, when there are so many great titles on the Xbox.

Top 5 Games of 2010

I know a lot of people write "Top 5" lists, and this one is going to be no different.  I play a lot of video games and this is just one way for me to look back, and see what kind of great games there were.  It's important to note that this list consists of only games that I've played and completed.  So while many other websites have given Red Dead Redemption their "Game of the Year" award, it's still sitting unopened on my shelf, waiting to be played.  With that out of the way, let's jump in!

#5. Limbo (Xbox 360)

Limbo is less of a game and more of a dark, twisted fairy tale.  The mood, the environment, the story all make Limbo special.  While the gameplay is enjoyable, it's not Limbo's strongest point.  It succeeds in drawing the player into it's world and not letting go.  The game is short; about 3-4 hours your first time through, but every minute is engaging and exciting.

#4. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Xbox 360)

Not only was the movie amazing, but the game gives Bryan Lee O'Malley's creation another great adaptation.  Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is an old-school throwback game.  It's brings back memories of River City Ransom, Double Dragon, and the Final Fight series.  It's a beat 'em up in the purest sense of the word.  Great characters, great music, and great gameplay.

#3. Halo: Reach (Xbox 360)

What can be said about Halo: Reach?  It's Bungie's crowning achievement in the Halo franchise.  Unfortunately, the single player campaign didn't have the impact that previous games in the series had.  I don't know if it was Reach's more serious tone, the characters, or it's lack of epicness, but it didn't quite live up to the previous games.  Regardless, it's still an amazing game and I cannot wait to see what Bungie does next; post Halo.

#2. Bayonetta (Xbox 360)

Yeah, yeah, it's a game about a witch who fights creatures from Heaven and whose clothing is comprised mainly of her own hair AND she doesn't even wear it for half the game, BUT you know what; it's fun!  Sure, the story makes little to no sense and the humor is way over the top (and predictably Japanese), but the gameplay is pure joy (pun intended).  I can honestly say I haven't had as much fun playing a game this year then I did when playing Bayonetta.

#1. Mass Effect 2 (Xbox 360)

No one left behind!  I have never felt the sense of achievement more than I did with Mass Effect 2.  While Bayonetta may have been the most fun I had, Mass Effect 2 was the most enjoyable experience, period.  BioWare has carefully molded and polished the Mass Effect universe into a REAL "choose-your-own-adventure" story.  The experience I am having is MINE.  I make the decisions, and because of that, the consequences are my own.  If someone dies, it's my fault.  You have to be the best that you can be, and for that, Mass Effect 2 is my game of the year.

Can It Be!? A Hot Tub Time Machine!?

Sadly, no.  But Julie and I did have a great time this past weekend.  We headed down towards Indy to see our friends Sam, Mandy, Andrew, and Brianna.  It was an evening full of food, drinks, laughing, and oh yes, hot-tubing, thanks to our hosts Andrew and Brianna.  They were kind enough to open their home, and hot tub, to us.

The great thing about a hot tub is that it is a year-round activity.  While the temperature dropped to a cold 17 degrees, with rain, sleet, ice, and finally snow, the hot tub stayed a nice 104 degrees and made for an awesome good time.  We did not end up traveling back to the 1980's, but we did reminisce about the past; the great times we had and hopefully the good times to come.

Now the questions arises; when will Julie and I give in, and buy our own hot tub?  Hmmm...

Final Thoughts - The Last Airbender (DVD)

This is how one man can kill a franchise.

The Last Airbender is a horrible film.  Horrible!  The television show, which the film is based on, is a delightful experience.  There is humor, adventure, drama, and interesting characters.  Over the course of three season, the viewer gets to know these characters, see their motivations, and create a bond that draws the viewer in.

The film does none of this.  At all.  Ever.

What's so bad about this film?  For starters, the story, the dialog, and the writing.  The actors in this film aren't great, but from previous work they've been involved in, they're not bad either.  The problem is in the dialog, or the little dialog there actual is.  Most of the story is literally TOLD to the viewer.  The characters narrate events that were shown on the television series.  This takes away the chance the viewer has to connect to the characters and gives you nothing more than a history lesson.  Why am I supposed to care about anything that happens?  Because the movie told me so?  Yeah, that works.

And is doesn't help that the actors give flat performances.  If they at least showed some emotion at times, I MIGHT have been able to looks past the horrible writing.  But instead, we get a cast that looks like they're straight out of a after-school special; complete with awkward looks and a lot of fake crying.  The television series prided itself on it's humor.  The show is made for kids after all, so you would think that humor would be, at least, a part of the film.  The few moments where they attempt to make the audience laugh fail because the bad acting.

Finally, we have M. Night Shyamalan to thank for this film.  Right there should have been my first clue about what I was getting into.  I've said it before, but I think Shyamalan is a great director of photography, but a horrible storyteller.  He thinks too much about the visual impact of the film (which, I will say, is the one good thing about the film) and not enough about engaging the audience.  Pretty pictures don't make a movie.

For all this, at least we still have the television show, which is amazing.  And with any luck, the new series will capture the feel of the original, and make this film nothing more than a footnote in the franchise's history.

Final Thoughts - Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Xbox 360)

First impressions are everything. Assassin's Creed 2 was an amazing game. That was my first impression with the series. I'm glad I played the second game in the series first, because the first game was mediocre at best. The newest game, Brotherhood, is really more of an expansion to the second game in every manner of the word. The story follows that of Ezio Auditore da Firenze and continues just moments after Assassin's Creed 2 ends. It seems to me that these two games together actually make what the developers had originally planned; a single game.

Simply put, the game is great, with lots of new material and content to explore. If you were a fan of the second game, there is no reason to pass this one up.

But, with that out of the way, I want to focus on the true story of the Assassin's Creed series. Stop reading if you haven't played any of the games, because we're going heavily into SPOILER territory. You've been warned.

The real protagonist of Assassin's Creed is that of Desmond Miles, and it's his story that has really pulled me into the series. Living in the modern day, he is forced to relive the memories of this ancestors in what basically amounts to virtual reality, searching for ancient artifacts in the middle of a war between the Assassin's Guild and the Templar Order. As his story progresses though, it becomes much more than that.

The games introduce the idea of ancient civilizations, the birth of man, alien (maybe) technology, and the coming apocalypse; it's far more interesting than the history lesson that the games portray. It's in these brief moments as Desmond that I am truly engaged. These moments bookend the games and the end of Brotherhood is a doozy. It leaves WAY more questions than answers. Unlike Assassin's Creed 2, where the ending was pretty clear about what was this was all about, Brotherhood takes this information, throws it across the room, and makes you question everything you know up to this point.

THIS, is a great story telling mechanic and I applaud the developers for making this game series thought provoking. Julie and I sat around for two days after completion, discussing the story, the implications of certain events and dialog, trying to figure out what comes next. Story is everything and it's great to see developers focusing more on this as well as design and gameplay. Brotherhood impresses and I CANNOT wait until Assassin's Creed 3.

I Think I'm Going To Start Blogging Again

Yeah, I think so.

It's been a while since I've actively blogged and I've been feeling the itch to write.  There a lot I want to talk about, review, chronicle, and give my thoughts on; in more than 140 characters.

Blogging was a great outlet back in grad school and now that I find myself in the day-to-day grid of a full time job, it gives me a chance to think about something OTHER than work.  It's not going to be a daily thing, but I will try to update frequently.

I tried using tumblr as my blogging platform this past summer, and while I liked the service, blogger is simply a more powerful blogging tool (duh).  So I'm back here and starting anew.  The archives are intact; everything from the past 5 years is there for you to see (although it looks like I didn't write anything in 2008, must have been a busy year).  Game on!

danrhine.com

danrhine.com has a new face! I’ve started using a service called flavors.me and it’s working great. It’s basically a landing page for all my other content scattered about the inter-webs. This should make things much easier in regards to keeping information up-to-date.

Take a look and let me know what you think!

rhinephotography.com will be the next site to get a face-lift, probably in the upcoming weeks (it needs a lot more design work, rebuilt from the ground up, should be fun).

First Impressions - Halo: Reach Beta (Xbox 360)

I had TWO first impressions with the game.

At first, it really wasn’t working for me. It seemed like Halo was trying to be Call of Duty. My first couple of games were chaotic and messy. Nothing felt right.

Then, we found the fun.

After getting elbow deep into it, the mechanics start to make sense and it DOES feel like Halo. There are a couple of weird decisions that I hope are taken care of before the game ships (really, did the controls need to be different from EVERY other Halo game made before) but I think there is a very good game here.

First Impressions - Super Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360)

I suck.

I haven’t picked up a “Street Fighter” game in years and now I’m paying the price. While the game is fun and brings back memories of old, I can’t help but feel like it’s going to take a lot of work to relearn what I once used to know.

365 Update

I know I haven’t posted too many pictures recently, but I’m still taking them. Going to try and get an update done tonight.

I’m finding that as I continue with this project, I’m taking MORE than one picture at a time. I’ll shot my one picture, but then I’ve got my camera in my hand, so I shoot a little more.

I guess this is the ultimate goal of the project, right?

Final Thoughts - Assassin’s Creed (Xbox 360)

This game blows.

It’s slow, repetitive, and boring. There are literally only FOUR things you can do in this game. And after you do these same four things for 10+ hours, I want to pull my hair out. You can ask my wife; I was at my wits end!

Go play the second game…

First Impressions - Assassin’s Creed (Xbox 360)

After the first reviews came out, I decided to pass on Assassin’s Creed. When the second game came out and got amazing reviews, I picked it up and thought it was a great game. Seeing as how I know enjoyed the series, I picked up the first game, only to find that it is… boring.

I am about 1/3 of the way through the game, and so far there are only four… FOUR things you can do. You either climb tall buildings, save civilians, collect flags, or assassinate people. The first three you do a couple HUNDRED times and the last you do 9 times. Boring.

First Impressions - The 11th Doctor

Epic.

I was afraid I wouldn’t be a fan of Doctor Who after David Tennant left, but after watching the series 5 premiere, those doubts are gone. Matt Smith is going to make a great Doctor.

First Impressions and Final Thoughts

I am a big fan of all things media; music, books, videogames, films and television. While I believe that reviews are subjective, my believe is strong in that the way you feel when you first see something and the feeling you have when it’s all said and done count for a lot.

That’s why, I’m going to start a little mini-review of various things I come across. Whether it’s a new game I’ve just started playing, a new TV show I’ve started watching, or maybe even a new gadget I just bought. These are not going to be long-winded posts going into every detail, but more quick thoughts, seeing how I feel about something at the beginning, and how I feel once it’s done.

I’m going to throw a few out today, but continue to look for more in the future.