video games

Thanks to Liz Ohanesian for the support of GR2. Read it at the link. (LA Weekly – Paul Robertson)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Game Night 9 at Giant Robot 2

Game Night 9 – I-Mockery’s Abobo’s Big Adventure and Hitbox Team’s Dustforce
Saturday, March 24 2012, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Giant Robot 2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90025
gr2.net (310) 445-9276

In conjunction with the Attract Mode, Meat Bun apparel, Angry Bananas, and LA Game Space, Giant Robot is proud to host Game Night 9, an event that takes place at GR2 about every two months. For this eighth installment, we are featuring two games: Abobo’s Big Adventure and Hitbox Team’s Dustforce.

Abobo’s Big Adventure features hardcore 8 Bit action and Dustforce is a beautiful yet challenging platform. Games are free and fun to play. Also bring your Nintendo 3DS for StreetPass action.

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based publication about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles.

Game Night 9 will take place on Saturday, March 24th 2012, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

For more information about Game Night, GR2, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Getting a shout out in a video game is always special since how often is this going to happen for us? Thanks to the folks at Wayforward Games. They’re a cool bunch of fellas who do a great service to games both in and out of LA. Here’s the photo set from our past Game Night with them.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Art Exhibition at GR2

Diversions

March 10 – April 4, 2012
Opening reception Saturday March 10th 2012, 6:30-10pm

GR2 – 2062 Sawtelle Blvd LA, CA 90025 www.gr2.net 310 445 9276

The Giant Robot 2 (GR2) presents: Diversions

This exhibition includes work by:
MONYO MONYO, JUDE BUFFUM, PAUL ROBERTSON, FERIC, MEAT BUN, FRENCH, SEAN CHAO

We all have interests that takes us away. Our postcard image by Australian artist Paul Robertson which hyper dense and 8-bit influenced. Jude Buffum from Philadelphia crosses 8-bit art and social and pop culture commentary. Monyo Monyo from Japan creates wearable masks that are furry and powerful. Feric from Taiwan is known for his delicate and cyber-detailed pieces. Originally from Taiwan but now a resident of Los Angeles, Sean Chao creates astonishing dioramic worlds. French from England evokes metal music and its iconography. Meat Bun, our comrades from multiple pop up shops and Game Night events will display some of their iconic work. In attendance for the opening will be Paul Robertson, Sean Chao and the trio who make Meat Bun.

We’ll also have a Game Night – March 24th 6-10pm also at GR2.

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles as well as an online equivalent.

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

From the previous Game Night at Giant Robot, Angry Bananas Carlos Lopez interviews the creators of Monaco.

The interview takes place in the bathroom at GR2 post event.

GR’s co-presented Rhythm Heaven Fever event took place last night.

Play the game, experience the fever and enjoy. It’s simple to have a video game, but it’s hard to create a movement around it. Rhythm Heaven Fever is one of those games that can grow a cult ala Katamari and Parappa. It’s a cute game, rhythmic, and released originally in Japan and the hardcore fans came out to iam8bit space in Echo Park to play. We saw quite a few GR “Game Night” faces including the first few in line. Here’s a set of photos from the evening. Free T shirts, photo booths, Portos food, drinks, live painting by Yoskay Yamamoto and Mari Inukai and more. Visits by artists throughout the night included Kent Williams, Audrey Kawasaki, Luke Chueh, Carlos Ramos, Korin Faught and even more. Yes, it was a cross over type of night – which usually are the best.

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Tons of giveaways. Great game, fun event. See you there.

This is kind of sad: Gamers in Japan are getting older. As the average age increases, so are the gamers. SEGA is finding that the average age is going up which means they need to make equal adjustments.

The reasoning behind this couple playing games is quoted as “His wife, Tsuneko, splits her time shopping in the mall and playing video games. “We’re bored. We have nothing to do. I don’t have anything to say to my husband anymore. It’s much better to come here than just sit in the house watching TV all day. We need some excitement, too,” she said. (CNN – Gamers)

Monaco is a game of heisting. Playing this felt like you were Robert DeNiro in The Score. Running from guards, sneaking around, hacking, and more. Oceans 11 and 12? That too! Made by Pocketwatch games, it’s a thrilling and that’s Andy Schatz on the right below.

3DS Streetpass action.

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Nintendo is posting a loss of $850 million. It’s serious. Here’s why. Angry Birds? Why buy a console when you play on your phone! What is Nintendo Wii U? They haven’t produced a loss in 30 years, but recent mistakes like a $250 3DS that had to be priced lower is part of the problem. The consoles are supposed to be profitable, but the 3DS isn’t. The signature games are helping, but the gimmicks are failing. Is the 3D really important? Not at all. (Japantimes – 3DS)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Game Night 8 at Giant Robot 2

Game Night 8 – Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine
Saturday, February 4 2012, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Giant Robot 2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90025
gr2.net (310) 445-9276

In conjunction with the Attract Mode, Meat Bun apparel, Angry Bananas, and LA Game Space, Giant Robot is proud to host Game Night 8, an event that takes place at GR2 about every two months. For this eighth installment, we are featuring Monaco.

Monaco is a 1 to 4-player cooperative crime caper inspired by classic French heist movies and set in modern day Monte Carlo. It can be summed up as ‘Pac-Man Meets Hitman.’ In 2010 Monaco won the Independent Game Festival Awards Grand Prize for Best Independent Game, as well as the award for Excellence in Design. It is still in development, and this is a rare opportunity to play the in-progress title and interact with creator Andy Schatz and producer Andy Nguyen.

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based publication about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles.

Game Night 8 will take place on Saturday, February 4th 2012, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

For more information about Game Night, GR2, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311

Yes, us men have our own game controller as said by Hirotaka Machida of Sega. The urinal games are something we’ve reported before in the UK and now there’s an official one by SEGA. The urinal costs $2000 and would be a joy to have in your own home. Imagine the amount of water or beer you’d drink to try and beat the pee records. Some games are measured by pee volume! One removes the clothes of a women from the quantity of pee, one has a fake nurse talking about your pee, and one is a snot shooting game. Which will be most popular? Drunken men, animated clothes less female. It’s trouble all around.

Photos by Dean Gojobori

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Foxconn employees who make XBox 360s threaten mass suicides if they didn’t receive lost wages. Foxconn is a massive manufacturer for many electronics brands including Apple, Microsoft and more. They also have had a rash of suicides by employees. Here’s what the management offered and then what happened: “Employees could quit with one month’s compensation awarded for each year with the plant or go back to working. Many employees quit, but Foxconn allegedly dishonored the agreement and awarded former employees nothing. Around 300 workers returned to the plant in an uproar, and staged their protest on the plant’s roof on Jan. 4.” There’s not much more detail, however do listen to the This American Life Story in the following post. (CBS Seattle – China Factory)

Chris Uphues Xmas video game. Holiday Jingle Rocket

My character got sacked by the snowflakes and it’s hard to drop gifts into the chimneys, but it’s worth a try. Guaranteed to waste a few minutes.

Thanks to our friends Angry Bananas for handling this review for us. That’s the vocal stylings of Carlos. Enjoy the review!

Another successful Game Night and it helps that Meat Bun has a new line of shirts which we’ll make available at any time. Watch for further posts. Fez is a beautiful game and with it’s sound has a shoegaze element to it. superHYPECUBE takes you into another dimension. It takes 3d Glasses. The developer (below right), Phil Fish from Polytron flew in from Montreal to attend. It’s an honor having him here.

Mike from Meat Bun and Kinuko who designed the shirt he’s wearing. (Yes that design was an art piece in Game Over at Giant Robot SF)

many more photos below.

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Two things that start today. Meat Bun pop up store. Links are below!

Meat Bun

Game Night 7 Tonite!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Game Night 7 at Giant Robot 2

Game Night 7 – Polytron Games: Fez and superHYPERCUBE, Nintendo 3DS StreetPass
Saturday, December 3 2011, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Giant Robot 2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90025
gr2.net (310) 445-9276

In conjunction with the Attract Mode, Meat Bun apparel, and Angry Bananas, Giant Robot is proud to host Game Night 7, an event that takes place at GR2 about every two months. For this seventh installment, we are featuring two games by Polytron, Fez and superHYPERCUBE.

Both games appeared at Indiecade in Los Angeles and turned heads and as well as provided top notch entertainment. Fez is a well designed scrolling type of game. You’re a character moving around an atmosphere that’s artistic and cute and the entire environment actually shifts as you make turns. It’s an instant classic. superHYPERCUBE developed also with Kokoromi, is a game requiring 3d glasses and runs of a Xbox 360 Kinect. It takes motion and depth perception and is an insane feat using the technology of today’s games. Both games provide very separate experiences and is guaranteed to amaze.

Nintendo 3DS StreetPass: Meetup Everywhere is a simple-to-use online platform that enables an organization’s fans or followers to coordinate local, real-life meetups based on shared interests. Nintendo 3DS users who are interested in sharing content with others via StreetPass are invited to visit http://www.meetup.com/nintendo3ds to find events in their area or to plan their own StreetPass meetups. Users are also encouraged to use the “#streetpass” hashtag within social media to promote Nintendo 3DS StreetPass events throughout the year and attract even more participants.

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based publication about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles.

Game Night 7 will take place on Saturday, December 3rd 2011, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

For more information about Game Night, GR2, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311