// Category Archive for: Random Rant

Marvel Comics Makes Greater Strides Towards Gender Inclusion

By Laury Scarbro

On March 3, Marvel Games launched its “Women of Power” event. This includes 25 new comic covers for some of Marvel’s more popular characters, as well as merchandise celebrating those characters, and will extend into various gaming platforms.

I really see no downside to their plan here. I suspect this is, at least in part, in recognition of the ever-growing female audience in the previously male-dominated worlds of gaming, comics, and all things geek related. It could be said that females, girls and women alike, are more openly taking an interest in these sorts of things than ever before, but the truth of the matter is, we’ve always been here. We might not have been so outward about it, but we’ve been here.

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Random Rant: Confessions Of A Stargate Apostate

By Lisa Anderson

Daniel Jackson

Every self-described genre fans harbors some unpopular fannish opinions. Me? I love the 1994 movie Stargate, starring James Spader and Kurt Russell. That’s not the unpopular part, of course —I’m not alone in that at all. What sets me apart from other sci-fi fans and fans of the movie is that I’ve never watched Stargate SG-1, or any of the other shows and direct-to-DVD-movies that spun off it. For a long time, I resolved that I never would. Even now, with my objections gone, I have no immediate plans to see them.

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Random Rant: Delerium Tremens

By Paul Casey

If I could speak for my nationality, I would say this: Christy Moore’s song “Delirium Tremens” and the differences between its live and studio versions account for all significant space between the assumptions about Ireland and the realities which are suffered from living here. A look at the differences between these songs also gives insight into the nature of the man who created them. It displays the capacity of Traditional Irish music to express a more complex reality than craic and stompy dancing.

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Random Rant: Shut Up And Enjoy The Game

By Luke Shaw

We’ve got it better than ever, so shut up and enjoy the game.

At some point in 2011 I held an opinion that I had read frequently on Twitter feeds, website comment boxes, and Op eds about games. I was “lamenting” the lack of creativity in big budget games and griping about the apparent absence of quirky titles on the shelf. “Where is my Gitaroo Man 360?” I wailed. “Where is my turn based isometric battler loaded with pop culture quips?” I groaned, possibly dribbling a bit of coffee whilst mouthing these words. You see, I never really said any of these things; that’s a lie. I did type them however, on Twitter, and on a forum, and maybe in other places, too.

Now it’s the beginning of 2013, and we have confirmation from Sony that the PS4 will be out in quarter three or four depending on territory. Black Ops 2 made $500 million in 24 hours last year, becoming one of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world, let alone gaming franchises, and the juggernaut rolls ever on. First Person Shooter and Third Person Shooter after Sequel after Reboot. “The Industry” many say, “is stagnating, it’s lacking in creativity! All blockbusters are terrible, we want a million versions of Portal 2 and The Walking Dead!”

Piffle.

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Random Rant: Music To Make You Human

By Paul Casey

Michael Jackson was responsible for my first musical memory. Thriller, Bad, and Dangerous were the first albums which were as important as my miniature Batmobile, and that thing was pretty boss. Moonwalker, which was mostly quite bad, did have the great benefit of featuring an extended version of the “Smooth Criminal” video in between weird claymation sections and Joe Pesci as an evil Joe Pesci. This was directly responsible for fueling a life long, and probably ill advised, love for performance. Michael Jackson was a pure expression of not only a severe musical talent, but of the thought that it may be possible to dance so well that verbal communication would no longer be necessary.

For an introverted young sort, and later a socially anxious older sort, Michael Jackson’s music was a reminder that sometimes you just have to get out there and lay it down. Whether this is a groove, some excessive vamping, or a tricky foot shuffle, even the most egregious wallflower has to step up when “The Way You Make Me Feel” comes on. “I Can’t Let Her Get Away” insists that you get into a New Jack Swing, whether you are aware of Teddy Riley or not. “Human Nature” still brings on tears.

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Random Rant: Shit That Will Get You Blocked on Facebook

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