Dane101 - Gaming

Notes on a Screen: Raven Software's "Wolfenstein" gets a trailer and a demo

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:52:29 +0200

Anticipation around the relaunch of the Wolfenstein video game series by id Software and Middleton's Raven Software has been building ever since screen shots were unveiled leading up to the big gaming industry event E3 earlier this month. Most of the commentary surrounding the images has been positive, but not much more could be said because no one had seen the game in action. That is...until this weekend at QuakeCon 2008.

Do you have the ultimate virtual "Rock Band"? Prove it.

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:00:39 +0200

Are you and your friends the ultimate virtual Rock Band? Tired of only playing out in your living room? Want a chance to prove it on the Majestic's big stage? On July 25 10 lucky "Rock Bands" will compete for the Ultimate Prize (Ultimate Prize to be determined). If you want to compete, sign up your band below or on our Facebook wall.

This event will feature drink specials including $2 High Life and PBRs and $4 Jack Mixers. In addition to the band competition there will be time set aside for non-competitive play. Performances will be on the stage with a projection on the big screen. Costume contest for those who come dressed as favorite rock stars.

Notes On A Screen: Will Raven Software give sneak peak at new Wolfenstein during E3?

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:30:05 +0200

If you were lucky enough to have a desktop computer in 1992, and you were a boy, you likely had id Software's Wolfenstein 3D. Wolfenstein is widely regarded as the game that launched the first-person shooter genre later made notorious and popular by games such as Doom, Duke Nukem 3d, Quake, and GoldenEye 007. It isn't a secret that id Software has been working with Middleton-based Raven Software on an updated version of Wolfenstein for a 2009 release. However, very little is actually known about the direction the companies plan to take the new version of the Nazi smashing game.

That could change on July 15 at the E3 Media and Business Summit - an invite only trade show in Los Angeles for the computer and video game industry.

Notes on a Screen: Madison Area Television, Gaming, and Film News 2008 - Week 23

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:30:03 +0200

The most important local screen news this week regards the future of WYOU. The community television station has a bleak future, Samara Kalk Derby reported on the situation for the Cap Times:

Quote:

Charter Communications is dropping its local cable franchise agreement with Madison in favor of a statewide franchise allowed under a recent change in state law regulating cable TV providers. All financing for public, educational and government channels, or PEG channels, is set to end by February 2011.

Where is season two of internet sensation Chad Vader? Blame Society continues to negotiate the future of the show, but in the meantime they've begun producing "employee training videos" for new hires at Empire Market. The first features Chad and answers the always important produce department customer service question: What to do if you think there is a spy from a competing store spying on the beets?

Roller Derby and Video Games collide in Wisconsin

Sat, 17 May 2008 19:44:03 +0200

Green Bay's Frozen Codebase like to tout themselves as a non-traditional video game developer, in fact, they call what they do "punk rock game development." So it makes sense that Frozen Codebase would be tapped to turn one of the most punk rock sports, roller derby, into an action packed video game. The Women's Flat Track Derby Association announced this weekend that they would be working with the company on a game that will bring their "'Real. Strong. Athletic. Revolutionary.' brand of modern roller derby to the world of video games.

Notes On A Screen: Madison Area Film, TV, and Gaming News 2008: Week 20

Thu, 08 May 2008 22:45:28 +0200

We haven't produced a "Notes On A Screen" since the week of the Wisconsin Film Festival, apologies. We blame complete silver screen burnout. With all of the hoopla regarding Public Enemies being filmed around the Capitol earlier this week this seems like the best time to fire up the weekly round-up of TV, gaming, and film news coming out of the greater Madison metropolitan area.

Johnny Depp wasn't in town for this shoot of what has come to be known simply as P.E., but Christian Bale and Billy Crudup did strut up the steps of the Capitol building as Madison doubled for Hoover's fledgling FBI headquarters. Bale is playing Melvin Purvis, who was Dillinger's pursuer, while Crudup is portraying the young Hoover. The results are photos and coverage galore.

Kovalic: "Gary Gygax, God Speed"

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:15:51 +0100

Gary Gygax, Wisconsin resident and creator of Dungeons and Dragons, passed away on Tuesday. I grew up playing that and similar games, spending whole weekends with friends immersed in fantasy worlds and fueled by Doritos and Mountain Dew. I had been struggling with how to sum up the weird emotion wrapping itself around one of my childhood memories when John Kovalic, creator of Dork Tower, sent dane101 an email offering his reflection on Gygax and, well, he hit it right on the head. - JR

I found myself at Pegasus Games (the shop Pegasaurus Games in Dork Tower is based on) last night.

It's been a while since I was back there. Too long, in fact.

I was sort of surprised that the store was open as late as it was, as I drove past it. So I stopped in to say "hi" to Suzanne.

I picked up a Swear Bear, and the new edition of Talisman, and realized I was pretty darned charged about getting this. In fact, it's been a while since I've been this excited to buy a game.

Wandering around the store, I noticed a bunch of kids in the back room, playing games.

They were high school age, mostly: few seemed older; a few seemed younger. There were some geeks and nerds, some who seemed the type who'd be social outcasts in school, and some who didn't.

Notes On A Screen: Madison Area Film, TV, & Gaming News 2008: Week Eight (redo)

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:00:18 +0100

When we first sat down to track the film and gaming news in Madison we thought it would be a once or twice a month feature. So far we've been surprised to find enough information coming out to fuel once a week reports. This week we expand a bit to the arena of television (yes, this is the second version of week eight, I accidentally published an incomplete version on Sunday night).

First up, Wisconsin Film Festival news. This year the film festival will be held April 3-6 and a handful of the film selections have leaked to the public. Each time we run this article any WFF news will be posted at the end. Why? It was brought to our attention via a concerned reader that by running the leaks at the top we may be "spoiling" for those who like to be completely surprised when the list pops up on the WFF website or in Isthmus (I think on March 6). Here at Dane101 we don't want to be spoilers so from now on we will give plenty of warning as to when WFF news is about to start and we will always post the news at the bottom.

Prolefeed Studios announced this morning that the premiere of Here Kitty, Kitty at the Majestic Theatre on February 28 just became a little bit more spectacular. The kitchsy R&B genius of Har Mar Superstar has been added to the bill, a perfect fit considering HMS is the personification of absurdity and the film is about an absurd attempt in Wisconsin to pass a bill that would allow us to shoot cats. Meow.

Azeroth can wait until after coffee

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:45:15 +0100

Please stop playing World of Warcraft at the local coffee shop. I'm going to be kind and omit the name of the coffee shop you game at and also the picture I took with your back facing me and the screen of your MacBook clearly showing World of Warcraft (for now). Whenever you are there, and it is at least twice a week for more than two hours, the internet connection is slow and often has to be reset. This coffee shop isn't very busy in the mornings and there are typically only two or three other laptop users besides us so these issues shouldn't be occurring (and they don't occur on mornings you aren't around). Stop hogging bandwidth! If you have an addiction or some weird exhibitionist fetish for playing World of Warcraft in public (note: playing WoW in a coffee shop doesn't suddenly equal social life) then at the least consider spreading your Corrupted Blood Plague around and switch up which coffee shops you use in the morning. That way you aren't frustrating the same people. If you need help, Hotspotr can point you in the direction of open wifi hotspots around Madison. Public internet access is for low bandwidth activities, like surfing the web or checking email, not for embarking on the Burning Crusade.