Do you believe in commercial savants?

Did you just make that up?

Yes, yes I did.

What’s bothering you? Give it to me quick.

How is it that all the local commercials are incredibly good about being bad? I would think it would be hard to get so many things so wrong.

Be specific.

Okay it’s the kids. How do people hundreds of thousands of miles away manage to create the same commercial where the kids can’t act and can be hardly understood?

You hate kids.

No, I don’t I think they are brilliant. The way they look spooked and distracted. The way the mumble their lines with the wrong timing. It’s like the didn’t even try a second take.

So you love the kids?

It takes a genius to come up with that stuff.

It’s so bad it’s good?

Commercial savants.

Hello internets,

This is a home stretch call for donations. This Saturday I’m participating a Bowl For Art fundraising event to benefit the Upstate Artist Guild.

They are a not-for-profit volunteer organization, open to all, which promotes the appreciation, practice, and enjoyment of art. Those of you who visit often will know that I’ve been lucky enough to show work as their great locale.

The goal is to raise money to keep the doors open and the art rolling (no pun intended). I’ve made a less than fantastic 35 dollars so far but I think I can do better with your help.

Best of all, when you think your helping me you’re really helping the local arts community. The much better cause.

Visit http://upstateartistsguild.org/uag/pledge.php and select my name from the drop-down list of participating bowlers. Then click the “Donate” button to make your donation online.

Thank you and stay tuned for more comics.

As I get older there often not enough a lot of time to play games. Being a game designer this is a problem sometimes. I love casual games these days (since they are very creative and easy to pick up an play) but I set myself in these projects where I try to beat “renowned” games just to see what makes them tick. That brings us to Metroid Prime.

A friend of mine’s kid gave to me. I remember it being a big deal back when it came out in 2002 with a metacritic score of 87-97. I can honestly say it’s okay to play but borderline annoying. Why? I would sum it up in 3 parts.

* Difficult encounters rely heavily on the controls inability to strafe (unless locked on) and aim up easily.  Lots of monsters and flying aliens like to assault from just above were you can aim without jumping.

* Not enough safe points. For a game thats mainly a linear corridor walk you’d think the addition of a side door with a safe spot would not be hard to make. Save points are far and few between as the game progresses and re-playing those encounters does not get fresher. Which brings me to the next thing.

* Monster Closets. I use the term loosely but as I venture in the pirates phazon mine I am feeling a bit bored that what I have to look forward is monsters popping out of the ceiling(literally) and making a beeline at my character. Then it gets tedious as they will often spawn too high for me to aim etc. etc. etc.

They made 3 games out of this thing but if I ever finish the first I doubt I’ll pick up anymore. I already put down the DS version too for the lack of pick up and play ability(save points) which is important for handheld games. I guess in the end thats why the whole series it feels so unappealing and demanding at the same time.

What do I propose would you fix problems such as this? Simple, stop focusing so much on the stuff the character can’t do as a point for defining challenge. It feels cheap and forced. Find out what it does well and do more of that. Focus more on what it can do right.

In this case the best moments have been the open field fights at ground level with various AI since it forces me to dodge and jump. That and the rock boss monster that lacks a head but makes a point to roar when he comes together out of broken pieces.