The Zombies are Coming!

Given the level of excitement Brian and I are feeling for the November release of Left 4 Dead 2, this video seemed entirely appropriate. It's one in a series of great little animated product spots from Wagglemax Technologies. Loads of fun references, and a great sense of humor... I love the restart at the top of the spot.

Also check out what looks to be a nod to Gears of War's Lancer rifle, The Lacerator.

Wow. How About That.

Our buddy (and former Jackie player) Zack in NYC sent us this game-themed link over the weekend. It reminded me of two things:

1) Anyone with a camera and a computer can put a video on youtube. There was a time when that fact seemed like a wonderful leveling of the playing field which would give everyone a creative voice and an opportunity to express themselves. But now? Not so much.

2) This clip from the Onion News Network on the same topic. Enjoy.

Thanks for thinking of us, Zack! Anyone else with a link or a thought to share, feel free to drop us a line on mail@superbestimprov.com.

LEGO Rock Band? Really?

Thanks to our friend Sarah for sending this link after our last LEGO-themed show (LEGO Indiana Jones, to be specific). We were laughing about totally inappropriate movies and shows that the LEGO games could make versions of (LEGO Cannonball Run, for example), and Sarah found it funny that they've already got a version of Rock Band in the works.

Really? LEGO Rock Band? Does that add anything to the existing version of Rock Band that anyone thought was somehow missing? Thanks again, Sarah!

Black Dynamite

'Nuff said. I'm in.

A Guy Thing?

I only get rid of boxer shorts when they are literally in tatters. So long as there's a waistband and two leg holes, I say they still count as underwear.

Super Mario on Conan

Nice. Did we mention, by the way, that we got Super Mario Brothers as the starting point for our show on Saturday?

Gotta Know?

Today at 10AM San Francisco time, Apple kicks off their yearly Developers' Conference with a keynote address. Rumor has it they'll be unveiling the new iPhone, and I'm considering getting on to the Apple site and following along.

But why? I can't buy the new iPhone today, and even if I could, I already own a perfectly good one that doesn't need replacing. No, it isn't about the having of the thing... it's about the hearing about it. I realized over the weekend that something troubling is happening to me...

Last Monday I actually logged on and watched live streaming video of the Microsoft presentation at E3. I spent my mornings for the rest of the week snooping around the GameTrailers website for a first look at the latest videos. I even hit refresh a few times in the hope that something new would post while I was there... just for me.

What the hell? I'm usually not like that. Nine times out of ten, I'm the last to know and the first to admit that I'm okay with it... Brian sends me an email or tells me what I'm missing when we're in the lobby of some multiplayer shoot 'em up on Live. But I've discovered lately that there's something kinda cool about being there (or at least watching) when the word breaks. And I think I'm becoming addicted to it.

So what's next? Will I be one of those guys who logs on to a forum just to post "First!"? Will I actually GO to a gaming expo or tech conference just so that I can say that I witnessed the origin of the Next Big Thing? Will I get strung out on updates? Trade sexual favors for breaking news? God help me, will I subscribe to Twitter??

No, I've got to be strong... I'm relatively plugged in. I'll hear about the what's new or next soon enough, right? I won't... miss anything, will I?!?

Maybe just this one last announcement. You know, to help with the shakes. I'll quit after that, I promise...

Killer Spots: The Beatles Rock Band

Wow. Maybe I'm biased since I grew up on the Beatles, but watching this video felt kinda like something warm washing over me. This is the same guy who created the animation for Gorillaz... absolutely gorgeous stuff. I love it.

Oh yeah, and the game will probably be a lot of fun, too.

E3: Left 4 Dead 2 Walkthrough

Following up on Brian's post below, here's a look at the first part of the Developer's Walkthrough for Left 4 Dead 2 from E3. Seems to be an improvement on the original in just about every way so far... bigger story? New multiplayer modes? Incendiary ammo? Melee weapons? I'm in!

Gaming Shots

So I was going back over some old emails and I came across these images from our first official Superbest gathering online. Brian had grabbed them from a Halo 3 multiplayer session, and I figured I may as well put them up.

I'd forgotten what a cool feature this is... beat the hell out of your friends and then go back through the footage, pick your camera angle and capture a still of your buddy's untimely demise. What a great way to elevate the art of smack talking!

Of course, half of the charm of these lies in the fact that Mike and I are completely clueless about what we're doing... Brian's captions point that out rather nicely.

Superbest. Flashpoint. Saturday.

This Saturday, catch Superbest with WIT's Jackie at Flashpoint in downtown DC. The show starts at 8, and tix are $15 here...

E3: Project Natal

I'd heard it was going to be called Fluid, but I suppose Project Natal sounds cooler if you're in to the whole shrouded-in-mystery thing. I personally think it's a fancy way of saying "not ready yet," but time will tell.

Here's the "product vision" for Microsoft's new controller-free interface. Some of the ideas look like a blast (like full-body fighting) and others seem like they're probably still a ways off (like scanning your gear for use in the game). If this is gonna work, though, we're all gonna need bigger living rooms...

A Geek Gauge

As I mentioned earlier, the parts for my new PC started arriving today. This is the box for the video card (yes, the photo was taken in the bathroom, for lighting purposes):


I posit the following:

A person's level of geekiness is inversely proportional to their answer to the question "How silly is this?"

Let me know your results. In my case, the answer is: only slightly.

It's an Exciting Time

As posted by Tyler, E3 kicked off today and I've only just had time to watch a few trailers for the big games we have to look forward to this year. My favorite surprise so far is that we'll get Left4Dead 2 in November. Take a look at the teaser (be warned, it's zombie-bloody) and see if you can't help smiling by the end like I did.

I'm sure there's plenty more awesome out there that I haven't watched yet.

Today is also the day that boxes from Newegg started arriving. I'm building a new computer completely from factory-new parts, something I've never done before. I'll post if anything awful happens. The rig it's replacing is over six years old, which is like 90 in human years. Sit quietly for a moment and you'll hear it wheezing.

On top of all that, Sears is coming on Thursday and Friday to completely redo our kitchen. I'm taking both days off to stay home in case anything comes up. Nothing will, of course -- they know what they're doing, I know. But two days off! With my new (ideally, functional) computer! I'm giddy.

E3

Oh, it's on.

New games, new technologies and new newness abound at this week's E3 Expo in L.A. Later this morning, XBox is expected to reveal details about their new Fluid system, which will read the movements of your body without the use of a controller (take that, Wii!). The potential for sports titles is obvious, but what about fighting and shooting games? Someone make THAT happen, please... I'd like to take cover behind my couch in the near future.

I won't pretend to be on top of this in any way (we couldn't afford to send a correspondent), but stay tuned to your favorite gaming sites for all the latest buzz from this annual creative kick in the gaming ass. We'll all post new hotness as it becomes available.

Literal Music Videos

Oh, you like your comedy with a bit of meta, do you?

Click here for the literal version of the music video for Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart (she would be the handsome woman in the photo above for those of you too young to remember). Worth a look on the strength of the first two minutes alone. Falls apart a bit when the "funny" voices start up in the middle, but the see-say lyrics are laugh out loud funny.

Also check out the same treatment for Meatloaf's Anything for Love (I gotta admit, "The po-po are goin' through my stuff!" made me snort a little), but do yourself a favor and ignore the wacky voice over until the singing starts.