These were posted over at the official Diablo III site ages ago. However, with the game coming out shortly, I figured I’d toss up my favorites at the über-sexy res of 1920×1200. I doubt I’ll ever really play the game. The beta was cool, but full price? Unlikely…
Diablo III Wallpapers
Game Of Thrones: Season 2
I love me some Game Of Thrones. However, halfway through season 2…I’m…bored? Don’t get me wrong, I truly love everything about the show. It’s well-written, the sets are fantastic and the story itself is compelling. I think I’m comparing it to The Walking Dead. The first half of the second season really dragged on, but when shit got good, it got good fast! I’ve heard the book was a bit slow until the end. Here’s hoping to that!!!
Portal = BRILLIANT!
I almost beat two games in a series on the same day. Alas, ’twas not to be, but instead I beat Portal 2 (PS3) on Sunday afternoon and Portal (PC) on Monday evening. It was beautiful.
I’ve posted my thoughts about this brilliant series already but I was left in awe at the outset. Virtually every element of the series was beyond my expectations. It’s the first PC game I’ve completed in years. It was fun, challenging and mind-bending all at once. The concept of cooperative missions intrigues me beyond comprehension. I’ll just have to find time in my schedule. It was all just that good. The only thing better would be more! I’m only sorry that it’s over and that it took me so long to get to these works of art. Phenomenal.
OK, so my week off is over. I may say I hate vacations but I got to spend a full week waking up and hanging out with the boy and my sunshine (that’s Aiden and Kairi for the uninitiated). In any event, what’s the week to come to bring?
Module: Imagineering
First off, I’m kinda psyched that Module has released a new album. His Site has the full album…I should just buy it? The Shatter soundtrack is just about perfection. From what I’ve heard, I like this…I don’t love it. Oops…I was listening to samples from his first album. NP: The new one. OK, I more than like it.
What I DO love? The Yankees coming back from 9 down yesterday. I think the rain-out today is actually beneficial to the Sox. Let’s face it, they won’t be this bad forever. When we make this game up, likely sometime in September, they’ll win it. Mark my words.
I guess I miss my students a little bit. Sue me for loving my job so much.
The Windmill Cube is the bomb…BTW. So much fun.
To work in the AM. Bring it on!
Portal 2 - Brilliant!
OK, again, I never played the first portal, so I’m late to the game. However, in playing Portal 2 on the PS3 (and tinkering w/ the original on the PC), I’ve discovered something amazing. This is likely the most brilliant game I’ve ever played. Completing a level, using the pink and blue goo, discovering a solution…it is all outrageously well thought-out. In every new area I stand marveling at the utterly fantastic ideas being thrown my way. The humor is wonderful, the gameplay divine, I think this is the coolest thing ever. That’s all. Just had to share.
Diablo III
I’ve never played Diablo before, but since the 3rd game’s beta is open for all this weekend, I can see no reason not to try! Of course, I doubt I’ll get much time…but who cares? I’ve always wanted to try the series out and since there’s no immediate console version available, let’s see how it goes. I’m kinda excited!
Oh vacation, how I loathe thee. I should love vacation but every time it is just full of suckage. BUT, rather than complain, let’s see what’s good.
First off, GameFly shipped me Portal 2. I played through a bunch last autumn but had to send it back to get something new (can’t recall what), and now it’s time to get back into it. I’ll say, this is a frustrating game. Like all puzzle games, if you’re stuck, it’s downright shit. However, when you do complete a level, it’s a very rewarding feeling.
Still playing Magic Piano (by Smule). It’s fun and somewhat relaxing. I need that during weeks like these.
Got two new Yankees shirts. \m/
Also got Beowulf finally. This translation is by Seamus Heaney and I nabbed the illustrated edition. It’s actually a cool edition and I look forward to finally reading it. Also on the to-read list, Catching Fire (Hunger Games book 2), Sigurd & Gudrun, Tolkien’s poem and Game Of Thrones. Let’s face it though, that last one is gonna take forever.
Oh, playing Ys: Oath In Felghana on the Vita. Sure, it’s a PSP game, but the ability to pause and run other apps is kinda cool. The game is fun but the difficulty ramps up ridiculously on boss battles. Meh.
Ahh, forgot to mention that I solved the megaminx and the windmill cube the other day each without algorithms. It’s a good step, makes me feel good about myself and only through this do I really count it as ‘solved’. I started a tutorial on the windmill cube. Editing takes 10x longer than the filming.
OK, that should be it. Need a vacation from the vacation!!!
Posthuman
I remember the day Pure came out back in April of 1992 and my fascination only grew from there. Through the two decades since, I’ve covered so many diverse projects on this site. If you’re reading this, I probably don’t need to list them. As I tore into the package containing Justin’s first solo record, it hit me; I have no clue what I expect this album to be like. Most of us know expectation is everything and can make or break any experience. Unsurprisingly, Posthuman didn’t fit my expectation.
I think I was expecting to be crushed. I was not. Perhaps I looked for the sequel to beautiful and haunting Skinner’s Black Laboratories tracks. This is nothing like that at all either. As the first tracks passed, I was greeted with so many familiar sounds. The noise-laden guitars from Grey Machine. Loud interludes a la early/mid-Techno Animal. D&B from the highly-prolific late-90s. There’s clearly Godflesh in here. But none of it sounds generic or redundant.
What we have here is pure Justin Broadrick and any fan of his varied catalog should recognize this instantly. The mostly-instrumental record truly covers his sprawling career by combining so many familiar sounds. When his voice is used, it is precisely what you expected it to be.
As mentioned earlier, it is not a crushing album; I think Justin is saving that for the impending Godflesh LP. It is also not very melodic, as we have that already in some Final material and a lot of what Jesu has turned out to be. There are some small but very unique portions of this album that expand on what Justin can do, but let’s face it, no one ever really thought there was a barrier. Any fan who stuck around through the Streetcleaner – Slavestate – Pure – Selfless years knows better. And however varied I’m making this sound, Posthuman is indeed one vision, one LP. It sounds so much like what you know but yet modern and new. It is not Justin’s best work, but then again, very few of us can agree on even a top-five list anyway.
This is a heavy record. It is noisy and it is powerful. It is dark and moody. Essentially it is why I gained interest in JKB more than 20 years ago and why I continue still.
[written for Crumbling Flesh]
I hate Tuesdays. They are the worst day of the week. The novelty feel of Monday has worn off. It’s not yet Wednesday. Hello Tuesday; I hate you.
OK, Today’s rumblings. First off, the Yankees won last night. It was nice seeing them string hits together and having that feel of certain victory. I don’t care that it came against the (3-0!) Baltimore Orioles. It’s a W. We started off 1998 0-3 as well.
Windmill Cube Solved! OK, that’s not news, but doing so without a guide is! I was using my
notes and algorithms but with so little to remember, I was kinda proud of getting it done myself. It’s a fun cube!
JKB’s Posthuman comes out soon and I hope to have a promo shortly. Definitely looking forward to this one. More over at Crumbling Flesh when it does arrive.
