creative riff

The Nintendo DS. The hand held system has sold over 30 million units in North America alone with three major revisions since its winter 2004 release (Source: http://www.vgchartz.com/). The DS is a big deal – much more so than even the colossal Wii (24 sold million in North America). So when, an established series on both Nintendo consoles suddenly finds its competition trying to elbow in on some of the ever flowing green it is easy to push the “lawsuit” button and call it a day.

Not Majesco. The Japanese/American video game publisher has become famous for cutting spending and creating profitable budget titles. Cooking Mama is a title wherein users stir, fry, saute and boil their way through mini-games designed to simulate actual cooking. Think Operation without the dying patient.

Activision/Blizzard recently stole the title from Electronic Arts (EA) as the largest video game publisher in the known universe. The two companies are known for publishing hits for both consoles and PC such as the Tony Hawk Skateboarding series, World of Warcraft and now the Guitar Hero series. So when, Activision announced Science Papa the other day there were more than a few people crying foul. Not only does the game share a similar title, but the description of the game sounds identical.

“With Science Papa, we’re taking real-world elements of science and giving players the chance to interact with them in safe and creative ways,” said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. “While the focus here is clearly family fun, the game can stimulate interest and discussion about science.”

What’s the best way to respond to such a blatant IP infringement? Write PR in the voice of your titular hero “Cooking Mama” ’splaining the history between your character and your competition. Yep, twisted creative PR releases will earn brownie points (maybe Cooking Mama whipped some up?). So what exactly did the release say?

“So you want some dirt on “Science Papa” to splash on your site? I’ll shovel it. We dated briefly (when he had much better hair). And now he clearly wants a piece of the best-selling pie by associating himself with an incredibly successful, and I’ll emphasize, happily married, woman. Frankly, he never appreciated my cooking and I grew weary of his tedious “experiments.” You want real mind-bending science, go figure out how to make Toulouse Cassoulet for your next dinner party of 20 and let me know how it goes, Papa.

Mama’s still got some spunk left in her. The lesson learned here is that when your competition attempts to drive sales through similarity take the moral high road and explain how they were and always have been the whore. Works like a charm.

Source: Cooking Mama Dishes Dirt on Science Papa and Activision Introduces Science Papa, No Relation

Thanks to Gawker I learned that my ability to grasp the world of hipster is fading quickly. In case you aren’t aware this world is full of grifters. What is a grifter? Luckily Urban Dictionary exists for this reason.

A grifter is someone who swindles you through deception or fraud.

Synonyms include fraudster, con artist, cheater, confidence man, scammer, hustler, swindler, etc.

Now that that issue is over, this weekend has been a living hell for me. The one course that has plagued my being at Carolina, media law, is nearly over. The final exam starts at 12 noon tomorrow and ends exactly three hours later. Once I finish I can rush to my cell phone and Twitter that my college life is over. I might even add some *sob *sob to the message to get my point across.

That’s enough sentimental sauntering for tonight. I came across an article on Gawker today that linked to a “disaster” coloring book for children. I have gone through the motions to make the comic available on my server (look below).

What cities/places in the United States come to mind when you think of potential “terrorist targets?” Pause. Take a moment to think. Did you say Albert Lea, Minnesota? Apparently the good-minded folks of Albert Lea’s “Crisis Response Team” thought it would be a smart idea to create a coloring book to help children deal with a tragedy. That’s right. A “disaster.”

The pages inside feature sparse commentary on how children might feel following “the disaster” coupled with images that look like something you might find in a kindergarten teacher might collect for a scrapbook. One almost wishes the book picked a “disaster” to go with and explained how to recoup from that. I don’t think recovering from a wild fire is too different than a flood. Both eff your house and all your personal memories.

Who could?

I wish my head wasn't bowled out.

Take note of the reference to the World Trade Center attack on page 12. Who knew that Minnesota was so close to New York City? Finally, how does one receive his “Good Kid Award?” Go to a Michael Jackson concert? Does he still do those?

Wait... Ike got this award on South Park in a much different way.

Thanks for the quick laugh, Albert Lea.

Rating:

At any rate, I must get back to cramming for the most important thing of my life outside of dying from cancer. Screw you media law. Screw you for enlightening me to the greater picture and problems I may face during my career.

Sources: Gawker and The Smoking Gun

PDF version of the aforementioned coloring book.

A recent survey conducted by Daily Express in Great Britain found that the average woman washes her bra roughly six-seven times a year. I understand that designer bras may get destroyed in the wash, but is this really the norm? That means the average bra is worn for two months before washing. Makes me feel a tad better on the seldom occasion that I wear the same shirt two days-in-a-row.

Sources: Daily Express and Jezebel

The Cornify button could be the most awesome thing to hit the Internet since the scrolling text marque. Click it. Brighten your day.

Source: Cornify.com

Scrunchies are back

Also, when did Scrunchies come back on the scene? Color me surprised.

So I just got in my bed to take a short nap around 4:50. Next thing I know I hear someone in the hall yell something to a friend. Then as I look over to my iHome it reads 6:35 p.m. I feel like I just had the kind of sleep you have when you are sure you have come down with something or possibly after the most passionate night of your life. Or whatever a trucker must feel after driving Route 66.

The dream starts with me getting an e-mail informing me that I got into VCU or something. I have to get to Richmond. Prior to all of this I marked out on the forms that I have relatives that live in Richmond (I do) and that two girls have expressed interest in living with me. I am sent their information in this e-mail, but there is some information error and I never get to know their names until later (it’s important to the story).

I meet the two girls on a train or airplane. I am not driving. I somehow get a seat between the two. These girls are not over attractive but one is a brunette and the other is a red head and both have cute faces with gentle slopes for cheeks and noses. They are both slightly big boned for their particular body type. Not knowing these girls names I introduce myself and quickly try to bury myself in a book. Before long I am passed out. I wake to the sensation of these girls smiling at one another and rubbing my body with their elbows. This is a surprisingly nice thing to wake up to.

We get to Richmond and I take them and their luggage up to the two rooms upstairs. My grandparents are not home. We hardly bring up the suitcases  before we begin to make love. I would elaborate but for some reason this part of my mind only now remembers bits and pieces.

I wake up again. Crap, I have to be somewhere. Where? At UNC’s Keenan Flagler Football Stadium or at least a place that resembles it. Why? I don’t know. I awaken the two girls I am once again sitting between and we head over. For some reason my family is watching a game in the adjacent football stadium and I actually run into him while getting refreshments for the girls. He tells me that my whole family will be having dinner tonight and that my friend from sophomore year and UNC cheerleader, Jason, is coming along too. Also, my dad informs me that the two girls are named (Miranda) and (Lucy) and that they should wear something special.

I walk back to the girls who are laughing and giggling and tell them the news. We decide to leave early so we can head to the mall to buy new clothes. I love how the light reflects on the Miranda’s freckles and the sun dress she is wearing.

As the three of us are leaving the football game vs. University of South Carolina, I run in to Jason. He tells me that he will be over in my room (?) in an hour. I don’t question him. I take the two girls to the Shops at Willow Lawn in Richmond. The two girls decide to steal a dress they find and mall security does it job for once by giving chase to us. We manage to escape out of some roof exit and the two girls look at me in a longing manner as we descend the rooftop by some a fire ladder.

As we get back to my room (in Richmond), I let the girls get dressed so I can go meet Jason. I actually drive all the way back to UNC again to meet him even though he earlier told me he would just drive over in an hour. I find him and we discuss Miranda and Lucy. We get back to my room and I peek my head in first. For some reason, I am afraid Jason might judge me negatively if the girls were naked or worse when we entered. The two girls are in fact looking under my bed and laughing at one another. The brunette gazes up at me and says, “Did you mean to keep all of this stuff that is under there?” I mumble that I have been meaning to clean it out for some time. It felt like part of my initial passion for the two was beginning to already wear off.

I turn around and Jason is already dressed for dinner. He was not a moment before. My father calls for me to get ready. I hear a loud yell from outside my dream. I wake up. It is 6:35 p.m.

I am not sure what to think about this dream. I feel very rested. It also felt risque. I’m almost 23 and the two girls acted 17.

Great Rock Band-related video posted on Kotaku.com. Notice how the singer’s shirt comes off three quarters of the way through the video and then he is putting the microphone in his mouth repeatedly in the next scene.

Source: Kotaku.com

A new study conducted Forrester Research found that women are finally warming up to technologies called “laptops,” “video games” and “digital cameras.” The study unearthed a ton of relevant information about female purchasing behavior such as the fact that single women prefer laptops to desktop computers (duh). The most interesting part of the survey is that out of the 1000 men and women polled both sexes scored near equally when questioned over the likelihood of purchasing “console and hand held video games” and “digital cameras.”

I think I am most excited about my grandchildren able to live in a world where a female is just as likely to kick a male’s ass at Mario Kart regularly. I am frightened at the prospect of more game-related weddings. Eww.

Sources:  [Original Study] and [Engadget Article]

I saw CUAB’s Thursday Night Live! in the Union’s Great Hall this evening. The event featured three of the guys from Collegehumor.com (including Streeter), Bryan Tucker (writer for Chapelle Show and SNL and UNC alum), Keenan Thompson and Jason Sudeikis/John Lutz.

First, off let me say that Jason Sedeikis is my comedy hero. If there is one cast member of SNL I could share a drink with in a smoky bar it would be Sedeikis. The man is not only good looking but down-to-earth.

After Bryan Tucker did stand-up it was Jason Sudeikis and John Lutz that stole the show. For nearly twenty minutes the pair flawlessly performed a series of correlating scenes based on the audience’s suggestion of “Harry Potter.” The final skit brought the humor full circle as only masters of situational comedy can. The duo did not break character even though Sudeikis came close a couple of times.

The event also made me have an inkling of greater respect for Keenan Thompson as a writer and a person. He is trying hard and it was painfully obvious he feels outmatched by the level of talent surrounding him. Thompson is still trying to reconcile his Nickelodeon days with his more serious work with SNL. I respect that. Now, just don’t get discouraged, buddy. You are no Casey Wilson in my heart.

For a great interview with Sudeikis check out this link. Also, ladies, Sudeikis is as sexy in person as he is as Governor Blagojevich on Weekend Update.

Just watched this clip from the Cartoon Network/Adult Swim show Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! If this is not the most frightening part of your Monday… color me surprised.