A few CEs that really impressed me this year would be Resident Evil 5, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Street Fighter IV among several others. While all of those are pretty nice nothing I have seen this year (aside from Modern Warfare 2) can compare to Batman: Arkham Asylum’s CE. It is the most informative and full CE i have seen since the start of the year (Fallout 3 would have taken 2008).

Encased in the the nearly twenty inch Batarang shaped case is possibly the coolest game accessory I have ever seen. An extremely detailed fourteen inch Batarang. It is attached to a small stand which I’m guessing is for everyone’s safety. We wouldn’t want something along the lines of the beginning of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight taking place. Also included in the case is a fourty plus page “journal” detailing insane amounts of information about Batmans foes,friends and even Batman himself. This booklet alone could bring you up to almost everything and anything that has happened in the entire Batman series. You even get one of those cool Limited Edition cases. Usually with the CE games I’ve been seeing lately you get the game disk in a shady looking flimsy case but they really put time and thought into this one. Batman: Arkham Asylum CE is the best CE I’ve seen in several years. You really get what you paid for. The hundred dollar price tag is even further proof of that. Plus it helps that Batman:AA is one of the best games I’ve played this year and is getting praised by all media outlets. Now the only question is…what are you waiting for? Go out and get your copy.

I’ve included some pictures of my own copy so you can bask in its greatness.

 

“In the Platinum Life world, players will attempt to work their way up from a budding artist selling mix tapes on the street. “You choose an icon like T.I. and his manager is going to say, ‘Look, we heard about you and that you are a really good performer. If you get enough cred, we will let you open up for T.I., if you are in New York maybe at Madison Square Garden.’” Castoro continues, “so you have all these missions to do to get that credibility. You can do rap battles. You can go record albums. You can do all these different activities,” he says. “And then you go and do the big performance. So a lot of this game is about doing performances in venues kind of like ‘instances’ in an MMO.”

Now that’s just a start of the idiocy. The article goes on with Castoro explaining the mechanics of “opening up” for T.I. and some of the versus mechanics.

“Person versus person combat has a musical twist compared to traditional MMOs. “You have energy and juice and you try to work the other person’s stat bar down just like you would in regular combat,” Castoro says. “But instead of kicking him in the head, you can do a ’shout out’, you can do a ‘cut break’, you can do a ‘Yo Mama joke’. There’s a bunch of different abilities you have based on what class you chose.”

Really? A “Yo Mama joke”? So should I also expect Wilmer Valderrama jump out and shout “Ohhhhh” and hand me $1,000? Is it going to be the same old crusty ass Yo Mama jokes like “Yo mama so fat she got her own area code” or is there going to be a crack team of Comedians working long hours trying to create some original jokes? All of this just seems too silly to be true but it is. You wonder how the game will work for the “hip hop” sections. Will it play out like PaRappa the Rapper where you mash buttons to out do your opponent or more like a Heavy Rain style quick time event?

Now I know what you’re thinking. Why is he so skeptical and cynical about a game that has nearly no info released and isn’t coming out for 3 years? Well, to be honest it just stupid.

The game series seeks to represent American, Soviet and British perspectives, a blend which is unusual in typical war pictures and could make for an interesting underlying premise to the adaptation. The occasional level of the game that requires the player character to ‘go it alone’ might make for good gameplay but would have to be handled sensibly in the film to avoid evoking infuriating ‘John Wayne’ heroics.

If Inglourious Basterds is a smash, which I sincereley hope it will be, we might see Call of Duty getting an easy greenlight. If, on the other hand, Basterds bombs there’s a fair chance of all world war related treatments, scripts and licenses getting swept off the table and into the circular file. This is hardly an amazing feat of perspicacity, I know. I’m really just parrotting the accepted wisdom on studio development cycles but while Call of Duty is in early development like this, it seems the appropriate context to quote.

I see it happening no matter how good Inglourious Basterds does solely do to the enormous following that the Call Of Duty series has. I guess time will tell and if this does end up happening hopefully they don’t screw it up.

Source

TK: You have a song titled Contra. Does this have anything to do with the game Contra?

CB: I did love that game when i was younger but no. Contra was just the perfect title, it’s a rap song against rap songs, title just fit perfect. It’s also a strong word, maybe even stronger because i used to like that game when i was younger who knows, Subliminal as well maybe.

TK: You have a few songs really going in at the industry most notably “Contra” and “The Hulk”. Whats the main reason behind wiritng tracks like this?

Mocking, Exploiting, Defense of my definition vs there’s? You can only mock something in the face of people who really care for so long before someone or something breaks, I guess i broke. I understand all music has it’s place and i don’t completely bash it all. Like Lil Jon has his place, he makes his music to party and dance to, it may not be my thing but i understand it belongs here. There are few people who actually create instead of duplicate whether you like their music or not, from dance music to thug rap. But when idiotic and/or foul music is made and placed in your “category” continuously exploiting it, it can take its toll.

TK: Me and You are very similar with our distaste for the industry and what it does to musicians. With that said would you ever sign to a major label?

CB: It really depends, I wouldn’t be a thoughtful guy if i just said “No” because it’s a major. I’d have to hear them out, but for the most part it doesn’t look good, Epitaph has seemed like a good look, Sage, Atmosphere, and Solilaquist of Sound were/are on it. I’ve heard good things about them and I’m lucky enough to have artist like them out there paving the way and helping other artist out. We should support artist who get out there as long as they continue make a difference. People write off artist for being on MTV, why? Did Atmosphere start rapping about about shaking your butt? Or Aesop Rock, he certainly didn’t dumb down for it. So be proud and happy, finally all the hard work they did got them somewhere and maybe they can wake up the norm of people accepting the same old same.

TK: Artists have been known to get good exposure from featuring their tracks in video games. would you ever do a track for a game?

CB: That would depend to but sure. I wouldn’t see any bad in that plus I’d love to think someone can pop in Skate 2 and tear up the city to Contra.

TK: What would a Cubbiebear game be like? Who would be the enemy?

CB: Haha, I really would never want a game about me. I think it’s cheesy and usually a scheme of another route to drain your fans. I love games but I’m a rapper, I don’t do anything worth manipulating on screen. Unless people really want to win a game of being awkward and learning how to talk to people in a way that will stop them from telling Teddy they think “i don’t like them” and If they win they can come show me how in real life haha….. but im a nice guy i swear.

TK: You have a group called “The Rape”? How did all of your come together? Were you friends before hand?

Yea we were all good friends, we met through music but we became really good friends before we started The Rape. It all came together from the need of freedom and to be ourselves in this mess of music. I wanted to take my chance at really making the music i wanted to hear instead of what others were used to or told me that I should make. Teddy did as well. Teddy Faley was with Brakefast Records when we first met and I was with my old Dj(Dj J.Easy). Dj Addikt was with a group called Knomatic. Haylee Shifflett was a friend of mine and Mike Grace was an old old friend. We were just a crew and really loved each others company. We all wanted something fresh and new, and had things we could help each other with. Teddy is a Producer/Emcee, Addikt’s Producer/D.J., Haylee’s a photographer, and Mike is a well known BMXer in Baltimore and the greatest guy, he helped promote a lot and hype most events.
I love those guys.

TK: Do you own any of the current generation systems (ie Xbox 360,PS3,Wii) or are you more of an old school guy? And What are some of your favorite games?

CB: Yup I got Xbox 360, I only really play Gears of War 2. I play a few others but that’s my game. I just wish they didn’t crap it up. The first Gears was a million times better. The had an almost perfect game, and instead of just fixing the very few imperfections, they either tried to hard or they all went to take a poop together and a janitor shipped it out before it was ready. I still play it cause I love Gears but then end up pissed and just turning it off from frustration wishing it was like the first. I only like playing it online and the game play got muddy compared to the first, the first one was more fun and quicker, i want the old shotgun back. I only play horde for the most part now because of it.

TK: For the fans who are just discovering you, how would you describe your musical style?

CB: Depends on what they’re used to, If you like rock music, The Mars Volta, Deftones, things like that & rap, you might like my stuff. I might be a little out of my mind but it’s better then in a box. I use a lot of layers, and distortion and I say a lot of things people are afraid to say I think. I like to be able to get lost in my music, I want to step into it when i listen and have it surround me, but not everyone knows how to hear me. It’s to much for the average strictly Hip Hop listener sometimes who don’t understand a language of anything that’s not a simple boom bap. I was like that when i first heard Sole or El-p, I thought they we crazy and had no clue what they were doing, until i learned the language, soon as i could really hear them i was blown away.
When people listen to your music. Whats the message you’re trying to convey to them? What feelings / thoughts do you want people to come away with after listening to your music?

CB: As far as feelings, a high, a “about time someone said that” or get pissed whether at me or with me.

As for the personal ones I don’t care I make those for me and they give me chills. I hope they could connect or appreciate how i word things in my life but it’s for me.

TK: On your myspace there’s quote from Sage Francis saying “This guy came out of nowhere and has made a serious name for himself in underground circles. Not only is he a producer but he is a formidable emcee as well”. Has Sage been an influence on your career at all? Who else has been?

CB: Yea def, Sage has been a great inspiration, and just recently I found out a great guy too, at least over the internet. I entered a remix contest for his label and won. Got to talk to him a little over email from it and he’s a cool guy, he offered help when needed and some guidance. Show’s a lot that dude takes the time for that and still supports others so much. He deserves all the credit he gets and more, same goes for Slug and many other emcees.

All together i was influenced by probably the norm of people in my generation, Sage, Slug, Sole, El-p, etc. But believe it or not Cee-Lo Green got me to start rapping , back in his Goodie Mobb days when i was into different kind of rap he was the first I heard who dared to be a little real or weird about things. He was my gateway drug, he made me ease more comfortably into “experimental” rap at the time for me. With out Cee Lo there would have been no Sage, Slug, El in my life.

TK: What do you use to inspire you to write?

CB: I just kind of write. I really don’t know, I know it’s 99.99% things that piss me off or i don’t agree with. But I dont really know. I just express myself really.

TK: Any last words for readers/listeners?

CB: Yea , as corny and cliche as it sounds from over use. Thanks for supporting me. Thanks to the people who continually come to my shows, thanks to my crew “The Rape” and everyone who showed there friends my music or posted it anywhere, and for the interview man. I appreciate it.

Be sure to check Cubbiebear out on his Myspace

If You want to listen to some Biggie tracks peep our very own TK radio with A.B. Fraiser and Randy Ledet here .

Be sure to pick up Notorious when it comes out on April 21, 2009.

Freedom Fighters

It’s the reason behind me writing this article and maybe one of the most underrated games to come out last gen. Freedom Fighters pits you in an alternate history where Soviet Russia invades the US. Freedom Fighters takes place in New York City and puts you in the shoes of a 32 year old blue collar New Yorker named Christopher Stone. Throughout the game you take over Russian captured points,increase the size of your resistance and even grow a beard. The game was praised by critics but never got the following it deserved for being one of the best third person shooters ever. While the end of the game was just screaming for a sequel it never happened. The game deserves a remake + sequel. Something along the lines of Chronicles Of Riddick Assault On Dark Athena.

MechAssault

Everyone enjoyed flying around in giant Mechs destroying small cities and each other. Being able to customize your doomsday machine and unleash even bigger hell upon your opponents and the landscape. The Original MechAssault for the Xbox was a cult classic in many gamers eyes. Something fresh to what was a pretty crappy year in games in my opinion . The second one (Lone Wolf) wasn’t held at such high praise as the original and it left fans empty. Day 1 still has the ability to make a new one and it would definitely look amazing on next gen consoles and would probably do well in sales.

Goldeneye 007

Known for having the best multi-player (nothing since than can hold a candle to it) and also a pretty single player. Goldeneye 007 was an unexpected gem for first person shooters. It is revered as a classic in any true gamers eyes. Its time for a remake. The reason it really isn’t happening is because Nintendo still owns the rights to it. Their was rumors that it was going to show up on XBLA with updated graphics but it turned out to be nothing more than a Source Mod that has been out for a year or so. I as a real gamer demand a remake. The game to end all games if you will.

Road Rash

Road Rash has had many releases. The earlier ones being the better and like most other things that try and have more longevity than what is reasonable the latest ones being pretty lackluster. I feel it’s really a time for a fresh re up and re-release. Next gen racing with all the baseball bat swinging at other racers to get to the top. Its the kind of violence in racing that hasn’t been seen since the road rash series ceased to exist. I say bring it back with at least 16 player online with full bike customization and “clans”. If done right it could breathe new life into the genre and breathe a much needed life into an extremely tired genre.

Just a short list really. I’d like to know what you guys think so either paste a comment or send a email to donnieb@thekoalition.com with your opinion and or suggestions.

1. Termanology – “Here In Liberty City”
2. Freeway – “Car Jack”
3. Saigon – “Spit”
4. Consequence – “I Hear Footsteps”
5. Skyzoo – “The Chase Is On”
6. Talib Kweli – “My Favorite Song”

This tracklisting looks crazy. If only Rockstar included more dope music like this in GTAIV. (Less Lil Wayne and Fat Joe Tracks Please). Go and cop this RIGHT NOW!

Thanks To Godfree From Gamertag Radio